“BKFC 6: The Line is Drawn” Saturday, June 22 Live on Pay-Per-View from Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa, Fla.
PHILADELPHIA (June 13, 2019) – Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) will give fans a behind the scenes look at former boxing world championPaulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi and UFC veteran Artem “The Russian Hammer” Lobov ahead of their highly anticipated bare knuckle grudge match on Saturday, June 22.
“The Road to Malignaggi vs. Lobov” offers a unique look at the buildup to this summer showdown as camera crews followed Malignaggi in New York and Lobov in Ireland as they prepare to headline “BKFC 6: The Line is Drawn” live on pay-per-view from Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa, Fla.
The event will be broadcast across the United States and Canada, exclusively on pay-per-view through MultiVision Media, Inc., on all major television distribution outlets for $39.99. It will also be available worldwide via stream to all in-home and out-of-home connected devices at FITE-TV and www.bareknuckle.tv.
Tickets for “BKFC 6” are available now exclusively at www.bareknuckle.tv. Florida will become the latest state to host a BKFC event after previous contests have been held in Wyoming and Mississippi, plus an event that took place in Cancun, Mexico.
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About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship On June 2, 2018, Philadelphia-based Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made combat sports history when it promoted the first legal, sanctioned and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. “BKFC 1: The Beginning” took place in Cheyenne, Wyoming and featured 10 professional bouts, all under the auspices and control of the Wyoming Combative Sports Commission. BKFC uses only established fighters who have previously competed professionally in boxing, MMA, kickboxing and/or Muay Thai. All BKFC bouts are sanctioned and regulated by ABC member athletic commissions. For more information visit www.bareknuckle.tv or follow on Twitter at @BareKnuckleFC, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/bareknucklefc and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bareknucklefc.
Former Boxing World Champion Randall Bailey Takes onBrazil’s Daniel Santos; Unbeaten Mixed Martial ArtistJamie Campbell Battles Joey Beltran; Julian Lane & Chicago’sTom Shoaff Match Up in Second BKFC Fights
Live on Pay-Per-View from Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa, Fla.
PHILADELPHIA (June 5, 2019) – Three more toe-to-toe bare knuckle matchups have been added to the highly anticipated Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) event headlined by the Paulie Malignaggi vs. Artem Lobov grudge match Saturday, June 22 live on pay-per-view from Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa, Fla.
Former two-division boxing champion Randall Bailey will face off against 24-year-old Brazilian MMA pro Daniel Santos in a 155-pound bout, and unbeaten mixed martial artist Jamie Campbell takes on Joey Beltran, who has engaged in two memorable BKFC fights against Tony Lopez, in a heavyweight contest.
Also returning to BKFC are MMA veterans Julian Lane and Tom Shoaff in a 165-pound attraction. Lane looks to bounce back from a BKFC loss to Leonard Garcia, while Shoaff hopes to build on his BKFC victory over Diego Garijo.
“We’re thrilled to be adding three more matchups of this caliber to the BKFC 6 lineup and there’s still more to come,” said BKFC founder and president David Feldman. “Fight fans who join us in Tampa and those who tune-in on June 22 are going to be treated to a wide variety of fighting styles in some really compelling bare knuckle matchups. As always, we’re promising lots of action and these three fights will be no exception.”
“As a former two-division, three-time world champion in boxing, I feel that I am tailor made for bare knuckle fighting,” said Bailey. “I grew up fighting bare knuckle on the streets of Miami and I know how to win at this game. I was the bare knuckle knockout king before I ever competed in boxing.”
“I am honored and grateful to be invited to fight at BKFC 6,” said Santos. “I’m a veteran of boxing and a capoeira fighter with a lot of experience. I am well prepared and confident that on June 22 I will knock out Randall Bailey! You will see, I’ll give a great fight and surprise everyone. I’m going to grab this opportunity and make a statement so that I can continue to compete in BKFC.”
The main card for this can’t-miss night of fights will begin at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT and will see former UFC veteran Chris Leben in his second BKFC attraction, as he takes on longtime Bellator standout Brennan Ward. Plus, the finals of the BKFC Lightweight Tournament will pit Reggie Barnett againstJohnny Bedford in a showdown for the BKFC Lightweight Championship. All leading up to the main event pitting former boxing world champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi against UFC veteran Artem “The Russian Hammer” Lobov.
The event will be broadcast across the United States and Canada, exclusively on pay-per-view through MultiVision Media, Inc., on all major television distribution outlets for $39.99. It will also be available worldwide via stream to all in-home and out-of-home connected devices at FITE-TV and www.bareknuckle.tv.
Tickets for “BKFC 6: The Line Is Drawn” are available now exclusively atwww.bareknuckle.tv. Florida will become the latest state to host a BKFC event after previous contests have been held in Wyoming and Mississippi, plus an event that took place in Cancun, Mexico.
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About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship On June 2, 2018, Philadelphia-based Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made combat sports history when it promoted the first legal, sanctioned and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. “BKFC 1: The Beginning” took place in Cheyenne, Wyoming and featured 10 professional bouts, all under the auspices and control of the Wyoming Combative Sports Commission. BKFC uses only established fighters who have previously competed professionally in boxing, MMA, kickboxing and/or Muay Thai. All BKFC bouts are sanctioned and regulated by ABC member athletic commissions. For more information visit www.bareknuckle.tv or follow on Twitter at @BareKnuckleFC, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/bareknucklefc and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bareknucklefc.
BKFC Returns Saturday, June 22 Headlined by Malignaggi vs. Lobov Grudge Match Live on Pay-Per-View from Florida State Fairgrounds Entertainment Hall in Tampa, Fla.
Also Featuring UFC Veteran Chris Leben Against Bellator Standout Brennan Ward!
NEW YORK (May 20, 2019) – Former boxing world champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi and UFC veteran Artem “The Russian Hammer” Lobov went face-to-face Monday at a heated press conference in New York to officially announce their Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship showdown the headlines action on Saturday, June 22 live on pay-per-view from Florida State Fairgrounds Entertainment Hall in Tampa, Fla.
Also squaring off Monday before they battle on BKFC 6 were UFC veteran Chris Leben and longtime Bellator standout Brennan Ward. Televised coverage on June 22 will begin at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. and also feature Reggie Barnett against Johnny Bedford in a showdown for the BKFC Lightweight Championship.
The event will be broadcast across the United States and Canada, exclusively on pay-per-view through MultiVision Media, Inc., on all major television distribution outlets for $39.99. It will also be available worldwide via stream to all in-home and out-of-home connected devices at FITE-TV and www.bareknuckle.tv.
Tickets for “BKFC 6” are available tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET exclusively atwww.bareknuckle.tv. Florida will become the latest state to host a BKFC event after previous contests have been held in Wyoming and Mississippi, plus an event that took place in Cancun, Mexico.
Here is what the press conference participants had to say Monday:
PAULIE MALIGNAGGI
“I’ve always been known as one of the toughest guys in boxing. Lobov is known as a punching bag with a loud mouth.
“If I had it my way, I’d knock him out in the last round. I want to pummel him from start to finish. He’s going to come out trying hard, and then he’s going to get gun shy. He’s going to hesitate to even take a step.
“I’m always looking for my next challenge. I wasn’t planning on this, but it was sold to me, and it appealed to me. Artem is a punching bag and I usually hit that for free.
“I never lie, because I don’t have to fear anyone. You only lie because you’re afraid. Why are Lobov and his team lying? You know why. I don’t care what they think. I’m going to put this guy out next month.
“As I train, I realize that my hands are like razor blades. Get a good look at Lobov’s face, because next month I’m going to make it look like a road map with lines all over it.”
ARTEM LOBOV
“I feel I have the upper hand in this fight. With age, it’s easier to get knocked out. He’s never hurt anybody in the ring, so it’s going to be a bad matchup for him.
“I see me stopping him. He doesn’t want it anymore. In order to be a fighter and really compete, you have to have the fire. His fire is long gone.
“My strategy is to come in there and shove my fist down his throat. It’s personal now with the way he’s been talking and acting. I’m going to put him away.
“Paulie likes to hide behind the jab and feint. He never lets his hands go. He just hides and tries to make it to the end of the fight.
“I’m going to let it all go in that ring on June 22. I’m going to be the ‘Russian Hammer’ from the start until the finish. I want to meet him in the ring and put him away like true warriors do.
“I never wrap my hands. Not when I spar, not when I hit the bag or anything. It’s made them tougher. They may not look pretty, but they do a lot of damage.
“It’s game over for Paulie. I heard he’s known as the ‘Magic Man’, but I just hope he doesn’t disappear before the fight.”
CHRIS LEBEN
“Bare knuckle is definitely an exciting sport. It’s all of the good stuff. Two guys going toe-to-toe. It’s what I do best and it puts me in a dangerous position to hurt my opponents. When I first saw BKFC I felt like this sport was made for me.
“You can’t really cover up without the glove as a shield in bare knuckle, so it changes how you defend. But it also changes how you hit and where your range is at.
“I think this sport was made for me and it’s going to show in the fight. We’re both heavy hitters. Brennan will be my toughest BKFC opponent to date and I’m not taking him lightly. I’m riding a resurgence and it’s not going to stop.
“I’m pulling out all the stops and doing everything I can to prepare. Because on June 22, I’m knocking him out.”
BRENNAN WARD
“Training camp has been going great. I’m really excited because I’ve been waiting to do a bare knuckle fight for a while. I knew right away that this was for me.
“I think I have a great skillset for bare knuckle. I’m quick and quick on my feet. I’m strong and have heavy hands. I’m able to brawl or box.
“It’s basically a normal training camp for me, but with more boxing than ever. I’ve always boxed a lot anyway, so it’s something that’s come natural for me.
“I’m a different fighter than who Leben has fought in BKFC. This sport is so well-suited for me. I just want to brawl. I wasn’t as into the other disciplines in MMA, so when BKFC came around, I was ready to sign on.
“I think I’m going to be a force to be reckoned with at BKFC. I’m going to find a nice home and do work in the ring.”
DAVID FELDMAN, BKFC Founder & President
“This event is getting the kind of coverage it truly warrants. This is going to be a stacked pay-per-view event from top to bottom.
“The main event here is a highly anticipated battle. This is the biggest bare knuckle fight in history.
“We’re really happy with what we’ve been able to build. If you’ve seen any of our events, you know that it’s non-stop action from the start. We’re proud of what we’ve delivered to fight fans.
“People originally said that Artem had no chance against Paulie, but once they saw Artem in his first BKFC fight, fans can see that this might be tougher than anticipated. This is different than boxing and different than MMA. Getting hit with that bare knuckle is different than anything you’ve experienced before.
“I’m so excited to bring this fight to Florida and bring this fight to their fans. June 22 live on pay-per-view, this is one you surely do not want to miss.”
BRIAN RICCO, Executive Producer & Distributor
“We’re very excited to be on our sixth BKFC show in less than a year. Everything has been amazing. We’re expecting a big fight between two great fighters and we’re looking forward to bringing this event to fight fans around the world.”
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About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship On June 2, 2018, Philadelphia-based Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made combat sports history when it promoted the first legal, sanctioned and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. “BKFC 1: The Beginning” took place in Cheyenne, Wyoming and featured 10 professional bouts, all under the auspices and control of the Wyoming Combative Sports Commission. BKFC uses only established fighters who have previously competed professionally in boxing, MMA, kickboxing and/or Muay Thai. All BKFC bouts are sanctioned and regulated by ABC member athletic commissions. For more information visit www.bareknuckle.tv or follow on Twitter at @BareKnuckleFC, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/bareknucklefc and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bareknucklefc.
Stacked Night of BKFC 6 Action Features UFC Veteran Chris Leben Against Bellator Standout Brennan Ward, Plus! BKFC Lightweight Championship Showdown Between Reggie Barnett & Johnny Bedford
Tickets on Sale Friday!
PHILADELPHIA (May 20, 2019) – A highly anticipated grudge match between former boxing world champion Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi and UFC veteran Artem “The Russian Hammer” Lobov will headline Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) action on Saturday, June 22 live on pay-per-view from Florida State Fairgrounds Entertainment Hall in Tampa, Fla.
The televised portion of the can’t-miss night of fights will begin at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT and will also see former UFC Veteran Chris Leben in his second BKFC attraction, as he takes on longtime Bellator standout Brennan Ward. Plus, the finals of the BKFC Lightweight Tournament will pit Reggie Barnett against Johnny Bedford in a showdown for the BKFC Lightweight Championship.
“Coming off of our epic battle on April 6 between Artem Lobov and Jason Knight, the momentum is incredible coming into BKFC 6,” said BKFC Founder and President David Feldman. “With the feud that Paulie and Artem have already, this promises to be super exciting. This is bare knuckle and everything changes when they fight bare knuckle. So, whatever plans you have can go out the window quickly. That’s what makes this so exciting and why I am so excited for this fight. I think we will have a lot of eyes on this event and we are very happy to be hosting this in Tampa, one of the best fight markets in the country. I truly can’t wait for June 22.”
The event will be broadcast across the United States and Canada, exclusively on pay-per-view through MultiVision Media, Inc., on all major television distribution outlets for $39.99. It will also be available worldwide via stream to all in-home and out-of-home connected devices at FITE-TV and www.bareknuckle.tv.
Tickets for “BKFC 6” will be available starting Thursday, May 16 exclusively atwww.bareknuckle.tv. Florida will become the latest state to host a BKFC event after previous contests have been held in Wyoming and Mississippi, plus an event that took place in Cancun, Mexico.
Malignaggi vs. Lobov will see the much-discussed rivalry between Malignaggi and MMA star Conor McGregor come to a head when Malignaggi squares off against one of McGregor’s teammates and friends in Lobov. Prior to Lobov’s BKFC debut in which he defeated Jason Knight in April, Malignaggi and Lobov exchanged words and nearly came to blows at a media day in New York. With the June 22 fight date set and buzz continuing to grow, they will soon settle the conflict in the ring.
“I’m very excited to make my BKFC debut and for this fight to take place in Florida. Bringing BKFC to another state is only going to help this sport grow faster and attract more attention to bare knuckle fighting,” said Malignaggi. “It’s no secret, Artem and I have some bad blood between us. I don’t like him and I’m looking forward to sinking my fists into his face. June 22 can’t come soon enough. Fans are going to really enjoy this one as the biggest BKFC card yet, and it’ll set the stage for even bigger and better events as more fighters realize that they can make a good living and have a great career in this discipline of combat sports.”
“I’m really looking forward to this fight,” said Lobov. “Paulie has been doing a lot of talking. He hasn’t been able to keep his mouth shut, but on June 22 I’m going to silence him. He’s an old boxer who’s coming off of the couch. He’s only doing this because he didn’t manage his money better, so now he has to take a fight against me, ‘The Russian Hammer.’ I expect to maul Paulie in there. He doesn’t know what he’s in for. I’m going to introduce him to some things that he’s never seen before and this is going to be a real fight.”
A two-time, two-division boxing champion, Malignaggi joined BKFC earlier this year and plans to show off the skills that made him a world champion at 147 and 140-pounds. Representing his hometown of Brooklyn, New York, Malignaggi faced top competition and big stars such as Miguel Cotto, Zab Judah, Ricky Hatton, Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia, Amir Khan and more throughout a career that spanned sixteen years. He put on title-winning performances against Lovemore Ndou and Vyacheslav Senchenko while also defeating Judah, Juan Diaz and Pablo Cesar Cano amongst his notable wins. He has not fought since 2017, but remains a staple of the of the combat sports world through his renowned work as a color commentator and analyst.
A 32-year-old fighter from Russia, Lobov defeated Jason Knight by unanimous decision in an exciting brawl to make his BKFC debut successful in April. Lobov made his name on Season 22 of The Ultimate Fighter as part of Team McGregor, where he worked his way to the finals of the tournament before losing to Ryan Hall. Now fighting out of Ireland, where he continues to train with McGregor, he challenged Cub Swanson in a UFC main event in 2016, after picking up victories over Chris Avila and Alex White. While he lost his last three UFC bouts by decision, he owns 13 professional MMA wins.
Originally from Portland, Oregon and now training out of Chula Vista, California, Leben first emerged onto the scene in the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter before going on to become a WEC Middleweight Champion. A veteran of over 20 UFC events, his career includes a five-fight win streak that led to a challenge of Anderson Silva. Leben will be opposed by New London, Connecticut’s Ward, a 30-year-old veteran of 15 Bellator events, including a victory in Bellator’s Season Nine Middleweight Tournament.
A pro boxer with a 6-2 record, the 32-year-old Barnett has earned his spot in the Lightweight Tournament Final with a victory over Rusty Crowder in April. Fighting out of Chesapeake, Virginia, Barnett will face Forth Worth, Texas native Bedford to capture the first BKFC Lightweight Title. Bedford punched his ticket to the final with an April triumph over Abdiel Velazquez.
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About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship On June 2, 2018, Philadelphia-based Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made combat sports history when it promoted the first legal, sanctioned and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. “BKFC 1: The Beginning” took place in Cheyenne, Wyoming and featured 10 professional bouts, all under the auspices and control of the Wyoming Combative Sports Commission. BKFC uses only established fighters who have previously competed professionally in boxing, MMA, kickboxing and/or Muay Thai. All BKFC bouts are sanctioned and regulated by ABC member athletic commissions. For more information visit www.bareknuckle.tv or follow on Twitter at @BareKnuckleFC, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/bareknucklefc and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bareknucklefc.
Click HERE for Photos Credit: Phil Lambert/Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Cick HERE for Video Highlights Credit: Evan Zentar/Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
BILOXI, Miss. (April 6, 2019) – Former UFC veteran Artem Lobov defeated former UFC veteran and Mississippi native Jason Knight by unanimous decision (48-47 X 2, 48-46) to win the main event of “BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” in a Fight of The Year candidate on Saturday night at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Miss. and live on pay-per-view.
Knight started off fast, knocking down Lobov just 10 seconds in to round one. However, Lobov quickly popped up and came back to knock down Knight later in the first frame, again in round two, and for a third time in round three. The fourth and fifth stanzas showcased furious exchanges with both fighters leaving every ounce of themselves in the ring.
“I thought he was conquered many times,” said Lobov. “I dropped him three or four times. He’s a tough, tough kid. He kept coming and coming. That was a great fight.”
“We all know that I didn’t lose that fight,” said Knight. “We all know that I got robbed. It’s alright, I’m still going to party tonight.”
The co-main event featured former UFC veteran Chris Leben quickly overwhelming former Bellator standout Justin Baesman with a devastating left hand, followed by a series of uppercuts that stopped Baesman just :25 in to the light heavyweight contest.
Christine Ferea scored a technical stoppage win over Britain Hart for the Police Gazette American Women’s Featherweight Bare Knuckle Championship. Ferea had Hart in trouble midway through the second round as referee Dan Miragliotta called for time to have Hart’s severely bloodied and bruised left eye checked. The ringside physician stopped the contest moments later at 1:09 in to the second round.
“I’m the first woman to ever have this belt,” said Ferea. “I’m going to rep it strong and I’m super happy right now. The first round I was feeling (Hart) out. I was watching some of her footage and she can do it all. So, I just felt out the first round, touching her with the jab. And then the second round that’s when I went in and let my power go.
“I would love (a fight against Bec Rawlings)!” added Ferea. “I’ve been asking for a fight with her for three fights. I think I deserve it.”
Former BKFC heavyweight title challenger Sam Shewmaker and former UFC veteran Chase Sherman fought to a split draw (50-45 Sherman, 48-47 Shewmaker, 48-48) in a crowd-pleasing heavyweight attraction that featured spirited exchanges all the way until the final bell of the fifth round.
One BKFC lightweight tournament semi-final matchup saw Reggie Barnett defeat Rusty Crowder by unanimous decision (50-44 X 3). An extremely evasive Crowder was deducted one point in the fourth round for throwing Barnett to the canvas as Barnett cruised to the victory by a wide margin.
After his win, Barnett said, “Everybody expected me and Bedford to be fighting in the championship. Johnny comes to fight. I come to fight. So, you’re going to see nothing but fireworks and I personally think it’s a main event-caliber championship fight.”
In the other BKFC lightweight tournament semi-final contest Johnny Bedfordstopped Abdiel Velazquez :58 in to round four. Bedford scored two knockdowns in the second round, a third in the third frame and sent Velazquez to the canvas for the fourth and final time in round four, with Velazquez electing to not get back up and continue.
Before Barnett and Crowder fought, Bedford prophesied, “I anticipate I’m going to fight Reggie Barnett in the finals. I thought that from the beginning. I think Reggie knew that from the very beginning. And I think Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship knew that from the very beginning by putting us on opposite ends of the bracket. I think it doesn’t matter who you name the number one and number two seeds, we are the two top dogs in this division.”
With Barnett and Bedford winning their respective BKFC lightweight tournament semi-final bouts they will now face each other in the finals for a chance at BKFC’s first lightweight championship title.
In undercard action, former UFC fighter Isaac Vallie-Flagg scored a technical knockout victory over Randy Hedderick in a 165-pound showdown. Vallie-Flagg recorded two knockdowns in the third round and forced Hedderick to quit 1:22 in to round three due to an injured left hand.
About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship On June 2, 2018, Philadelphia-based Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made combat sports history when it promoted the first legal, sanctioned and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. “BKFC 1: The Beginning” took place in Cheyenne, Wyoming and featured 10 professional bouts, all under the auspices and control of the Wyoming Combative Sports Commission. BKFC uses only established fighters who have previously competed professionally in boxing, MMA, kickboxing and/or Muay Thai. All BKFC bouts are sanctioned and regulated by ABC member athletic commissions. For more information visit www.bareknuckle.tv or follow on Twitter at @BareKnuckleFC, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/bareknucklefc and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bareknucklefc.
Click HERE for Video from Giovanni Bartocci/Team Malignaggi
NEW YORK (April 2, 2019) – Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) hosted a media event in New York Tuesday as recent BKFC signee and former two-division boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi and former UFC standout and Conor McGregor stablemate Artem Lobov had a heated exchange and had to be separated in anticipation of a possible showdown between the two later this year.
Lobov is preparing to take on Jason Knight in the main event of “BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” this Saturday from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi and live on pay-per-view. If he is successful on Saturday night, a highly-anticipated showdown against Malignaggi looms.
“BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” will be broadcast across the United States and Canada, exclusively on pay-per-view through MultiVision Media, Inc., on all major television distribution outlets for $29.95. It will also be available worldwide via stream to all in-home and out-of-home connected devices at FITE-TV and www.bareknuckle.tv.
Tickets for “BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” are available now exclusively at www.bareknuckle.tv beginning at $35.
Here is what the fighters had to say Tuesday from Mendez Boxing in Manhattan:
PAULIE MALIGNAGGI
“Without disrespecting Jason Knight, because we’ll see what happens Saturday, but I think everyone here would like to see Malignaggi vs. Lobov. I see that it’s picking up traction and fans in general are talking about it.
“When I get Lobov in the ring, the goal is not just to win. I have to really excel and show something more. The goal would be to hurt him bad.
“Being in the gym every day gets me excited. In that way, I feel mentally reborn. I’m sure there will be tough days, but that’s par for the course. I think mentally you can find motivation that will spur you on to chase certain goals.
“I started talking to David Feldman first about being involved on the broadcast aspect of BKFC. But then he threw out numbers for me to fight that got my attention. Once we got past that first part of the conversation, things started moving along and here we are.
“There’s always adjustments to be made in a new discipline as far as how you’re going to throw and receive punches. We’re going to make small adjustments, but your base is your base. My base is boxing and we’re going to keep the things we want to keep.
“I’ve watched some of the bare knuckle fights and there are some fundamental differences. There are some things that boxers can take advantage of. But there are also some aspects that boxers might not be used to in bare knuckle.”
ARTEM LOBOV
“I’m a real fighter and I’m going to fight Paulie in a real fight. I want to make money for it. He knows I’m down. If you’re a real fighter, let’s fight in the ring.
“Let’s be honest, Paulie doesn’t want to fight me on the street, because he knows I’d tear him apart in seconds. But I want to prove myself in the boxing ring. That’s why I’m doing this. I want Paulie safe until the day I can finally put my hands on him.
“This is the only chance he has to get a shot in on me. When we do get to fight, he won’t get a hand on me, I guarantee that.
“I’m here to fight on Saturday night. I’m a true fighter. No one will ever make me quit. I don’t care about anything that Paulie can do to me.
“Paulie was always the fight I wanted. It’s ‘night night’ for Jason Knight this Saturday, then it’s on to Paulie. That’s the only fight I want. He deserves to get slapped around.
“Jason Knight was a top UFC fighter at one point. He’s a very tough opponent, but his strength was mixing disciplines. Just boxing me, he doesn’t have a chance.
“I love the bare knuckle training. This is my game. I love the stand-up fighting. My approach is that if you want to be a good boxer, you have to box a lot. I went into all of the best gyms in Ireland and got great sparring.”
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About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship On June 2, 2018, Philadelphia-based Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made combat sports history when it promoted the first legal, sanctioned and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. “BKFC 1: The Beginning” took place in Cheyenne, Wyoming and featured 10 professional bouts, all under the auspices and control of the Wyoming Combative Sports Commission. BKFC uses only established fighters who have previously competed professionally in boxing, MMA, kickboxing and/or Muay Thai. All BKFC bouts are sanctioned and regulated by ABC member athletic commissions. For more information visit www.bareknuckle.tv or follow on Twitter at @BareKnuckleFC, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/bareknucklefc and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bareknucklefc.
Din Thomas handling blow-by-blow duties for BYB Brawl 1: Brawl for it ALL” PPV
Join the BYB (Back Yard Brawls) Revolution…..
Apr. 5 in Cheyenne, Wyoming
LIVE ON WORLDWIDE PPV
MIAMI (March 27, 2019) – Former UFC fighter Din Thomas will be the blow-by-blow announcer for the explosive bare-knuckles fighting pay-per-view event, “BYB Brawl 1: Brawl For It ALL”, on Friday night, April 5, live from the Cheyenne Ice & Event Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
“BYB Brawl 1: Brawl For It ALL” Is the first sanctioned-event promoted by BYB Extreme Fighting Series (BYB), bare-knuckles fighting’s most intense combat sports promoter, featuring 10 professional bare-knuckle fights and two mixed-martial-arts fights, all held inside the “The Trigon”, the most confrontational cage in combat sports. The much-anticipated show is presented by title sponsor Pure and Natural (www.getpureandnatural.com) and available to watch live worldwide on pay-per-view.
Thomas will be joined at cage-side by color commentators Dyrushio “Rusy” Harris and his brother, Dhafir Harris, who is better known as iconic backyard- brawler Dada 5000.Tony Martinez will support the BYB announcing team in Spanish (SAP option), while veteran Bob Alexander is the BYB ring announcer.
BYB Extreme and Lights Out Productions was initially inspired by the Backyard Fights that were held in Miami, featured in the award-winning documentary “Dawg Fight”, which debuted on Netflix and it still remains available to watch. Dada 5000 was the subject and star of “Dawg Fight”. Production of “Dawg Fight 2”, produced once again by award-winning documentary filmmaker Billy Corben (Rakontur), concludes at “BYB Brawl 1: Brawl for it ALL”.
“BYB Brawl 1: Brawl For It ALL” will revolutionize bare-knuckles fighting with all fights held inside its triangular cage, “The Trigon” (pictured below) – 7′ high fences, two beveled corners and a 60-degree, tight third-corner forming a triangle, totaling 187 square feet – marking the first time a professional bare-knuckles event is held inside a cage. This will also be the first time bare-knuckles fighting and MMA are contested in a cage on the same night.
Thomas had a standout MMA career, 26-9 (7 KOs, 15 submissions) pro record, including nine fights in the UFC. “I’m looking forward to calling the action,” Thomas said. “At first it took me a minute to appreciate it (bare-knuckle fighting), but I’ve always expected it. Now that I’ve learned to fully appreciate it, I’ve been studying bare-knuckles fighting up close.
“At the end of the day, I’ve watched guys throw punches the last 25 years, so bare-knuckles fighting isn’t foreign to me. The action is quicker, though. Bare-knuckles fighting epitomizes entertainment more than any combat sport. I’m expecting a night of exciting, tough fights”
Integrated Sports Media will distribute the Apr. 5th “BYB Brawl 1: Brawl For It ALL” throughout North America – in English and Spanish – on pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, Dish and Vubiquity in the United States, as well as via Bell TV, Shaw, Rogers and SaskTel in Canada, on cable, satellite and digital pay-per-view. It will also be live-streamed worldwide on the FITE.TV app and website. The action starts at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, all, for a suggested retail price of $24.95.
The first two bare-knuckles fights will be streamed live for FREE on FITE.TV and Facebook Live, starting at 9 p.m. et / 6 p.m. PT, leading into the BYB PPV card.
“There are many people to thank prior to this event, BYB Extreme promoter Mike Vazquezcommented,” but no one more than Chairman Bryan Pedersen and the Wyoming Boxing & MMA Commission. Bryan and his team, Jeremy Arneson and Nick Meeker, have been an absolute pleasure to work with. Bryan was the first in the nation to stand up and recognize bare-knuckle boxing, Additionally, commission members came to Florida to inspect and approve our cage, ‘The Trigon”. Without a doubt Bryan and the Wyoming Commission have led the way for bare-knuckle boxing to become mainstream, and other states are quickly following suit.”
“We are grateful to see BYB Extreme Bare-Knuckle Brawls come to Wyoming,” Pedersen added. “Bare Knuckle is an exciting opportunity for athletes in combat sports to have another option to compete. We are proud to provide a home for the sport to grow in a way that offers transparency, accountability and consistency to the fighters, promoters and fans!”
Miami-based knockout specialist artist Joshua “Dempsey” Gormley (23-6, 23 KOs pro boxing record), the great-grandson of legendary world heavyweight boxing champion Jack “The Manassa Mauler” Dempsey, will headline “BYB Brawl 1: Brawl For It ALL” againstveteran MMA fighter Bobby “Zombie” Brents (17-7), a former Shamrock FC champion from Springfield, Illinois.
In the co-featured event, Canadian kickboxer Jake “The Good” Young and Nebraska MMA veteran Matt “MFD” Delanoit will battle in a classic clash of contrasting fight styles.
Bordering state rivals, Wyoming favorite and BKB champion Billy “The Kid” Martin takes and Colorado striker Leo Pla, will be in a grudge match.
In the MMA main event, Idaho heavyweight Jamelle “The Best” Jones, a two-time national collegiate wrestling champion, takes on five-time pro MMA champion and multiple Tough Man Contest winner, Matt “The Attack” Kovacs, of Washington.
A special female bantamweight bare-knuckles fight matches Washington state’s MMA fighter Christine “Knuckles” Stanley with North Carolina boxer Latoya “Lionheart” Burton,who did two tours of Iraq as a member of the U.S. Air Force.
The potential Fight of the Night is a back-yard brawling rubber match between Miami middleweights Alphonso “Chocolate” Frierson and Mike “Dragon Hulk” Trujillo in a “Special Dawg Fight Trilogy Match. Frierson won their original fight by way of a sensational knockout that went viral, but Trujillo rebound to defeat “Chocolate” when the later retired during their second throw-down.
Other bare-knuckles fights on the Apr. 5th card include dangerous Las Vegas light heavyweight Joey Angelo vs. Joseph Guillen, of Wyoming; Atlanta cruiserweight Robert “Real Business” Brown, Jr. vs. Lorenzo “The Juggernaut” Hunt, of Jacksonville, FL; Michigan bantamweight Brian “Stone Handz” Jackson vs. Dominican John Michael “JoMi” Escoboa, who fights out of Coconut Creek, FL; Georgia flyweight and three-time U.S. Army boxing champion, Albert “Speedy” Martinez, vs. Virgin Island native Kory “Ballistic” Vialet, now living in Texas; and Canadian featherweight Desmond Johnsonvs. International Muay Thai champion Robert “Billy Bad Ass” Fletcher, of Park City, Minnesota. (The latter two fights listed here will be streamed live on the free BYB Preview Show.)
The card also features a fight of MMA heavyweights, Fort Lauderdale’s (FL) Jermayne “Redman” Barnes against Detroit’s Lamar “The Abomination” Cannady-Foster.
All fights and fighters are subject to change.
Tickets are on sale, ranging between $150.00 and $25.00, and may be purchased by going here: https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1824090. Minors under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
“BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” Also Features Gulfport Police Officer Harris Stephenson Taking on Khalib Harris, Plus Former UFC Fighter Isaac Vallie-Flagg Battling Randy Hedderick Live on Pay-Per-View
PHILADELPHIA (March 21, 2019) – “BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” will feature a stacked lineup of fights live on pay-per-view (9:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT) with the addition of a women’s American featherweight championship bout between Christine Ferea and Britain Hart, plus lightweight tournament semi-finals, added to the previously announced Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) showdowns taking place Saturday, April 6 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi.
The lightweight tournament semi-finals will see Virginia’s Reggie Barnett facing Atlanta’s Rusty Crowder, while Texas native Johnny Bedford steps in against Puerto Rico’s Abdiel Velazquez, all vying for a spot in the tournament final and a chance at BKFC’s first lightweight championship.
Rounding out the pay-per-view are Gulfport police officer Harris Stephenson in a 165-pound fight against Mississippi’s Khalib Harris and former UFC fighter Isaac Vallie-Flagg taking on Mississippi’s Randy Hedderick in a 165-pound showdown.
“BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” will be broadcast across the United States and Canada, exclusively on pay-per-view through MultiVision Media, Inc., on all major television distribution outlets for $29.95. It will also be available worldwide via stream to all in-home and out-of-home connected devices at FITE-TV andwww.bareknuckle.tv.
Tickets for “BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” are available now exclusively atwww.bareknuckle.tv beginning at $35.
In prelims action, a women’s 125-pound showdown will feature Louisiana’s Ivana Coleman battling Michigan’s Sheena Starr, plus Alabama’s Bobo O’Bannenwill face Mississippi’s Troy Beets in a 185-pound bout.
The two preliminary matches will be available for free and accessible on the BKFC Facebook page, www.bareknuckle.tv, FITE-TV and cable and satellite companies (Subject to availability. Please contact your provider.), beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT preceding the pay-per-view.
The event is headlined by former UFC standout and Conor McGregor stablemate Artem Lobov making his BKFC debut when he takes on Mississippi native and former UFC fighter Jason Knight. Also featured are fights with former UFC veteran Chris Leben battling former Bellator standout Justin Baseman in a light heavyweight fight and Mississippi native Chase Sherman taking on BKFC fan-favorite and former BKFC heavyweight title challenger Sam Shewmaker in a heavyweight attraction.
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About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship On June 2, 2018, Philadelphia-based Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made combat sports history when it promoted the first legal, sanctioned and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. “BKFC 1: The Beginning” took place in Cheyenne, Wyoming and featured 10 professional bouts, all under the auspices and control of the Wyoming Combative Sports Commission. BKFC uses only established fighters who have previously competed professionally in boxing, MMA, kickboxing and/or Muay Thai. All BKFC bouts are sanctioned and regulated by ABC member athletic commissions. For more information visit www.bareknuckle.tv or follow on Twitter at @BareKnuckleFC, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/bareknucklefc and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bareknucklefc.
“BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” Takes Place Saturday, April 6 in Biloxi, Mississippi Featuring Chris Leben vs. Justin Baseman, Chase Sherman vs. Sam Shewmaker & Marcel Stamps vs. Martin Verdin As Part of Action-Packed Evening Live on Pay-Per-View
Click HERE for Interview Video with Lobov & Knight Tickets on Sale Now!
PHILADELPHIA (March 4, 2019) – Former UFC standout and Conor McGregor stablemate Artem Lobov will make his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) debut when he takes on Mississippi native and former UFC fighter Jason Knight in the main event of “BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” taking place Saturday, April 6 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi and live on pay-per-view.
“BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” is the second BKFC event of 2019 and will be the third to take place at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The event will be broadcast across the United States and Canada, exclusively on pay-per-view through MultiVision Media, Inc., on all major television distribution outlets for $29.95. It will also be available worldwide via stream to all in-home and out-of-home connected devices at FITE TV and www.bareknuckle.tv.
“I am really excited for this fight card and the main event,” said BKFC Founder and President David Feldman. “Artem Lobov and Jason Knight are two fighters that don’t know how to back up. Having this fight take place in Biloxi, Jason’s hometown, will be electric and I can’t wait to see that packed house. The card is stacked with Chris Leben, Marcel Stamps, Chase Sherman and many more.”
Tickets for “BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” are available now exclusively atwww.bareknuckle.tv beginning at $35.
“It’s going to be ‘night night’ for Jason Knight on April 6,” said Lobov. “If we had fought in MMA, I think it would have been a competitive fight, but this is real fighting and he stands no chance against me. I’m happy to fight him in his hometown because I’ve always gone and taken the toughest challenges. They’re going to be cheering me when I’m leaving the arena.”
“I’m excited to fight someone like Artem Lobov in my hometown,” said Knight. “I’m ready to go out there and get this done. It’s going to be electric in the arena when they announce my name and I step into this fight. I don’t think he’s man enough to put me out like he says. He’s going to wish he never took this bare knuckle fight.”
The night of action will include former UFC veteran Chris Leben battling former Bellator standout Justin Baseman in a light heavyweight fight, Mississippi native Chase Sherman taking on BKFC fan-favorite Sam Shewmaker in a heavyweight attraction and Marcel Stamps, fresh off his BKFC victory over Kendall Grove, as he faces professional boxer Martin Verdin in a light heavyweight showdown.
A 32-year-old fighter from Russia, Lobov made his name on Season 22 of The Ultimate Fighter as part of Team McGregor, where he worked his way to the finals of the tournament before losing to Ryan Hall. He challenged Cub Swanson in a UFC main event in 2016, after picking up victories over Chris Avila and Alex White. While he lost his last three UFC bouts by decision, he owns 13 professional MMA wins and will take that experience into BKFC action.
Representing his hometown of D’lberville, Mississippi, Knight has a 20-6 professional MMA record since turning pro in MMA at just seventeen-years-old. He made his UFC debut in 2015 when he stepped in on two weeks’ notice to face Tatsuya Kawajiri in the Ultimate Fighter 22 finale, dropping a unanimous decision. Knight went on to win his next four UFC bouts between July 2016 and May 2017. He then lost four consecutive contests, the final three coming by decision.
Note: Artem Lobov had previously been announced to make his debut against Jason Knight at “BKFC 6” in Biloxi, MS, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, April 20.
Russian-Born Stablemate of Conor McGregor To Make BKFC Debut at BKFC 6 on April 20 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, MS
PHILADELPHIA (February 13, 2019) – Former UFC standout Artem Lobov, a stablemate of Conor McGregor, has requested his release from UFC in order to sign an exclusive multi-fight deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship(BKFC) and continue his combat sports career with BKFC as the organization prepares for a banner year.
“I feel Artem is a great addition to our roster and his style is made for this sport,” said BKFC Founder and President David Feldman. “Attracting and signing a guy with the following that Artem has is a perfect match for where we are right now as an organization. I think this signing speaks volumes for the direction BKFC is heading.”
Lobov will be making his BKFC debut on Saturday, April 20 as part of BKFC 6, which will take place at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, MS. He’ll face Biloxi native and fellow UFC veteran Jason Knight.
“Jason Knight is an action, hard-nosed fighter who will be fighting in his hometown for the first time in a long time,” continued Feldman. “This is a true crossroads fight. I personally think this is a Fight of the Year candidate.”
“I cannot wait to fight for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship,” said Lobov. “I have been following them since the beginning. I love what they are doing and I thank David Feldman for believing in me. I look forward to this new stage in my career and I think it has the perfect ruleset for me to perform at my best ability. I look forward to becoming a star in this sport.”
The 32-year-old fighter from Russia made his name on Season 22 of The Ultimate Fighter as part of Team McGregor, where he worked his way to the finals of the tournament before losing to Ryan Hall. He challenged Cub Swanson in a UFC main event in 2016, after picking up victories over Chris Avila and Alex White. While he lost his last three UFC bouts by decision, he owns 13 professional MMA wins and will take that experience into BKFC action.
