BKFC News

Adam D Martin - September 3, 2021

Former longtime UFC veteran Diego Sanchez is expected to sign with BKFC and have some “really exciting matchups” with the promotion. Sanchez was released by the UFC a few months ago after his former coach and mentor, Joshua Fabia, got into a dispute with the promotion regarding Sanchez’s medicals. Sanchez has since left Fabia to be on his own, but it doesn’t appear a return to the UFC is in the cards. Instead, it appears as though BKFC will likely be the next promotion for Sanchez.

Chris Taylor - August 14, 2021

Paige VanZant (8-5 MMA, 0-2 BKF) was in a dark place following her loss to Rachael Ostovich at last months BKFC 19 event. The former UFC standouts, VanZant and Ostovich, collided for a second time on July 23, this after ‘PVZ’ had earned a submission victory in the pairs first encounter.

Adam D Martin - August 12, 2021

Former UFC featherweight title contender Chad Mendes revealed that his former organization gave him permission to make a comeback in BKFC. Mendes recently signed a contract with BKFC to make his return to combat sports in bare-knuckle boxing. Now 36 years old, Mendes hasn’t competed in MMA since December 2018 when he was knocked out by current UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Mendes struggled on his way out of the UFC, losing three of his last four bouts, but to be fair to him, those losses came against Volkanovski, Conor McGregor, and Frankie Edgar.

Cole Shelton - August 10, 2021

Diego Sanchez is close to signing with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, David Feldman, the president of BKFC revealed. Sanchez was recently released from his UFC contract, in part due to his relationship with Joshua Fabia which he since ended. Since the release, however, he has been open to the fact he wanted to return and even hinted at a move to BKFC, which appears to be nearly official.

Cole Shelton - August 4, 2021

Chad Mendes has ended his retirement. The former UFC title challenger retired after his loss to Alex Volkanovski at UFC 232 in December of 2018. Since then, Mendes has remained in the gym but there were no talks of a possible comeback. However, over the past couple of months, he has teased a return to the sport saying the itch is back.

Chris Taylor - July 31, 2021

Former UFC fighter Alan Belcher looks almost unrecognizable ahead of his BKFC heavyweight debut which is set for August 20. Belcher (18-8 MMA) has not competed in combat sports since 2013, where he suffered a technical decision loss to Michael Bisping in a UFC middleweight bout.

Adam D Martin - July 26, 2021

Paige VanZant reacted after losing her BKFC fight to rival Rachael Ostovich, saying that “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” VanZant lost a unanimous decision to Ostovich in their rematch that headlined this past weekend’s BKFC 19 card in Tampa, Florida. Although VanZant was the betting favorite heading into the fight, Ostovich surprised a lot of onlookers as she showed improved boxing as she was able to outstrike VanZant and take home the decision on the judges’ scorecards. The rivals are now 1-1 overall in their all-time series, with VanZant holding a previous win over Ostovich by submission in the UFC. With Ostovich now beating VanZant in their rematch in BKFC, it’s possible we could see a trilogy fight between them one day.

Christopher Taylor - July 25, 2021

Former UFC fighters Hector Lombard and Tyron Woodley got into a heated confrontation during Friday’s BKFC 19 event in Florida. Lombard, a former Bellator champion and current BKFC title holder, apparently had a score to settle with the former UFC welterweight champion and decided to confront Woodley at the event.

Adam Martin - July 25, 2021

Former UFC fighter-turned-bare knuckle boxer Rachael Ostovich reacted after beating Paige VanZant at BKFC 19, saying “I had so much fun.” Ostovich was the betting underdog against VanZant but she pulled off the upset when she won a unanimous decision over her former UFC rival in what was Ostovich’s bare-knuckle boxing debut. Ostovich and VanZant previously fought in the Octagon at UFC on ESPN+1: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw in January 2019, with VanZant winning the fight by submission. With VanZant having already experienced a BKFC fight when she lost to Britain Hart earlier this year, the oddsmakers and the betting public felt that PVZ should be favored to beat Ostovich, but the Hawaiian proved the doubters wrong as she took home the decision.

Chris Taylor - July 24, 2021

Paige VanZant has addressed the haters following her unanimous decision loss to Rachael Ostovich at last night’s BKFC 19 event. VanZant and Ostovich collided for a second time on Friday evening, this after ‘PVZ’ had earned a submission victory in the pairs first encounter under the UFC banner in 2019.

Christopher Taylor - July 23, 2021

Paige VanZant has issued a statement following her loss to Rachael Ostovich in tonight’s BKFC 19 headliner. VanZant and Ostovich collide for a second time this evening, this after ‘PVZ’ had earned a submission victory in the pairs first encounter under the UFC banner in 2019.

Chris Taylor - July 23, 2021

Former UFC fighters Paige VanZant and Rachael Ostovich squared off for a second time in the headliner of tonight’s BKFC 19 event. VanZant had made her highly anticipated BKFC debut earlier this year when she took on Britain Hart. Unfortunately for ’12 Gauge’ she went on to lose that contest by way of unanimous decision.

Adam D Martin - July 23, 2021

BKFC president David Feldman confirmed that he recently turned down a lucrative offer to sell his bare-knuckle fighting promotion. Feldman is a former professional boxer himself (4-1 record) who started the bare-knuckle fighting championship (BKFC) promotion in 2018. Since starting the organization, BKFC has held 18 events and on Friday night it will hold its 19th event, with former UFC stars Paige VanZant and Rachael Ostovich in the headliner in a rematch. For Feldman, BKFC is certainly gaining a lot of momentum these days, so much so that other investors are looking to not only invest in the company but completely buy Feldman out and take over.

Adam D Martin - July 23, 2021

Former UFC women’s flyweight and current bare-knuckle fighter Paige VanZant promises fans they will see a “brand new fighter” at BKFC 19. VanZant takes on former MMA rival Rachael Ostovich in a rematch Friday night at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida. The two women previously met in the UFC in January 2019, with VanZant winning the fight via submission. Now that the rematch will take place in BKFC, there will be no submission finish this time around as the fight will be taking place entirely on the feet and not on the ground. For VanZant, this will be her second BKFC contest, while for Ostovich this is the first time she has fought bare-knuckle.

Harry Kettle - July 22, 2021

Former UFC fighter Rachael Ostovich has explained her decision to take on former foe Paige VanZant in BKFC. While VanZant has already made an appearance in the promotion, Ostovich is set to step into the ring for the first time tomorrow night when she takes on PVZ in a rematch of their January 2019 bout in the UFC. It’ll mark the first combat appearance for Ostovich since losing to Gina Mazany back in November 2020, after which she was released from her UFC contract.

Adam D Martin - July 12, 2021

Sheena Brandenburg, who is an MMA fighter and who also competes for BKFC, was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in a deadly hit-and-run incident. In March, it was reported that Brandenburg was involved in a terrible incident that left 56-year-old Troy Lambert dead after she hit his motorcycle from behind and left him for dead. Police say that Brandenburg was at a local tavern before the deadly hit-and-run incident.

Adam D Martin - June 30, 2021

Women’s combat sports superstar Paige VanZant has no regrets about leaving the UFC for BKFC, calling it “the best decision I’ve ever made.” VanZant competed in MMA from 2012 to 2020, and between 2014 and 2020 she fought exclusively for the UFC, where she went 4-5 overall. After becoming a free agent last summer, VanZant decided to take her talents to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Although she lost a decision to Britain Hart in her BKFC debut, VanZant has already been booked for her next fight, a rematch with her former UFC opponent Rachael Ostovich.

Adam D Martin - June 27, 2021

BKFC champion Luis Palomino called for a rematch with UFC superstar Jorge Masvidal, saying “remember I beat you in 2010, eight pounds heavy.” Palomino defeated Tyler Goodjohn via unanimous decision at BKFC 18 on Saturday night. The 40-year-old Miami native is now a perfect 4-0 in BKFC and is currently the promotion’s lightweight champion. During his MMA career, Palomino has fought at featherweight, lightweight, and even welterweight. While he has been doing well fighting at lower weights in BKFC, Palomino is open to fighting up at welterweight again, and it’s because he is looking to get a rematch against one of the UFC’s top superstars in the form of Masvidal.