# Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship United Kingdom

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship United Kingdom (BKFC UK) is the British branch of the American bare-knuckle boxing promotion Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). In September 2022, it was announced that Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship had formed Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship UK (BKFC UK) by acquiring the UK-based Bare Fist Boxing Association (BFBA). As of August 2024, BKFC UK has held 8 events, all of which have taken place in England.

## History

The United Kingdom is a significant market for modern bare-knuckle boxing, hosting prominent promotions such as Bare Knuckle Boxing (BKB™) in Coventry, Bad To The Bone (BTTB) in Stoke-on-Trent, and Ultimate Bare Knuckle Boxing (UBKB) in Warrington.
Before acquiring the Bare Fist Boxing Association and officially establishing BKFC UK, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship made its debut in the United Kingdom with BKFC 27: London, which took place on 20 August 2022. The event was headlined by MMA veterans Mike Perry and Michael Page.

### Ring

BKFC UK hosts its matches in a distinctive circular four-rope ring, colloquially known as the "Squared Circle." The Squared Circle uniquely features two scratch lines, placed three feet apart at the center, a nod to the historic Broughton Rules (particularly the London Prize Ring Rules) that once governed 19th-century bare-knuckle fighting. A key rule mandates that fighters begin each round with their front foot on these scratch lines, a stance commonly referred to as "Toe the Line." This directive, coupled with the subsequent command "Knuckle Up," signals the start of each round. The ring’s design, including these traditional elements, not only pays homage to the sport's heritage but also significantly enhances its appeal within the realm of bare-knuckle boxing.

### First event

The inaugural BKFC UK event, BKFC Fight Night: Newcastle, was scheduled for 26 November 2022 in Newcastle upon Tyne. The main event featured a BKFC heavyweight title eliminator between Mick Terrill of Newcastle and Thailand-based American fighter Steve ‘Panda’ Banks. The card also showcased notable matches such as Darren Hendry vs Anthony Holmes and Danny Christie vs Darren Godfrey Jr. Melanie Shah also made history when she faced Sweden's Mathilda Wilson at the event by becoming both the first British female BKFC fighter and first female Muslim bare-knuckle boxer.

## Events
### BKFC UK 1 - BKFC Fight Night: Newcastle

BKFC Fight Night: Newcastle was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on 26 November 2022 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

#### Background

BKFC UK 1 took place on 26 November 2022 at The Walker Activity Dome in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, drawing a full house of 1,700 spectators. The event featured a 10-fight card, with the initial three bouts streamed live on YouTube and the subsequent main card bouts available on the BKFC App. In the main event, local contender Mick Terrill faced Steve 'Panda' Banks in a BKFC Heavyweight title eliminator. Terrill was declared the winner after Banks was deemed unable to continue by the ringside doctor due to severe cuts around his eyes. The co-main event featured Darren Hendry and Anthony Holmes vying for the inaugural BKFC UK Cruiserweight title. Holmes clinched the knockout victory in the fourth round following a powerful strike to Hendry's nose. The event was also notable for the debut of Melanie Shah, the UK's first female Muslim fighter, who secured a split decision win against Sweden's Mathilda Wilson.

### Results

BKFC Fight Night: Newcastle :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | Time | Notes |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Mick Terrill | def. | Steve Banks | TKO | 2 | 2:00 | BKFC Heavyweight title eliminator |
| Cruiserweight 93 kg | Anthony Holmes | def. | Darren Hendry | TKO | 4 | 0:29 | For the inaugural BKFC UK Cruiserweight Championship |
| Light heavyweight 84 kg | Danny Christie | def. | Darren Godfrey | TKO | 1 | 1:07 | |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Liam Wilson | def. | Will Cairns | TKO | 2 | 0:54 | |
| Light heavyweight 84 kg | John Ferguson | def. | Tom Scott | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Lee Browne | def. | Billy Hawthorne | TKO | 2 | 0:35 | |
| Light heavyweight 84 kg | Nathan Owens | def. | David Round | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 1:05 | |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Lewis Keen | def. | Lewy Sherriff | TKO | 3 | 1:08 | |
| Preliminary Card ||||||||
| W.Flyweight 57 kg | Melanie Shah | def. | Mathilda Wilson | Decision (split) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Agi Faulkner | def. | Daniel Robson | TKO | 1 | 1:17 | |

### BKFC UK 2 - BKFC 37: Tierney vs. Lindsey

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 37: Tierney vs. Lindsey was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on 4 March 2023, at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in London, England.

### Background

The event was headlined by a bout between Connor Tierney and Jake Lindsey.

### Results

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 37: Tierney vs. Lindsey :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | Time |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Jake Lindsey | def. | Connor Tierney | KO | 5 | 1:02 |
| Light Heavyweight 84 kg | Rico Franco | vs. | Darren Godfrey | KO | 2 | 0:49 |
| Light Heavyweight 84 kg | David Round | def. | Terry Brazier | KO | 3 | 1:28 |
| Cruiserweight 95 kg | Mason Shaw | def. | Lee Browne | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 |
| Cruiserweight 95 kg | Darren Hendry | def. | Corey Harrison | TKO | 2 | 0:58 |
| Light Heavyweight 84 kg | Chaz Wasserman | def. | Cedric Severac | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Robbie Kennedy | def. | Jack Draper | KO | 2 | 1:35 |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Nathan Hind | def. | Gary Fox | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Ben Bonnar | def. | Jamie Oldfield | KO | 3 | 1:16 |
| Preliminary Card ||||||||
| Lightweight 70 kg | Ryan Carmichael | def. | Will Cairns | KO | 3 | 0:35 |
| Light Heavyweight 84 kg | Jimmy Millar | def. | Kyle Cassidy | TKO | 2 | 2:00 |
| Middleweight 79 kg | George Thorpe | def. | Jamie Hendry | TKO | 3 | 0:54 |

### BKFC UK 3 - BKFC 40: Holmes vs. Christie

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 40: Holmes vs. Christie was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on 22 April 2023.

### Background

The event was initially scheduled to be headlined by welterweight bout between Elvin Brito and Jamie Cox, but the bout was cancelled after Cox withdrew.

### Results

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 40: Holmes vs. Christie :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | Time | Notes |
| Light Heavyweight 84 kg | Danny Christie | def. | Anthony Holmes | KO | 4 | | For the BKFC UK Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Franco Tenaglia | def. | Luke Nevin | KO | 4 | | |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Rico Franco | def. | Axel Birbes | KO | 2 | 1:07 | |
| Cruiserweight 95 kg | Conor Cooke | def. | Robbie Kennedy | KO | 4 | 1:56 | |
| Middleweight 79 kg | Tom Scott | def. | Damian Górski | KO | 4 | 1:44 | |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Jonny Graham | def. | Will Cairns | KO | 1 | 1:33 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Toni Estorer | def. | Lee Browne | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Catchweight 73 kg | Morgan Starkey | def. | Marius Radol | KO | 1 | 0:23 | |
| Light Heavyweight 84 kg | Bart Król | def. | Ashley Griffiths | KO | 1 | 1:04 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Rob Cunningham | def. | Wain Morgan | KO | 2 | 1:03 | |
| Light Heavyweight 84 kg | Arron Blakey | def. | Naff Higson | KO | 1 | 0:50 | |

### BKFC UK 4 - BKFC 46: Newcastle

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 46: Newcastle was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on 1 July 2023.

### Results

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 46: Newcastle :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | Time |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Ricardo Franco | def. | Kaleb Harris | KO | 5 | 0:58 |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Robert Barry | def. | Ben Bonner | KO | 5 | 0:11 |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Lewis Keen | def. | Zdeněk Pernica | KO | 3 | 0:32 |
| Cruiserweight 95 kg | Dawid Oskar | def. | Matty Hill | KO | 1 | 1:44 |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Paul Cook | def. | Aaron Foster | KO | 1 | 0:41 |
| Light Heavyweight 84 kg | Bart Król | def. | Sebastian Krautwald | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Gary Fox | def. | Hayden Sherriff | KO | 1 | 0:38 |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Patryk Sagan | def. | Morgan Starkey | KO | 1 | 0:49 |
| Preliminary Card ||||||||
| Featherweight 66 kg | Robbie Brown | def. | Ben Hatchett | KO | 1 | 1:36 |
| Middleweight 79 kg | Arron Blakey | def. | Krystian Nadolski | KO | 1 | 0:38 |
| Cruiserweight 95 kg | Karl Thompson | def. | Dustin Rabiega | KO | 1 | 1:06 |

### BKFC UK 5 - BKFC 55: Leeds

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 55: Leeds was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on 19 November 2023.

### Results

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 55 :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | Time |
| Light heavyweight 84 kg | Jared Warren | def. | Danny Christie | TKO (referee stoppage) | 1 | 1:56 |
| Middleweight 79 kg | Bartlomiej Krol | def. | Anthony Holmes | TKO (corner stoppage) | 4 | 2:00 |
| Cruiserweight 93 kg | Matty Hodgson | def. | Mason Shaw | TKO (punches) | 2 | 0:29 |
| Light heavyweight 84 kg | Danny Mitchell | def. | John Ferguson | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 |
| Cruiserweight 93 kg | Darren Hendry | def. | Luke Atkin | TKO (punches) | 2 | 0:25 |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Gary Fox | def. | Robbie Brown | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 |
| Light heavyweight 84 kg | Conor Cooke | def. | Nathan Owens | TKO (punches) | 3 | 1:12 |
| Cruiserweight 93 kg | Karl Thompson | def. | Dawid Oskar | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Antonio Moscatiello | def. | Hynek Hospodarsky | KO | 1 | 1:58 |
| Preliminary Card ||||||||
| Welterweight 75 kg | Paul Cook | def. | Luke Nevin | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Jonny Graham | def. | Abel Radomski | TKO (punches) | 2 | 1:40 |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Agi Faulkner | def. | Rob Cunningham | TKO (punches) | 1 | 0:57 |

### BKFC UK 6 - BKFC 60: Milton Keynes

BKFC 60 Milton Keynes: Lilley vs. Tenaglia was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on 6 April 2024.

### Background

The event featured three title fights and was headlined by James Lilley against Franco Tenaglia for the first ever BKFC Lightweight European Championship. BKFC UK Light Heavyweight Champion Danny Christie defended his title against David Round. Gary Fox faced Ellis Shephard for the vacant BKFC UK Featherweight Championship.

### Results

BKFC 60 Milton Keynes: Lilley vs. Tenaglia :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | Time | Notes |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Franco Tenaglia | def. | James Lilley | Decision (majority) | 5 | 2:00 | For the inaugural BKFC European Lightweight Championship. Judges' scorecards not read. |
| Light Heavyweight 84 kg | Danny Christie (c) | def. | David Round | TKO | 1 | 1:38 | For the BKFC UK Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Ellis Shepherd | def. | Gary Fox | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | For the vacant BKFC UK Featherweight Championship. 49-46, 49-46, 49-46. |
| Light Heavyweight 84 kg | Matty Hodgson | def. | Chaz Wasserman | KO | 3 | 1:38 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Jonno Chipchase | def. | Robbie Brown | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 1 | 2:00 | |
| Cruiserweight 93 kg | Dawid Oskar | def. | Conor Cooke | KO | 1 | 2:00 | |
| Cruiserweight 93 kg | Rob Boardman | def. | Danny McIntosh | KO (body shot) | 1 | 1:13 | |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Ben Bonner | def. | Ray Putterill | KO (left hook) | 1 | 1:08 | |
| Preliminary Card ||||||||
| Middleweight 79 kg | Toby Bindon | def. | Marcus Pond | TKO | 2 | 1:44 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Jack Draper | def. | Bubu | TKO | 1 | 1:41 | |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Bartek Kanabey | def. | Bakhtyor Kudratov | TKO (referee stoppage) | 1 | 0:54 | |

### BKFC UK 7 - BKFC Fight Night Prospects: Newcastle

BKFC Fight Night Prospects: Newcastle is a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on June 8, 2024.

### Background

The event was headlined by Paul Venis against former World Sambo Championships silver medalist Stanov Tabakov.

### Results

BKFC Fight Night Prospects: Newcastle :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | Time | Notes |
| Cruiserweight 93 kg | Paul Venis | def. | Stanoy Tabakov | TKO | 3 | 0:47 | |
| Light Heavyweight 84 kg | Pic Jardine | def. | Bartlomiej Krol | TKO | 3 | 0:35 | |
| Middleweight 79 kg | Danny Christie | def. | Jimmy Millar | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | 50-44, 49-45, 49-44. |
| Light Heavyweight 84 kg | Danny Moir | def. | John Ferguson | Decision (split) | 5 | 2:00 | Judges' scorecards not read. |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Jack Culshaw | def. | Bartek Kanabey | TKO | 3 | 1:35 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Cameron Hardy | def. | Bryan Creighton | KO | 5 | 0:43 | |
| Cruiserweight 93 kg | Stevie Taylor | def. | Jakub Kosicki | TKO | 4 | 1:51 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Bradley Taylor | def. | Dan Mohammed | TKO | 1 | 0:43 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Gary Slator | def. | Rob Cunningham | TKO (punches) | 1 | 0:56 | |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Luke Beamish | def. | Will Rochester | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | Judges' scorecards not read. |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Ryan Sanson | def. | Jeremy Waltron | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | Judges' scorecards not read. |

### BKFC UK 8 - BKFC 64 Coventry: Tierney vs. Graham

BKFC 64 Coventry: Tierney vs. Graham was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on August 10, 2024.

### Background

The event was headlined by Conor Tierney against Jonny Graham for the inaugural UK BKFC Welterweight Championship.

### Results

BKFC 64 Coventry: Tierney vs. Graham :
| Weight Class | | | | Method | Round | Time | Notes |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Connor Tierney | def. | Jonny Graham | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | For the inaugural UK BKFC Welterweight Championship. 48-45, 48-46, 48-45. |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Jonno Chipchase | def. | Toby Bindon | TKO | 1 | 1:58 | |
| Cruiserweight 93 kg | Conor Cooke | def. | Mason Shaw | KO | 1 | 1:34 | |
| Cruiserweight 93 kg | Rob Boardman | def. | Lee Browne | TKO | 4 | 0:47 | |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Luke Nevin | def. | Sahin Omer | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | 50-43, 50-43, 50-43. |
| Middleweight 79 kg | Mac Bygraves | def. | Paul O'Sullivan | Decision (split) | 5 | 2:00 | 50-47, 50-46, 47-48. |
| Middleweight 79 kg | George Thorpe | def. | Conan Barbaru | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | 49-45, 50-45, 49-45. |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Ryan McCarthy | def. | Alec Connelly | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | 50-45, 50-46, 50-45. |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Robbie Brown | def. | Jordan Ward | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | 50-46, 49-46, 48-47. |
| Preliminary Card ||||||||
| Bantamweight 61 kg | James Dixon | def. | Tom Mowbray | TKO | 2 | 0:43 | |
| W. Bantamweight 61 kg | Sara Bitto | def. | Yamila Sanchez | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | 49-45, 50-44, 49-45. |
| Middleweight 79 kg | Simeon Ottley | def. | Connor Warden | TKO | 4 | 1:45 | |

## List of current champions
### Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship UK (BKFC UK)

| Weight Class | Holder |
| BKFC UK ||
| Cruiserweight / 205 lb (93 kg; 15 st) | Anthony Holmes |
| Light Heavyweight / 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st) | Danny Christie |
| Welterweight / 165 lb (75 kg; 12 st) | Connor Tierney |
| Featherweight / 145 lb (66 kg; 10 st) | Ellis Shepherd |