BKFC FAQ

BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) is the first officially sanctioned bare knuckle boxing promotion in the United States since 1889. Founded in 2018 by former professional boxer David Feldman, it runs 20–25 events per year across ten weight classes, with fights held in the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Thailand, and Australia.

BKFC fights are 5 rounds of 2 minutes each (7 rounds for title fights at some events). Fighters wear hand wraps that extend 1 inch from the knuckles — no gloves. The 10-point must scoring system is used, the same as boxing. A knockdown triggers a 10-second count; three knockdowns in a single round ends the fight as a TKO.

BKFC has ten weight classes: Strawweight (115 lbs), Flyweight (125 lbs), Bantamweight (135 lbs), Featherweight (145 lbs), Lightweight (155 lbs), Welterweight (165 lbs), Middleweight (175 lbs), Light Heavyweight (185 lbs), Cruiserweight (205 lbs), and Heavyweight (265 lbs).

Yes. BKFC is sanctioned by state athletic commissions in the United States and by equivalent bodies abroad. The promotion held the first state-sanctioned bare knuckle boxing event in the US since 1889 in Wyoming in June 2018, and has since been sanctioned in Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Kansas, Colorado, and dozens of other jurisdictions.

The main difference is no gloves — fighters wear only hand wraps that stop before the knuckles. Rounds are shorter (2 minutes vs 3 in boxing). The squared circle is replaced with a roughly circular ring or "Squared Circle of Combat" with four ropes, and fighters start each round "toeing the line" in the center. Knockout rates are far higher than in boxing, and cuts are a much larger factor.

BKFC is strictly bare knuckle boxing — no kicks, takedowns, grappling, or submissions. Only punches. Many BKFC fighters come from MMA backgrounds, but BKFC fights are contested exclusively on the feet.

BKFC events stream primarily on BKFC+ (the promotion's own app at watch.bkfc.com) and Fubo Sports. Select major events are available on PPV through DAZN and other pay-per-view providers. Prelims are sometimes free on the BKFC YouTube channel.

Knockout rates in BKFC are dramatically higher than in gloved boxing — roughly 70% of BKFC bouts end inside the distance, versus around 35-40% in professional boxing. Without gloves, hand injuries and cuts come much faster, fights shorten, and finish rates soar. Hand durability is one of the most underrated skills in BKFC.

BKFC was founded by David Feldman, a former professional boxer and boxing promoter. His first bare knuckle event was held in Cheyenne, Wyoming on June 2, 2018 — the first state-sanctioned bare knuckle boxing event in the United States since the 19th century.

Notable BKFC names include Mike Perry, Eddie Alvarez, Chad Mendes, Ben Rothwell, Paige VanZant, Artem Lobov, Jason Knight, Lorenzo Hunt, Luis Palomino, and Chris Camozzi. Many are former UFC fighters who transitioned to bare knuckle boxing after their MMA careers. See the PropsBot BKFC fighter directory for complete rosters with records.