Kai Stewart vs. Tommy Strydom at BKFC 72 Dubai: Featherweight Title Fight & Full Fight Card
DUBAI – On April 5, 2025, the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) will host BKFC 72 at the Dubai Tennis Stadium in Dubai, UAE. The event features a thrilling lineup of bouts, headlined by reigning Featherweight Champion Kai Stewart defending his title against the undefeated South African contender, Tommy Strydom.
Main Event: Kai Stewart vs. Tommy Strydom
Kai Stewart has established himself as a dominant force in the featherweight division. He captured the inaugural BKFC Featherweight Championship on June 9, 2023, at BKFC 44, defeating Louie Lopez by unanimous decision—a bout that earned Fight of the Night honors. Since then, Stewart has successfully defended his title three times, showcasing his resilience and skill. Notably, his unanimous decision victories over Howard Davis at BKFC 56 on December 2, 2023, and Bryan Duran at BKFC 62 on June 21, 2024, further solidified his championship reign. His most recent defense came against Jimmie Rivera on November 9, 2024, at BKFC on DAZN: Montana, where he once again emerged victorious by unanimous decision.
Challenging Stewart is the undefeated Tommy Strydom, who earned his title shot following a TKO victory over John Spencer at BKFC Fight Night: Newcastle. Strydom’s unblemished record and aggressive fighting style make him a formidable opponent, and he is eager to make history by dethroning the reigning champion in Dubai.
Co-Main Event: Hannah Rankin vs. Jessica Borga
The co-main event features a bout for the inaugural BKFC Women’s Featherweight Championship between Scotland’s Hannah Rankin and America’s Jessica Borga. Rankin, a former WBA and IBO female super-welterweight world champion in traditional boxing, transitioned to bare-knuckle boxing in October 2024. She made a successful debut with a split decision win over Deborah Melhorn at BKFC on DAZN: Tenaglia vs. Soto in Marbella, Spain.
Full Fight Card
The event promises an action-packed lineup across various weight classes:
| Weight Class | Fighter 1 | vs. | Fighter 2 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Featherweight (66 kg) | Kai Stewart | vs. | Tommy Strydom | For the BKFC Featherweight Championship |
| Women’s Featherweight (66 kg) | Hannah Rankin | vs. | Jessica Borga | For the inaugural BKFC Women’s Featherweight Championship |
| Featherweight (66 kg) | Dan Chapman | vs. | Brandon Allen | |
| Cruiserweight (93 kg) | Fábio Maldonado | vs. | John Phillips | |
| Middleweight (79 kg) | Aaron Chalmers | vs. | Chas Symonds | Chalmers’ BKFC debut |
| Heavyweight (120 kg) | Guto Inocente | vs. | Hasan Yousefi | |
| Welterweight (75 kg) | Sabri Ben Henia | vs. | Vlad Tuinov | |
| Lightweight (70 kg) | Matin Safari | vs. | Mark Angel Sadang | |
| Featherweight (66 kg) | Shamil Dzhakhbarov | vs. | Dilshat Nurym |
Note: Fight card subject to change.
Event Details
- Date: April 5, 2025
- Location: Dubai Tennis Stadium, Dubai, UAE
- Broadcast: The event will be available for streaming worldwide on DAZN.
BKFC 72 in Dubai is set to deliver an unforgettable night of bare-knuckle boxing, featuring top-tier talent and championship bouts that fans won’t want to miss.
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
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