The Return Of Bare Knuckle Fighting

The Return Of Bare Knuckle Fighting

There have been some big breakthroughs in the world of MMA in recent years, which includes the UFC hosting an event in France. However, one of the oldest laws in MMA was finally overturned in 2018, as Bare Knuckle Fighting was legalized.

It was a massive step in the right direction for the sport, as it ended a century-long wait for the action to resume in the United States. But, just how popular is the sport, and what could be the next steps for it to reach its peak level of popularity across the globe?

Early Beginnings

Bare Knuckle Boxing has been around for some time, and it was at its peak level of popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries in England. At this time, it was able to differentiate itself from street fighting given the rules that both fighters needed to follow. However, that didn’t make the sport any less brutal. The rules that were implemented set the tone, and they were later known as the London Prize Ring Rules.

However, the history of the sport then began to change, as boxing gloves were implemented, meaning that the sport steered more toward boxing than it did bare-knuckle fighting. Historically, the last bare-knuckle heavyweight champion was John L. Sullivan, who was the reigning champion in 1889.

Resurgence Of Bare Knuckle Fighting

In truth, the sport fell through the cracks in the United Kingdom after being replaced by boxing, and it wasn’t able to recover given the huge purses that were offered by boxing promoters. But, there has been a resurgence in the sport throughout the 21st century, with a number of different promotions putting on shows with great success.

Some of the most popular include Warrington’s UBKB and Bare First Boxing Association. However, the most popular promotion that has threatened to see the popularity of the sport reach new heights again is the Bare Knuckle Championship.

That success has seen the company make in-roads into creating shows in the United Kingdom, and it was announced earlier this year that they have branched out to create the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship UK. This move means that regular shows will be put on throughout the year in the UK, with events taking place around the country.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Success

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship is the same as the UFC in MMA, as it has been able to transcend the sport since making its big breakthrough. However, there were struggles for the company to break through the glass ceiling, as steps to create shows were constantly knocked back by organizers and commission officials. However, history was made in 2018, as the sport made its long-awaited return back to center stage, as the company put on a show in June, which was the first in over 120 years in the United States.

The first event was a major success, and 23 numbered events followed. There have been some huge stars to take part in events throughout its history to this point, and they have been able to grow in popularity year-on-year. Nowadays, action is broadcast exclusively live on TV, with DAZN picking up the streaming rights in 2020, indicating the success that it has enjoyed.

Biggest Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Stars

Much like the UFC, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship needed worldwide stars to engage audiences across the globe, and there have been some massive fighters involved in bouts throughout the company’s history. As well as having some of Thailand’s Best Muay Thai fighters, one of the biggest recent stars to have appeared in BKFC was Artem Lobov. The Russian won twice and lost twice during his time in bare-knuckle fighting, which included a huge showdown against former boxer Paulie Malignaggi.

Records have been set throughout the history of the company, and few stars have proven as popular as Luis Palomino. The fighter from Peru became the first ever fighter in BKFC to simultaneously hold two titles at the same title, as he won both the Lightweight and Welterweight championships in 2022. Further inroads have been made to gain mainstream attention, as BKFC signed former UFC star Paige VanZant in 2020.

Conclusion

Bare Knuckle Fighting is certainly back on the rise, and that looks set to continue for years to come. However, it still has some way to go before reaching the same level of popularity as sports such as boxing and MMA. But, the initial signs are good, and for fans, the news that all bouts are now regulated would come as welcome news.


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