BKFC News
Isaac Vallie-Flagg previews BKFC 7 scrap with former roommate Melvin Guillard
Tom Taylor - August 6, 2019
Isaac Vallie-Flagg knows Melvin Guillard very well. The two UFC veterans previously trained together at JacksonWink MMA in Albuquerque, and even lived together for a brief period. But now, they’re poised to pummel each other, sans gloves, as part of the BKFC 7 card in Biloxi, Mississippi on Saturday, August 10. Vallie-Flagg admits there was some reluctance to agree to a fist fight with a man he considers a friend, yet he knows he and his opponent both understand that it’s purely business.
Controversial fighter Alexander Emelianenko expected to sign with BKFC
Cole Shelton - July 30, 2019
Controversial fighter, Alexander Emelianenko is set to fight again. Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship has issued a contract to the Russian which he plans on signing in the coming days. His management, Gagarin Management Group confirmed the news to RT Sport.
Artem Lobov campaigns for fight with Amir Khan
Tom Taylor - July 15, 2019
Fresh off a bare-knuckle win over former boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi, UFC veteran Artem Lobov is now setting his sights on another star pugilist: Amir Khan. Lobov as expressed interest in this matchup previously, and is once again campaigning for it after his long-time coach John Kavanagh broached the possibility in a recent interview.
BKFC 6 PPV numbers fall far below Feldman's estimate
Tom Taylor - July 5, 2019
Earlier this week, BKFC President David Feldman proclaimed that BKFC 6 is estimated to have sold roughly 200,000 pay-per-views. This number would put the event ahead of several recent UFC cards, and represent a massive success for a relatively new company. “We got our digital numbers right away,” Feldman told MMA Junkie. “In April, we did a certain amount, and in June, we did six times that digitally. It’s given us a gauge that we’re going to end up at the 200,000 line.”
David Feldman provides estimate on BKFC 6 PPV buys
Tom Taylor - July 3, 2019
Even from the early vantage point, BKFC 6 stood out as the biggest card yet from the upstart Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. The card, which was topped by a sizzling grudge match between UFC veteran Artem Lobov and former boxing champ Paulie Malignaggi, and featured a slew of UFC veterans and MMA notables, generated quite a bit of buzz throughout the combat sports world, and showed all the early signs of a major success for the promotion.
Anthony Smith takes shot at Paulie Malignaggi
Tom Taylor - July 1, 2019
MMA stars Ben Askren and Chael Sonnen both had plenty to say about Paulie Malignaggi after the boxer lost a bare knuckle boxing match to Artem Lobov at BKFC 6. Last week, Malignaggi responded to these criticisms.
Ben Askren reacts to Artem Lobov's win over Paulie Malignaggi
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 26, 2019
Ben Askren has given his take on Artem Lobov’s victory over Paulie Malignaggi. Lobov vs. Malignaggi served as the main event of BKFC 6 inside the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa on June 22. Malignaggi was the slight favorite going into the bout, but he dropped a unanimous decision after five rounds of bare-knuckle boxing action. Many were surprised that Lobov scored the win given Malignaggi’s boxing experience.
Paulie Malignaggi shares photos of brutal hand injuries after BKFC 6
Tom Taylor - June 25, 2019
Paulie Malignaggi came up short in his long anticipated grudge match with Artem Lobov at BKFC 6, and he also re-injured his infamously fragile hands in the fight. That being said, he seems to be in good spirits after his decision loss, priding himself on trying something new and fighting through adversity. The former boxing champion issued a meditative statement — and shared a few pictures of his badly swollen hands — in a post to his official Instagram account on Monday night.
Artem Lobov squashes beef with Paulie Malignaggi following BKFC 6
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 24, 2019
Artem Lobov is done trading barbs with Paulie Malignaggi after their BKFC 6 scrap. This past Saturday night (June 22), Lobov and Malignaggi went the distance inside the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa. There was plenty of bad blood going into the bout. Malignaggi slapped Lobov and even spat on him in the lead-up to their BKFC 6 main event. Lobov ended up scoring the unanimous decision victory and the two embraced.
Brendan Schaub feels Artem Lobov vs. Paulie Malignaggi was 'kind of awkward'
Fernando Quiles Jr. - June 24, 2019
Brendan Schaub doesn’t believe Artem Lobov vs. Paulie Malignaggi lived up to expectations, but it isn’t all doom and gloom. BKFC 6 took place inside the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall in Tampa. Headlining the card was a grudge match between Lobov and Malignaggi. In the end, Lobov was awarded the unanimous decision victory.
Jason Knight roasts Paulie Malignaggi after BKFC 6
Tom Taylor - June 24, 2019
Shortly after Artem Lobov defeated Paulie Malignaggi in the main event of BFKC 6 last weekend, Jason Knight gave his take on the fight. Knight, who came up short to Lobov in an all-out war earlier this year, doesn’t sound too impressed with what he saw — particularly from Malignaggi.
Chris Leben says he was hit harder than ever before in BKFC 6 fight
Thomas Taylor - June 23, 2019
On Saturday night, in the co-main event of BKFC 6 in Tampa, Florida, UFC veteran Chris Leben stepped into the ring for his third bare knuckle bout. His opponent this time around was Ultimate Fighter veteran Dakota Cochrane, who was riding high on a knockout win over former UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks. While Leben put forth a valiant effort in this fight, he ultimately lost a decision to Cochrane. As it turns out, he also sustained some of the hardest punches he’s ever felt in his long and illustrious career — perhaps even the hardest outright.
Malignaggi bashes judges, Lobov scolds ref after BKFC 6
Tom Taylor - June 23, 2019
Artem Lobov and Paulie Malignaggi, who met in the main event of BKFC 6 on Saturday night, seem to have found something they agree on: the officiating for the Tampa, Florida card left a lot to be desired. Speaking at the BKFC 6 post-fight press conference, Malignaggi sounded off on the ring-side judges, lambasting them for scoring the fight in Lobov’s favor.
Paulie Malignaggi after BKFC 6: 'Respect to Artem'
Tom Taylor - June 23, 2019
On Saturday night, in the main event of BKFC 6, Paulie Malignaggi and Artem Lobov finally stepped into the ring together to settle one of the most high-profile beefs in combat sports. At the end of five closely contested rounds, Lobov was named the winner of this fight by decision, leaving Malignaggi questioning the judges’ competency. While Malignaggi does not believe he lost this fight, he did admit that, after scrapping sans gloves for 10 minutes, he does have a degree of respect for Lobov — respect that seemed unthinkable before the fight.
Paulie Malignaggi reacts following loss to Artem Lobov
Christopher Taylor - June 22, 2019
Former boxing champion Paulie Malginaggi made his Bare Knuckle Fighting debut against bitter rival Artem Lobov at tonight’s BKFC 6 event. Unfortunately for ‘The Magic Man’, things did not go as planned in his bout with ‘The Russian Hammer’.
John Kavanagh reacts after Artem Lobov defeats Paulie Malignaggi
Christopher Taylor - June 22, 2019
John Kavanagh was not in attendance to witness his pupil Artem Lobov defeat Paulie Malignaggi at BKFC 6, but he was watching. The SBG Ireland Head Coach took to Twitter shortly following Lobov’s massive upset over Malignaggi where he shared the following post.
BKFC 6 Results: Artem Lobov defeats Paulie Malignaggi (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - June 22, 2019
A fight between bitter rivals Paulie Malignaggi and Artem Lobov headlined tonight’s BKFC 6 event in Tampa Bay, Florida. The former boxing champion, Malignaggi (36-8 boxing), returns to action for the first time since March of 2017, where he suffered a TKO loss to Sam Eggington in his bid to capture the WBC International Welterweight Title.
BKFC 6 Results: Dakota Cochrane defeats Chris Leben
Christopher Taylor - June 22, 2019
A fight between Chris Leben and Dakota Cochrane served as the co-headliner of tonight’s BKFC 6 event in Tampa Bay. Chris Leben (22-11 MMA, 2-0 BKF) was most recently seen in action at April’s Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 5 event, where he scored a first round knockout victory over Justin Baesman.