Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), a subsidiary of Triller Corp, made its way to Philly on Saturday at the Wells Fargo Center.
Christine Ferea vs Jessica Borga | BKFC 82 Fight Highlights
KnuckleMania V was full of excitement from the prelims to the main event in BKFC’s hometown debut. In front of a crowd of 17,762 fans, a record-breaking attendance, there was action both inside and outside the ring - including eight knockouts and appearances from Philly sports icons.
The Atmosphere
On the precipice of the NFC championship game, Philly fans crowded inside the Wells Fargo Center for a night of bare knuckle fighting. Eagles green could be seen on fans walking into the arena, throughout the main concourse and in Taylor “Killa Bee” Starling’s ring entrance. Steve Harper, a 37-year-old BKFC fan, even brought his own Eagles championship belt.
Harper said this was the perfect event for Philly to host in the middle of an Eagles postseason run.
“This was perfect timing,” Harper said. “BKFC came in and it has been such a refreshing sport to watch the pure action since day one. It’s one hundred times better than the UFC. It’s going 100,000 miles per hour. It’s knock ‘em down, pick ‘em up.”
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Fans continued to show love to the Birds throughout the night by erupting in Eagles chants from the start of the prelims to the end of the show.
Notable Attendees
Former Eagles running back Brian Westbrook was in attendance with his own message ahead of the big game on Sunday.
“Tonight’s great but we can’t wait until tomorrow to beat up on the Washington Commanders,” Westbrook said.
Members of the Broad Street Bullies, including Dave Schultz, Joe Watson, and Jimmy Watson, were there Saturday night. BKFC founder and president David Feldman was joined by former UFC champ Conor McGregor to honor the former players during Saturday’s event, gifting each with his own BKFC championship belt.
Fights and Fighters
Seven fights ended in knockouts, but the night really started with the prelims in a bout between Itso Babulaidze and Bryan McDowell. Babulaidze won by unanimous decision and one of Philadelphia’s own UFC welterweights, Sean Brady, could be seen in his corner.
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Although Brady wasn’t in action, there were six other Philly fighters featured on the card. Only two of the six walked out victorious, including John Garbarino. The 29-year-old was greeted with a loud pop from the crowd as soon as his entrance music hit.
The sounds of Rocky’s “Eye of the Tiger” could be heard under the roar of the crowd. The lights were never too bright for Garbarino. In fact, the Philadelphia native lived up to the moment, making easy work out of his opponent Apostle Spencer with a knockout in the first round. After the fight, Garbarino proposed to his girlfriend in the middle of the ring.
Eddie Alvarez's Return
The last time Alvarez headlined in Philly was during his stint with Bellator in a win over Roger Huerta at the Liacouras Center. But the Kensington native never had the chance to headline the Wells Fargo Center. That all changed on Saturday when Alvarez returned to fight in his home city for the first time since 2010.
The 41-year-old former UFC champion was greeted with a hero’s welcome. Despite Alvarez losing to Jeremy Stephens in the third round by TKO, fans still stand by their Underground King, including die-hard BKFC fan Tanner Martin.
The 32-year-old said Alvarez means everything to the city of Philadelphia.
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“He’s a legend, growing up here,” Martin said. “Fighting here in the city. Philly boys. It’s just different, I don’t know. These guys kind of ride together. I love his aggression, always coming forward, always trying to make it a fight. I love Eddie Alvarez all day. That’s my boy.”
Alvarez was the first fighter to have won gold in both Bellator and the UFC, holding the lightweight championship in both promotions. The former champion was 1-1 in the BKFC ring heading into Saturday’s bout. Rising star Kaine Tomlinson Jr.
BKFC's Commitment
BKFC President David Feldman credits the organization's skyrocketing success to its relentless commitment to high-energy, fan-focused events.
"These fighters can not just fight, but they have incredible stories to tell," said Feldman. "Many have overcome immense adversity-whether it's battling through personal struggles, or chasing redemption in the fight game.
Upcoming Events
Up Next: BKFC returns February 1 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is the first promotion allowed to hold a legal, sanctioned, and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889.
Based in Philadelphia, and headed by President and former professional boxer David Feldman, BKFC is dedicated to preserving the historical legacy of bare knuckle fighting, while utilizing a specifically created rule set that emphasizes fighter safety.
BKFC holds all of its bouts in a revolutionary circular four-rope ring, designed to encourage fast-paced and exciting bouts. In BKFC, only those fighters who are established professionals in boxing, MMA, kickboxing, or Muay Thai are allowed to compete.
The referees and judges are required to have extensive professional combat sports experience. All fights are held under the auspices and control of an Athletic Commission.
Unlike other fighting organizations and combat sports internationally which claim to be "bare knuckle", but require wraps, tape, and gauze; BKFC is true to its word as fighters are not allowed to wrap their hands to within one inch of the knuckle. This makes BKFC unquestionably the truest form of bare knuckle fighting.
BKFC is dedicated to not just creating the safest, most exciting, and highest-level bare-knuckle fighting organization in the world, it's also leading the way for a new fully recognized professional combat sport.
Past BKFC Events (2025)
Here's a list of BKFC events that took place in 2025:
- BKFC Fight Night Pechanga: Kurdanov vs.
- BKFC on DAZN Mohegan Sun: Lane vs.
- BKFC Fight Night Newcastle: Thompson vs.
- BKFC Fight Night Albuquerque: Richardson vs.
- BKFC Fight Night Philly: Pague vs.
- BKFC 70 Hollywood, FL: Palomino vs.
- BKFC Fight Night Manchester: Chipchase vs.
- BKFC 71 Dubai Day 1: Trout vs.
- BKFC 72 Dubai Day 2: Stewart vs.
- BKFC Fight Night Omaha: Cochrane vs.
- BKFC 73 Italy: Camozzi vs.
- BKFC Fight Night Clearwater: Warren vs.
- BKFC 74 Salt Lake City: Richman vs.
- BKFC 75 Albuquerque: Mundell vs.
- BKFC Fight Night Mohegan Sun: Porter vs.
- BKFC 76 Texas: Tenaglia vs.
- BKFC 77 Birmingham: Tierney vs.
- BKFC 78 Hollywood, FL: Perdomo vs.
- BKFC Fight Night Philly: Pague vs.
- BKFC 79 Sturgis: Gogo vs.
- BKFC Fight Night Edmonton: Stuve vs.
- BKFC Fight Night Montenegro: Bakočević vs.
- BKFC 80 Hollywood, FL: Perdomo vs.
- BKFC 81 Manchester: DeGale vs.
- BKFC 82 Newark: Perry vs.
- BKFC Fight Night Hammond: Henry vs.
- BKFC 83 Italy: Camozzi vs.
- BKFC Fight Night Michigan: Rodriguez vs.
- BKFC 84 Palm Desert: Dyer vs.
- BKFC 85 Hollywood, FL: Trout vs.
- BKFC Fight Night Derby: Cooke vs.
- BKFC Fight Night Mohegan Sun: Porter vs.