BK Nation’s first installment of our year end awards!
Award season has come and gone and with that it’s time to unveil BK Nations first annual Bare Knuckle Awards. Voted on by our staff, let's see who’s adding some extra hardware for their work in 2024!
Rookie of the Year Nominees:
Hasan Al-Ghanim
Yampier Ramirez
Julio Perez
Winner: Hasan Al-Ghanim
Canadian prospect Hasan Al-Ghanim (3-0, 2 KO) put the bare knuckle world on notice with a highlight reel KO in his debut. Only to follow that up with another when he made his return in August. He would add one more win before the end of the year making him one of the most active fighters on the roster. From a debut to 3-0 record with two jaw dropping KO’s fans are more than excited to see when year two brings for the canadian product.
Male Fighter of the Year Nominees:
Austin Trout
Gustavo Trujillo
Alberto Blas
Winner: Alberto Blas
Alberto Blas (6-0, 6 KO) smashed everything in his way enroute to becoming the BKFC Bantamweight champion. A 60-second knockout of Daniel Alvarez to earn his title shot, then stopping the champ Keith Richardson in 70 seconds flat. Only to follow that up with knocking off 6-0 contender Ryan Reber in 56 seconds for his first title defence. Three knockouts in a time span shorter than the average BK Nation YouTube video earns “El Indio” the Fighter of the Year.
Female Fighter of the Year Nominees:
Jamie Driver
Christine Ferea
Britain Hart
Winner: Christine Ferea
BKFC Flyweight champion Christine Ferea (10-1, 7 KO) redeemed herself after a lacklustre showing early in the year when she defeated Jade Masson-Wong, by smashing undefeated contender Chrisitne Vicens in brutal fashion at BKFC Hollywood. With two more title defences added to her record this year, no one does it better than the greatest womens bare knuckler of all time.
Moment of the Year Nominees:
BKFC 63 at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
BKFC Spain
Alfredo Angulo vs Jeremiah Riggs
Winner: BKFC 63 at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
The largest crowd of the modern bare knuckle era saw a beautiful outdoor set up, aided by a wicked night of fights, filled with knockouts and jaw dropping moments. And of course it was headlined by two of the biggest stars in all of bare knuckle Britain Hart and Taylor Starling, competing for Hart’s strawweight title. A barnburner of a fight, was the perfect end to one of the greatest combat sports shows in all of 2024.
Fight of the Year Nominees:
Franco Tenaglia vs Tony Soto
Bobby Taylor vs Ryan Roberts
Gregoris Sicneros vs Cub Hawkins
Winner: Franco Tenaglia vs Tony Soto
These warriors put on a fight of the decade when they headlined BKFC’s first show in Spain. This one had everything a fight fan could want, including three knockdowns and grit and determination shown by both. Fighting for the vacant lightweight title, neither gave an inch throwing everything they had until the final bell. In the end, Tenaglia would get the decision, and the vacant title, but in our minds there’s no loser here.
Knockout of the Year Nominees:
Alberto Blas vs Keith Richardson
Zack Cavender vs Conor Bracken
Justin Watson vs Cole Ferrell
Winner: Alberto Blas vs Keith Richardson
A little unconventional for this award, we know. But Alberto Blas double dips with his decimation of undefeated champion Keith Richardson, which resulted in one of the craziest visuals we’ve ever had in bare knuckle. Blas hit Richardson so hard he forgot who he was fighting, and attempted to go at referee Sam Burgos. While there are other nominees where guys get put flat, this one is one of the most memorable moments of the entire year.
Check out the full voting tally below to see who else was in the mix!
Rookie of the Year
Hasan Al-Ghanim - Unanimous
Male Fighter of the Year
Alberto Blas - 4
Austin Trout - 2
Female Fighter of the Year
Christine Ferea - Unanimous
Moment of the Year
BKFC 63 - 3
Alfredo Angulo KO Riggs (KnuckleMania IV) - 2
BKFC Spain -1
Knockout of the Year
Alberto Blas vs Keith Richardson - 3
Cavender vs Bracken - 1
Justin Watson vs Cole Ferrell - 1
Carlos Giner vs Juan Alvarez - 1
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