BKFC’s debut in its beloved hometown of Philadelphia wasn’t lost on the 17,762 fans who paid to attend the showcase event, setting a modern-day combat sports record for “The City of Brotherly Love.”
Here is the official press release from BKFC.
Philadelphia, PA (January. 25, 2025) Jaw-dropping moments ruled the evening at the biggest event in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) history, KnuckleMania V, Saturday night at the sold-out Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
The KnuckleMania V main event featured one of the hottest grudge matches in BKFC history — Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens and Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez — with Stephens bringing home the win by technical knockout. Alvarez’s corner called a stop to the bout at the conclusion of the third round.
Stephens, who hails from San Diego, CA, is now 3-0 in BKFC. The former UFC champion Alvarez, widely regarded as one of the most beloved fighters in the history of Philadelphia, is now 1-2 under the BKFC banner.
“Everybody was against me, but I came here to run this (expletive) — let’s go,” the 34-time UFC veteran Stephens told the jam-packed Wells Fargo Center in his post-fight interview. “You cannot stop me. This is resilience. My whole life is dedicated to this.”
The combat sports world exploded when BKFC Partner Conor McGregor entered the squared circle after Stephens’ victory to passionately urge BKFC Founder and President David Feldman to finalize McGregor’s highly anticipated BKFC debut against the undefeated Stephens.
“Let's set a date. Who's going to stop me? Nobody,” McGregor shouted in a faceoff with Stephens. “David, let's make the date!”
In the KnuckleMania V co-main event, the biggest heavyweight contest in BKFC history, combat sports legend “Big” Ben Rothwell needed just 36 seconds to dethrone BKFC World Heavyweight Champion Mick Terrill with a jaw-dropping, one-punch knockout.
The Kenosha, WI heavyweight attraction is now 4-0 under the BKFC banner, with all of his wins coming by knockout in three rounds or less. Terrill, who represents North Shields, England, is now 10-2 in his bare-knuckle fighting career.
“I’m filled with so many feelings right now that it’s hard to speak, but what I do know is that this crowd is the craziest, most awesome crowd that I’ve ever fought in front of. I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and I’m telling you, your energy was in my right hand and you helped me win this title,” the impassioned 17-time UFC veteran Rothwell told the jam-packed Wells Fargo Center. “It’s incredible to be your BKFC Champion.”
In the KnuckleMania V feature fight with two former BKFC Women’s Flyweight World Title challengers, Brisbane, Australia’s “Rowdy” Bec Rawlings defeated Taylor “Killa Bee” Starling in a hard-fought, five-round decision. Rawlings scored the lone knockdown of the fight in the opening round, paving the way to the unanimous decision victory. Two judges scored the contest 50-44 and one had the bout 49-45, all in favor of Rawlings. Rawlings, who made her BKFC debut at the organization’s inaugural event in 2018, is now 4-3 under the BKFC banner. Starling, who represents Rock Hill, SC, is now 4-4 in her BKFC career.
“I've fought all around the world on the biggest stages, and this by far beats every one of them. This is (expletive) amazing,” Rawlings told the sold-out Wells Fargo Center, adding, “This is amazing, thank you!”
Saturday’s historic event was hosted by sports and entertainment industry personality, Mario Lopez. Celebrities in attendance included Philadelphia Eagles legends Seth Joyner and Brian Westbrook, social media megastar/BKFC fighter Bryce Hall, social media sensation Ed Bassmaster, and many others, as well as BKFC World Champions Christine “Misfit” Ferea, Britain Hart, David “Redneck” Mundell and Mike “The Marine” Richman.
Washington Township, NJ-based heavyweight Patrick “The Brick” Brady smashed his way to 2-0 under the BKFC banner with a second straight stoppage victory over Zach “Shark Attack” Calmus. Brady needed just 53 seconds to score the standing technical knockout victory. The Gloucester, MA product Calmus, who was riding a four-fight stoppage streak heading into fight night, is now 5-3 in BKFC.
South Philadelphia welterweight John “Johnny Garb” Garbarino electrified the sold-out Wells Fargo Center with a first-round knockout over Apostle Spencer in his BKFC debut — and a successful marriage proposal in the middle of the ring after his post-fight interview with BKFC Host Cyrus Fees. The knockout came with just one second remaining in the opening frame. Spencer, a product of Belen, NM, is now 0-2 in his BKFC career.
Roanoke, VA’s Kaine “Kaine 9” Tomlinson Jr., needed just 37 seconds to knockout Pat “The Irishman” Sullivan in their welterweight showdown. Tomlinson Jr., the son of BKFC vet Kaine Tomlinson Sr., is now 2-1 under the BKFC banner. Sullivan, who represents South Philadelphia, is now 0-1 in BKFC.
Jeffersonville, IN heavyweight Steve “Panda” Banks weathered a first-round knockdown to stop former World Boxing Association title challenger Joey “The Tank” Dawejko in their back-and-forth heavyweight battle. The technical knockout finish came with just six seconds left in the third round. Banks upped his BKFC record to 3-2 with the win. Dawejko, who hails from Philadelphia, was making his BKFC debut.
Omaha, NE’s Brandon “Beastmode” Meyer smashed his way to 3-2 under the BKFC banner with a stunning, one-punch knockout over hometown fighter “King” Zedekiah Montanez. The fight was stopped 39 seconds into the second round of the lightweight matchup.
Pottstown, PA bantamweight Travis “The Animal” Thompson overcame a first-round knockdown to earn his sixth BKFC victory with a second-round, come-from-behind knockout at the expense of Zach “Lil Mac” Pannell. The stoppage came 41 seconds into the second stanza. Thompson, who made his BKFC debut at the promotion’s debut event in 2018, is now 6-6 in his BKFC career. Pannell, a product of Lancaster, PA, is now 1-3.
Freehold Township, NJ’s Phil “Hitman” Caracappa was victorious in his BKFC debut after Noah “The Cannon” Norman was disqualified in the fourth round of their bantamweight matchup. The bout was called to a stop 40 seconds into the fourth frame due to repeated late strikes from Norman, who was previously deducted a pair of points in the third round due to late strikes and a headbutt. Norman, who hails from Coatesville, PA, is now 0-1 under the BKFC banner.
Philadelphia middleweight Cody Russell looked sensational in his BKFC debut, dropping Logan “Mayhem” Tucker five times before their bout was stopped in the third round. Time of the knockout was 49 seconds into the third stanza. Tucker, who represents Birmingham, AL, is now 0-1.
In the first sanctioned bare-knuckle fighting bout in Philadelphia history, Itso Babulaidze was victorious in his BKFC debut, sending Bryan “The Iceman” McDowell to the canvas five times en route to the unanimous decision win. Babulaidze also made history as the first fighter from the country of Georgia to compete in BKFC. Two judges scored the fight 48-42, while one had it 47-43, all in favor of Babulaidze, who picked himself up off the canvas twice in the action-packed middleweight matchup. McDowell, who hails from Maysville, KY, is now 1-1 in his BKFC career.
Knockout of the Night: Brandon Meyer, Ben Rothwell and Kaine Tomlinson Jr.,
Fight of the Night: Itso Babulaidze vs. Bryan McDowell
Here are some highlights from the post-KnuckleMania V Press Conference from BKFC Founder and President David Feldman.
“This doesn't happen by myself. I'm the face of this company and I work my (expletive) off, but I've got the best team in the world. They live and die for me, and I really take my hat off for them. I love them, and I appreciate them so (expletive) much, man, because we arrived tonight!”
“Every single fighter on this card is getting a bonus tonight. The whole card is getting a bonus. It's never been done before in combat sports, but everybody on the card is getting a bonus.”
“I don't have much to say; it was just a truly unbelievable night. I looked around the crowd a hundred times, man. I was telling my wife, I was telling my son, there wasn't an empty seat in the house. It's unbelievable. I'm so (expletive) happy!”
On BKFC’s immediate future: “We're definitely going to Australia, but the things that are coming very soon for us is that we're going back to Spain, we're going to Dubai, April 5-6, and we're going to Italy on April 26, amongst all the rest of the fights we're doing across the United States, so it's going to be a busy year for us.”
On Conor McGregor possibly entering the BKFC squared circle: "I was walking out of the arena and Conor tapped me on the shoulder and told me to make sure I tell everybody that he's fighting Jeremy Stephens for BKFC. I don't know if it's happening, but that's what he told me."
KnuckleMania V Main Card Results
Jeremy Stephens def. Eddie Alvarez via TKO in Round 3 (2:00)
Ben Rothwell def. Mick Terrill via KO in Round 1 (0:36)
Rothwell wins BKFC World Heavyweight Title
Bec Rawlings def. Taylor Starling via Unanimous Decision (50-44x2, 49-45)
Patrick Brady def. Zach Calmus via TKO in Round 1 (0:53)
John Garbarino def. Apostle Spencer via KO in Round 1 (1:59)
Kaine Tomlinson Jr. def. Pat Sullivan via KO in Round 1 (0:37)
Steve Banks def. Joey Dawejko via TKO in Round 3 (1:54)
Brandon Meyer def. Zedekiah Montanez via KO in Round 2 (0:39)
Travis Thompson def. Zach Pannell via KO in Round 2 (0:41)
Phil Caracappa def. Noah Norman via Disqualification in Round 4 (0:40)
KnuckleMania V Preliminary Card Results
Cody Russell def. Logan Tucker via KO in Round 3 (0:49)
Itso Babulaidze def. Bryan McDowell via Unanimous Decision (48-42x2, 47-43)
Photo courtesy: BKFC
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