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THE SPORT OF BARE KNUCKLE EXPLAINED (2024)

Interested in understanding the sport of bare knuckle in 2024? We got you covered.


Mike Perry in a BKFC fight

The combat sports scene has been on fire since the turn of the decade and whether you are a boxing or MMA fan, the newest (but technically oldest) addition into the scene is certainly worth watching. It’s bare knuckle. 


Ahead of the biggest bare knuckle card of the year, BKFC 62, I wanted to lay out all the things you need to know about the sport. 


Yes, it’s bloodier. Yes, the fights end in stoppage more often. But no, it is not more dangerous than either of its aforementioned gloved counterparts. There are less concussions and broken bones in bare knuckle believe it or not. 


And no, I’m not here to convince people that bare knuckle is, by any means, safe. But I did need to point out that if you’re against watching it because you think it’s more brutal, then you should do a little more research. Genuinely. Don’t take my word for it.



In 2024, the bare knuckle sports industry, is primarily run by two organizations;

BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) & BYB Extreme (Back Yard Brawl). There was another big name organization called BKB that was primarily based in the UK. As of May, 2024, they were bought by BYB and the process of merging the two organizations' champions is still ongoing. I am also going to provide you with all of the champions from the companies later in this piece. 


First, I would like to start by name dropping some fighters you should know about. 


  • Mike Perry (BKFC) He is a former UFC fighter who has excelled in BKFC beating fellow former UFC champions and becoming the face of the sport. 

  • Barrie Jones (BYB, formerly BKB) One of the best bare knucklers on the planet. Two-division champion. Beat the arguable GOAT, Jimmy Sweeney, twice. Has a case for being the bare knuckle GOAT.

  • Jimmy Sweeney (BYB, formerly BKB) Arguably the GOAT with one of the most experienced records in the sport and credited with making the sport more popular. Four-division champion. 

  • Lorenzo Hunt (BKFC, debuted in BYB) Two-division champion. Our pound for pound number 2. One of the most destructive fighters in the sport. 

  • Christine Ferea (BKFC) Widely regarded as the female bare knuckle GOAT. Current flyweight champion.

  • Britain Hart (BKFC) After her fight with Taylor Starling at BKFC 63, she will have the most main events in company history. Current strawweight champion. 

  • Austin Trout (BKFC) Former boxing world champion. Beat two-division champion Luis Palomino. Our pound for pound number 1.


Now I’m going to lay out all the differences between the two organizations and their rule sets. 


BKFC RULES (As of June 21st, 2024)


  • Fighters are permitted to wrap and tape the wrist, thumb, and mid-hand. No gauze or tape can be within 1 inch of the knuckles.


  • Fighters will “Toe The Line”. There are two lines, three feet apart, in the center of the ring where the fighters will start each round. The front foot will be on the line and then the referee will instruct the fighters to “Knuckle Up”. This means the beginning of the round/bout.


  • Punches are the only strike allowed and must be a closed fist. (No kicks, elbows, knees, or grappling)


  • In a clinch, the fighter may punch his way out with the open hand. If there is a three-second lull in action while clinching, the referee will break the fighters.


  • If a fighter gets knocked down, he will have 10 seconds to return to his feet, or the referee will stop the fight. You are NOT permitted to hit a downed fighter. If you do, you will be disqualified, and your purse may be withheld. While a fighter is downed, the other fighter will be instructed to report to a neutral area.


  • There is no three knockdown rule.


  • If a fighter is cut, and the blood is impairing the fighter’s vision, the referee may call a timeout and give the cutman 30 seconds to stop the bleeding. If the cut cannot be controlled and the blood inhibits the fighter’s vision, the referee will stop the fight and award victory to the other fighter.


  • Fights are 2 minutes per round and each bout will be 5 rounds in length.


  • Attire: All fighters must have a groin protector with a cup, a mouthpiece, boxing trunks, and boxing/wrestling shoes.


  • All fighters are expected to give 100% effort and behave with complete sportsmanship.


  • BKFC is conducted in a circular ring that they call the “squared circle”. Yes, that term is also used in boxing. 


BKFC WEIGHT CLASSES (As of June 21st, 2024)


Heavyweight 206+-lbs. Male

Cruiserweight 205-lbs. Male

Light heavyweight 185-lbs. Male

Middleweight 175-lbs. Male

Welterweight 165-lbs. Male

Lightweight 155-lbs. Male

Featherweight 145-lbs. Male

Bantamweight 135-lbs. Male

Flyweight 125-lbs. Male/Female

Strawweight 115-lbs. Female


BKFC CHAMPIONS (As of June 24th, 2024) 


Mick Terrill - Heavyweight

Lorenzo Hunt - Cruiserweight

Jared Warren - Light Heavyweight

David Mundell - Middleweight

Austin Trout - Welterweight

Vacant - Lightweight

Kai Stewart - Featherweight

Alberto Blas - Bantamweight

John Dodson - Flyweight

Christine Ferea - Flyweight

Britain Hart - Strawweight


BYB RULES (As of June 21st, 2024)


  • They fight in a triangle ring that they call the “Mighty Trigon”.


  • Fights are contested at a maximum of 6, 3 minute rounds. 


  • There is no three knockdown rule.


  • Fighters can not be saved by the bell.


  • All bouts will be evaluated and scored by three (3) judges. The bouts will be scored using the ten (10) point must system to determine the winner. The scorecards shall be collected from each judge between each round of the bout.


BYB has a lot more details laid out in their rules so I’ll just provide you with a link to their full official rulebook: https://www.bybextreme.com/rules 


BYB WEIGHT CLASSES (As of June 21st, 2024)


Strawweight 100-107-lbs.

Super Flyweight 108-115-lbs.

Bantamweight 116-125-lbs.

Featherweight 126-135-lbs.

Lightweight 136-145-lbs.

Welterweight 146-155-lbs.

Middleweight 156-165-lbs.

Super Middleweight 166-175-lbs.

Light Heavyweight 176-185-lbs.

Middle Heavyweight 186-205-lbs.

Cruiserweight 206-225-lbs.

Heavyweight 226-265-lbs.

Super Heavyweight 266+-lbs.


BYB + BKB CHAMPIONS (As of June 21st, 2024)


BYB

Super Flyweight - Agnesa Kirakosian

Featherweight - Harold McQueen 

Lightweight - Julio Tanori-Rodriguez & Paty Juarez

Welterweight - Carlos Alexandre

Middleweight - LT Nelson

Super Middleweight - LT Nelson

Light Heavyweight - Cub Hawkins

Heavyweight - Ike Villanueva


BKB

Flyweight - Scott McHugh

Bantamweight - Barrie Jones

Featherweight - Barrie Jones

Lightweight - James Connelly

Welterweight - Jimmy Sweeney

Super Welterweight - Jimmy Sweeney

Middleweight - Dan Lerwell

Super Middleweight - Marko Martinjak

Cruiserweight - Carl Hobley

Heavyweight - Richie Leak


(Photo courtesy: BKFC)

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