In Moscow, Russia, bare knuckle’s hidden gem is shining.
Top Dog Fighting Championship is the best bare knuckle promotion you've never heard of. Based out of Russia, the organization has built a massive following in its home country and its broadcasts have started to trickle over to the western world. That's why today, I want to bring special attention to it, so bare knuckle fans can add it to their fight catalog.
(Photo Courtesy: Top Dog FC Instagram @topdogfight)
Atmosphere:
There is something extra in the air when Top Dog holds an event. The intimate setting adds to the aura, when you see the athletes fighting in sweatpants surrounded by hay bales you realize all of this is intentional. Every one of these fighters is highly trained with boxing or kickboxing backgrounds, and the underground atmosphere is a choice by the promotion to add to the excitement that makes you really feel like you are transported back to the seedy underbelly of the sport’s beginning. Before the bureaucracy of sanctioning bodies, matchmaking, sponsorships and TV deals, this feels like you are watching John L. Sullivan and Jake Killrain go at it in the 19th century. These guys are highly skilled and put it all on the line enduring punishment in the pursuit of victory. In my time as a bare knuckle fan, I don’t think I’ve ever seen aggression like this. I’m serious.
Production Value:
While it's difficult to find exact attendance numbers (the whole website is in Russian, give me a break!) The events have a large number of fans packed in, to the point some are standing all around the ring leading to a very intense, intimate atmosphere with an electric crowd, and this translates to the viewer. With so many fans surrounding the ring your point of view from the camera makes you feel as though you’re right in the arena bumping shoulders with the rest of the audience.
Events are shot in beautiful 4k resolution with several live camera angles, and state of the art slo-mo cameras, leading to breathtaking replays that truly display the brutality going on in the ring. While you might think guys fighting in a ring made of hay bales means it’s grimey, low-level fighting, it isn’t! The production team really pushes this product over the limit and proves to you beyond the fighters themselves that they are legit.
Rules:
Top Dog’s rules are very similar to what we’ve come to expect in North America and Europe with a few exceptions. Full rules provided by TDFC are listed below:
Bouts are 3 rounds of two minutes.
Fights take place with no gloves.
Strikes from the clinch are allowed.
Open palm strikes are allowed.
Shoulder strikes are allowed.
After a knockdown, a fighter has 10 seconds to get up.
A draw is possible.
In championship fights, there are 5 rounds of 2 minutes each. A draw is not possible.
(Photo Courtesy: Top Dog FC Instagram @topdogfight)
Champions You Should Know:
Now that you’re all up to speed on what goes on, you need somewhere to start and what better place than the elite of the promotion. Top Dog competes across six different weight classes but there are only four current champions.
Featherweight champion: Genghis Khan (7-0, 1 KO)
Welterweight: Kantemir Kalazhokov (1-0, 6 KO’s)
Light Heavyweight: Naim Davudov (6-1, 3 KO’s)
Heavyweight: Oleg Fomichov (5-0, 2 KO’s)
Put on any of their fights and you won't be disappointed. In fact, Naim “Samurai” Davudov is ranked at Number 6 on BK Nations Pound-for-Pound list, and the rest will surely find their way into the Top 10 before too long.
So, what are you waiting for? You’ve got work to do! With the building blocks provided above, it's your turn to learn about bare knuckle’s best kept secret!
Top Photo Courtesy of Top Dog FC Instagram @topdogfight
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