The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) hosted its inaugural event in New Jersey at Newark’s Prudential Center this past Saturday, featuring two title fights and a visit from MMA legend Conor McGregor.
Orlando’s undefeated BKFC King of Violence Champion Mike Perry retained his title with a win over previously undefeated Jeremy Stephens in front of a crowd of more than 10,000. Perry knocked Stephens down six times, including three in the fifth and final round, earning a TKO stoppage.
“It is fitting that I’m the King of Violence,” Perry said after his win. “It makes sense. I can take it; it’s nothing to me except just a little candy, and I’ll munch on it all day long. I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
“That was an incredible representation of bare-knuckle fighting, ladies and gentlemen,” said McGregor to combat sport fans. The 37-year-old McGregor became the first-ever UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) double champion — a champion in two weight classes simultaneously — in November 2016 at Madison Square Garden, when he defeated Eddie Alvarez to hold both the featherweight and lightweight titles.
“I have respect for you, and I’d love to (fight) you one day for sure,” McGregor told Perry. “Congratulations to you, your team, and your family. I’ve got a lot of respect for who you are and what you’re about.”
Unfortunately for the Dublin, Ireland, native, who hasn’t fought since 2022, the UFC announced on Tuesday that he has received an 18-month ban under its anti-doping policy for missing three mandatory tests in a 12-month window, on June 13, September 19, and September 20 of 2024.
In the co-main event on the 10-fight card, undisputed BKFC World Women’s Flyweight champion Christine Ferea stopped the previously unbeaten BKFC World Women’s Featherweight champion Jessica Borga to win the inaugural BKFC Queen of Violence Championship with a fourth-round stoppage. Ferea is 11-1, including the longest winning streak in the BKFC by a female fighter: nine.
“This is the best feeling in the (expletive) world,” Ferea said in her post-fight interview. “Thank you, (BKFC founder) David Feldman, and thank you, Conor McGregor, for coming in here and blowing this sport up even more.”
Jaron Ennis (34-0 30 KOs) will make his super-welterweight debut Saturday, October. 11, versus Angolan Uisma Lima (14-1 10 KOs) at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The following Saturday, Danny Garcia (37-4 21 KOs) will fight a record 10th time at the Center against Queens native Daniel Gonzalez (22-4-1 7 KOs). Garcia is 7-2 at the Barclays Center, including the first two losses of his career.
The UFC makes its annual Madison Square Garden appearance on Saturday, Nov. 15. While the main event features Jack Della Maddalena making his first welterweight title defense against Islam Makhachev, it is China’s Zhang Weili, who dares to be great, moving up 10 pounds to 125 to challenge Valentina Shevchenko in a battle between two of the most accomplished women in UFC history, who could steal the show.