2023 in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship

The year 2023 was the 6th year in the history of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, a bare-knuckle fighting promotion based in Philadelphia.

Background
The 2023 season started with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 35 on January 27, 2023. BKFC is available on FITE TV PPV.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 35: Cedeno vs. Slaveski
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 35: Cedeno vs. Slaveski was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on January 27, 2023, at the John T. Rhodes Sports Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA.

Background
The event featured a welterweight title eliminator bout between Yosdenis Cedeno and Gorjan Slaveski.

The event was expected to have a rematch between BKFC Bantamweight Champion Johnny Bedford and former champion Dat Nguyen; however, the bout was cancelled after Bedford retired from combat sports just a few days into the camp.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship: KnuckleMania 3
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship: KnuckleMania 3 was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on February 17, 2023, at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

Background
The event was headlined by the BKFC Light Heavyweight Championship unification bout between the reigning champion Lorenzo Hunt and the interim champion Mike Richman

The event also featured the bare-knuckle debut of former WBA (Regular) Light Middleweight champion Austin Trout as he faced UFC Hall of Famer Diego Sanchez.

Also, former NFL defensive end and mixed martial artist Greg Hardy made his bare-knuckle debut on the card against Josh Watson. Additionally, the Albuquerque native, The Ultimate Fighter 14 winner and two-time UFC title challenger John Dodson and his brother Eric appeared on the card.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 36: Adams vs. Belcher
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 36: Adams vs. Belcher was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on February 24, 2023, at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner, Louisiana, USA.

Background
The event was headlined by the heavyweight contender Alan Belcher challenging the reigning champion Arnold Adams.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 37: Tierney vs. Lindsey
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 37: Tierney vs. Lindsey was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on March 4, 2023, at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in London, England.

Background
The event was headlined by a bout between Connor Tierney and Jake Lindsey.

===Results ===

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 38: Buakaw vs. Saenchai (cancelled)
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 38: Buakaw vs. Saenchai was scheduled to be a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on March 18, 2023.

Background
The event was scheduled to be headlined by a special rules bare-knuckle Muay Thai bout between Muay Thai legends Buakaw Banchamek and Saenchai. However, In mid-February it was announced that due to legal implications regarding the use of name muay thai in marketing, the bout was indefinitely postponed. Being the only published bout, the event was removed from the organization's event schedule altogether.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 39: Barnett vs. Alvarez
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 39: Barnett vs. Alvarez was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on March 24, 2023.

Background
The event was initially scheduled to be headlined by the BKFC Bantamweight Championship bout between Reggie Barnett Jr. and Gustaf Cedermalm. However, Cedermalm withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Daniel Alvarez.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 38: Delray Beach
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 38: Nguyen vs. Straus was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on April 21, 2023. The event was initially scheduled to take place on March 17, but due to undisclosed reasons it was postponed on the day of the event.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 40: Holmes vs. Christie
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 40: Holmes vs. Christie was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on April 22, 2023.

Background
The event was initially scheduled to be headlined by welterweight bout between Elvin Brito and Jamie Cox, but the bout was cancelled after Cox withdrew.

===Results ===

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 41: Colorado
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 41: Colorado was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on April 29, 2023. This event featured the debut of former UFC Middleweight champion Luke Rockhold, former UFC Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and former UFC Featherweight title contender Chad Mendes.

Former UFC Lightweight and Featherweight champion Conor McGregor was in attendance for this sold-out event.

Bonus awards

The following fighters were awarded bonuses:
 * Fight of the Night: Eddie Alvarez vs. Chad Mendes
 * Knockout of the Night: Dillon Winemiller

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 42: Greenville
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 42: Greenville was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on May 12, 2023.

Bonus awards

The following fighters were awarded bonuses:
 * Fight of the Night: Tony Soto vs. Tyler Goodjohn
 * Knockout of the Night: Brandon Allen

===Results ===

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 43: Omaha
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 43: Omaha was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on May 19, 2023.

===Results ===

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 44: Montana
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 44: Montana was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on June 9, 2023.

The card was headlined by Kai Stewart vs. Louie Lopez for the inaugural BKFC Featherweight Championship.

Bonus awards

The following fighters were awarded bonuses:
 * Fight of the Night: Kai Stewart vs. Louie Lopez
 * Knockout of the Night: Leo Bercier

===Results ===

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 45: Hollywood
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 45: Hollywood was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on June 23, 2023.

The event was headlined by double champion Luis Palomino defending his BKFC Lightweight title against James Lilley.

===Results ===

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 46: Newcastle
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 46: Newcastle was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on July 1, 2023.

===Results ===

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 47: Lakeland
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 47: Lakeland was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on July 14, 2023.

Bonus awards

The following fighters were awarded bonuses:
 * Fight of the Night: Ryan Reber vs. Travis Thompson
 * Knockout of the Night: Brandon Allen

===Results ===

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 48: Albuquerque
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 48: Albuquerque was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on August 11, 2023.

The event was headlined by John Dodson vs. JR Ridge, which crowned the inaugural BKFC Flyweight Champion.

Social media influencer Bryce Hall made his debut in the sport against Gee Perez at this event and was victorious.

Bonus awards

The following fighters were awarded bonuses:
 * Fight of the Night: Anthony Sanchez vs. Gene Perez
 * Knockout of the Night: Keith Richardson

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Prospects Series 1
BKFC Prospects Series 1 was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on August 24, 2023. It was the first edition of the BKFC Prospects Series.

===Results ===

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 49: Miami
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 49: Miami was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on August 25, 2023.

Bonus awards

The following fighters were awarded bonuses:
 * Fights of the Night: Freddy Masabo vs. Bovar Khanakov and John Michael Escoboza vs. Esteban Rodriguez
 * Knockout of the Night: Matthew Russo

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 50: Denver
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 50: Denver was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on September 22, 2023.

Background
The event was headlined by the two-division champion Lorenzo Hunt defending his BKFC Cruiserweight Championship for the first time against UFC veteran Chris Camozzi.

Bonus awards

The following fighters were awarded bonuses:
 * Knockout of the Night: Andrew Strode

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 51: Salem
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 51: Salem was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on September 30, 2023.

Background
The event was headlined by Britain Hart defending her BKFC Women's Strawweight Championship for the second time against Melanie Shah.

===Results ===

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Prospects Series 2
BKFC Prospects Series 2 was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on October 14, 2023.

Background
===Results ===

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 52: South Carolina
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 52: South Carolina was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on October 20, 2023.

Background
The event was headlined by Reggie Barnett Jr. defending his BKFC Bantamweight Championship against Keith Richardson.

Bonus awards

The following fighters were awarded bonuses:
 * Fight of the Night: Tony Soto vs. Kevin Croom
 * Knockout of the Night: Brandon Bushaw
 * Performance of the Night: Keith Richardson

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 53: Orlando
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 53: Orlando was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on November 3, 2023.

BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam
BKFC Thailand 5 was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on November 4, 2023.

Background
The event was headlined by a Special Rules Bare Knuckle Thai Fight featuring Muay Thai icons Buakaw Banchamek vs. Saenchai, who were scheduled to face each other in March 2023.

The co-main event featured a title match between defending champion Fani Peloumpi and Po Denman for the BKFC Thailand Strawweight Championship. Also on the card was a title fight for the vacant BKFC Thailand Featherweight Championship between Krisana Srisang and Sarun Srioumboo.

Bonus awards

The following fighters were awarded bonuses:
 * Fight of the Night: Pongpisan Chunyong vs. Tha Pyay Nyo

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 54: Bulgaria
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 54: Bulgaria was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on November 17, 2023.

Background
This event was notable in part because all of the fighters were new to the BKFC.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 55: Leeds
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 55: Leeds was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on November 18, 2023.

Background
Antonio Moscatiello was set to face Patryk Sagan, however Sagan withdrew prior to the event for undisclosed reasons, and was replaced by Hynek Hospodarsky.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 56: Utah
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 56: Utah is a bare-knuckle fighting event being held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on December 2, 2023.

Background
This event featured former UFC fighter Mike Perry against former UFC Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez. This also had the bareknuckle debut of former UFC fighter Jeremy Stephens.

A Heavyweight bout between Ben Rothwell and Todd Duffee was scheduled for the co-main event. However, on November 30, it was announced the bout was cancelled due to Rothwell having an illness. The bout was rescheduled for BKFC: Knucklemania IV on April 27, 2024. A bout between Nick Rossborough and Kevin Brooks was cancelled prior to the event.

Bonus awards

The following fighters were awarded bonuses:
 * Fights of the Night: Kai Stewart vs. Howard Davis and Esteban Rodriguez vs. Keegan Vandermeer
 * Knockout of the Night: Mick Terrill