How to Bet on Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC): The Complete Beginner’s Guide
Bare-Knuckle is not a novelty in the world of fighting sports. What makes BKFC different is the fact that it has a regulated bare knuckle event. It is the first legal and sanctioned event of this kind in the United States of America since 1889. Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championship operates from Philadelphia. Behind it, we have David Feldman, a former boxer himself, and one of the biggest stars of modern MMA and UFC, Conor McGregor. BKFC is dedicated to making bare knuckle fights part of the modern fighting sports niche, but without letting go of its historical legacy.
From the get go, this promotion will be centred around specific rules and fighter safety. The ring will be a circular one, with four ropes, which is intended to keep the fights exciting and fast-paced. Another thing that makes BKFC stand out is its own, patented, Squared Circle, which comes with scratch lines. This part was taken from famous Broughton Rules, which were in power when bare knuckle first came to prominence in the 19th century. According to these rules, the fighters need to keep their feet on the so-called toe line, start each round face forward, and no more than a few inches apart.
What will make this promotion exciting from the get go is the fact it’s not an amateur promotion. Only fighters with previous experience in boxing, Muay Thai, MMA, or kickboxing will be allowed to fight. This will attract many familiar faces, with Joe Lauzon already having his fight booked. The same goes for referees who will also have to have former experience in refereeing matches on the highest level. All of it will be overseen by the Athletic Commission, ensuring a competition that belongs in the top echelon of fighting sports.
Lastly, the Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championship will be just that, bare. There are a few similar promotions across the globe, with all of them taking the moniker of being bare knuckle, and yet their fighters have their hands wrapped in gauze, tape, and different wraps. BKFC will have none of that, while taking pride in having its prize fighters fighting with nothing but their bare hands.
How Conor McGregor Fits The Bill
Conor McGregor has already made a name for himself in the world of fighting, despite his comeback failing to impress anyone. Former two division champion, has built his empire outside of UFC and MMA, and just one of his latest endeavors was to become a co-owner of the named promotion. McGregor made his presence public during BKFC KnuckleMania 4 car, when he stated: ” The Notorious Conor McGregor here. Ladies and gentlemen, the huge announcement that I have for you today, Conor McGregor myself and McGregor Sports and Entertainment is now an owner of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships. Welcome to the big leagues. David Feldman, baby, we did it.”
It’s been two years since The Notorious joined, and his ability to promote any event is already doing wonders for BKFC. The company has grown a lot during the past two years, and with the possibility of McGregor even fighting once his contract with UFC is up, is attracting more and more fans by the day. Due to his latest setback, it will be a while before we see Conor fighting again, but in the meantime it means that he will have more time for his side quests, and BKFC is one of his main ones at the moment. While McGregor’s presence and co-ownership mean a lot, the company has been expanding via other channels too.
DAZN Broadcasting Deal
Back in 2024, Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championship has signed a three year deal with DAZN, who is their official broadcasting partner to date, and the two entities are entering into the last year of their deal. As a part of the deal, DAZN has become the main place where you can watch BKFC, focusing on the company’s live shows, pay per view events, and different programs regarding the promotion. The deal is already bearing fruits, and the number of broadcasts has increased since the first one which was the BKFC Spain at Marbella Arena in Marbella, Spain. DAZN has been a home for fighting sports for some time now, and with the best that bare knuckle has to offer it has improved its standing among the fans of combat sports.
As we said, the name of Conor McGregor knows how to attract fans, and right after he was announced as the promotion’s co-owner, DAZN also stepped up and joined the most exciting combat sports promotion at the moment. The way things stand now, we are in for a lot more fun coming our way, as we’re not far removed from having bare knuckle betting markets expanded, and made available across different sports betting markets. If you’ve previously enjoyed wagering on boxing, or UFC, you will love bare knuckle too. Considering it is a bit different from the combat sports you are used to, before starting your betting adventure with this combat sport, it’s recommended for beginners to check out upcoming sportsbooks’ BKFC betting odds first, and then make their initial wagers. If this is your first time coming into contact with BKFC, these are some of the main betting markets available.
BKFC Betting Markets
Betting on combat sports has been around since the dawn of time. Soon enough, BKFC will take the centre stage as far as combat sports go, considering its expansion in the past few years. This is the right moment to learn a few things as far as bare knuckle boxing betting goes. Here are the lines you need to get to know first, before you start checking out BKFC odds and putting big sums forth:
- Moneyline: As in most combat sports, and sports in general, when it comes to betting moneyline is in the first place. It is the basis of all bets as it is a wager on who is going to win the fight. Considering just how straightforward bare knuckle fights are, you will have no issues placing bets on this one.
- Method of victory: Now, here’s where it gets interesting. It can go to a decision, but more often than not BKFC fights end in KO/TKO. Also, there is a doctor stoppage available as a wager considering all the blood that can be spilled during bare knuckle fights. This is where it is important that in BKFC there are no wins by submission.
- Round Betting: When you bet on rounds, you wager on when the fight will end. It is a method of betting based on guessing how long a bout will go. So you guess the winner, and you guess the round in which the fighter wins. If this is your first time wagering on BKFC, remember that most fights have five rounds, but they’re only 2 minutes long.
- Total Rounds Over/Under: Each fight of BKFC has a line set for the number of rounds. When there’s a number set, and let’s say it’s 2.5 rounds, you place an either over or under bet. If you play over, the fight needs to be at least three rounds long. If it ends you lose the bets. When playing under, you win if the fight ends during the first two rounds. Because there’s five rounds, and each being 2 minutes long, some betting outlets allow a winning wager for under 2.5 if the fight ends before the 60 second mark in the third round. That’s why it is important to learn how to bet on BKFC before you place your first bet.
- Whether a Fight Goes The Distance: Sometimes, you simply cannot tell which fighter is going to win. So, if you have two fighters going about it, and both have a never die attitude, the fight will probably go to a decision. When you think that this is the case, and you do not want to wager on the winner, wager on the fight going the distance.
- Knockdown props: The fighters can go down, and get up back again. If you wager on a fighter who fights without safety precautions but can stand a beating, you can wager on a number of knockdowns during a single bout. It is also an under/over market.
Beyond what we have already listed, sports betting markets on BKFC can get even more complicated. You can wager on strikes landed props, which include strikes overall, and significant strikes, and of course different combos and parlays. This is waiting for you once you get around the basics. Considering you’re not there yet, there’s a few more things you ought to know about BKFC before your first ever bet.
Never forget that a BKFC fight cannot end in submission. That’s why betting markets for methods, which are now reduced, round betting, and distance markets are more valuable than the moneyline itself. Moneyline is often rather sharpened due to the fact that most heavy hitters are favoured in bare knuckle fights. That’s why, as far as BKFC goes, you need to remain focused on how the fight will end, and when it will happen. By focusing on these markets you will encounter the best odds available as far as bare knuckle goes.
What’s Next For BKFC?
As we said, big things lie ahead, and Conor McGregor is in the midst of it. Together with Fox Nation, he is teaming up to create a competition called World’s Baddest Man. It is scheduled to kick off next year, during the summer of 2027. It will have a documentary style of presentation, throughout the competition , with the Championship Finale going live. The host of the show will be Conor McGregor and it will air on Fox Nation. It will follow fighters from all over the world as they compete in an attempt to become the World’s Baddest Man.
The news was announced by Lauren Petterson, president of FOX Nation, and when speaking of it, she said: ” Conor McGregor is one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports, and we’re excited to partner with him on a bold new original series unlike any other. World’s Baddest Man combines premium documentary storytelling with world class competition, providing FOX Nation subscribers unprecedented access to unique athletes while showcasing the grit, determination and heart required to compete for one of the biggest prizes in combat sports.”
The Notorious is also excited about his new role, and by the time the show starts airing, he will most likely be out of his deal with UFC and fully dedicated to BKFC. For McGregor, BKFC is on a path to change the combat sport forever and he is not hiding the joy of himself being in the midst of collaboration between BKFC and Fox Nation. Talking about the partnership, he said:”I’m proud to be part of something that will set a new standard for what it means to be the baddest man in the world.”
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship has a diverse roster of fighters, and it is getting bigger as we speak. With the project the company has ahead, they will certainly elevate their status among fans of combat sports, and those who enjoy wagering on those events. At the end of the day, we haven’t had an opportunity to watch a fighting sport through a medium that is a combination of elite fighting competition and documentary storytelling.
David Feldman, the president of BKFC believes that a new era of fighting lies ahead: ” World’s Baddest Man is a bold new chapter for combat sports. Partnering with FOX Nation, Kiss Fly Productions and Conor McGregor allows us to showcase incredible athletes from around the world and tell the stories behind their pursuit of the toughest title in fighting. “
With the sport now becoming mainstream as far as wagering on it goes, we must say that it’s hard to wait for some more mayor events coming our way. Those closest to us are the BKFC Fight Night Newcastle on August 1st, followed by Fight Night Sturgis on August 9th.
