BKFC $25 million tournament set for March, ‘Baddest B*tch’ tournament and fighter equity program announced

BKFC has massive plans for 2026.

Over the previous few years, the bare-knuckle promotion has emerged as one of many main fight sports activities manufacturers on the earth, and the group is seeking to proceed constructing on that momentum, revealing a number of massive strikes for the long run at a press convention dubbed “Conor McGregor’s Champions Summit” on Thursday.

Chief amongst BKFC’s bulletins was particulars surrounding the huge $25 million “Baddest Man” match that kicks off in March. The match contains 32 fighters starting from 185 kilos to 265 kilos, and a $15 million prize going to the winner, with the runner-up incomes $1 million.

BKFC president David Feldman mentioned the match is a 12-month course of to compensate for the accidents sustained in the midst of bare-knuckle fights, and begins out in Los Angeles and ends within the Center East.

Feldman additionally introduced that the promotion plans to run an identical match for the ladies starting in the course of 2026 which he dubbed “The Baddest Bitch within the World” match.

And in maybe the largest piece of reports, Feldman introduced the creation of a fighter fairness program for champions and long-tenured BKFC fighters to change into part-owners of the corporate.

“Me and Conor had a protracted speak and we mentioned, ‘Let’s do one thing that nobody’s ever achieved: let’s make all of our fighters house owners of the corporate,” Feldman mentioned. “So we’re going to begin off with everybody one in all our champions, whether or not they’re a U.Okay. champion or a world champion, otherwise you’re a long-tenured fighter that has a minimum of 10 fights with us, you’re all going to get fairness, proper right here. I’m not speaking about I’m going to do it subsequent week, I’m going to do it tonight.”

The announcement was well-received by all of the fighters in attendance, however none extra so than McGregor, who, as part-owner of the promotion, celebrated the transfer loudly.

“Do you perceive how unbelievable that’s for our combatants to be rewarded in that approach?” McGregor mentioned. “To affix this rise, actually be on the board with us as we stand up the ladder of fight sport. For me, I fought my coronary heart and soul, I gave the whole lot to the rise of an organization, and I obtained nothing for it. Now, right here we’re, our firm, my firm, we give again to the fighters who bleed for us. So welcome to the proprietor’s desk, our world champions and our U.Okay. champions! We’re on this collectively! Let’s go Naked Knuckle familia!”

Feldman then expanded on the fairness program, explaining that it’s arrange as a tiered system of entry, with the highest performers — champions who defend their titles 10 occasions — incomes as much as $3 million. Any fighter who wins a title and defends a minimum of as soon as takes $100,000 of fairness. And McGregor prompt that may be a main windfall.

“To have fairness stake in a promotion at floor stage — we’re at floor zero right here!” McGregor mentioned. “You possibly can all really feel the thrill and the stress on this constructing. It is a multi-billion-dollar struggle promotion, and we’re giving it again to the women and men who shed blood on this ring for us, for our leisure. And that’s to be counseled, and actually must be replicated throughout all preventing promotions. In case you’re actually in regards to the fighter and also you’re actually with you’re fighter, share among the pie, child!”