There are going to be quite a lot of fighters volunteering to hitch BKFC’s huge match launching in 2025 for extra causes than simply the $25 million in prize cash connected.
Simply earlier than the top of 2024, BKFC president David Feldman introduced plans for a match, however on the time he didn’t have many particulars to supply because the bare-knuckle promotion was nonetheless within the planning levels. Whereas all of the official guidelines, which incorporates how fighters can take part within the match, are nonetheless to be determined, Feldman provided some clarification on who’s might be eligible as soon as the fights start in 2025.
“What it’s going to be is one, massive, bigger prolonged weight class,” Feldman advised MMA Preventing. “It could possibly be a better weight, it could possibly be a lighter weight, we’re going via that now. Nevertheless it’s going to be a much bigger hole on a weight class.
“You’re going to see guys from 5 – 6 weight divisions on this match. You’ll see that. You’re going to see guys from 5 totally different continents making an attempt out for this factor. What number of totally different nations? I don’t know, 30, 40, 50 totally different nations.”
Feldman says a remaining determination hasn’t been made but on the precise weights, however the $25 million match received’t be unique to only one division. As an alternative, he’s choosing a extra “openweight” kind match so extra fighters may be included. Don’t anticipate to see a 125-pounder taking over a heavyweight when the motion begins later this yr, although.
“Let’s simply say for example if we did the upper weight class, it will be 175 [pounds] to 275 [pounds],” Feldman stated whereas clarifying the precise weights haven’t been determined but. “The decrease weight class possibly it will be 135 to 165, one thing [like that]. I’m simply placing it on the market. We don’t have it outlined but however it’s going to be a large disparity and I believe persons are going to need to see this factor.
“Who’s not going to need to see let’s say a Mike Perry combat a Ben Rothwell. Let’s simply say, that may be intriguing as hell. This man busts all people up in bare-knuckle, let’s see what that appears like. I believe it’s going to get individuals actually, actually intrigued.”
So far as the expertise obtainable for this match, Feldman promised that BKFC would scour the globe to search out the largest names but additionally one of the best prospects as effectively who may vye for the $25 million in prize cash.
Whereas he admitted there are most likely a couple of fighters who will bypass the choice course of simply based mostly on total worth to the match, Feldman expects to find quite a lot of new expertise whereas placing collectively the sphere of contributors.
“Everyone has to qualify for this match,” Feldman stated. “There’s going to be a few guys that we’re most likely going to say, ‘Hey, I need to lure you in right here, you get a bye into the ultimate eight’ as a result of I need to get massive names in there, too. However I additionally need to discover diamonds within the tough as a result of what I believe this match’s going to do for fight sports activities, I actually suppose it’s going to wake it up somewhat bit. I believe it’s going to alter the sport somewhat bit. I believe it’s actually going to assist us develop some new stars.
“As a result of we’re going to search out individuals from everywhere in the world who can actually combat and we didn’t know that they might actually combat. Now we’re going to know and we are able to develop them into BKFC stars on the identical time placing on essentially the most epic, essentially the most fighters ever aligned in a match and the largest prize pool ever in a combat match within the historical past of fight sports activities.”
Feldman additionally revealed that the match is anticipated to play out over a number of months so this received’t essentially turn into a rapid-fire situation the place the occasions are all stacked on prime of one another.
Add to that, the BKFC president says if all goes effectively with this inaugural $25 million match then the bare-knuckle promotion may find yourself doing extra of those sooner or later — and maybe the prize cash may get even larger.
“We’re going to try this in 2025 so it’s going to begin mid-2025 — most likely April, we’re taking a look at April — I’ll offer you one other little nugget. It’s 9 to 10 months,” Feldman stated. “So it’s going to [start] in 2025 and it’s going to finish in 2026.
“If it’s profitable the best way I believe it’s going to be, then we’re going to go 2026 into 2027, the identical factor. Who is aware of, if the broadcasters become involved the suitable manner, the sponsors are pleased, who is aware of if two or three years from now it doesn’t turn into a $100 million match.”
Placing up $25 million for a single match may appear to be a dangerous funding however Feldman says his philosophy with BKFC has been the identical ever since he first launched the promotion in 2018.
“I’m trying to do the largest and finest issues,” Feldman stated. “I’m trying to take a look at myself and the group. The one manner to try this goes on the market and doing the largest and one of the best issues that we are able to probably do. If we fall, we’re going to fall flat on our face with the largest, epic fail in fight sports activities, which it received’t be but when it does, it’s going to be making an attempt the largest and finest issues ever.
“We’re not going to fail by stumbling over, doing somewhat area present that didn’t work. We’re going to fail by ‘hey we tried to do a $100 million match and we simply couldn’t make it work’ however I actually suppose we’ve the recipe for what the followers need proper now. Pure pleasure, continuous motion your complete combat lengthy and we deal with the fighters nice.”
Whereas plans are nonetheless coming collectively, Feldman expects all the small print for the match to be revealed within the subsequent few weeks.
“Within the subsequent two weeks, we even have three planning classes to essentially map this factor out,” Feldman stated. “I believe two to a few weeks from now, I’ll be capable to announce the complete particulars, how the prize cash dwindles down for everyone and what the primary prize is and the way it’s going to work for everyone. I believe after we try this, all people goes to get very, very enthusiastic about this.”
