BKFC KNUCKLEMANIA PRESS CONFERENCE- Largo, FL

The stars for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship’s KNUCKLEMANIA (live February 5^th on Fite TV PPV) appeared on stage for a press conference at Bert’s Barracuda Harley Davidson in Largo, FL on February 3^rd. With the BKFC Lightweight title and Police Gazette belt on the line between Dat Nguyen & Johnny Bedford, Britain Hart welcoming UFC alum Paige VanZant to BKFC, and Chris Leben’s final fight against his personally chosen opponent Quentin Henry.

With world record KO holder Uly Diaz making an appearance, and other KNUCKLEMANIA fighters like Lorenzo Hunt, Brandon Lambert, and Martin Brown on hand, it was easy to make some small talk with the stars of the most historic American Combat sport.

            As combat sports go, you’re lucky to have one or two truly memorable or record-breaking fights on a single card; this card had three. Leben has been a legendary figure in combat sports for nearly 2 decades. VanZant had a prosperous career in the UFC & looks to beging a long BKFC career. Johnny Bedford has been steamrolling through BKFC at 5-0.

            The press conference itself (via BKFC (skip to 25 minutes in) https://youtu.be/gLGGfyjwSU0) lasted about a half an hour. With a large focus on the end of Leben’s career, and the beginning of VanZant’s, there was a lot of determination and confidence on the stage.

            At the stare downs the tension between Bedford and Nguyen was the so strong you could cut it with a knife. It’s one thing to sell fights, it’s another to truly despise someone. These two simply cannot stand one another, and it promises to be a heavy hitting fight.

            With the stars and other fighters taking short stints in the ring, each fighter seemed to grab their own audience; each taking time to speak/grab a photo with fans and reporters while awaiting their turn in the ring as the rhythmic snaps of the pads echoed across the floor.

           

While all business once the pads went out, outside the ring the jokes and stories were flying around the building. You could see the new or aspiring fighters taking pointers from those who are making it in BKFC, and learning how to refine their style with these mini lessons.

            Both the vacant 145lb and current 135lb Police Gazette belts with the upcoming winner’s medallions were on hand along with the BKFC title. To see the craftsmanship each one entails is nothing short of amazing. Scott Burt from the Bare Knuckle Hall of Fame has kept the memory of John L Sullivan alive and well, and his close relationship with BKFC ensures this history is not lost to the sands of time.

            KNUCKLEMANIA promises to be a night of bare knuckle boxing like you’ve not seen before. Being held at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, FL (with appropriate social distancing), tickets are on-sale at the box-office or on the RP Funding Center official site. With doors opening at 7, fights live streaming on YouTube at 8, and the PPV on Fite TV beginning at 9, this will be some of the best money you’ve spent all Super Bowl weekend.