As the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) continues to grow in popularity, people are beginning to binge-watch the rise of the sport. This organization is based out of Philadelphia by David Feldman, a former professional boxer. This foundation grew due to the physicality, toughness and dangerous nature of the sport.
Although the BKFC was founded in 2018, it has become widely more popular over the past year. Much of this is due to TikTok star Bryce Hall sharing his fighting journey on the internet. Many people were against him fighting for the first time in the BKFC, because these fights are notorious for being very bloody and gruesome.
“I first heard about BKFC a year ago while watching TikTok. Bryce Hall was documenting his training and hyping up the fight. I was intrigued enough to look it up and from there I was hooked because it was nothing like I had ever seen,” sophomore Yusuf Azamy commented.
The mental toughness shown by these fighters has drawn in a large number of spectators. The way they can take a blow and recover in seconds shocks fans every time. Spectators cannot believe the cuts and wounds that fighters have to take and battle through.
“I prefer watching BKFC over regular boxing because of how physical it is. I get bored when boxing matches last multiple rounds because it gets repetitive. I like how in BKFC any punch can end the fight, it keeps me on the edge of my seat,” junior Ashton Clarke said.
It just took one star, Bryce Hall, to gain immediate support from combat sports fans around the country. Many new fans claim that more well-known fighters need to join the club for it to stay engaging. Fans like to see people they are familiar with so that they can root for them.
“I’d like to see Francis Ngannou compete in BKFC because he is a very heavy hitter. I’d also like to see how his mixed martial arts experience carries over to bare-knuckle fighting,” senior Lukas Jonner commented.
Some fans are speculating that bare-knuckle fighting could become the most popular style of fighting overtaking boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA). The BKFC undoubtedly has the most split reactions. Some people can’t get enough of the risk, but others find it hard to watch.
“I don’t think bare-knuckle boxing will ever be the most common. Your average person is not going to want to train in bare-knuckle fighting because of the increased danger. I could see myself boxing, but I would prefer to do it with gloves,” senior Kole Costello added.
The emergence of the BKFC has continued to bring popularity to the fighting industry. Skeptics say it won’t last because of the risks involved, but those who support it, love it. One things for certain, a bare-knuckle fight will be sure to draw a crowd.