Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship dropped multiple bombshells at their inaugural Champions Summit on July 10, 2025, fundamentally changing how fighters are compensated and expanding the promotion’s global footprint. Co-owner Conor McGregor and founder David Feldman unveiled a fighter equity program, a $25 million tournament, and the acquisition of a Lethwei promotion in what may be the most significant series of announcements in combat sports this year.
Fighter Equity: Giving Champions a Seat at the Owner’s Table
The centerpiece announcement was BKFC’s revolutionary fighter equity program, making champions and long-tenured fighters part-owners of the company. This marks the first time a major combat sports promotion has distributed ownership stakes to its athletes based on performance.
How the Equity Program Works
The tiered system rewards fighters based on championship success and tenure:
Champions who defend their title once receive $100,000 in equity
Champions with 10 title defenses earn up to $3 million in equity
Long-tenured fighters with at least 10 BKFC bouts qualify for equity stakes
Both world champions and UK champions are eligible
Feldman emphasized the program’s immediate implementation during the press conference. “We’re going to start with every one of our champions, whether they’re a UK champion or a world champion, or you’re a long-tenured fighter that has at least 10 fights with us, you’re all going to get equity right here. I’m not talking about I’m going to do it next week, I’m going to do it tonight.”
McGregor’s UFC Frustration Drives Change
The equity program stems directly from McGregor’s experience with the UFC. After becoming the promotion’s first simultaneous two-division champion in 2016, McGregor publicly demanded ownership, stating he wanted “equal share” for his role in building the company’s value. That request was never granted.
McGregor referenced this history at the Champions Summit. “For me, I fought my heart and soul, I gave everything to the rise of a company, and I got nothing for it. Now here we are, our company, my company, we give back to the fighters who bleed for us. Welcome to the owner’s table, our world champions and our UK champions.”
The Irish superstar framed the program as a multi-billion dollar opportunity for fighters getting in at ground level. “To have equity stake in a promotion at ground zero, this is a multi-billion-dollar fight promotion, and we are giving it back to the men and women who shed blood in this ring for us.”
World’s Baddest Man: $25 Million Tournament Launching March 2026
BKFC announced its most ambitious competition yet: a 32-fighter tournament with a $25 million total purse, beginning in March 2026. The winner walks away with $15 million, making it one of the richest prizes in combat sports history.
Tournament Structure and Qualifications
The competition spans 9 to 12 months across five continents
Global tryouts will be held in the United States, Spain, Australia, and the Middle East
Qualifying rounds take place across multiple countries
Open to male fighters from 185 pounds to heavyweight (266 lbs)
64 fighters total are expected to compete through various stages
Feldman described the concept’s rapid evolution from idea to reality. “It was $10 million initially, and I was like, it’s just not enough. When you spread it around the right way, it’s just not enough. $25 million was the number.”
The tournament aims to create new stars while determining “the world’s baddest man.” Feldman acknowledged critics might point out the absence of grappling, kicks, or elbows, but emphasized the unique challenge of bare knuckle competition. “You’re fighting with bare knuckles, and this is the format we’re doing.”
Broadcast Rights and Infrastructure
BKFC is negotiating with major streaming platforms for exclusive broadcast rights. While not confirmed, the promotion’s existing partner DAZN is the likely destination. The tournament structure mirrors successful reality competition formats, with tryouts creating compelling storylines before the main event competition begins.
Feldman expects the year-long tournament to build 8 to 24 new stars. “I think that’s really the whole purpose of this thing, is to build new stars and create a spectacle.”
BKFC Lethwei: Expanding Into Asian Combat Sports
BKFC acquired majority ownership in a Lethwei promotion, creating BKFC Lethwei and marking the organization’s most aggressive international expansion. Lethwei, known as Burmese boxing, is considered one of the most brutal martial arts in the world.
What Makes Lethwei Different
Bare knuckle striking with only tape and gauze hand wraps
Headbutts are legal and encouraged, earning it the nickname “Art of Nine Limbs”
Elbows, knees, kicks, and punches all permitted
Traditional rules allow corners one two-minute timeout per fight to revive knocked-out fighters
Only legal in select countries including Myanmar, Japan, Thailand, United States (Wyoming only), England, Austria, Slovakia, Singapore, Taiwan, New Zealand, and Poland
The new division will be led by Nick Chapman, former CEO of BKFC Thailand. Chapman addressed controversy over the branding in September 2025, clarifying that legal requirements dictated the “BKFC Lethwei” name rather than “BKFC Myanmar Lethwei.”
Honoring Myanmar’s Heritage
Chapman emphasized the acquisition’s goal of promoting Myanmar’s martial arts tradition globally. “Our mission is to honor Myanmar’s proud heritage as the birthplace of Lethwei, while sharing this unique martial art with the world. We will always promote Myanmar on the international stage, showcasing its culture, history, and traditions.”
The expansion builds on BKFC’s history in Asia. The promotion previously established BKFC Thailand in October 2021, which operated until July 2024. BKFC Thailand was rebranded as BKFC Asia in November 2022, though Thai events retained the Thailand designation for regional recognition.
Major UFC Signings: Romero, Brunson, Santos, and Ladd
To bolster its roster ahead of the massive tournament, BKFC announced the signing of four former top-ranked UFC fighters, including two past title challengers.
Yoel Romero: The Biggest Name
At 48 years old, Romero remains one of the most feared strikers in combat sports. The Cuban wrestler was a perennial UFC middleweight contender, challenging for the title multiple times though never officially winning the belt. After leaving the UFC in 2020 following his loss to Israel Adesanya, Romero competed in Bellator/PFL and most recently scored a knockout in Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing promotion.
Thiago Santos: Natural Fit for Bare Knuckle
“Marreta” challenged for the UFC light heavyweight title and has always been known as an aggressive knockout artist. Despite riding a losing streak in MMA, his heavy-handed striking style makes him a natural fit for bare knuckle competition.
Derek Brunson and Aspen Ladd: The Surprises
Both signings raised eyebrows given their wrestling-heavy styles. Brunson, 41, was thought to be semi-retired after a solid UFC career. Ladd, primarily known for her grappling, represents BKFC’s willingness to attract diverse martial artists with the massive tournament purses.
These signings add to BKFC’s growing roster of former UFC talent, joining names like Mike Perry, Eddie Alvarez, Ben Rothwell, Luke Rockhold, John Dodson, and Bec Rawlings.
Additional Announcements and Fighter Confrontations
The Champions Summit featured several other significant reveals:
Mike Perry returns to action in October after his boxing match with Jake Paul
Vacant BKFC Lightweight Championship will be decided via four-man tournament featuring Austin Trout, Luis Palomino, Ben Bonner, and Franco Tenaglia
Vacant BKFC Bantamweight Championship also moving to tournament format
BKFC announced return to Manchester, UK on September 27, 2025, featuring newly signed former boxing world champion James DeGale
Heated Exchanges Set Up Future Matchups
The press conference devolved into multiple confrontations between fighters, teasing potential blockbuster matchups. Mike Perry and David Mundell traded barbs, with Perry declaring he’d “love to get paid to knock him out again.” Mundell fired back about Perry’s “fake belt” and drunk driving issues.
Josh Dyer called for a Perry fight, claiming to be “the best 185-pounder in the world.” Luis Palomino stated he “never lost the Lightweight title,” setting up tension in the upcoming tournament. Christine Ferea and Jessica Borga faced off, as did Kai Stewart with Gary Fox and Julian Lane with Gorjan Slaveski.
BKFC’s Explosive Growth Trajectory
These announcements come as BKFC experiences unprecedented growth. The promotion has held 142 events as of November 2025, up from its first event in 2018. The January 2025 KnuckleMania V event in Philadelphia set a local combat sports attendance record with 17,762 fans at the Wells Fargo Center.
2024 Growth Metrics
100% increase in overall attendance year-over-year
250 million-plus social media reach
Expansion into 60-plus countries
Five consecutive sellout events to start 2025
The promotion now has sanctioning in 32 US state athletic commissions, with Nevada and New York remaining Feldman’s primary targets for expansion.
Ownership and Corporate Structure
BKFC operates under Triller Group (NASDAQ: ILLR), which acquired a majority stake in February 2022. In April 2024, Conor McGregor and McGregor Sports and Entertainment became part-owners. Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby joined the ownership group in January 2025.
The promotion secured a three-year broadcast deal with DAZN in September 2024, beginning in October of that year. DAZN now serves as BKFC’s primary streaming partner for major events.
Industry Impact: Redefining Fighter Compensation
BKFC’s fighter equity program represents a philosophical shift in combat sports promotion. Traditional models see promotions as the primary beneficiaries of event revenue and long-term brand value, with fighters compensated per bout but excluded from ownership stakes.
Feldman positioned the program as recognition of fighters’ essential role in building the promotion. “If you’re going to risk your life for the fans and the promotion, you should be rewarded for it. Most of the fighters today are going to be part owners of BKFC.”
McGregor echoed this sentiment, calling for other promotions to follow suit. “If you’re truly about the fighter and you’re truly with your fighter, share some of the pie, baby.”
What This Means for Bare Knuckle Boxing’s Future
The Champions Summit announcements position BKFC for significant expansion in 2025 and 2026. The fighter equity program creates long-term alignment between athletes and the promotion’s success, potentially attracting top talent from other organizations who see the opportunity for ownership stakes.
The $25 million tournament will generate massive publicity and create new stars through the tryout and qualifying process. By spreading qualifying rounds across five continents, BKFC gains exposure in markets where bare knuckle boxing has limited presence.
The Lethwei acquisition gives BKFC a foothold in traditional Asian martial arts while adding the most brutal striking discipline to its portfolio. This could lead to crossover events and rule variations that expand the promotion’s appeal.
For bettors and fans, these changes mean more high-profile fights, better production values, and increased mainstream attention. The equity program should improve fighter retention and motivation, as champions now have financial incentive beyond purses to defend titles and build the brand.
BKFC’s July 2025 Champions Summit wasn’t just a press conference announcing upcoming fights. It was a declaration that bare knuckle boxing intends to compete with MMA and boxing as a major combat sports entity, with the resources and vision to back that ambition.
Sources: BKFC.com, Wikipedia, FightBook MMA, Bloody Elbow, Sherdog, Boxing News, Fight.TV, Yahoo Sports
