Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship made its seventh visit to Newcastle Saturday for BKFC Fight Night Newcastle at the Walker Activity Dome. The event streamed live on the BKFC+ App, DAZN and Triller TV.
It was an unusual fight card. A lot of early knockouts but five of the last six bouts went the distance.
Bradley Taylor (5-0) won the previously vacant BKFC UK Bantamweight Title with a unanimous decision over Lewis Garside (3-1) in the main event. Garside went down in round one and got the worst of the exchanges due to Taylor’s superior firepower.
In the co-feature, UK lightweight contender Lewis Keen (6-1) defeated Stew Martin by fourth-round knockout. It’s the third consecutive win for Keen since a stoppage loss to current lightweight champion Ben Bonner in November 2024.
Cory Chapman Defeats Jack Blair in Eight Knockdown Classic
Fight of the Night was the bantamweight brawl between English newcomer Chapman and Scotland’s Blair. It had everything bare knuckle fans have come to love: plenty of action, even matchmaking, multiple knockdowns, and an unexpected ending.
Both gents hit the canvas more than once in a five-knockdown first round. After surviving two knockdowns from Blair, Chapman returned the favour and Blair looked like he may be ready to go.
But the Scot had other ideas scoring another knockdown before the bell, and two more early in round two.
Chapman didn’t panic and found the opening to end the fight. Highlights below courtesy of the BKFC X account.
CORY CHAPMAN DELIVERS PURE CINEMA WITH A SECOND RD KO! 🎬💥#BKFCNEWCASTLE | Live NOW on BKFC+ pic.twitter.com/9vLMOSpXc9
— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) August 1, 2026
In other action, KJ Metcalfe stopped Owen Webster.
RELENTLESS PRESSURE, KJ METCALFE FORCES THE STOPPAGE! 🔥👊#BKFCNEWCASTLE | Live NOW on BKFC+ pic.twitter.com/MWgUCNW1Fp
— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) August 1, 2026
James Walker and Dylan Fail oupointed Barry Boyle and Liam Hutchinson in heavyweight and middleweight bouts.
In the sole ladies bout of the evening, Sally McDonald connected with overhand rights regularly en route to a third-round knockout win over Sandra Rees. The game Rees was running low on petrol and went down for the count. Full results below.
SALLY MCDONALD SECURES A STATEMENT STOPPAGE TO START OFF THE NIGHT IN NEWCASTLE! 👊💥#BKFCNEWCASTLE | Live NOW on BKFC+ pic.twitter.com/eFPxD4F2sF
— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) August 1, 2026
BKFC Fight Night Newcastle Results
-Women’s Flyweight: Sally McDonald def. Sandra Rees – KO Round 3
-Heavyweight: Chris Burton def. Dan Curtin- Unanimous devision
-Light Heavyweight: Harry Bray def. Dylan Yendall-TKO Round 2
-Bantamweight: Cory Chapman def. Jack Blair -TKO Round 2
-Welterweight: KJ Metcalfe def. Owen Webster-TKO Round 3
-Light Heavyweight: Danny Moi Unanimous DRAW Harrison Cave (47-47, 47-47, 47-47)
-Middleweight: Mickey Nolan def. John Ferguson-Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
-Heavyweight: James Walker def. Barry Boyle – Unanimous Decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
-Middleweight: Dylan Fail def. Liam Hutchinson – Unanimous Decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-45)
-Welterweight: Lewis Keen def.Stew Martin- KO Round 4
-Bantamweight: Bradley Taylor def. Lewis Garside- Unanimous Decision (50-44, 49-45, 49-45)- Taylor Wins BKFC UK Bantamweight Title
