Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship officially announced more matches for its upcoming blockbuster debut in Marbella, Spain.
BKFC on DAZN: Spain takes place on Saturday, 12 October at the Marbella Arena. It’s the first BKFC show on DAZN since signing a new multi-year agreement with the streaming service.
As previously mentioned, three title fights are scheduled, including a main event showdown between unbeaten contenders Tony Soto of the USA and Argentina’s Franco Tenaglia for the vacant BKFC lightweight crown. Reigning champions Austin “No Doubt” Trout and David Mundell also risk their titles.
Seven more bouts are official, including matches featuring top Wales-based fighters
James Lilley Makes Ring Return at BKFC Spain; Dan Chapman Debuts
Former title challenger James “Lights Out” Lilley is back in action. The Swansea-based pugilist poet looks to get back on track after losses to Luis Palomino and Tenaglia.
Lilley takes on Brazil’s Felipe Da Silva Maia, who fights out of Spain and is 1-1 in BKFC.
Lilley’s bare knuckle record stands at 8-2-1, according to BoxRec. The Palomino loss was a close but unanimous decision, and one of the judges scored the Tenaglia bout a draw.
The back-to-back losses dropped Lilley out of the Top 5 in the BKFC Lightweight rankings. An impressive win could return him to the Top 5 and put his name back in the title fight conversation.
Dan Chapman, also fighting out of Wales, makes his long-awaited BKFC debut.
Chapman brings an impressive CV to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. The fighter nicknamed “Indian Spice” shined as an amateur boxer before coming to bare knuckle boxing.
Chapman racked up a 5-0 record fighting for Britain’s now-defunct BKB organisation. He holds wins over Wales rival Sean George and BYB contender James Connelly.
Known for his quickness and boxing skills, Chapman faces Mike Jurik, another newcomer to BKFC’s Squared Circle.
Former Boxing World Champion Hannah Rankin to Make BKFC Debut
Hannah Rankin is the latest former world champion to take the gloves off.
The Scot, a former WBA super welterweight titlist, takes on Sahel Bayat in her BKFC debut.
Rankin has competed in 10 title bouts during her 21-bout pro boxing career. She’s faced elite women’s boxers Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall.
Her pro boxing record is a deceiving 13-8. Three of Rankin’s losses are by split decision, and Marshall is the only woman to stop her.
Bayat is an Iraninan native, representing the Flipside Team in Singapore. She’s competed in kickboxing and Muay Thai. Like Rankin, she’s making her bare knuckle debut. Her combat sports record is listed at 12-3.
Other BKFC Spain on DAZN Bouts
In other action, Turkey’s Yunus Batan (1-1 BKFC) meets debuting Maxime Bellamy.
Cruiserweights Arbi Chakaev and Jose Daniel collide in their inaugural BKFC bouts.
Two prelims are also set. Fran Suarez meets David Mora, and Oscar Stephens-Willis faces Ben Davis. All four fighters make their BKFC debuts.
