Former champion Bec Rawlings rejuvenated her career with a five-round unanimous decision over former title challenger Taylor Starling Saturday in Philadelphia. The women’s bout was the featured fight at Knucklemania V.
Rawlings controlled the fight with accurate punching and sound footwork. She countered effectively and her harder shots gave her the advantage when the two exchanged.
After a clinch in round one, Starling pressed Rawlings and ran into a right hand for the fight’s only knockdown.
THE LADIES DELIVERED! @RowdyBec gets the decision dub over Starling!#KnuckleManiaV | Live NOW | Sign-up at https://t.co/FKV4378mdH pic.twitter.com/lqaWGnq7qu
— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) January 26, 2025
Rawlings landed another clean right in round two. Starling somehow stayed up and continued to battle.
Rawlings, from Australia, continued getting the better of the action, with her jab and right the main weapons. Starling bled from the nose and had a big swelling under her right eye. Rawlings meanwhile, showed some damage under her left eye.
Starling’s corner told her she needed a knockout before the fifth and final round. She continued to battle gamely but Rawlings was just too strong.
The judges saw the fight as one-sided. Two officials gave Rawlings every round with scores of 50-44. The third judge had it 49-45 for Rawlings, a former Police Gazette Champion who debuted in bare knuckle at BKFC 1 in June 2018.
The victory was much needed by Rawlings (4-3, 1 KO). She’d lost three bouts in a row, including a decision to strawweight champion Britain Hart and two defeats to current women’s flyweight champ Christine Ferea.
Starling, who lost a close decision to Hart in Sturgis last August, is now 4-4 in BKFC since debuting at Knucklemania I in 2021.
