Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Thailand (BKFC Thailand), officially known as Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Asia (BKFC Asia), is a bare-knuckle boxing promotion based in Pattaya, Thailand. It is the officially licensed branch of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) in Asia. BKFC Asia is the first promotion in Thailand and Asia to receive full international licensing and sanctioning for bare-knuckle boxing. Founded in 2021, BKFC Asia has held 5 total events as of November 2023.
Before the establishment of BKFC Thailand, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship partnered with Thailand-based Full Metal Dojo to organize a bare-knuckle boxing event titled Bare Knuckle Kingdom. The event took place in Phuket on March 5, 2021, featuring a number of fighters who would later compete on BKFC Thailand, including Po Denman, Steve Banks, Tee Jay Chang, Souris Manfredi, Jonny Tello, Kristof Kirsch, and Jean Carlos Pereira.[1][2] Future BKFC Asia CEO Nick Chapman also served as a referee in the event. Bare Knuckle Kingdom garnered a mixed response from viewers, who praised the quality of the fights but criticized the event for its ring announcer, commentary team, and low production value.[3]
BKFC Thailand was founded in October 2021 by British former MMA fighter and referee Nick Chapman with the help of BKFC president David Feldman. BKFC Thailand events are managed by Nick Chapman and Vathanai Vathanakul.[4]
BKFC Thailand held its inaugural event, titled BKFC Thailand 1: The Game Changer, on December 18, 2021, at the Pattaya Exhibition And Convention Hall (PEACH) in the Royal Cliff Hotels Group. The event featured big names like former two-division WBC boxing champion Sirimongkol Singmanasak and future ONE Championship Muay Thai fighter Sinsamut Klinmee.[5] As the organization continued to expand, BKFC Thailand underwent a rebranding to BKFC Asia on November 14, 2022. Despite the name change, events hosted in Thailand retained the BKFC Thailand designation to maintain regional recognition.
In October 2023, BKFC Asia agreed to a broadcast partnership deal with TrueVisions, where True Sports would air BKFC Asia events.[6] On November 4, 2023, BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam was aired live through True Sports, becoming the first bare-knuckle boxing event to be aired on Thai television.[7]
BKFC Thailand conducts its matches inside a circular four-roped ring, known as the "Squared Circle." The Squared Circle is a nod to historical bare-knuckle boxing, featuring two scratch lines that are positioned three feet apart at the center of the ring. These lines are a homage to the Broughton Rules (specifically the London Prize Ring Rules), which were the cornerstone of 19th-century bare-knuckle fighting regulations. At the start of each round, fighters are required to place their front foot on their respective scratch line, a directive commonly referred to as "Toe the Line." The command "Knuckle Up," issued immediately afterward, signals the start of the action.[8]
Bare Knuckle Thai rules are similar to Muay Thai, with the notable exception that competitors fight without gloves. Matches consist of five rounds, with each round lasting two minutes. The rules permit the use of kicks, punches, elbows, and knees, but explicitly prohibit trips and sweeps. Fighters must also remain active in a clinch, which lasts for three seconds. In the event of a draw, a sixth extension round will be fought to determine a winner. BKFC Thailand held the first special rules Bare Knuckle Thai bout, featuring Muay Thai legends Buakaw Banchamek and Saenchai, at BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam on November 4, 2023. [9][10]
The first BKFC Thailand champions were crowned at BKFC Thailand 2: Iconic Impact on May 7, 2022. Sirimongkol Singmanasak defeated Mike Vetrila to win the BKFC Thailand Light Heavyweight Championship while Fani Peloumpi defeated Souris Manfredi to win the BKFC Thailand Women's Strawweight Championship.[11]
On July 14, 2022, it was announced that Muay Thai legend and former K-1 World MAX champion Buakaw Banchamek had signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.[12] Buakaw made his bare-knuckle boxing debut at BKFC Thailand 3: Moment of Truth on September 3, 2022.
On August 2, 2022, it was announced that Muay Thai legend Saenchai had signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.[13] Saenchai made his debut at BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam on November 4, 2023.
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Thailand 1: The Game Changer was a bare-knuckle fighting event by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship held on December 18, 2021, in Thailand.[14]
Tee Jay Chang and Fabiano Hawthorne were scheduled to headline the event. In the co-main event, Sirimongkol Singmanasak and Reza Goodary will face each other.[15] Hawthorne later withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Keivan Soleimani.[16]
BKFC Thailand 2: Iconic Impact was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on May 7, 2022, in Pattaya, Thailand.
In the main event, Sirimongkol Singmanasak and Mike Vetrila competed for the inaugural BKFC Thailand Light Heavyweight Championship.[17]
The co-main event saw Souris Manfredi facing Fani Peloumpi for the inaugural BKFC Thailand Women's Strawweight Championship.[18]
[19]
BKFC Thailand 3: Moment of Truth was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on September 3, 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand.
The main event will feature Muay Thai legend and two-time K-1 World MAX Champion Buakaw Banchamek making his bare-knuckle debut against Turkish kickboxing champion Erkan Varol. Pongpisan Chunyong will face Surasak Sukkhamcha for the inaugural BKFC Thailand Featherweight Championship in the co-main event.[20]
[21]
BKFC Asia 4: The Big Bash was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship at SpacePlus Bangkok RCA on December 10, 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand.
The event was headlined by the bare-knuckle boxing debut of UFC and Brave CF veteran Rolando Dy, who faced Thailand boxing champion Apisit Sangmuang.[22]
[23]
BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on November 4, 2023.
The event was headlined by a Special Rules Bare Knuckle Thai Fight featuring Muay Thai icons Buakaw Banchamek vs. Saenchai, who were scheduled to face each other in March 2023.[24]
The co-main event featured a title match between defending champion Fani Peloumpi and Po Denman for the BKFC Thailand Strawweight Championship. Also on the card was a title fight for the vacant BKFC Thailand Featherweight Championship between Krisana Srisang and Sarun Srioumboo.
Bonus awards
The following fighters were awarded bonuses:
[25]
Buakaw Banchamek
Rolando Dy Sinsamut Klinmee Saenchai Chaloemporn Sawatsuk Sirimongkol Singmanasak Usanakorn Thawilsuhannawang