The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship is back in the spotlight with BKFC 82, featuring a headline fight between Mike Perry and Jeremy Stevens. Conor McGregor, co-owner of BKFC, has been actively promoting the event. Since departing from the UFC, Perry has made a name for himself in bare-knuckle fighting, boasting an undefeated 5-0 record. His rising profile even led him to a crossover bout with Jake Paul last year. Perry, who has competed up to the light heavyweight division, is currently riding a three-fight knockout streak, having defeated notable fighters like Thiago Alves, Eddie Alvarez, and Luke Rockhold. Additionally, he holds a bare-knuckle win over current UFC fighter Michael “Venom” Page.
Jeremy Stevens, a former UFC competitor known as “Lil Heesen,” is making a move up to welterweight for this match. He has also revived his career in BKFC, with a 3-0 record highlighting wins over former UFC champions Alvarez and Jimmie Rivera. Speaking of Rivera, he will now be facing Timmy Mason, who stepped in after UFC Hall of Famer Frankie Edgar was unable to make his BKFC debut.
BKFC 82 will take place on October 4th at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, starting at 7 pm ET. Fans can watch the fights live via DAZN PPV for $49.99.
The event’s fight card and odds include:
– Mike Perry -301 vs. Jeremy Stevens +213, welterweight
– Christine Ferrea -135 vs. Jessica Borga +102, women’s bantamweight
– Jimmie Rivera -191 vs. Timmy Mason +143, lightweight
– Carl Roberson -323 vs. Oluwale Bambose +226, cruiserweight
– Phil Caracappa -281 vs. Quentin Gaskins +201, lightweight
– Brandon Boushaw -125 vs. Pat Sullivan -106, lightweight
– Elijah Harris -345 vs. Jeff Lentz +239, lightweight
– Mike Tolizano -256 vs. JC DeLeon +185, lightweight
Fan Take: This event underscores the growing appeal of bare-knuckle fighting as a legitimate combat sport, drawing in recognizable names from the UFC and boxing worlds. BKFC 82 could be a pivotal moment for the sport, showcasing intense matchups that could bring more mainstream attention and elevate bare-knuckle fighting’s status among fight fans.
