by Dane McGuire
The first bare knuckle MMA event in history has it’s main event, Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal’s bare knuckle Gamebred Fighting Championship will feature UFC veteran Jason Knight and Charles “Felony” Bennett June 18 with the event taking place in Biloxi, Miss.
Knight had most recently been competing as a boxer with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, going 1-1 in the promotion before returning to MMA, albeit in a new variation of the sport.
Bennett went 0-3 in BKFC with two fights ending due to hand injuries before a decision loss his last time out. His MMA career has not fared much better.
MMA Mania reported, “Bennett, 41, is a well-known name around the sport of MMA and a fighter who has competed in some of the biggest organizations in the world. Unfortunately, “Krazy Horse” has lost his last 11 professional MMA bouts dating back to 2017.”
MMAFighting reported that Masvidal announced plans to launch his own bare-knuckle MMA promotion just before his welterweight title fight at UFC 261 in April. Now the veteran fighter has moved forward with the first card, which will be contested under MMA rules with the fighters wearing no gloves.
The event will air live on BKTVApp.com. No other details about the event are known at this time aside from the broadcast team.
MMA Junkie reported just minutes ago that the broadcasters for the event will be Sean Wheelock, a veteran broadcasts in multiple combat sports and the man behind American Top Team, where Masvidal trains, Dan Lambert. Also joining them will be UFC veteran, BKFC’s Paige VanZant.
MMA Junkie wrote, “After almost six years in the octagon, VanZant signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship this past August, but lost her promotional debut to Britain Hart. She is scheduled to face Rachael Ostovich at BKFC 19 on July 23 in a rematch. VanZant submitted Ostovich at UFC Fight Night 143 in January 2019.”
Masvidal also revealed in an April 22 Instagram post that the promotion will have an official apparel partner in a similar fashion to his employer, the UFC.
Masvial said in his post [sic], “Huge news for true fight fans as me and the one and only @anuel have teamed up to bring you the most vicious fights we could think of Bare Knuckle MMA. That’s right, no gloves, same rules and the first fight will be in Miami on June 25. Every fighter will be outfitted by Anuel’s clothing Brand which translated in English means “Real Until Death.”
Cage Nation will have more information on GFC as it becomes available.