For people who grew up in the 90s and 00s, bareknuckle boxing was not a sport. In reality, it was a fantastical, raw, and violent notion reserved for history book sketches of Victorian times or tales of wily travelers. The closest it got to the international consciousness was when Brad Pitt played the tattooed and incomprehensible ‘pikey’ pugilist in the cult classic Guy Ritchie film, Snatch (2000).

As is customary with the marching of time, much has changed. Since President David Feldman launched Bareknuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) nine years ago, the sport has grown massively in terms of both popularity and commercial success.

EssentiallySports recently caught up with the BKFC boss for a chat as he outlined his ambitious plans for 2025. “It would be amazing to see an event with 100,000 people in Cambodia. It’s something we’ve been thinking about,” Feldman said. “We’ve already had two Muay Thai legends compete in Asia, and the growth potential there is incredible.”

Cambodia is a country with a very rich history of martial arts, and tens of thousands of fans turn up to watch their beloved national sport of Kun Khmer (Cambodian kickboxing with use of elbows) on a weekly basis. Given BKFC’s association with big global names like Conor McGregor, there would certainly be plenty of intrigue surrounding a debut event in the Kingdom, particularly if they were to utilize some of the local talent of which there is plenty. For example, local Khmer star Pich Sambath is a hugely popular figure. The busiest man in combat sports has already fought a remarkable 29 times this year, and his all-action style would be perfect for BKFC if they can find a suitable opponent.

BKFC’s Battle to the Top

“I’m growing a hell of a company. I’m growing a hell of a sport,” Feldman explained. “Our mission isn’t just to do some shows and make some money. Our mission is really to take over combat sports, and we think we’re well on our way to doing that.”

Acknowledging that the sport used to be as niche as it gets, Feldman outlined what a remarkable journey it has been for the company: “We came from nothing. When I tell you nothing, we had nothing. We clawed and we fought for every single thing we got. We never had a big company come in and say, ‘Here’s your hundred million.’ It was: where do we find the money for the next fight?”

If we look back at combat sports history, the UFC faced similar struggles in its early days. Mainstream sponsors were frequently turned off by the perceived violence of the sport, while some even tried to have it banned altogether. The UFC was acquired by the Fertitta brothers for $2 million in 2001 when the organization was struggling financially. After years of strategic growth under Dana White, it was sold to Endeavor for over $4 billion in 2016, marking one of the biggest sales in sports history. In 2023, the UFC merged with WWE to form TKO Group Holdings, valued at over $21 billion, cementing its place as a global sports entertainment powerhouse.

In similar fashion to the UFC, BKFC has gone from the underground to the mainstream, often using bankable stars such as UFC veterans Eddie Alvarez and Mike Perry to help propel itself into the living rooms of your average sports fan in recent years. “You don’t have a real serious conversation about combat sports anymore without mentioning BKFC in it,” Feldman noted. “Timing is everything. I worked on this for nine years trying to get it legalized, and it wasn’t the right time. Then, the time hit, and people were in a mindset to listen, understand, and engage.”

BKFC’s Ambitious 2025: World’s Baddest Man Tournament and a Video Game Launch

Seeking to strike while the iron is hot, BKFC plans to go big this year. Not only are they said to be planning the launch of a video game, but they’ve also announced plans for a $25 USD tournament.

“It’s going to be a nine-to-ten-month tournament with 1,000 contestants and the biggest prize money ever in a fighting tournament. It’s going to crown the world’s baddest man,” Feldman declared.

The promotion is no stranger to making moves. Having expanded into various countries, including putting on a historic bout between Muay Thai icons Buakaw and Saenchai in Thailand, Feldman’s vision for the future seems boundless. If their ambitious plans come to fruition, 2025 could indeed be BKFC’s biggest year yet.