“Empty vessels make the most noise,” they say—and last night, while the UFC took a break from hosting events, BKFC’s KnuckleMania V ensured fight fans had plenty to talk about at the Fargo Center. Making its Philadelphia debut, the fifth annual KnuckleMania delivered an electrifying card headlined by none other than former UFC lightweight and Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, paired with the ever-exciting Jeremy Stephens. With nine bouts on the card, the night promised action from start to finish, but what truly turned heads went beyond the fights themselves. Enter Conor McGregor—the UFC megastar who never fails to steal the show.

Known for his “needle-moving equity,” ‘The Notorious’ wasn’t just a passive observer. He commanded attention by stepping in to oversee the fighters’ final face-offs during Friday’s weigh-ins, leaving the crowd buzzing with excitement. His presence alone elevated the energy of the event, but it was the welterweight showdown between newcomer Pat Sullivan and Kaine Tomlinson (1-1) that sparked the most heated moments.

The pre-fight build-up between Pat Sullivan and Tomlinson was intense. Sullivan’s fiery, over-the-top energy at the weigh-ins set the stage for what fans thought would be an explosive performance. Unfortunately for Sullivan, the fight itself took a drastically different turn. In just 37 seconds, Kaine Tomlinson silenced all the noise, landing a stunning knockout that left the Fargo Center in awe. The dramatic finish didn’t just electrify the live audience; it went viral online. An Instagram reel shared by the popular MMA page FullSend MMA humorously captured the moment with the meme template “How it started vs. How it ended.”

The clip highlighted Sullivan’s pre-fight bravado, contrasted with his rapid defeat, garnering widespread attention. Fans flocked to the comments section, sharing their reactions of shock and satisfaction at Kaine Tomlinson’s decisive performance. Let’s take a look at what the fans had to say about this welterweight contest.

Fans reacted to Pat Sullivan’s “Satisfying” knockout in Conor McGregor’s co-owned BKFC

Pat Sullivan’s weigh-in raised eyebrows, as he didn’t appear to be in top shape. When he stepped on the scale, his leg visibly shook, catching the attention of fans. One fan pointed it out in the comments, saying, “Bro was shaking at weigh-ins.” A 25-year-old MMA athlete with just one professional fight, Sullivan is known for his ‘Philly Proud’ persona, being born and raised in Philadelphia.

However, when standing before Conor McGregor, Sullivan struggled to keep his head steady and his feet planted on the ground. Fans took notice, with one criticizing, “He was c-ked up at weigh-ins lol,” while another remarked, “He was scared asf.” Many fans couldn’t help but compare Sullivan’s behavior to the Irishman’s peak days. McGregor’s notorious trash-talking and dominant persona during UFC 229, which broke PPV sales and live gate records, inspired countless fighters.

Yet Sullivan’s cocky attitude didn’t sit well with fans. As one commenter said, “Arrogance is usually directly correlated with losing unless you’re 2013-2016 Conor McGregor.” As the fight progressed, fans expressed satisfaction with Sullivan’s downfall. One commenter summed up their reaction with, “So satisfying,” following Kaine Tomlinson’s brutal knockout. The punch was so fierce that one fan said, “Legit thought he was dead for a second.”

Further criticism was aimed at the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship organization for using a small, seemingly domestic weigh-in scale, often seen in homes rather than the high-quality, commission-certified machines used by major MMA promotions like the UFC. One fan took a shot at the scale, commenting, “Why are they using a €9.99 scale from Aldi?”

Despite the weigh-in controversy, BKFC’s KnuckleMania V is now behind us, and the spotlight is squarely on UFC megastar Conor McGregor. As ‘Mystic Mac’ struggles to make his return to the cage, do you think BKFC could be the right stage for him to showcase his skills one last time before he calls it quits? Share your thoughts below.