The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship continues to go from strength-to-strength.
The organisation, which is co-owned by Conor McGregor, has become a combat sports powerhouse in recent years and at an event on Thursday dubbed ‘Conor McGregor’s Champions Summit,’ the BKFC brass revealed there will be no signs of slowing down in 2026.
The major announcement at Thursday’s press event was the reveal of a $25 million ‘Baddest Man’ tournament to kick off in March of next year, which will see 32 fighters (ranging from 185 to 265-pounds) battling for a grand prize of $15 million, with $1 million going to the runner-up.
BKFC president David Feldman also revealed that a similar ‘Baddest Bitch’ tournament for female fighters will begin in the middle of 2026 — as well as an equity program that will see BKFC fighters awarded a stake in the company.
“Do you understand how incredible that is for our combatants to be rewarded in that way?” McGregor said to reporters, including The Mac Life.
“To join this rise, truly be on the board with us as we rise up the ladder of combat sport. For me, I fought my heart and soul, I gave everything to the rise of a company, and I got nothing for it. Now, here we are, our company, my company, we give back to the fighters who bleed for us. So welcome to the owner’s table, our world champions and our U.K. champions! We are in this together! Let’s go Bare Knuckle familia!”
Feldman added: “Me and Conor had a long talk and we said, ‘Let’s do something that no one’s ever done: let’s make all of our fighters owners of the company.
“So we’re going to start off with everyone one of our champions, whether they’re a U.K. champion or a world champion, or you’re a long-tenured fighter that has at least 10 fights with us, you’re all going to get equity, right here. I’m not talking about I’m going to do it next week, I’m going to do it tonight.”
McGregor also stated that this is a groundbreaking move for combat sports.
“To have equity stake in a promotion at ground level, we are at ground zero here.” McGregor said. “You can all feel the excitement and the tension in this building. This is a multi-billion-dollar fight promotion, and we are giving it back to the men and women who shed blood in this ring for us, for our entertainment. And that is to be commended, and truly should be replicated across all fighting promotions. If you’re truly about the fighter and you’re truly with you’re fighter, share some of the pie, baby!”
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