VIDEOS / QUOTES: PUNCHES FLY AT BKFC-56 PRESS CONFERENCE IN SALT LAKE CITY
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Salt Lake City, UT (November 8, 2023) Punches flew today at the Maverik Center in Salt Lake City, UT as Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), The World’s Fastest Growing Combat Sports Promotion, held their Kick-Off Press Conference for BKFC-56hosted by the company’s Founder and President, David Feldman.
Arch-rivals and main event combatants ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry and Eddie ‘The Underground King’ Alvarez tested each other during their face-off, landing heavy-handed body shots less than a month from their highly anticipated clash set for Saturday, December 2 inside the Maverik Center and broadcast on pay-per-view.
Joining Perry and Alvarez at the press conference were big-hitting heavyweights, ‘Big’ Ben Rothwell and Todd Duffee who battle in the co-main event at BKFC-56.
David Feldman, Founder and President of BKFC
“We’ve wanted to come to Salt Lake City for four years and we’re very thankful for this great turnout today for BKFC-56, the most stacked card in combat sports this year
and the biggest event we can promote. BKFC-56 will be broadcast live on pay-per-view carried on all satellite providers and FITE TV.”
“While we’ve announced five great fights for BKFC-56 including the two fights represented up on the dais, we’ve also added a sensational fight between Jeremy Stephens and Jimmie Rivera.”
“With help from Ariel Helwani we conducted a fan poll and had over 47,000 responses for our new ‘King of Violence belt which will be awarded to the winner of the two main event fighters; Mike Perry and Eddie Alvarez.”
“BKFC continues to see enormous growth, in 2024 we’re going to promote over 60 events in nine different countries. We have two very important states opening up as well, one in December and one in January.”
‘Platinum’ Mike Perry
“The next one is always the best one. Eddie Alvarez has been a world champion in three different MMA organizations but I’m going to make it look easy when I smash his face in. I’m the best bare knuckle fighter in the world. Bare knuckle boxing is my thing and I’m just coming into my prime. The sky is the limit and the opportunities are endless after I smash in Eddie’s face.”
Eddie ‘The Underground King’ Alvarez
“What Perry’s saying is silly. Finishing Luke Rockhold means nothing, that’s the only finish you’ve had in six years. You arguably lost to ‘MVP’ and Julian Lane. I’m the one who called for this fight. I called for Justin Gaethe, he’s the most violent man in the world and I beat him.I have more knockouts than you have fights.”
“I’m not complacent, I’m never satisfied. I’ll think about my legacy after I’m done rumbling.”
“I’m not here for a long time, I’m here for a good time.”
‘Big’ Ben Rothwell
“This fight was presented to me last year and it’s been on my radar. His fighting style
encourages action. The true winners will be the fans, we will collide and one of us will be on the floor.”
“I’m just going to keep knocking people out and work towards a world title. I fought in Denver in April and the elevation will not be an issue for me.”
Todd Duffee
Bare knuckle fighting is the most exciting and freshest sport in the world and no one is more exciting than Ben Rothwell, but I’m here to knock him out violently.”
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Tickets for BKFC-56 starting at $68 are Now On-Sale and can be purchased online at BKFC.com. The Maverik Center is located 3200 Decker Lane, West Valley City, UT 84119. More information can be found at www.MaverikCenter.com. BKFC-56, sponsored by Bucked Up, Fubo Sports, MIT 45, Only Fans, Crescent Tools and LIONS NOT SHEEP, will also be broadcast on Pay-Per-View with additional purchase information to follow.
Headlining BKFC-56 is the highly anticipated return of ‘The Face of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry,battling long-time arch-rival, Eddie ‘The Underground King’ Alvarez in the middleweight division. Co-featured is a can’t missheavyweight clash between ‘Big’ Ben Rothwell and Former UFC Star, Todd Duffee.
Also fighting at BKFC-56, Women’s Flyweight World Champion Christine ‘Misfit’ Ferea will defend her title in a highly anticipated rematch against Australian arch-rival, #3 Ranked Contender ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings. BKFC Featherweight World Champion Kai ‘Hefty Bag’ Stewart will also defend his title against Fast Rising Star, #2 Ranked Challenger Howard Davis.
Following a successful six-year run fighting for the UFC, ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry, (3-0) made his highly anticipated BKFC debut against veteran Julian Lane at KnuckleMania 2 on February 19, 2022. In an exciting contest fought in front of a sold-out crowd at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL, Perry would be victorious by unanimous decision.
As BKFC would make their acclaimed debut in London, England at the famed Wembley Arena on August 20, 2022, Perry clashed with Bellator superstar and hometown favorite Michael Page in front of a massive crowd. After five epic rounds, the fight was declared a draw warranting a rarely used sixth-round which resulted in an extraordinary final two minutes with Perry being declared the winner, highlights of which turned into an international viral sensation. Perry would further stamp his name as the Face of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship with a second-round knockout of former Bellator champion Luke Rockhold on April 29, 2023 in Denver, CO at BKFC’s then biggest event.
Known as ‘The Underground King’, Eddie Alvarez, (1-0), has fought all over the world succeeding in numerous MMA promotions. Fighting Chad Mendes at BKFC-41 on April 29, 2023, Alvarez would mount a remarkable come from behind victory in his BKFC debut. Alvarez is nicknamed due to his reputation for participating in numerous underground bare-knuckle fights.
Following a reign of destruction in the UFC’s heavyweight division, ‘Big’ Ben Rothwell scored a first-round knockout of BKFC veteran Bobo O’Bannon at BKFC-30 on October 1, 2022. He followed that up at BKFC-41 with a third-round knockout of Josh Watson in one of the most thrilling heavyweight bare-knuckle fights of the last five years.
After a successful ten-year run in the UFC compiling a record of 9-4 that included six first round knockouts, Todd Duffee makes his long-awaited bare-knuckle debut against the Baddest Man in the Heavyweight Division, ‘Big’ Ben Rothwell.
Internationally recognized at the ‘Toughest Woman in Combat Sports’, BKFC Flyweight World Champion, Christine ‘Misfit’ Ferea, (7-1), rematches against ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings, (3-2) after their hotly contested battle at BKFC-41 was stopped by the ringside physician in the second round. Ferea also holds two sensational bare-knuckle victories over world champion Britain Hart in addition to wins over Taylor Starling, Calista Silgado, Calie Cutler and Jennifer Tate. Rawlings also holds a victory over Britain Hart.
BKFC Featherweight World Champion Kai ‘Hefty Bag’ Stewart, (4-0), of Great Falls, MT quickly impressed under the BKFC banner with two first round knockouts; Darrick Gates at BKFC Fight Night Montana and Daniel Gary at BKFC-24. Defeating Rusty Crowder at BKFC Fight Night Montana 2 on September 10, 2022, Stewart claimed the world title at BKFC-44 on June 9, 2023 with a spectacular performance against Louie Lopez in front of a sold-out, hometown crowd at the Four Seasons Arena. Fighting out of Plantation, FL, All-Action Attraction Howard Davis, (5-1-1) is currently riding a three-fight winning streak including popular victories over Jeff Chiffens (BKFC-49), Eduardo Peralta (BKFC-45) and Trevor Morris (BKFC-38.
Further details for BKFC-56 will be announced shortly.
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Media Contact/Credentials
Bernie Bahrmasel
Double B Sports
Phone: + 1 773 592-2986
Email: Bernie@BKFC.com
Twitter: @BernieBahrmasel
About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC)
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is the first promotion allowed to hold a legal, sanctioned, and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. Based in Philadelphia, and headed by President and former professional boxer David Feldman, BKFC is dedicated to preserving the historical legacy of bare knuckle fighting, while utilizing a specifically created rule set that emphasizes fighter safety. BKFC holds all of its bouts in a revolutionary circular four-rope ring, designed to encourage fast-paced and exciting bouts. The patented BKFC “Squared Circle” contains scratch lines, based on the Broughton Rules which governed bare knuckle fighting in the 19th century, and which requires fighters to “Toe the Line”: start every round face to face, and just inches apart.
In BKFC, only those fighters who are established professionals in boxing, MMA, kickboxing, or Muay Thai are allowed to compete. The referees and judges are required to have extensive professional combat sports experience. All fights are held under the auspices and control of an Athletic Commission. Unlike other fighting organizations and combat sports internationally which claim to be “bare knuckle”, but require wraps, tape, and gauze; BKFC is true to its word as fighters are not allowed to wrap their hands to within one inch of the knuckle. This makes BKFC unquestionably the truest form of bare knuckle fighting. BKFC is dedicated to not just creating the safest, most exciting, and highest-level bare-knuckle fighting organization in the world, it’s also leading the way for a new fully recognized professional combat sport. BKFC is truly the sport of the future, which fully respects its remarkable past.
