Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is making a return to Dubai with a historic twist. For the first time in combat sports history, a team-based franchise format—dubbed Knuckle Kings—will take centre stage when BKFC Season 2 hits the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on November 21–22, 2025.
The two-night spectacle will fuse raw individual combat with strategic team competition. It’s a world-first in bare knuckle fighting—and a move that could reshape the future of combat sports.
A Groundbreaking Format
This year’s edition will feature four franchise teams — Punishers, Infernos, Ironclad, and Crushers — each fielding eight elite fighters across four weight divisions. These squads will battle in a knockout tournament, culminating in the BKFC Main Event Title Fight, where individual champions will emerge.
“For the first time, elite fighters will compete not just for individual glory, but for franchise supremacy,” said Sunil Mathew, Co-Founder of the World League of Fighters. “This year, we’re introducing a new competitive format that redefines how the sport is presented.”
Rajesh Banga, WLF Co-Founder, added:
“Dubai’s openness to innovation makes it the ideal platform for Knuckle Kings, the first franchise-based format in bare knuckle fighting.”
Global Reputation in Combat Sports
BKFC Founder David Feldman confirmed the organisation’s growing commitment to the region:
“Dubai plays a key role in BKFC’s international plans. Strong support from fans has reinforced our decision to grow the event each season. Knuckle Kings is designed to match the region’s love for high-level combat sports.”
High-Profile Backing
Global combat sports icon Conor McGregor has thrown his support behind the initiative, calling it “a world sensation” and praising Dubai as “the City of Gold, where champions are forged and legends are born. Season 2 marks a major moment in the evolution of combat sports, and Dubai is the stage for that shift.”
Tickets for the event will go on sale soon, with early bird pricing and premium hospitality packages available. Global broadcast details, including streaming platforms and multi-language commentary, will be announced shortly—ensuring fans across the world can tune in to this game-changing event.
