Ok, Bare Knuckle FC, I see you. When I sheepishly pressed “purchase this event” I felt like, well, I’ve spent my money on worse things, so let’s do it. I didn’t have the highest expectations for the event. One reason was that to me it seemed like it might be done pretty poorly, but I was wrong. Another reason for my doubts and this is something I’m still concerned about, but the notion of putting a career grappler in Ricco Rodriguez in the main event. I mean that could prove to be troublesome. It was.

So, with those thoughts in mind, I watched Bare Knuckle FC and was immediately hooked. I liked the ring setup, I was hooked by the action and by the end of the night, I had zero doubts about purchasing their second event, whenever that might be. It got me wondering though, who else could they look for to have amazing fights in their promotion. I mean, who could provide the Joey Beltran/Tony Lopez like fireworks for future events. Sidenote: If you haven’t seen that Beltran/Lopez fight, find out how to watch it, and watch it. You can thank me later. So I decided to put together a list of five (six) fighters who would be perfect fits for this new promotion. The only rules were they couldn’t be active fighters in other organizations….although admittingly, I cheated. Here’s my five or six (or seven) in no particular order.

Chuck Liddell

I know the scuttlebutt in MMA now is Chuck fighting Tito for the third time in a promotion led by Oscar de la Hoya. Scrap that. I don’t want to see it. I want to see Chuck Liddell in Bare Knuckle FC where he can box, sans gloves and drop folks left and right. This is a perfect fit for Liddell. He doesn’t have to worry about being taken down. He doesn’t have to worry about being leg kicked either. He can simply put on the classic blue shorts with the ice-trim, wrap his hands and throw bombs. I don’t care who he faces, I just want to see ‘The Iceman’ fight in a format that is tailor-made for him. This is undoubtedly it.

Nick and or Nate Diaz

I know, I cheated the system here a little bit. Both of these guys are I believe contracted to the UFC for the foreseeable future. I don’t know Nick’s contract situation, but he’d be amazing in this promotion. His unique boxing style, his bravado and trash talk would make him the preeminent star for this new promotion. To be honest, at this point I just want to see Nick back in a ring or cage doing what he does. This would be a magical fight. Nate would also likely be a gigantic star, but he might have priced himself out of anything but the UFC and Conor McGregor. That said, this sport was made for the Diaz brothers.

Mark Hunt (pictured)

Hunt doesn’t have much time left on his UFC deal, and he could show up at Bare Knuckle FC and just toe the line and drop people left and right. Every time Mark Hunt walk-off KO’s a cat, you get to go to the concession stand for a free Mark Hunt Ice Cream Sandwich. I can see it already. A stadium full of folks enjoying free ice cream sammies and cheering like maniacs for whoever is next. Talk to Gold Bar, they used to make the WWE Ice Cream Sandwiches. Sponsor tie-in and headlining fighter, put my check in the mail Bare Knuckle FC. Make it payable to cash. 🙂

Roy Jones Jr. & Shannon Briggs

Yes, I want to see the guys like Roy Jones Jr. come out and give this a try. Roy Jones has shown that he’ll do interesting things for cash. He’s still a talented fighter and could provide some interesting match-ups as well as a huge name to sell tickets and PPVs. Also, you want to see someone who can bring the crazy, promote a fight and bang, it’s Shannon Briggs. Briggs is 46, still in shape and has a respectable 60-6 professional record. He’s a former world champion and can be billed as such. Plus, let’s be honest, he could use a break from following Klitschko around. Plus, Briggs fought one K1 fight and needed only a minute to dispatch heavyweight Tom Erikson. He’s a draw, trust me.

WWE Wrestlers: Baron Corbin – real name Tom Pestock & Wade Barrett – real name Stuart Bennett

Baron Corbin: First off, the dude is big. He’s six-foot six and a half inches tall and weighs in around 275 pounds. He has some boxing credentials as well. He is a two-time golden gloves regional Missouri champion. He boxed for nearly five years. He put together a 6-1 record as an amateur.

Wade Barrett: Another big guy standing six-foot seven and weighing around 250-260. He also has extensive bare-knuckle boxing experience. In his early 20s, he lived in Liverpool, England and earned his living fighting in bare-knuckle boxing events. The guy is legitimately tough as well. After a major fight, he took the cash prize and left the arena looking for a cab. While in an alley he was stabbed by an eight-inch blade and the man attempted to rob him of his winnings. Suffice it to say, despite major blood loss, Bennett walked out of the alley with money in tow, and his unlucky attacker, stayed sleeping in the alley. The attack left a 12-inch scar on Bennett’s back. He also has the gift of gab and could sell the fight like a professional.

Toe the line and knuckle up. Here are your quick results from tonight’s (June 2nd, 2018) historic Bare Knuckle FC debut out of the Cheyenne Ice and Events Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

You can watch the festivities live on FITE TV. Feel free to use our code “odd4p7p” for $15 credit toward the event.

Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Ricco Rodriguez defeats Lewis Rumsey via UD (50-45 x 2, 48-47)

Heavyweight Tournament Alternate Bout
Joey Beltran defeats Tony Lopez via UD (49-45 x 2, 49-46)

Meeting for the first time in nearly nine years, Tony "Kryptonite" Lopez and "The Mexicutioner" Joey Beltran show just why they are regional heavyweight demigods. The UFC vet Beltran nabs a decision in this bloody, back-and-forth brawl. #BareKnuckleFC pic.twitter.com/j2jRskoyal

— Kyle Johnson (@Maldobabo) June 3, 2018

Bec Rawlings defeats Alma Garcia via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) – Round 2, 2:00

A little bit of highlights from #BareKnuckleFC nice performance Bec Rawlings pic.twitter.com/QBlCmOcCBV

— Joe p (@Joey_Purg) June 3, 2018

Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Sam Shewmaker defeats Eric Prindle via KO – Round 1, 0:18

Bobby Gunn defeats Irineau Beato Costa Jr. via KO – Round 1, 0:41

Bare-knuckle royalty graces Wyoming, as Bobby Gunn ices Irineau Beato Costa Junior. Allegedly throwing at just 40 percent, the Canadian wins in 41 seconds. He boasts a 72-0 BKB record with 71 KOs. #BareKnuckleFC pic.twitter.com/6XHQsV8V6c

— Kyle Johnson (@Maldobabo) June 3, 2018

Johnny Bedford defeats Nick Mamalis via TKO – Round 2, 1:41

TUF 14 semifinalist and UFC vet Johnny Bedford tunes up fellow journeyman Nick Mamalis en route to a second-round TKO. #BareKnuckleFC pic.twitter.com/0NBZGq5FjB

— Kyle Johnson (@Maldobabo) June 3, 2018

Reggie Barnett Jr. defeats Travis Thompson via UD (50-45 x 3)

Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Maurice Jackson defeats Dale Sopi via TKO – Round 1, 1:10

#BareKnuckleFC pic.twitter.com/KMvBtijl86

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 3, 2018

Estevan Payan defeats Omar Avelar via KO – Round 1, 1:57

UFC and Bellator vet Estevan Payan gets aggressive and finishes Omar Avelar in the first. #BareKnuckleFC pic.twitter.com/9KUNzMVLHC

— Kyle Johnson (@Maldobabo) June 3, 2018

Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Arnold Adams defeats DJ Linderman via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) – Round 2, 2:00

For the first time in nearly 130 years, a sanctioned bare knuckle boxing event will take place on US soil.

If you don’t have a ticket to watch the inaugural event for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship live and in person inside of the City of Cheyenne Ice and Events Center in lovely Wyoming tomorrow night, fear not, you can watch it live right here on the FITE TV app. Use the following code “odd4p7p” for $15 off the event.

The event starts at 9 pm ET and features fighters you will surely recognize from UFC and Bellator fame. Check out the full fight card below.

Heavyweight Bout
Ricco Rodriguez vs. Lewis Rumsey

Women’s Flyweight Bout
Bec Rawlings vs. Alma Garcia

Heavyweight Bout
Eric Prindle vs. Sam Shewmaker

Heavyweight Bout
Arnold Adams vs. DJ Linderman

Heavyweight Bout
Maurice Jackson vs. Dale Sopi

Bantamweight Bout
Reggie Barnett vs. Travis Thompson

137 lbs Bout
Johnny Bedford vs. Nick Mamalis

Featherweight Bout
Estevan Payan vs. Omar Avelar

Heavyweight Bout
Joey Beltran vs. Tony Lopez

165 lbs Bout
Brandon Chevreflis vs. Jorge Gonzalez

Heavyweight Bout
Bobby Gunn vs. Irineau Beato Costa Jr.

Featherweight Bout
Desmond Johnson vs. Jake Hattan