
BKFC KnuckleMania 5, the bareknuckle boxing organization’s answer to WrestleMania, takes place on Friday in Philadelphia, PA, with local hero and former Bellator and UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez headlining the show.
“The Underground King,” whose post-UFC career included a brief stint in ONE Championship, arrived on the bareknuckle scene in 2023, going 1-1 in BKFC with a win over Chad Mendes followed by a loss to Mike Perry for the symbolic “King of Violence” title (basically the BKFC’s take on the UFC’s BMF championship). At 41, Alvarez is well out of his prime, his best years behind him, but fighting at home in Philly against an equally worn Stephens might just produce an entertaining scrap.
As for the co-main event, it’s hard to see heavyweight champ Mick Terrill vs. “Big” Ben Rothwell going the distance. Rothwell, another former UFC star, actually asked for this release from the MMA powerhouse with a fight on the books. He immediately became a player in BKFC, earning three finishes in three fights, most recently against fellow UFC alum Todd Duffee.
Early on in BKFC’s run, “Rowdy” Bec Rawlings, an Ultimate Fighter 20 and UFC alum, earned the nickname “The Queen of Bareknuckle” as she became the promotin’s first female champ winning the Police Gazette Women’s Featherweight World Championship as well as the World Boxing Foundation Latin American championship by BKFC 4 in 2019. After leaving the promotion briefly, she returned, only to come up short in two chances at the BKFC flyweight championship. At BKFC KnuckleMania 5, she’s been paired up with the ever-popular Taylor Starling, a two-time title challenger. If nothing else, the winner jumps back in the win column.
Where to Watch BKFC KnuckleMania 5
Saturday, January 25, 2025 sees BKFC KnuckleMania 5 takes place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA. The card airs live on DAZN starting at 8PM ET, 5PM PT. Full results from the event can be found below.
BKFC KnuckleMania 5 Results
Jeremy Stephens def. Eddie Alvarez by TKO (corner stoppage), Round 3, 2:00
Ben Rothwell def. Mick Terrill (c) by KO Round 1, 0:36 – for the BKFC heavyweight championship
Bec Rawlings def. Taylor Starling by unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 49-45)
Pat Brady def. Zach Calmus by TKO, Round 1, 0:53
John Garbarino def. Apostle Spencer by KO, Round 1, 0:59
Kaine Tomlinson Jr. def. Pat Sullivan by KO, Round 1, 0:37
Steve Banks def. Joey Dawejko by TKO, Round 3, 1:54
Dustin Pague vs. JD Burns
Brandon Meyer def. Zed Montanez by KO, Round 2, 0:39
Travis Thompson def. Zach Panell by KO, Round 2, 0:41
Phil Caracappa def. Noah Norman by DQ, Round 4, 0:40
Cody Russell def. Logan Tucker by KO, Round 3, 0:49
Itso Babulaidze def. Bryan McDowell by unanimous decision (48-42, 47-43, 48-42)