BKFC Champions List: Complete Title History for Every Weight Class
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship has grown from a niche spectacle into one of the most talked-about combat sports promotions on the planet. With co-owner Conor McGregor bringing mainstream attention, a groundbreaking fighter equity program, and a roster stacked with former UFC veterans, BKFC now runs twelve championship divisions -- nine men's and three women's.
This is the complete, updated list of every BKFC champion, their title histories, and notable defenses.
How BKFC Championships Work
Before diving into the champion roster, it helps to understand how BKFC structures its titles. Championship bouts are contested over five rounds of two minutes each, fought in BKFC's signature circular four-rope ring. Fighters compete with bare knuckles -- hand wraps cover the wrist and mid-hand, but the knuckles remain fully exposed.
Weight classes in BKFC differ slightly from traditional boxing. The promotion uses its own divisional structure, and some weight limits sit between the lines fans may be used to from boxing or MMA.
Under the 2025 fighter equity program announced at the Champions Summit, title holders now earn ownership stakes in BKFC itself. A champion who defends once receives equity valued at $100,000, scaling up to $3 million for fighters who reach ten successful defenses.
Men's Division Champions
Heavyweight (Unlimited)
Current Champion: Alessio Sakara
The Italian veteran Alessio Sakara captured the BKFC Heavyweight Championship with a devastating third-round knockout of Ben Rothwell at KnuckleMania 6 on February 7, 2026. Sakara, a former UFC middleweight, brought years of elite-level experience into the bare knuckle ring. Rothwell, a twelve-year UFC veteran who had held the belt, was stopped emphatically. Sakara has zero title defenses to date and enters 2026 as the division's new face.
Previous notable heavyweight champions include Arnold Adams, who was one of the first to hold the strap, and Ben Rothwell, who brought mainstream credibility to the division.
Cruiserweight / Light Heavyweight (205 lbs)
Current Champion: Lorenzo Hunt
Lorenzo Hunt claimed the cruiserweight championship by split decision over Chris Camozzi at BKFC 83 on October 25, 2025. The fight went the full distance, with Hunt edging out the former UFC middleweight in a grueling five-round war. Hunt has zero title defenses to date. The division has seen steady growth as BKFC attracts bigger fighters, and Hunt's reign is still in its early stages.
Middleweight (175 lbs)
Current Champion: David Mundell
David Mundell won the BKFC Middleweight Championship with a spectacular first-round knockout of Josh Dyer at BKFC 84 Palm Desert on November 15, 2025. Mundell wasted no time, finishing the fight early to claim the belt. He has zero title defenses to date. BKFC's middleweight division uses a 175-pound limit, which sits higher than the traditional boxing middleweight standard of 160 pounds.
Super Welterweight (165 lbs)
Current Champion: Dustin Pague
Dustin Pague is the longest-reigning male champion in BKFC. He won the super welterweight title on December 3, 2022, and has defended it an impressive four times. Pague's consistency and durability at 165 pounds have made him one of the promotion's most reliable champions. Under the new fighter equity program, his four defenses have already earned him substantial ownership value.
Welterweight (155 lbs)
Current Champion: Franco Tenaglia
Argentine fighter Franco Tenaglia won the BKFC Welterweight Championship by unanimous decision over Julian Lane at BKFC 86 on January 17, 2026. Lane, a well-known figure in the bare knuckle world, was unable to solve Tenaglia's technical boxing over five rounds. Tenaglia has zero title defenses to date.
The welterweight division has a rich history. Luis Palomino, who became the first simultaneous two-division champion in BKFC history, once held this belt along with the lightweight title. Palomino's six consecutive lightweight title defenses remain a BKFC record.
Lightweight (155 lbs)
Notable History: Luis Palomino's Record Reign
The BKFC Lightweight Championship has been defined by Luis "Baboon" Palomino. Between November 2020 and June 2023, Palomino made six consecutive title defenses -- defeating Jim Alers, Tyler Goodjohn, Dat Nguyen, Martin Brown, Tom Shoaff, and James Lilley. That record still stands as the most consecutive defenses by any fighter in BKFC history.
Palomino vacated the lightweight belt in January 2024 to pursue the welterweight title, and later won the inaugural King of Streets Championship by defeating Howard Davis at BKFC 70 on March 27, 2025.
Featherweight (145 lbs)
Current Champion: Kai Stewart
Kai Stewart holds the BKFC Featherweight Championship with an undefeated record. Stewart has proven himself as one of the most dominant fighters on the roster, and he was scheduled to defend his belt against Nico Gaffie at BKFC 87 in Hollywood, Florida. The featherweight division has become one of BKFC's most competitive weight classes.
Bantamweight (135 lbs)
Current Champion: Keith Richardson
Keith Richardson captured the BKFC Bantamweight Championship with a perfect 4-0 bare knuckle record. Richardson's rise through the division has been swift, and he represents the new generation of fighters who have built their careers specifically within the bare knuckle format rather than crossing over from MMA.
Flyweight (125 lbs)
Current Champion: John Dodson
Former UFC title challenger John Dodson found championship gold in bare knuckle boxing. After twice falling short against Demetrious Johnson for the UFC flyweight belt, Dodson transitioned to BKFC and went 3-0 to capture the flyweight championship. His story is one of the most compelling UFC-to-BKFC crossover narratives in the sport.
Women's Division Champions
Women's Featherweight (145 lbs)
Current Champion: Christine Ferea
Christine "Misfit" Ferea holds the BKFC Women's Featherweight Championship after defeating Hannah Rankin by first-round knockout at BKFC 71 on April 5, 2025. Ferea is one of the most active and aggressive fighters on the women's roster, and her quick finish cemented her as one of the faces of women's bare knuckle fighting. She has zero title defenses to date.
Women's Flyweight (125 lbs)
Christine Ferea has also competed in the women's flyweight division, with the BKFC Women's Flyweight Championship seeing action across multiple events. The women's flyweight division continues to grow as more female fighters enter the bare knuckle world.
Women's Strawweight (115 lbs)
Current Champion: Britain Hart
Britain Hart is the most dominant women's champion in BKFC history. She won the BKFC Women's Strawweight Championship on February 19, 2022, and has made a remarkable five title defenses. Hart's reign at 115 pounds has been one of the longest and most impressive in the promotion's history. Under the fighter equity program, her five defenses translate directly into significant ownership stakes in BKFC.
BKFC Title History: Key Milestones
The history of BKFC championships reflects the promotion's rapid evolution from underground curiosity to legitimate combat sports organization.
First Champions (2018-2019)
When BKFC launched its first sanctioned event in 2018, the championship picture was sparse. Early title bouts helped establish the promotion's identity, and fighters like Arnold Adams (heavyweight) and Luis Palomino (lightweight) became founding champions who gave the belts meaning.
The Luis Palomino Era (2020-2023)
No discussion of BKFC title history is complete without acknowledging Palomino's dominance. His six consecutive lightweight defenses set a standard that no fighter has matched. When Palomino added the welterweight belt to become the first simultaneous two-division champion, it was a defining moment for the promotion.
The Crossover Era (2023-Present)
The arrival of former UFC fighters like John Dodson, Ben Rothwell, Alessio Sakara, and others transformed the championship landscape. These athletes brought name recognition and elite-level skills, raising the competitive bar across all divisions. Recent signings of Yoel Romero, Derek Brunson, Aspen Ladd, and Thiago Santos suggest the crossover pipeline will continue.
The Equity Era (2025-Present)
The fighter equity program announced at the 2025 Champions Summit changed the meaning of holding a BKFC title. Champions are no longer just fighting for a belt -- they are fighting for ownership in the company itself. This incentive structure is unprecedented in combat sports.
Upcoming Title Fights and Contenders
BKFC's event calendar remains packed with championship action. The promotion runs events nearly every month, with title fights frequently headlining cards at their home base in Hollywood, Florida, and at venues across the country.
Contenders across multiple divisions are positioning themselves for title shots. The $25 million "World's Baddest Man" tournament announced at the 2025 Champions Summit adds another layer of competition at heavyweight.
For the latest BKFC event schedule and fight cards, check the official BKFC website.
Why BKFC Championships Matter
BKFC has gone from zero to twelve active championship divisions in under a decade. The promotion's partnership with Conor McGregor, the fighter equity program, and the steady stream of high-profile crossover athletes have elevated these titles from niche curiosities to legitimate prizes in combat sports.
Whether you are tracking the sport for betting purposes, following your favorite fighters, or simply keeping up with the fastest-growing combat sports promotion in the world, understanding the BKFC championship picture is essential.
The rules that govern these fights make bare knuckle boxing one of the rawest and most compelling formats in combat sports -- and the athletes who hold these titles are the best in the world at it.