Choosing which organization to follow or fight for requires understanding how they differ. This page compares every major underground and bare knuckle fighting promotion across the categories that matter most: rules, pay, format, location, and accessibility.
Master Comparison Table
| Organization | Country | Founded | Format | Rounds | Gloves | Sanctioned | Weight Classes | Avg. Fighter Pay | YouTube Subs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BKFC | USA | 2018 | Bare Knuckle Boxing | 5x2min | No (wraps only) | Yes | 9 | $15,000-$50,000 | 2.1M |
| BKB | UK | 2012 | Bare Knuckle Boxing | 5x2min | No (wraps only) | Partial | 8 | $5,000-$15,000 | 350K |
| Top Dog FC | Russia | 2013 | Bare Knuckle Boxing | 3x3min | No | No | 4 | $3,000-$10,000 | 8.2M |
| Streetbeefs | USA | 2008 | MMA/Boxing | 3x2min | Yes (MMA/Boxing) | No | None (matched) | $0 (volunteer) | 3.4M |
| KOTS | UK | 2010 | Bare Knuckle | Continuous | No | No | None | $500-$2,000 | 750K |
| KOTR | NZ | 2011 | Amateur Boxing | 3x2min | Yes (headgear) | No | Matched | $0-$500 | 450K |
| Strelka | Russia | 2013 | Street Fighting | 1x3min | No | No | Matched | $200-$2,000 | 1.8M |
| Rough N' Rowdy | USA | 2016 | Amateur Boxing | 3x1min | Yes | Partial | None | $1,500-$5,000 | 1.5M |
| Power Slap | USA | 2022 | Slap Fighting | 3-5 rounds | N/A | Yes | 8 | $3,000-$15,000 | 900K |
| Gamebred BKMMA | USA | 2022 | Bare Knuckle MMA | 5x2min | No | Partial | 7 | $5,000-$20,000 | 600K |
| Mahatch FC | Ukraine | 2019 | Multi-Man MMA | Varies | MMA gloves | No | None | $500-$3,000 | 1.3M |
| Backyard Squabbles | USA | 2020 | MMA/Boxing | 3x2min | Yes | No | None | $100-$500 | 950K |
| StreetBeefz UK | UK | 2024 | MMA/Boxing | 3x2min | Yes | No | None | $0-$200 | 280K |
| Scrapyard FC | USA | 2022 | MMA/Boxing | 3x2min | Yes | No | None | $0-$300 | 180K |
| UBKB | UK | 2014 | Bare Knuckle Boxing | 5x2min | No | Partial | 6 | $2,000-$8,000 | 120K |
| East Bay Rats | USA | ~2000 | Boxing | Varies | Yes | No | None | $0 | 50K |
| Holmgang | Scandinavia | 2020 | MMA/Wrestling | Varies | Mixed | No | None | $0-$500 | 120K |
| Valor BK | USA | 2019 | Bare Knuckle Boxing | 5x2min | No | Partial | 6 | $2,000-$10,000 | 80K |
| AWFC | Australia | 2018 | MMA | 3x3min | MMA gloves | No | Matched | $200-$1,000 | 200K |
| Calcio Storico | Italy | 16th c. | Team Sport | 50min | No | Traditional | None | $0 (prize) | N/A |
Rules Comparison
| Organization | Headbutts | Elbows | Knees | Kicks | Grappling | Ground & Pound | Clinch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BKFC | No | No | No | No | No | No | Limited |
| BKB | No | No | No | No | No | No | Limited |
| Top Dog FC | No | No | No | No | No | No | Limited |
| Streetbeefs | Varies | Yes (MMA) | Yes (MMA) | Yes (MMA) | Yes (MMA) | Yes (MMA) | Yes |
| KOTS | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Strelka | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | No | Yes |
| Power Slap | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Gamebred BKMMA | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mahatch FC | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lethwei | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | No | Yes |
Production & Distribution Comparison
| Organization | Primary Platform | Production Quality | Camera Angles | Commentary | Medical Staff | Referee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BKFC | BKFC App / PPV | Professional | 8-12 | Yes (pro) | Ringside doctors | Licensed |
| BKB | PPV / YouTube | Professional | 6-8 | Yes (pro) | Ringside doctors | Licensed |
| Top Dog FC | YouTube | High | 6-10 | Yes (Russian) | Basic | In-house |
| Streetbeefs | YouTube | Amateur/Mid | 2-4 | A-Train narrates | Basic first aid | A-Train |
| KOTS | YouTube | Mid | 3-5 | Yes | Basic | In-house |
| Strelka | YouTube | Mid | 3-5 | Yes (Russian) | Minimal | In-house |
| Rough N' Rowdy | Barstool+ / PPV | Professional | 6-8 | Yes (comedy) | Ringside | Licensed |
| Power Slap | TBS / Rumble | Professional | 10+ | Yes (pro) | Full medical | Licensed |
| Gamebred BKMMA | PPV | Professional | 8-10 | Yes (pro) | Full medical | Licensed |
| Mahatch FC | YouTube | Mid-High | 4-6 | Yes (Ukrainian) | Basic | In-house |
| StreetBeefz UK | YouTube | Amateur/Mid | 2-3 | Narrated | Basic first aid | Volunteer |
| Scrapyard FC | YouTube | Amateur | 2-3 | Minimal | Basic first aid | Volunteer |
Safety & Regulation Comparison
| Organization | Pre-Fight Medical | Drug Testing | Insurance | Ambulance On-Site | Post-Fight Medical | Fighter Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BKFC | Full physical | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Exclusive |
| BKB | Physical | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Per-fight |
| Top Dog FC | Basic | No | Unknown | Unknown | Basic | Per-fight |
| Streetbeefs | Waiver only | No | No | No | No | None |
| KOTS | Waiver only | No | No | No | No | None |
| Strelka | Minimal | No | No | No | No | Per-fight |
| Power Slap | Full physical + neuro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Exclusive |
| Gamebred BKMMA | Full physical | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Per-fight |
| Rough N' Rowdy | Basic physical | No | Limited | Yes | Basic | Per-fight |
| StreetBeefz UK | Waiver only | No | No | No | No | None |
Accessibility: How to Get Involved
| Organization | How to Apply | Experience Required | Minimum Age | Open Tryouts | Location Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BKFC | Online application | Pro record preferred | 18 | Yes (periodic) | Travel to events |
| Streetbeefs | Contact A-Train | None | 18 | Always open | Virginia (or branches) |
| KOTS | Instagram DM | Some preferred | 18 | By invitation | UK |
| KOTR | Event sign-up | None | 18 | Always open | New Zealand |
| Strelka | Local contacts | None | 18 | Event-based | Russia |
| Rough N' Rowdy | Online application | None | 18 | Pre-event | Travel to events |
| Power Slap | Application process | Some preferred | 21 | Yes | Las Vegas |
| Backyard Squabbles | Social media DM | None | 18 | Event-based | Florida |
| StreetBeefz UK | Application process | None | 18 | Always open | UK |
| Top Dog FC | Invitation only | Record required | 18 | By invitation | Russia |
| Scrapyard FC | Local contact | None | 18 | Open | Washington state |
Best Organization For...
| Goal | Recommended Org | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Making money as a fighter | BKFC | Highest pay, most professional structure |
| Getting started with no experience | Streetbeefs or Rough N' Rowdy | Low barriers to entry, safer formats |
| Watching the most exciting content | Top Dog FC or KOTS | High KO rates, intense formats |
| Fighting in the UK | StreetBeefz UK, KOTS, or BKB | Multiple options for different experience levels |
| Building a social media following | Streetbeefs or Backyard Squabbles | Large existing audiences, YouTube exposure |
| Transitioning to professional fighting | BKFC or Gamebred BKMMA | Sanctioned events count on professional records |