The Complete List of Every Underground Fighting Organization
The underground fighting world is far larger than most people realize. Dozens of organizations operate across the globe, spanning formats that range from bare knuckle boxing to no-rules concrete fighting to organized backyard brawls. Some have millions of YouTube subscribers and generate significant revenue. Others operate in total secrecy, distributing footage through encrypted channels to avoid law enforcement.
This page is a master directory of every underground fighting organization covered on this site. Each organization is categorized by tier and includes key stats, a brief description, and a link to its full profile. This list is updated as new organizations emerge and existing ones evolve.
For detailed regional breakdowns, see our Complete Guide to Street Fighting Organizations Worldwide. For the legal status of each organization, see our Country-by-Country Legal Breakdown.
How We Categorize Organizations
We organize underground fighting organizations into three tiers based on their level of regulation, production quality, and relationship to the mainstream combat sports industry:
Tier 1: Underground / Unsanctioned -- Organizations that operate entirely outside any regulatory framework. These range from secretive no-rules operations to publicly visible but unsanctioned fight clubs. No athletic commission oversight, no formal licensing, no mandatory medical protocols.
Tier 2: Bare Knuckle Professional / Semi-Sanctioned -- Organizations that operate with some degree of professional structure and may hold licensing or sanctioning in some jurisdictions. These represent the space between the underground and the fully regulated mainstream.
Tier 3: Historical / Legacy -- Organizations or traditions that predate modern combat sports regulation or have historical significance to the underground fighting movement. Includes cultural combat traditions and influential organizations that are no longer active.
Tier 1: Underground / Unsanctioned
These organizations operate entirely outside the sanctioned combat sports system. They represent the true underground, from the most extreme no-rules formats to community-oriented backyard fight clubs.
1. King of the Streets (KOTS)
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | Sweden (events across Europe) |
| Type | No-rules fighting |
| Surface | Concrete |
| Gloves | None |
| Rounds | None (continuous fight) |
| Time Limit | None |
| Founded | 2013 |
| YouTube | 1M+ subscribers |
| Legal Status | Illegal |
KOTS is the most prominent and controversial no-rules fighting organization in the world. Fights take place on bare concrete with no gloves, no rounds, no time limits, and virtually no restrictions on technique. Headbutts, eye gouging, biting, and ground stomps are all permitted. KOTS operates from undisclosed locations in Sweden and has expanded across Europe. The organization has defined the no-rules fighting movement and inspired imitators across the continent.
2. Streetbeefs
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Type | Backyard fighting (boxing and MMA) |
| Surface | Grass / dirt |
| Gloves | Yes (boxing or MMA gloves) |
| Rounds | Yes |
| Time Limit | Yes |
| Founded | 2008 |
| YouTube | 4.2M+ subscribers |
| Legal Status | Gray area |
Streetbeefs is the largest backyard fighting organization in the world by audience. Founded in Harrisonburg, Virginia, by Christopher "Scarface" Wilmore, Streetbeefs began as a dispute-resolution project with the philosophy "Guns Down, Gloves Up." The organization uses gloves, referees, and modified rules. It has expanded to include a West Coast branch in Las Vegas and has produced fighters who have gone on to compete in sanctioned events.
3. Top Dog FC
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | Russia |
| Type | Bare knuckle fighting |
| Surface | Hay-bale ring (early) / professional ring (current) |
| Gloves | None |
| Rounds | Varies |
| Time Limit | Varies |
| Founded | ~2019 |
| YouTube | 6M+ subscribers |
| Legal Status | Gray area (relatively permissive in Russia) |
Top Dog FC is the most commercially successful bare knuckle fighting organization outside of BKFC. Originating in Moscow parking lots with its signature hay-bale ring, Top Dog has evolved into arena events with professional production quality. The organization is known for its mandatory jeans dress code for fighters and its roster of experienced martial artists from across Russia and Eastern Europe.
4. Strelka
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | Russia |
| Type | Street fighting tournaments |
| Surface | Outdoor (streets, parks, fields) |
| Gloves | None |
| Rounds | Varies |
| Time Limit | Varies |
| Founded | ~2011 |
| YouTube | 2M+ subscribers |
| Legal Status | Gray area |
Strelka is a Russian street fighting organization rooted in the country's organized hooligan culture. Operating primarily in St. Petersburg, Strelka stages large-scale street fight tournaments, including both one-on-one fights and mass brawl formats (5-on-5 or larger). The organization's videos have amassed hundreds of millions of views on YouTube and have been instrumental in popularizing Russian street fighting globally.
5. Mahatch FC
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | Ukraine |
| Type | Bare knuckle fighting |
| Surface | Sandbag ring |
| Gloves | None |
| Rounds | Varies |
| Time Limit | Varies |
| Founded | ~2020 |
| YouTube | 500K+ subscribers |
| Legal Status | Gray area |
Mahatch FC operates from Kyiv, Ukraine, featuring bare knuckle fights in a distinctive ring made of sandbags. The organization requires fighters to wear sneakers (a mandatory part of the format). Mahatch FC has drawn international attention for its continued operation during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
6. The Scrapyard
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Type | Backyard fighting |
| Surface | Grass |
| Gloves | Yes |
| Rounds | Yes |
| Time Limit | Yes |
| Founded | 2020 |
| YouTube | 900K+ subscribers |
| Legal Status | Gray area |
The Scrapyard is a rapidly growing backyard fighting organization based near Gig Harbor, Washington. Operated by Tony Johnson and his family, The Scrapyard has built a massive social media following (1.5 million+ Instagram followers) and draws fighters from across the western United States. The organization benefits from Washington state's relatively permissive mutual combat laws.
7. Backyard Squabbles
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Type | Backyard fighting |
| Surface | Outdoor |
| Gloves | Yes |
| Rounds | Yes |
| Time Limit | Yes |
| Founded | ~2019 |
| YouTube | 500K+ subscribers |
| Legal Status | Gray area (precarious under California law) |
Backyard Squabbles operates out of Los Angeles with a "Guns Down, Squabble Up" philosophy. The organization provides a platform for disputes and aspiring fighters in the LA area, operating in a legally precarious position under California's strict anti-fight laws.
Full Backyard Squabbles Profile
8. FPVS
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Type | No-rules fighting |
| Surface | Concrete |
| Gloves | None |
| Rounds | None |
| Time Limit | None |
| Founded | ~2021 |
| YouTube | Growing |
| Legal Status | Illegal |
FPVS is a French no-rules fighting organization that follows the KOTS model: concrete surfaces, no gloves, no rounds, and minimal restrictions. Operating in France under a strictly prohibitive legal environment, FPVS uses operational secrecy to avoid law enforcement.
9. UUF (Underground Unarmed Fighting)
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | Denmark |
| Type | No-rules / minimal rules fighting |
| Surface | Hard surface |
| Gloves | None |
| Rounds | None |
| Time Limit | None |
| Founded | ~2018 |
| YouTube | Limited |
| Legal Status | Illegal |
UUF is a Danish no-rules fighting organization that emerged from the broader Scandinavian movement inspired by KOTS. Operating illegally under Danish assault laws, UUF uses covert operations and online distribution.
10. Holmgang
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | Scandinavia / Germany |
| Type | No-rules / minimal rules fighting |
| Surface | Varies |
| Gloves | None |
| Rounds | None |
| Time Limit | None |
| Founded | ~2017 |
| YouTube | Limited |
| Legal Status | Illegal |
Holmgang takes its name from the Old Norse tradition of settling disputes through single combat. The modern organization draws on Viking-era dueling traditions and operates illegally in Scandinavia and Germany.
11. East Bay Rats
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Type | Fight nights |
| Surface | Various |
| Gloves | Varies |
| Rounds | Varies |
| Time Limit | Varies |
| Founded | ~1994 |
| YouTube | N/A |
| Legal Status | Illegal (unsanctioned) |
East Bay Rats is one of the oldest continuously operating underground fight operations in the United States. Run by a motorcycle club in Oakland, California, their fight nights are raw, communal events rooted in biker culture, with no social media strategy or subscriber counts.
12. Our Way FC
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | Russia |
| Type | Bare knuckle fighting |
| Surface | Ring |
| Gloves | None |
| Rounds | Varies |
| Time Limit | Varies |
| Founded | ~2020 |
| YouTube | Growing |
| Legal Status | Gray area |
Our Way FC is a Russian bare knuckle fighting organization operating in a format similar to Top Dog FC. The organization has carved out its own audience in the competitive Russian combat sports market.
13. Punch Down
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | Poland |
| Type | Slap fighting / bare knuckle |
| Surface | Stage / ring |
| Gloves | None |
| Rounds | Varies |
| Time Limit | Varies |
| Founded | ~2021 |
| YouTube | Growing |
| Legal Status | Gray area |
Punch Down originated in Poland as a slap fighting organization and has expanded into other combat formats. The organization's events feature a range of combat sports and have gained a following across Eastern Europe and internationally.
Tier 2: Bare Knuckle Professional / Semi-Sanctioned
These organizations operate with a higher degree of professionalism and, in some cases, formal sanctioning from athletic commissions. They represent the space where underground fighting meets the legitimate combat sports industry.
14. Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC)
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | United States (events internationally) |
| Type | Bare knuckle boxing |
| Surface | Professional ring |
| Gloves | None (wrist wraps permitted) |
| Rounds | Yes (2-minute rounds) |
| Time Limit | Yes |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Platform | PPV / BKFC app |
| Legal Status | Sanctioned in multiple US states |
| Notable Figures | Conor McGregor (minority owner), Mike Perry, Paige VanZant |
BKFC is the most commercially successful bare knuckle fighting organization in the world and the first to achieve legal sanctioning in modern American history. Since its first event in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in June 2018, BKFC has grown into a major promotion with arena events, pay-per-view broadcasts, and a roster that includes former UFC champions. Conor McGregor's acquisition of a minority ownership stake in 2024 marked a watershed moment for bare knuckle fighting's mainstream acceptance.
15. BKB / BYB Extreme
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | United States / United Kingdom |
| Type | Bare knuckle boxing |
| Surface | Patented Trigon (triangular) ring |
| Gloves | None |
| Rounds | Yes |
| Time Limit | Yes |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Platform | Previously VICE TV; PPV and streaming |
| Legal Status | Varies by jurisdiction |
BKB/BYB Extreme operates in both the US and UK and is known for its patented triangular Trigon ring, a three-cornered fighting surface designed to eliminate retreat and create more action. The organization's UK roots connect it to Britain's centuries-old bare knuckle tradition, while its American operations position it as an alternative to BKFC.
16. Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Type | Bareknuckle MMA |
| Surface | Ring / cage |
| Gloves | None |
| Rounds | Tournament format |
| Time Limit | Yes |
| Founded | 2023 |
| Platform | PPV |
| Prize Pool | Up to $500,000 per tournament |
| Legal Status | Varies by jurisdiction |
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA, founded by former UFC star Jorge Masvidal, combines the raw appeal of bare knuckle fighting with the full MMA ruleset. The organization's tournament format and significant prize pools attract experienced MMA fighters willing to compete without gloves. Masvidal's own underground fighting background (his backyard fights are legendary in the MMA community) lends authenticity to the promotion.
Full Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA Profile
17. Rough N' Rowdy
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Type | Amateur boxing |
| Surface | Professional ring |
| Gloves | Yes |
| Rounds | Yes (3 rounds, 1 minute each) |
| Time Limit | Yes |
| Founded | ~2017 |
| Platform | PPV through Barstool Sports |
| Legal Status | Gray area / semi-sanctioned |
Rough N' Rowdy is backed by Barstool Sports and stages amateur boxing events featuring largely untrained fighters in a party atmosphere. Events combine professional production value with amateur fighters, creating an entertainment-first experience that blurs the line between sport and spectacle.
18. KOTR (King of the Ring)
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Type | Bare knuckle fighting |
| Surface | Various |
| Gloves | None |
| Rounds | Varies |
| Time Limit | Varies |
| Founded | Various (ongoing tradition) |
| Platform | Limited online distribution |
| Legal Status | Gray area |
KOTR operates in the UK's gray area between the unlicensed boxing tradition and the formal regulatory framework. Drawing on the British Isles' deep bare knuckle history, including the Traveller community's fighting tradition, KOTR events feature organized bare knuckle bouts that exist outside the jurisdiction of the British Boxing Board of Control.
Tier 3: Historical / Legacy
These organizations or traditions have historical significance to the underground fighting world. Some are still active but represent traditions that predate the modern scene. Others are no longer operating but remain influential.
19. Calcio Storico
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | Italy |
| Type | Historical team combat sport |
| Surface | Sand-covered field |
| Team Size | 27 per side |
| Rules | Minimal (striking, wrestling, ball play) |
| Founded | ~1530 |
| Schedule | Annual tournament in June |
| Legal Status | Sanctioned by the city of Florence |
Calcio Storico is a 500-year-old Florentine tradition that combines elements of rugby, soccer, wrestling, and bare knuckle fighting. Played annually in the Piazza Santa Croce by teams representing Florence's four historic quarters, Calcio Storico is the oldest continuously practiced form of organized combat that exists outside modern regulation. Despite levels of violence that would be criminal in any other context, the sport is protected as a cultural and historical tradition.
20. Vale Tudo (Brazil)
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | Brazil |
| Type | No-rules / minimal-rules mixed martial arts |
| Surface | Various |
| Gloves | None (historically) |
| Rules | Minimal ("anything goes") |
| Active Period | 1920s-present (largely absorbed into MMA) |
| Historical Significance | Direct ancestor of modern MMA and the UFC |
Vale Tudo ("anything goes") is the Brazilian tradition of minimal-rules fighting that directly gave rise to modern mixed martial arts. The Gracie family's challenge matches, conducted under Vale Tudo rules, eventually led Rorion Gracie and Art Davie to create the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1993. While Vale Tudo as a distinct scene has been largely absorbed into the regulated MMA industry, its legacy defines the entire landscape of underground fighting.
Read about Vale Tudo's influence on underground fighting
21. Kimbo Slice Backyard Fights
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Type | Backyard bare knuckle fighting |
| Surface | Backyards, parking lots |
| Gloves | None |
| Active Period | 2003-2008 |
| Historical Significance | Created the viral underground fighting movement |
| Key Figure | Kimbo Slice (Kevin Ferguson, 1974-2016) |
Kimbo Slice's backyard fights in Miami are the origin point of the modern underground fighting movement. His videos were among the first viral content on the early internet, demonstrating that there was a massive audience for raw, unpolished fighting. Kimbo's journey from backyard fights to EliteXC to the UFC to Bellator to his death in 2016 is the defining individual story of underground fighting. For the full story, see our History of Underground Fighting.
22. Dada 5000 / Dawg Fight
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Type | Backyard fighting |
| Surface | Backyards (Perrine, Florida) |
| Gloves | Varies |
| Active Period | 2000s-2010s |
| Historical Significance | Documented in the 2015 film Dawg Fight |
| Key Figure | Dhafir "Dada 5000" Harris |
Dhafir "Dada 5000" Harris came up in the same Miami backyard fighting scene as Kimbo Slice and organized his own fight events in Perrine, Florida. His scene was documented in the 2015 Netflix film Dawg Fight, directed by Billy Corben. Dada 5000's rivalry with Kimbo Slice culminated in their infamous fight at Bellator 149 in February 2016, which has been called one of the worst fights in MMA history but was a cultural event for the underground fighting community.
23. London Prize Ring
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Type | Bare knuckle boxing |
| Surface | Outdoor rings (turf) |
| Gloves | None |
| Active Period | 1700s-1889 |
| Historical Significance | The original form of organized Western boxing |
The London Prize Ring is the ancestor of all modern boxing and, by extension, all modern combat sports. Operating under the London Prize Ring Rules (first published in 1838), bare knuckle prizefighting was the dominant form of competitive fighting in the English-speaking world for over 150 years. The sport was eventually supplanted by gloved boxing under the Marquess of Queensberry Rules (1867), but its legacy lives on in every bare knuckle organization operating today.
Quick Reference: All Organizations
| # | Organization | Country | Type | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KOTS | Sweden | No Rules | Underground |
| 2 | Streetbeefs | USA | Backyard | Underground |
| 3 | Top Dog FC | Russia | Bare Knuckle | Underground |
| 4 | Strelka | Russia | Street Fighting | Underground |
| 5 | Mahatch FC | Ukraine | Bare Knuckle | Underground |
| 6 | The Scrapyard | USA | Backyard | Underground |
| 7 | Backyard Squabbles | USA | Backyard | Underground |
| 8 | FPVS | France | No Rules | Underground |
| 9 | UUF | Denmark | No Rules | Underground |
| 10 | Holmgang | Scandinavia/Germany | No Rules | Underground |
| 11 | East Bay Rats | USA | Fight Night | Underground |
| 12 | Our Way FC | Russia | Bare Knuckle | Underground |
| 13 | Punch Down | Poland | Slap/BK | Underground |
| 14 | BKFC | USA | BK Boxing | Professional |
| 15 | BKB/BYB Extreme | USA/UK | BK Boxing | Professional |
| 16 | Gamebred BK MMA | USA | BK MMA | Professional |
| 17 | Rough N' Rowdy | USA | Amateur Boxing | Semi-Sanctioned |
| 18 | KOTR | UK | Bare Knuckle | Semi-Sanctioned |
| 19 | Calcio Storico | Italy | Historical | Legacy |
| 20 | Vale Tudo | Brazil | No Rules MMA | Legacy |
| 21 | Kimbo Slice Fights | USA | Backyard BK | Legacy |
| 22 | Dada 5000 / Dawg Fight | USA | Backyard | Legacy |
| 23 | London Prize Ring | UK | BK Boxing | Legacy |
How This List Is Maintained
This list is maintained and updated as the underground fighting landscape evolves. Organizations are added when they achieve a meaningful level of operation, audience, or cultural significance. Organizations are moved between tiers when their status changes (for example, when an underground organization achieves sanctioning).
If you believe an organization is missing from this list, the underground fighting world is constantly producing new promotions, and some operate so far underground that they take time to surface.
For in-depth coverage of the underground fighting world, explore these additional resources:
- Ultimate Guide to Underground Fighting -- The comprehensive overview of the entire scene
- Ultimate Guide to Bare Knuckle Fighting -- Deep dive into bare knuckle organizations and culture
- Ultimate Guide to No-Rules Fighting -- Coverage of the most extreme end of the spectrum
- Ultimate Guide to Backyard Fighting -- The backyard fight club scene
- Complete Guide to Street Fighting Organizations Worldwide -- Regional directory with detailed profiles
- How to Watch Underground Fights -- Streaming guide for every organization
- The History of Underground Fighting -- Timeline from Kimbo Slice to the present
- Is Underground Fighting Legal? -- Country-by-country legal breakdown