Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Thailand
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Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Thailand (BKFC Thailand), officially known as Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Asia (BKFC Asia), was a bare-knuckle boxing promotion based in Pattaya, Thailand. It is the officially licensed branch of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) in Asia. BKFC Asia is the first promotion in Thailand and Asia to receive full international licensing and sanctioning for bare-knuckle boxing. Founded in 2021, BKFC Asia has held 5 total events as of November 2023.
History
Early history
Before the establishment of BKFC Thailand, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship partnered with Thailand-based Full Metal Dojo to organize a bare-knuckle boxing event titled Bare Knuckle Kingdom. The event took place in Phuket on March 6, 2021, featuring a number of fighters who would later compete on BKFC Thailand, including Po Denman, Steve Banks, Tee Jay Chang, Souris Manfredi, Jonny Tello, Kristof Kirsch, and Jean Carlos Pereira. Future BKFC Asia CEO Nick Chapman also served as a referee in the event.
Establishment
BKFC Thailand was founded in October 2021 by British former MMA fighter and referee Nick Chapman with the help of BKFC president David Feldman. BKFC Thailand events are managed by Nick Chapman and Vathanai Vathanakul.
Inaugural event
BKFC Thailand held its inaugural event, titled BKFC Thailand 1: The Game Changer, on December 18, 2021, at the Pattaya Exhibition And Convention Hall (PEACH) in the Royal Cliff Hotels Group. The event featured big names like former two-division WBC boxing champion Sirimongkol Singmanasak and future ONE Championship Muay Thai fighter Sinsamut Klinmee. As the organization continued to expand, BKFC Thailand underwent a rebranding to BKFC Asia on November 14, 2022. Despite the name change, events hosted in Thailand retained the BKFC Thailand designation to maintain regional recognition.
Broadcast partnership
In October 2023, BKFC Asia agreed to a broadcast partnership deal with TrueVisions, where True Sports would air BKFC Asia events. On November 4, 2023, BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam was aired live through True Sports, becoming the first bare-knuckle boxing event to be aired on Thai television.
Squared Circle
BKFC Thailand conducts its matches inside a circular four-roped ring, known as the "Squared Circle." The Squared Circle is a nod to historical bare-knuckle boxing, featuring two scratch lines that are positioned three feet apart at the center of the ring. These lines are a homage to the Broughton Rules (specifically the London Prize Ring Rules), which were the cornerstone of 19th-century bare-knuckle fighting regulations. At the start of each round, fighters are required to place their front foot on their respective scratch line, a directive commonly referred to as "Toe the Line." The command "Knuckle Up," issued immediately afterward, signals the start of the action.
Bare Knuckle Thai
Bare Knuckle Thai rules are similar to Muay Thai, with the notable exception that competitors fight without gloves. Matches consist of five rounds, with each round lasting two minutes. The rules permit the use of kicks, punches, elbows, and knees, but explicitly prohibit trips and sweeps. Fighters must also remain active in a clinch, which lasts for three seconds. In the event of a draw, a sixth extension round will be fought to determine a winner. BKFC Thailand held the first special rules Bare Knuckle Thai bout, featuring Muay Thai legends Buakaw Banchamek and Saenchai, at BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam on November 4, 2023.
Inaugural champions
The first BKFC Thailand champions were crowned at BKFC Thailand 2: Iconic Impact on May 7, 2022. Sirimongkol Singmanasak defeated Mike Vetrila to win the BKFC Thailand Light Heavyweight Championship while Fani Peloumpi defeated Souris Manfredi to win the BKFC Thailand Women's Strawweight Championship.
Signing Buakaw Banchamek
On July 14, 2022, it was announced that Muay Thai legend and former K-1 World MAX champion Buakaw Banchamek had signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Buakaw made his bare-knuckle boxing debut at BKFC Thailand 3: Moment of Truth on September 3, 2022.
Signing Saenchai
On August 2, 2022, it was announced that Muay Thai legend Saenchai had signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Saenchai made his debut at BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam on November 4, 2023.
Cease of operations
Despite the discussion of future match-ups following BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam, including for BKFC Thailand champion Po Denman to challenge Britain Hart for the BKFC Strawweight Championship, none of these plans ever materialized. On July 20, 2024, CEO Nick Chapman announced through his personal Facebook account that he would step down from his position, effectively ending BKFC Asia.
Final champions
| Division | Champion | Since | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Heavyweight / 84 kg (185 lb) | Thailand Sirimongkol Singmanasak | May 7, 2022 | 0 |
| Featherweight / 66 kg (146 lb) | Thailand Krisana Srisang | November 4, 2023 | 0 |
| Women's Strawweight / 52 kg (115 lb) | Thailand Po Denman | November 4, 2023 | 0 |
Championship history
Light Heavyweight Championship
Weight limit: 185 lbs (84 kg)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thailand Sirimongkol Singmanasak def. Mike Vetrila | BKFC Thailand 1 Pattaya, Thailand | May 7, 2022 |
Featherweight Championship
Weight limit: 145 lbs (66 kg)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thailand Surasak Sukkhamcha def. Pongpisan Chunyong | BKFC Thailand 3 Bangkok, Thailand | September 3, 2022 | |
| Surasak Sukkhamcha vacated the BKFC Thailand Featherweight Championship. | ||||
| 2 | Thailand Kritsana Srisang def. Sarun Srioumboo | BKFC Thailand 5 Pattaya, Thailand | November 4, 2023 |
Women's Strawweight Championship
Weight limit: 115 lbs (52 kg)
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greece Fani Peloumpi def. Souris Manfredi | BKFC Thailand 2 Pattaya, Thailand | May 7, 2022 | |
| 2 | Thailand Po Denman | BKFC Thailand 5 Pattaya, Thailand | November 4, 2023 |
List of events
BKFC Thailand 1: The Game Changer
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Thailand 1: The Game Changer was a bare-knuckle fighting event by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship held on December 18, 2021, in Thailand.
Background
Tee Jay Chang and Fabiano Hawthorne were scheduled to headline the event. In the co-main event, Sirimongkol Singmanasak and Reza Goodary will face each other. Hawthorne later withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Keivan Soleimani.
Results
| BKFC Thailand 1: The Game Changer | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Welterweight 75 kg | Iran Keivan Soleimani | def. | England Tee Jay Chang | KO (punches) | 1 | 0:30 | |
| Light heavyweight 84 kg | ThailandSirimongkol Singmanasak | def. | Iran Reza Goodary | Decision (split) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Preliminary Card | |||||||
| Middleweight 80 kg | Thailand Boonsom Klinmee | def. | Canada Jonny Tello | Decision (split) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Thailand Pongpisan Chunyong | def. | England Victor Booty | TKO (punches) | 3 | 1:48 | |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Iran Reza Ahmadnezhad | def. | Thailand Thoedsak Sinam | Decision (split) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Middleweight 80 kg | Brazil Jean Carlos Pereira | def. | France Johan Van De Hel | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| W.Strawweight 52 kg | France Souris Manfredi | def. | Thailand Saowaluk Nareepaengsri | KO (punch) | 3 | 0:23 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | Iran Arash Mardani | def. | Russia Zelemkhan Mukushev | TKO (retirement) | 2 | 0:58 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Thailand Sarun Srioumboo | def. | Thailand Pipat Mike Chaiporn | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Thailand Surasak Sukkhamcha | def. | Kyrgyzstan Ermek Kumachaev | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Strawweight 53.5 kg | Myanmar Somiong War | def. | Thailand Surachat Srirod | KO (punch) | 2 | 1:27 |
BKFC Thailand 2: Iconic Impact
BKFC Thailand 2: Iconic Impact was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on May 7, 2022, in Pattaya, Thailand.
Background
In the main event, Sirimongkol Singmanasak and Mike Vetrila competed for the inaugural BKFC Thailand Light Heavyweight Championship.
The co-main event saw Souris Manfredi facing Fani Peloumpi for the inaugural BKFC Thailand Women's Strawweight Championship.
Results
| BKFC Thailand 2: Iconic Impact | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Light Heavyweight 84 kg | Thailand Sirimongkol Singmanasak | def. | Russia Mike Vetrila | Decision (split) | 5 | 2:00 | For the inaugural BKFC Thailand Light Heavyweight Championship |
| W.Strawweight 52 kg | Greece Fani Peloumpi | def. | France Souris Manfredi | Decision (split) | 5 | 2:00 | For the inaugural BKFC Thailand Women's Strawweight Championship |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | United States Steve Banks | def. | Iran Akbar Karimi | KO (punch) | 2 | 0:14 | |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Iran Keivan Soleimani | def. | Thailand Paitoon Jaikom | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Thailand Maseng Sornchai | def. | Thailand Naeem Binhar | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Thailand Pongpisan Chunyong | def. | Thailand Sudan Kulubon | KO (punches) | 1 | 1:50 | |
| Welterweight 75 kg | England Tee Jay Chang | def. | Brazil Fabiano Hawthorne | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Thailand Sadudee Srimueang | def. | Thailand Phatiphan Krungklang | TKO (shoulder injury) | 3 | 2:00 | |
| Flyweight 57 kg | Thailand Thanathorn Kamran | def. | Thailand Thodsaphon Wannahat | KO (punches) | 1 | 1:23 | |
| W.Catchweight 60 kg | Thailand Usanakorn Thawilsuhannawang | def. | Thailand Benjamas Phakra | KO (punches) | 3 | 0:49 |
BKFC Thailand 3: Moment of Truth
BKFC Thailand 3: Moment of Truth was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on September 3, 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Background
The main event will feature Muay Thai legend and two-time K-1 World MAX Champion Buakaw Banchamek making his bare-knuckle debut against Turkish kickboxing champion Erkan Varol. Pongpisan Chunyong will face Surasak Sukkhamcha for the inaugural BKFC Thailand Featherweight Championship in the co-main event.
Fight card
| BKFC Thailand 3 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Lightweight 70 kg | Thailand Buakaw Banchamek | def. | Turkey Erkan Varol | KO (punches) | 1 | 1:50 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Thailand Surasak Sukkhamcha | def. | Thailand Pongpisan Chunyong | Ext.R Decision (majority) | 6 | 2:00 | For the inaugural BKFC Thailand Featherweight Championship. |
| Cruiserweight 93 kg | Thailand Chaloemporn Sawatsuk | def. | United States Dominic Ahnee | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 3 | 0:41 | |
| Heavyweight 120 kg | United States Steve Banks | def. | Egypt Ahmed Abdelfattah | KO (punch) | 1 | 0:53 | |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Thailand Jakkaphop Rattanamangsang | def. | Thailand Maseng Sornchai | KO (punches) | 3 | 1:55 | |
| Middleweight 79 kg | Russia Mike Vetrila | def. | Brazil Luis Paulo Terra | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Thailand Krisana Srisang | def. | Thailand Pipat Mike Chaiporn | KO (punches) | 2 | 0:36 | |
| W.Bantamweight 61 kg | Thailand Usanakorn Thawilsuhannawang | def. | Thailand Natsuda Yooya | KO (punches) | 1 | 1:12 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Thailand Somchai Ainthida | def. | Thailand Suban Malopho | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| W.Flyweight 57 kg | Australia Tai Emery | def. | Thailand Rungarun Khunchai | KO (punch) | 1 | 1:41 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Thailand Sadudee Srimueang | def. | Sri Lanka Mealinda Amarasinghe | Decision (split) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Middleweight 79 kg | Thailand Kantapon Petsang | def. | Thailand Somphong Satho | KO (punch) | 1 | 2:00 |
BKFC Asia 4: The Big Bash
BKFC Asia 4: The Big Bash was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship at SpacePlus Bangkok RCA on December 10, 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand.
Background
The event was headlined by the bare-knuckle boxing debut of UFC and Brave CF veteran Rolando Dy, who faced Thailand boxing champion Apisit Sangmuang.
Fight card
| BKFC Asia 4 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Lightweight 70 kg | Philippines Rolando Dy | def. | Thailand Apisit Sangmuang | KO | 1 | 0:42 | |
| W.Flyweight 57 kg | Thailand Po Denman | def. | Australia Tai Emery | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Welterweight 75 kg | Brazil Gilbert Patrocinio | def. | Thailand Channarong Injampa | KO | 2 | 1:23 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Thailand Tetee Denman | def. | Myanmar Saw Htoo Aung | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Sweden Gustaf Cedermalm | def. | Guam Alex Castro | KO | 4 | 1:50 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Thailand Krisana Srisang | def. | Algeria Sohanne Bengana | TKO (shoulder injury) | 2 | 0:47 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Philippines Joemil Miado | def. | Iran Poorya Mokhtari | KO | 1 | 1:30 | |
| Preliminary Card | |||||||
| Featherweight 66 kg | Thailand Sarun Srioumboo | def. | England Victor Booty | KO | 2 | 1:10 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Cambodia Chor Pov | def. | India Patho Ghosh | KO | 2 | 1:18 | |
| Bantamweight 61 kg | Cambodia Ouch Thearith | def. | India Anubhav Kumar Verma | KO | 3 | 0:56 |
BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam
BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on November 4, 2023. It would be the final event held under the BKFC Thailand and BKFC Asia banner.
Background
The event was headlined by a Special Rules Bare Knuckle Thai Fight featuring Muay Thai icons Buakaw Banchamek vs. Saenchai, who were scheduled to face each other in March 2023.
The co-main event featured a title match between defending champion Fani Peloumpi and Po Denman for the BKFC Thailand Strawweight Championship. Also on the card was a title fight for the vacant BKFC Thailand Featherweight Championship between Krisana Srisang and Sarun Srioumboo.
Bonus awards
The following fighters were awarded bonuses:
- Fight of the Night: Pongpisan Chunyong vs. Tha Pyay Nyo
Results
| BKFC Thailand 5 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Lightweight 70 kg | Thailand Buakaw Banchamek | def. | Thailand Saenchai | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | Special Thai Rules bout |
| W.Strawweight 52 kg | Thailand Po Denman | def. | Greece Fani Peloumpi (c) | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | For the BKFC Thailand Women's Strawweight Championship |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Thailand Krisana Srisang | def. | Thailand Sarun Srioumboo | KO | 3 | 0:18 | For the vacant BKFC Thailand Featherweight Championship |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Germany Kristof Kirsch | def. | England Tee Jay Chang | KO | 2 | 0:45 | |
| Cruiserweight 93 kg | Germany Daniel Dörrer | def. | Sweden Tofan Pirani | TKO (referee stoppage) | 1 | 2:00 | Hand injury |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Scotland Andrew Miller | def. | Thailand Teerawat Wongon | KO | 1 | 1:13 | |
| Featherweight 66 kg | Philippines Joemil Miado | def. | Sweden Gustaf Cedermalm | KO | 2 | 0:43 | |
| Light Heavyweight 84 kg | Canada Jonny Tello | def. | Thailand Chaloemporn Sawatsuk | TKO | 5 | 0:50 | |
| Cruiserweight 93 kg | Iran Purya Rokhneh | def. | France Yohann Marin | KO | 2 | ||
| Preliminary Card | |||||||
| Featherweight 66 kg | Thailand Pongpisan Chunyong | def. | Myanmar Tha Pyay Nyo | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | Fight of the Night. Judges' scorecards: 50–44, 50–44, 50–44 |
| Middleweight 79 kg | Russia Mike Vetrila | def. | Philippines Allen Wycoco | Decision (unanimous) | 5 | 2:00 | Judges' scorecards: 50–44, 50–44, 50–44 |
| Lightweight 70 kg | Thailand Tumba | def. | Thailand Maseng Sornchai | Decision (split) | 5 | 2:00 | Judges' scorecards: 48–47, 48–47, 47–48 |
Notable fighters
- Thailand Buakaw Banchamek
- Philippines Rolando Dy
- Thailand Sinsamut Klinmee
- Thailand Saenchai
- Thailand Chaloemporn Sawatsuk
- Thailand Sirimongkol Singmanasak
- Thailand Usanakorn Thawilsuhannawang