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
+ BKFC Thailand ChampionsDivision Champion Since Defenses Light Heavyweight / Sirimongkol Singmanasak May 7, 2022 0 Featherweight / Krisana Srisang November 4, 2023 0 Women's Strawweight / Po Denman November 4, 2023 0
Championship history
Light Heavyweight Championship Weight limit: 185 lbs (84 kg) No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Sirimongkol Singmanasak BKFC Thailand 1 May 7, 2022
Featherweight Championship Weight limit: 145 lbs (66 kg) No.NameEventDateDefenses1 BKFC Thailand 3 September 3, 2022 Surasak Sukkhamcha vacated the BKFC Thailand Featherweight Championship.2 BKFC Thailand 5 November 4, 2023
Women's Strawweight Championship Weight limit: 115 lbs (52 kg) No.NameEventDateDefenses1 Fani Peloumpi May 7, 20222 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 NotesWelterweight 75 kg Keivan Soleimanidef. Tee Jay ChangKO (punches)10:30Light heavyweight 84 kgSirimongkol Singmanasakdef. Reza GoodaryDecision (split)52:00 Preliminary CardMiddleweight 80 kg Boonsom Klinmeedef. Jonny TelloDecision (split)52:00Featherweight 66 kg Pongpisan Chunyongdef. Victor BootyTKO (punches)31:48Welterweight 75 kg Reza Ahmadnezhaddef. Thoedsak SinamDecision (split)52:00Middleweight 80 kg Jean Carlos Pereiradef. Johan Van De HelDecision (unanimous)52:00W.Strawweight 52 kg Souris Manfredidef. Saowaluk NareepaengsriKO (punch)30:23Heavyweight 120 kg Arash Mardanidef. Zelemkhan MukushevTKO (retirement)20:58Featherweight 66 kg Sarun Srioumboodef. Pipat Mike ChaipornDecision (unanimous)52:00Featherweight 66 kg Surasak Sukkhamchadef. Ermek KumachaevDecision (unanimous)52:00Strawweight 53.5 kg Somiong Wardef. Surachat SrirodKO (punch)21:27
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 NotesLight Heavyweight 84 kg Sirimongkol Singmanasak def. Mike VetrilaDecision (split)52:00 For the inaugural BKFC Thailand Light Heavyweight ChampionshipW.Strawweight 52 kg Fani Peloumpi def. Souris ManfrediDecision (split) 52:00 For the inaugural BKFC Thailand Women's Strawweight Championship Heavyweight 120 kg Steve Banks def. Akbar KarimiKO (punch) 20:14 Welterweight 75 kg Keivan Soleimanidef. Paitoon Jaikom Decision (unanimous)52:00 Lightweight 70 kg Maseng Sornchaidef. Naeem Binhar Decision (unanimous)52:00 Featherweight 66 kg Pongpisan Chunyongdef. Sudan KulubonKO (punches)11:50 Welterweight 75 kg Tee Jay Changdef. Fabiano Hawthorne Decision (unanimous) 52:00Lightweight 70 kg Sadudee Srimueangdef. Phatiphan Krungklang TKO (shoulder injury) 32:00 Flyweight 57 kg Thanathorn Kamrandef. Thodsaphon Wannahat KO (punches) 11:23W.Catchweight 60 kg Usanakorn Thawilsuhannawangdef. Benjamas Phakra KO (punches)30:49
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 NotesLightweight 70 kg Buakaw Banchamek def. Erkan VarolKO (punches)11:50 Featherweight 66 kg Surasak Sukkhamchadef. Pongpisan ChunyongExt.R Decision (majority) 62:00 For the inaugural BKFC Thailand Featherweight Championship. Cruiserweight 93 kg Chaloemporn Sawatsukdef. Dominic AhneeTKO (doctor stoppage) 30:41 Heavyweight 120 kg Steve Banks def. Ahmed AbdelfattahKO (punch) 10:53Lightweight 70 kg Jakkaphop Rattanamangsangdef. Maseng SornchaiKO (punches) 31:55 Middleweight 79 kg Mike Vetriladef. Luis Paulo TerraDecision (unanimous)52:00Featherweight 66 kg Krisana Srisangdef. Pipat Mike ChaipornKO (punches)20:36W.Bantamweight 61 kg Usanakorn Thawilsuhannawangdef. Natsuda YooyaKO (punches) 11:12Bantamweight 61 kg Somchai Ainthidadef. Suban MalophoDecision (unanimous)52:00 W.Flyweight 57 kg Tai Emery def. Rungarun Khunchai KO (punch) 11:41Featherweight 66 kg Sadudee Srimueangdef. Mealinda AmarasingheDecision (split)52:00 Middleweight 79 kg Kantapon Petsangdef. Somphong SathoKO (punch) 12:00
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 NotesLightweight 70 kg Rolando Dy def. Apisit SangmuangKO10:42W.Flyweight 57 kg Po Denmandef. Tai EmeryDecision (unanimous)52:00Welterweight 75 kg Gilbert Patrociniodef. Channarong InjampaKO21:23Featherweight 66 kg Tetee Denmandef. Saw Htoo AungDecision (unanimous)52:00Lightweight 70 kg Gustaf Cedermalmdef. Alex CastroKO41:50Featherweight 66 kg Krisana Srisangdef. Sohanne BenganaTKO (shoulder injury)20:47Featherweight 66 kg Joemil Miadodef. Poorya MokhtariKO11:30 Preliminary CardFeatherweight 66 kg Sarun Srioumboodef. Victor Booty KO21:10Bantamweight 61 kg Chor Povdef. Patho GhoshKO21:18 Bantamweight 61 kg Ouch Thearith def. Anubhav Kumar VermaKO30:56
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