Latest news with #bareknuckleboxing
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carlisle bare-knuckle boxer valiantly beaten in ferocious UK title fight
Carlisle bare-knuckle boxer Danny Christie's bid to become British champion for a second time ended in valiant defeat in Birmingham. The Currock man's BKFC British welterweight title fight against Connor Tierney was a ferocious contest. But Christie was ultimately beaten by technical knockout in the fourth round after his corner stepped in. The 40-year-old Cumbrian traded some formidable blows with home-city champion Tierney at BKFC 77 Birmingham. The Carlisle boxer's face took some serious punishment whilst Christie landed some powerful shots of his own as he fought on. Connor Tierney BEATS Danny Christie after the referee stops the fight! 😯#BKFC77 | LIVE on DAZN | TONIGHT — DAZN Sport (@DAZN_Sport) June 28, 2025 But the fight was called to a halt 14 seconds into round four, with the post-fight announcements confirming that it was Christie's corner rather than referee Alan Jackson who had called a stop to things. It saw 30-year-old Tierney retain his title, with Christie denied in his comeback BKFC fight as he tried to add the welterweight title to the UK light-heavyweight crown he won in 2023. The fight was top of the card at BP Pulse Live and lived up to its billing as the two fighters showcased a contrast of powerful styles. Tierney, fighting from the blue corner, set the early pace with some rapid uppercuts and body shots, drawing early blood, before Christie – who had cut a relaxed and confident figure in his ring walk – offered a strong response with a big right-hand blow that connected with his opponent just before the first round bell. The reigning champion showed sharp movement as the pair traded more blows, Christie's face increasingly blood-streaked as cuts opened up further during the second round. The Carlisle fighter then tried to force the issue early in the third round as he went on the attack with some right and left-hand combinations, Tierney having to withstand some powerful shots from Christie whilst offering further telling body shots and jabs and showing elusive movement. Christie, pictured at Friday's weigh-in, came out of retirement for the title fight (Image: BKFC) The fourth round was paused early on with calls for Tierney's right-hand wrap to be attended to, but the fight did not resume as referee Jackson then signalled an end to the contest. Christie offered no protest against the decision and was quick to embrace Tierney as the Birmingham man celebrated his victory. The post-fight statistics showed that Christie threw and landed more punches but the damage inflicted by Tierney was also clear. Announcer Jeff Houston duly confirmed that 'the red corner had stepped in' leading to the TKO decision in Tierney's favour. Christie's corner team included fellow Cumbrian BKFC champion Agi Faulkner as well as Carlisle bare-knuckle boxer Kieron Sewell along with coach Arron Adair. The fight had seen Christie return to the high-profile BKFC platform, having retired last November. The Cumbrian made a strong impact on the top bare-knuckle stage in his initial run of fights by winning the light-heavyweight title two years ago, while last year he earned a world title fight in the middleweight division, losing to American star David Mundell.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carlisle bare-knuckle boxer set for comeback title fight
Danny Christie is aiming to win his second BKFC title on Saturday (Image: BKFC) Carlisle bare-knuckle boxer Danny Christie is set to make his big comeback this weekend – with a major title in his sights. The Currock fighter returns to the top BKFC platform to take on Connor Tierney for the UK welterweight title. Advertisement Christie will face Tierney in the latter's home city of Birmingham on Saturday night as he looks to become a BKFC champion for the second time. The 40-year-old Cumbrian previously won the UK light-heavyweight title before moving to middleweight ahead of his announced retirement last year. But he has been tempted back to the high-profile BKFC stage in a top-of-the-bill fight at BKFC 77 Birmingham, staged at BP Pulse Live. The BKFC's founder and president, David Feldman, is expecting an outstanding contest between Christie and reigning welterweight champion Tierney. He said: 'Connor Tierney and Danny Christie have proven in each of their fights to be true bare-knuckle fighting warriors, among the very best in the world. Advertisement 'This is one of the best fights we've promoted in the United Kingdom.' Christie's first spell in the BKFC saw victories over Terry Brazier, Darren Godfrey and Anthony Holmes, the latter earning the Carlisle man the British light-heavyweight title. After defeat to American fighter Jared Warren, he successfully defended his UK title against David Round before vacating it to move to middleweight. Victory over Jimmy Millar earned Christie a world title shot in that division, where he was beaten in Spain by American champion David Mundell last October. Christie retired after last autumn's world title fight against David Mundell, but has since returned to the BKFC platform (Image: PA) Advertisement Tierney, 30, has eight victories and two defeats to his name in the BKFC, winning the UK welterweight title against Jonny Graham in Coventry last August. Speaking on his YouTube channel this week, Christie looked ahead to the fight and said: 'I'm in the best shape of my life – hands down, by far. 'I've been in the gym for the last ten weeks and feel very, very confident going into this fight. 'I want the best version of Connor, he's got the best version of me, we're both locking horns when we're at our best. 'I love going to other people's back yards, I love going and having straighteners with people where they want it. It's less pressure for me and I think I perform better when I'm in that position. Advertisement 'But time will tell. It's in God's hands now and may the best man win.' Should Christie win, he will become Cumbria's second reigning BKFC champion, along with Egremont's European heavyweight champion Agi Faulkner. For more information on BKFC 77 Birmingham, including how to watch, visit
ABC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Debate ignites over the sport of bare-knuckle boxing
Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission board has knocked back an application to stage a bare-knuckle boxing championship next month. Promoters now have their signs set on other Australian cities. A warning, this story from Rhiannon Shine contains some graphic footage.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
What to know ahead of Tennessee's first bare knuckle boxing card?
Professional bare knuckle boxing comes to Tennessee for the first time on June 21 as The Pinnacle in Nashville hosts one of combat sports' newest phenomena, continuing a series a summer fights which kicked off with PFL's World Tournament on June 12. The path was paved for the Volunteer state's first-ever sanctioned bare knuckle boxing event when a unified set of rules were approved by the Tennessee Athletic Commission, going into effect earlier this year. Advertisement Ahead of BKB's "Music City Brawl," here's all you need to know about bare knuckle boxing's debut in Tennessee. Tickets for BKB bare knuckle boxing in Nashville Tickets for bare knuckle boxing at The Pinnacle are available here. Buy tickets to BKB 42 in Nashville What time is bare knuckle boxing card in Nashville? BKB's bare knuckle boxing card at The Pinnacle will kick off at 6 p.m. (CT), with two preliminary fights preceding the main card, which begins at 7 p.m. (CT). Fight card start: 6 p.m. CT When was bare knuckle boxing legalized in Tennessee? The first step toward bare knuckle boxing's legalization in Tennessee came in July 2024 when the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC), which the Tennessee Athletic Commission is a member of, approved a unified set of rules for the sport. Advertisement The TAC had previously been presented with data on bare knuckle boxing three years ago, but at the time the commission was not ready to move forward with the implementation of a set of rules. Following the ABC's approval last year, Tennessee's commission reviewed and ultimately established the unified rules as it made the decision to regulate the sport. The rules went into effect in Tennessee on March 5 after a rule-making hearing, opening the door for Tennessee's first sanctioned bare knuckle boxing card. More: Derrick Lewis planning Broadway celebration ahead of UFC fight in Nashville Bare knuckle boxing Nashville fight card Main card LT Nelson vs. Sam Liera Javon Wright vs. Carlos Guerra Jamie Driver vs. Helen Peralta Ike Villanueva vs. Eric Olsen Marko Martinjak vs. Maurice Morris Jarome Hatch vs. Cody East Luis Morales vs. Luis Guerrero Advertisement Preliminary fights Devin Wallace vs. Cody Cooper Caleb Austin vs. Nate Williams How to watch bare knuckle boxing in Nashville? Tennessee's first sanctioned bare knuckle boxing card will stream live on VICE in the U.S. and Canada, while talkSPORT will air the card in the U.K. and Ireland. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage. Harrison Campbell covers boxing for The Tennessean and high school sports for The Daily Herald. Email him at hcampbell@ and follow him on Twitter @hccamp. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: BKB Nashville: Tickets, time for bare knuckle boxing's Tennessee debut
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
PFL World Tournament delivers first punch of summer fights in Nashville. Bare knuckle, UFC next
NASHVILLE − Fight season has officially begun in Nashville. It all kicked off with the Professional Fighters League's World Tournament semifinals on June 12 at the Municipal Auditorium, the first of a full slate of fights in Music City this summer. Advertisement "I got to tell you, I've been here four days and the vibe's amazing. The people are amazing. It's exciting ... we had a really good crowd out there and I think they were excited too," PFL insider and analyst Johnathan Coachman said after the card. "We also have fighters that have really good following. So to me, we've got to target certain cities in the United States as we grow ... Nashville is a growing city. Everybody knows that. And damn we love it man, we really, really do." It's the first taste of world class mixed martial arts that Nashville fans have had since August 2024, when PFL last made the trip to Middle Tennessee. But they won't have to wait long for the next set of fights. On June 21, Nashville hosts Tennessee's first professional bare knuckle boxing card, which is being billed as the "Music City Brawl." Dana White and the UFC return to Nashville on July 12 for a Derrick Lewis-headlined Fight Night card at Bridgestone Arena. Advertisement While Nashville has never been known as combat sports hub, the tide is beginning to turn with major promotions taking notice. "Tennessee is a hot spot man. From Clarksville to Memphis to Knoxville (and) Nashville, Tennessee is a hotbed for MMA," Clarksville's Jason Danner (3-0) said winning the opening bout of the the PFL card. "There's so much good talent around, it's just never ending man. "You go from East Tennessee to the Cumberland Plateau to the West. Tennessee is a hotbed man and it's growing and growing every year. I started out fighting in backyards and bars and now I'm in a stadium with some of the biggest names in MMA. It's a dream come true." Thad Jean celebrates defeating Jason Jackson during the PFL World Tournament welterweight semifinal fight at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, June 13, 2025. A growing fanbase is what ultimately brought PFL back to Nashville. Advertisement "Nashville, the Music City, is an entertainment town of course, but it's also a sports town," PFL CEO Peter Murray told The Tennessean in March. "It's also a great sports town with a diverse sports fan base and a tremendous amount of interest and demand for combat sports, including MMA." There are few better places to celebrate a win than Broadway, where Thad Jean intends to become a familiar face following his career-best win over Jason Jackson by split decision in the main event. Jean improved to 10-0 while advancing to the PFL's World Tournament welterweight final against Logan Storley, who also picked up a victory on the card. PLANT: Nashville-area boxer Caleb Plant shocked in split-decision loss to Armando Resendiz "I'm going to go to karaoke. I'm going to go singing. I'm going to go dancing," Jean said after the win. "I'm in Nashville ... we're going to be a life of Broadway, not just the bar, (but) Broadway. It's going to be great." Advertisement Harrison Campbell covers combat sports for The Tennessean and high school sports for The Daily Herald. Email him at hcampbell@ and follow him on Twitter @hccamp. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: PFL delivers first punch for Nashville summer fights. UFC, bare knuckle next
