Who Owns Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship?
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is the largest legal bare-knuckle boxing promotion, founded by David Feldman in 2018 and headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It staged the first sanctioned bare-knuckle event in modern US history in June 2018. Ownership is split among founder interests, Triller Group (approximately 38 percent beneficial ownership after a 2025 foreclosure reduced its majority), and Conor McGregor's minority stake through McGregor Sports and Entertainment. BKFC is private and distributed in more than 60 countries.
Parent Company
Founded
2018
Status
Private
Headquarters
Who Owns Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship?
- Parent Company: Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Company Type: Privately Held
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship | Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship | Wholly owned |
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History of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
- Founded: 2018
- Founders: David Feldman
David Feldman, a veteran Philadelphia boxing promoter, founded BKFC in 2018 to revive regulated bare-knuckle fighting in the United States. Working with state athletic commissions, he secured sanctioning for the first legal bare-knuckle event in modern US history, held on June 2, 2018, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, headlined by former UFC fighter Phil Baroni.
The promotion grew rapidly through 2019-2021 as it secured sanctioning in additional states and signed recognizable fighters from boxing and MMA backgrounds. Its appeal combined combat sports novelty with the sanctioning legitimacy that earlier bare-knuckle attempts lacked.
Triller's February 2022 acquisition of a majority stake brought capital and the Triller Fight Club media infrastructure. Under Triller, BKFC expanded its event schedule and international distribution while integrating with the platform's combat sports content strategy.
Conor McGregor's April 2024 investment through McGregor Sports and Entertainment added star power and mainstream attention. McGregor became an active ambassador, promoting events and discussing eventual participation, significantly raising BKFC's profile.
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The October 2024 AGBA-Triller merger moved BKFC inside the new Triller Group. Financial stress at Triller produced the June 2025 Yorkville foreclosure, which transferred a large BKFC share block to the lender and cut Triller's stake below majority. By January 2026, Triller had deconsolidated BKFC entirely, and Triller itself was delisted from Nasdaq at the end of 2025.
Through 2025-2026, BKFC continued staging events across the US and internationally as the leading legal bare-knuckle promotion, operating effectively as an independent company with Triller as a minority investor.
About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Who owns BKFC?
No single party controls BKFC. Triller Group holds approximately 38 percent after a 2025 foreclosure, Conor McGregor holds a minority stake through McGregor Sports and Entertainment, and founder David Feldman's interests hold the remainder.
Is BKFC publicly traded?
No. BKFC is private. Its largest shareholder, Triller Group, was delisted from Nasdaq at the end of 2025.
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When was BKFC founded?
David Feldman founded BKFC in 2018. Its first sanctioned event ran on June 2, 2018, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Does Triller still control BKFC?
No. Triller lost majority control after a June 2025 foreclosure reduced its stake to about 38 percent, and it deconsolidated BKFC in January 2026. It now holds the company as a minority investment.
Where is BKFC based?
BKFC is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and stages events at sanctioned venues across the United States and internationally.
Is BKFC legal?
Yes. BKFC operates under state athletic commission sanctioning and is the largest legal bare-knuckle boxing promotion, distributed in more than 60 countries.
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- Founded: 2018
- Headquarters: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Company Type: Privately Held
Where Is Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Categories & Tags
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Recalls & Controversies
BKFC's controversies center on the sport itself and its ownership turbulence rather than operational scandal. Bare-knuckle fighting's brutality has drawn criticism from medical and safety advocates who argue it normalizes extreme violence, while supporters note its injuries differ from, and in some respects are less severe than, gloved boxing's brain trauma profile.
The Triller ownership saga generated ongoing coverage: the 2025 foreclosure that stripped Triller's majority, the January 2026 deconsolidation disclosure, and Triller's own Nasdaq delisting created uncertainty about the promotion's backing, though operations continued uninterrupted.
Fighter safety incidents inherent to combat sports occur at events, but no scandal comparable to the financial collapses of Kingpyn or Social Gloves has affected the promotion.
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Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Market leader and effectively the only major legal bare-knuckle promotion
- +Regulatory sanctioning across more states than any competitor
- +Conor McGregor's involvement provides unmatched mainstream promotion
- +60-plus country distribution extends reach beyond US events
- +Feldman's operational leadership provides continuity amid ownership changes
Considerations
- -Fragmented ownership creates governance uncertainty
- -Triller's financial instability exposes it to its largest shareholder's distress
- -Bare-knuckle brutality limits mainstream sponsor and platform appeal
- -Regulatory approval varies by state, constraining the event map
- -Niche combat sports format caps total addressable audience
Frequently Asked Questions About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
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Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingpyn | United Kingdom | 2022 | Mass market | Europe | All Genders | |
| Matchroom Sport | United Kingdom | 1987 | Premium | Global | All Genders | |
| Misfits Boxing | United Kingdom | 2022 | Mass market | Global | Unisex | |
| Premier Boxing Champions | USA | 2015 | Premium | United states | All Genders | |
| Social Gloves | USA | 2021 | Mass market | United states | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
SportsKingpyn Boxing
Owned by Kingpyn Ltd
Defunct British influencer boxing promotion founded in 2022 that ran the High Stakes tournament before collapsing into bankruptcy in mid-2023 amid unpaid fighter claims.
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Eddie Hearn's world championship boxing promotion under family-owned Matchroom Sport, headquartered in Brentwood, Essex and broadcast exclusively on DAZN.
boxingsports-promotionprofessional-boxing
SportsMisfits Boxing
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London-based crossover boxing promotion founded by KSI and Mams Taylor in 2022. In 2026, MF Sports (led by Kalle and Nisse Sauerland) acquired a large stake, launching MF Pro as the professional boxing arm. Broadcast globally on DAZN.
boxingentertainmentinfluencer
SportsPremier Boxing Champions
Owned by Haymon Sports LLC (Premier Boxing Champions)
Major professional boxing series created by Al Haymon's Haymon Sports in 2015, headquartered in Las Vegas and broadcast on Prime Video and DAZN.
boxingsports-promotionpay-per-view
SportsSocial Gloves
Owned by Social Gloves
Austin McBroom's influencer boxing promotion behind the 2021 YouTube vs TikTok Battle of the Platforms event, dormant since a 2022 sequel amid financial and legal fallout.
boxingentertainmentinfluencer
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship competes with 5 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
SportsPremier Boxing Champions
Owned by Haymon Sports LLC (Premier Boxing Champions)
Major professional boxing series created by Al Haymon's Haymon Sports in 2015, headquartered in Las Vegas and broadcast on Prime Video and DAZN.
boxingsports-promotionpay-per-view
Privately Owned
Premier Boxing Champions operates independently without a large parent corporation.
SportsCotopaxi
Owned by Cotopaxi
Salt Lake City outdoor gear and apparel brand, a certified B Corporation and benefit corporation known for colorful Allpa packs and its Gear for Good mission.
outdoor-gearbackpackstravel-gear
Privately Owned
Cotopaxi operates independently without a large parent corporation.
SportsPatagonia
Owned by Patagonia, Inc.
American premium outdoor apparel brand known for technical gear and environmental activism, headquartered in Ventura, California.
outdoor-appareltechnical-gearenvironmental-activism
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Patagonia operates independently without a large parent corporation.
SportsAl Hilal
Owned by Public Investment Fund (Saudi Arabia)
Saudi Arabian professional football club competing in the Saudi Pro League.
footballsoccersaudi-arabia
State-Owned
Al Hilal is owned by Public Investment Fund (Saudi Arabia), a state owned company, a different structure than Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's parent.
SportsArmada
Owned by Amer Sports Inc.
American manufacturer of freestyle skis, ski boots, poles, and technical outerwear, known for athlete-driven innovation and freestyle skiing culture.
freestyle-skisskiing-equipmentski-boots
Publicly Traded
Armada is owned by Amer Sports Inc., a public company, a different structure than Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's parent.
Sportsatmos
Owned by Dick's Sporting Goods
Premium Japanese streetwear and sneaker boutique founded in Tokyo in 2000, now owned by Dick's Sporting Goods, focused on Japan and Asia-Pacific markets with exclusive brand collaborations.
streetwearsneakerspremium-retail
Publicly Traded
atmos is owned by Dick's Sporting Goods, a public company, a different structure than Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's parent.
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