GambleUSA.com
News
How much do BKFC fighters make?

September 4, 2024

How much do BKFC fighters make?

Many years before the traditional boxing we know today was introduced, there was knuckle boxing. This brutal form of combat was full contact and involved fighters using their bare fists, leading to much faster bouts but, unfortunately, more fatal outcomes. Over time, knuckle boxing eventually gave way to the more regulated gloves boxing we have now.

But today, a new wave of bare-knuckle fighting has emerged, and competitions like the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship are at the forefront of this charge. BKFC still features the ruggedness of its historical predecessor but is far more regulated, with a great deal of safety protocols in place.

Fights now draw millions of views from around the world, and fighters in the BKFC are not getting more recognition than ever, so it’s only fair that one asks how much BKFC fighters actually make. If you’re just as interested as we are, follow us as we explore the average earnings in the BKFC.

The Rise of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship

In 2018, former American professional boxer David Feldman saw an opportunity to revive the historic knuckle boxing and announced the launch of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. The first event in the championship was held the same year and marked the first legal and sanctioned knuckle-fighting in the US since 1889.

The championship’s first breakthrough came in 2021 when popular MMA fighter Mike ‘Platinum’ Perry refused to renew his contract with the UFC and signed with BKFC instead. TikTok star turned fighter Bryce Hall is another name credited with helping the championship’s popularity. After announcing his first fight in 2022, Hall recorded and shared his training journey with his millions of followers and helped popularize the championship online, especially among the young population.

While there’s still a lot to do to achieve global popularity status like UFC, BKFC has definitely grown in the last three years and can only go higher from here.

Average vs. Projected Top Earnings

There’s no ultimate source you can visit to find out all about the earnings of BKFC fighters, but we did our research extensively and managed to get some good results. It turns out that BKFC fighters make around $2,000 for a single fight. Reports also show that average fighters can make as high as $25,000 for a single fight.

While these are reports from industry sources, fighters claim to be making much more. In a 2023 interview with The Sun, former UFC fighter Paige VanZant revealed that she earned ten times more in the BKFC than the UFC. She also claimed that the UFC was paying her $40,000 to show up for a fight and an additional $40,000 for a win.

Other fighters who switched from UFC to BKFC, notably Mike Perry, have also revealed that the BKFC is more generous in its payouts compared to the more established UFC. However, we believe these high-earning figures are exclusive to top-tier fighters who boast huge fan followings and can negotiate better deals. BKFC is at the point where it needs all the publicity it can get, and one of the ways to do that is to host bouts featuring big names in the MMA industry. As such, it’s not surprising that they’re willing to offer more lucrative packages to attract these fighters.

Lesser known fighters can typically expect between $2,500 to $9,000 and maybe some extra earnings from performance bonuses and sponsorships.

The Highest Earners in the BKFC

As we mentioned earlier, the BKFC is still establishing itself in the MMA industry, and to attract more fans, it offers big contracts to major fighters. One such fighter is Mike Perry, also known as Platinum. After competing in 15 UFC bouts, Perry switched to the BKFC in 2021 and debuted the following year.

In 2023, Mike Perry fought against Eddie Alvarez in the highly anticipated King of Violence event. A second-round TKO saw him win the bout and walk home with a whopping $1.1 million in prize rewards. For context, reports show that Perry won around $1.3 million from his 15 fights in the UFC. So basically, he almost made his entire UFC earnings in just one BKFC fight. Eddie Alvarez also won a million dollars from the same fight.

Thiago Alves is another big name in the BKFC; the Brazilian fighter earns hundreds of thousands of dollars from his fights. In the 2024 Knucklemania IV championship, he earned a

$200,000 payout, the second highest after Mike Perry, who earned $600,000. Others like Mick Terrill, Lorenzo Hunt, and Ben Rothwell have average earnings of around $100,000.

So far, the highest earners in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship make around $500,000 to $1.2 million per fight. This is way lower than that of the UFC, which has recorded player payouts of $5,000,000 for a single bout.

Where to Watch BKFC Fights?

One of the ways BKFC generates revenue is through partnerships with broadcasting companies. You can get the BKFC app on mobile, PC, or TV and get access to most live events, full interviews, replays, and special content. Subscribers on the app also get unique discounts on pay-per-view events.

Fans can also watch live events online on Fubo or Triller TV. As the championship grows, we expect to see more partnerships with major broadcasting and streaming brands. This will lead to more revenue for the championship and higher pay for the fighters.

Betting on BKFC Fights

As the premier knuckle fighting championship in the world, it’s not surprising that you can bet on fights at most US bookmakers. Notably, you can find outright and pre-match markets at sites like Fanduel, DraftKings, and Stake.

Betting on BKFC fights is quite as easy as betting on traditional boxing bouts. Simply register an account at your preferred sportsbook and fund your account. Then head to the MMA tab in the sports tab and search for markets on upcoming BKFC fights. You can win real money if your predictions come through, but it’s worth noting that US bookmakers only accept players from states like Maine and Indiana, where online sports betting is legal.

Conclusion

BKFC is the new craze of the MMA world, and many expect it to reach the heights of the UFC in the coming years. We decided to find out more about how much the championship really pays its fighters and discovered the figure to be between $2,000 and $1.1 million. Average fighters can expect between $2,000 to $30,000, while the big names earn hundreds of thousands, sometimes a million. Everything boils down to the experience and ranking of the fighters and how significant the event is.

But with the speed at which the championship is getting traction, we expect more sponsorship deals from major brands, which will, in turn, lead to higher pay for fighters.

FAQ

Who is the highest-paid BKFC fighter?

Mike Platinum Perry is the highest-paid BKFC fighter. He earned $1.1 million for his win against Eddie Alvarez in the King of Violence event.

How can I become a BKFC fighter?

To become a BKFC fighter, visit their official website and fill out the Tryouts form. You’ll be contacted to come when there’s a tryout session close to you.

How much do beginners in the BKFC make?

Beginners in the BKFC make around $2,000 to $3,000 for a fight. They can also receive other bonuses when they win.