BKFC ANNOUNCES STACKED UNDERCARD FOR MASSIVE KNUCKLEMANIA V EVENT– SATURDAY, JANUARY 25AT PHILADELPHIA’S WELLS FARGO CENTER BROADCAST LIVE ON DAZN
Mick Terrill vs. Ben Rothwell Championship Clash Co-Headlines
Taylor Starling vs. Bec Rawlings Battle in Feature Fight
Plus Many Local Philly Fighters
Philadelphia, PA (January 14, 2025) Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), The World’s Fastest Growing Combat Sports Promotion, has announced their stacked undercard to the groundbreaking, highly anticipated KnuckleMania V event set for Saturday, January 25 emanating from the famed Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA and broadcast globally on DAZN.
Headlining at KnuckleMania V is the previously announced welterweight clash between rivals ‘The Underground King’, Eddie Alvarez ,(1-1), of Kensington, Philadelphia, PA and San Diego, CA Fighting Legend, Jeremy ‘Lil Heathen’ Stephens, (2-0).
In the co-main event at KnuckleMania V spotlighting a battle of giants, BKFC Heavyweight World Champion Mick Terrill, (9-1), of the United Kingdom defends his title for the second time against hard-hitting undefeated contender, ‘Big’ Ben Rothwell, (3-0), of Kenosha, WI.
Terrill won the world title with a fourth-round knockout of then champion Arnold Adams at BKFC-56 on December 2, 2023. His first defense came in a first-round stoppage of two-division champion Lorenzo Hunt at KnuckeMania IV on April 27, 2024. The reigning champion also holds stoppage victories over battle-tested veterans Sam Shewmaker (BKFC-27) and Steven Banks (BKFC Fight Night Newcastle).
Rothwell has continued to impress bare-knuckle fans with each fight resulting in stoppage victories. Kicking off under the BKFC banner at BKFC-30, he knocked out veteran Bobo O’Bannon in the opening stanza. Following up at BKFC-41, the towering Wisconsin native stopped Josh Copeland in the third round. Fighting at KnuckleMania IV, Rothwell halted Todd Duffee in the first round.
Competing in the feature fight of the evening, women’s former world title challengers, Taylor ‘Killa Bee’ Starling, (4-3), of Rock Hill, SC and Australian ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings, (3-3), will battle in a flyweight clash. Among BKFC’s most exciting female fighters, #2 ranked Starling looks to return to the win column after challenging BKFC Strawweight World Champion Britain Hart at BKFC-63 in one of 2024’s most action packed and hotly contested fights. Fighting at BKFC-56, the always entertaining Rawlings came up short, challenging BKFC Flyweight World Champion Christine Ferea. She has also split two fights with Britain Hart
Middleweights will see action as BKFC newcomer and MMA professional John Garbarino of Philadelphia, PA faces Apostle Spencer, (0-1), of Albuquerque, NM. Fighting in the welterweight division, Philadelphia native Pat Sullivan will make his BKFC debut against Kaine Tomlinson Jr. (1-1), of Roanoke, VA.
Popular BKFC heavyweight contender, Zach ‘The Shark Attack’ Calmus, (5-2), of Gloucester, MA will face-off against Pat ‘The Brick’ Brady, (1-0), of Sewell, NJ. Calmus has won four of his last five fights by stoppage all within the first three rounds. Brady also holds a professional MMA record of 5-1.
BKFC debuting middleweight Itso Babulaidze of New York, NY will face Bryan ‘Iceman’ McDowell, (1-0), of Maysville, KY. In the lightweight division, North Philly’s Zedekiah ‘Zed’ Montanez will make his BKFC debut against Brandon ‘Beastmode’ Meyer, (2-2), of Nebraska. Welterweight veteran Dustin ‘The Disciple’ Pague, (3-2), of Carlisle PA will face off against BKFC newcomer JD ‘The Berserker’ Burns of Seattle, WA.
BKFC bantamweight veteran Travis ‘The Animal’ Thompson, (5-6), of Pottstown, PA will clash in a cross-state showdown withZachary ‘Lil Mac’ Pannell, (1-2), of Lancaster, PA. Philadelphia based boxing veteran Joey Dawejko will make his BKFC debut against Steve ‘Panda’ Banks, (3-2), of South Carolina.
BKFC newcomers Cody Russell of Philadelphia and Logan Tucker of Alabama will face off in the middleweight division. Rounding out the KnuckleMania V card, professional MMA fighter Phil ‘The Hitman’ Caracappa of New Jersey clashes with undefeated professional boxer Noah Norman of Coatesville, PA
Tickets for KnuckleMania V can be purchased online at BKFC.com. The Wells Fargo Center is located at 3601 S. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148. Doors will open on the night of the event at 7:00 p.m. ET with the first bell at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Media Contact / Credentials
Bernie Bahrmasel
Double B Sports
Phone: + 1 773 592-2986
Email: BernieBahrmasel@yahoo.com
Twitter: @BernieBahrmasel
About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC)
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is the first promotion allowed to hold a legal, sanctioned, and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. Based in Philadelphia, and headed by President and former professional boxer David Feldman, BKFC is dedicated to preserving the historical legacy of bare knuckle fighting, while utilizing a specifically created rule set that emphasizes fighter safety. BKFC holds all of its bouts in a revolutionary circular four-rope ring, designed to encourage fast-paced and exciting bouts. The patented BKFC “Squared Circle” contains scratch lines, based on the Broughton Rules which governed bare knuckle fighting in the 19th century, and which requires fighters to “Toe the Line”: start every round face to face, and just inches apart.
In BKFC, only those fighters who are established professionals in boxing, MMA, kickboxing, or Muay Thai are allowed to compete. The referees and judges are required to have extensive professional combat sports experience. All fights are held under the auspices and control of an Athletic Commission. Unlike other fighting organizations and combat sports internationally which claim to be “bare knuckle”, but require wraps, tape, and gauze; BKFC is true to its word as fighters are not allowed to wrap their hands to within one inch of the knuckle. This makes BKFC unquestionably the truest form of bare knuckle fighting. BKFC is dedicated to not just creating the safest, most exciting, and highest-level bare-knuckle fighting organization in the world, it’s also leading the way for a new fully recognized professional combat sport. BKFC is truly the sport of the future, which fully respects its remarkable past.
About DAZN
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