BKFC KnuckleMania 5 Start Time, Full Fight Card Details

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is set to stage “KnuckleMania 5” TONIGHT (Sat., Jan. 25, 2025) live on DAZN (order here) from inside Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Headlining the event will be a hard-hitting affair between former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight champion, Eddie Alvarez, taking on ex UFC Featherweight contender, Jeremy Stephens. In the co-main event, Ben Rothwell will challenge current BKFC Heavyweight champion Mick Terrill.

What’s Hot:

BKFC

Eddie Alvarez hasn’t exactly had the best track record since leaving UFC, racking up a 1-2-1 mark under the ONE banner, before turning his attention to the bare knuckle arena, signing with BKFC in 2023, and then defeating former UFC title contender, Chad Mendes, in his debut fight. He went on to lose his second fight against Mike Perry. Now, “The Underground King” will look to get back into the win column when he goes toe-to-toe against another former UFC heavy-hitter in Stephens. Speaking of which, “Lil’ Heathen” left MMA in Nov. 22, going 1-7-1 in his last night fights, which includes ending his UFC career with a record of 0-5-1. Under the BKFC banner, however, Stephens is 2-0, so he seems to have found a nice rhythm in his new home.

BKFC

It’s no secret that both men have tremendous power in their hands, so this fight has the chance to either end early, or result in massive damage to both men’s face if it goes the distance. Alvarez has tighter striking, though Stephens may have a very slight advantage in the power department. In the end, it will likely come down to who can absorb the most damage, sad to say. Either way, this fight will be an entertaining for as long as it lasts. That said, don’t blink.

Original Card vs. Actual Card:

Photo by Antony Jones/DAZN via Getty Images

Bryce Hall was scheduled to face Kevin Ferguson Jr. before Ferguson was forced to bow out of the fight for unknown reasons. No late replacement was found, so Hall was eventually yanked from the event altogether.

New Blood:

Pat Sullivan will make his bare knuckle debut against Kain Tomlinson Jr., who is 1-1 in the bare knuckle arena. Also, Cody Russell and Logan Tucker will make their debut against one another in a 175-pound affair. Russell is 3-0 on the regional MMA circuit, while Tucker is 0-1.

Phil Caracappa had one fight under the PFL banner — a loss to Khai Wu in 2023 — before he decided it was time to see what it would be like to punch without gloves. His first test will come against pro boxer Noah Norman, who is 3-0 and will also be making his BKFC debut.

Zedekiah Montanez is 5-0-1 in MMA and will make his debut opposite, Brandon Meyer, who is 1-3 in BKFC. He has a notable loss to Anthony Pettis under his own MMA umbrella back in 2022. With two wins under the PFL banner, and going 5-0 in MMA overall, Itso Babulaidze will make his BKFC debut against Bryan McDowel, who won his own debut against Justin McDonald via first-round knockout. Prior to that he was on a three-fight losing streak in MMA.

How The Prelims’ Look:

Set Number: X163219 TK1

In the lone “prelim” fight, Joey Dawejko will take on Steven Banks. Dawejko is a pro boxer with a record of 28-13-4. Now, “The Tank” will attempt to make a living off of turning people’s lights off with his bare fists. Banks, on the other hand, is 3-2 under the BKFC banner, with one of those losses coming against current Heavyweight champion, Mick Terrill.

Who Needs A Win Badly:

Bec Rawlings got off to a nice start to her BKFC career, winning her first three fights. Since then, however, she has lost three in a row and now faces a do-or-die situation when she goes up against Taylor Starling, who could also use a win since she is just 2-3 in her last five fights with the promotion. Realistically, neither woman will get released with a loss, but for their sanity and confidence a win is a must.

Interest Level: 6/10

BKFC X

In the co-main event, longtime bare knuckle fighter, Mick Terrill, will put his BKFC Heavyweight title on the line against former UFC 265-pound contender, Ben Rothwell. Terrill is 4-1 under the BKFC banner, which includes a big TKO win over Lorenzo Hunt in what was his first successful title defense. Nine of his 10 wins have come by way of knockout, so he’s all about getting the finish. As for Rothwell, he is 3-0 under the BKFC banner, which includes his most recent TKO win (injury) over Todd Duffy in April 2024. While “Big Ben” never got close to UFC gold, he will have the opportunity at winning the BKFC strap in just his fourth fight.

In further Heavyweight action, Patrick Brady will face Zachary Calmus. Brady has one fight (a loss) under the Professional Fighters League (PFL) banner and is 1-0 with BKFC. As for Calmus, he has more experience with his bare fighting hands with a record of 5-3 with the promotion.

Also, Travis Thompson made his BKFC debut at the promotion’s very first show back in 2018, and has racked up an even 5-5 record since then. His opponent, Zachary Pannell, meanwhile is 1-2 and has lost his last two fights

Dustin Pague had a horrible run inside the UFC Octagon, racking up a paltry 1-5 record, losing his last four fights before getting the boot. He is 3-2 since signing with BKFC, and will look to get back into the win column against JD Burns, who is just 1-4 fighting bare knuckle. In a 175-pound bout, John Garbarino will go toe-to-toe with Apostle Spencer, who is 0-3 in his first three combat outings, which includes losing his BKFC debut via knockout last year.

Enjoy the fights!

Full BKFC KnuckleMania 5 Fight Card:

BKFC ‘KnuckleMania 5’ DAZN Main Event:

165 lbs.: Eddie Alvarez vs. Jeremy Stephens

BKFC ‘KnuckleMania 5’ DAZN Co-Main Event:

265 lbs.: BKFC Heavyweight Champion Mick Terrill vs. Ben Rothwell

BKFC ‘KnuckleMania 5’ DAZN Main Card (9 p.m. ET):

125 lbs.: Taylor Starling vs. Bec Rawlings
265 lbs.: Patrick Brady vs. Zachary Calmus
165 lbs.: Dustin Pague vs. JD Burns
135 lbs.: Travis Thompson vs. Zachary Pannell
175 lbs.: John Garbarino vs. Apostle Spencer
165 lbs.: Pat Sullivan vs. Kaine Tomlinson, Jr.
175 lbs.: Cody Russell vs. Logan Tucker
135 lbs.: Phil Caracappa vs. Noah Norman
155 lbs.: Zedekiah Montanez vs. Brandon Meyer
175 lbs.: Itso Babulaidze vs. Bryan McDowell

BKFC ‘KnuckleMania 5’ YouTube Prelims Card (8 p.m. ET):

265 lbs.: Joey Dawejko vs. Steven Banks

*Fight card, bout order and number of fights remain subject to change.*

---

For more BKFC news and notes click here.