LAS VEGAS – State by state, bareknuckle boxing is being legalized, sanctioned, and regulated by presiding commissions.
But the biggest box of them all remains without a checkmark inside it.
Despite its status as “The Fight Capital of the World,” Nevada has yet to adopt bareknuckle boxing into its legislation. That’s not stopping BKFC president David Feldman from dreaming gloveless fights will someday take place in the arenas and casinos interspaced throughout the bright lights and billboards of Las Vegas.
“Look, to be able to do a show here, my dad was a trainer of seven world champions,” Feldman told MMA Junkie Radio following a BKFC 41 news conference Tuesday at Palms Resort Casino. “We had fights at the MGM Grand on major Oscar De La Hoya cards. I fought here myself. To be able to put on a marquee event, not just put on an event, not just put on a club show, but to put on a marquee event everyone’s going to talk about in Las Vegas under the shining lights with the big signs, it’s amazing. That’s really going to be one of the biggest things that’ll ever happen in this sport.”
It’s one thing to dream. It’s another thing to make something a reality. The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) recently adopted Dana White-headed slap fighting, to join MMA, boxing, kickboxing, muay thai, and a plethora of other combat sports.
At Tuesday’s news conference, Feldman said the promotion isn’t just talk. Proper steps are being taken so that bareknuckle can enter into the approved class, he said.
“We’re going to make a really strong push,” Feldman said. “We feel like early in 2024 we’ll do a debut here in Las Vegas. We’re going to work closely with the commission over the next six months and see if we can’t get this thing over the finish line.”
BKFC launched full-force in 2018 and has held approximately 60 events since, with a noticeable year-over-year increase in the number of annual cards held.
On April 29, the promotion will hold one of its most marquee events to date, as BKFC 41 at 1STBANK Center in Denver features Luke Rockhold vs. Mike Perry and Eddie Alvarez vs. Chad Mendes among other notable bouts.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for BKFC 41.
