Combat Sports
Welcome to BareKnuckle Fighting in Philly – How Did We Get Here

Philadelphia: The City of Philadelphia will be in the National Spotlight this week as it will be hosting the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, “KnuckleMania V”, for the first time at the Wells Fargo Center. It has been an exciting road to how one of the most exciting combat sports events has finally made it home to Philadelphia.
So How did we get here??
The promotion would get started in 2009 and President of Bare Knuckle David Feldman said that the PA Athletic Commission told him “NO” around 10 times before the new Commissioner of the PA Athletic Commission finally agreed to have the promotion be sanctioned in PA.
Timeline of how we got to Fight Night at Wells Fargo Center:
September 13- News came out that Bare Knuckle is now sanctioned in PA
President of @bareknucklefc David Feldman (@BKFFeldman) announces that BKFC is coming to #Pennsylvania pic.twitter.com/DL1nKQ6K4S
— David Malandra Jr (@DaveMReports) September 14, 2024
Sep 28- During a Celebrity Boxing event in Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack in Chester PA, reports about Bare Knuckle coming to Philly would start to come out
🚨🚨🚨
Breaking
Announced during tonight celebrity boxing in Philadelphia
Bare knuckle fighting makes it #Philadelphia debut on January 25th at the Wells Fargo Center#BareKnuckle @bareknucklefc pic.twitter.com/Ugy0RQWjV5
— David Malandra Jr (@DaveMReports) September 29, 2024
On November 3, about 150 people came to the 2300 Arena in South Philadelphia for the Open Tryouts.
Feldman Interview:
Following the bare knuckle Tryouts in South Philly
I spoke to President of @bareknucklefc David Feldman about bringing bare knuckle to Philadelphia#CombatSports #BareKnuckle #Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/YBsxEEMiXf
— David Malandra Jr (@DaveMReports) November 3, 2024
November 19- The Main Event between Eddie Alveraz vs Jeremy Stephens for the 1st ever BKFC event was made official.
December 3- Press Conference was held at 2300 Arena in South Philly to make the fight official for January 25 at the Wells Fargo Center.
Eddie on being in the Main Event:
Spoke to Eddie Alvarez about headline 1st ever @bareknucklefc in Philly
#Philadelphia #BareKnuckle #BKFCPhilly #KnuckleMania pic.twitter.com/SuKNvf2G2K— David Malandra Jr (@DaveMReports) December 3, 2024
Dec 5- BetParx will be the Betting Partner for Bare Knuckle in Pennsylvania
During the Fight Week press conference, BKFC President David Feldman announced that Philadelphia will be the Hub for Bareknuckle and will be doing 6-8 shows per year.
President of @bareknucklefc David Feldman saying they are planning on 6-8 shows a Year in #Philadelphia
Next show is in Philly after Saturday night is in March #BareKnuckle #KM5 pic.twitter.com/dZpTNZxw1m
— David Malandra Jr (@DaveMReports) January 23, 2025
The Final lineup with weights for Knucklemania V at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia:
Main Card at 9PM on DAZN
Main Event: Eddie Alvarez, 164.8lbs. Jeremy Stephens, 164.6lbs.
Co-Main Event: Mick Terrill, 258.2 vs. Ben Rothwell, 274 for BKFC Heavyweight World Championship
Bec Rawlings, 121.5 vs. Taylor Starling, 121.6
Zach Calmus, 246.8 vs. Pat Brady, 239.6
Apostle Spencer, 169.7 vs. John Garbarino 175.5
Kaine Tomlinson Jr, 163.4 vs. Pat Sullivan, 164.4
Steve Banks, 289.3 vs. Joey Dawejko, 259.8
Brandon Meyer, 154 vs. Zed Montanez, 156.5
Zach Pannell, 137.5 vs. Travis Thompson, 138.6
Prelims at 8PM on BKFC Youtube & DAZN
Noah Norman, 133.6 vs. Phil Caracappa, 136.5
Logan Tucker, 173.9 vs. Cody Russell, 179.9
Bryan McDowell, 175.8 vs. Itso Babulaidze, 175.2