The AO Arena in Manchester was buzzing on Saturday night as bare-knuckle fighting took center stage.
From former boxing champions stepping into a brutal new world, to reality TV stars trading punches, the event was packed with drama, controversy, and plenty of blood and grit.
James DeGale Steps Back into the Ring
After six long years away from professional fighting, James DeGale made a fiery comeback—this time not in traditional boxing, but in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).
The 39-year-old, once a two-time IBF super-middleweight world champion, decided to test himself in the raw and unforgiving sport.
He faced off against Australia’s Matt Floyd, a colorful figure with a past as a vigilante pedophile hunter turned fighter.
Their bout stretched across five rounds, with both men pushing each other to the limit.
Chaos in the Fight
The fight wasn’t short of controversy.
Floyd was penalized multiple times for fouls, including a nasty headbutt, hitting after the bell, and even holding DeGale in a headlock.
DeGale himself had a point deducted after striking during a clinch.
Despite the rough exchanges, the judges awarded the match to DeGale with scores of 48-43, 48-43, and 47-44, marking his debut bare-knuckle win.
DeGale Reacts to His First Bare-Knuckle Victory
Breathing heavily after his hard-fought win, DeGale couldn’t hide how different the experience felt compared to traditional boxing.
“It’s bare-knuckle boxing—it’s madness!” he laughed.
“The holding, the punching—it’s crazy stuff. But hey, I’m 1-0 now. I loved it.”
He also threw a jab at Floyd, saying the Aussie wouldn’t last two rounds in a proper boxing match but admitted bare-knuckle rules leveled the playing field.
McGregor Tips His Hat
DeGale’s performance even caught the eye of BKFC promoter and UFC star Conor McGregor.
Watching ringside, McGregor praised the Olympic gold medallist’s grit.
“He enjoyed it. You could see he f***ing enjoyed it,” McGregor said with a grin.
“That was a great fight. Bare-knuckle is a different kind of puzzle—it’s not boxing, it’s something else entirely.”
Reality Stars Collide in the Co-Main Event
The spotlight wasn’t only on DeGale.
In the co-main event, Aaron “The Joker” Chalmers—best known from Geordie Shore—battled Love Island winner Jack Fincham.
Chalmers emerged victorious, pushing his BKFC record to 2-0, and immediately called for a blockbuster fight against fan-favorite Mike Perry.
Rising Stars Claim Their Spotlight
Elsewhere on the card, Leeds’ Jonny Graham electrified the crowd when he stopped Navid Mansouri in the second round to win the first-ever United Kingdom Lightweight Championship.
Full of confidence, Graham declared he’s ready to take his title worldwide: “Who’s the BKFC World Champion? Whoever it is, I’m coming for that belt.”
Henderson Stays Unbeaten
In another heated clash, Mikey “El Animal” Henderson kept his unbeaten streak alive by defeating Ben Lowe.
Henderson scored the only knockdown of the fight and secured a unanimous decision with scores of 48-46, 48-46, and 49-47.
Afterward, he reminded fans that he’s climbing quickly: “I’m going as far and as fast as I can—nobody’s stopping me.”
What Comes Next for BKFC?
With DeGale now making waves in his new sport, Chalmers eyeing Perry, and fresh champions emerging from the UK, bare-knuckle fighting is gathering serious momentum.
The AO Arena crowd got a taste of the chaos, and it seems the fighters are only just getting started.