BKFC Thailand

Bare-knuckle boxing promotion

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship ThailandType| Private

|

Industry| Bare-knuckle boxing promotion
Founded| October 2021
Founder| Nick Chapman
Headquarters| Pattaya, Chonburi province, Thailand

Key people

| Nick Chapman
Vathanai Vathanakul
Website| www.bkfc.com/th

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Thailand (BKFC Thailand), also known as Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Asia (BKFC Asia), is a bare-knuckle boxing promotion based in Pattaya, Thailand. It is the officially licensed branch of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) in Asia. Founded in 2021, BKFC Asia has held 5 total events as of November 2023.

## History[edit]

BKFC Thailand was founded in October 2021 by former MMA fighter and referee Nick Chapman with the help of BKFC president David Feldman. BKFC Thailand events are managed by Nick Chapman and Vathanai Vathanakul.[1] BKFC Thailand held its inaugural event, titled BKFC Thailand 1: The Game Changer, on December 18, 2021 at the Pattaya Exhibition And Convention Hall (PEACH) in the Royal Cliff Hotels Group. The event featured big names like former two-division WBC boxing champion Sirimongkol Singmanasak and future ONE Championship Muay Thai fighter Sinsamut Klinmee.[2] As the organization continued to expand, BKFC Thailand underwent a rebranding to BKFC Asia on November 14, 2022. Despite the name change, events hosted in Thailand retained the BKFC Thailand designation to maintain regional recognition.

### Squared Circle[edit]

BKFC Thailand conducts its matches inside a circular four-roped ring, known as the "Squared Circle." The Squared Circle is a nod to historical bare-knuckle boxing, featuring two scratch lines that are positioned three feet apart at the center of the ring. These lines are a homage to the Broughton Rules, which were the cornerstone of 19th-century bare-knuckle fighting regulations. At the start of each round, fighters are required to place their front foot on their respective scratch line, a directive commonly referred to as "Toe the Line." The command "Knuckle Up," issued immediately afterward, signals the start of the action.[3]

### Bare Knuckle Thai[edit]

BKFC Thailand held the first special rules Bare Knuckle Thai bout, featuring Muay Thai legends Buakaw Banchamek and Saenchai, at BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam on November 4, 2023. Bare Knuckle Thai rules are similar to Muay Thai, with the notable exception that competitors fight without gloves. Matches consist of five rounds, with each round lasting two minutes. The rules permit the use of kicks, punches, elbows, and knees, but explicitly prohibit trips and sweeps. Fighters must also remain active in a clinch, which lasts for three seconds. In the event of a draw, a sixth extension round will be fought to determine a winner.[4][5]

### Signing Buakaw Banchamek[edit]

On July 14, 2022, it was announced that Muay Thai legend and former K-1 World MAX champion Buakaw Banchamek had signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.[6] Buakaw made his bare-knuckle boxing debut at BKFC Thailand 3: Moment of Truth on September 3, 2022.

### Signing Saenchai[edit]

On August 2, 2022, it was announced that Muay Thai legend Saenchai had signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.[7] Saenchai made his debut at BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam on November 4, 2023.

## Current champions[edit]

BKFC Thailand Champions  Division | Champion | Since | Defenses

|
|
|

Light Heavyweight / 84 kg (185 lb)  |  Sirimongkol Singmanasak | May 7, 2022  | 0
Featherweight / 66 kg (146 lb)  |  Krisana Srisang  | November 4, 2023  | 0
Women's Strawweight / 52 kg (115 lb)  |  Po Denman  | November 4, 2023  | 0

## List of events[edit]

### BKFC Thailand 1: The Game Changer[edit]

BKFC Thailand 1: The Game Changer

Information
Promotion| Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Date| December 18, 2021
Venue| Royal Cliff Hotels Group
City| Pattaya, Thailand

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Thailand 1: The Game Changer was a bare-knuckle fighting event by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship held on December 18, 2021, in Thailand.[8]

#### Background[edit]

Tee Jay Chang and Fabiano Hawthorne were scheduled to headline the event. In the co-main event, Sirimongkol Singmanasak and Reza Goodary will face each other.[9] Hawthorne later withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Keivan Soleimani.[10]

### Results[edit]

BKFC Thailand 1: The Game Changer

Weight Class  |  |  |  | Method  | Round  | Time  | Notes
Welterweight 75 kg  |  Keivan Soleimani  | def.  |  Tee Jay Chang  | KO (Punches)  | 1  | 0:30  |
Light heavyweight 84 kg  | Sirimongkol Singmanasak | def.  |  Reza Goodary  | Decision (Split)  | 5  | 2:00  |
Preliminary Card
Middleweight 80 kg  |  Boonsom Klinmee | def.  |  Jonny Tello  | Decision (Split)  | 5  | 2:00  |
Featherweight 66 kg  |  Pongpisan Chunyong  | def.  |  Victor Booty  | TKO (Punches)  | 3  | 1:48  |
Welterweight 75 kg  |  Reza Ahmadnezhad  | def.  |  Thoedsak Sinam  | Decision (Split)  | 5  | 2:00  |
Middleweight 80 kg  |  Jean Carlos Pereira  | def.  |  Johan Van De Hel  | Decision (Unanimous)  | 5  | 2:00  |
W.Strawweight 52 kg  |  Souris Manfredi  | def.  |  Saowaluk Nareepaengsri  | KO (Punch)  | 3  | 0:23  |
Heavyweight 120 kg  |  Arash Mardani  | def.  |  Zelemkhan Mukushev  | TKO (Retirement)  | 2  | 0:58  |
Featherweight 66 kg  |  Sarun Srioumboo  | def.  |  Pipat Mike Chaiporn  | Decision (Unanimous)  | 5  | 2:00  |
Featherweight 66 kg  |  Surasak Sukkhamcha  | def.  |  Ermek Kumachaev  | Decision (Unanimous)  | 5  | 2:00  |
Catchweight 53.5 kg  |  Somiong War  | def.  |  Surachat Srirod  | KO (Punch)  | 2  | 1:27  |

### BKFC Thailand 2: Iconic Impact[edit]

BKFC Thailand 2: Iconic Impact

Information
Promotion| Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Date| May 7, 2022
Venue| Royal Cliff Hotels Group
City| Pattaya

BKFC Thailand 2: Iconic Impact was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on May 7, 2022, in Pattaya, Thailand.

#### Background[edit]

In the main event, Sirimongkol Singmanasak and Mike Vetrila competed for the inaugural BKFC Thailand Light Heavyweight Championship.[11]

The co-main event saw Souris Manfredi facing Fani Peloumpi for the inaugural BKFC Thailand Women's Strawweight Championship.[12]

#### Results[edit]

BKFC Thailand 2: Iconic Impact

Weight Class  |  |  |  | Method  | Round  | Time  | Notes
Light Heavyweight 84 kg  |  Sirimongkol Singmanasak | def.  |  Mike Vetrila  | Decision (Split)  | 5  | 2:00  | For the inaugural BKFC Thailand Light Heavyweight Championship
W.Strawweight 52 kg  |  Fani Peloumpi  | def.  |  Souris Manfredi  | Decision (Split)  | 5  | 2:00  | For the inaugural BKFC Thailand Women's Strawweight Championship
Heavyweight 120 kg  |  Steve Banks  | def.  |  Akbar Karimi  | KO (Punch)  | 2  | 0:14  |
Welterweight 75 kg  |  Keivan Soleimani  | def.  |  Paitoon Jaikom  | Decision (Unanimous)  | 5  | 2:00  |
Lightweight 70 kg  |  Maseng Sornchai  | def.  |  Naeem Binhar  | Decision (Unanimous)  | 5  | 2:00  |
Featherweight 66 kg  |  Pongpisan Chunyong  | def.  |  Sudan Kulubon  | KO (Punches)  | 1  | 1:50  |
Welterweight 75 kg  |  Tee Jay Chang  | def.  |  Fabiano Hawthorne  | Decision (Unanimous)  | 5  | 2:00  |
Lightweight 70 kg  |  Sadudee Srimueang  | def.  |  Phatiphan Krungklang  | TKO (Shoulder Injury)  | 3  | 2:00  |
Flyweight 57 kg  |  Thanathorn Kamran  | def.  |  Thodsaphon Wannahat  | KO (Punches)  | 1  | 1:23  |
W.Catchweight 60 kg  |  Usanakorn Thawilsuhannawang | def.  |  Benjamas Phakra  | KO (Punches)  | 3  | 0:49  |

[13]

### BKFC Thailand 3: Moment of Truth[edit]

BKFC Thailand 3: Moment of Truth

Information
Promotion| Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Date| September 3, 2022
Venue| CentralWorld Live at 8floor CentralWorld
City| Bangkok, Thailand

BKFC Thailand 3: Moment of Truth was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on September 3, 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand.

#### Background[edit]

The main event will feature Muay Thai legend and two-time K-1 World MAX Champion Buakaw Banchamek making his bare-knuckle debut against Turkish kickboxing champion Erkan Varol. Pongpisan Chunyong will face Surasak Sukkhamcha for the inaugural BKFC Thailand Featherweight Championship in the co-main event.[14]

#### Fight card[edit]

BKFC Thailand 3

Weight Class  |  |  |  | Method  | Round  | Time  | Notes
Lightweight 70 kg  |  Buakaw Banchamek | def.  |  Erkan Varol  | KO (punches)  | 1  | 1:50  |
Featherweight 66 kg  |  Surasak Sukkhamcha  | def.  |  Pongpisan Chunyong  | Ext.R Decision (majority)  | 6  | 2:00  | For the inaugural BKFC Thailand Featherweight Championship.
Cruiserweight 93 kg  |  Chaloemporn Sawatsuk | def.  |  Dominic Ahnee  | TKO (doctor stoppage)  | 3  | 0:41  |
Heavyweight 120 kg  |  Steve Banks  | def.  |  Ahmed Abdelfattah  | KO (punch)  | 1  | 0:53  |
Lightweight 70 kg  |  Jakkaphop Rattanamangsang  | def.  |  Maseng Sornchai  | KO (punches)  | 3  | 1:55  |
Middleweight 79 kg  |  Mike Vetrila  | def.  |  Luis Paulo Terra  | Decision (unanimous)  | 5  | 2:00  |
Featherweight 66 kg  |  Krisana Srisang  | def.  |  Pipat Mike Chaiporn  | KO (punches)  | 2  | 0:36  |
W.Bantamweight 61 kg  |  Usanakorn Thawilsuhannawang | def.  |  Natsuda Yooya  | KO (punches)  | 1  | 1:12  |
Bantamweight 61 kg  |  Somchai Ainthida  | def.  |  Suban Malopho  | Decision (unanimous)  | 5  | 2:00  |
W.Flyweight 57 kg  |  Tai Emery  | def.  |  Rungarun Khunchai  | KO (punch)  | 1  | 1:41  |
Featherweight 66 kg  |  Sadudee Srimueang  | def.  |  Mealinda Amarasinghe  | Decision (split)  | 5  | 2:00  |
Middleweight 79 kg  |  Kantapon Petsang  | def.  |  Somphong Satho  | KO (punch)  | 1  | 2:00  |

### BKFC Asia 4: The Big Bash[edit]

BKFC Asia 4: The Big Bash

Information
Promotion| Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Date| December 10, 2022
Venue| SpacePlus Bangkok RCA
City| Bangkok, Thailand

BKFC Asia 4: The Big Bash was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship at SpacePlus Bangkok RCA on December 10, 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand.

#### Background[edit]

The event was headlined by the bare-knuckle boxing debut of UFC and Brave CF veteran Rolando Dy, who faced Thailand boxing champion Apisit Sangmuang.[15]

#### Fight card[edit]

BKFC Asia 4

Weight Class  |  |  |  | Method  | Round  | Time  | Notes
Lightweight 70 kg  |  Rolando Dy | def.  |  Apisit Sangmuang  | KO  | 1  | 0:42  |
W.Flyweight 57 kg  |  Po Denman  | def.  |  Tai Emery  | Decision (unanimous)  | 5  | 2:00  |
Welterweight 75 kg  |  Gilbert Patrocinio  | def.  |  Channarong Injampa  | KO  | 2  | 1:23  |
Featherweight 66 kg  |  Tetee Denman  | def.  |  Saw Htoo Aung  | Decision (unanimous)  | 5  | 2:00  |
Lightweight 70 kg  |  Gustaf Cedermalm  | def.  |  Alex Castro  | KO  | 4  | 1:50  |
Featherweight 66 kg  |  Krisana Srisang  | def.  |  Sohanne Bengana  | TKO (shoulder injury)  | 2  | 0:47  |
Featherweight 66 kg  |  Joemil Miado  | def.  |  Poorya Mokhtari  | KO  | 1  | 1:30  |
Preliminary Card
Featherweight 66 kg  |  Sarun Srioumboo  | def.  |  Victor Booty  | KO  | 2  | 1:10  |
Bantamweight 61 kg  |  Chor Pov  | def.  |  Patho Ghosh  | KO  | 2  | 1:18  |
Bantamweight 61 kg  |  Ouch Thearith  | def.  |  Anubhav Kumar Verma  | KO  | 3  | 0:56  |

### BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam[edit]

BKFC Thailand 5

Information
Promotion| Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
Date| November 4, 2023
Venue| Royal Cliff Hotels Group
City| Pattaya

BKFC Thailand 5: Legends of Siam was a bare-knuckle fighting event held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on November 4, 2023.

#### Background[edit]

The event was headlined by a Special Rules Bare Knuckle Thai Fight featuring Muay Thai icons Buakaw Banchamek vs. Saenchai, who were scheduled to face each other in March 2023.[16]

The co-main event featured a title match between defending champion Fani Peloumpi and Po Denman for the BKFC Thailand Strawweight Championship. Also on the card was a title fight for the vacant BKFC Thailand Featherweight Championship between Krisana Srisang and Sarun Srioumboo.

Bonus awards

The following fighters were awarded bonuses:

* Fight of the Night: Pongpisan Chunyong vs. Tha Pyay Nyo

#### Results[edit]

BKFC Thailand 5

Weight Class  |  |  |  | Method  | Round  | Time  | Notes
Lightweight 70 kg  |  Buakaw Banchamek | def.  |  Saenchai | Decision (unanimous)  | 5  | 2:00  | Special Thai Rules bout
W.Strawweight 52 kg  |  Po Denman  | def.  |  Fani Peloumpi (c)  | Decision (unanimous)  | 5  | 2:00  | For the BKFC Thailand Women's Strawweight Championship
Featherweight 66 kg  |  Krisana Srisang  | def.  |  Sarun Srioumboo  | KO  | 3  | 0:18  | For the vacant BKFC Thailand Featherweight Championship
Lightweight 70 kg  |  Kristof Kirsch  | def.  |  Tee Jay Chang  | KO  | 2  | 0:45  |
Cruiserweight 93 kg  |  Daniel Dorrer  | def.  |  Tofan Pirani  | TKO (referee stoppage)  | 1  | 2:00  | Hand injury
Featherweight 66 kg  |  Andrew Miller  | def.  |  Teerawat Wongon  | KO  | 1  | 1:13  |
Featherweight 66 kg  |  Joemil Miado  | def.  |  Gustaf Cedermalm  | KO  | 2  | 0:43  |
Light Heavyweight 84 kg  |  Jonny Tello  | def.  |  Chaloemporn Sawatsuk | TKO  | 5  | 0:50  |
Cruiserweight 93 kg  |  Purya Rokhneh  | def.  |  Yohann Marin  | KO  | 2  |  |
Preliminary Card
Featherweight 66 kg  |  Pongpisan Chunyong  | def.  |  Tha Pyay Nyo  | Decision (unanimous)  | 5  | 2:00  | Fight of the Night. Judges' scorecards: 50–44, 50–44, 50–44
Middleweight 79 kg  |  Mike Vetrila  | def.  |  Allen Wycoco  | Decision (unanimous)  | 5  | 2:00  | Judges' scorecards: 50–44, 50–44, 50–44
Lightweight 70 kg  |  Tumba  | def.  |  Maseng Sornchai  | Decision (split)  | 5  | 2:00  | Judges' scorecards: 48–47, 48–47, 47–48

## Notable fighters[edit]

* Buakaw Banchamek
* Rolando Dy
* Sinsamut Klinmee
* Saenchai
* Chaloemporn Sawatsuk
* Sirimongkol Singmanasak
* Usanakorn Thawilsuhannawang

## See also[edit]

* Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
* Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship United Kingdom

## References[edit]

1. ^ "BKFC Thailand". Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
2. ^ "BKFC Thailand 1 Results". MMA Sucka. 2021-12-18. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
3. ^ "Everything you need to know about Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship". MyMMANews.com. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
4. ^ "BKFC Thailand 5: Buakaw vs. Saenchai – Everything You Need to Know". Beyond Kick. 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
5. ^ "Buakaw, Saenchai set for Muay Thai with bare knuckle twist". Asian MMA. 2023-10-11. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
6. ^ "BKFC signs muay Thai superstar Buakaw Banchamek to multifight deal". MMA Junkie. 2022-07-15. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
7. ^ "BKFC Sign Muay Thai Icon Saenchai Ahead Of Transition To Bare Knuckle Fighting". LowKick MMA. 2022-08-02. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
8. ^ THAITICKETMAJOR. "Official Ticket | BKFC THAILAND". THAITICKETMAJOR. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
9. ^ "The first appearance of an Iranian in BKFC". YJC (in Persian). 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
10. ^ "OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT". Facebook. 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
11. ^ "Our main event for BKFC Thailand 2". Facebook. 2022-02-22. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
12. ^ "BKFC 2 Thailand: It's Souris Manfredi vs. Fani Peloumpi for the inaugural women's strawweight title". MMA Crossfire. 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
13. ^ "Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Thailand 2: Iconic Impact". bareknuckle.tv. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
14. ^ "BKFC THAILAND 3: Moment of truth set for September 3". The Thaiger. 2022-08-11. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
15. ^ "BKFC Asia 4: The Big Bash announced for December 10". The Thaiger. 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2023-11-08.
16. ^ Timothy Wheaton (June 12, 2023). "Buakaw vs. Saenchai Confirmed for BKFC Asia 5 on November 4". combatpress.com.