BKFC 81 Recap, Chaos, Comeback, & Big Knockouts
BKFC 81 Recap: Chaos, Comebacks, and Crushing Knockouts
Bare-knuckle fighting isn’t about being pretty, and no one would mistake the BKFC 81 main event for a work of art—but it was a gritty and successful debut for former Olympic gold medalist James DeGale.
England’s DeGale and Australia’s James Floyd brought more traditional boxing experience to the squared circle than most BKFC bouts, but hopes of a technical showcase quickly unraveled into a messy, clinch-heavy brawl. Both fighters repeatedly tied up, even immediately after being separated. At one point, the referee could be heard pleading with them to “stop wrestling and box.”
Floyd was docked two points in the first round due to the excessive clinching and other infractions, and both men lost another point in the second amid continued chaos. DeGale emerged the clearer winner in the exchanges, with multiple cuts across Floyd’s face underscoring the damage done. The scorecards—48-43, 47-44, and 48-43—reflected DeGale’s edge in a wild affair.
Other Highlights from BKFC 81:
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Aaron Chalmers def. Jack Fincham
In a battle of British reality TV stars, Chalmers forced Fincham’s corner to wave the white flag after two rounds. A right hook in the first and a straight right in the second both produced knockdowns and left Fincham unable to continue. -
Jonny Graham wins UK Lightweight Title
Dropping to lightweight proved a brilliant move for Jonny Graham. He looked sharp and fast, flooring Navid Mansouri three times. A second-round right hook sealed the deal and earned him the inaugural BKFC UK Lightweight Championship. -
Lewis Garside flattens Jonny Chipchase
Garside made a clear statement that he’s ready for top contenders. He stopped Chipchase with a stiff left hook–right cross combo in the first round. -
Dec Spelman overpowers Dawid Chylinski
The former pro boxing champ showed composure and killer instinct, dropping Chylinski three times in the first round and twice more in the second. A brutal body shot ended the bout on the fifth knockdown. -
Jon Telfer upsets Bartlomiej Krol
The biggest betting underdog of the night, Telfer shocked the 5-1 Krol in his bare-knuckle debut. Telfer dropped Krol once in the first, twice in the second, and sealed the win with a perfectly timed right hook in the third. -
David Oscar blitzes Travis Dickinson
Oscar ended things in under a minute. A swollen left eye and a brutal left hook finished Dickinson before the crowd could settle in. -
Sean Weit stages wild comeback vs. Joe Lister
After being dropped twice in the first round, Weit came back with a vengeance. He knocked Lister down twice in the second, with a right uppercut sealing the stoppage in one of the night’s most dramatic turnarounds. -
Mikey Henderson edges Benjamin Love
Henderson moved to 2-0 with a gritty decision win. A second-round knockdown gave him the edge in an otherwise close contest. -
Gaz Corran walks down Danny Moir
Corran, heavily muscled and aggressive, chased Moir down and busted him open with an overhand left. A right uppercut ended the fight in round one. -
Kieran Sewell shines in debut
Sewell promised to bring the fight inside, and he delivered. After wearing Pientnik down in the first round, two second-round right uppercuts brought a swift end to the bout. -
Andy Thornton starts the night with a bang
Thornton improved to 2-0 with a first-round KO of Matty Hill, landing two leaping short left hands that both dropped Hill.
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