BKFC KnuckleMania V Exciting Early Fights Jan. 25 In Philly

With no UFC on the schedule this coming Saturday night time, what’s a fight sports activities fan to do? Fortunately, BKFC KnuckleMania V is upon us this upcoming weekend. Whereas MMA’s No. 1 group will likely be idle this last weekend of January, the schedule will nonetheless be busy with fights from day till night time.

BKFC KnuckleMania V is the 2025 version of the bare-knuckle boxing promotion’s signature annual present. Whereas the East Coast is popping out of a chilly snap as this week progresses, the bare-knuckle boxing motion will likely be pink sizzling as soon as Saturday night time rolls round.

This yr’s model of BKFC KnuckleMania units up store inside Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Heart, dwelling court docket of the NBA’s 76ers and residential ice of the NHL’s Flyers. Reside protection of BKFC KnuckleMania V begins with the countdown present at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT from the world earlier than transferring onto the undercard at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT on DAZN and the official YouTube channel. Important card motion follows at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT.

Key Early Bouts Throughout BKFC KnuckleMania V on Saturday Night time

Whereas the highest of the invoice on this yr’s model of KnuckleMania options marquee stars similar to Ben Rothwell, Jeremy Stephens, Bec Rawlings, and Taylor Starling, you’ll be able to’t sleep on a few of the fights which can be because of happen on the sooner portion of the present.

We’ll talk about a few of the tentpole fights on the high of the invoice for BKFC KnuckleMania V afterward within the week. For now, the time has come for us to take a gander at a few of the must-see fights earlier on the cardboard.

Notice: All BKFC fights are an marketed most of 5 rounds at two minutes per spherical.

BKFC KnuckleMania V: Joey Dawejko vs. Steve Banks

No matter the place precisely a heavyweight battle takes place on a card, any heavyweight contest on a fight sporting occasion is a must-see affair, together with this contest between Joey Dawejko (28-13-4, 16 KOs) and Steve Banks (9/11 fight sports activities, 3-2 BKFC) on Saturday night time.

Dawejko, nicknamed “Tank”, enters KnuckleMania, his BKFC promotional debut, having gone 2-3 in his final 5 fights, all held below conventional boxing guidelines. He’s fallen on arduous instances of late, nonetheless, having dropped two in a row.

Most not too long ago, Joey Dawejko dropped a fifth-round TKO to Kristian Prenga (17-1, 17 KOs) in October from Prudential Heart in Newark, NJ, one battle after shedding by means of disqualification within the fifth spherical in opposition to Richard Torrez in Glendale, AZ. “Tank” has had an lively stretch because the begin of 2024, as that is his fifth battle within the final 13 months. Will he flip it round on Saturday?

Within the different nook, Steve Banks, also called “The Panda”, comes into Saturday’s card with a document of 3-2 to this point in his BKFC profession. He’s been a streaky fighter since he joined the promotion, shedding his final two bouts, together with a first-round knockout loss to Leonardo Perdomo (6-0 BKFC) final September in his first battle in two years’ time.

Can Banks proper the ship in BKFC KnuckleMania V?

BKFC KnuckleMania V: Itso Babulaidze vs. Bryan McDowell

One other fighter will make his BKFC promotional debut when the Wells Fargo Heart opens its doorways to the group on Saturday night time when undefeated Itso Babulaidze (7-0 fight sports activities) squares off in opposition to Bryan McDowell (8-10 fight sports activities, 0-1 BKFC) in a middleweight (175 lbs) affair.

On paper, this seems like a rout for Itso Babulaidze, who enters BKFC KnuckleMania V on an eight-fight successful streak throughout MMA and submission-only grappling relationship again to his beginner MMA finale in September of 2021. Final day trip, he efficiently defended the Ring of Fight Welterweight Championship with a first-round knockout of Josh Jackson (9-4 MMA) in simply 17 seconds with a punch.

Throughout the best way, Bryan McDowell has gone 2-3 in his final 5 fight sports activities appearances. An alumnus of Cage Fury Preventing Championships, he scored a first-round knockout on the finish of the interval again in September after his opponent Justin McDonald was knocked down and the referee waved off the competition.

Solely time will inform, nonetheless, if McDowell goes to have the ability to make it two wins in succession.

BKFC KnuckleMania V: Zedekiah Montanez vs. Brandon Meyer

Additionally on the early portion of the cardboard, motion takes place within the light-weight division when Zedekiah Montanez battles it out in opposition to Brandon Meyer. Montanez (5-0-1 MMA) will likely be making his BKFC promotional debut this weekend having gone undefeated in six fights within the cage.

Final day trip, he emerged victorious from an Oct. 4 contest versus Dylan Smerillo (2-3 MMA) in Artwork of Conflict Cage Preventing 37 from King of Prussia, PA, making this battle at BKFC KnuckleMania V a “dwelling sport” for Montanez. He hasn’t fought constantly in fight sports activities since 2019, when he appeared thrice, successful each battle that yr.

Montanez’s win versus Smerillo was his first battle because the fall of 2021. May a win on Saturday night time be the beginning of a productive yr?

In the meantime, Brandon Meyer (3-4 fight sports activities, 2-2 BKFC) comes into Saturday night time’s bout on a 3-2 clip over his final 5 contests, however he’s exited the world in defeat in every of his final two bouts. Throughout an Aug. 24, 2024 boxing card in Lincoln, NE, Meyer was defeated by Daniel Dralu (1-0, 1 KO) by way of third-round knockout within the opening match of the night time.

Can Meyer cease the skid on Saturday in Philadelphia?