Live from the RP Funding Center in Tampa, FL this Friday night is Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship’s Knucklemania. The main event features former UFC star and ABC’s Dancing With The Stars contestant Paige VanZant (8-5 MMA, BKFC 0-0) and Britain Hart (4-4-3 Boxing, BKFC 1-2). VanZant will make her debut against the seasoned boxer in Hart who outmatches her in bouts with 15 boxing matches to VanZant’s 13 MMA contests. From this weigh-in clip below via Twitter, it looks like both women are ready to toe the line onstage instead of in the squared circle.
https://twitter.com/ItAlways420/status/1357452790742863873?s=01
VanZant is coming off of a loss at UFC 251 first-round submission loss to Amanda Ribas back in July 2020 and what better way to avenge that loss than to show up the three-fight bare-knuckle veteran in Hart, who defeated Randine Elkholm back in November via TKO in the fourth round. Despite not fighting once at BKFC, VanZant loves the prospects of being given a chance to make more money than she ever did in the UFC, if that’s even possible.
According to MMAJunkie.com, she expressed her thoughts of financial gain while pursuing a bare-knuckle fighting career.
“I’m here for a reason,” VanZant told reporters ahead of her debut. “I was in the UFC for six years getting paid $40,000 (to show) and $40,000 (to win), and now I’m getting 10 times that doing what I love. So obviously, I’m not going anywhere. I’m very happy fighting here and I’m excited to fight.”
Combat sports fans and pundits alike are going to adjust their extra-large microscopes on her to see if she can put her money where her mouth is. Will she be worth every penny that BKFC invests in or will they burn a hold in their pocket?
Knucklemania will take place at 9 PM ET. Go to the BKFC website to select your Pay-Per-View provider.
https://www.bareknuckle.tv/orderppv