Bare-Knuckle Heavyweights: Why the Big Men of BKFC Hit Harder

Heavyweight fights are always the most volatile in combat sports. Take away the gloves and the stakes go up even further. The big men of BKFC throw real weight behind every single punch, which is why the division produces some of the scariest knockouts anywhere in fighting.

The power problem

When two heavyweights fight with bare knuckles, one clean shot is usually all it takes. There is no pad to soften the impact and no retreat from raw mass. That is why heavyweight cards change tone so fast: a technical point fight can end in the blink of an eye the second one power shot lands.

Ben Rothwell, the veteran enforcer

Ben Rothwell brought years of high level MMA experience into the bare-knuckle ring, and he quickly became one of the most dangerous heavyweights in the promotion. He fights at his own pace, absorbs punishment to deal it, and carries serious finishing power in both hands. Against Mick Terrill he showed exactly why he is a heavyweight title threat.

Mick Terrill, the championship standard

Mick Terrill represents the new breed of bare-knuckle heavyweight. Big, athletic, and willing to trade, he proved he could hang with anyone the promotion put in front of him. A heavyweight title fight with Rothwell was the kind of matchup that reminded everyone why the division is a must watch.

What to expect from heavyweight BKFC

Expect short fights and big moments. Heavyweight bare-knuckle rewards whoever lands first, and it punishes hesitation more than any other division. Every heavyweight matchup is a coin flip with a knockout ending.

Follow every big heavyweight moment in the bare-knuckle tag, and use the blog guides to catch up on the division's biggest fights and prospects.