For the second time in as many weeks, BKFC is back in action. This Saturday afternoon (USA time), the bare-knuckle boxing promotion gets into the ring for BKFC 68. Utilita Arena in Newcastle, UK is the host venue for Saturday’s card.
Live coverage of BKFC 68 begins Saturday at 2 pm ET/ 11 am PT with the countdown show. The card itself kicks off at 3 pm ET/ noon PT. As usual, BKFC 68 will be seen on the BKFC app.
All told, barring any postponed or cancelled fights between now and Saturday night, the final version of BKFC 68 will feature a total of 12 matches. Highlighting the show is a championship doubleheader.
UK Light Heavyweight Championship Up For Grabs in BKFC 68 Co-Main Event Saturday
The twin-bill kicks off in the light heavyweight division (185 lbs.) BKFC’s UK Light Heavyweight Championship is at stake in the co-main event of the evening.
Matt Hodgson (4-2 bare-knuckle, 2-0 BKFC), who went 1-0 in MMA before turning to bare-knuckle boxing, squares off against Conor Cooke (3-1 bare-knuckle, 3-1 BKFC), who posted a 6-7 record in MMA. Its winner will succeed former UK Light Heavyweight Champion Danny Christie (5-2 bare-knuckle, 5-2 BKFC,) who vacated the 185-lb. strap to try his luck in the middleweight division (175 lbs.)
As with all BKFC fights, the BKFC 68 co-main event is an advertised maximum of five rounds at two minutes per round.
BKFC 68 Co-Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the BKFC 68 co-main event on Saturday afternoon, Conor Cooke stands as the taller man at 6-foot-3, compared to Matt Hodgson’s 6-foot-1 frame. Hodgson owns a one-inch reach advantage (77 inches to 76 inches) over Cooke.
Currently, the oddsmakers have Conor Cooke installed as a -180 favorite on the money line, while Matt Hodgson counters as a +150 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend in MMA and/or combat sports, please wager responsibly.
Hodgson Seeks to Parlay Winning Streak Into a Title
Matt Hodgson, nicknamed “The Hammer”, has posted a mark of 4-1 in his last five contests. He enters the BKFC 68 co-main event Saturday on a four-fight winning streak.
Last time out, he scored a third-round knockout (uppercuts) of Chaz Wasserman (1-1 bare-knuckle, 1-1 BKFC) on April 6 during BKFC 60 from Milton Keynes, UK on the BKFC app. Recently, “The Hammer” was a guest on The No-Bones MMA Podcast, where he discussed his preparations for the title fight.
“I feel really good,” he began. “Everything’s been going really, really well. My weight’s on point, my strength and [conditioning] is on point. Everything’s working exactly where we want it. I’m going to peak at the right time, and I always fancy [my] chances [to win].”
Hodgson has been on a roll of late inside the ring. Will he become the new champion at 185 lbs. on Saturday? Tune into the BKFC 68 co-main event and find out.
Can “Da Crook” Make It Two Wins in a Row?
In the other corner, Conor Cooke has gone 3-2 in his last five fights dating back to his days in traditional boxing. Back on Aug. 10, he finished Mason Shaw (5-7-1, 1 NC bare-knuckle, 1-2 BKFC) in the first round during BKFC 64 in Coventry.
After his August victory, Cooke was interviewed by Bare Knuckle News’ Christian Schneeweihs about returning to victory lane.
“It’s amazing to get back,” Cooke said. “I wanted to get back as soon as I can, and I wasn’t really planning on fighting [on] this show. I wanted to work on a lot of stuff, so I took a little time off, then I got an email saying ‘Do you want to fight on the 10th of August?’ I wasn’t doing anything, so I said ‘Why not?’ It feels amazing to get back in the win column again.”
How will he fare this time with a championship at stake? Only time will tell.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
With the BKFC 68 co-main event being for a vacant championship, and with the added stakes of bragging rights for the entire United Kingdom on the line, expect both of these fighters to push all their poker chips to the center of the table.
Hodgson Has to Empty Cooke’s Gas Tank
Sometimes in combat sports, the flashy finishes won’t get the job done. In examining the video of Matt Hodgson’s 2021 fight versus Ashley Gibson, he sustained a knockdown early on in the first round before returning the favor in round two, tagging him with a number of shots and scoring a knockdown of his own.
Despite Gibson picking up a cut and a welt, he was saved by the bell, but Hodgson worked the body in the third and final round to send Gibson to the canvas again. Hodgson kept up the pace, forcing the fight doctor to throw in the towel and rescue Gibson from further damage.
Look for Matt Hodgson to come out throwing in the BKFC 68 co-main event. If he can make Conor Cooke tired, this belt is his.
Cooke Can End a Fight Early
In the other corner, don’t look away from the screen when Connor Cooke is in the ring because you may miss the finish. During BKFC 64 versus Mason Shaw, he mixed up his shots and gave Shaw a cut above the eye before putting him down with a crisp right-handed punch.
Shaw struggled to rise to his feet. While he got back up, he stood just a fraction too late to beat the referee’s 10-count, validating the knockout. If Connor Cooke varies his offensive attack, he’ll be able to disrupt Matt Hodgson’s gameplan, forcing him to change it up on the fly.
Final Thoughts
Expect a thrilling five rounds or less of action in the BKFC 68 co-main event on Saturday night. Get your popcorn ready.
Prediction: Connor Cooke by First-Round Knockout.
