BKFC Pechanga takes place on Saturday night. Although this Saturday is the second one in a row with a full slate of fights, California may very well be the center of the combat sports universe this third weekend of 2025.
Get ready for the first event of the year this Saturday! Live from @PechangaCasino!#BKFCPECHANGA | Saturday | Watch on @BKFCApp pic.twitter.com/0cZjGDNUXQ
— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) January 15, 2025
While MMA‘s top promotion, the UFC, is setting up shop in Englewood, CA for UFC 311 this coming Saturday night, BKFC parks its bus in Temecula, CA at the Pechanga Resort Casino. Live coverage of BKFC Pechanga can be seen gavel-to-gavel on DAZN beginning with the countdown show at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT.
The BKFC Pechanga countdown show can also be viewed on the promotion’s official YouTube channel at the same time. Fights kick off at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT on DAZN. All told, barring any postponements or cancellations between now and the weekend, the final version of the bare-knuckle boxing lid-lifter will feature 10 contests. Note: All BKFC fights are five rounds in length at two minutes per round.
In one week, BKFC goes eastward, as next Saturday evening, Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, the home court of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers, plays host to the 2025 edition of BKFC KnuckleMania, KnuckleMania V. More on that next week.
BKFC Pechanga Main Event: Kurdanov Clashes With Brito
Although no belts will be at stake in BKFC Pechanga this coming weekend, the fights that the promotion have trotted out for Saturday night are of the can’t miss variety. At the top of the bill this weekend, you’ll see a contest in the welterweight ranks (165 lbs) matching Evgeny Kurdanov (5-3 combat sports, 0-2 BKFC) against Elvin Brito (9-9 combat sports, 6-5 BKFC.)
Kurdanov enters the headliner having posted a record of 3-2 in his last five contests dating back to September of 2020. At the present moment, he’s on a two-fight losing streak, both under the BKFC promotional signature.
Last time out, he dropped a first-round TKO by way of doctor’s stoppage at the end of the period during his match versus Julian Lane (16-10-1 combat sports, 3-0 BKFC) in April of 2024 during KnuckleMania IV. Can he earn his first win in the promotion this weekend?
Across the way, Brito enters this weekend’s card on a 1-4 clip in his last five fights. Back in August, he sustained a unanimous decision defeat to Jake Lindsay (19-12 combat sports, 4-1 BKFC) during BKFC Kansas City after 10 minutes of action. Only time will tell if Brito can return to the win column.
BKFC Pechanga Co-Main Event: Peralta Squares Off Against Christensen
Immediately beforehand, the co-main event of BKFC Pechanga sees action at lightweight take center stage for a contest between Robbie Peralta (22-11, 1 NC combat sports, 2-2 BKFC) and Jordan Christensen (5-5 combat sports, 3-2 BKFC.) Peralta comes into this fight, a “home game” for the native Californian, having gone 3-2 in his last five bare-knuckle contests.
He’s hit a rough patch of late, however, as he’s dropped his last two fights in succession. Most recently, he sustained a first-round knockout due to punches with only six seconds having elapsed from the clock against Ruben Warr (2-2 BKFC) in July of last year.
With his fellow Californians watching and rooting him on, will Peralta, nicknamed “Problems,” right the ship and give them something to cheer about?
In the other corner, Jordan Christensen enters BKFC Pechanga with a record of 2-3 in his last five contests dating back to June of 2023. At the moment, he’s hoping to get back in the win column this weekend.
Most recently, he dropped a unanimous decision after 10 minutes to Andrew Yates (15-5 combat sports, 3-1 BKFC) in October of last year. How will he do this weekend?
BKFC Pechanga: Ryan Petersen Meets Matt Socholotiuk in Welterweight Contest
Also on the card this Saturday night is another welterweight affair, this one pitting Ryan Petersen (2-0 bare-knuckle, 1-0 BKFC) against Matt Socholotiuk (2-0 bare-knuckle, 2-0 BKFC) in a battle of two fighters early on in their respective bare-knuckle careers.
Ryan Petersen enters BKFC Pechanga with a quick turnaround between fights, having just set foot in the ring less than two months ago and scoring a second-round knockout victory over Dan Godoy (0-2 BKFC) on Nov. 23 in Los Angeles from Thunder Studios. With less than 60 days’ layoff, will the quick turnaround be helpful or a hindrance?
Meanwhile, Matt Socholotiuk comes into the weekend having gotten his hand raised in both of his appearances under the BKFC banner. Back at the end of August, he bested Nash Diederichs (1-1 BKFC) during BKFC Prospect Series: Edmonton with a first-round knockout in 50 seconds.
Final Thoughts
With BKFC Pechanga looming, which fight or fights are you looking forward to on this card? Let us know in the comments.
