BKFC KnuckleMania V takes place in Philadelphia on the first Saturday night without any meaningful gridiron football games since late August and a night without the UFC in action. In any other circumstance, sports fans might be at a loss for what to watch, but not this weekend. One night after Wells Fargo Center plays host to an NBA game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the homestanding 76ers, slam dunks give way to bare-knuckle boxing on the schedule.
BKFC KnuckleMania V is the 2025 version of the annual BKFC KnuckleMania event. The City of Brotherly Love will play host to an exciting evening of fights less than 24 hours before the hometown Philadelphia Eagles take the field in this year’s NFC Championship Game against the Washington Commanders.
Live coverage of KnuckleMania begins Saturday evening at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT on DAZN and YouTube with the countdown show before moving onto the undercard at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT. Main card action caps the evening at 9 pm ET/ 6 pm PT.
Looking at Exciting Bouts on BKFC KnuckleMania V’s Main Card
Earlier this week, we examined some of the bouts on the earlier portion of the card. Now, the time has come to take a gander at some of the contests near the top of the bill. There’s no time like the present to get started, so why waste another moment?
WE ARE BACK BABY! IT’S FINALLY KNUCKLEMANIA FIGHT WEEK! This SATURDAY at @WellsFargoCtr in Philly! #KM5 | Sign-up at https://t.co/FKV4378mdH pic.twitter.com/qimSu3y0qc
— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) January 20, 2025
Note: All BKFC fights are an advertised maximum of five rounds at two minutes per round.
BKFC KnuckleMania V Main Event: Eddie Alvarez vs. Jeremy Stephens
While there will not be a championship on the line in the main event of the evening this Saturday in Philadelphia is still a cracking affair. BKFC KnuckleMania V’s headlining contest takes place in the welterweight division (165 lbs) between two MMA alumni.
Former UFC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez (1-1 BKFC), who went 30-8 with two no-contests throughout his 40-fight MMA career, makes his third walk to the ring in BKFC when he takes on No. 4 contender Jeremy Stephens (2-0 BKFC), himself an alumnus of the UFC, in the main event.
Eddie Alvarez will be making his first appearance in the ring in nearly 14 months this coming weekend having posted a record of 2-2 with one no-contest in his last five fights dating back to the tail end of his MMA career. Last time out, he was defeated by Mike Perry (4-0 BKFC), currently the No. 1 contender at middleweight and the No. 4 pound-for-pound fighter in all of BKFC, by way of TKO due to a corner stoppage at the end of the second round.
He’s had more than a year to reflect on his last bout. Can Alvarez bounce back here?
Across the way, Jeremy Stephens has gone 2-2-1 over the course of his last five contests. Since joining BKFC in December of 2023, he’s yet to lose inside the ring, including a unanimous decision victory over Bobby Taylor (6-3 BKFC) last September just after the Labor Day holiday.
“Lil’ Heathen” has gotten off to a great start in BKFC. Will he make it three wins in three fights under the promotional banner on Saturday night?
BKFC KnuckleMania V Co-Main Event: BKFC Heavyweight Championship: (C) Mick Terrill vs. Ben Rothwell
Immediately before the headlining tilt, the BKFC Heavyweight Championship is at stake during the BKFC KnuckleMania V co-main event. Current heavyweight titleholder Mick Terrill (8-1-1 bare-knuckle, 4-1 BKFC) attempts to make a second successful defense of the strap when he battles it out against challenger Ben Rothwell (3-0 BKFC.)
Both fighters enter this contest having last made an appearance during last year’s KnuckleMania IV. Mick Terrill enters the co-headliner on the strength of a 4-1 record over his last five appearances and a four-fight winning streak.
In KnuckleMania IV, he scored a first-round TKO after his opponent Lorenzo Hunt (11-2 BKFC) was unable to continue upon dislocating his arm. He hasn’t fought in close to nine months’ time, so will Mick Terrill’s ring rust play a factor this weekend in BKFC KnuckleMania V?
Meanwhile, Ben Rothwell has gone 4-1 in his last five fights dating back to his UFC tenure. At the moment, he’s on a three-fight winning streak since joining BKFC. During KnuckleMania IV last April, he scored a first-round TKO versus Todd Duffee (0-1 BKFC) after he sustained an injury.
Two fighters on hot streaks square off during BKFC KnuckleMania V’s co-main event. Who will emerge victorious?
BKFC KnuckleMania V: Taylor Starling vs. Bec Rawlings
Also on the main card on Saturday is a critical bout at women’s flyweight matching No. 2 contender Taylor Starling (4-3 BKFC) and No. 3 contender Bec Rawlings (3-3 BKFC). The winner will continue on the inside track for a contest with current BKFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Christine Ferea (10-1 BKFC) at a later date.
Starling enters BKFC KnuckleMania V having posted a 2-3 record in her last five fights and she’s moved back up to 125 lbs starting with Saturday night’s card. Back in August, she made an unsuccessful bid to secure the BKFC Strawweight Championship against Britain Hart (9-3 BKFC) during BKFC 63’s headlining bout.
Will she take the next step toward a shot at the women’s flyweight championship over the weekend? Only time will tell.
In the other corner, Bec Rawlings comes into Saturday’s event with a record of 2-3 in her five most recent contests, but she’s on a three-fight skid of late. Back in December of 2023, she dropped a unanimous decision to the aforementioned Christine Ferea in BKFC 56.
Can Saturday be the night that she gets back in the win column? Tune in and find out.
Final Thoughts
Which fights are you most interested in? Let us know in the comments.