BKFC $25 million tournament set for March, ‘Baddest B*tch’ tournament and fighter equity program announced

Conor McGregor | Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images

BKFC has big plans for 2026.

Over the past few years, the bare-knuckle promotion has emerged as one of the leading combat sports brands in the world, and the organization is looking to continue building on that momentum, revealing several big moves for the future at a press conference dubbed “Conor McGregor’s Champions Summit” on Thursday.

Chief among BKFC’s announcements was details surrounding the massive $25 million “Baddest Man” tournament that kicks off in March. The tournament includes 32 fighters ranging from 185 pounds to 265 pounds, and a $15 million prize going to the winner, with the runner-up earning $1 million.

BKFC president David Feldman said the tournament is a 12-month process to compensate for the injuries sustained in the course of bare-knuckle fights, and starts out in Los Angeles and ends in the Middle East.

Feldman also announced that the promotion plans to run a similar tournament for the women beginning in the middle of 2026 which he dubbed “The Baddest Bitch in the World” tournament.

And in perhaps the biggest piece of news, Feldman announced the creation of a fighter equity program for champions and long-tenured BKFC fighters to become part-owners of the company.

“Me and Conor had a long talk and we said, ‘Let’s do something that no one’s ever done: let’s make all of our fighters owners of the company,” Feldman said. “So we’re going to start off with everyone one of our champions, whether they’re a U.K. champion or a world champion, or you’re a long-tenured fighter that has at least 10 fights with us, you’re all going to get equity, right here. I’m not talking about I’m going to do it next week, I’m going to do it tonight.”

The announcement was well-received by all the fighters in attendance, but none more so than McGregor, who, as part-owner of the promotion, celebrated the move loudly.

“Do you understand how incredible that is for our combatants to be rewarded in that way?” McGregor said. “To join this rise, truly be on the board with us as we rise up the ladder of combat sport. For me, I fought my heart and soul, I gave everything to the rise of a company, and I got nothing for it. Now, here we are, our company, my company, we give back to the fighters who bleed for us. So welcome to the owner’s table, our world champions and our U.K. champions! We are in this together! Let’s go Bare Knuckle familia!”

Feldman then expanded on the equity program, explaining that it is set up as a tiered system of entry, with the top performers — champions who defend their titles 10 times — earning up to $3 million. Any fighter who wins a title and defends at least once takes $100,000 of equity. And McGregor suggested that is a major windfall.

“To have equity stake in a promotion at ground level — we are at ground zero here!” McGregor said. “You can all feel the excitement and the tension in this building. This is a multi-billion-dollar fight promotion, and we are giving it back to the men and women who shed blood in this ring for us, for our entertainment. And that is to be commended, and truly should be replicated across all fighting promotions. If you’re truly about the fighter and you’re truly with you’re fighter, share some of the pie, baby!”