BKFC will bring bare-knuckle boxing to Philly for the second time in a year with July’s ‘Liberty Brawl’
BKFC sold out each of its first two events at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. Now, the promotion is returning for the second time in 2026.
Following its highly successful KnuckleMania VI card in February, the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship is bringing its caravan back to South Philadelphia later this summer.
On Monday, BKFC announced Liberty Brawl, which is scheduled to take place again inside Xfinity Mobile Arena on July 3. Despite a yet-to-be-announced fight card, tickets for the show go on sale Wednesday at 10 a.m. at BKFC.com.
It’ll be the fourth installment of bare-knuckle boxing in the city. The largest were the aforementioned KnuckleMania VI (18,217 in attendance) and 2025’s KnuckleMania V (17,762), both sellouts at the same arena as this year’s card. According to the outfit, those cards set modern-day attendance records for combat sports in Philadelphia. BKFC also hosted an event at the city’s famed 2300 Arena in March 2025.
Kensington fighting legend Eddie Alvarez, who was in the main event of KnuckleMania V against fellow MMA star Jeremy Stephens, said he felt Philly could become a mainstay for BKFC events.
“This sport to me is the greatest show on earth, and it was my pleasure to introduce it to the Philadelphia fans,” Alvarez said in February, noting that he, BKFC founder David Feldman, and others were instrumental in showcasing the sport in Philly.
“I see the future of BKFC in Philadelphia as them coming here quarterly. I don’t think once a year is enough. I think it should be every quarter. We can fill up an arena here. That’s not too much to ask. I think the fans’ demand has proven that. Philadelphia fans want and need fighting.”
The addition of BKFC makes an already jam-packed July weekend even busier. The Phillies will wrap up a series against the Pirates at Citizens Bank Park on July 2 (12:35 p.m.), followed by BKFC the next night. It will all culminate in Philly’s final hosting duties of the FIFA World Cup, a round of 16 match at Lincoln Financial Field on July 4.
BKFC will be the second major fight card in Philly this summer after the UFC announced last month its plans to bring one of its major numbered events to the city for the first time in 15 years, with UFC 330 at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Aug. 15.
A full fight card for its Liberty Brawl event will be announced shortly, BKFC says.
