VanZant expected to make BKFC debut on Nov 14

BKFC’s biggest ever signing is due to fight in two months’ time.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) president David Feldman spoke to MMA Fighting recently about his most high profile signing to date: Paige VanZant. Feldman told that outlet what his plan was for the former UFC strawweight’s debut in bare knuckle boxing.

According to Feldman the BKFC card scheduled for November 14 “should be the debut of Paige”.

However, Feldman’s plans were hit with a curve-ball recently when VanZant announced that both her and her husband—Bellator’s Austin Vanderford—had tested positive for COVID-19. “I know she was sick recently,” said Feldman. “So we’re going to see if she’s going to be able to get back into training, or if we have to push it.”

Feldman also revealed that he was going to try and stack the card around VanZant on November 14th. So far that event is scheduled to include Jim Alers vs. Luis Palomino and Johnny Bedford vs. Dat Nguyen.

Alers had a 1-3 (1 NC) stint in the UFC in 2014-2016. Since joining BKFC he has been perfect in beating Elvin Leon Brito, Leonard Garcia, Julian Lane and Kaleb Harris. Palomino has over 50 pro MMA fights to his name. In WSOF he challenged, and lost to, Justin Gaethje for that promotion’s lightweight title.

Palomino and Alers, who got into a scuffle at a BKFC press event, are scheduled to compete for Palomino’s BKFC super welterweight championship title.

Bedford vs. Nguyen will be for Bedford’s BKFC lightweight championship. Bedford is a TUF: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller veteran who went 2-3 (1 NC) in the UFC. He’s 5-0 in BKFC and recently defeated Charles ‘Krazy Horse’ Bennett. Nguyen is a former pro boxer with a 20-3 record. He’s had two successful fights with BKFC since joining them in 2019.

According to Feldman the card will also feature a woman’s championship fight. Feldman did not disclose if VanZant would be involved in that fight or who VanZant’s first opponent would be.