Gzim Selmani’s move from professional wrestling and early mixed martial arts into bare-knuckle fighting reached a milestone with a dominant BKFC debut that the promotion framed as a successful transition and one that established him as a headline fighter. Billed as “The Albanian Psycho” and best known as one-half of the Authors of Pain, Selmani is a former WWE and NXT tag team champion who previously compiled a 4–2 professional MMA record fighting for Bellator and BAMMA before he signed with WWE — all six of those pro MMA bouts took place while he was under 20.

Selmani made his BKFC promotional debut at BKFC Newcastle against heavyweight Daniel Curtin, scoring a violent second-round stoppage knockout. Curtin briefly stunned Selmani with an early knockdown, but Selmani dropped Curtin three times in the first round, opened a large cut, and sent him to the canvas at the first-round bell. Selmani then knocked Curtin down a fourth time at the start of round two, prompting the referee to halt the contest and award Selmani the knockout victory. After the fight Selmani delivered an expletive-laced postfight promo in which he declared, “knock motherf*ckers out.”

Selmani had been expected to debut earlier at KnuckleMania 6 before the promotion delayed his first BKFC fight, a postponement he said he understood. He also watched the BKFC main event in which former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski stopped Ben Rothwell to capture the BKFC title and said that outcome “did not surprise him.” The buildup around other high-profile names, including noted excitement from Conor McGregor ahead of his own BKFC debut, helped frame Selmani’s arrival as part of a growing, headline-driven era for the promotion.

James “Lights Out” Lilley said he is “like a kid waiting for Christmas” as he prepares for what he called a “pivotal” matchup in his bid to become the first Welsh BKFC World Champion. He described himself as humbled to be counted among the U.K.’s most influential bare-knuckle fighters and expressed optimism about the future for British BKFC competitors.

Lilley is scheduled to headline the co-main event in Newcastle on March 14 at the Utilita Arena, where he will face Gary Fox for the BKFC U.K. Featherweight Championship in a bout that will be available worldwide on The BKFC App.

A former BKFC World Title challenger and described as one of the promotion’s most successful U.K.-based fighters, Lilley also helps run Out Loud Arts Collective, a Wales-based nonprofit. He has been presented in one BKFC article principally for his enthusiasm and mindset; that article did not provide opponent, date or venue details while another source did.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship announced two events on its 2026 slate: BKFC Fight Night Newcastle will take place Saturday, March 14 at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, and Bare Knuckle Fight Night Clearwater 3 will take place Friday, April 24 at the OCC Road House and Museum in Clearwater, Florida.

BKFC Fight Night Newcastle is headlined by Mick Terrill (9-2) of North Shields vs. Jay “The Ghost” McFarlane (1-0) of Glasgow for the BKFC U.K. Heavyweight Title, with Gary Fox (4-3) vs. James “Lights Out” Lilley (9-3) co-headlining for the BKFC U.K. Featherweight Title. WWE superstar Gzim “Rezar” Selmani will make his bare-knuckle debut against Daniel Curtin, and the undercard includes Lewis Garside vs. Kieron Sewell, Matty Hodgson vs. Sean Weir, and Jack Cullen vs. Marley Churcher. BKFC founder David Feldman noted the Newcastle show is the promotion’s sixth event in the city, highlighted the two U.K. title fights and the stacked undercard, and encouraged fans to buy tickets in advance; first bell is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET / noon PT on March 14.

BKFC’s return to Clearwater is headlined by former BKFC Light Heavyweight World Champion Jaren “Captain Deadpool” Warren (8-3) vs. BKFC U.K. Light Heavyweight Champion Conor “Da Crook” Cooke (6-1) of Ireland; Cooke will make his U.S. debut after recording two knockout wins in 2025. The co-main pits bantamweight Ryan “Royal” Reber (7-2), a two-time world title challenger, against newcomer Joshua Oxendine (1-0), who won his BKFC debut at KnuckleMania VI and is 4-0 as a professional boxer with two KOs, and additional undercard bouts will be announced shortly. First bell for Clearwater 3 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on April 24. Tickets for both shows are available at BKFC.com, and both events will stream internationally on BKFC+ for $7.99 per month.

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship announced two events on its 2026 slate: BKFC Fight Night Newcastle will take place Saturday, March 14 at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, and Bare Knuckle Fight Night Clearwater 3 will take place Friday, April 24 at the OCC Road House and Museum in Clearwater, Florida.

BKFC Fight Night Newcastle is headlined by Mick Terrill (9-2) of North Shields vs. Jay “The Ghost” McFarlane (1-0) of Glasgow for the BKFC U.K. Heavyweight Title, with Gary Fox (4-3) vs. James “Lights Out” Lilley (9-3) co-headlining for the BKFC U.K. Featherweight Title. WWE superstar Gzim “Rezar” Selmani will make his bare-knuckle debut against Daniel Curtin, and the undercard includes Lewis Garside vs. Kieron Sewell, Matty Hodgson vs. Sean Weir, and Jack Cullen vs. Marley Churcher. BKFC founder David Feldman noted the Newcastle show is the promotion’s sixth event in the city, highlighted the two U.K. title fights and the stacked undercard, and encouraged fans to buy tickets in advance; first bell is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET / noon PT on March 14.

BKFC’s return to Clearwater is headlined by former BKFC Light Heavyweight World Champion Jaren “Captain Deadpool” Warren (8-3) vs. BKFC U.K. Light Heavyweight Champion Conor “Da Crook” Cooke (6-1) of Ireland; Cooke will make his U.S. debut after recording two knockout wins in 2025. The co-main pits bantamweight Ryan “Royal” Reber (7-2), a two-time world title challenger, against newcomer Joshua Oxendine (1-0), who won his BKFC debut at KnuckleMania VI and is 4-0 as a professional boxer with two KOs, and additional undercard bouts will be announced shortly. First bell for Clearwater 3 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on April 24. Tickets for both shows are available at BKFC.com, and both events will stream internationally on BKFC+ for $7.99 per month.

BKFC president David Feldman said Mike Perry is expected to return around May on a standalone, home‑state card in the Orlando area. Feldman teased the opponent as “the biggest name he ever fought times five,” a claim the promotion and social coverage framed as “five times bigger than Jake Paul.” BKFC is pitching the event as a record-seeking Florida homecoming and has kept Perry off the KnuckleMania VI card while reserving him for the larger show.

Perry, 34, is 6‑0 since joining BKFC, with notable wins over Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, Michael “Venom” Page, and a TKO of Jeremy Stephens at BKFC 82 in October 2025. He also lost to Jake Paul in a July 2024 boxing match. BKFC is using his mixed record across MMA, boxing, and bare‑knuckle to market the planned Florida card.

No official opponent or exact date has been confirmed, and negotiations are ongoing. Feldman’s comments prompted wide social‑media speculation (names floated include Darren Till, Conor McGregor, Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz, and Yoel Romero), and former BKFC interim champion Mike Richman specifically suggested Till or Nate Diaz as plausible matchups. Until BKFC finalizes and announces the bout, the matchup remains a teased potential blockbuster aimed at delivering a high‑profile homecoming for Perry in Florida.