Ernesto papa is an Italian mixed martial artist and kickboxer with some limited bare-knuckle experience, a single bout, ahead of his promotional debut in his home country. Papa has an impressive record across the three different combat sports at 21-2 with those losses coming from MMA.

Papa is also a personal trainer and stays active in and out of camp playing sports like Pallagrossa, a medieval version of American football played with a much heavier and round ball.

Papa first toed the line in BKFC against the 1-1 German, Toni Estorer at BKFC Italy on April 26, 2025. After a round one KO, against a solid competitor, the sky is the limit for the heavy-handed Italian.