BKFC RETURNS TO STURGIS WITH EXPLOSIVE EVENT AT 85TH ANNUAL MOTORCYCLE RALLY ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 2
‘GOGO’ SLAVESKI VS. JULIAN LANE
TAYLOR STARLING VS. SHELBY CANNON
LIVE ON DAZN!
Tickets Now On-Sale
Sturgis, SD (June 30, 2025) Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), The World’s Fastest Growing Combat Sports Promotion, will make their highly anticipated return in Sturgis, South Dakota on Saturday, August 2 at the Legendary Sturgis Buffalo Chip. The explosive event, BKFC-79 Sturgis, broadcast globally on DAZN, is headlined by the BKFC Vacant Welterweight World Title Fight between Former BKFC Welterweight World Champion Gorjan ‘GoGo’ Slaveski, (6-0), of Merrillville, IN of and BKFC Fighting Legend Julian ‘Let Me Bang’ Lane, (8-7) of Mansfield, OH.
Co-featured in the women’s strawweight division, Popular BKFC Female Superstar Taylor ‘Killa B’ Starling, (4-4), of Rock Hill, SC is challenged by impressive newcomer Shelby Cannon, (1-0) of Anderson, IN.
Ticket information for BKFC-79 Sturgis can be found at BKFC.com. The Legendary Sturgis Buffalo Chip is located at 20622 Fort Meade Way, Sturgis, SD, 57785.
BKFC’S debut last August at Sturgis’ Motorcycle Rally was attended by a record-breaking 15,600 fans.
“Last year’s event at Sturgis was one of the most successful we’ve promoted in our seven years; the fans, the atmosphere, and the fights were all incredible,” said David Feldman, Founder and President of BKFC. “Our plans for this year are bigger and better with both our announced main and co-main and the entire undercard promising explosive action throughout our event.”
A native of North Macedonia, the hard-hitting Gorjan Slaveski captured BKFC glory by defeating Jake Lindsey at BKFC-49 for the Welterweight World Title. His upcoming world title clash with Julian Lane follows a two-year absence from the squared circle. Other victories for him under the BKFC banner, four of which have come by knockout, include Yosdenis Cedeno (BKFC-35), Evgeny Kurdanov (BKFC-31), Dallas Davison (BKFC-29), Juston Stills (BKFC-25) and Ramal Amanov (BKFC Fight Night Fort Lauderdale).
A true bare-knuckle pioneer, Julian Lane, fighting out of Mansfield, OH is among BKFC’s most popular fighters known for his full-on, all-gas, no brakes, aggressive style in the squared circle. Currently riding an impressive three fight winning streak, Lane has fought the best bare-knuckle fighters in the world under the BKFC banner since his debut in February 2019. With an overall record of 7-7 Lane has clashed in remarkable battles against BKFC superstars; Mike Perry, David Mundell, Thiago Alves, David Rickels and Jake Bostwick. Victories most recently for Lane include former professional boxing champion Alfredo Angulo (BKFC on DAZN – Billings, Montana), Evgeny Kurdanov (KnuckleMania IV) and Murat Kazgan (BKFC-53).
Since her BKFC debut at KnuckleMania I, Taylor Starling has fought in numerous thrilling fights stamping her success as one of the most popular fighters in the promotion. Last year at BKFC’s debut event at Sturgis, Startling fought to the end in a hotly contested battle against strawweight world champion Britain Hart, losing by unanimous decision. Her exciting victories have come against Jenny Savage, Hannah Guy, Cassie Robb and Charisa Sigala.
Former BKFC Welterweight World Champion Elvin ‘El Bandito’ Brito, (6-6), of Gulf Breeze, FL makes his highly anticipated return against Jeremiah ‘The Prophet’ Scott, (2-0), of Myrtle Beach, SC in the lightweight division.
Light heavyweight Brandon ‘Stronghold’ Conley, (2-0-1), of Chillicothe, OH faces Virginia’s David Simpson, (2-4). Heavyweight fan favorite, Zach ‘The Shark Attack’ Calmus, (5-3), of Gloucester, MA hits the squared circle against Montana’s Corey ‘WhatChaTalkingBout’ Willis, (1-0). Female BKFC debuters will face-off in the featherweight division as Shyanna Bintliff of Rapid City, South Dakota, battles Marisol Rueles of Woodridge, IL.
Fighting in the featherweight division, South Dakota’s Traevon ‘Kid Cobra’ Kroger, (1-0), faces Daniel ‘The Tower Dog’ Pettit, (1-2), of Lake Elsinore, CA. In a battle of undefeated heavyweight prospects; Alabama’s Bear Hill, (1-0), returns to action against Iman ‘Stross’ Williams (1-0), of Riverside, CA. Battle-tested lightweight veteran Dan Godoy, (0-3), of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada seeks his first BKFC victory against Ruben Arroyo, (0-2) of Texas.
Social Media
Instagram: @BareKnuckleFC
Twitter: @BareKnuckleFC
Facebook: @BareKnuckleFC
YouTube: @BareKnuckleFightingChampionship
TikTok: @BareKnuckleFC
Website: www.BKFC.com
Media Contact/Credentials
Bernie Bahrmasel
Double B Sports
Phone: + 1 773 592-2986
Email: BernieBahrmasel@yahoo.com
Twitter: @BernieBahrmasel
About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC)
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is the first promotion allowed to hold a legal, sanctioned, and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. Based in Philadelphia, and headed by President and former professional boxer David Feldman, BKFC is dedicated to preserving the historical legacy of bare knuckle fighting, while utilizing a specifically created rule set that emphasizes fighter safety. BKFC holds all of its bouts in a revolutionary circular four-rope ring, designed to encourage fast-paced and exciting bouts. The patented BKFC “Squared Circle” contains scratch lines, based on the Broughton Rules which governed bare knuckle fighting in the 19th century, and which requires fighters to “Toe the Line”: start every round face to face, and just inches apart.
In BKFC, only those fighters who are established professionals in boxing, MMA, kickboxing, or Muay Thai are allowed to compete. The referees and judges are required to have extensive professional combat sports experience. All fights are held under the auspices and control of an Athletic Commission. Unlike other fighting organizations and combat sports internationally which claim to be “bare knuckle”, but require wraps, tape, and gauze; BKFC is true to its word as fighters are not allowed to wrap their hands to within one inch of the knuckle. This makes BKFC unquestionably the truest form of bare knuckle fighting. BKFC is dedicated to not just creating the safest, most exciting, and highest-level bare-knuckle fighting organization in the world, it’s also leading the way for a new fully recognized professional combat sport. BKFC is truly the sport of the future, which fully respects its remarkable past.
About DAZN
DAZN is the home of European football, women’s football, boxing and MMA, and the NFL (excl. USA). DAZN is building the ultimate sports entertainment platform, based on premium sports rights, world-leading tech, and multi-platform distribution. DAZN believes that fans from across the globe should be able to watch, read, bet, play, share, socialize, buy tickets and merchandise, all in one place, with one account, one wallet and on one app. For more information on DAZN, our products, people, and performance visit dazngroup.com
About the Sturgis Buffalo Chip
The Sturgis Buffalo Chip® is the award-winning leader in music and motorcycle lifestyle experiences. Hailed as The Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling® and The Best Party Anywhere®, it has been the epicenter of the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally since its establishment in 1981. Every August, the Buffalo Chip brings together the world’s largest gathering of music and motorcycle fans, with visitors from all 50 states and over 20 countries. It remains one of the world’s most televised and longest-running independent music festivals. The Chip advances the Sturgis Rally by being home to the Sturgis Rally Information Center™ and the official sponsor of the Sturgis.com Official Sturgis Rally Registration
