Tag: Joshuah Alvarez

BKFC: KnuckleMania 2 faceoff highlights: Chad Mendes looks shredded ahead of return

Check out the video highlights from the BKFC: KnuckleMania 2 weigh-ins and faceoffs from Hollywood, Fla.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship is set to roll on Saturday after all fighters hit the scales for KnuckleMania 2.

After stepping on the scale, the fighters faced off with their opponent one final time before they step inside the ring on Saturday evening.

The event features two title fights and is headlined by [autotag]Luis Palomino[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Martin Brown[/autotag] for the lightweight championship. The co-main event will see UFC veteran [autotag]Mike Perry[/autotag] compete in bare-knuckle competition for the first time as he takes on TUF veteran [autotag]Julian Lane[/autotag]. Also, the first women’s BKFC champion will be crowned as [autotag]Britain Beltran[/autotag] faces [autotag]Christine Ferea[/autotag] for the inaugural flyweight title.

In addition, former UFC title challenger [autotag]Chad Mendes[/autotag] makes his long-awaited return to combat sports in his first bout since 2018, as he will face Joshuah “Famez” Alvarez on the main card.

The event takes place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The main card airs live on the BKTV App at 8 p.m. ET following prelims at 6:30 p.m.

Check out the highlights in the video above.

The full lineup of BKFC: KnuckleMania 2 includes:

  • Champion Luis Palomino vs. Martin Brown – for lightweight title
  • Mike Perry vs. Julian Lane
  • Joshuah Alvarez vs. Chad Mendes
  • Britain Beltran vs. Christine Ferea – for inaugural women’s flyweight title
  • Stephen Townsel vs. Gustavo Trujillo
  • Jade Masson-Wong vs. Christine Vicens
  • Jake Bostwich vs. Francesco Ricchi
  • Sawyer Depee vs. Ulysses Diaz
  • Chevvy Bridges vs. Edgard Plazaola
  • John Escoboza vs. Zion Tomlinson
  • Yosdenis Cedeno vs. Mario Vargas
  • Howard Davis vs. Dillard Pegg

[vertical-gallery id=586689]

[vertical-gallery id=333393]

[pickup_prop id=”18790″]

Chad Mendes to debut at BKFC on Feb. 19 in Florida

Three-time UFC title challenger Chad Mendes has a date for his bare-knuckle boxing debut.

Three-time UFC title challenger [autotag]Chad Mendes[/autotag] has a date for his bare-knuckle boxing debut.

Mendes recently revealed he’s planning on making his BKFC debut on Feb. 19 (via Instagram).

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYkzo8KLjef/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

MMA Junkie learned from a person with knowledge of the booking that Mendes is expected to face [autotag]Joshuah Alvarez[/autotag] in a 155-pound bout at the event, which is expected to take place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

That person requested anonymity because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Promotion officials declined to comment when contacted by MMA Junkie.

A longtime member of Team Alpha Male, the 36-year-old Mendes (18-5 MMA) fought 14 times for the UFC between 2011 and 2018 following a four-fight stint in the WEC. Mendes fought twice for the UFC’s featherweight title and lost both times to future UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo – first in 2012, and then again in 2014 in that year’s MMA Junkie “Fight of the Year” in an epic five-round clash at UFC 179 in Brazil.

He would receive one more shot at a UFC title in 2015, stepping in on short notice to face Conor McGregor for an interim belt at UFC 189. Despite some early success in the contest, Mendes would ultimately suffer a second-round TKO loss.

Mendes retired from MMA following a 2018 “Fight of the Night” loss to current UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volanovski, though he has indicated a return to the octagon is possible.

Meanwhile, Alvarez has competed twice under the BKFC banner, most recently suffering a decision loss to Arthur Walcott-Ceesay in November. Alvarez made his BKFC debut this past June picking up a knockout win over Paul Teague.

[vertical-gallery id=374842]