BKFC is bringing the violence to Prudential Center.
Former UFC standouts and current undefeated bareknuckle stars Mike Perry and Jeremy Stephens will throw down at BKFC 82 on Oct. 4 in Newark, N.J. BKFC president David Feldman announced the news Wednesday on “The Ariel Helwani Show.”
The fight will be for the BKFC King of Violence title, and will be contested at 175 pounds.
Perry (5-0) takes the gloves off once again and competes for the first time since his (traditional) boxing loss to Jake Paul in July 2024. The loss was his first combat sports defeat since his last UFC fight in 2021. Perry has become one of bareknuckle’s biggest stars over the past few years, piling up wins over Julian Lane, Michael Page, Luke Rockhold, Eddie Alvarez, and Thiago Alves.
Stephens (3-0) returns to bareknuckle following a one-fight return stint in the UFC. The promotion brought Stephens back, in a rare move, to fight in front of his home state crowd in Des Moines in May. Stephens lost a back-and-forth battle against Mason Jones. The bout was his first in MMA since 2022 and his first in the UFC since 2021. To date, Stephens has bareknuckle wins over Jimmie Rivera, Bobby Talyor, and Eddie Alvarez.
In addition, the promotion will be introducing a Queen of Violence title.
Women’s divisional titleholders Christine Ferea and Jessica Borga will clash in the inaugural bout. Ferea (10-1) is the current women’s flyweight champion, coming off a fourth-round stoppage of Christine Vicens in December. Borga (3-0) is the current women’s featherweight champion. She has won all three of her bareknuckle bouts by stoppage in the first round.
The current BKFC 82 lineup includes:
- Mike Perry vs. Jeremy Stephens – for King of Violence title
- Jessica Borga vs. Christine Ferea – for Queen of Violence title
- Jamel Herring vs. opponent TBA
