BKFC KnuckleMania VI Set for Saturday in Philadelphia

Heavyweight champion Ben Rothwell defends title against former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski in main event

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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BKFC KnuckleMania VI, the biggest bare-knuckle boxing event of the year, takes place this Saturday, February 7th at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The main event features heavyweight champion Ben Rothwell defending his title against former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski. The 13-fight card will be available to stream on DAZN, Fubo Sports, BKFC.com, and for free on the BKFC YouTube channel.

Why it matters

Bare-knuckle boxing has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, with BKFC leading the charge. KnuckleMania VI represents a major event for the promotion, headlined by two combat sports veterans in Rothwell and Arlovski battling for the heavyweight title. The free YouTube stream also makes the event more accessible to fans.

The details

In addition to the main event, the KnuckleMania VI card features nine other main card fights and three prelims. Notable matchups include a 199-pound catchweight bout between Lorenzo Hunt and David Mundell, as well as a lightweight fight between Ben Bonner and Tony Soto.

  • KnuckleMania VI takes place on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
  • The event starts at 7 p.m. ET.

The players

Ben Rothwell

The reigning BKFC heavyweight champion, Rothwell is a veteran of the UFC with 24 professional fights under his belt.

Andrei Arlovski

A former UFC heavyweight champion, Arlovski is making his BKFC debut after a long career in MMA.

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What they’re saying

“KnuckleMania VI is shaping up to be our biggest event yet. Fans are in for an incredible night of bare-knuckle action.”

— David Feldman, BKFC President (BKFC)

What’s next

The winner of the Rothwell vs. Arlovski main event will likely defend the BKFC heavyweight title in a future KnuckleMania event.

The takeaway

BKFC continues to grow its audience and establish bare-knuckle boxing as a legitimate combat sport, with KnuckleMania VI showcasing some of the best talent in the promotion against a backdrop of increased accessibility for fans through the free YouTube stream.