Jeremy Stephens defeated Eddie Alvarez via third-round TKO in the main event of BKFC: KnuckleMania 5 on Saturday night, marking another highlight in Stephens’ career. Moments later, Conor McGregor, present as a part-owner of BKFC, reignited their decade-long rivalry by challenging Stephens to a fight.
The event, held at the Wells Fargo Center, set a record for combat sports attendance at the venue, with over 17,000 fans in attendance.
Stephens overcomes Alvarez in brutal showdown
Stephens, with his bare-knuckle boxing experience, took control against Alvarez, a former UFC and Bellator lightweight champion. The fighters traded heavy blows early, but in the third round, Stephens delivered a devastating overhand right, flooring Alvarez.
Alvarez’s coach, Mark Henry, eventually threw in the towel, ending the fight at the three-minute mark. The defeat could potentially signal the end of Alvarez’s storied combat sports career.
McGregor challenges Stephens
As Stephens addressed the crowd post-fight, McGregor entered the ring, repeating his infamous “Who the f*** is that guy?” line from their 2015 UFC press conference encounter. The Irishman then challenged Stephens, saying, “Let’s make a date. No one’s going to stop me, man to man. Let’s do it.”
The proposed fight would settle nearly a decade of animosity between the two fighters, stemming from their memorable verbal clash during McGregor’s promotional event for his fight against Jose Aldo.
After the fight, Stephens talked about facing-off with 'Cocaine Conor.'
KnuckleMania 5 highlights
The card also featured several notable performances, including Ben Rothwell’s first-round knockout victory over Mick Terrill to claim the BKFC heavyweight title. Bec Rawlings earned a unanimous decision over Taylor Starling, while Pat Brady and John Garbarino scored first-round stoppages.
Main Card Results:
- Jeremy Stephens def. Eddie Alvarez via TKO (corner stoppage) – Round 3, 3:00
- Ben Rothwell def. Mick Terrill via KO – Round 1, 0:36 (heavyweight title)
- Bec Rawlings def. Taylor Starling via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-44, 50-45)
The event delivered action-packed fights and dramatic moments, including McGregor’s unexpected challenge, ensuring the night will be remembered as a landmark in BKFC history.
Up next
David Feldman, BKFC's CEO, claimed in the post-fight press conference that McGregor had asked him to make the Jeremy Stephens fight.
With McGregor’s challenge issued and Stephens riding high after his victory, the stage is set for what could be one of BKFC’s most significant bouts. Meanwhile, the promotion continues its rise as a major force in combat sports.
1737796524-0/Untitled-design-(32)1737796524-0-270x192.webp "it s official kubra khan and gohar rasheed are getting married")
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ