How to bet on Bare Knuckle Boxing - BKFC Betting Guide
How to bet on bare knuckle boxing (BKFC) on Stake Sportsbook
The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is one of the fastest-growing organisations in the combat sports industry thanks to its unique rules and exciting fights. Its unique rules create exciting fights and different betting opportunities from traditional boxing and MMA.
At Stake, we offer betting odds on all the biggest combat sports events, including boxing, MMA and bare-knuckle boxing. This guide explains how BKFC betting works, the main betting markets, and what to keep in mind before placing a bet at Stake Sportsbook.
What is bare knuckle boxing?
Bare-knuckle boxing, also known as bare-knuckle fighting, is a full-contact combat sport where fighters box without any form of padding on their hands. Instead of gloves, fighters are allowed to wrap and tape the wrist, thumb and mid-hand. However, no gauze or tape can be within 1 inch of the knuckles.
Like other combat sports, opponents compete within weight classes, taking on fighters of a similar weight. They fight within a squared circle, with a referee to adjudicate the action, prevent illegal strikes, and protect the fighters' safety.
Fights in BKFC are typically scheduled for five rounds, with each round lasting 2 minutes. Unlike traditional boxing and MMA, the two fighters start the fight “toeing the scratch line”, ensuring the fight begins with action.
To win a bout, fighters can knock out their opponent (KO) or force the referee to step in and declare a technical knockout (TKO). If a stoppage isn’t declared, the winner is decided by the 3 judges, who use the 10-point must system to award the winner of each round. The judges assess damage, aggression, defence and ring control.
While the sport is similar to boxing, except for the use of gloves, bare-knuckle boxing also allows clinch fighting, with opponents allowed to clinch with one hand and punch with the other. The rules and regulations state that clinches should only be broken up in the event of excessive holding or stalling.
These rule differences also affect betting because BKFC fights are shorter and gloves are not being used; stoppages and cuts are more common. So markets such as method of victory and total rounds often require different analysis than traditional boxing.
Bare knuckle boxing betting markets explained
Stake offers a variety of pre-match and live betting markets on every event. Popular BKFC betting markets include:
Fight winner (moneyline bets) - this market simply lets you choose which fighter you think will win, regardless of how it happens.
Method of victory - You can also bet on how the fighter will win, choosing a KO/TKO, doctor stoppage or decision.
Round betting and total rounds - The round betting market lets you bet which round you think the fight will end. Meanwhile, the total rounds lets you bet on the over/under line for the total number of rounds in the fight. For example, if you think the fight will end early, you’d pick the under line.
Prop bets and same game multis - Some fights also offer prop bets such as whether or not the fight will go the distance. You can also create same game multis on some bare knuckle boxing fights, combining multiple bets into one.
How to bet on BKFC on Stake
If you’re new to betting, you can read our ultimate guide to sports betting. It’s also important to understand how bare-knuckle odds work. We have a guide to reading odds, and you’ll be able to switch between odds formats at Stake.
To read bare knuckle fighting odds and calculate your potential winnings, you first need to consider the format. With decimal odds, all you need to do is multiply the odds by your stake to work out how much you’ll receive as a payout from a successful bet. For example, if you bet $100 on odds of 1.50, you’ll receive $150 from winning, which is your initial stake plus $50 profit.
If you’re calculating your winnings from fractional betting odds, you need to multiply the numerator of the fraction (the top number) by your stake before dividing by the denominator (the bottom number). So if you bet $100 on odds of 4/5, you’ll win $80 in profit.
With American odds, it’s a little different. Pay attention to whether the odds have a plus (+) or minus (-) sign in front of them. For odds with a plus sign, the number tells you how much profit you’d win from a $100 bet. Meanwhile, odds with a minus sign show you how much you’d need to bet to win $100 in profit.
BKFC betting tips and predictions
Look at experience in bare knuckle boxing over other combat sports - Many fighters entering the squared circle to compete in bare knuckle boxing have crossed over from MMA or boxing. While that gives them skills, they may not have the durability to compete in bare knuckle boxing. Look at bare knuckle experience and durability over other factors.
Consider the inside fighting and clinch game - The clinch is a huge part of bare knuckle boxing, where fighters can grab hold of their opponent and land hard punches. Fighters transitioning from MMA or Muay Thai may have an advantage over conventional boxers, and those who are good at inside fighting typically perform the best in bare knuckle.
Pay attention to scar tissue and cut susceptibility - Bare knuckle fights often end in facial cuts and injuries, and fighters with a lot of facial scar tissue will be more susceptible to being cut. A bad cut can lead to a doctor’s stoppage, so be wary of this when making your best bets.
Pick the fast starters - BKFC fights start on the scratch line, meaning fighters are within punching distance. This gives an advantage to fighters who start quickly. As a result, there’s rarely a slow, feeling-out round, and the action begins immediately.
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