Former UFC heavyweight title contenders Antonio Silva and Gabriel Gonzaga will headline Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 8.
The event takes place Saturday, October 19 from the Florida State Fairgrounds Entertainment Hall in Tampa, Florida. The card will air live on pay-per-view beginning at 9 p.m. ET and will also be available through FITE.
“I am very excited to have these two legends competing in the BKFC squared circle,” said BKFC Founder and President David Feldman. “They have fought and beat some of the best fighters in the world and now they will fight each other. Tampa is a great fight market and we are thrilled to be able to host another event there. The fans in Tampa love BKFC and we plan on giving them another great show.”
Antonio Silva, Gabriel Gonzaga Bring Big-Time Wins To Ring
Silva, nicknamed “Bigfoot,” won 19 mixed martial arts bouts including victories over Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, Travis Browne and Ricco Rodriguez. He held titles in EliteXC, Cage Rage and Cage Warriors. Related: Antonio Silva Signs With Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
“It’s a great honor for me to fight for a great new company like BKFC,” said Silva. “They are doing everything right and this is a great opportunity for me to showcase my boxing. Fighting with bare knuckles is where it all started for me. I will be ready for Gonzaga, so he better be ready for me. I’m fighting for my children and nothing will stop me.”
Gonzaga went 17-12 in MMA and earned a shot at then-UFC champion Randy Couture. He has also faced off against current UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, Junior dos Santos and Fabricio Werdum.
“I have fought everywhere in the world, in the biggest organizations, and bare knuckle is exciting, pure and it’s where it all started,” said Gonzaga. “I am excited to have the second half of my career fighting for BKFC. I have no doubt I made a great choice and BKFC will be one of the biggest promotions in the world. I can’t wait to fight ‘Bigfoot’ Silva. He is a great fighter, but I am coming ready to win.”
This marks the second marquee main event that Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship has brought to Florida in two appearances this year, as BKFC was headlined by Artem Lobov topping former boxing world champion Paulie Malignaggi back in June. Related: Bare Knuckle FC 6 Results: Artem Lobov Tops Paulie Malignaggi
Related: BKFC 7 Results: Jim Alers Knocks Out Leonard Garcia In Main Event