The sport of bare-knuckle fighting is one with ancient roots, but it was only since 2018, when the BKFC launched, that it has become relevant in its current form. BKFC has slowly been building up its promotion by welcoming veterans with various skillsets from different combat sports such as MMA, kickboxing, and Muay Thai. One such fighter is Kai Stewart, a young featherweight who fell in love with the bare-knuckle fighting style after taking part in three consecutive matches.

Stewart’s previous background in wrestling, starting from the age of 4 and continuing to collegiate level, led him to pursue a career in MMA before eventually transitioning to bare-knuckle fighting. He was a ticket seller for BKFC in Montana when he received an unexpected proposal from the matchmaker who needed a fighter for an upcoming event.

Stewart discussed this with his coaches and girlfriend before taking the leap, having a good time in his first fight and subsequently choosing to compete under the BKFC banner. What makes Stewart different from the other seasoned fighters on the BKFC roster is that he is still starting out his combat sports career, having only one win in professional MMA and extensive amateur experience. Despite his background in grappling,

Stewart fell in love with the bare-knuckle style and decided to make BKFC his home. He views this as his first option to succeed in the sport, which puts him apart from other veterans who see this as their last chance to make it big. On Friday, Stewart will face Louie Lopez, his opponent for the BKFC featherweight championship.

While being a young fighter, Stewart’s willingness to learn and improve makes him a formidable opponent in the future. He acknowledges his growth in the sport since entering bare-knuckle fighting, with his age being an advantage as he has more time to develop his skills.

While he may consider competing in other combat sports in the future, Stewart is currently focused on his BKFC career. Being a wrestler has instilled in him the hard work, toughness, and grit required to succeed in bare-knuckle fighting. He feels that he has found his home in BKFC and is motivated to be successful in it.