As Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) prepares to return to Albuquerque for the eighth time, the promotion’s president says the city’s passion for the sport keeps the Land of Enchantment on BKFC’s national and global tour.
“They love fighting out here,” BKFC President David Feldman said in a recent interview on ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM’s“TEAM Talk” Radio Show. “What I notice a lot about Albuquerque is, when I’m walking through the crowd, a lot of times the fans say, ‘Thank you for bringing this here.’ You’re giving the Albuquerque fans and fighters a chance at something new”.
BKFC 75 will take place Saturday, June 7, at Tingley Coliseum, headlined by a 175-pound championship bout between Albuquerque’s Donald Sanchez (4-1) and reigning world champion David Mundell (9-1).
Feldman called it an “intriguing matchup,” noting that Sanchez requested this fight specifically to challenge himself against one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters.
“These guys don’t know how to back up,” Feldman said. “They come forward, throw heavy shots, and go for the knockout. That’s what you’re going to get next Friday night”.
Feldman praised the city’s fight culture, noting its boxing history and modern MMA pedigree through gyms like Jackson-Wink Academy. BKFC will host an open media workout at Jackson-Wink on Wednesday, June 4, at 5 p.m. Fans will also have access to public weigh-ins at Tingley Coliseum on Thursday, June 5, at 6 p.m. — events Feldman described as a key part of BKFC’s mission to “bring this sport to the people”.
The BKFC 75 card will also feature Albuquerque-based Russian fighter Marat Kumatat (2-0) in the co-main event, and a featured women’s bout between Jenny Savage and Crystal Van Wyk.
Now in its seventh year, BKFC has rapidly expanded both in the U.S. and internationally. Feldman cited recent sellouts in Philadelphia and upcoming shows in Italy and Australia. But he emphasized Albuquerque remains a special market — one BKFC plans to prioritize in the years ahead.
“We’ve been in business a little over six years. We started coming to Albuquerque in late 2019,” Feldman said. “In the past five years, this will be our eighth visit — and we plan next year on being out there two to three times a year”.
“Albuquerque has the fight fans, has the fighters — it’s a great fight market for us.”
Tickets for BKFC 75 are available at BKFC.com.
Editor’s Note: This article is based on an interview that originally aired on TEAM Talk with hosts Joe O’Neill and Adam Diehl on ESPN Radio 101.7 The Team. The interview took place on May 30, 2025, and featured BKFC President David Feldman discussing the upcoming BKFC 75 event in Albuquerque.
