BKFC 61 Connecticut: Rivera vs. Straus is an upcoming bare-knuckle fighting event to held by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship on May 11, 2024, at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, United States.
Fight Card
Main Card
Featherweight 66 kg United States Jimmie Rivera vs. United States Daniel Straus
Bantamweight 61 kg United States Ryan Reber vs. United States Anthony Foyer
Women's Strawweight 52 kg United States Sarah Click vs. United States Natalie Gage
Welterweight 75 kg United States Rick Hawn vs. United States Scott Lampert
Heavyweight 120 kg United States Robinson Perez vs. United States Matt Adams
Featherweight 66 kg United States Dylan Felion vs. United States Daniel Pettit
Heavyweight 120 kg United States Pat Brady vs. United States Christopher Gamby
Preliminary Card
Heavyweight 120 kg United States Zach Culmus vs. United States Connor McKenna
Heavyweight 120 kg United States Chris Sarro vs. United States Scott Roberts
Middleweight 79 kg United States Pat Casey vs. United States Sam Watford
Background
Former UFC fighter Jimmie Rivera is expected to take part in the main event against two-time Bellator Featherweight World Champion Daniel Straus.
The main event was scheduled to be a women's bantamweight bout with former WBO female featherweight boxing champion Heather Hardy in her debut taking on BKFC Women's Flyweight Champion Christine Ferea. However, due to an injury, the bout has been postponed. This pushed the Rivera vs. Straus bout to the main event.
Former UFC fighter Michael Trizano and former Bellator MMA fighter Derek Campos were set to face each other in their BKFC debuts. However, in early May 2024, the bout was removed due to unknown reasons.
Former Bellator MMA lightweight title contender Rick Hawn is expected to make his debut at this event as well. Former UFC fighter Louis Gaudinot was expected to face Sean Santella, but the bout was removed for unknown reasons on April 24, 2024.
Saturday’s must-see action features an exciting mix of world-class bare knuckle fighters and a number of hungry prospects from across New England.
BKFC 61 is loaded with can’t-miss fights, but none bigger than Jimmie “The Terror” Rivera versus Daniel Straus in Saturday’s Main Event. Fireworks are guaranteed – and major rankings implications are on the line – as these two long-time MMA fan-favorite fighters toe the line in the world-famous Squared Circle.
Also on Saturday, "Royal" Ryan Reber, the No. 1 contender in the stacked BKFC bantamweight division, looks to solidify the next shot at BKFC gold at 135 pounds as he takes on the fast-rising Quintan "The Hitman" Hoye.
BKFC 61 also features Boston’s own Zach "Shark Attack" Calmus going for his third straight stoppage victory against Connor "The Irish Warrior" McKenna in heavyweight action. Former Team USA Olympic judo player Rick "Genghis" Hawn makes his hotly anticipated BKFC debut against Scott "Scotty Bombs" Lampert in the welterweight division. Fan-favorite Chris "Golden Gloves" Sarro takes aim at his third BKFC victory against Scott Roberts.
