Arlovski Claims BKFC Gold as KnuckleMania VI Rocks Philadelphia

KnuckleMania VI took place on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with the action getting underway around 7 p.m. ET. The event was one of BKFC’s biggest shows of the year, mixing former UFC names with experienced bare-knuckle veterans and regional standouts. Philadelphia showed up in force, creating a loud, rowdy atmosphere that matched the intensity inside the ring from the opening bout onward.

The main event featured former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei “Pitbull” Arlovski challenging Ben Rothwell for the BKFC heavyweight title. Arlovski controlled much of the fight with cleaner punches and steady pressure, opening up cuts and swelling early. By the third round, the damage had become severe, and the ringside doctor stepped in at 1:14 of Round 3 to stop the fight, crowning Arlovski the new BKFC heavyweight champion in a gritty, hard-earned victory.

In the co-main event, BKFC light heavyweight champion Lorenzo Hunt faced middleweight champion David Mundell in a high-profile matchup following a late change to the original booking. Hunt leaned on his power and experience as the fight wore on, eventually scoring a fourth-round knockout to seal a dominant performance. Elsewhere on the card, Johnny Garbarino energized the hometown crowd with a late fifth-round stoppage of Kaine Tomlinson Jr., while Charles “Felony” Bennett delivered one of the wildest moments of the night by stopping Pat Sullivan in the second round after knocking him through the ropes.

One of the most emotional moments of the night came when local favorite Patrick Brady announced that KnuckleMania VI would be the final fight of his career. Brady made his walk to the ring alongside comedian Shane Gillis, which immediately fired up the Philadelphia crowd and added to the moment. After earning a hard-fought decision victory, Brady took the microphone to thank his family, his team, and the fans before officially hanging up the gloves, drawing a long ovation from the hometown crowd.

The rest of the card featured a mix of fast finishes and tough decisions. Zedekiah Montanez picked up a second-round knockout over Brandon Meyer, while decision wins went to Ben Bonner, Jade Masson-Wong, and Mike Richman in competitive, hard-fought bouts. On the preliminary card, Lex Ludlow, Prince Nyseam, and Joshua Oxendine each earned unanimous decision victories. From start to finish, KnuckleMania VI delivered the violence, drama, and atmosphere fans have come to expect from BKFC’s marquee event.