BKFSea: BKFC Announces 2027 Combat Cruise

In 2027, the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is set to take its brand of combat sports to the seas with the announcement of the BKFSea Bruise Cruise.

Following in the footsteps of successful niche voyages like Chris Jericho’s wrestling cruises, this three-day event will involve a sail from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas. While exact details are still emerging, the event is expected to feature a full BKFC fight card held on the ship or at a private island destination. The event is expected to take place from January 22-25. The move marks a bold expansion for the promotion, which has seen explosive growth in 2025 and 2026. Fans can expect a mix of live bare-knuckle bouts, fighter meet-and-greets, and specialized fan experiences.

The Implications

The primary advantage of a niche cruise is a new audience. Unlike a standard arena event where fans see fighters from a distance for a few hours, a cruise creates a three-day captive environment. A fan might be eating at the buffet next to a champion fighter.

The BKFC is moving beyond gate receipts and pay-per-view (PPV) buys. By selling tiered cabins, the promotion is selling a high-ticket hospitality package. A “VIP Platinum” cabin might include front-row seats to the fight card, a private dinner with BFC President David Feldman, and limited-edition memorabilia. This allows the promotion to capture a massive amount of revenue from a smaller, wealthier subset of their audience.

However, there could be some drawbacks. Combat sports fans and cruise ship demographics don’t always overlap perfectly in terms of behavior. If a physical altercation breaks out among fans (or between fans and fighters) in the middle of the ocean, the promotion is liable for injuries that can be incredibly complex and expensive to navigate.

Producing a professional fight card requires massive infrastructure: a ring, lighting rigs, broadcasting equipment, and medical facilities. Doing this on a ship or a remote island introduces more points of failure. If the ship encounters technical issues, the live broadcast could be cut off.