On May 11, 2024 Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC 61) will make its New England debut.  The growing sport of bare knuckle boxing is set to ignite the Mohegan Sun arena in Uncasville, Connecticut with a full card of professional bare knuckle violence.  Topping the fight card as the featured main event will be an explosive women’s matchup for the QUEEN of VIOLENCE Championship Title Belt between boxing legend Heather “The Heat” Hardy and Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship superstar Christine “Misfit” Ferea.

QUEEN MMA Media

CHRISTINE FEREA READY TO PROVE TO THE WORLD SHE IS NUMBER ONE IN WOMEN’S COMBAT SPORTS

“Can’t wait.  Training hard to put on a spectacular show!” – Christine “Misfit” Ferea

CHRISTINE “Misfit” FEREA
Christine Ferea fights out of Las Vegas, Nevada and began an amateur mixed martial arts career in April of 2012. She generated a stout (3 – 1) record as an amateur.  She made her professional MMA debut under the prestigious all women’s promotional banner of Invicta FC back in January of 2017. Ferea delivered a violent ground and pound first round finish against Rachael Ostovich to gain a dominating MMA debut victory.  She went on to produce a (1 – 2) pro record inside the MMA cage against heavy competition that included Muay Thai – Kickboxing juggernaut Tiffany “Timebomb” Van Soest before making her cross over to bare knuckle.  It was in the sport of bare knuckle boxing Ferea began to shine.  She is a true fighter who trains hard and comes to win.  She is a fighter who always brings an aggressive offense and Bare Knuckle Boxing swiftly became her flavor of choice.   

Christine made her transition to bare knuckle boxing in October of 2018 when she debuted against a tough Jennifer Tate at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 3.  Ferea exploded onto the bare knuckle world with a big first round TKO stoppage against Jennifer Tate.  It was at that moment many eyebrows were raised and the fans of the growing sport of bare knuckle realized she had what it takes. Six months later Ferea was scheduled to face Britain Hart for the BKFC 126 LBS Championship Title at BKFC 5 in Biloxi, Mississippi.   Ferea defeated Hart in the 2^nd round due to a doctor stoppage to become the BKFC 126 pound female champion.  Just four months after gaining the BKFC 126 lbs women’s title Ferea was scheduled to defend it against a fierce Helen Peralta at BKFC 7. The Ferea versus Peralta championship fight became one of the most exciting and popular bare knuckle matchups BKFC had ever generated.  It was a fight that brought the fans to their feet.  It was a fight bare knuckle fans would not forget.  To this day the bout is considered by many bare knuckle fans to be one of BKFC’s all time best.  It was a hard fought battle but in the end Ferea came up short via unanimous decision. Setbacks do not seem to discourage Ferea, nor do they seem to slow her down.  A rematch was set for March of 2020 against the newly crowned champion Peralta.  It was a rematch the bare knuckle fans wanted badly.  It was a rematch that had to happen.  Yet despite fan disappointment the bout never came to fruition due to the panic of the coronavirus pandemic, Helen Peralta vacating the title and not securing a contract agreement with BKFC. 

In September of 2020 at BKFC 12 in Daytona Beach, Florida Ferea bounced back with authority stopping a seasoned combat sports warrior in Calie Cutler by way of a brutal TKO in the second round. In October of 2021 Ferea finished accomplished boxer Calista Silgado at BKFC Fight Night in Billings, Montana via third round TKO. In February of 2022 at BKFC Knuckle Mania 2 Ferea collided with Britain Hart for the vacant 126 pound championship title.  It would be the second time Ferea and Hart would meet inside the squared circle.  Ferea fought her way to a solid unanimous decision victory and was crowned the BKFC 126 pound women’s champion.  Six months later in August of 2022 the new champion made her first title defense at BKFC 28.  The opponent was an undefeated popular up and coming Taylor Starling.  It was there under the bright lights of the Rio Rancho Event Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico Christine Ferea solidified her persona as the most dominating female combatant in the sport of bare knuckle.  Ferea humbled and crushed the challenger Starling via TKO and verbal submission less then 40 seconds into the first round.  Few if any could dispute Ferea’s increasing dominance.

In April of 2023 Ferea was scheduled to defend her championship title against Rowdy Bec Rawlings.  A matchup many fans had been hoping to see.  Rawlings had already established herself as one of the more formidable women bare knucklers. Bec Rawlings was an MMA UFC veteran and a highly recognized name in the combat sports community.  She had captured the BKFC 122 pound championship belt in February of 2019 before relinquishing the title to make the shift back to pro MMA.  In April of 2023 Rawlings made her return back to BKFC and was set to challenge Christine Ferea for the 125 pound BKFC championship.  Rawlings was (3 – 1) as a bare knuckle boxer heading into the bout.  She had proven her worth as a notable contender for the title.  The Ferea – Rawlings bout was set to take place at BKFC 41.  It was a competitive bout early however Ferea turned up the fire and eventually closed the show via doctor stoppage in round two.  The victory over Rawlings sent a loud message to any who considered doubting Ferea’s reign as BKFC champion.  Bec Rawlings would make another challenge for the title in December of 2023 at BKFC 56.  Ferea refused to be dethroned in the rematch, delivering a convincing unanimous decision win over Rawlings to retain the title.

On May 11, 2024 BKFC champion Christine “Misfit” Ferea will collide with Heather “The Heat” Hardy for what BKFC has labeled the ‘Queen of Violence’ title.  A belt drafted by BKFC for what many have concluded to be the result of Hardy not being able to agree to a 125 pound BKFC title fight.  The “Queen of Violence” title bout will be set at 130 lbs. None the less the May 11^th headline fight is almost guaranteed to electrify the crowd. Many believe if Ferea can defeat Hardy there very well may be a possible Cris Cyborg fight on the horizon.  Rumor or no rumor a Ferea – Cyborg bare knuckle bout would surely gain the attention of the entire combat sports world.  The question may remain – is Cyborg up for the challenge?  Or will she simply avoid the showdown? Christine “Misfit” Ferea has evolved over the years to become an extremely dominating competitor.  Her combat sports career continues to become more and more impressive with every bout and her development into perhaps the best female to ever throw bare knuckles is as real as steel. With an (8 – 1) record in bare knuckle boxing Christine Ferea has reigned over the women’s BKFC roster like a true queen and on May 11^th under the spotlight of BKFC 61 she will take the stage as the main event. It will be her time to prove beyond all doubt she is the most feared, most respected, and most dominating woman in the world of bare knuckle and perhaps all of female combat sports.  We have already witnessed that most all female warriors do not want any of Ferea’s smoke.  Very few if any seem willing to step up and contest Ferea’s greatness.

DECORATED BOXER HEATHER “The Heat” HARDY READY TO MAKE BARE KNUCKLE DEBUT AT BKFC 61
HEATHER “The Heat” HARDY

Heather Hardy is well known in the boxing world.  She fights and trains out of Brooklyn, NY and began boxing as a professional back in 2010. She produced an outstanding (24 – 3) record inside the pro boxing ring and held the WBO featherweight title from 2018-2019.  Hardy quickly became known for her incredible tenacity and her iron determination.  She is as tough as they come.  In June of 2017 Hardy shifted her combat sports ventures from boxing over to mixed martial arts.  She delivered a big win with a third round TKO against Alice Yauger at Bellator 180 in her MMA debut before a massive crowd at Madison Square Garden in New York.  Hardy generated a respectable (2 – 2) record inside the MMA cage between 2017 and 2019.  During those years she also continued with her boxing career inside the ring.  Heather “The Heat” Hardy has an impressive combat sports resume.  Her boxing accolades are numerous and include; winning the UBF International Super Bantamweight title, wining the WBC International Super Bantamweight title, winning the NABF featherweight title, and winning the WBO featherweight title.  To many within the sports world Heather “The Heat” Hardy is considered epic among female boxers.   

Fight fans are curious if Hardy will be able to handle the combat sports monster known as bare knuckle.  Some wonder if she will be able to endure the bloody cut producing fray of the sport.  Others question if she will be able to withstand the fury of BKFC’s G.O.A.T., Christine Ferea. A win for Ferea will cement her as perhaps one of the top female combat sports athletes to ever grace the standup fight game.  A win for Hardy would rock the BKFC community and remind the fight fans that she is truly a legend. Will Ferea destroy another opponent on May 11th or will Hardy pull off an enormous upset?

QUEEN MMA Media Combat Sports journalist-reporter Tommy Vickers caught up with Christine “Misfit” Ferea to ask a few questions leading into the upcoming May 11, 2024 BKFC 61 main event.

QUEEN MMA Media (Tommy V) – “How do you rate Heather Hardy as a challenger inside the squared circle, when compared to your past BKFC opponents?  Such as Bec Rawlings, Brit Hart, and others?”

CHRISTINE FEREA – “I believe they all bring their unique challenges to a fight. I can’t compare them this is a whole different game. My past opponent Hart is a world champion after I beat her in another weight class. Bec Rawlings is on a rough patch right now in her career. This sport is so new. Calista Silgado was one my past opponents I finished and Hardy took to a decision. Sooo, apples to oranges at this point. Everyone is tough here. Anyone can get clipped here. I admire her accolades and love the level of competition she brings and I’m ready for a war. I know she will be tough to put down!”

QUEEN MMA Media (Tommy V) – “Hardy is no doubt a heavily experienced boxer however it is my understanding that Hardy has never competed in bare knuckle.  Do you think she will be ready for introduction to the sport or do you feel it may be a little more than she is prepared for? “

CHRISTINE FEREA – “I believe Heather is smart, she’s an Aquarius (Wink). She has things up her sleeve and is doing her research! I expect her to be ready and informed. I believe she’s a true fighter, and to go back to question one, not all I have fought were all in. I believe she’s fighting for a purpose and when someone fights for something they are very dangerous! She’s a warrior she will be ready!”

QUEEN MMA Media (Tommy V) – “Hardy is a well known and well accomplished boxer.  Her skills are legit.  Do you feel she will be able to match your hand speed and BKFC experience?”

CHRISTINE FEREA – “Nobody on this planet is ready for what I bring on any level in any way.”

QUEEN MMA Media (Tommy V) – “As you are aware I have followed your BKFC career from its start.  I will say you continue to impress fight fans with every fight.  You continue to get better and better.  You have proven yourself to be the most dominating women’s bare knuckle boxer in BKFC.  Let us say you beat Hardy on May 11^th at Mohegan Sun, what is next for the champ?  A Jade Masson Wong perhaps?  Is there a Cris Cyborg on the horizon?”

CHRISTINE FEREA – “I will be ready for whoever they put in front of me. I have called out Chris Cyborg she declined. I have told Jade Wong to fight for about a year she has declined. I’m waiting for these girls to step up and prove themselves to the best in the world. Or they can go back to only fans. Fights are here to be made so hopefully the girls just want to do their job. I’m a fighter and I want tough opponents with a following and accomplishments that work hard in this sport.”

QUEEN MMA Media (Tommy V) – “How do you see this fight ending?”

CHRISTINE FEREA – “Right hand left hook – zzzzzzzzzzzz third round”

For more information – www.bkfc.com

QUEEN MMA Media – By: Combat Sports Journalist-Reporter Tommy Vickers