BKFC unveils Ice Wars, new on-ice league for 'legal, sanctioned and regulated hockey fights'
BKFC is about to make hockey's favorite minigame its own league. (Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
(Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BKFC is moving from the ring to the ice with its latest venture.
The leader in bare-knuckle boxing announced Wednesday that it has acquired a stake in on-ice fight league Ice Wars, to create BKFC Ice Wars — touted Wednesday as a combat sports promotion specializing in "legal, sanctioned and regulated hockey fights."
And yes, it's exactly how it sounds: Combat on ice, as you'll often see in the middle of a hockey game.
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Ice Wars founder Charlie Nama is set to helm the project as CEO, with the first event titled "Battle of the Borders," pitting Americans vs. Canadians on June 14 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Both Nama and BKFC founder David Feldman released the following statements Wednesday via press release.
Feldman: "We've been watching what the team at Ice Wars has been building, and it's been incredible to see the passionate response they've received from audiences. Their vision and energy align perfectly with what we do at BKFC — bringing raw, high-adrenaline combat sports to fans in a way they've never seen before. Partnering with them to create BKFC Ice Wars was an easy decision, and we're excited to take this to the next level together."
Nama: "Partnering with BKFC is a game-changer for Ice Wars. BKFC's backing gives us the platform and resources to bring our sport to the world stage, creating a new frontier in combat sports. This isn't just a partnership — it's the fusion of two high-energy, no-holds-barred fight disciplines into one powerhouse league. Our first event is just the beginning, and we're building something that will redefine international prizefighting competition and entertainment."
BKFC Ice Wars won't be as simple as, "Go out and fight on the ice." The new fight league will have its own set of rules, starting with bouts that consist of three or five 90-second rounds with one-minute breaks between them. Two referees will oversee the action with three rink-side judges scoring the fights as a whole, not round-by-round. Fighters will wear traditional hockey gear and four-ounce MMA gloves.
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Weight classes and the official scoring criteria can be seen below.
Scoring criteria - Judges shall evaluate the bout based on effective striking (Plan A), effective aggressiveness (Plan B), and control of the fighting area (Plan C). Plans B and C are only taken into consideration if Plan A is weighed as being even. Effective striking is judged by determining the impact/effect of legal strikes landed by a fighter solely based on the results of such legal strikes. Effective aggressiveness means aggressively making attempts to finish the fight. Fighting area control is assessed by determining who is dictating the pace, place and position of the bout.
Weight Classes -
Heavyweight (over 200 lbs.)
Cruiserweight (175 to 200 lbs.)
Middleweight (150 to 175 lbs.)
Lightweight (under 150 lbs.)
The first BKFC Ice Wars event is expected to be a 12-fight card. Instead of a traditional hockey ice rink, fights will occur in 'The Ice Box,' a 900-square-foot ice enclosure designed specifically for ice fighting.
The sequel event is already planned for later the same month, on June 28, in Enoch, Alberta, Canada.
BKFC Ice Wars is targeting at least four more events to finish out 2025 afterward.
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