David Feldman didn't check his weather app. His team warned him not to until this week. But when the time came, he was pleased with what he saw.
Weather, in relation to combat sports, has been a hot topic in 2026. With the UFC setting up on the White House lawn in June (and miraculously avoiding any significant rain), Feldman is happy to have some of the same good luck rub off on BKFC. The promotion is set to host bareknuckle boxing fights at America's oldest active Major League Baseball stadium, Fenway Park in Boston.
"With it being fight week, we checked it, and it looks like we have a good amount of sun," Feldman told MMA Junkie this week. "It's really beautiful weather actually. It hits in the high 60s at fight time – so perfect, perfect weather for
us."
Fights have taken place on the grounds of Fenway. Local boxing promotions have held events inside the concourse and at the attached MGM Music Hall. BKFC 92, however, takes place right on the field. It will be the first bareknuckle boxing event ever sanctioned by the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission (MSAC).
"We were just knocking on the door to Massachusetts for a couple years now," Feldman said. "We finally got the opportunity to do it. I forget who it was, but we were talking to someone, and they introduced us to Fenway. They were talking about doing a fight on the concourse. I think a local boxing promotion does a pretty good job out there. But I was like, 'Man, we can't do a concourse. Not if we're going to a stadium. If we're going to a stadium, we need to do the field.'
"Really, they made it work fast for us. So really, it didn't take a lot of back and forth. They kind of had the same vision we had. But it was like, 'Man, we've got to do this field.' Understanding where it could be on the field like, 'You mean pitcher's mound and all these seats on the field?' No, that's not happening, but the squared circle will be on home plate. It will be an amazing, amazing scene there on Saturday night. We've got great, great fights. I hope the atmosphere is as good as I think it's going to be."
BKFC 92 at Fenway: 'No room for error'
Unlike concerts and other shows that try to sell full capacity at Fenway (36,000), Feldman decided gunning for a little less than half capacity of 15,000 made most sense – and allowed for a better viewing experience.
"The capacity was 12,000," Feldman said. "We moved it up to 15,000. We could move it up to 18,000, but I think the way it's pacing, we'll probably land at about the 15,000 mark."
Feldman had not been to Fenway prior to attending planning meetings and the pre-fight news conference in July. Walking the field and seeing the iconic venue firsthand, Feldman couldn't help but think the groundwork has been laid for one of the promotion's biggest events ever.
"It was crazy walking on the field and on the tracks," Feldman said. "It was like, 'Man, I'm at Fenway Park, man.' This one did it for me. We've done a lot of pretty big things in BKFC's history – a lot of bigger things than people thought we'd ever be able to do.' But when we stepped on the Fenway Park field, I was like, 'Man, this is unbelievable. Are you kidding me, man?' I talked to the team today, and I told them exactly what we needed. I said this is our biggest show we've ever done from a perception standpoint and a realistic standpoint. I said, 'Guys, no room for error at all, man. Everything has to be perfect.' It was great. It was great. I'm excited. I'm very, very excited about the show."
BKFC at Fenway: A regular thing?
Feldman revealed to MMA Junkie that the event might also not be a one-off. He said the relationship with Fenway falls more in the partnership category than a rental. If certain markers are hit, an BKFC event could take place there annually.
"The good thing is that Fenway Park is really excited about this relationship," Feldman said. "The real good thing about this is we're actually partnering with them. I pitched someone a partnership rather than just a rental. I said, 'Let's all go in on this.' So they went in on it with us. Obviously if it hits our numbers that we think it's going to hit, and it's a great event, this will definitely 100 percent be an annual thing we do here.'"
BKFC 92: Main event preview
BKFC 92 is headlined by a featherweight title fight between Montana-based champion Kai Stewart and Harverhill, Mass. native Harry Gigliotti. Stewart (9-0) is one of BKFC's biggest homegrown stars. Gigliotti (6-0) emerged as a serious prospect for BKB before making the jump to BKFC.
Feldman said he's excited by not only the prospective violence the matchup could bring, but also what a booking between these two individuals represents for the brand.
"Honestly, I don't know what to expect," Feldman said. "I just know Kai always figures out a way to win. He always figures it out. This guy can crack. Harry Gigliotti can crack. He's in front of his hometown at Fenway Park. It's not like he's in front of his hometown at the convention center. He's at his hometown, in his hometown at Fenway Park. He has to over-perform.
"I'm expecting one of the best fights we've ever seen in BKFC. I think they're both going to go all in and prove themselves at this event. You said it right. Kai is one of them guys, one of the best fighters ever in BKFC history. Harry is a very decorated bareknuckle fighter.
"This is bareknuckle fighting. One or two guys have been established in the UFC and haven't really fought BKFC yet. But most of this card is bareknuckle fighters. But to do this card with mostly bareknuckle fighters at Fenway Park, it's just so, so special for me. It's telling me the sport is growing. The brand is growing. It's not just a particular fighter."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: How did historic Fenway Park end up hosting bareknuckle fights? BKFC CEO explains
