The combat sports world has witnessed its fair share of wild innovations, but BKFC’s latest venture is a whole new frontier.
On Wednesday, the bare-knuckle fighting promotion announced its partnership with an existing firm known as Ice Wars to form BKFC Ice Wars, a new league founded by company executive Charlie Nama. The league will feature fighters from around the world competing on a sheet of ice in regulated hockey-style fights.
According to a press release from the promotion, BKFC founder David Feldman announced that the bouts will be “legal, sanctioned, and regulated hockey fights” held in a unique setting called “The Ice Box,” a 900-square-foot enclosure built specifically for ice combat.
The inaugural BKFC Ice Wars event, titled “Battle of the Borders,” will take place at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, on June 14, featuring a clash between U.S. and Canadian fighters. A second event is set for June 28 at River Cree Casino & Resort in Enoch, Alberta, Canada.
The ice-fighting league plans to launch with at least six events in 2025, with ambitions to expand to as many as 24 by 2026.
BKFC Ice Wars has established its own set of rules and regulations, with each bout consisting of a minimum of three rounds and a maximum of five. Each round will last no more than 90 seconds, with fighters getting a one-minute rest period between rounds.
Additionally, two referees will oversee each fight, with one serving as the lead referee and sole arbiter. If the bout goes the distance, three judges will score it based on the overall performance rather than a round-by-round system.
The scoring system will follow a structure similar to MMA, with judges evaluating fights based on three key criteria: effective striking (Plan A), effective aggressiveness (Plan B), and control of the fighting area (Plan C). Plan B and Plan C will only come into play if the judges deem Plan A to be even.
Effective striking is assessed by the impact and effectiveness of legal strikes landed. Effective aggressiveness refers to a fighter’s ability to actively push for a finish, while control of the fighting area is determined by who dictates the pace, positioning, and overall flow of the bout.
BKFC Ice Wars will feature four standard weight divisions: heavyweight (over 200 lbs.), cruiserweight (175–200 lbs.), middleweight (150–175 lbs.), and lightweight (under 150 lbs.). Fighters will compete wearing four-ounce MMA gloves along with traditional hockey jerseys and protective gear.
