Bally’s Corp. and BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing are preparing to bring their latest high-profile Fightnight event to the Mississippi Gulf Coast on Friday, October 23. The upcoming card at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi represents a significant milestone in an expanding partnership that merges professional bare-knuckle fighting with cutting-edge sports technology, bringing real-time statistics and biometric data straight to spectators inside the arena and viewers watching from home.
Announced jointly by the companies, the collaboration centers on Bally’s proprietary ForceIQ punch-tracking technology. This advanced system utilizes specialized sensors embedded directly into the fighters’ hand wraps. Designed to capture precise athletic metrics, ForceIQ measures the speed of a punch, retraction speed, the specific type of punch thrown, and the G-force generated upon impact. According to tournament organizers, this detailed telemetry will be prominently displayed on arena screens and integrated seamlessly into live broadcasts, appearing alongside live fighter rankings, comprehensive punch breakdowns, and other analytical data.
While the technology provides unprecedented insight into the physical demands and output of a bare-knuckle bout, event organizers have clarified that the system operates strictly as an analytical tool and does not affect official fight scoring.
The integration of data science into the sport reflects a broader vision shared by the leadership of both organizations. Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim emphasized the unique vertical integration that the gaming and media giant brings to the partnership, noting that controlling the venue infrastructure, the technology, and the distribution channels creates an unmatched viewing and event experience.
“Bally’s has always been about creating experiences you can’t get anywhere else. We own the venue, we built the technology and we control the distribution. That’s a 360 partnership few companies in this space can offer, and we’re excited to keep building on it,” Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim said regarding the ongoing collaboration.
David Tetreault, CEO of BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing, echoed these sentiments, explaining that the core objective of the partnership is to make combat sports increasingly interactive by bridging raw athletic competition with detailed, measurable performance metrics that educate and engage fans.
High-Stakes Matchups Headline the Biloxi Card
The fight card itself features a slate of compelling bouts, topped by high-stakes matchups across multiple weight classes. In the main event, former BKB lightweight champion Jarod “Kid Grant” Grant, boasting an 8-3 record with six knockouts, is scheduled to face Luis “Pantera” Guerrero, who holds a 1-1 record with one knockout. Guerrero steps into the main event slot as a late replacement for previously scheduled opponent Bekhzod Usmonov.
The co-main event features another major divisional shift, as BKB light heavyweight champion Cub “The Savage” Hawkins steps down in weight to test his skills in the middleweight division. Hawkins, who carries an impressive 10-1 professional record featuring nine knockouts, will face the undefeated Rowdy Montgomery, who enters the bout with a 2-0 record and one knockout.
The undercard features a mix of seasoned veterans and hungry contenders, including notable former Ultimate Fighting Championship standouts Ike Villanueva and Cody East, who are set to test their striking prowess in the bare-knuckle ring. Local interest will also be high as Biloxi native Monica “Phenomamom” Medina steps between the ropes to face Claudia Zamora. Additional action on the card features Brandon Shavers meeting German Ramos, and Jeff Denton squaring off against Cody Jenkins.
Broadcasting, Streaming, and Future Events
The action from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET. Fans looking to follow the event can access the broadcast through Bally Sports Live as well as EstrellaTV’s free, ad-supported streaming television channels, ensuring widespread availability for viewers across the country. Tickets for those wishing to attend the live event in person remain available through the official event ticketing website.
The Biloxi fight card is just the latest step in a busy autumn schedule for the partnership. Looking ahead, Bally’s Corp. and BKB have already confirmed another major Fightnight event scheduled for November 20 at Bally’s Dover Casino Resort in Delaware. That upcoming card is set to feature former world title challenger Hank Lundy making his highly anticipated bare-knuckle boxing debut against Jairo Santos, who will also be stepping into the bare-knuckle ring for the first time in his professional career.
