Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship has announced a major shift to the top of the card for BKFC 96, which is set to take place on Saturday, November 7, at the iconic OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland. With the promotion making its historic debut in Scotland, local fans will still witness a high-stakes championship clash, albeit with a fresh challenger stepping into the spotlight under the bright lights of Glasgow.
Leigh Cohoon has officially agreed to step in on short notice to face undefeated Scottish contender Sean Weir. The pair will square off for the vacant BKFC UK light-heavyweight championship. The shake-up at the top of the card comes after the former champion, Conor Cooke, was forced to withdraw from the scheduled title defense and subsequently relinquished the championship belt, clearing the way for a new era in the light-heavyweight division.
For Sean Weir, who carries an undefeated 3-0 record into the ring, the opportunity to capture championship gold in front of a passionate home crowd represents the pinnacle of his bare-knuckle career so far. The Scottish contender enters the title fight carrying significant momentum, having delivered a dominant first-round knockout victory over Matty Hodgson back in March. That performance cemented his status as one of the promotion’s rising stars in the region, and he will now look to cap off his ascent by claiming a prestigious UK title on Scottish soil.
The excitement surrounding the event is palpable, with the promotion reporting that approximately 9,000 tickets have already been sold for the blockbuster card at the OVO Hydro. Remaining tickets for fans wishing to witness the historic night of action live are currently available through the official BKFC website.
Standing across the ring from Weir will be Manchester’s Leigh Cohoon, a dangerous and experienced competitor holding a 4-1 promotional record. Cohoon has established a reputation as an elite finisher inside the square circle, having successfully finished each of his four victories under the BKFC banner inside three rounds. His lone promotional setback remains a hard-fought decision loss against George Thorpe.
Cohoon’s path to this title opportunity has involved tactical weight management across his career with the organization. The Manchester fighter competed in the light-heavyweight division during his first two BKFC appearances before opting to move down to middleweight for his next three consecutive bouts. Now, he returns to the light-heavyweight limit on short notice, carrying the heavy ambition of walking away with the vacant UK championship.
The high drama at the top of the card is matched by a compelling middleweight co-main event that features Glasgow MMA veteran Stevie “Braveheart” Ray making his highly anticipated bare-knuckle debut. Ray will face off against Danny “The Bastard” Christie in what promises to be a ferocious showdown. Ray transitions to bare-knuckle fighting after a storied career competing at the highest levels of combat sports, including stints in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the Professional Fighters League. Across the ring, Christie brings a wealth of bare-knuckle experience, entering the matchup with a solid 5-3 record within the BKFC.
The card also features a heavyweight contest between former mixed martial artist and professional wrestler Gzim “The Albanian Psycho” Selmani and Reece “Big Beefer” Herr. Selmani steps into the bout looking to build upon a 1-0 start to his bare-knuckle career, while Herr carries a 1-1 record as he looks to make a statement in Glasgow’s heavyweight landscape.
For fans tuning in from around the globe, the BKFC 96 preliminary card is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET, leading directly into the main card at 2 p.m. ET. The entire event will be broadcast live internationally through the official BKFC App as part of the subscription-based BKFC+ service, ensuring that supporters worldwide can follow the action as it unfolds in real time.
Ahead of fight night, the promotion will host its final press conference on Thursday, November 5, at Edmiston House in Glasgow, giving fighters one last opportunity to speak to the media and face off before stepping into the ring. Ceremonial weigh-ins will take place at the same venue on Friday, November 6. Both the final press conference and the official weigh-ins are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET and will be streamed live through the BKFC App for fans following the pre-fight festivities.
