Overview

• Western Australia’s Combat Sports Commission voted on June 5 to block the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship’s July 19 card at Perth’s RAC Arena, saying it failed to satisfy required safety criteria.
• Australian Medical Association WA president Michael Page warned that bare-knuckle fighting carries severe risks of acute concussion and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
• Tickets, including $6,000 ‘Notorious Access’ packages with a Conor McGregor meet-and-greet, were already on sale before the commission’s board rejected the application.
• WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti faced pressure to veto the event but questioned how it differed from UFC bouts, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flagged concerns over head injuries.
• A February amendment recognizing BKFC as a sanctioning body had paved the way for the event, which was to feature heavyweight champion Ben Rothwell versus Alex Simon and a women’s main event with Bec Rawlings.