LAKELAND, Fla.—An event billed as the biggest of its kind is officially launch the most heavily publicized sports weekend of the year.
Paige VanZant makes her Bareknuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) debut, as the mixed martial artist, model and social media star faces Britain Hart. Both fighters made weight for their scheduled five-round flyweight contest, which airs live on Fite TV from RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Florida.
VanZant—a former UFC fighter from Coconut Creek, Florida by way of Portland, Oregon—weighed 126 pounds for her first fight in this medium. Hart (1-2 BKFC; 4-4-3 boxing) weighed 124.4 pounds for her fourth fight on the BKFC circuit. The dual sport athlete—who celebrated her 31st birthday earlier this week—fought and won her most recent bout in the traditional squared circle last August.
Tempers flared at the scale, with Hart—who has taken verbal shots at VanZant throughout fight week—having to be restrained during the obligatory staredown. VanZant took it all in stride, sporting a smile while standing her ground with her hands behind her back.
In the evening’s chief support, Johnny Bedford puts his BKFC lightweight champion on the line as he faces former boxing contender Dat Nguyen. Bedford (5-0, 3KOs) weighed 133.7 pounds for his attempted second title defense, while the 38-year old Nguyen (2-0, 1KO; 20-3, 7KOs as a boxer)—who hails from Vero Beach, Florida by way of Vietnam—weighed 134 pounds for his first career title fight in either sport.
Chris Leben weighed 204.6 pounds for what is advertised as the final fight of his career. He faces Quentin Henry, who weighed 205.2 pounds for their five-round heavyweight bout.
The three bouts are featured among a 12-fight show, airing two nights prior to the NFL's Super Bowl which takes place less than an hour away in Tampa.
FULL WEIGHTS
Paige VanZant, 126 vs. Britain Hart, 124.4—5 rds, flyweight
Johnny Bedford, 133.7 vs. Dat Nguyen, 134—5 rds, lightweight
Chris Leben, 204.6 vs. Quentin Henry, 205.2—5 rds, heavyweight
Martin Brown, 155.4 vs. Zachary Zane, 155.5—5 rds., super welterweight
Lorenzo Hunt, 206.8 vs. Robert Morrow, 204.4—5 rds, heavyweight
John Chalbeck, 144.7 vs. Greg Bono, 144.5—5 rds, super lightweight
Haim Gozali, 204 vs. John McAllister, 201.8—5 rds, heavyweight
Taylor Starling, 125.6 vs. Charisa Sigala, 122.7—5 rds, flyweight
Chris Jensen, 262.7 vs. Dillon Cleckler, 248—5 rds, heavyweight
David Allen Morgan, 135.9 vs. Travis Thompson, 135.4—5 rds, lightweight
Jarod Grant, 134.6 vs. Brandon Lambert, 132—5 rds, lightweight
Jeff Bailey, 186.9 vs. Drew Lipton 183.6—5 rds, light heavyweight
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
