The BKFC has parted ways with one of their champions.
This time last week, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship officially stripped Franco Tenaglia of the lightweight title after the champion was unable to secure his visa for his first title defense against Tony Soto at BKFC Texas.
BKFC boss David Feldman said the real reason Tenaglia was stripped of the title was because he fought outside of the promotion.
Speaking at the BKFC Texas post-fight press conference on Saturday night, Feldman had teased another champion was on the chopping block.
BKFC strips bantamweight champion Alberto Blas due to ‘unprofessional conduct’
On Thursday, the BKFC put out a press release, confirming BKFC Bantamweight Champion Alberto Blas had been stripped of the title and kicked out of the promotion.
A fighter from Cuba, Blas is 6-0 in the BKFC and won and defended the bantamweight title last year. The 30-year-old champion is coming off a 56-second TKO of Ryan Reber in September.
The BKFC parted ways with Blas due to a pattern of unprofessional behavior outside of competition.
“We have a responsibility to uphold the integrity of our promotion and the sport as a whole,” said BKFC President David Feldman.
“There were multiple infractions that went into this decision. We wish him well in his future endeavors.”
The BKFC stated a decision regarding the future of the bantamweight division will be made shortly.
It is unknown at this time what Blas’ actions were to lead him out of the promotion.
BKFC boss David Feldman: ‘We’re not playing games’
The BKFC has made their message loud and clear by stripping two world champions in seven days.
After removing Franco Tenaglia as champion for fighting outside the promotion, Feldman stated:
“If you fight outside the organization, you’re gonna lose your championship…”
Now, the same goes for unprofessional conduct outside the Squared Circle.
“We’re not playing games here,” Feldman continued.
“If we wanna be the biggest and the best, we have to act like we’re the biggest and the best.
“We have to perform like we’re the biggest and the best, and we have to hold people to the standards. And that’s just the way it is.”
Founded by Feldman in 2018, the BKFC is the world’s fastest-growing combat sports promotion and the premier bareknuckle boxing promotion.