Conor McGregor was left speechless after a wild knockout during his promotion’s Newcastle event on Saturday.
McGregor is a minority owner in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and was in attendance for BKFC 68 on Saturday inside Newcastle’s Utilita Arena.
Agi Faulkner became BKFC’s recent European heavyweight champion in a brutal important event that witnessed five knockdowns in the primary round.
Meanwhile Northern Ireland’s Conor Cooke upset Matthew Hodgson within the co-main event, but the previous couldn’t take home the UK light-heavyweight title as a consequence of missing weight.
All eyes were focused on McGregor as he entered the Newcastle Arena on Saturday midway through BKFC’s important card.
He was drowned out by flashes and photos as he made is way ringside, before getting as much as the same old antics of hyping up the group and gulping his Forged Irish Stout.
After fast-rising Sedgefield cruserweight Karl Thompson eased his option to three fights undefeated under the BKFC banner, it was the following all-English clash that caught the eye of ‘The Notorious’.
Newcastle’s Lewis Keen was undefeated and a transparent favourite as he entered his bout with Ben Bonner within the lightweight division
Nevertheless, it didn’t take long for that zero to show right into a one, as with just 20 seconds remaining in the primary round Bonner delivered a wild overhand right that immediately knocked Keen out cold.
‘The Bomber’ silenced the Utilita Arena crowd together with his once-punch KO because the Middlesbrough man improved to a 3-1 bare-knuckle skilled record together with his victory.
The knockout was so bad that ‘The Machine’ Keen was left almost motionless contained in the squared circle together with his eyes rolled back.
Referee Chris Batcheldor didn’t take long to wave off the fight either as Keen was visibly dazed as he lay on the canvas, before receiving medical help and an oxygen mask to assist together with his respiration.
Speaking after the event, McGregor spoke passionately about his beloved sport and Newcastle’s Premier League victory over Arsenal earlier within the day.
“It’s an honour to be here in the gorgeous Newcastle today, 1-0, we won today. Up the Toon Army,” he said.
“We’re on the hunt for the baddest m***** f***** around these parts. We’re crowing champions and putting on big shows.
“Thanks to all of the combatants for putting all of it on the road… you mostly must thank the combatants. Let’s go Newcastle.”
Bonner first emerged as a bare-knuckle talent back in 2023 and beat Jamie Oldfield on his debut with BKFC in London.
He then lost to Robert Barry at BKFC 46 in July 2023, before gaining one other victory this time over Ray Putterill nine months later in Milton Keynes for BKFC 60.
Confidence has never been a problem for 33-year-old Bonner, who enjoys mountaineering out and in of camp to maintain himself grounded.
“I can fight anyone 170lb or 172lb, 168lb or 174lb, anyone in the highest five or top ten.” he told Bare Knuckle News last yr.
“I’m greater than able to dismantling them over a five round fight definitely and if any of them want it they know where I’m.”
Bonner will now have his eyes set on greater fights in America and Europe following BKFC’s recent success in Marbella and other venues abroad.
