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| Credit: BKB |
Press Release: December 6, 2025 By BKB: Bareknuckle Boxing - BKB 51 will be headlined by “The Emperor of Bare Knuckle” Marko Martinjak defending his BKB Bridgerweight Championship against former BKB Heavyweight Champion “Hurricane” Ike Villanueva.
LONDON, ENGLAND – BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing announced today its return to the indigo at the O2 for BKB 51, on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Said BKB CEO David Tetreault: “BKB is proud to announce its return home to the iconic indigo at the O2. This past year, with our partnership with talkSPORT and our expansion to all corners of the UK, BKB has solidified itself as the top promotion in the country. It's only fitting that we kick off our 2026 European calendar year in London with a return to the indigo where our company has sold out dozens of shows over the past decade.”
Headlining the card will be the first Bridgerweight title defense of Zagreb, Croatia’s 12-2 Marko Martinjak. This past October in Leeds, UK, the then Cruiserweight Champion Martinjak defeated Dan Podmore to win the Bridgerweight title and become BKB’s second two-division world champion. Shortly thereafter, Martinjak relinquished the Super Cruiserweight belt to concentrate on the Bridgerweight division.
His opponent Ike VIllanueva (Houston, Texas, USA) is the 5-2 former BKB Heavyweight Champion. Villanueva, a former UFC veteran, was successful in his initial Bridgerweight matchup this past November against former Martinjak trilogy foe Jarome Hatch.
Said Villanueva: “Kovacs, Fish, Linderman, Olsen, Hatch. I’ve built my BKB resume knocking out big, bald-headed white guys like Marko. I can’t wait to add Emperor to that list.”
Said Martinjak: “Train hard and eat well, Ike. Because on February 21st, hell will be unleashed.”
In the past two years, BKB (originally BYB) has purchased the UK-based BKB, the world’s oldest professional bare knuckle boxing company, and in doing so merged the organizations to create the largest bare knuckle boxing company in the world in terms of roster, library and distribution; ushered in ethical and legalized gambling to the sport; acquired the rights to the historic and prestigious Police Gazette Diamond Belt which now serves as the Bare Knuckle Boxing World Championship; and brought bare knuckle boxing to lineal television on both sides of the Atlantic, including the recent deal with VICE TV and Telemundo Deportes in the US, and in the UK with talkSPORT.
Tickets for BKB 51 are on sale now at bkbtickets.com/bkb51. Visit bkbbareknuckle.com and follow on social @bkbbareknuckle for tickets, information and all ways to watch.
Material and Photo Courtesy of: BKB Bareknuckle Boxing Used with permission.
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