Former UFC fighter and The Ultimate Fighter 5 cast member Rob Emerson is ready to make his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) debut against Mike Medrano at BKFC 95.
At 45, Emerson is returning to combat sports in one of its most unforgiving environments. The veteran will step into the BKFC ring on Saturday, looking to make a statement in his first appearance with the promotion.
Emerson last competed in bare-knuckle MMA at Gamebred Fighting Championship 2, where he knocked out Charles Bennett in the first round. Now, five years later, he is ready for another challenge as he looks to prove he still has plenty left to offer.
Emerson has experienced his share of struggles outside the cage, but he has turned his difficult upbringing and past troubles into a remarkable MMA journey. Although he may be past his physical prime, the veteran remains motivated by his love for fighting and the people who matter to him.
Ahead of his BKFC 95 debut, Emerson has made his intentions clear: he wants to expose the fighters who talk tough but struggle when they step into the ring.
During a recent appearance on BetOnline’s The Fight Guys, Emerson explained why he continues to chase glory at 45.
“For me, it’s all about chasing glory. I want to chase glory while I have blood in my veins and breath in my lungs, that’s what it’s all about,” Emerson said.
The veteran also explained why he believes bare-knuckle fighting separates genuine fighters from those who only talk a big game on social media.
“Bare-knuckle is for the dogs; it’s as raw as it gets, and it shows who doesn’t want to be in there. You see these guys on social media talking all this stuff on social media and want to be the guy, and they get hit once, and they go back to the true version of themselves. If you’re a phony, people are going to find out.
“There’s nothing phony about me; I’ve been in plenty of street fights, and I can fight with or without gloves,” Emerson continued. “I’ve broken a lot of faces with these knuckles, and the damage they can do…it’s your true talent to see if you’re ready to go fight.”
Emerson will now have the opportunity to back up those words when he faces Medrano at BKFC 95. With years of experience across different combat sports promotions, the former UFC fighter will look to show that his competitive fire remains strong as he begins this new chapter of his fighting career.
