BKFC 90 Birmingham Preview: Connor Tierney vs Rico Franco, Darren Till Debut

BKFC 90 lands in Birmingham on May 30 with a card headlined by a long-awaited rematch between Connor Tierney and Rico Franco. The night also marks a major moment as Darren Till makes his BKFC debut in an event that promises to deliver violence from beginning to end.

Rivalry Reignited

The main event sees Connor ‘Brum Town Bomber’ Tierney (9-2) and Rico ‘Bon Bon’ Franco (10-3) run it back in a welterweight bout, nearly seven years after their first meeting under the Bare Knuckle Boxing banner in 2019, when Franco stopped Tierney in the first round.

There is more on the table this time around as they battle for the BKFC Interim Welterweight Championship, while champion Dustin Pague (6-2) recovers from damage suffered to his jaw after dislocating it during his last fight in January.

Hailing from Birmingham, the ‘Brum Town Bomber’ sharpened his skills in the streets of Weoley Castle from a young age. He officially began his bare-knuckle career in 2019 and joined BKFC in 2022, racking up an impressive record in the organisation.

His opponent, ‘Bon Bon’, enters this rematch with serious momentum, having won all five of his fights in BKFC. The brawler began his combat sports career in MMA before finding his calling as a bare-knuckle fighter.

Now, Tierney gets the chance to settle the score with Franco in front of his home crowd.

The Gorilla Makes Bare-Knuckle Debut

Former UFC title challenger Darren ‘The Gorilla’ Till makes his BKFC debut against Aaron Chalmers in one of the biggest UK crossover fights the promotion has staged.

Till comes into the bout following a successful run in Misfits Boxing and aims to make a statement in his bare-knuckle debut.

The Liverpudlian has made it clear that he has his sights set on BKFC legend ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry (6-0) should he get past Chalmers, who already has two wins in the promotion.

While many will know Chalmers from his stint on Geordie Shore, he has built a respectable combat sports career, competing in MMA under Bellator and in boxing before making the move to bare-knuckle competition.

This is one of the most anticipated debuts in BKFC history, and there are huge expectations surrounding both fighters.

Full Card Breakdown

Fan-favourite Jonno Chipchase (3-2) goes up against Brian Hyslop (1-1). Chipchase comes from the world of Muay Thai, where he amassed 43 fights. The self-described ‘monster’ always brings a brutal display whether he wins or loses under the BKFC banner, and Hyslop will have to deal with his relentless pressure from the opening bell.

Ex-UFC fighter John Phillips (1-0) meets bare-knuckle veteran Ryan Barrett (6-5), while Lukasz Parobiec (0-0) faces Kaseem Saleem (0-1) in a heavyweight clash. George Hillyard (0-0) also makes his BKFC debut against Luke Brassfield (0-1).

George Thorpe (2-1-1) takes on the undefeated Leigh Cohoon (3-0), while Liam Hutchinson (2-1) faces Simeon Ottley (3-1) in another intriguing matchup.

Paul O'Sullivan (1-2) meets debutant Paul Hilz (0-0), while Tommy Hawthorn (1-0) takes on Will Smith (1-0).

Michal Lesniak vs Martin McDonough and Nathan Leeson vs Stevie Devenport are both debut-versus-debut matchups.

Final Thoughts

BKFC 90 Birmingham will see a new interim welterweight champion crowned by the end of the night, while fans could move one step closer to the long-discussed Darren Till vs Mike Perry matchup.

With a title fight, a heated rematch, and one of the biggest debuts in BKFC history, Birmingham is set for a night of spectacle, violence and unforgettable moments.