A trio of UFC veterans tried to take over bare knuckle boxing last weekend at BKB 52 — and it did not end well
BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing was back in action last weekend with BKB 52: “No Turning Back” on VICE TV from inside the sold-out Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. A trio of UFC veterans entered the Trigon looking to make their mark in the world of bare knuckle boxing, including Jesse Ronson, Braxton Smith, and Bubba McDaniel. Joining them was former Bellator MMA standout Ozzie Alvarez.
All four combatants were stopped by strikes. Ronson headlined “The Constitution State” lineup against bare knuckle phenom and reigning BKB light heavyweight champion Cub Hawkins. “The Body Snatcher” was put down in the third round.
Have a look: "BYE-BYE EQUILIBRIUM, HELLO ANOTHER FINISH FROM CUB HAWKINS! " 🗣️ Watch #BKB52 live NOW! 📺 https://t.
co/F10zOLAomX #BKB #BKBBareKnuckle pic. twitter. com/qRenNzxxpK — BKB Bare Knuckle Boxing (@bkbbareknuckle) March 29, 2026 Similarly, Smith went to war against former BKB heavyweight champion DJ Linderman but was unable to get out of the third round.
McDaniel didn’t fare much better, getting dropped in the opening frame by Canadian sniper Taylor “The Raging” Bull. As for Alvarez, he was put down in the second stanza by Armus “SeaGoat” Guyton. Check out those highlights below: Those body shots.