Dubai became the epicentre of combat sports as the World League of Fighters (WLF), in partnership with Dubai Sports Council, successfully staged BKFC 71 & 72 at the iconic Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on April 4th and 5th. In a seismic shift that’s redefining the future of fighting, WLF co-founders Rajesh Banga and Sunil Mathew brought the world’s fastest-growing combat sport to the heart of the Middle East, a region already surging with investments in Boxing, MMA and more.

The historic back-to-back events on April 4^th and 5th lit up Dubai with 44 world-class fighters, delivering two nights of raw, high-octane action that left fans on the edge of their seats. By introducing BKFC to the region, WLF has not only elevated Dubai’s reputation as a premier destination for elite sports but also carved out a new frontier for bare-knuckle fighting on the global stage.

Co-Founders of World League of Fighters Rajesh Banga and Sunil Mathew sharing excitement on the successful hosting of the BKFC 71 & 72 Event shares, “Dubai has long served as a global center for premier combat events, and we aim to bring BKFC back to the UAE again. Beyond providing fans with an unforgettable experience, BKFC 71& 72 events demonstrated the fast paced entertainment of Bare knuckle fighting while establishing Middle East as the premier combat sports venue.”

While sports like Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu have gained enormous popularity, the market’s enthusiastic reception to bare-knuckle fighting surpassed all expectations. This success validates World League of Fighters’ vision, that combat sports fans desire diversity and authenticity in fighting disciplines.

Adding on the potential of inviting more successful chapters of BKFC in the region, Co-Founders Rajesh Banga and Sunil Mathew also stated, “This was never just about one event. This was about creating a new legacy for combat sports on the global stage with World League of Fighters leading the way. With the support of the Dubai Sports Council, David Feldman, and icons like Conor McGregor, we’ve brought something truly historic to life. The response has been overwhelming, and this is only the beginning of our journey in the Emirates.”

In a moment that electrified the global fight community, Conor McGregor the face of modern combat sports arrived with an entourage of 20 aboard his private jet to witness the spectacle firsthand, further validating World League of Fighters’ growing influence in the combat sports world.

“This is a movement. A revolution. A new home for the fight world,” declared Rajesh Banga and Sunil Mathew of World League f Fighters.

 “With World League of Fighters at the helm, we’re writing combat sports history in the sands of Dubai. The gloves are off. The desert is alive. And the future is bare-knuckle.” Added co-founders Rajesh Banga and Sunil Mathew

The UAE has already embraced MMA and boxing at the highest levels, and World League of Fighters has successfully positioned BKFC within that combat sports ecosystem while bringing something uniquely exciting to the market. With its successful debut, WLF has confirmed that Chapter 2 of BKFC in Dubai will return in November 2025, with official dates to be revealed soon.

Dreams have come true once again with Big Ticket’s Series 273 draw, as two lucky winners walked away with life-changing prizes, a Dh15 million jackpot and a brand-new Maserati Grecale.

Dh15 million winner: Rajesh Mullankil Vellilapullithodi

Rajesh Mullankil Vellilapullithodi, a 45-year-old technician from Kerala, struck gold after years of trying his luck. Having lived in Oman for over three decades, Rajesh has been purchasing Big Ticket entries every month with a group of friends, and it finally paid off.

“I was so happy and shocked. I can’t even put my emotions into words,” said Rajesh, recalling the moment he got the life-changing call. Just minutes before, his partner had suggested he check the results. He never imagined he’d win.

While Rajesh and his group will be splitting the Dh15 million prize, he hasn’t made any big plans yet.

Maserati Grecale Winner: Ali Musharbek

Another big winner this month is Ali Musharbek, a UAE national currently living in Sharjah. Ali purchased his lucky ticket online on March 15, ticket number 018083, and is now the proud new owner of a sleek Maserati Grecale.

Even Bigger Prizes Coming This April

If you missed out this time, don’t worry. Big Ticket’s April promotion is one of the biggest yet, with Dh25 million, weekly cash prizes, luxury cars, and more up for grabs.

Here’s what’s on offer:

• Dh25 million Grand Prize in the main draw
• Weekly e-Draws: Five winners each week take home Dh150,000
• Buy 2 Get 2 Free offer on all tickets throughout April
• The Big Win Contest: Win up to Dh150,000 in cash at the live draw on May 3

To qualify for The Big Win Contest, purchase two or more cash tickets in a single transaction between April 1 and April 24. Four lucky participants will be selected to attend the live draw, where everyone walks away a winner.

Luxury Cars Up for Grabs:

• Range Rover Velar – Draw on May 3
• BMW M440i – Draw on June 3

Tickets are available online at www.bigticket.ae or at Big Ticket counters in Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport.

Weekly E-Draw Schedule:

• Week 1: April 1 – 9 | Draw: April 10 (Thursday)
• Week 2: April 10 – 16 | Draw: April 17 (Thursday)
• Week 3: April 17 – 23 | Draw: April 24 (Thursday)
• Week 4: April 24 – 30 | Draw: May 1 (Thursday)

Dubai hosted the second night of bare-knuckle fighting as BKFC 72, powered by World League of Fighters in association with Dubai Sports Council, presented a series of impressive knockouts and skilled performances. The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium was filled to capacity as BKFC President and Founder David Feldman, MMA star Conor McGregor, and World League of Fighters Co-Founders Rajesh Banga and Sunil Mathew attended this significant combat sports event.

In the main event, “King” Kai Stewart defended his BKFC World Men’s Featherweight Championship for the fourth time. Stewart dominated his opponent, landing 156 punches out of 202 thrown, while South African challenger Tommy “The Farmer” Strydom landed 53 punches from 112 attempts. This clear difference in striking led to Stewart knocking Strydom down twice and securing a unanimous decision victory with all judges scoring the bout 50-43. Stewart, now undefeated with an 8-0 record, proclaimed after his victory, “I cleaned out the 145-pound division. I break everybody!”

The co-main event also featured one of the night’s most dramatic moments. Jessica “The Black Widow” Borga from United States of America claimed the first-ever BKFC World Women’s Featherweight Championship with a single devastating punch that knocked out former professional boxing champion Hannah “The Classical Warrior” Rankin from United Kingdom just 32 seconds into the first round. Borga landed 18 of her 22 punches, while Rankin connected with only 7 of her 14 attempts before the knockout blow. This victory improved Borga’s BKFC record to 3-0, establishing her as a dominant force in women’s bare-knuckle fighting.

Russia’s Vladislav Tuinov made an explosive BKFC debut needing only 26 seconds to defeat Belgium’s Sabri Ben Henia. Tuinov landed 3 of his 5 punches with one powerful strike proving enough to end the fight immediately for Sabri Ben Henia who landed 1 of 7 attempted punches before the referee stopped the contest.

Spain’s Nico “The Iron” Gaffie delivered one of the night’s biggest upsets against Brandon “Superman” Allen, the second-ranked featherweight contender. Gaffie’s persistent attack sent Allen to the canvas four times throughout the fight, with both fighters throwing exactly 93 punches each. Gaffie landed 41 punches to Allen’s 29, leading to a fourth-round technical knockout win with one second remaining in the round.

Welsh fighter John Phillips dominated his cruiserweight match against Brazilian veteran Fabio Maldonado. Phillips landed 29 punches while Maldonado connected with 19, allowing Phillips to knock Maldonado down twice before the referee stopped the fight only 29 seconds into the second round.

In welterweight action, Aaron Chalmers secured a third-round victory over fellow Englishman Chasa Symonds. Chalmers landed 25 of 63 punches compared to Symonds’ 15 of 47. After dropping Symonds twice, the fight was stopped just 16 seconds into the third round.

The heavyweight division saw Iran’s Hassan Yousefi defeat Brazilian Guto Inocente by unanimous decision. In this back-and-forth battle, Yousefi landed 83 of his 142 punches, while Inocente connected with 54 of his 102 attempts. The judges recognized Yousefi’s greater volume, awarding him scores of 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46.

The preliminary card featured two lightning-fast finishes, Filipino lightweight Mark Angel Sadang defeated Iranian Matin Safari in just 1 minute and 27 seconds of the first round, while Kazakh featherweight Dilshat Nurym needed only 1 minute and 23 seconds to stop Russian Shamil Dzhakhbarov.

MMA legend Conor McGregor, whose partnership with World League of Fighters has helped bring bare-knuckle fighting to the region, expressed his admiration for the event. “I’m so proud of our warriors and combatants win, lose or draw who have put on an amazing spectacle across this two-day extravaganza in Dubai,” said McGregor. “This event shows what World League of Fighters and BKFC represent pure combat and true heart.”

Also Conor McGregor, adding his thoughts on the action-packed event shares, “There are a lot of big shows around the world, a lot of noise, but let me tell you something; this is the most exciting combat sport on the planet today. And it’s not just talk there’s no such thing as a boring fight in BKFC. In fact, there’s not even a boring exchange. Every moment is explosive, raw, and real.”

“The partnership between BKFC and World League of Fighters continues to deliver excellent combat sports entertainment to fans worldwide,” said Rajesh Banga, Co-Founder of World League of Fighters. “This event concludes an exciting two-day fighting showcase in Dubai, establishing the city as a key destination for combat sports globally.”

The success of BKFC 72 in Dubai marks another achievement for World League of Fighters in their goal to expand bare-knuckle fighting across international markets, bringing together top athletes from various fighting backgrounds.