Floyd Mayweather's ex-rival links up with Conor McGregor as he inks new deal for brutal career change

03/09/2024 16:00

Reality television star turned combat sports athlete Aaron Chalmers has signed a multi-fight deal with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).

The former Geordie Shore cast member has competed professionally in both MMA (5-2) and boxing (1-1) and shared the ring with former five-weight world champion Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition boxing bout last year.

Now, he is set to ditch the gloves and duke it out bare-knuckle for Conor McGregor‘s BKFC.

The Irishman became a part owner of the American bare-knuckle boxing promotion earlier this year.

His involvement has led to a surge in popularity for the fastest-growing combat sport in the world and Chalmers wants to get in on the action.

"I've fought across MMA and boxing previously, but it doesn't get any more real than BKFC,” said Chalmers.

“I think it's the most exciting sport in the world, and I'm here to dedicate myself to being the best in the business.

“This is a multi-fight deal, and I'm here to become the face of BKFC in the UK and across the globe.

"I've heard incredible things about the promotion, from the attention placed on medical care, to the overall treatment of the fighters, and I'm really excited to be a part of it.”

Chalmers is set to make his BKFC debut in front of his home crowd at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on October 19.

"The Utilita is an incredible venue, where I've fought many times before, and the Geordies are the best fans on the planet,” Chalmers added.

“I know they're going to come out in full force on October 19th, and it's going to be the start of something special for me."

Chalmers’ first BKFC opponent is yet to be announced at the time of writing.

But the 37-year-old has his sights set on American TikTok star Bryce Hall – who won his BKFC debut last year – while he also holding out hope for a blockbuster showdown with Jake Paul.

Chalmers told the Sun: “Bryce Hall, that would be a great fight for me. Obviously, I want to get my feet in, I wanna get my toes wet in there, see what it’s like.

“Maybe have one or two, and then we can start looking at people like that.

“I mean, I still think if I make a big enough splash in BKFC, the fight with Jake Paul can be there.

“We’ve got to make a big splash. Basically, we need to get back to back to the Bellator days, the Bamma days, where I was knocking people out cold.

“That’s what gets the interest. So that’s what we’re going back to.”