Chris Leben and Tom Shoaff on BKFC 6

BKFC 6 goes in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, June 22nd. The event will be broadcast on FITE TV and emanates live from the Florida State Fairgrounds. The card is stacked with multiple UFC veterans, a former multi-time Boxing world champion, and there’s a heated grudge match that tops the marquee. Malignaggi vs Lobov topping the card has created an intrigue around BKFC 6 where many are calling it the biggest bareknuckle event in the last century. Chris Leben and Tom Shoaff discussed their respective BKFC 6 tilts with LM2’s Dylan Bowker.

Chris Leben on BKFC 6

Chris Leben is in the co-main event feature opposite Dakota Cochrane but that wasn’t always the plan. Brennan Ward was supposed to fight Leben but a short notice replacement was required and Cochrane stepped up. Leben realizes there are key adjustments he needs to make with this opponent switch.

“They’re night and day different. Ward stays on the outside….more of a technical boxer. Cochrane is heavy handed, he comes forward, drops his head offline….Totally different styles.”

Leben respects Cochrane’s ability especially on the heels of Cochrane finishing former UFC Welterweight Champion Johnny Hendricks in a BKB fight.

“I know he’s going to come out the gate and he’s going to throw that big right. My goal is to weather that initial storm and then drag him into deep waters…..You always prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Cry in the dojo, laugh on the battlefield”

Leben is an MMA veteran and was a featured performer on the inaugural season of the Ultimate Fighter. There’s some level of intrigue Leben has with returning to MMA competition but he kind of wants to ride the wave of popularity surrounding BKB. There are several distinct stylistic differences with BKB striking as opposed to the MMA standup game.

“There’s one range….You don’t have to worry about takedowns. The range is a little closer…..You can’t just wing overhands when you don’t have gloves on”

Lobov vs Malignaggi has created buzz not just for the high profile names involved but all of the bad blood. Malignaggi has well documented issues with McGregor’s team and the BKFC 6 media lead up has seen spitting and slapping between the two pugilists. Some are saying the two have crossed the line but Leben is loving the main event story line heading into fight night.

“It’s exciting, man…..This sport was huge a hundred years ago…..Now it’s back and it’s picking up steam and momentum incredibly quick…..For certain this is the biggest BKB event in anybody alive’s lifetime”

Chris also described how he feels a greater sense of mental clarity than ever before, his recent endeavors as an MMA referee, the latest on the WBKFF lawsuit, and so much more!

Chris Leben Interview Audio HERE

Tom Shoaff on BKFC 6

Tom Shoaff has been making a name for himself on the bareknuckle boxing circuit as the sport has rose in popularity domestically. Tom has had a couple of barnburner bouts with Diego Garijo with both at 1-1 in the series. It seems like Shoaff is firing on all cylinders as Your Local Ninja readies to fight Julian Lane at BKFC 6. Shoaff isn’t overlooking his opponent but he thinks an eventual rubber match with Diego Garijo is in his future.

“Yeah I think a third fight is going to be inevitable…..I would love it to be built up a little more….Hopefully it’s later rather than sooner…..That would be much better for everybody. For our careers, for the sport, for the show as a whole.”

Shoaff has a notable MMA record but has been focusing on BKB as of late. Shoaff is mostly focused on making the biggest paychecks he possibly can. Which is to say MMA could be in his future but right now BKFC is paying the prize fighter pretty handsomely.

“To be as blunt as possible, I don’t fight for fun. I fight to get paid. Whoever calls me and offers the most money is who I’m going to fight for….I love MMA as a sport…..I’m not eliminating any options for my bills to be paid”

Shoaff notices some key differences between the BKB striking methodology as compared to the standup game in MMA.

“There are things that you just simply cannot get away with in bareknuckle boxing. In MMA you’ve got pads….You can eat a couple of shots…..Bareknuckle Boxing is not the case. You can’t just eat one or two, you’re going to get cut open or you’re going to get knocked out……Once you get into a Bareknuckle Boxing match it’s you, your hands, and your brain….MMA is way more fun. Bareknuckle Boxing is way more intense”

Tom Shoaff recognizes the desire for primal pugilism among fans as bareknuckle boxing continues to rise in popularity domestically. There’s this tangible intensity that hearkens back to the early outlaw days of mixed-martial arts. Tom brings his high octane fighting style regardless if it’s MMA or BKB competition. The passion for competing comes across in a tangible way in Shoaff’s word choice.

“I’m not here to fuckin’ score points. I’m not here to kind of win. I’m here to make sure that everybody knows I did that to you. That’s just my fighting style…..I’m not here to play a sport, you don’t play fighting……That’s why my fights are as exciting as they are.”

Shoaff will look to bring that unrelenting ferocity to his Julian Lane bout at BKFC 6 set for Saturday, June 22nd in Tampa, Florida.

Tom Shoaff Interview Audio HERE