The highly anticipated rematch between Connor Tierney and Rico Franco is set to headline BKFC 90 this weekend. An undercard fighter, George Hillyard, a former BKB (Bare Knuckle Boxing) competitor, has shared his prediction for this significant bout.
The championship fight for the interim BKFC welterweight belt will take place in Birmingham on May 30th. Hillyard, who is also competing at BKFC 90 against Luke Brassfield, is transitioning from BKB, where he and the headlining fighters previously competed. He noted that the initial fight between Franco and Tierney occurred in BKB.
When asked about the upcoming BKFC 90 rematch, Hillyard expressed his thoughts on whether it would differ significantly from their first encounter. He stated, “Yeah, I do. Well, I don’t see it being the same way as [the first fight]. I still see it being the same victorious, but I don’t think it’ll be as quick as what people think it’s going to be, if that makes sense. I think we’ll see a little bit more action from it.”
BKFC 90: A Look Back at Tierney vs. Franco I
The first bout between Connor Tierney and Rico Franco was a swift affair. They first clashed on March 19th, 2019, at BKB 16, competing in the prizefighter lightweight semi-final. Franco, nicknamed ‘Bon Bon,’ secured a quick knockout victory early in the round, advancing him to the prizefighter tournament finals, which he subsequently won.
This loss marked Tierney’s first defeat in bare-knuckle boxing. Now, the two UK fighters are set to face each other again under a new promotion and in a new era. Both fighters have held European and UK titles within BKFC, but neither has yet claimed a world championship in the organization. This weekend’s fight offers one of them the chance to capture the interim welterweight title at 165 pounds, in a classic “repeat or revenge” scenario.
English Translation:
BKFC 90: Rico Franco Expected to Achieve Another Big Win Over Connor Tierney, According to Ex-BKB Vet
Connor Tierney and Rico Franco are set to have their rematch this weekend, and an undercard competitor at BKFC 90 has offered his perspective on the headlining bout. On May 30th in Birmingham, Tierney vs. Franco II will take place for the interim BKFC welterweight championship.
The fighter who shared his insights on this upcoming championship contest is George Hillyard, who is making the crossover from BKB Bare Knuckle and is scheduled to fight Luke Brassfield. This event also features Darren Till’s BKFC debut in the co-main event. The initial fight between Franco and Tierney occurred in BKB, where Hillyard also previously competed in gloveless combat.
The first bout between the two UK standouts was a very brief one. When asked if he anticipated the Tierney-Franco rematch to unfold much differently at BKFC 90, Hillyard stated, “Yes, I do. Well, I don’t see it happening the same way as [the first fight]. I still see it being a victory, but I don’t think it will be as quick as people expect, if that makes sense. I believe we’ll witness a bit more action.”
BKFC 90 Connor Tierney vs. Rico Franco II: A Historical Overview
Connor Tierney vs. Rico Franco II is a rather intriguing sequel clash, with several notable factors to consider leading up to BKFC 90. In their first encounter at Indigo at the O2 in Greenwich, Franco and Tierney battled for the first time on March 19th, 2019. At BKB 16, in the prizefighter lightweight semi-final, ‘Bon Bon’ secured one of his most significant bare-knuckle boxing victories.
Franco defeated Tierney via knockout mere seconds into the bout, advancing him to the prizefighter tournament finals, which Franco ultimately won against the current prominent figure in the sport, James Connelly.
That loss represented Tierney’s first defeat in bare-knuckle boxing. Now, they are set to face each other again under a new promotional banner and in a new decade. Both fighters have held European and UK titles within Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, and despite Franco having previously contended for world gold, neither has yet captured a world championship in BKFC. All of that could change this weekend when the two engage in a classic “repeat or revenge” bout for the interim strap at 165 pounds.