Raiders star Maxx Crosby buys stake in BKFC
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship has added a heavyweight to its ownership group.
Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby has purchased a stake in the promotion, BKFC announced Tuesday, putting one of the NFL's biggest combat sports fans directly into the bare-knuckle boxing mix.
From the announcement:
"Bare knuckle fighting is raw, real, and incredibly engaging for fans," Crosby stated. "I have always been passionate about combat sports, and I see BKFC as a platform that not only showcases the incredible skill, talent, and athleticism of these fighters but also brings a unique and authentic experience to combat sports enthusiasts."
BKFC was founded in 2018 and has since held more than 100 events across the world, with former UFC champion Conor McGregor representing its most famous co-owner. McGregor sounded happy to have Crosby aboard:
“I am thrilled for Maxx to join me as an owner of BKFC. He is the epitome of hard work and perseverance that is the backbone of BKFC!”
In his day job, Crosby is among the top pass-rushers in the NFL. This season represented a down year for him, which ended prematurely due to ankle surgery. Last season, he was a second-team All-Pro with a career-high 14.5 sacks and a league-leading 23 tackles for loss. He signed a $99 million contract extension in 2022.
Since moving to Las Vegas with the Raiders, Crosby has embraced the combat sports world that helps define the city, making frequent appearances at boxing and UFC events. He goes as far as integrating combat sports techniques into his training and sparring with UFC fighters, including former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland.
Now, you can probably expect to see him at more than a few events for the Philadelphia-based BKFC, even though the Nevada Athletic Commission doesn't sanction bare-knuckle events in his home state.
