Connor Tierney and Rico Franco are set to clash again this weekend at BKFC 90. An undercard fighter at the event has offered his perspective on the highly anticipated headliner.
The rematch for the interim BKFC welterweight title will take place in Birmingham on May 30th.
The fighter sharing his insights is George Hillyard, a competitor transitioning from BKB Bare Knuckle, who is scheduled to face Luke Brassfield on the same card. This event also marks Darren Till’s BKFC debut in the co-main event.
Hillyard, having previously competed in bare-knuckle boxing with Franco and Tierney, believes the upcoming BKFC 90 bout will differ from their initial 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 Connor Tierney vs. Rico Franco II: A Look Back
The upcoming BKFC 90 bout between Connor Tierney and Rico Franco II is a compelling rematch with significant background. Their first fight occurred on March 19th, 2019, at BKB 16 in London, where Franco secured a swift knockout victory in the prizefighter lightweight semi-finals.
This early finish propelled Franco into the tournament finals, which he went on to win against James Connelly. The loss to Franco marked Tierney’s first defeat in bare-knuckle boxing.
Now, over a decade later and under a new promotional banner, they are set to face each other again. Both fighters have achieved European and UK titles in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. While Franco has previously competed for world championship honors, neither fighter has yet secured a world title within BKFC. This weekend, the interim 165-pound strap will be on the line, promising a fight for either glory or redemption.
English Translation:
Connor Tierney and Rico Franco are set for a rematch this weekend at BKFC 90. An undercard combatant at the event has shared his thoughts on the headlining bout.
The clash for the interim BKFC welterweight belt will take place in Birmingham on May 30th.
The fighter offering his perspective is George Hillyard, who is making the transition from BKB Bare Knuckle and is scheduled to fight Luke Brassfield on the same fight card. This event will also feature the BKFC debut of Darren Till in the co-main event.
Hillyard, who has experience in bare-knuckle boxing like Franco and Tierney, believes the rematch at BKFC 90 will unfold differently than their first fight. He commented, “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 Connor Tierney vs. Rico Franco II: A Historical Overview
The upcoming BKFC 90 contest between Connor Tierney and Rico Franco II is an intriguing sequel with several notable factors to consider. Their initial encounter took place on March 19th, 2019, at BKB 16, held at Indigo at the O2 in Greenwich. In that bout, Franco achieved a significant victory in the prizefighter lightweight semi-final.
Franco finished Tierney with a knockout just seconds into the fight, advancing him to the prizefighter tournament finals, which he ultimately won against the well-known figure in the sport, James Connelly.
That defeat marked Tierney’s first loss in bare-knuckle boxing. Now, they are set to rematch under a new promotional banner and in a new decade. Both fighters have held European and UK titles within Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Although Franco has previously competed for world titles, neither fighter has yet claimed a world championship in BKFC. This weekend, the stakes are high as the winner will be awarded the interim strap at 165 pounds, leading to a classic battle of “repeat or revenge.”