Parker Porter is making his mark in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), and his next fight is scheduled for Saturday. The highly-ranked BKFC heavyweight is set to face Haze Wilson at BKFC Mohegan Sun on March 28th, though this wasn’t the original plan.
Initially, fellow ranked BKFC contender Josh Watson was slated for the Connecticut event. However, Watson withdrew, opening the door for Wilson. Commenting on this opponent change, Parker Porter expressed, “It’s a shame Josh and I couldn’t meet in the ring. He unfortunately had to decline due to some personal situations, and I truly hope everything resolves positively for him. We had the chance to meet and spend some time together when we both fought at Mohegan last June. He’s a great guy; we were joking around afterwards, acknowledging how genuinely nice each other were.”
Regarding the potential clash with Watson, Porter remarked, “It would have been a tough situation for us to have to beat each other up publicly.” However, with the switch to Haze Wilson, Porter is eagerly anticipating the bout. He believes it presents a “somewhat favorable matchup.” Acknowledging Wilson’s tenacity, he added, “He’s incredibly tough and has experience across various combat sports, despite having only one BKFC fight against Anthony Garrett. He’s a formidable opponent, and I anticipate a real challenge, so I’ve prepared thoroughly for anything he might bring.”
While ‘MMA math’ is a common concept, Porter consciously avoids applying a similar ‘bare-knuckle math’ logic. He acknowledges that despite having defeated Anthony Garrett – an opponent to whom Haze Wilson lost – this doesn’t guarantee an easy win. Discussing these interconnected dynamics among the bare-knuckle heavyweights, Parker Porter emphasized the importance of thorough preparation: “In this era, you always strive to do extensive research on your opponent. You watch their fights to identify how they’ve evolved their game, especially if they’re coming off a loss, as any dedicated fighter will try to improve. Furthermore, a loss often fuels a strong desire to return to the win column.”
He continued, “Therefore, I anticipate him being aggressive and determined to prove himself. Facing a ranked heavyweight like me presents a significant opportunity for him to make a name. However, I’m committed to doing everything in my power to ensure he doesn’t achieve that at my expense.”
Porter has become a prominent figure in BKFC’s residency at Mohegan Sun. With another event approaching at the familiar venue, Parker Porter shared his enthusiasm: “It feels really good. This will be my ninth fight at Mohegan Sun, so it truly feels like home to me. More importantly, with BKFC providing so many opportunities to fight and headline multiple events here, I’m dedicated to building the sport’s culture.”
He added, “My goal is to raise awareness throughout New England about BKFC and the entertainment we provide. It’s the place to be. Come out, support your local fighters, and who knows, maybe even start training yourself – you could be the next one in the ring!”
Parker Porter Reflects on Lessons Learned from His Last BKFC Bout
Parker Porter’s prior fight against Anthony Garrett was an inspiring performance, capable of captivating new fans and encouraging others to pursue bare-knuckle fighting. Surviving multiple knockdowns and delivering a dramatic comeback knockout, Porter maintained his perfect record in the intense world of bare-knuckle combat.
Reflecting on his main takeaways from that memorable 2025 bout against Anthony Garrett, Parker Porter stated, “The biggest thing I demonstrated was my ability to persevere. Like many from New England, I’m a tough individual, and I put that on full display, sending a clear message to future opponents and inspiring others. It showed that no matter how many times you get knocked down, if you get back up and refuse to quit, you can achieve victory, whether in life or in the ring.”
He continued, “While proud of conveying that message, I’m also critical of myself. I didn’t showcase my best and fullest skillset because I allowed myself to be drawn into a brawl, a sort of ‘who’s tougher’ contest. Thankfully, I proved to be the tougher guy, but I’m not entirely proud of the technical skills I displayed.”
Given Wilson’s likely strong desire to rebound from his loss, it’s reasonable to expect him to push for an aggressive, high-intensity fight. When asked if his previous regrets about losing composure against Garrett would influence his approach to maintaining discipline against Wilson’s anticipated intensity, Parker Porter affirmed, “Absolutely. I also believe that last fight provided me with a highly condensed and valuable experience that many fighters don’t get. The lessons and knowledge I gained from that single bout were probably equivalent to what some accumulate over three or even four fights. It was all effectively ‘smashed’ into one situation – an accelerated learning curve, you could say.”