BKFC 90 will return the promotion to the United Kingdom with Connor Tierney and Rico Franco headlining an interim welterweight title fight, while Darren Till makes his BKFC debut against Aaron Chalmers in the co‑main event; the promotion has not yet announced an exact date for the card.
Tierney enters the main event with a 9-2 bare-knuckle record and is fighting for his first BKFC title after back-to-back wins over Danny Christie and Johnny Graham. Franco brings a 10-3 ledger, comes off a decision over Jimmy Sweeney and is coming off a failed challenge for the undisputed belt — he lost to Austin Trout in October 2024.
The interim label matters because the 165-pound division is currently held by Dustin Pague, who won his first world championship in January against Julian Lane. An interim champion at BKFC 90 would effectively position the winner to factor into the 165-pound picture once Pague’s obligations are clear.
Tierney and Franco offer contrasting routes to this point: Tierney has built momentum on the domestic bare-knuckle scene, while Franco has already tested himself at the top of the division. Their records — 9-2 and 10-3 — underline a matchup that should produce a definitive answer about who will sit atop the interim pecking order.
The co‑main brings a different kind of spotlight. Till, a former UFC title challenger who signed with BKFC in March, steps into bare-knuckle competition for the first time. His opponent is Aaron Chalmers, 2-0 in BKFC with two knockout wins; Chalmers also went 5-2 in MMA and 1-1 in boxing before switching codes, and he took part in an eight-round exhibition bout with Floyd Mayweather in February 2023. That record — and those knockouts — complicate the simple narrative of Till as a massive favorite.
BKFC has stacked practical viewing options: the main card will stream on BKFC+ via the BKFC app and BKFC.com, while the prelims will air on YouTube, the BKFC app and Fubo Sports. The promotion has released a lineup that places the interim title at the top and Till’s debut high on the bill, but fans should note there is no published event date available yet.
What to watch when the bell rings is straightforward. In the headliner, Tierney’s recent form and Franco’s experience against elite opposition create a test of pressure versus pedigree; the welterweight lineal picture — Dustin Pague as the current 165-pound belt-holder — gives the bout stakes beyond a single night. In the co‑main, Till’s size and UFC résumé meet Chalmers’ momentum and knockout history. If Chalmers keeps his perfect BKFC knockout record intact, it would reshape how quickly the promotion positions Till within the division.
The immediate unanswered question is also the most consequential: when will BKFC set the date for BKFC 90? The card’s outcomes are poised to reshape the 165‑pound hierarchy — but until a date is announced, fans can only prepare for two decisive nights in the welterweight ranks and a co‑main that could upend expectations about how easily MMA stars transfer their stock into bare-knuckle boxing.
