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ITALY – CONOR MCGREGOR AND BKFC ARRIVE IN NAPLES WITH DREEL HOLDING FOR THE MOST ANTICIPATED SPORTING EVENT OF 2026
The capital of the Campania region is preparing to host the prestigious international event dedicated to bare-knuckle boxing, led by the world-renowned UFC superstar. The sporting event will feature a night of fights in the ring, enriched by musical performances and entertainment, supported by a massive multi-channel advertising campaign, a team of influencers, and the participation of Hollywood and boxing celebrities.
On Saturday, July 18th, 2026, Naples’ Arena Flegrea will host UFC double champ CONOR MCGREGOR and BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship)—the new sport hitting record numbers globally, of which he is co-owner. This marks the third stage in Italy following Florence and Rome, where on October 25th, 2025, Alessio Sakara became world champion.
The iconic and spectacular Arena Flegrea will become the natural stage for an event that pushes past the boundaries of combat sports to enter the realm of mainstream entertainment.
Promoted by BKFC Global and organized by BKFC Italy, the July 18th event is part of a broader journey aimed at consolidating Bare Knuckle Fighting internationally and supporting its growth in Italy. Here, the discipline has spontaneously gathered a record number of fans and practitioners, as demonstrated by the success of the two previous promotions organized during 2025 in Florence and Rome.
In this context, the July 18th appointment represents a moment of particular resonance and visibility, both in sporting terms—telling a story of ambition and local roots—and because the public will be able to witness high-level matches featuring athletes who embody the true value of competition. Furthermore, the event will showcase an unprecedented Italian presence in the promotion’s history. The Naples edition is set to be the BKFC Italy event with the highest number of Italian fighters ever, several of whom come from Campania, confirming the strong link between the event, the territory, and a sporting tradition deeply rooted in one of the warmest and most passionate cities.
The promotion will feature 12 matches, each structured over 5 two-minute rounds. The evening’s program will be enriched by entertainment and musical guests to offer the public a Superbowl-style live experience that is engaging and exciting from every perspective.
Among the most anticipated names is Milanese fighter Walter Pugliesi, who has already been a protagonist in BKFC’s Italian journey. He is currently at the center of growing rumors; according to inside sources, his match could have extremely high stakes, turning into a world title challenge against Lorenzo Hunt, who boasts a record number of KOs and holds the number one pound-for-pound position in the promotion.
If confirmed, this hypothesis would give the Naples event even greater sporting value, combining Italian fighting pride with the global scale of the promotion. Ernesto Papa, another key figure for the national movement, will also return to the ring as part of a card aimed at showcasing the quality of Italian athletes and consolidating Italy’s role as one of the most interesting European markets for the growth of this new combat sport discipline.
The global face and frontman of BKFC will be CONOR MCGREGOR, who has also recently announced his official return to the ring on July 11th in Las Vegas. With over 67 million followers and a rock-star allure, CONOR MCGREGOR remains the only DOUBLE CHAMP, THE ONE AND ONLY athlete to hold UFC championship titles in two weight classes simultaneously. The growing success of BKFC, which he co-owns and fondly defines as “the purest form of boxing,” is also thanks to him.
The promotion is exclusively managed in Italy by the international group Gabriel & Spirits, supported by Dreel Holding Live Entertainment as well as the Penelope Foundation, which serves as the social and charitable link for the evening.
The event will benefit from an impressive media campaign involving Virgin Radio, Radio Norba, and Subasio from Radio Mediaset, Corriere dello Sport, Tutto Sport, Urban Vision, and Rolling Stone. Additionally, Fortitude Sport Entertainment is the exclusive partner for the influencer and social media segment, deploying a dedicated squad of talent to amplify the event’s content.
Tickets for the event are available on the platforms www.ticketone.it and www.arenaflegrea.it.
Even before the official launch, several brands have already come on board, foremost among them Harley-Davidson, the iconic American brand that will serve as the official motorbike partner.
The lineup of international guests already announced confirms the global reach of the event. Expected in Naples alongside Conor McGregor are Jean-Claude Van Damme, a former Asian martial arts champion and an absolute icon of action cinema, and Oleksandr Usyk, a champion who has defined an era in boxing.
Next to them, as seen in previous Italian editions, the presence of various well-known faces from television, sports, and music is also expected, confirming the event’s ability to attract diverse worlds: combat sports, entertainment, cinema, music, business, and popular culture.
At the center of this Italian operation is Gabriel Rapisarda, Executive Director of BKFC Italy and owner of the Gabriel & Spirits group—the architect of a growth strategy built on strategic vision, managerial discipline, and a deep understanding of sports entertainment dynamics.
“When we started, the goal was to bring an international format to Italy while respecting its identity and adapting it to our market. In just over a year, we have managed to create a solid, credible structure capable of engaging with major broadcasters, sponsors, and sports institutions, thanks also to the work of Dreel Holding Live Entertainment and the Penelope Foundation,” stated Gabriel Rapisarda, long-time business partner of Conor McGregor.
“We are thrilled to stand alongside a global icon like CONOR MCGREGOR, BKFC, and Gabriel Rapisarda in this new professional challenge that is bringing us great satisfaction. Dreel Holding has been working for months to produce a mainstream event that can deliver the emotion and media impact of this new discipline to the public. The presence of such prominent sponsors and media partners, along with the fantastic response from the Neapolitan public via web sales on TICKETONE and ARENA FLEGREA, confirms we are on the right track; we will be SOLD OUT in a few weeks. We can’t wait to feel the warmth of Naples and the Arena Flegrea,” stated Davide Bertagnon, founder of Dreel Holding Live Entertainment.