By Josh Clare – BkN UK
A Name That Needs No Introduction
If you’ve followed bare-knuckle boxing for any decent stretch of time, the name Dan McGraffin will ring loud in your head. He’s one of those rare throwback scrappers who never needed flashy promos or padded records — his fights did all the talking.
Dan’s never been the loudest man in the room but Look HE WILL SHOUT if he feels the need to . His reputation’s been carved the old-fashioned way — by fighting whoever, wherever, whenever. If there’s ever been a poster boy for ‘no easy touches,’ it’s him. He’s Back into the deep end where he likes it as he takes on ROBERT KOKY . An international BKB fighter from eastern Europe now Signed with Polar fight management.
BKB Debut for the History Books
McGraffin’s crowning moment is still talked about in half-shocked tones by the old fans who rember it all unfolding . On his BKB™ debut — his debut — he got offered none other than Dan “Lionheart” Lerwell. Back then, Lerwell was the reigning king of BKB, folding anyone daft enough to step up. Nobody wanted that smoke. Nobody — except McGraffin.
No tune-up, no gentle welcome — just the toughest man in the division on night one. And what did Dan do? He stripped the crown right off the Lionheart’s head and made it look like he’d been champ all along. That’s who we’re talking about here — a fighter’s fighter, built different.
Daring to Be Great — Even When It Hurts
Taking risks is part of Dan’s DNA. Remember when he stepped up to face LT “Smash” Nelson? That wasn’t a standard fight — that was at 74kg, a punishing cut for a lad built like Dan. Lesser men would’ve swerved it. Dan didn’t blink.
He went in there and paid the price that night — a snapped leg, surgery, a brutal setback. But ask him if he regrets it and he’ll probably grin and crack open a Stella. You can’t teach that attitude — it’s born, not made.
Still Young and Hungry enough
People forget — in the grand scheme of things, Dan’s still young in this game. There’s plenty of miles left on the clock. This isn’t an old lad rolling back the years for a farewell payday — this is a proper bare-knuckle fighter putting himself back in the fire because he’s still got something to prove.
And what’s he after? It’s simple — he wants the fucking belt back. He’s not here to make up the numbers or play second fiddle to anyone. He wants that world title back round his waist, where he knows it belongs.
this comeback isn’t some fairytale painted up for social media likes. A few months back i went up to Carlisle with Dan to watch him spar. He was about six or seven weeks out from fight night, in with Danny “The Bastard” Christie — BKFC’s heavy-hitter.
What I saw wasn’t pretty. Dan was far from ready — cardio gone, carrying too much timber, the lot. He still held his own because he’s a stubborn Geordie — but the version I saw back then wouldn’t have lasted three rounds in the Trigon.
From Out of Shape to FIGHTING FIT
But here’s where this story flips. Fast forward to now — fight week. McGraffin’s stripped down, lean again, back to that old war-ready form that made him a champ in the first place. The Stella’s still there, don’t worry — but so’s the switch in his head. The fight’s all that matters again.
He’s not coming to fill a slot on someone else’s highlight reel — he’s coming to tear through whoever’s put in front of him, so he can get back to where he belongs: top of the mountain, belt round his waist, Stella in his hand.
Final Word from Josh
For those who love their bare-knuckle raw, real, and ruled by fighters, not suits Dan McGraffin’s your man. He’s back in the Trigon, back doing what he does best: daring to be great, belt hunting like a man possessed. And that’s why we watch this sport.
Welcome back, Dan. The bare-knuckle game’s nastier, louder, and better with you swinging fists inside it. And if you get that strap back — nobody can say you didn’t earn every last inch of it.
