UFC veteran Joe Riggs is set to return to action at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 6 when he takes on Walber Brito de Barros on Saturday. Riggs is excited to make his second appearance with the promotion after defeating Heriberto Tovar in his debut this past February.
“I have been boxing since I was 10. After I left the UFC, my first fight I got offered was a bare-knuckle fight in England,” Riggs told Sherdog,com regarding his start in bare-knuckle boxing. “I fought several times in England and own their title then the promoter up there was a piece of s–t. He lied and is like 99 percent of the promoters. A good friend of mine, Sean Wheelock said Dave Feldman was starting up BKFC and he gave my number to Dave and the rest is history.”
Riggs is confident that his previous experience will give him an edge against Barros. Barros also has had a middling MMA career, with a 6-7 career mark that includes appearances in World Series of Fighting and Shooto Brazil.
“I go in every fight confident. I don’t know much about him, from what I know it is his first bare-knuckle fight,” Riggs said. “His MMA record isn’t that good either, so I don’t know if he was a striker or grappler or what. I can’t imagine a person wanting to fight me in their first bare-knuckle fight.”
Riggs is excited to fight sans gloves again as part of BKFC’s biggest card to date, an event which will feature a highly-anticipated grudge match between Artem Lobo and Paulie Malignaggi. Riggs is ready to put on a show for the fans on Saturday.
“Dave called and asked if I wanted to fight on this card and it was an easy decision. It is a massive card, so it is going to be huge,” Riggs concluded. “I’m going to put on the best show I have ever.”