BKFC champ Kai Stewart reveals he was ‘so close’ to fighting Cody Garbrandt in bare-knuckle before he re-signed with UFC

Bare-knuckle fighting champion Kai Stewart is preparing to defend his BKFC featherweight title for the seventh consecutive time against Harry Gigliotti at Fenway Park in Boston on August 29, but the decorated champion has bigger ambitions on his radar. Stewart recently revealed that a potential showdown with former UFC champion Cody Garbrandt nearly came to fruition in the bare-knuckle ranks before Garbrandt re-signed with the UFC.

According to Stewart, negotiations for a bare-knuckle bout between the two fighters advanced far enough that he believed the matchup was imminent. "I was so close to fighting Cody Garbrandt," Stewart told MMA Fighting. "It was so close to being done for KnuckleMania that I just feel like I have to get that one." However, Garbrandt ultimately signed a multi-fight contract extension with the UFC, shelving any immediate plans for a crossover bout. Stewart says he heard the news directly from Garbrandt, who explained that the UFC's offer was too lucrative to turn down.

Despite the disappointment, Stewart maintains that the door remains open for a future clash with Garbrandt and continues to view such a fight as a career-defining opportunity. The BKFC champion believes facing top-tier competition like Garbrandt would establish his credibility against the best, a goal that drives his current focus. Following his title defense at Fenway Park, Stewart intends to reassess his options and determine how best to maximize his exposure and earning potential, whether that involves moving up in weight class or pursuing other high-profile opportunities within bare-knuckle fighting.