Jon Jones’ IBA Bare Knuckle promotion leaves Russia for Miami, former UFC fighter headlines

Move over, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), because International Boxing Association (IBA) Bare Knuckle is headed to America.

The bare-knuckle promotion, which former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight champion Jon Jones serves as an ambassador for, is leaving Russia and bringing its first North American event to Downtown Miami.

IBA Bare Knuckle will make its United States debut on Sat., July 18, 2026, inside James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida.

Jones announced his partnership with the promotion earlier this year and has been a fixture at its events since, including Yoel Romero’ssurprise debut with IBA.

Now, the promotion is attempting to make a splash in the United States.

Headlining the event will be former BKFC champion Elvin Brito, who takes on former UFC veteran Viacheslav Borshchev, better known as “Slava Claus.” Borshchev will be making his bare-knuckle debut and competing for just the second time since being released from UFC.

In addition, former WBA Super Featherweight champion Javier Fortuna will make his bare-knuckle debut against former boxer-turned-bare-knuckle brawler Alejandro Munera.

The promotion also announced that several former UFC, LFA, Contender Series, local and international fighters will compete on the debut card.

“Legendary UFC champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones will be on hand as the official ambassador for IBA Bare Knuckle as the fast-growing international promotion launches its first event in the United States,” the promotion wrote in a press release. “Experience an unforgettable night of world-class bare-knuckle action as one of combat sports’ fastest-rising organizations brings its global platform to Miami.”

Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster.

Doors open at 6 p.m. ET, with the first fight scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

BKFC has owned much of the bare-knuckle space in the United States for years, but with Jones attached and IBA bringing its operation to Miami, another player is officially entering the market.

Let the bare-knuckle wars begin.

To checkout the latest bare knuckle-related news and notes click Jon Jones’ IBA Bare Knuckle promotion.