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India steps into global combat sports as Conor McGregor, WLF, Tiger Shroff & Parag Sanghvi unite to launch BKFC in India & UAE

SPOTLIGHT / Jan 16, 2026, 19:34 IST
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India steps into global combat sports as Conor McGregor, WLF, Tiger Shroff & Parag Sanghvi unite to launch BKFC in India & UAE
India officially enters the global combat sports arena as Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) and Bare Knuckle Fight League (BKFL) announce their first-ever launch in the country. Backed by World League of Fighters (WLF) and global icon Conor McGregor, the move brings together film producer Parag Sanghvi and Bollywood actor and martial artist Tiger Shroff to build a world-class combat sports franchise with India at its core.India will host a team-based bare-knuckle league format, positioning the competition as a global franchise model rather than a traditional fight event. The format is designed to elevate the pace, intensity, and scale of the sport, offering fans a faster, fiercer, and more immersive viewing experience worldwide.The inaugural teams announced include:Crushers • Punishers • Warriors • Phantoms • Gladiators • InfernosTo further strengthen the platform’s leadership, Rahul Saxena has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He is widely recognised for building and scaling multiple billion-dollar global brands, bringing unmatched commercial and operational expertise to the organisation. India, home to over 1.4 billion people, a deep-rooted martial tradition, and rapidly expanding sports viewership, now becomes a cornerstone of the global growth strategy for BKFC, BKFL, and WLF.Rajesh Banga, Sunil Mathew, co-founders, WLF stated:“India is not just a market, it is the future of global combat sports. Together with BKFC, BKFL, and WLF, we are building an ecosystem that will develop Indian fighters, create global stars, and deliver world-class fight entertainment to millions of fans.”
IMG_4541
Parag Sanghvi, Board Member, added:“This is where world-class storytelling meets raw, uncompromising sport. With WLF, BKFC, and Conor McGregor, we are not just launching a league, we are architecting a global sports IP from India that will command attention, talent, and fandom worldwide.”David Feldman, Founder and President of BKFC, said:“India has been on our roadmap for a long time. The scale, the energy, the culture — there is no place like it. With the leadership team we have assembled and our partnership with WLF, we are bringing the purest form of combat sports to a nation ready for it.”Conor McGregor, Global Partner, BKFC, said:“India has warriors in its DNA. What we’re building with BKFC and BKFL in India will be something the world has never seen before. This is not just expansion, this is a revolution.”
IMG_4540
Tiger Shroff, said:“Honoured to stand alongside Conor McGregor as we create something truly historic for Indian sport. This is more than a fight, it’s a global movement, and history is being written. Just like cinema, sport is a celebration of talent and skill, and Parag (Sanghvi) and I are committed to turning this into a landmark moment for India.”The first official BKFC and BKFL team-based events are scheduled for 2026, with venue and fight card announcements coming soon.Disclaimer: The article has been produced on behalf of Parag Sanghvi by the Times Internet's Spotlight team.
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India steps into global combat sports as Conor McGregor, WLF, Tiger Shroff & Parag Sanghvi unite to launch BKFC in India & UAE

SPOTLIGHT / Jan 16, 2026, 19:34 IST
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India steps into global combat sports as Conor McGregor, WLF, Tiger Shroff & Parag Sanghvi unite to launch BKFC in India & UAE
India officially enters the global combat sports arena as Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) and Bare Knuckle Fight League (BKFL) announce their first-ever launch in the country. Backed by World League of Fighters (WLF) and global icon Conor McGregor, the move brings together film producer Parag Sanghvi and Bollywood actor and martial artist Tiger Shroff to build a world-class combat sports franchise with India at its core.India will host a team-based bare-knuckle league format, positioning the competition as a global franchise model rather than a traditional fight event. The format is designed to elevate the pace, intensity, and scale of the sport, offering fans a faster, fiercer, and more immersive viewing experience worldwide.The inaugural teams announced include:Crushers • Punishers • Warriors • Phantoms • Gladiators • InfernosTo further strengthen the platform’s leadership, Rahul Saxena has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He is widely recognised for building and scaling multiple billion-dollar global brands, bringing unmatched commercial and operational expertise to the organisation. India, home to over 1.4 billion people, a deep-rooted martial tradition, and rapidly expanding sports viewership, now becomes a cornerstone of the global growth strategy for BKFC, BKFL, and WLF.Rajesh Banga, Sunil Mathew, co-founders, WLF stated:“India is not just a market, it is the future of global combat sports. Together with BKFC, BKFL, and WLF, we are building an ecosystem that will develop Indian fighters, create global stars, and deliver world-class fight entertainment to millions of fans.”
IMG_4541
Parag Sanghvi, Board Member, added:“This is where world-class storytelling meets raw, uncompromising sport. With WLF, BKFC, and Conor McGregor, we are not just launching a league, we are architecting a global sports IP from India that will command attention, talent, and fandom worldwide.”David Feldman, Founder and President of BKFC, said:“India has been on our roadmap for a long time. The scale, the energy, the culture — there is no place like it. With the leadership team we have assembled and our partnership with WLF, we are bringing the purest form of combat sports to a nation ready for it.”Conor McGregor, Global Partner, BKFC, said:“India has warriors in its DNA. What we’re building with BKFC and BKFL in India will be something the world has never seen before. This is not just expansion, this is a revolution.”
IMG_4540
Tiger Shroff, said:“Honoured to stand alongside Conor McGregor as we create something truly historic for Indian sport. This is more than a fight, it’s a global movement, and history is being written. Just like cinema, sport is a celebration of talent and skill, and Parag (Sanghvi) and I are committed to turning this into a landmark moment for India.”The first official BKFC and BKFL team-based events are scheduled for 2026, with venue and fight card announcements coming soon.Disclaimer: The article has been produced on behalf of Parag Sanghvi by the Times Internet's Spotlight team.
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