BKFC 81 is rolling into Manchester, and if there’s one thing we know about Bare Knuckle FC, it’s that they don’t do quiet nights. The promotion has made its name by serving raw violence with no gloves and no mercy. Throw Conor McGregor into the mix as a co-owner, and suddenly BKFC isn’t just underground grit — it’s a mainstream spectacle. The last few shows have delivered fireworks, but this weekend? The story goes even deeper. 

Because headlining in Manchester is a man whose life sounds more like a Hollywood script than a fight poster. Matt “The Jedi” Floyd, a former bikie gang leader turned boxer, is stepping into bare-knuckle combat for the very first time. His opponent? Former world champion James DeGale, the Olympic gold medalist and ex-IBF titleholder. That clash alone has fight fans buzzing — but the road that got Floyd here is what makes this main event so captivating.

Where is Matt Floyd from? Early life & background   

Floyd was born in Adelaide, South Australia, on March 22, 1989. His parents moved him to Perth when he was just six months old, and it was there he grew up. But “grew up” might be too clean a phrase — his childhood was marked by abuse, fear, and brushes with the law before he’d even started school.

According to The West Australian, Floyd was sexually abused as a child and spent most of his early years in juvenile detention before he had even started school. Life didn’t improve much afterward, as he often found himself in constant fights with fellow students. Looking back, he described the experience as terrifying, “I remember the fear I had as a child. You can’t understand how scared I was. I created a man who wasn’t scared of any person. That’s the person I became.”

Despite his troubled childhood, Floyd always showed natural boxing talent. Trainers who watched him believed he had a bright future in the sport. But that dream quickly began to fade when he became a father at just 16 years old. From there, chasing a career in combat sports started to feel like an unreachable dream, and things only got worse.  

The Aussie’s affiliation with a biker gang 

After becoming a parent at such a young age, Floyd had to find ways to support himself. To make ends meet, he turned to stripping. In his interview with The West Australian, he recalled: “I had to earn and I looked the goods, so I started working as a stripper.” But his struggles didn’t stop there. In his early 20s, Floyd was arrested for possession of ecstasy tablets.

Not long after, he became involved with a bikie gang in Western Australia known as the Lone Wolf club. “I was made president pretty quickly,” Floyd admitted. Under his leadership, the gang often targeted and beat down child abusers. According to the report, one of their victims was even a registered policeman. That chapter of his life eventually led to Floyd serving six years in prison. However, in 2018, the major shift in his life came when he got out of jail and picked up the gloves once again. 

‘The Jedi’s boxing record 

After going through a life of hardship, Matt Floyd finally turned pro in 2021. The Aussie quickly began racking up wins, building an impressive streak. It wasn’t until last year that he suffered his first loss against Sirimongkhon Iamthuam in Bangkok—a defeat he later avenged in Turkey. Competing in the light heavyweight division, Floyd went on to earn a 15-2-0 professional boxing record.

Inside the ring, Floyd was never knocked out. On the contrary, he boasts 10 knockouts of his own—a clear testament to his striking power. Now, as he prepares to leave boxing behind and step into a brand-new sport, the question remains: what can Matt Floyd achieve in BKFC? Could we eventually see him square off against stars like Mike Perry or Jeremy Stephens?

Right now, the influencer boxing scene is booming, with BKFC and Misfits putting together wildly entertaining cards for fans. The future definitely looks bright. But can Floyd get past this weekend’s challenge first? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!