The highly anticipated rematch between Connor Tierney and Rico Franco is set to headline BKFC 90 this weekend. An undercard competitor, George Hillyard, a former BKB Bare Knuckle fighter, has shared his insights on this upcoming bout.
The fight, scheduled for May 30th in Birmingham, will be for the interim BKFC welterweight championship. Hillyard, who will be facing Luke Brassfield on the same event that also features Darren Till’s BKFC debut, was a contemporary of both fighters in the bare-knuckle circuit.
Recalling their first encounter, which was a swift affair, Hillyard was asked if he expected the BKFC 90 rematch to unfold differently. He stated, “Yeah, I do. Well, I don’t see it being the same way as [the first fight]. I still see it being the same victorious, but I don’t think it’ll be as quick as what people think it’s going to be, if that makes sense. I think we’ll see a little bit more action from it.”
BKFC 90 Connor Tierney vs. Rico Franco II: A Look Back
The first clash between Connor Tierney and Rico Franco occurred on March 19th, 2019, at BKB 16. In the lightweight prizefighter semi-final, Franco, known as ‘Bon Bon’, secured a decisive victory by knocking out Tierney mere seconds into the bout. This win propelled Franco to the prizefighter tournament finals, where he ultimately triumphed against James Connelly.
This marked Tierney’s first defeat in bare-knuckle boxing. Now, a new decade later, they are set to face off again under the BKFC banner. Both fighters have previously held European and UK titles within BKFC. While Franco has challenged for world titles, neither has yet secured a BKFC world championship. This weekend’s bout offers the winner the interim 165-pound strap in what promises to be a compelling contest of “repeat or revenge.”
BKFC 90: Rico Franco Expected to Repeat Victory Against Connor Tierney, Says Former BKB Vet
The upcoming BKFC 90 event will feature a highly anticipated rematch between Connor Tierney and Rico Franco for the interim welterweight title. Former BKB fighter George Hillyard, who competes on the same card, has offered his prediction.
Hillyard believes Rico Franco will once again emerge victorious over Connor Tierney at BKFC 90 on May 30th in Birmingham. While Hillyard anticipates a different outcome than their first fight, he still predicts a win for Franco, though he expects more action this time around.
The initial bout between Franco and Tierney took place in 2019 under the BKB promotion, where Franco secured a quick knockout victory. Both fighters have since achieved success in BKFC, holding regional titles, but neither has yet captured a world championship in the promotion. The winner of this rematch will be awarded the interim BKFC welterweight belt.
