By admin 
It’s hard not to respect what Dan Podmore does for a living. If there is any confusion about his profession, the context clues give you all the hints.
Read more USMNT Called Up Eight Teenagers-Pochettino Says It’s Not Some Silly Experiment
The tracks on his face, particularly around his eyes; the scar on his right hand from the tooth he knocked out of someone’s mouth during a street fight where he defended himself against three hotheads; the deep growl of his Birmingham accent… Podmore is a fighter.
But unlike most fighters that are part of the civilized combat sports world, Dan is part of the brutal, but increasingly popular world of bare knuckle boxing.
On Saturday Sept. 19, Dan ¨Big Pod¨ Podmore makes his North American debut in a bout against Julian Fernandez at BKB 59 in Tijuana, Mexico. He took some time to speak with me over breakfast about his latest title shot, where he sees the sport going, and why it will overtake traditional boxing in popularity the next 5 years.
I’m just a fighter
When you scratch past the rough exterior, what you find once you have a conversation with Dan Podmore is that he’s just as rough underneath.
¨If I was born in a different era I would have been a Viking or a gladiator. I’m just a fighter,¨Podmore told me as he sipped coffee while I enjoyed my breakfast. 48 hours out from the fight, Podmore was still in training. He weighed in at 93 kilos the night prior, and he needs to get down to 90 by fight night.
Big Pod is one of the bare knuckle OGs. He started in the sport a decade ago and is a four-time world champion. He has a chance to become a five-time champion if he beats Fernandez for the Super Cruiserweight World title Saturday.
Related: Boxing Legend Calls Out Current Generation, Shakur Stevenson (He’s Not Wrong)
But despite the inherent barbarism of a sport that eschews the safety regulations that make combat sports palatable to mass audiences, Podmore and Fernandez have nothing but respect for each other.
¨Dan Podmore is a very experienced fighter and a former world champion, so I know I have a tough challenge in front of me,¨ Fernandez said. ¨I respect what Dan has accomplished, but when that door closes, I’m going to defend my title and give the fans a fight they won’t forget.¨
Podmore likewise also has a lot of respect for Julian ¨El Guerrero Mexicano¨ Fernandez, and is ready to give him full credit if he wins. But he’s coming to win.
Read more Pirates turn big second inning into 7-4 win over Brewers
¨I know if he beats me he’s legit. But I know he’s never made it out of the first round, so Im going to test him,¨Podmore said.
Podmore wants to stick to the gameplan
At 38, Podmore has been in a lot of wars during his career, and he believes his experience will be the deciding factor in the fight.
¨Experience is going to be a big factor. Ive been in the trenches Ive walked through that fire and Ive come out the other side. The guys he’s been with in before haven’t been able to test him haven’t been able to hit him,¨ he said.
But Fernandez isn’t champion for no reason. At 6´3¨, he is taller than most of the fighters, and his 80 inch reach could cause problems for Podmore, who is listed as 6´2¨ but isn’t actually quite that tall in person. But once again, he plans on using his experience to make up the difference.
¨He’s a very slick fighter. He’s also very tall so I will work the body. He looks susceptible around the body,¨ Podmore said. ¨I’ve had a ton of experience fighting guys that are 6´3, 6´5¨, 6´7¨… I dont have a problem with size. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Ive got a lot of heart.¨
What’s next for BKB
Despite numerous issues that plague the broader sport, combat sports are having a renaissance in America. Between the UFC, traditional boxing and bare knuckle boxing, young people seem to be flocking to the sport.
BKB is the most popular live sport on TikTok, often averaging viewership times above 5 minutes for its events on a platform where the average time spent on a video is less than 10 seconds. That type of momentum has Podmore looking at a bright future for bare knuckle boxing.
¨I think it’ll overtake pro boxing and be as big as the UFC in the next five years. If you speak to people now and ask them what you would rather watch, pro boxing or BKB, most would say bare knuckle,¨ he said.
While the viewership numbers don’t quite back up that statement yet, the shorter match times, quicker pace and smaller ring do lend itself well to a generation of fans that have an increasingly short attention span.
¨It’s the fastest growing sport in the world and the most exciting. It’s new to us, but it’s not new to the world,¨Podmore said. ¨People are tired of watching boring 12 round gloved boxing, they’d rather watch 6 rounds of fast paced fights. People lose interest the longer the fights go on. It keeps people engaged.¨
Read more Could the Washington Commanders new DC stadium host the Super Bowl?
Related: UFC: Who Will Get the Next Heavyweight Title Shot?
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published September 17, 2026 at 1:03 PM.