Bec Rawlings proud to be trendsetter in BKFC and fighters starting OnlyFans pages: ‘I’m not afraid t

[DVTimes]

Bec Rawlings proud to be trendsetter in BKFC and fighters starting OnlyFans pages: ‘I’m not afraid to take risks’

https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/6/2...-to-take-risks

When Bec Rawlings signed with BKFC in 2018, she was one the first high-profile athletes to take a chance on bare-knuckle at a time when the sport was still seeking legalization in most states, much less gaining any kind of mainstream acceptance.

Four years later, as she prepares to make her return at BKFC 26, the 33-year-old Australian has seen the bare-knuckle promotion flourish into a player in the combat sports space with events taking place all across the U.S. and internationally. BKFC has stolen headlines from more established boxing and MMA organizations, staging fights like the showdown between Artem Lobov and Pauli Malignaggi as well as signing Paige VanZant after she exited the UFC.

While Rawlings, who these days goes by her married name Rodriguez, doesn’t take credit for the work BKFC has done to grow itself into a much bigger organization, she’s proud that she saw potential in bare-knuckle fighting long before it was popular.

“It’s definitely cool to see the promotion grow,” Rawlings told MMA Fighting. “It’s definitely cool to see. I know there’s been some slight comments from Britain [Hart] saying I left and I’ve come back after they’ve done all the hard work, and it’s been getting under my skin. It’s like b****, I’m the reason you’re signed. I’m the reason the girls have the biggest division right now.

“I took the gamble and had the first fight. No one knew what we were walking in on when I first signed with bare-knuckle. I had no idea what was going to happen with the promotion so I think she needs to remember that I was the first, I was the one that took the gamble. Respect where it’s due, I think. I’m definitely excited to see the changes in the promotion, there’s bigger names, more hype and I’m definitely excited.”

Rawlings was part of the inaugural BKFC card that took place in Cheyenne, Wyoming in what was ultimately the first sanctioned bare-knuckle event held in the United States since 1889.

As she returns 25 events later, Rawlings is happy she played some small part in bringing attention to the sport when so many naysayers scoffed at BKFC finding success. Add to that, she’s seen the explosion of a women’s division, something she hoped would happen. But even she’s been impressed by what she’s seen with fighters like VanZant, Pearl Gonzalaez and Rachael Ostovich now calling bare-knuckle their home.

“I’m happy I could be a part of that history,” Rawlings said. “It’s only going to get bigger from here. It’s really cool to see the girl’s division really take off. That’s the main attraction. Everyone’s hyped and pumped about our division and that’s really f****** cool to see in combat sports.

“Sometimes the girls get forgotten about, especially in boxing. So things are changing and it’s cool to be a part of it.”

When she left BKFC after three fights in 2019, Rawlings was undefeated and a champion in the organization before she returned to MMA by inking a deal with Bellator. Unfortunately, her time in the Paramount-owned company was cut short thanks to the global pandemic, which shut down a lot of international travel. In her home of Australia, she was essentially stuck without any options to fight. Then her Bellator contract expired, which led the way to her return to BKFC.