Why BKFC Is Closing Its Men’s 125-Pound Class

Why is BKFC ending its flyweight division?

BKFC plans to stop running its men’s 125-pound class. President David Feldman gave a practical reason: the promotion does not have enough fighters to keep a full division going. He confirmed the plan in an interview with Home of Fight on October 16, 2026. ¹²

That is the explanation available in the reporting. It does not include a count of eligible fighters, a timeline for the change, or details about any effort to recruit more competitors. So the decision’s stated basis is clear, but the size and history of the problem are not. ¹²

A division is a group of fighters organised around a weight limit. Ending one affects more than the label attached to a championship: it can also raise questions about who can compete against whom and what opportunities remain for its athletes. In this case, the sources do not provide BKFC’s detailed arrangements for those matters.

What does the decision mean for John Dodson’s title?

The reports describe John Dodson as BKFC’s flyweight titleholder. Bloody Elbow says Feldman’s announcement means Dodson will not defend that championship again. ²

Dodson was also preparing to seek a second BKFC championship at an event the report calls BKFC 95. That helps explain why the division’s closure is an immediate concern for him: he may continue competing, but the reporting does not establish what his future status at 125 pounds will be. ²

The belt’s formal status is not specified. The sources do not say whether BKFC will declare it vacant, retire it, or use another designation. Those are different possibilities, and it would be premature to treat any one of them as confirmed.

What is known about Andrew Strode and the other fighters?

The Times of India names Andrew Strode as another fighter whose situation is uncertain. The information supplied from that report does not say whether Strode has a scheduled bout, what weight he might compete at next, or whether his relationship with BKFC will change. ¹

The same gap applies to the rest of the division’s roster. No fighter-by-fighter plan appears in the available reporting. A move to a different class, a break from competition, or a departure from BKFC should not be assumed without confirmation.

For a fighter, the practical consequences could depend on individual circumstances, including available opponents and future match arrangements. The sources do not describe those circumstances for Strode or other athletes, so they cannot establish what each person’s options will be.

Does this end flyweight competition outside BKFC?

The announcement reported here is about BKFC’s men’s 125-pound division. It should not be read as a decision by every combat-sports organisation to remove flyweight competition. The supplied reports do not announce changes to other promotions or to other BKFC divisions. ¹²

Bloody Elbow contrasts BKFC’s move with the UFC’s experience. It says the UFC’s 125-pound class recovered interest after 2020, following earlier discussion of possibly discontinuing it. That comparison shows that one promotion’s decision does not determine what another will do. ²

The sources do not explain whether BKFC could bring back the class if the available roster changed. There is no reported condition, review date, or promise about reopening it.

What should readers watch for next?

The key unresolved questions are the timetable, the title’s official status, and the next steps for affected fighters. The reports establish Feldman’s stated reason and indicate that Dodson will not defend the flyweight belt again, but they do not supply a complete implementation plan. ¹²

An official BKFC announcement or a direct statement from the fighters could clarify those points. Until then, the most accurate summary is limited: BKFC intends to stop operating the men’s 125-pound division because it says the roster is not large enough, while the precise arrangements for its titleholders and other athletes have not been reported. ¹²