The sport of bare-knuckle boxing (BKB) has been revitalized in 2019 thanks to the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). However, their next event, BKFC 6, might not get to live up to its name.

According to Cageside Press’ Adam LeBarr, the Florida State Athletic Commission isn’t 100 percent on board with the idea of no glove boxing. BKFC 6 happens to be scheduled to take place in Tampa, Florida on June 22 after being relocated from the upper New England area.

“The Florida State Athletic Commission tells me BKFC 6, which takes place in Tampa, Flordia, will only be sanctioned with the use of gloves. It leaves the knuckles bare, but a glove nonetheless.” LeBarr’s tweet read.

A follow-up report from FloCombat further confirmed the initial report and stated that BKFC is looking into using “knuckle-less gloves.”

BKFC 6 is set to be headlined by the highly anticipated rivalry bout between former UFC featherweight and SBG staple, ‘The Russian Hammer’ Artem Lobov as he takes on and welcomes the formerly retired boxing world champion, Paulie Malignaggi to the BKB world.

Lobov made his BKB debut at BKFC 5 last month when he took on a fellow former UFC featherweight in Jason Knight as the two went to war over the course of their five-round affair. Lobov would end up being the one to walk away victorious via unanimous decision thus setting up the Malignaggi grudge match. It will be the 38-year old Malignaggi’s first time competing professionally since March 2017 when he suffered an eighth-round knockout loss to Sam Eggington.

Also scheduled for the event is the seasoned MMA veteran, Chris ‘The Crippler’ Leben who has been knocking people out left and right since coming out of retirement late last year. He’ll have his work cut out for him this time though as he’ll be welcoming former Bellator welterweight contender, Brennan Ward to the ring.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 5/20/2019