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, doesnāt take credit for the work BKFC has done to grow itself into a much bigger organization, sheās proud that she saw potential in bare-knuckle fighting long before it was popular.
āItās definitely cool to see the promotion grow,ā Rawlings told MMA Fighting. āItās definitely cool to see. I know thereās been some slight comments from Britain [Hart] saying I left and Iāve come back after theyāve done all the hard work, and itās been getting under my skin. Itās like b****, Iām the reason youāre signed. Iām the reason the girls have the biggest division right now.
āI 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 itās due, I think. Iām definitely excited to see the changes in the promotion, thereās bigger names, more hype and Iām definitely excited.ā
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, sheās seen the explosion of a womenās division, something she hoped would happen. But even sheās been impressed by what sheās seen with fighters like VanZant, Pearl Gonzalaez and Rachael Ostovich now calling bare-knuckle their home.
āIām happy I could be a part of that history,ā Rawlings said. āItās only going to get bigger from here. Itās really cool to see the girlās division really take off. Thatās the main attraction. Everyoneās hyped and pumped about our division and thatās really f****** cool to see in combat sports.
āSometimes the girls get forgotten about, especially in boxing. So things are changing and itās cool to be a part of it.ā
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.
During a two-year stretch where she couldnāt compete, Rawlings faced the financial reality of fight career that no longer provided any income. It was during that time that she started an OnlyFans page ā a creator-driven website where users can charge subscriptions and other fees for access to photos and videos with many of the most popular pages.
OnlyFans first came to prominence when sex workers flocked there because of the creative control they had over the product, which resulted in a much bigger profit margin thanks to the money being paid directly to them.
Much like her journey into bare-knuckle, Rawlings became one of the first fighters to start an OnlyFans page, and now sheās witnessed dozens of athletes from promotions like the UFC, Bellator and BKFC follow her there.
Rawlings wasnāt exactly trying to start a trend by joining up with the adult-oriented website, but she also has no regrets whatsoever, especially considering how OnlyFans has essentially been her only source of income for the past two years.
āIām not afraid to take risks,ā she said. āI think a lot of people were a little bit scared to jump over to OnlyFans out of fear of backlash. Like, āOoh are you doing porn? Are you a porn star?ā They were kind of scared of that, the stigma that OnlyFans had behind it. I pride myself on not giving a f*** what other people think. So I take the gamble and itās paid off.
āWithout my OnlyFans right now without being able to fight for two years, I would be homeless. It was worth the risk. It was worth the gamble. Iām never going to sit back and not do things out of fear of what people might think of me. Cause Iāve figured out people are going to hate regardless. Theyāre going to find a reason to hate if theyāre going to hate. I donāt care anymore. Iām going to do me and hope that it pays off.ā
Following in Rawlingsā footsteps, VanZant started a website similar to the OnlyFans format, and she said the money from that venture has paid her more than sheās ever made from fighting.
Rawlings continues to reap the benefits from her own page, and sheās defiant about anyone who disparages her from making money however she sees fit.
āI donāt understand the stigma behind it or why people care,ā she said. āItās almost like when they judge you for being a fighter cause they would never have the balls to do it themselves. I think thatās where a lot of the hate comes from. Itās because theyāre actually jealous that you donāt care and youāre willing to take a risk, to get the biscuit. Risk it for the biscuit.
āItās cool to kind of lead the way there, and itās really nice to have security and control over your own income as well. Not having to rely on promoters and fights and kind of get bossed around. You have the opportunity to put whatever you want out there, make the money however you want, thereās no one telling you, you have to do this, or you have to do that. Itās nice to have the control finally.ā
As much as she loves the financial freedom that OnlyFans provides, Rawlings is still a fighter first, and thatās why sheās happy to finally get back to doing what she loves most. Itās been over two years since sheās fought professionally, and over three years since she was crowned as the āqueen of bare-knuckle,ā so she is anxious to remind the world what sheās all about.
āIām chomping at the bit,ā Rawlings said. āItās been two years since I fought. Itās been out of my control. Itās been really frustrating to be honest, cause Iāve been in and out of fight camp for about a year now. Iām ready to punch a b**** in the face.ā
Butthole pics?
āTrendsetterā is giving herself a lot of credit.
Early adopter seems more reasonable.
edit
Who the fuck actually pays to see only fans pictures?
Anyone else click cause they saw Bec Rawlins āTransgenderā
U aināt a real UGāer if u didnātā¦
Bitch hasnāt had a BK fight in 3.5yrsā¦
I have loads of her nooodes
Her nipples are good the rest/including her tattoos are.
Who would pay to see her naked ? Jeez bunch of nerds
I donāt pay to see her naked ā¦
Donāt know if u have heard but there is a thing called the internet, and they show leaked OnlyFans Pics Faggit
U wanna see any fighters Dongās?
Iāll PM uā¦
prove it
That seems like a lot of work. But if it was posted on this thread I might click back in a couple of days.