Kris Moutinho has signed with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and will make his bareknuckle debut on August 21 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, facing Michael Hernandez in a featherweight bout at BKFC Fight Night. Moutinho, 33, departs the UFC after going 0-2 in his second stint under the promotion, with losses to Malcolm Wellmaker and Cristian Quinonez. Prior to the BKFC signing, he picked up a pro MMA win in Portugal over Zebenzui Ruiz by unanimous decision, lifting his MMA record to 15-8. Hernandez, 40, carries a 1-1 bareknuckle record after previously compiling an 11-4 pro MMA mark that included a Bellator appearance.
Kris Moutinho is taking his fight career in a new direction, signing with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and booking his bareknuckle debut for August 21 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. He will meet Michael Hernandez in a featherweight contest at BKFC Fight Night.
Moutinho, 33, arrives at BKFC following the end of his second run in the UFC, where he went 0-2 with losses to Malcolm Wellmaker and Cristian Quinonez. Before inking the BKFC deal, he traveled to Portugal and picked up a pro MMA victory over Zebenzui Ruiz by unanimous decision, lifting his overall MMA record to 15-8. The American southpaw trains out of Rivera Athletic Center and stands five-foot-seven with a 68-inch reach. During his UFC tenure he averaged 3.35 significant strikes landed per minute, a number that reflects the aggressive, pressure-heavy style that made him a fan favorite in his debut against Sean O'Malley back in 2021.
Hernandez, 40, brings a different résumé to the table. He carries a 1-1 bareknuckle record, giving him more direct experience in the format than his opponent, and previously built an 11-4 mark in professional MMA that included a Bellator appearance.
Why it matters
- Moutinho steps into a discipline that rewards relentless forward pressure, a hallmark of his fighting style.
- Hernandez's existing bareknuckle experience gives him a tangible edge in adapting to the knuckle-on-face format.
- The August 21 card marks another high-profile MMA crossover signing for BKFC as the promotion continues to attract fighters with name recognition from major organizations.
- A win could establish Moutinho as a credible threat in the BKFC featherweight division immediately.
