Connor Tierney, who suffered a broken jaw split in two at BKFC 90 during a rematch with Rico Franco, has announced he is cutting short the retirement he declared immediately after the injury. The 'Brum Town Bomber' told Bloody Elbow that the second-round stoppage — triggered by an unseen headbutt before he was dropped multiple times — left him in some of the worst pain of his life, spending seven hours in an emergency department before being treated. Now 31 and back in the gym, Tierney said he reconsidered walking away after reflecting on fighters still competing into their 40s, and BKFC President Dave Feldman has confirmed his return.
Connor Tierney is coming back to bare-knuckle boxing, reversing the retirement he declared in the immediate aftermath of a brutal injury sustained at BKFC 90.
The Birmingham native, known as the "Brum Town Bomber," broke his jaw in two during a rematch with Rico Franco, a second-round stoppage that left him in some of the worst pain of his life. Tierney told Bloody Elbow that the finish was triggered by an unseen headbutt before he was knocked down multiple times, and the damage was severe enough that he spent seven hours in an emergency department before receiving treatment.
In the raw emotion that followed, Tierney announced his retirement. At 31 years old, however, he reconsidered. He pointed to fighters who continue competing well into their 40s as part of his reasoning, and said he has already returned to the gym. BKFC President Dave Feldman has confirmed that Tierney's return to the promotion is on.
Why it matters
- A broken jaw split in two represents one of the more serious injuries seen in bare-knuckle competition, making Tierney's decision to return a significant storyline for BKFC.
- At 31, Tierney argues he has meaningful career time remaining, and the promotion's backing from Feldman signals he will have a platform to prove it.
- The circumstances of the stoppage — an unseen headbutt before the knockdowns — add an unresolved competitive dimension to the Franco rivalry that could shape Tierney's path back.
