Former UFC contender Aspen Ladd has signed a multi-fight deal with the bare-knuckle promotion BKB. The move marks a formal shift in her career focus following a successful bare-knuckle debut last year. The contract is reportedly a four-fight agreement, though her first opponent and event date have not yet been announced.
Ladd’s career has seen several shifts. She had a seven-fight run in the UFC which ended after consecutive losses to Raquel Pennington and Norma Dumont. Her time in the promotion was also marked by a significant weight miss for a scheduled 2022 bout against Sara McMann, which ultimately led to her departure. Following the UFC, Ladd competed for the PFL, where she compiled a record of 3-2.
Her transition to glove-less competition began in November at BKFC 84, where she secured a first-round knockout victory. This new contract with BKB represents a full commitment to the discipline. Ladd expressed her readiness for the change in a press release. “I’m excited for this next chapter and the opportunity to compete in BKB,” she stated. “Bare knuckle boxing brings out a different level of intensity and authenticity, and that’s something that really appeals to me as a fighter. I can’t wait to and show BKB fans what I can do inside the Trigon.”
For BKB, the signing adds another fighter with high-level MMA experience to its roster. For Ladd, it offers a fresh start in a new sport, potentially leaving behind the weight-cutting issues that affected her MMA career while leveraging her proven power in a different ruleset.
