When the gloves came off for Nate Maness, there were mixed feelings.
With so much left to prove in the UFC, Maness (2-0) didn’t walk away from the organization of his own volition. Despite his 16-3 pro MMA record and 5-2 UFC record, Maness wasn’t re-upped by the organization. After weeks of limbo, Maness officially departed the promotion and eventually put pen to paper with BKFC.
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In 2026, it’s no easy task for an MMA fighter to find a living wage outside the UFC. Maness feels lucky that the opportunity to fight bareknuckle presented itself.
“Obviously, I would have went back to the UFC,” Maness recently told MMA Junkie. “That was the goal. Since they weren’t interested, I kind of went to the next best thing, especially something that kind of fits my style in the first place. Even in my UFC fights, I was more of a striker, a boxer, come-forward, show my toughness, that kind of thing. So BKFC just seemed to make sense.”
Pivoting to a slightly similar yet vastly different combat sport was a bit of a trip for Maness, who thinks he’s handled the transition well, all things considered. The results speak for themselves. He’s 2-0 with two TKO stoppages of Nick Burgos and Tyler Randall.
“It’s a lot more, a tough man sport than it is in just straight boxing,” Maness said. “I just felt like it worked out, and it was just kind of built for my kind of style. I feel like the transition’s been really easy. My hands were a little sore after that first fight. That’s obviously a little different, but you can still have that in MMA too. I didn’t take any real hard shots, no cuts or anything like that. It just seems a lot more simple than MMA. You don’t have to worry about the takedowns, the kicks, people grabbing your knees. It just seems like it’s a lot simplified, and it’s simplified to my own style. So it just seems to work out for me really well.”
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Maness, 34, isn’t sure exactly what’s next, though he’s pleasantly busy running his newly-opened Mayhem MMA in Henderson, Ky. He’s been chomping at the bit for a return and was recently assured by BKFC president David Feldman that an offer is imminent. Maness aims for April, and hopes it’ll be a bout that’ll get him a crack at champion Justin Ibarrola (9-0).
“I was told April after this next win, I think I’ll be looking at the title shot, maybe late summer or something like that,” Maness said. “I only got to fight one time last year. I kind of got held out a little bit. So I’m excited just to get in a couple of fights this year and possibly even three by the end of the year. I think one more win, especially if it’s impressive in a finish, I think I’ll be having that title fight within the next two fights.”
In a combat sports landscape where fighters often look for the quickest road to the top, Maness said he wants to be battle tested by the time he hits title-challenger status. There are some names that are on the tip of his tongue that he thinks will help him get where he needs to go.
“I’m obviously welcoming to all covers,” Maness. “Just to throw some names out there, I think Chris Garcia – he’s got quite a few wins at 135. Justin Street is somebody I respect. We follow each other on Instagram. Cool guy. Nothing personal, but he’s been winning a couple of fights in a row. That would be a fun fight. But really, I’m open to anything. Jamel Herring, he was a professional boxer, won some titles. He just had his debut in January and won. I’d like some big names or at least some guys on some winning streaks, and actually earn that title fight.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Nate Maness enjoying life after UFC with BKFC title gold in mind
