Northern Ireland has produced its fair share of tough fighters over the years, but few combat-sports journeys look quite like that of Conor “Da Crook” Cooke.
From professional MMA to traditional boxing and ultimately the unforgiving world of bare-knuckle fighting, Cooke has spent years testing himself across different disciplines.
Today, all of that experience has led to championship gold.
Representing Antrim, Northern Ireland, Conor Cooke is the reigning BKFC UK Light Heavyweight Champion and has established himself as one of the most dangerous finishers on the UK bare-knuckle scene.
With an official 6-1 BKFC record and five of those six victories coming by stoppage, “Da Crook” has found a fighting environment perfectly suited to his aggressive style.
Cooke’s fighting career didn’t begin in bare-knuckle boxing.
Long before stepping into the BKFC squared circle, he had already accumulated considerable experience as a professional mixed martial artist.
Competing out of Next Generation I.M.M.A., Cooke built a 6-7 professional MMA record, with five of his six MMA victories coming by KO or TKO.
His career included appearances with major promotions including BAMMA and Cage Contender, giving him experience against established professional opposition.
There was already a pattern developing.
Conor Cooke could punch.
After his MMA career, Cooke also competed in conventional professional boxing before eventually finding the combat sport that appeared perfectly suited to his strengths.
Bare-knuckle boxing.
Cooke made his BKFC debut in April 2023 against Robbie “TNT” Kennedy at BKFC 40.
It was an opportunity to demonstrate whether years of MMA and boxing experience could translate into bare-knuckle competition.
The answer came emphatically.
Cooke stopped Kennedy by KO/TKO in the fourth round, beginning what would become an impressive run within the promotion.
He followed that performance with another stoppage victory, defeating Nathan Owens in the second round at BKFC 55.
Cooke had quickly established himself as a dangerous addition to the BKFC roster.
Combat sports careers are rarely defined by what happens when everything is going well.
The real test often comes after a setback.
In April 2024, Cooke suffered his first BKFC defeat against Dawid Oskar.
It remains the only loss on his BKFC record.
What followed tells a much more important story.
Cooke returned against Mason Shaw at BKFC 64 and needed just 1 minute and 34 seconds of the opening round to secure the stoppage.
Then came an opportunity for championship gold.
At BKFC 68, Cooke faced Matt Hodgson in a championship contest.
Unlike many of Cooke’s previous fights, this one wasn’t decided by a knockout.
The pair battled across the full five rounds, forcing Cooke to demonstrate another side of his game.
After five rounds, Cooke was awarded the unanimous decision victory.
It proved that “Da Crook” didn’t need a knockout to win a major fight.
He could go the distance, maintain his performance across five rounds and get his hand raised when championship pressure was at its highest.
But there was still more to come.
On 13 December 2025, Cooke stepped into the main event of BKFC Fight Night in Derby against Anthony Holmes.
This time, the BKFC UK Light Heavyweight Championship was on the line.
Cooke entered at 185lbs and went to work.
The contest reached the end of the third round before Holmes was unable to continue, giving Cooke the TKO victory and crowning the Northern Irish fighter BKFC UK Light Heavyweight Champion.
Years of fighting across MMA, boxing and bare-knuckle competition had ultimately led to a championship belt.
Conor “Da Crook” Cooke was a BKFC champion.
Looking back through Cooke’s career, his success in bare-knuckle competition makes sense.
Even during his professional MMA career, five of his six victories came by KO or TKO.
In BKFC, that finishing instinct has continued.
Cooke’s official BKFC record currently stands at 6 wins and just 1 defeat, with five stoppage victories.
Those numbers demonstrate just how dangerous Cooke can be when a fight turns into an exchange.
Bare-knuckle boxing rewards timing, toughness, accuracy and the ability to remain composed while operating at extremely close range.
For Cooke, it has become the stage on which some of the best performances of his career have taken place.
Cooke’s career is also a reminder that success in combat sports doesn’t always follow a straight path.
He experienced wins and defeats throughout his MMA career.
He competed professionally in boxing.
He transitioned into a completely different fighting format.
And after years spent competing, learning and adapting, he eventually found himself standing at the top of a BKFC division.
For Northern Irish fight fans, it also means having one of their own carrying championship gold on the international bare-knuckle stage.
Winning a championship creates a new challenge.
Keeping it.
Cooke is currently scheduled to return on 7 November 2026 at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, where he will face Sean Weir in a BKFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout.
It will be Cooke’s opportunity to continue the remarkable run that has transformed the experienced Northern Irish fighter into a BKFC champion.
Weir enters the contest undefeated in BKFC competition, setting up an intriguing championship clash in Scotland.
For Cooke, however, difficult fights are nothing new.
He’s been competing in combat sports for years.
He’s fought through setbacks.
He’s knocked opponents out.
He’s gone five rounds.
And now he’s carrying a championship belt.
From the MMA cage to the boxing ring and ultimately the BKFC squared circle, Conor “Da Crook” Cooke has built his career the hard way.
On November 7, the next chapter begins.
Northern Ireland has a BKFC champion — and Conor Cooke isn’t finished yet.
Keep up with Conor’s complete combat-sports record, BKFC results and upcoming fights through his official fighter pages.
BKFC:
https://www.bkfc.com/fighters/conor-cooke
Tapology:
https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/26159-conor-cooke
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