UFC veterans Eddie Alvarez, Chad Mendes to fight at BKFC 41

Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez has a new home.

Wednesday, BKFC president David Feldman announced Alvarez’s signing and bareknuckle debut fight on “The MMA Hour.” Alvarez will face former UFC featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes in a 165-pound bout April 29 at BKFC 41, a card that also features former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold against Mike Perry.

Alvarez, 39, “amicably” split from One Championship in September and entered the free agent market. Alvarez went 1-1 with one no contest in three fights under the promotion’s banner since his UFC departure in 2018.

Mendes, 37, made his BKFC debut at Knucklemania 2 in February, when he finished Josiah Alvarez by fourth-round TKO. The outing was his first professional competition (besides grappling events) since his MMA retirement in 2019.

With the addition, the BKFC 41 lineup includes:

• Mike Perry vs. Luke Rockhold
• Eddie Alvarez vs. Chad Mendes
• Ben Rothwell vs. TBA