The Bloody, Brutal Therapy of Spartan Bare Knuckle

In the North of England, an underground fight club is pushing violence to new extremes. Spartan Bare Knuckle Fight Club is the UK’s only licensed 8x8ft bare-knuckle pit fighting promotion. Its fights are short and brutal, and often end in knockouts.

But beneath the violence, the club aims to be a lifeline in difficult times. It was initially set up to prevent knife crime, allowing disputes to be settled before they escalate, with one condition: you shake hands after your fight and leave the argument in the pit. Over seven years, Spartan has become a form of community and therapy for men battling addiction and poor mental health.