Three Police Officers Hurt, Two Arrested in Brawl Outside Glasgow’s Ovo Hydro
Three police officers were injured and two men charged after a mass brawl outside Glasgow's Ovo Hydro following a bare-knuckle event on November 7. The venue, which hosted about 9,000 people, is understood to consider further shows unlikely and is carrying out a full review.
Three police officers were hurt and two men were arrested after a mass brawl outside Glasgow's Ovo Hydro on Saturday, November 7, following the first Scottish show by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). The Hydro is now understood to consider hosting more bare-knuckle boxing unlikely.
About 9,000 people attended the event. The disturbance spilled onto the nearby Clyde Arc bridge and Finnieston Quay.
More than 20 police vehicles and a police helicopter converged on the area. Social media footage showed dozens of men fighting and being chased by officers across the bridge.
Charges and police response
Police Scotland said three officers were injured, two of whom needed medical treatment. A 32-year-old man and a 27-year-old man were arrested and charged with offenses including assault, obstructing police and threatening or abusive behavior. Both were expected to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday.
A third man was arrested and given a recorded police warning for threatening or abusive behavior.
Chief Inspector Paul Daley said officers were assaulted while carrying out their duties. "Violence against officers is disgraceful and will not be tolerated," he said. He added that it was "extremely fortunate they were not seriously injured".
Police have appealed for witnesses to call 101, quoting incident 2029 of November 7.
Venue review
The Hydro said the event passed safely inside the building and that "extensive planning" had gone into it. A spokesperson for the SEC, the venue's operator, said the organization strongly condemned the incidents outside and was supporting police inquiries.
"We consider all events on merit and are carrying out a full review, as we do following every event," the spokesperson said. The review will inform whether more bare-knuckle fights are booked.
A member of the public wrote to Glasgow City Council several weeks before the event with concerns. The letter said some fighters had spoken about involvement with football casuals and might attract support along football or sectarian lines. The council has been contacted for comment.
Main event and wider concerns
In the main event, Sean Weir of Wishaw beat Leigh Cohoon of Manchester when the referee stopped the fight in the first round. Weir had been due to fight Irish fighter Conor Cooke, who pulled out.
His management team cited "venue-related concerns surrounding ticket arrangements and the safety of travelling supporters". That followed online advertising by BKFC that pictured Cooke with the Irish tricolor.
A bare-knuckle event in 2025 at East Kilbride's Gladiators Arena, run by a different promotion, was abandoned before its main event after fighting broke out between groups of fans. Edinburgh's Murrayfield Ice Arena had its licence altered last year after a fight card left two fighters in hospital.
Bare-knuckle events in Britain fall under the International Sport Karate and Kickboxing Association, not the British Boxing Board of Control. BKFC was formed in 2018, and former UFC fighter Conor McGregor is a minority owner. He attended the Glasgow show.
