Combat sports fans around the world are counting down the seconds to Friday night, when BKFC 43 takes place at Liberty First Arena in Omaha, NE, LIVE on The BKFC App.

Here are our Top 3 storylines heading into fight night.

Top Cruiserweights Collide in The Main Event

Major title implications are at play in Friday’s Main Event as Houston “The Assassin” Alexander, the No. 2-ranked contender in the stacked BKFC cruiserweight division, battles Jeremy “Pitbull” Smith, the No. 3 contender. Alexander, 51, has been unstoppable in his first three BKFC fights, ending them all by knockout. Smith, a former MMA champion in his native South Africa, is Alexander’s toughest challenge yet. He looks to climb to 4-1 with a fourth straight victory in the Squared Circle. The winner of Friday’s Main Event could be next in line for a shot at BKFC World Cruiserweight Champion Lorenzo “The Juggernaut” Hunt (9-1).

Fan-Favorites Meet In The Co-Main Event

Friday’s Co-Main Event is a delight for hardcore bare knuckle fighting fans, and both athletes are ready to rise to the occasion in this high-profile middleweight matchup. Experience is invaluable in the Squared Circle, and Dakota Cochrane and Noah Cutter both bring it in spades to this highly anticipated showdown. Cochrane’s 4-2 record includes three knockouts, and Cutter’s BKFC career includes eight bouts and three knockout victories. This is a tough matchup for both fighters as they try to crack the Top 5 rankings in the stacked BKFC middleweight division.

Stars Fighting For Relevance 

A pair of fan-favorite contenders return to action before Friday’s Main Event and Co-Main Event, and both fighters are hungry to prove they still belong amongst BKFC’s best. Former BKFC World Lightweight Champion Elvin “El Bandido” Brito (5-3, 1 KO) looks to put a stop to the fast-rising Carlos Trinidad-Snake, who’s unbeaten with a pair of KOs in his first three BKFC bouts. Former BKFC World Women’s Flyweight Championship challenger Taylor “Killa Bee” Starling (3-1, 1 KO) is eager to rebound from her humbling loss to Christine “Misfit” Ferea as she takes on top Canadian prospect Jade “Evil Smile” Wong (1-1, 1 KO). It's hard to get to the top of the BKFC food chain, and even more difficult to stay there. We'll see Friday what the future holds for these battle-tested BKFC fighters.