Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
For civil enforcement officer Phil Hammond, bare knuckle fighting is an essential form of therapy.
Beneath the violence, Spartan Bare Knuckle Fight 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. We followed combatants like Phil Hammond into battle at Fight Fest—the biggest event of the year.
Watch the full video on @VICE.
About VICE:
The Definitive Guide To Enlightening Information. From every corner of the planet, our immersive, caustic, ground-breaking and often bizarre stories have changed the way people think about culture, crime, art, parties, fashion, protest, the internet and other subjects that don't even have names yet. Browse the growing library and discover corners of the world you never knew existed. Welcome to VICE.
#bareknuckle #fightclub #vice
For civil enforcement officer Phil Hammond, bare knuckle fighting is an essential form of therapy.
Beneath the violence, Spartan Bare Knuckle Fight 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. We followed combatants like Phil Hammond into battle at Fight Fest—the biggest event of the year.
Watch the full video on @VICE.
About VICE:
The Definitive Guide To Enlightening Information. From every corner of the planet, our immersive, caustic, ground-breaking and often bizarre stories have changed the way people think about culture, crime, art, parties, fashion, protest, the internet and other subjects that don't even have names yet. Browse the growing library and discover corners of the world you never knew existed. Welcome to VICE.
#bareknuckle #fightclub #vice
