Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship returned to the Caribe Royale in Orlando, FL on November 5th. With a six-month gap since their last visit to the theme park destination of Florida, the room was jam-packed with fans ready to see these warriors duke it out once again!! This raw segment of combat sports is like nothing else in the American market, and they have grown by leaps and bounds over the last four years.
Opening the prelim card were Tony Murphy and Shane Stapp. These two jumped right into the action headfirst and gave the fans a great example of what BKFC is all about. Testing each other with fierce aggression, Murphy found the button on Stapp quickly. With his balance a bit off, and seemingly lacking focus, Stapp looked like he hadn’t properly recovered from his weight cut. Murphy landed a clean shot on Stapp’s chin that sent him crashing to the canvas. Unable to recover Murphy was able to secure a quick KO. Winner: Murphy KO in the 1st Round
Even on the prelim portion of a fight card following a great KO is incredibly difficult. Christopher Cornelius and Jafar Fortt entered the squared circle looking to do just that. Cornelius looked uncertain of his capabilities as the fighters were being introduced. While nerves often help a fighter find that focus, it, unfortunately, left him open for a three-piece from Fortt. These vicious hits were just too much for Cornelius as he just couldn’t find his way back up. Winner: Fortt by KO in the 1st Round
In the third fight of the prelims, Brandon Allen and Josh Marer made their way to the ring. With the flow of the other opening bouts, many expected another early knockout. These two chose to go more traditional and feel one another out. Marer looked to work the ribs but slipped himself off balance quickly. Despite getting back up, Allen pushed him back to the canvas. On the way down Marer knocked his face on the canvas and busted his right eyebrow open. While he was able to get back up, it was clear that he had been damaged, and was rocked for the rest of the round.
Round two brought about much of the same as the first. Allen was about to work over Marer cleanly and keep him off balance. This lack of balance once again took him to the canvas. Slow to recover, it seemed like this second knockdown woke him and his legs up. Marer was able to land some tremendous shots on Allen before the end of the round, but he couldn’t take him off his feet.
The third round didn’t get very deep before Allen dropped Marer yet again. This knockdown took Marer back out of things. After fighting his way back to his feet, Marer kept falling down or off balance as he attempted to throw everything but the spit bucket at Allen. While some of these shots landed, there weren’t many. Allen was able to land some consistent counter-punching, and he send Marer back to the canvas again. Clearly struggling to compose himself, the ref waived off the fight despite Marer’s objections. Winner: Allen by Corner TKO in the 3rd Round
As the broadcast switched over to the pay-per-view portion of the night, the BKFC bombshells were highlighted by hype man, interviewer, and entertainer extraordinaire Brian Soscia. Unlike with boxing or anything else, he brings in years of experience in working a crowd from professional wrestling, and he got them worked into a frenzy as the PPV went live. Surprisingly, the crowd seemed more amped for the free merch than the bombshells who were throwing it out with Socia.
Getting the PPV to start on the right foot is absolutely crucial. This is where people call their buddies to remind them to buy the event, so Jonathan Miller and Stephon Reese took the challenge to heart. These two heavyweights were a bit unsure of working their way in, and looked to brawl in the clinch anytime they got close enough to tie up. Given the fact that both were making their BKFC debut, it wasn’t incredibly surprising to see this.
Reese worked intensely to slip Miller’s stiff shots but got caught with a booming left. This shot seemed to nearly cave his face in and sent him down quickly. With Reese unable to recover, Miller earned a great KO and almost certainly another fight in BKFC soon!! Winner: Miller by KO in the 1st Round
Ryan Reber and Jack Grady made their return to the squared circle, both eager and ready to go. During their faceoff at the ceremonial weigh-ins, Grady showed incredible intensity in his dedication to trying to intimidate Reber. This kind of aggression is usually the sign of someone who isn’t all there, or who is so scared they cannot help themselves. Grady brought that same intensity to the fight. This led to him throwing unbalanced shots and headbutting Reber any time they tied up. As the round ended he received an admonishment for headbutting, after already getting one warning. Reber almost knocked him down as the bell sounded, but Grady escaped.
Round number two brought about a total change in how Grady was attacking. He kept pressing Reber towards the ropes and he kept throwing inside shots and headbutts. This kind of action not only goes against the rules, but it’s something completely unorthodox in BKFC. With another clear headbutt, the ref stopped the fight. After some deliberation, the fight was deemed over. Naturally, Grady objected, and Reber approached him, with both middle fingers flying high at Grady.
In what can only be described as something similar to a cocaine-fueled attack, Grady charged him and attempted to turn this into an MMA bout. With everyone from Brian Soscia to BKFC President David Feldman, and even Julian Lane hopping in to break up the fight, Grady was eventually escorted from the ring so Reber could get his due, and Lane was escorted from the building. If BKFC wants to continue being taken seriously, people like Grady will need to be banned from the sport. Winner: Reber by Disqualification (intentional headbutt) in the 2nd Round
JR Ridge and Chancey Wilson squared up next. These two are a stark contrast to the fighting style of Grady. Well-established professionals in and out of the ring, these two came out energetic, and battled towards and against the ropes. Ridge used his aggressive energy to keep Wilson pinned against the ropes, with Wilson able to escape from any serious damage by sheer luck.
Round number two saw Wilson getting himself tangled up in Ridge’s web yet again. The ability to work the inside and use his head movement to his advantage allowed Ridge to keep Wilson working from the clinch, even with the ref separating them rather frequently. This tactic slowed down the pace of the fight, and with both fighters looking a bit exhausted, the round wasn’t quite as action-packed as the first.
The third round was like a whole different fight. Wilson started finding his range and kept Ridge at bay. By keeping the distance, he was able to land some incredibly clean shots. This distance made it tougher for Ridge to work his way inside and get strikes, but he still found a way to get in there. Wilson kept working the jab and an overhand right, eventually nailing a solid shot that rocked Ridge a bit and knotted up his left cheekbone. Keeping himself going, Ridge stayed on his feet and both fighters finished the bout strong.
Going into Round four, saw even more aggression from both fighters. Inspired by the blood on the left side of Ridge’s head, Wilson started throwing heat sinkers that were peppering Ridge. At one point Ridge was nailed squarely in the nose, with blood pouring forth almost instantly. This kind of shot would stop any normal man, and even send most fighters looking for the bus that just hit them. Not Ridge. Instead, he stayed on his feet and kept pressing Wilson as the round closed.
The final round opened up with Wilson taking aim at the now dry nose of Ridge and finding it quickly. Leaking blood pretty solidly, Ridge still hung in there and kept himself in the fight. With the blood flowing like beer in a honkytonk, this fight had gotten incredibly brutal, and the crowd was on the edge of their seats from the opening bell.
With blood also flowing from the inner left eyebrow, Ridge kept himself well protected and kept Wilson on his toes. As the claps for the last 10 seconds of the round sounded the crowd found their peak loudness, and they stayed there through the end of the bout. Going to the cards for the first time of the night, the crowd seemed split on who they thought took it. Unsurprisingly, Ridge got the unanimous decision, with his aggression and targeted strikes a big factor in the win, and in them being one of the two FOTN bouts. Winner: Ridge by Unanimous Decision
Travis Thompson and David Diaz were up in the seventh bout of the night. The day before the fight, Brian Soscia attempted to do a sit-down interview between these two, but their intense personalities would not allow that to happen. Carrying over the intensity of the weigh-ins, the interview was over before they could even finish introductions. Thompson used Diaz being escorted away to his advantage to sit and build the hype for their bout.
Entering the first round, you could cut the tension in the air with a knife. It was clear that these fighters truly are not big fans of one another, and the crowd was equally as divided. With both fighters coming out aggressively, Diaz looked to be a different fighter from past bouts. Settling into the pocket, it was clear that he had studied and adapted for Thompson’s style. Nonetheless, Thompson picked it apart and landed a devastating blow to Diaz’s left eyebrow. Leaking blood, he kept targeting it and busting it wide open as the round ended, and the fans roared for the action.
Round number two saw Diaz knocked to the canvas stunningly. However, he rebounded back to his feet like it was simply a slip. This kind of rebound doesn’t always work so well when a fighter is already heavily damaged in one eye, but Diaz trained for this kind of fast recovery. Using this tenacity, Diaz was able to battle back and keep Thompson well at bay, even though shots kept sneaking in. By keeping him on the outside and slightly awkward, Diaz was able to land some significant shots himself, but the leathery skin of Thompson would not yet break.
Getting to round three was a feat in and of itself for Diaz. With his left eye seemingly swollen shut, the doctor demanded a look at it before the round could get underway. Fine with Diaz’s responses and eye movement, the fight continued. Naturally, Thompson kept working the cut, and with Diaz intelligently defending his eye, he kept in the fight. Throwing consistent power shots, Diaz was now pushing to keep the fight on the outside and away from Thompson’s fierce overhand right.
Round four had the doc yet again checking Diaz’s eye. Given the fact that the BKFC uses the same doctor in every card, it left many wondering if he would allow the fight to continue. Diaz was once again able to give the right answers and keep the doc happy, so the fight carried on.
Thompson once again targeted the injured eye and was able to work Diaz back to the canvas. Diaz has the tagline of “Let’s go Perros!!” and he keeps fighting just like a dog. This man does not know the meaning of the word quit, and he kept pressing Thompson. With both men clearly bleeding as the round ended, they both went to their corner with what seemed to be a small exchange of newfound respect and to the roar of the crowd.
The fifth and final round opened with a final check of Diaz’s eye. Surprisingly not looking much worse than the previous two rounds, the doc was quick to let them finish the fight on their own. Diaz showed signs of timing Thompson’s punches and throwing his counter punches, neither was finding their target with the same precision the fight began with. The exhaustion of a five-round fight was clearly visible on their faces, as the duo battled for any semblance of control.
While not playing it safe, Thompson was more relaxed with his attack, as he knew he had the decision if Diaz couldn’t get the KO. For what it’s worth, Diaz stayed looking for it, and with the smile on his face throughout the fight, it was clear that he was loving every moment of this bout.
As the final claps rang through the venue, the crowd came to the utmost crescendo of the evening. While they were loud for the previous bout, this one was the fight they were there to see. Thompson got the unanimous decision, and the newly earned mutual respect was on full display both before and after the announcement. Winner: Thompson by Unanimous Decision
Jessica Borga and Sarah Click stepped in the ring as the only women’s bout of the evening. Click was a late substitution for Brooke Gilley, and she was ready to go from the opening bell. These ladies fight with the same kind of intensity the men bring, the women’s bouts are always a huge highlight on any card. While Click was trying to time Borga, the reach and strength advantage was clearly on Borga’s side, and she used that to launch shotgun blasts. These blasts sent Click to the canvas multiple times in short succession before the ref ended the fight. Jumping into her trainer’s arms, Borga was lifted high before getting to hear her name as the winner. Winner: Borga by KO in the 1st Round
Bobby Taylor and Gabriel Freyre were up next. Following the quick lady’s bout, these two seemed to feed on the energy from the previous bout. Taylor’s experience was clearly on display as he busted Freyre open quickly. The BKFC trademark punch and twist strike was working perfectly to his advantage against the newer Freyre.
A quick inadvertent eye poke stopped the action for a minute, but Taylor was able to carry on quickly. While both were throwing heavy and precise shots, the strength and almost microscopic precision of Taylor sent Freyre crashing down cleanly. Recovering well, he was able to survive the round and get some good advice in the corner.
Before the second round could even begin, Freyre seemed to be ready to put the instructions of his corner to use. Even though he was worn, he was ready to get back at it. Taylor on the other hand was willing to be patient. Throwing tight jabs and overhand rights, Taylor was able to pick apart Freyre quickly. After falling to the mat, it seemed like Freyre had enough but still got back up.
Taylor seemed impressed with the toughness of the younger fighter but being impressed doesn’t mean you let off the gas. Mashing Freyre’s face firmly, Taylor was able to knock him back down, and despite his best attempts, Freyre could not find his feet for the third time. The clear KO from Taylor is a sign that he is ready for a serious advancement up the card. Winner: Taylor by KO in the 2nd Round
Jared Warren and Jay Jackson squared up in the co-main event of the evening. These two have quickly become household names in BKFC, and their styles are perfect for the 185lb division. With Jackson coming out aggressively, Warren took advantage of his slightly off-balance shots and sidestepped to allow Jackson to nearly trip himself up. This made Jackson slow down and take more precise and balanced punches. This more solid base slowed down his tempo, and Warren used this to force shots down the pipe and into Jackson’s face. With a now leaking left eyebrow, Jackson was clearly not ready for Warren’s fighting style.
Going into the second round, Warren stuck to his game plan and it kept working perfectly for him. Even as Jackson tried to limit the damage by being more evasive, Warren kept finding his mark. The dance was favoring Warren as he was simply outclassing Jackson. Getting dumped to the ground on a clean right hook, Jackson barely found his feet as he was knocked back down. With a beautiful one-two combo, Warren tagged Jackson cleanly and sent him down to the canvas for a second time in the round, and ended the fight as Jackson was unable to get back in it. Winner: Warren by KO in the 2nd Round
In the main event, Reggie Barnett and Geane Herrera squared off, with Barnett making history as the first fighter with 10 bouts in BKFC. “Educated Hands” is an appropriate nickname for the interim bantamweight champion, and as he welcomed the UFC vet Herrera, class was in session. Taking the opening round lightly, both fighters moved around looking to find an opening to deliver some serious pain, but none really existed. With 30 seconds in the round left, Barnett indicated that he had been hit a win and inadvertent eye poke on his left side. The doc took a look but saw nothing wrong so the fight continued.
Barnett was clearly uncomfortable on the stool as his corner checked on the eye. They got him seemingly cleaned up, and he went back out there to tangle with Herrera. The two traded shots openly and kept the action closer to the middle of the ring for this round. While not specifically targeting that left eye, he certainly found his mark with it, and some swelling was incredibly visible under the eye. Given the damage Barnett has taken there over the previous nine fights, this swelling wasn’t too shocking.
Both fighters fell to their corners and were showing clear signs of extreme exhaustion. These kinds of fights take their toll, and both fighters were doing their best to find points and not a knockout. This kind of slower pace is more common in the middle rounds of boxing than in BKFC, but the crowd didn’t seem to mind the more scientific style of fighting.
Round four saw Herrera becoming significantly more on the defensive. The sudden shift in tactics was a warm welcome for Barnett. Seeing how gassed Herrera had become was the green light Barnett needed to absolutely tee off with shots. These punches cleanly found their mark and started chipping Herrera down as the round went on. While Herrera didn’t get knocked off his feet, it certainly looked like the only thing keeping him on his feet was the suddenly loud section of Columbians who had come out to support their fellow countrymen and family member.
The fifth and final round was a clear clinic from Barnett. While Herrera was trying to find openings, Barnett had timed his opponent incredibly well, and he was ready to make Herrera pay for his earlier telegraphing of his punches. Slipping and dodging the punches, Barnett was landing frequent counter punches in addition to his open punches.
As the fight came to an end, the crowd was soundly on their feet as both looked to see if they could land a KO or even a knockdown before the fight ended. As history shows us, education and experience are a huge combination, and Barnett used these tools to get a unanimous decision. Winner: Barnett by Unanimous Decision
