Jaw-dropping moments dominated the night on the greatest occasion in Naked Knuckle Preventing Championship (BKFC) historical past, KnuckleMania V, Saturday evening on the sold-out Wells Fargo Middle in Philadelphia.
KnuckleMania V marked BKFC’s debut in its beloved hometown of Philadelphia. That truth definitely wasn’t misplaced on the 17,762 followers who paid to attend Saturday’s extremely anticipated showcase occasion, setting a modern-day fight sports activities report for “The Metropolis of Brotherly Love.” The historic occasion aired LIVE globally to hundreds of thousands of followers on DAZN.
The KnuckleMania V fundamental occasion featured one of many hottest grudge matches in BKFC historical past — Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens and Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez — with Stephens bringing house the win by technical knockout. Alvarez’s nook referred to as a cease to the bout on the conclusion of the third spherical.
Stephens, who hails from San Diego, CA, is now 3-0 in BKFC. The previous UFC champion Alvarez, broadly thought to be some of the beloved fighters within the historical past of Philadelphjoeia, is now 1-2 underneath the BKFC banner.
“All people was in opposition to me, however I got here right here to run this (expletive) — let’s go,” the 34-time UFC veteran Stephens informed the jam-packed Wells Fargo Middle in his post-fight interview. “You can’t cease me. That is resilience. My entire life is devoted to this.”
The fight sports activities world exploded when BKFC Companion Conor McGregor entered the squared circle after Stephens’ victory to passionately urge BKFC Founder and President David Feldman to finalize McGregor’s extremely anticipated BKFC debut in opposition to the undefeated Stephens.
“Let’s set a date. Who’s going to cease me? No person,” McGregor shouted in a faceoff with Stephens. “David, let’s make the date!”
Within the KnuckleMania V co-main occasion, the most important heavyweight contest in BKFC historical past, fight sports activities legend “Large” Ben Rothwell wanted simply 36 seconds to dethrone BKFC World Heavyweight Champion Mick Terrill with a jaw-dropping, one-punch knockout.
The Kenosha, WI heavyweight attraction is now 4-0 underneath the BKFC banner, with all of his wins coming by knockout in three rounds or much less. Terrill, who represents North Shields, England, is now 10-2 in his bare-knuckle preventing profession.
“I’m crammed with so many emotions proper now that it’s exhausting to talk, however what I do know is that this crowd is the craziest, most superior crowd that I’ve ever fought in entrance of. I’ve been doing this for 25 years, and I’m telling you, your power was in my proper hand and also you helped me win this title,” the impassioned 17-time UFC veteran Rothwell informed the jam-packed Wells Fargo Middle. “It’s unbelievable to be your BKFC Champion.”
Within the KnuckleMania V function battle with two former BKFC Girls’s Flyweight World Title challengers, Brisbane, Australia’s “Rowdy” Bec Rawlings defeated Taylor “Killa Bee” Starling in a hard-fought, five-round resolution. Rawlings scored the lone knockdown of the battle within the opening spherical, paving the way in which to the unanimous resolution victory. Two judges scored the competition 50-44 and one had the bout 49-45, all in favor of Rawlings. Rawlings, who made her BKFC debut on the group’s inaugural occasion in 2018, is now 4-3 underneath the BKFC banner. Starling, who represents Rock Hill, SC, is now 4-4 in her BKFC profession.
“I’ve fought all all over the world on the most important levels, and this by far beats each one in all them. That is (expletive) superb,” Rawlings informed the sold-out Wells Fargo Middle, including, “That is superb, thanks!”
Saturday’s historic occasion was hosted by sports activities and leisure business persona, Mario Lopez. Celebrities in attendance included Philadelphia Eagles legends Seth Joyner and Brian Westbrook, social media megastar/BKFC fighter Bryce Corridor, social media sensation Ed Bassmaster, and plenty of others, in addition to BKFC World Champions Christine “Misfit” Ferea, Britain Hart, David “Redneck” Mundell and Mike “The Marine” Richman.
Washington Township, NJ-based heavyweight Patrick “The Brick” Brady smashed his approach to 2-0 underneath the BKFC banner with a second straight stoppage victory over Zach “Shark Assault” Calmus. Brady wanted simply 53 seconds to attain the standing technical knockout victory. The Gloucester, MA product Calmus, who was driving a four-fight stoppage streak heading into battle evening, is now 5-3 in BKFC.
South Philadelphia welterweight John “Johnny Garb” Garbarino electrified the sold-out Wells Fargo Middle with a first-round knockout over Apostle Spencer in his BKFC debut — and a profitable marriage proposal in the midst of the ring after his post-fight interview with BKFC Host Cyrus Charges. The knockout got here with only one second remaining within the opening body. Spencer, a product of Belen, NM, is now 0-2 in his BKFC profession.
Click on Right here for John Garbarino Marriage Proposal / BKFC
Roanoke, VA’s Kaine “Kaine 9” Tomlinson Jr., wanted simply 37 seconds to knockout Pat “The Irishman” Sullivan of their welterweight showdown. Tomlinson Jr., the son of BKFC vet Kaine Tomlinson Sr., is now 2-1 underneath the BKFC banner. Sullivan, who represents South Philadelphia, is now 0-1 in BKFC.
Jeffersonville, IN heavyweight Steve “Panda” Banks weathered a first-round knockdown to cease former World Boxing Affiliation title challenger Joey “The Tank” Dawejko of their back-and-forth heavyweight battle. The technical knockout end got here with simply six seconds left within the third spherical. Banks upped his BKFC report to 3-2 with the win. Dawejko, who hails from Philadelphia, was making his BKFC debut.
Omaha, NE’s Brandon “Beastmode” Meyer smashed his approach to 3-2 underneath the BKFC banner with a surprising, one-punch knockout over hometown fighter “King” Zedekiah Montanez. The battle was stopped 39 seconds into the second spherical of the light-weight matchup.
Pottstown, PA bantamweight Travis “The Animal” Thompson overcame a first-round knockdown to earn his sixth BKFC victory with a second-round, come-from-behind knockout on the expense of Zach “Lil Mac” Pannell. The stoppage got here 41 seconds into the second stanza. Thompson, who made his BKFC debut on the promotion’s debut occasion in 2018, is now 6-6 in his BKFC profession. Pannell, a product of Lancaster, PA, is now 1-3.
Freehold Township, NJ’s Phil “Hitman” Caracappa was victorious in his BKFC debut after Noah “The Cannon” Norman was disqualified within the fourth spherical of their bantamweight matchup. The bout was referred to as to a cease 40 seconds into the fourth body on account of repeated late strikes from Norman, who was beforehand deducted a pair of factors within the third spherical on account of late strikes and a headbutt. Norman, who hails from Coatesville, PA, is now 0-1 underneath the BKFC banner.
Philadelphia middleweight Cody Russell seemed sensational in his BKFC debut, dropping Logan “Mayhem” Tucker 5 instances earlier than their bout was stopped within the third spherical. Time of the knockout was 49 seconds into the third stanza. Tucker, who represents Birmingham, AL, is now 0-1.
Within the first sanctioned bare-knuckle preventing bout in Philadelphia historical past, Itso Babulaidze was victorious in his BKFC debut, sending Bryan “The Iceman” McDowell to the canvas 5 instances en path to the unanimous resolution win. Babulaidze additionally made historical past as the primary fighter from the nation of Georgia to compete in BKFC. Two judges scored the battle 48-42, whereas one had it 47-43, all in favor of Babulaidze, who picked himself up off the canvas twice within the action-packed middleweight matchup. McDowell, who hails from Maysville, KY, is now 1-1 in his BKFC profession.
Knockout of the Evening: Brandon Meyer, Ben Rothwell and Kaine Tomlinson Jr.,
Struggle of the Evening: Itso Babulaidze vs. Bryan McDowell
Listed here are some highlights from the post-KnuckleMania V Press Convention from BKFC Founder and President David Feldman.
“This doesn’t occur on my own. I’m the face of this firm and I work my (expletive) off, however I’ve acquired the very best crew on the earth. They reside and die for me, and I actually take my hat off for them. I really like them, and I admire them so (expletive) a lot, man, as a result of we arrived tonight!”
“Each single fighter on this card is getting a bonus tonight. The entire card is getting a bonus. It’s by no means been achieved earlier than in fight sports activities, however all people on the cardboard is getting a bonus.”
“I don’t have a lot to say; it was only a actually unbelievable evening. I seemed across the crowd 100 instances, man. I used to be telling my spouse, I used to be telling my son, there wasn’t an empty seat in the home. It’s unbelievable. I’m so (expletive) pleased!”
On BKFC’s rapid future: “We’re positively going to Australia, however the issues which are coming very quickly for us is that we’re going again to Spain, we’re going to Dubai, April 5-6, and we’re going to Italy on April 26, amongst all the remainder of the fights we’re doing throughout the USA, so it’s going to be a busy yr for us.”
On Conor McGregor probably coming into the BKFC squared circle: “I used to be strolling out of the sector and Conor tapped me on the shoulder and informed me to verify I inform all people that he’s preventing Jeremy Stephens for BKFC. I don’t know if it’s occurring, however that’s what he informed me.”
