Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made its debut in Tennessee on Friday night with a sold-out event, BKFC Fight Night Nashville, held at The Pinnacle. The event was broadcast live worldwide on The BKFC App.
Significant upsets marked both the Main Event and Co-Main Event.
In the headlining bout, JC DeLeon secured a victory against former BKFC World Title challenger Tony Soto. Soto’s corner stopped the fight at the end of the third round. DeLeon, from Fort Worth, TX, improved his BKFC record to 3-1. Soto, a top-ranked contender in the BKFC lightweight division, now holds a 6-4 record in BKFC.
“I’m on my way up and he’s on his way out. Respect to Tony Soto; he’s a hell of a fighter. God bless him and his family,” DeLeon stated after the fight, adding his hope that the fans enjoyed the show.
The Co-Main Event saw Tray Martin upset Nathan Rivera, the #2 ranked contender in the BKFC featherweight division. After five close rounds, Martin emerged victorious in the decisive overtime round via judges’ decision. Martin, from Columbia, MO, remains undefeated in BKFC at 2-0, while Rivera, from Smyrna, GA, now stands at 5-1.
Martin used his post-fight interview to call out BKFC World Featherweight Champion Kai Stewart and Bryan Duran, emphasizing his extensive fighting experience.
In the featured fight, Bobby Taylor delivered a commanding performance, scoring six knockdowns en route to a second-round technical knockout victory over Angel Hernandez in lightweight action. The stoppage occurred just 58 seconds into the second round. Taylor, from Pocahontas, TN, now has a 7-4 record, while Hernandez, from Gary, IN, moves to 1-2.
Notable attendees included Tennessee Titans cornerback Micah Robinson, media personality Bunnie Xo, and BKFC Cruiserweight World Champion Esteban Rodriguez.
The first-ever Ironweight bout in BKFC history saw Prince McLean defeat Jeramy Karshner via technical knockout with only 12 seconds remaining in the opening round. Both fighters were making their BKFC debuts.
Cole Ferrell of Woodstock, GA, improved to 2-1 with a convincing win over Quintan Foye. Ferrell secured three knockdowns before the bout was stopped 38 seconds into the final round. Foye, from Greensboro, NC, now has a 2-5 BKFC record.
Nashville’s Ravon Baxter moved to 2-1-1 with a quick technical knockout victory over Junior Hicks in the light-heavyweight division. Baxter finished Hicks in 93 seconds, knocking him down twice. Hicks, from Greenfield, IA, is now 0-2.
Nashville’s Caleb Harvey made a successful BKFC debut, defeating Josh Whiteside by unanimous decision in welterweight action. All judges scored the fight 30-27. Whiteside, from Memphis, TN, is now 1-1 in BKFC.
Zach Russ of Fort Thomas, KY, needed only 45 seconds to defeat Kelvin Rayford in his BKFC debut. Rayford, from Ada, OK, was also making his promotional debut.
Payton Hayes, from Nashville, impressed in his BKFC debut, stopping Julian Valencia in just 101 seconds in the bantamweight division. Hayes scored two knockdowns before securing the finish. Valencia, from Kenosha, WI, now holds an 0-2 BKFC record.
The first BKFC fight in Tennessee history saw Joby Steffensmeier defeat Robert Fichtner via split decision in a bantamweight contest. Steffensmeier, from Davenport, IA, now has a 1-1 BKFC record, while Fichtner was making his promotional debut.
BKFC Fight Night Nashville Full Results:
- JC DeLeon def. Tony Soto via TKO in Round 3 (2:00)
- Tray Martin def. Nathan Rivera via Unanimous Decision in Overtime Round
- Bobby Taylor def. Angel Hernandez via TKO in Round 2 (0:58)
- Prince McLean def. Jeramy Karshner via TKO in Round 1 (1:48)
- Cole Ferrell def. Quintan Foye via TKO in Round 5 (0:38)
- Ravon Baxter def. Junior Hicks via TKO in Round 1 (1:33)
- Caleb Harvey def. Josh Whiteside via Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)
- Zach Russ def. Kelvin Rayford via TKO in Round 1 (0:45)
- Payton Hayes def. Julian Valencia via KO in Round 1 (1:41)
- Joby Steffensmeier def. Robert Fichtner via Split Decision
