BKFC 5 goes live in Biloxi, Mississippi with some Bare Knuckle Boxing ferocity. The glove-less pugilism is in full effect and some notable names highlight the card.
SBG fighter/ Conor McGregor sparring partner Artem Lobov journeys from UFC to BKB and his opponent Jason Knight is coming from UFC to BKB as well. UFC legend/ TUF 1 competitor Chris Leben also will step into the ring as part of BKFC 5 as the co-main event feature.
Also, there’s a women’s BKB championship fight. LMM’s Dylan Bowker captures all of the bare knuckle fun in real time.
BKFC 5
Johnny Bedford vs Abdiel Velazquez
Round #1: This bout is part of a Bare knuckle Lightweight tournament. Bedford the more measured fighter with Velazquez getting the footwork going. Bedford goading Velazquez to meet him in the middle. Superman punch from Velazquez.
Round #2: Bedford and Velazquez going at it with big bare knuckle boxing combos. Bedford pumping the jab. Bedford drops Velazquez with a check left hook and Bedford is settling into a rhythm.
Round #3: Bedford coming out aggressive early on. Bedford lighting up Velazquez. Big right hook knockdown from Bedford but Velazquez shows heart by getting up quickly.
Round #4: Bedford wring in good uppercuts and body shots throughout. Velazquez landed a good right hand. Bedford pieces up Velazquez with uppercuts and drops Velazquez again. The referee waves off the action after Velazquez removes his mouth piece and remains on the canvas.
Winner by KO……”Brutal” Johnny Bedford
Randy Hedderick vs Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Round #1: Couple BKB Middleweights locking horns here. Hedderick getting the partisan Biloxi crowd fired up for a hometown lad. Vallie-Flagg looking to work off the jab. Hedderick connecting on some punches and is getting the footwork going.
Round #2: Vallie-Flagg getting some 1-2’s happening after finding a home for the jab. Hedderick landing some right hooks to Vallie-Flagg. Vallie-Flgg landing some lid head-body work after the men separate from the clinch.
Round #3: Vallie-Flagg with a trickle of blood under his eye but he’s setting the tone for the but. Vallie-Flagg drops Hedderick with a multi punch combo but Hedderick gets up. Hedderick seemed to take knee and is favouring his hand as if it’s injured. Hedderick unable to continue due to had injury and the referee waves off the contest.
Winner via TKO…..Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Rusty Crowder vs Reggie Barnett, Jr
Round #1: Barnett looking to isolate Crowder and get to him quickly whereas Crowder is parrying strikes and circling outside. Crowder working in some body shots during a clinch exchange.
Round #2:Barnett Jr throws a multi punch combo to get right to it. Crowder is looking to stay on the outside and counter but ironically Crowder is getting crowded by Barnett Jr. Crowder has a bit of a cut above his eye from the constant charging advances of Barnett Jr.
Round #3: Barnett changing levels with his punches working the body and head of Crowder. Crowder’s connectivity seeming to go up a bit but a largely uneventful frame overall.
Round #4: Barnett goading Crowder to stand and trade in the inner circle. Crowder continuing to favour that outside game and threw Barnett down from a clinch with the ref taking a point.
Crowder using MMA techniques sets him back one point. Barnett butchering Crowder with bare knuckle punches to the head and body. Barnett frustrated as the bell sounds heading into the final frame.
Round #5: Barnett bobbing and weaving trying to pry into the guard of Crowder. Barnett trying hard to find an exact range to work from.
Crowder good at clinching up or keeping safe at distance. Barnett mixing in a bit of a cross guard as he tries to close distance near the end of the fight.
The winner of this fight advances to the BKFC Lightweight Championship tournament final and will fight Johnny Bedford for the gold.
Winner by decision…….Reggie Barnett Jr
Sam Shewmaker vs Chase Sherman
Round #1: Both men poking out their respective jabs and feeling things out.
Round #2: Shewmaker connecting on some punches and is opening up a bit in the second. Sherman trying to work combos of his own but Shewmaker connecting on the more significant punches.
Round #3: Shewmaker landing a one-two. Sherman landing some sold punches in his own right. Sherman not being able to work at the range that he seems o want.
Round #4: Both men having a moment of mutual respect in the ring with Sherman openly laughing. Sherman licked up his own blood but keeps moving forward and is landing his own punches to the jaw of Shewmaker. Sherman landing his best bare knuckle work of this contest so far.
Round #5: Shewmaker largely leading the dance here. Shewmaker has shown the superior ring generalship all throughout the prize fight.
This fight is ruled a Split Draw…..Super rare
Christine Ferea vs Britain Hart
Round #1: BKB gold is up for grabs in this tilt. Ferea being measured and seems to be trying to elicit a reaction from the composed Hart.
Round #2: Both women starting to open up with combos. Ferea landing some big shots and having success with the in-fighting. Hart now has a cut up eye that Stitch Dyran is examing. The figh is waved off due to the cut and Ferea won via R2 TKO. Your new Police Gazette American Women’s Featherweight Champion…..Christine Ferea!
Winner by second round TKO (Doctor’s Stoppage)……Christine Ferea
Justin Baesman vs Chris Leben
Round #1: Both go at it. A huge left hook and big follow up-uppercuts from Leben put down Baesman. The bout is over in a matter of seconds.
Winner by knockout…..Chris Leben
Kaleb Harris vs Harris Stephenson
Round #1: Both guys throwing down Stephenson lands a few but Harris nail a counter hook. Harris is bleeding but is still hurling huge bare knuckle bombs. Stephenson seems to be getting off combos at range and Harris had a modicum of success in close quarters.
Round #2: Stephenson working some more dirty boxing this round with the half plum.
Round #3: Harris landing steady jabs and it seems like Stephenson’s cardio is waning a bit.
Round #4: The Sandman is prying the guard with the jab on Harris and both men seem bloodied up now.
Round #5: Pivotal round in the bout here. Harris landing some good body shots on Stephenson adding to the already compounding fatigue.
Winner by Split Decision….Harris “Sandman” Stephenson
Artem Lobov vs Jason Knight
Round #1: Lobov gets dropped by Knight. Lobov landed a counter but Knight rallies back with additional punches. Lobov opened up a cut on Knight.
Round #2: Lobov landing some big counter punches and eventually gets a knockdown on Knight. Knight and Lobov exchanged a dozen punch combination back and frth to the delight o the crowd.
Round #3: Uppercut by Lobov laded. The crowd trying to rally behind the local her Knight. Both men with plasma leaking from their faces.
Round #4: Lobov finding a home for alternating overhand punches. Knight continuing to move forward and is connecting with some strikes in his own right. This is a fine BKB main event with both men showing tremendous heart and grit. Huge punches that rock both men in the waning seconds of the frame.
Round #5: Knight coming it with the roars of the crowd emboldening his efforts in the final frame. Uppercuts and body shots from Knight. Lobov looks drained of all his energy. Huge shots from Knight on Lobov.
Amazing main event slobber knocker and a great way for BKFC 5 to reach it’s denouement.
Winner by Unanimous Decision…..Artem Lobov
Check out Dylan Bowker’s write up on the last BKFC card in the link below: