In a battle of fomrer mixed martial arts rivals, 47 year-old Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski dethroned BKFC heavyweight champion “Big” Ben Rothwell at KnuckleMania VI on Saturday at the sold-out Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The ringside doctor called a stop to the contest at 1:14 in the third round. The Belarus-born, Florida resdident product upped his BKFC record to 2-0 with the win. The former UFC heavyweight champion Arlovski also holds two MMA victories over Rothwell. Arlovski was asked in his post-fight interview if he’d like to defend his new championship against undefeated Cuban Leonardo “El Zambo” Perdomo: “I love what I do. Thank you very much to my family for letting me fight. So, like Nike — ‘just do it.’ ”
BKFC light heavyweight champion Lorenzo “The Juggernaut” Hunt solidified his status as the best bare knuckle fighter on the planet by stopping BKFC middleweight champion David “The Redneck” Mundell on Saturday. Mundell entered fight night as the #1 fighter on the BKFC pound-for-pound Rankings, and Hunt held the #2 spot. Hunt dropped Mundell twice before the KO stoppage 29 seconds into the fourth round. Hunt, who represents Jacksonville, FL, upped his bare knuckle fighting record to 13-2 with the win, while the Oldsmar, FL product Mundell fell to 10-2 in defeat, thereby snapping his eight-fight winning streak. Hunt took aim at “Platinum” Mike Perry in his post-fight interview: “I am the true King of Violence!”
Undefeated Philadelphia middleweight John “Johnny Cannolli” Garbarino dropped Kaine “Kaine 9” Tomlinson Jr. seven times to up his record to 4-0 with a fourth straight stoppage victory. The one-sided contest was called to a stop 49 seconds into the fifth round. Tomlinson Jr., a product of Roanoke, VA, is now 2-3 under the BKFC banner.
Former BKFC interim lightweight title holder Ben “The Bomber” Bonner earned another BKFC title opportunity with a unanimous decision victory over Tony “Loco” Soto. Two judges scored the title-eliminator fight 49-46 and one scored the contest 48-47, all in favor of the UK product. Bonner is now 5-2 heading into his earned matchup with former BKFC welterweight champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout for the vacant BKFC lightweight championship at a to-be-announced date.
Led to the ring by celebrated comedian/actor Shane Gillis, Philadelphia’s Patrick “The Brick” Brady upped his BKFC record to 3-0 with a hard-fought, unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Bear “The Last Barbarian” Hill in heavyweight action. Brady sent Hill to the canvas three times. He is now 3-0 after all three judges called him the winner of Saturday’s contest (50-42, 49-41, 49-43). Hill, who hails from Ardmore, AL, is now 2-1. Brady announced his retirement in his emotional post-fight interview: “I have a family at home. I have three boys and a daughter, and they need their father. Philadelphia, it's been great. I love you all, but this is the last time you’ll see me fight.”
Knockouts of the Night: Lorenzo Hunt and Cody Russell / Fight of the Night: Pat Brady def. Bear Hill
Jade “Evil Smile” Masson-Wong defeated Crystal “The Rugged Beauty” Pittman. All three judges scored the fight 50-45 for the Quebec City-born Masson-Wong, who is now 4-2 in her BKFC career. Pittman, who hails from Sarasota, FL, is now 3-4, 1 NC under the BKFC banner.
Former BKFC light heavyweight champion Mike “The Marine” Richman edged out Joe “Hitman 187” Elmore for a majority decision victory in their welterweight battle. Two out of the three judges called the Minneapolis fighter Richman the winner (48-46, 49-45) and one judge scored the back-and-forth contest a draw (47-47). Richman logged the sole knockdown of the fight. Richman is now 7-3 in his BKFC career, while the Atlanta fighter Elmore is now 2-5.
Columbus, GA’s “Felony” Charles Bennett floored Pat “The Irishman” Sullivan twice en route to the second-round TKO stoppage in their featherweight matchup. The finish came with just four seconds left in the second frame. Bennett is now 1-3 in BKFC's squared circle. Sullivan, a product of South Philadelphia, is now 1-2.
Led by coach and combat sports legend Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez, Westchester, PA’s Cody “Chaos” Russell cruised to 2-0 in his BKFC career with a TKO over Harrison “The Headhunter” Aiken in middleweight action. Time of the TKO stoppage was 1:16 of the second round and followed three knockdowns by the hands of Russell. Both of Russell’s wins have come by stoppage. Aiken, who hails from Atlanta, is now 3-5 in his bare knuckle career.
Philadelphia lightweight “King” Zedekiah Montanez avenged a loss to Brandon “Beastmode” Meyer with a second-round KO victory on Saturday. Montanez scored three knockdowns to the finish with just one second left in the second round. Montanez is now 1-1 in his BKFC career, while the Omaha, NE product Meyer is now 3-4.
Levittown, PA cruiserweight Lex “The Grizzly Bear” Ludlow upped his BKFC record to 3-0 with a unanimous decision over Zack “Shark Attack” Calmus. All three judges scored the fight 30-26. Calmus, a product of Gloucester, MA, is now 5-5 under the BKFC banner.
BKFC Golden Ticket winner Prince Nyseam was victorious in his BKFC premiere, sending Brett “Showtime” Shoenfelt to the canvas twice en route to a unanimous decision in their middleweight matchup. All three judges agreed on the 30-25 verdict in favor of the debuting Camden, NJ product Nyseam. Shoenfelt, who represents Holidayburg, PA, was also making his bare knuckle fighting debut.
Pembroke, NC’s Joshua “The Preacherman” Oxendine shined in his BKFC debut, earning a unanimous decision victory over his highly experienced opponent, Travis “The Animal” Thompson, in the opening bout of the night. All three judges agreed on the 30-27 verdict. Thompson, who hails from Pottstown, PA, is now 6-8 under the BKFC banner.
KnuckleMania VI Results
Andrei Arlovski def. (C) Ben Rothwell via TKO in Round 3 (1:14) -- Arlovski Wins BKFC World Heavyweight Title
Lorenzo Hunt def. David Mundell via KO in Round 4 (0:29)
John Garbarino def. Kaine Tomlinson Jr. via TKO in Round 5 (0:49)
Ben Bonner def. Tony Soto via Unanimous Decision (49-46x2, 48-47)
Patrick Brady def. Bear Hill via Unanimous Decision (50-42, 49-41, 49-43)
Jade Masson-Wong def. Crystal Pittman via Unanimous Decision (50-45x3)
Mike Richman def. Joe Elmore via Majority Decision (48-46, 49-45, 47-47)
Charles Bennett def. Pat Sullivan via TKO in Round 2 (1:56)
Cody Russell def. Harrison Aiken via TKO in Round 2 (1:16)
Zedekiah Montanez def. Brandon Meyer via KO in Round 2 (1:59)
Lex Ludlow def. Zach Calmus via Unanimous Decision (30-26x3)
Prince Nyseam def. Brett Shoenfelt via Unanimous Decision (30-25x3)
Joshua Oxendine def. Travis Thompson via Unanimous Decision (30-27x3)
