In the BKFC 79 main event at at the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, Julian “Let Me Bang” Lane won the vacant BKFC welterweight (165-pound) championship with a hard-fought, five-round decision over the division’s former titlist, Gorjan “GoGo” Slaveski. Lane dropped Slaveski in the third and fifth rounds, leading to all judges calling the Clearwater, Florida fighter the winner. Two judges scored it 49-44 and one had it 48-45. Lane, who made his promotional debut at BKFC 4 in 2018, is now 9-8 on the strength of six straight victories in the squared circle. “Without God, none of us would be here and none of this would be possible,” Lane said in his post-fight interview. “David Feldman (BKFC founder/president), I love you. Thank you for making this dream happen. I’ve been broken, I’ve been beat down, but I keep coming back from the dead. They can’t stop me, man.” The Macedonia-born Miami fighter Slaveski is now 6-1 in BKFC.

 

ADDITIONAL RESULTS

 

South Carolina'sTaylor “Killa Bee” Starling edged out Shelby “Boom Boom” Cannon for the unanimous decision victory. Two judges scored the fight 48-47 and one judge scored it 49-46, all in favor of Starling, a former title challenger in the BKFC women’s flyweight and women’s strawweight divisions. Starling is now 4-4 in the squared circle, and called her shot for a rematch against BKFC women’s strawweight champion Britain Hart. “All respect to Britain. I have so much love for her, but I’ve got to avenge that fight that we had last year. I feel like I deserve it. Britain, you know there’s no competition at 115 except me, and I’m ready to do it again!” Cannon, who hails from Anderson, IN, entered fight night with a 4-1 overall record in her bare knuckle fighting career.

 

Montana's Corey “What You Talkin' About” Willis improved to 2-0 in the BKFC heavyweight division at the expense of Zach “Shark Attack” Calmus. Willis dropped Calmus in the second round, and the ringside doctor called a halt to the fight at the conclusion of the second round. Both of Willis’ wins have come by stoppage. The Gloucester, MA product Calmus is now 5-4 in the squared circle.

 

Smith Center, KS’s David Simpson needed just 27 seconds to stop the previously undefeated Brandon “Stronghold” Conley in their light-heavyweight matchup. With the TKO victory, Simpson climbs to 3-4 in the Squared Circle, with all of his wins coming by stoppage. Conley, who hails from Chillicothe, OH, is now 2-1-1 in his BKFC career.

 

The inaugural BKFC welterweight Champion, Elvin “El Bandido” Brito, returned to the win column with a fourth-round, standing TKO over Brandon “Beastmode” Meyer. Brito sent Meyer to the canvas in the third round before the fight was stopped 32 seconds into the fourth round. The Maunabo, Puerto Rico product is now 7-6 in the Squared Circle. Meyer, who hails from Omaha, NE, is now 3-3 under the BKFC banner.

 

Sturgis’ Shyanna Bintliff was victorious in her BKFC premiere, picking herself up off the canvas and rallying for the second-round TKO victory at the expense of Marisol Ruelas in their women’s featherweight battle. Time of the stoppage was 1:11 in the second round. Bintliff, who also represents Las Vegas, NV, is now 2-0 in her overall bare knuckle fighting career. Ruelas, a product of Chicago, was also making her BKFC premiere.

 

Alabama's Bear “The Last Barbarian” Hill smashed his way to 2-0 in the BKFC heavyweight division with a third-round KO versus Billy “Big Sexy” Swanson. Both of Hill’s victories have come by stoppage. The Soddy Daisy, TN heavyweight Swanson was making his BKFC debut.

 

Sioux Falls, SD featherweight Traevon “Kid Cobra” Kroger upped his BKFC record to 2-0 with a second straight stoppage victory in the Squared Circle. Kroger’s matchup with Daniel “Tower Dog” Pettit of Cheyenne, WY was halted by Pettit’s corner between the first and second rounds. Pettit is now 1-3 under the BKFC banner.

 

Helena, MT’s Timmy Mason sent AJ “A-Train” Craig of Billings, MT to the canvas twice en route to the TKO victory in their featherweight showdown. The ringside doctor stopped the bout at the end of the opening round, thereby raising Mason’s BKFC record to 2-2. Craig is now 2-1 in the squared circle.

 

Spearfish, SD cruiserweight upstart Cody Kerr was victorious in his BKFC debut, needing just 61 seconds to score the TKO over Dillon “The Irish Thug” Blaydon. Blaydon, a product of Lincolnton, NC, was also stepping into the Squared Circle for the first time.

 

Saskatoon, SK, Canada lightweight Dan “The Primal” Godoy recorded his first BKFC victory in the opening matchup of the night, earning the win by TKO over Paco “The Texas Punisher” Castillo. The ringside doctor called a stop to the bout at the conclusion of the third round. Godoy is now 1-3 in the Squared Circle, and Castillo, who hails from Hereford, TX, falls to 0-2 in defeat.

 

BKFC 79 Results

 

Julian Lane def. Gorjan Slaveski via Unanimous Decision (49-44 (twice), 49-45)

wins vacant BKFC welterweight title;

 

Taylor Starling def. Shelby Cannon via Unanimous Decision (48-47 (twice), 49-46);

 

Corey Willis def. Zach Calmus via TKO in Round 2 (2:00);

 

David Simpson def. Brandon Conley via TKO in Round 1 (0:27);

 

Elvin Brito def. Brandon Meyer via TKO in Round 4 (0:32);

 

Shyanna Bintliff def. Marisol Ruelas via TKO in Round 2 (1:11);

 

Bear Hill def. Billy Swanson via KO in Round 3 (1:20);

 

Traevon Kroger def. Daniel Pettit via TKO in Round 1 (2:00);

 

Timmy Mason def. AJ Craig via TKO in Round 1 (2:00);

 

Cody Kerr def. Dillon Blaydon via TKO in Round 1 (1:01); and

 

Dan Godoy def. Paco Castillo via TKO in Round 3 (2:00).