Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made its Hawaiian state debut on Saturday with BKFC Fight Night Honolulu at the sold-out Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu. Doug “ColdRed’ Coltrane smashed his way back into the win column at the expense of Honolulu’s Maki “Coconut Bombz” Pitolo in the main event. The bout was stopped with just one second left in the opening round, with Coltrane winning by KO over the UFC vet. Coltrane improved to 4-2 with the victory. The Smithfield, NC product Coltrane called out Marcus “Bad Intentions” Edwards in his post-fight interview: “I said yes to a Top 5 guy but he didn’t show up. Talking all that trash on the internet. Marcus Edwards, where you at, baby?!”
Columbus, Georgia’s Joseph “The Dark Knight” Creer earned his third straight stoppage victory in Saturday’s co-feature, defeating Keali'i “The Saint” Kanekoa in their light-heavyweight matchup. The ringside doctor called a stop to the fight at the conclusion of the third round. Creer is now 6-3 under the BKFC banner; the Pahoa, HI product Kanekoa was stepping into BKFC's squared circle for the first time.
Hilo, HI’s Toby “2 Quick” Misech overcame a pair of first-round knockdowns to beat “Felony” Charles Bennett via decision in featherweight action. Making his BKFC debut, Misech answered Bennett’s two knockdowns with two knockdowns of his own, paving the way for all three judges to score the fight 47-44. Bennett, who represents Las Vegas, is now 1-4 in BKFC.
Jackson, CA’s Justin Cornell won big in his BKFC debut as he stopped Zach Zane in the second round of their welterweight bout. The TKO stoppage came at 1:01 in the second frame. Zane, a product of Maui, HI, is now 0-2 in the squared circle.
Philippines-born San Andreas, CA product Chris Inocencio needed only 75 seconds to reign supreme in his BKFC debut over Jovan Alayon in their lightweight bout. Alayon, who represents Aiea, HI, was also making his BKFC debut.
Molokai, HI’s Namakana Pakala edged out Chris Cisneros for the razor-close victory in the light-heavyweight division. All three judges scored the fight 45-44 for Pakala. Six knockdowns took place in this fight (four for Pakala, two for Cisneros). Both fighters were stepping into the squared circle for the first time.
Kailua, HI’s Randy Kamaiopili Jr. was dominant in his BKFC premiere, dropping Shiro Hitto six times en route to the second-round TKO in middleweight action. The stoppage came 27 seconds into the second stanza. Hitto, who hails from Palolo, HI, was also making his BKFC debut.
Hazel Naheinaena defeated Kat Rabellizsa in their battle of debuting Waianae, HI fighters. Two judges scored the fight 29-28 and one had it 30-27, all in favor of the winner Naheinaena.
Maika Samson of Kapolei, HI stopped Nalu Cenal in the second round of their matchup of debuting bantamweight fighters. Samson logged a pair of knockdowns to the KO finish 32 seconds into the second round. Cenal represents Hilo, HI.
Kaneohe, HI lightweight Nick Saragosa picked himself up off the canvas and rallied for the second-round KO at the expense of Kaylan Gorospe. The KO came at 1:30 of the second stanza. Gorospe, who represents Wailu, HI, was also making his BKFC debut.
Waiahae, HI’s Joseph Calarruda was victorious in his BKFC debut, dropping Fatu Tuitasi twice en route to the unanimous decision victory in their welterweight matchup. All three judges agreed on the 30-25 verdict, all in favor of Calarruda. The Kapaa, HI product Tuitasi was also stepping into the Squared Circle for the first time.
Ewa Beach, HI’s Jerome Macalino picked himself up off the canvas and rallied for a stunning first-round KO over Pono Enos in welterweight action. Time of the stoppage was 1:54. Macalino and Enos, who hails from Puna, HI, were both making their BKFC debut.
In the first ever BKFC fight in Hawaii, Ewa Beach, HI cruiserweight Vince Aragona made a smashing first impression in his BKFC debut, needing just 36 to steamroll Simeon Crawford. Aragona, an active member of the United States Armed Forces, sent Crawford to the canvas twice. Crawford, who represents Lakeside, HI, was also making his BKFC debut.
BKFC Fight Night Honolulu Results
Doug Coltrane def. Maki Pitolo via KO in Round 1 (1:59)
Joseph Creer def. Keali'i Kanekoa via TKO in Round 3 (2:00)
Toby Misech def. Felony Charles Bennett via Unanimous Decision (47-44x3)
Justin Cornell def. Zach Zane via TKO in Round 2 (1:01)
Chris Inocencio def. Jovan Alayon via TKO in Round 1 (1:15)
Namakana Pakala def. Chris Cisneros via Unanimous Decision (45-44x3)
Randy Kamaiopili Jr. def. Shiro Hitto via TKO in Round 2 (0:27)
Hazel Naheinaena def. Kat Rabellizsa via Unanimous Decision (29-28x2, 30-27)
Maika Samson def. Nalu Cenal via KO in Round 2 (0:32)
Nick Saragosa def. Kaylan Gorospe via KO in Round 2 (1:30)
Joseph Calarruda def. Fatu Tuitasi via Unanimous Decision (30-25x3)
Jerome Macalino def. Pono Enos via KO in Round 1 (1:54)
Vince Aragona def. Simeon Crawford via KO in Round 1 (0:36)
