Cuban-American heavyweight Leonardo “El Zambo” Perdomo needed just 14 seconds to claim victory at Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 93 on Friday at the sold-out Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Perdomo is now 12-0 after beginning his career with 12 stoppage victories — the first fighter in BKFC history to accomplish both feats — after knocking out Bear “The Last Barbarian” Hill (3-2) on Friday. Perdomo, BKFC's #1 contender in its heavyweight division, took aim at BKFC heavyweight champion Andrei “The Pit Bull” Arlovski in his post-fight interview. “I want my title; I want my opportunity,” the fan-favorite Florida fighter said. “Everyone here knows that this is my time!”
BKFC Founder/President David Feldman agreed, sparking an even bigger reaction from the crowd. “The answer is absolutely, 100-percent, yes. We love Miami so much that we’re bringing KnuckleMania to Miami, and it will be Leonardo Perdomo versus Andrei Arlovski for the BKFC heavyweight championship. Let’s go!”
Bryan “Cash Cow” Duran defeated “Felony” Charles Bennett in their hotly anticipated showdown at 145 pounds. Duran picked himself up off the canvas and recorded two knockdowns of his own en route to the 48-44 verdict across all three judges’ scorecards. Duran, who represents Miami, FL, is now 9-1-1 under the BKFC banner, with his only loss coming against undisputed BKFC featherweight champion “King” Kai Stewart. Duran hopes Friday’s victory earns him another shot at Stewart. “Don’t bother me no more unless it’s Kai,” Duran said in his post-fight interview. “Don’t call me no more unless it’s for Kai. Or a million dollars. That’s all I want; I want nothing else.” The Ocala, FL featherweight Bennett is now 1-5 in his BKFC career.
In a rematch with the next shot at the BKFC bantamweight title on the line — Andrew “Legend” Strode climbed to 5-0 with a third-round TKO over Gee “The Cutman” Perez. The Denver product Strode picked himself up off the canvas and rallied for the stoppage with just one second left in the third round. Strode and Perez first did battle for the BKFC'a interim flyweight Title in 2025, with Strode earning the win by second-round TKO, also at Hard Rock Live.
Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring is set to defend the BKFC World Bantamweight Title against John “The Magician” Dodson in the Main Event of BKFC 95 on Oct. 17th at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App. “I want to be a two-time, two-division world champ,” Strode said in his post-fight interview. “Dodson and Herring, I’m coming!” The Cuban-born Pahokee, FL product Perez is now 7-3 under the BKFC banner.
Celebrities in attendance on Friday included Academy Award-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix, as well as combat sports icons Eddie Alvarez and Tito Ortiz, plus BKFC champions Christine “Misfit” Ferea and Britain Hart.
In the ironweight division, BKFC cruiserweight champion Esteban “Mohawk” Rodriguez only needed 46 seconds to chop down Steve “Tomahawk” Townsel. The Grand Rapids, MI product sent Townsel to the canvas twice and is now 7-1 on the strength of five straight stoppage victories. Townsel, who represents Miami, FL, is now 6-6.
Broward County, FL’s Matt “Rambo” Russo cruised to 5-1 with his third straight finish in the squared circle against the previously unbeaten Jancarlos “Baby Tank” Rivera in the bantamweight division. Both fighters logged a knockdown in the contest. Rivera’s corner threw in the towel at 1:36 of the penultimate round. Rivera, a product of Fort Myers, FL, is now 3-1.
Miami, FL’s James “Chosen” Rodriguez needed just 91 seconds to knock out Murat “Lord Pitbull” Kazgan in their welterweight matchup. Rodriguez is now 2-1, while the Turkish-born Palm Beach, FL fighter Kazgan falls to 1-2.
Havana, Cuba’s Ernesto “Las Manos Benditas” Suarez upped his record to 3-0 with a hard-fought, split decision over Ronny Hauser in bantamweight action. Both fighters recorded a knockdown in the fight. Two judges scored the contest for Suarez (47-46, 49-45) and one scored it 47-46 for Hauser. The Chicago bantamweight Hauser is now 1-2.
Fort Myers, FL’s Tyler “Rookie” Randall edged out Chris “Dynamite” Garcia for the majority decision victory in their matchup of flyweight contenders. Two judges scored the contest 48-46 for Randall, who logged the sole knockdown of the fight, while one judge scored it a 47-47 draw. Randall is now 5-4 after entering the bout as the No. 5 contender in the 125-pound weight class. Garcia, who hails from Clewiston, FL, is now 6-2 under the BKFC banner.
Broward County, FL’s Chino Blume earned his third straight win with a hard-fought, unanimous decision over Caleb “Panda” Avila in ironweight action. All three judges agreed on the 30-27 verdict, all in favor of Blume, who’s now 3-2 under the BKFC banner. Avila, who hails from San Diego, CA, is now 1-3.
Miami, FL’s Adyam “Pulga” Devillafuerte picked himself up off the canvas and rallied for the first-round KO over Miguel “The Survivor” Hinojosa in the lightweight division. Devillafuerte, who’s now 2-0, dropped Hinojosa three times before the referee called a stop to the match with six seconds left in the opening round. Hinojosa, who represents Clewiston, FL, was making his BKFC debut.
Eduardo “Las Manos Benitas” Suarez of Havana, Cuba evened his BKFC record to 1-1 with a second-round TKO at the expense of Jose “Chupacabra” Davila in featherweight action. Suarez recorded three knockdowns before the fight was stopped 34 seconds into the second frame. Davila, who represents Key West, FL, was making his BKFC debut.
BKFC 93 Results
(1) Leonardo Perdomo def. Bear Hill via TKO in Round 1 (0:14)
(2) Bryan Duran def. Charles Bennett via Unanimous Decision (48-44x3)
Andrew Strode def. Gee Perez via TKO in Round 3 (1:59)
Esteban Rodriguez def. Steve Townsel via TKO in Round 1 (0:46)
Matt Russo def. Jancarlos Rivera via TKO in Round 4 (1:36)
James Rodriguez def. Murat Kazgan via KO in Round 1 (1:31)
Ernesto Suarez def. Ronny Hauser via Split Decision (47-46, 46-47, 49-45)
(5) Tyler Randall def. Chris Garcia via Majority Decision (48-46x2, 47-47)
Chino Blume def. Caleb Avila via Unanimous Decision (30-27x3)
Adyam Devillafuerte def. Miguel Hinojosa via KO in Round 1 (1:54)
Eduardo Suarez def. Jose Davila via TKO in Round 2 (0:34)
