Former 154-pound champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout kept his spotless bare knuckes record intact and earned a BKFC lightweight (155-pound) championship fight by defeating Luis “Baboon” Palomino in a rematch on BKFC 85 last Friday at the sold-out Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida. The ringside doctor called a stop to the fight at the conclusion of the third round due to vision issues from Palomino. Trout is now 5-0 in his BKFC career. He will face Franco Tenaglia in the BKFC lightweight championship tournament final at a to-be-announced date in 2026. Trout had a simple prediction for his upcoming showdown with Tenaglia in his post-fight interview: “I’m going to win. (Palomino) is a better fighter than Tenaglia, in my opinion. I’m going to go over there and I’m going to beat Tenaglia. I’m not taking anyone lightly, but I’m going to be the next BKFC lightweight champion in my next fight.”
Palomino is a former two-division BKFC champion. He is now 10-2, with both of his losses coming against Trout at Hard Rock Live. BKFC 85 was the 14th straight sold-out event that BKFC has held at Hard Rock Live. It was broadcast LIVE worldwide on DAZN.
Justin “Joy Boy” Ibarrola won the BKFC bantamweight championship in Friday’s co-feature, stopping “Royal” Ryan Reber in the third round of their showdown for the vacant crown. The KO came 81 seconds into round three and followed a pair of knockdowns from the hands of Ibarrola. The Florida fighter is now 9-0 after entering fight night as the #1 contender in the weight class. Ibarrola channelled his inner “Platinum” Mike Perry in his post-fight interview: “Don’t (expletive) underestimate me, baby. I’m a durable (expletive); I don’t care how many punches you land on me. I’ve got cuts and bruises on me, but you can’t (expletive) me up — I’m going to get you one time! It only takes one punch!” The Clearwater, FL product Reber is now 7-2, with his only losses coming in BKFC title matchups.
Heavyweight Leonardo Perdomo kept his spotless record intact, climbing to 10-0 with his 10th straight stoppage victory over the previously unbeaten Corey “What U Talkin' About” Willis. In his first fight to go past the first round, the Cuban-born Miami product floored Willis four times before their fight was stopped at 1:33 in round three. Perdomo made history Friday by becoming the first fighter in BKFC history to win 10 fights in the heavyweight division. He entered Friday’s action as the #1 contender in the division. Willis, who represents Billings, MT, is now 2-1.
Christine “La Abusdora” Vicens needed just 69 seconds to roll through Carina “Barbie” Damm in women’s flyweight action. Vicens is now 5-1 on the strength of back-to-back stoppage victories. The Brazilian-born Coconut Creek, FL fighter Damm was making her BKFC debut.
Former BKFC welterweight champion Gorjan “GoGo” Slaveski smashed his way to 7-1 with a first-round TKO of Ja'Far Fortt “Knox” in their matchup at 165 pounds. The Macedonian-born Miami fighter sent Fortt to the canvas four times before the stoppage was called at 1:34 in the opening stanza. Fortt, who represents St. Petersburg, FL, is now 3-2 under the BKFC banner.
Stephen “Tomahawk” Townsel picked himself up off the canvas twice and rallied for a stunning, come-from-behind, standing TKO victory over Julio “The Cuban Horse” Perez in the cruiserweight division. The Fort Pierce, FL fighter sent Perez to the canvas twice before the finishing sequence 39 seconds into the second round. Townsel is now 6-4 on the strength of three straight stoppage victories. The Cuban-born Miami product Perez is now 3-2 under the BKFC banner.
Ramiro Figueroa earned the biggest win of his career, upsetting Howard “HD” Davis in their lightweight clash. The Denver product is now 3-1 with three finishes in the squared circle. The ringside doctor called a stop to the fight due to a cut on Davis’ eyelid at the conclusion of the second round. Davis, who represents Broward County, FL, is now 9-4-1.
Gee “The Cutman” Perez climbed to 6-2 by stopping Chancey “Supaflyy” Wilson in the fourth round of their 125-pound matchup. Perez sent Wilson to the canvas twice en route to the finish with 14 seconds remaining in the fourth frame. All of the Cuban-born Pahokee, FL flyweight’s wins have come by stoppage. From Kansas, Wilson is now 3-5 under the BKFC banner.
Gaston “Tonga” Reyno cruised to 3-0 as the undefeated Uruguayan lightweight scored a second-round TKO over Dusty Sparks. The stoppage came 32 seconds into the second frame. Reyno, who also works as a Spanish commentator on BKFC and UFC broadcasts, logged the sole knockdown of the fight. All of Reyno’s wins have come by stoppage. Sparks, a product of Port Smith, AR, is now 1-2.
Broward County, FL bantamweight Matt “Rambo” Russo upped his BKFC record to 4-1 with a second-round KO at the expense of Ace “Of Spades” Samples. Russo logged a pair of knockdowns before their fight was stopped 33 seconds into the second stanza. All of Russo’s wins have come by stoppage. Samples, who hails from Madison County, GA, is now 2-3.
Peter “D2G” Peraza smashed his way to 4-1 with a first-round TKO at the expense of Joshua “Famez” Alvarez in their battle of Miami welterweights. Peraza floored Alvarez three times before the fight was stopped at 1:16 of the opening frame. Peraza has now recorded stoppage victories in three straight trips to the squared circle. Alvarez is now 4-6 under the BKFC banner.
Cuban-born Miami product Ernesto “Las Manos Benditas” Suarez turned heads in his BKFC debut, needing just 84 seconds to drop Angelo Colon twice en route to the first-round finish in their bantamweight matchup. Colon, who represents Rochester, NY, was also stepping into the Squared Circle for the first time.
