Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) hosted its third annual event in Clearwater, Florida on Friday at the sold-out OCC Roadhouse. An exciting new featherweight emerged as Quentin “QG” Gaskins of St. Petersburg, FL ran through Matt “The Silencer” Guymon in the 145-pound division [BKFC has different weight divisions compared to traditional boxing]. Gaskins sent Guymon to the canvas three times before their fight was stopped with just one second remaining in the second round. Gaskins is now 3-1 in BKFC action, with all of his wins coming by stoppage. “I’m one of the hardest hitting guys in this league, regardless of weight classes,” the fan-favorite Gaskins said in his post-fight interview. “I’m not coming out here just to win; I’m coming out here to walk a dog on that boy!” The Wichita, KS product Guymon is now 2-3 in his bare knuckle fighting career.

 

In the co-feature, “Royal” Ryan Reber rose to the occasion in his tenth BKFC fight, defeating Joshua “The Preacherman” Oxendine in a back-and-forth, five-round battle. Fighting in his hometown, Reber dropped Oxendine twice en route to the unanimous decision victory. Reber is now 8-2 in the squared circle, with four of those wins coming by stoppage. Reber entered fight night as the #2 contender in the BKFC bantamweight (135-pound) division and called out the winner of Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring's and Nate “Mayhem” Maness' battle for the vacant BKFC bantamweight title, which is scheduled for May 22nd in Palm Desert, California. Oxendine, who hails from Pembroke, NC, is now 4-4, 1 NC in his bare knuckle fighting career.

 

Denver’s Kat Paprocki improved to 2-1 under the BKFC banner by defeating Crystal “The Lovely” Van Wyk in a hard-fought, five-round battle. Two judges scored the strawweight bout 49-46 and one had it 50-45, all in favor of Paprocki. The South African-born Van Wyk is now 2-3 in her BKFC career.

 

Local man Tony “TMURPH” Murphy upped his record to 3-0 with a third straight stoppage victory over Skyler “The Phoenix” Mauller in the middleweight division. Murphy floored Mauller three times in the opening round, eventually leading to the standing-TKO finish 39 seconds into the second stanza. The New Lexington, Ohio product Mauller is now 1-3 in BKFC.

 

St. Petersburg, FL’s Mike Heckert sent Justin Walters to the canvas four times en route to the 78-second TKO victory in their welterweight matchup. Heckert is now 2-1 in the squared circle, with both of his wins coming by stoppage. Walters, who hails from Kentucky, is now 0-2 under the BKFC banner.

 

In his first fight in more than a year, St. Petersburg, FL’s Brandon “Superman” Allen reaffirmed his status as a contender in BKFC's featherweight division by cruising to 6-2 at the expense of Lukas “Clown” Jones. Allen scored a pair of knockdowns before the fight was called to a stop with two seconds left in the opening round. Allen is now 6-1 in his last seven fights, with all but one of those victories coming by stoppage. The Zephyrhills, FL fighter Jones was making his BKFC premiere.

 

Tampa, FL’s Frankie “Mr. Fundamentalz” Solomon Jr. was victorious in his BKFC debut, defeating Rickie “Crimson King” McConnico via unanimous decision. Two judges agreed on the 50-45 verdict while one scored it 49-46, all in favor of Solomon Jr. McConnico, who represents Birmingham, AL, was also making his BKFC debut.

 

Greensboro, NC’s Quintan “The Hitman” Foye earned his second BKFC victory with a unanimous decision over Jason “Spook” Dinunzio. Foye scored the lone knockdown of the night, leading to the nod from all three judges. Scores were 49-44 (twice) and 48-44. Foye is now 2-4 under the BKFC banner, while the Hudson, FL product Dinunzio is now 0-2.

 

Tampa, FL’s Terry “Neph” Williams won his BKFC debut by knocking out Bolo Carthon in the third round of their heavyweight fight. Time of the stoppage was 1:23 in the third stanza. Carthon, who hails from Atlanta, GA, is now 1-2 in his bare knuckle fighting career.

 

Clearwater’s Gabriel “The Wolfman” Hernandez also won his BKFC debut by knocking out Chachi Versace in the third round of their flyweight tilt. Hernandez logged a pair of knockdowns before the fight was stopped at 1:14 in the third frame. Versace, a product of Hudson, FL, is now 0-2-1 in BKFC.

 

Clearwater’s Anthony “God Given” Grubbs was victorious in his BKFC debut, knocking out Tommy “Showtime” Jungles 25 seconds into the third round of their lightweight fight in the opening matchup of the night. Jungles, who represents New Port Richey, FL, was also stepping into BKFC's squared circle for the first time.