BKFC 85 takes place this Friday live worldwide on DAZN from the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida. One of the biggest rematches in BKFC history headlines Friday’s action as Austin “No Doubt” Trout meets Luis “Baboon” Palomino in the second semifinal of BKFC’s lightweight championship tournament. The biggest fight in the history of BKFC’s 135-pound weight class goes down in Friday’s co-feature as undefeated Justin “Joy Boy” Ibarrola takes on “Royal” Ryan Reber. Ibarrola and Reber have staked their claims as the division’s top contenders with BKFC records of 8-0 and 7-1, respectively. 

 

“I’ve never been gunning for the title; the title has been coming for me instead. The title wants me now, so now it’s time to fight for it,” the 27-year-old Ibarrola says, smiling. “This is the busiest I’ve ever been, but this is the most at peace that I’ve been while preparing for a fight,” he adds. “I’m feeling great. I’m at ease, and I’m ready to go in there and dominate.”

 

Ibarrola believes a big win on Dec. 5th will lay a blueprint for how fighters should approach their careers. “I think it will show people how they should go about their careers. Stay patient, gain experience, and line yourself for success at the right moment,” he says. “The belt has never been at the top of my list; it’s always been about the journey. What really makes me the champ is the adversity that I’ve been through, and the legacy that I’ll leave by example.”

 

On the same show, undefeated heavyweights Leonardo “El Zambo” Perdomo and Corey “What U Talking About” Willis collide in a featured fight. Perdomo has been nothing short of sensational in his rise up the BKFC heavyweight ladder, boasting a 9-0 record after back-to-back stoppages over former BKFC heavyweight champion Arnold “Bomaye” Adams. Willis is nobody’s stepping stone; the unbeaten big man looks to smash his way to 3-0 with his third straight finish in the squared circle.

 

Friday’s star-studded action from Hollywood also features former BKFC World Championship challengers Howard “HD” Davis, Gee “The Cutman” Perez, Gorjan “GoGo” Slaveski and Christine “La Abusadora” Vicens, as well as an exciting mix of returning fan-favorite fighters, like Joshua “Famez” Alvarez, Ramiro Figueroa, Ja’Far Fortt “Knox”, Peter “D2G” Peraza, Julio “The Cuban Horse” Perez Rodriguez, Matt “Rambo” Russo, Samuel “Ace of Spades” Samples, Stephen “Tomahawk” Townsel and Chancey “Supaflyy” Wilson.”