Former WBO junior lightweight champion Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring turned heads, winning his bare knuckles fighting debut in Uncasville, Connecticut's Mohegan Sun Casino over the weekend. Herring, also a former U.S. Olympic boxer earned a unanimous decision over Matt “The Silencer” Guymon. All three judges agreed on the 50-43 verdict for the Coramy, NY bantamweight. [In BKFC, the bantamweight limit is 135 pounds]. According to event promoter BKFC, Herring is now the eleventh world champion to compete under the BKFC banner [Austin Trout has had the most success]. Herring warned undefeated bantamweight champion Justin Ibarrola in his post-fight interview that a new era has begun in the division: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Jamel Herring show, starring Jamel Herring, brought to you by the good people at BKFC!” Guymon, who hails from Kansas, is now 2-2 under the BKFC banner.
In Saturday’s main event, Dustin “The Disciple” Pague dethroned BKFC welterweight champion Julian “Let Me Bang” Lane (9-8) with a unanimous decision victory after their fight went to an overtime round. The overtime round is rare in BKFC and is only used in championship fights where a winner isn’t decided after five rounds. Pague dropped Lane in the opening round, ultimately leading to the unanimous 57-56 verdict. Pague, who represents Carlisle, Pennsylvania, is now 6-2 under the BKFC banner. Pague couldn’t hold back his emotions in his post-fight interview at the jam-packed Mohegan Sun Arena: “I can’t express what I’m feeling right now. If you thought this was all me, you’re crazy. This was God, man. I couldn’t do this without Jesus Christ, I’m telling you right now.”
Denver’s Ramiro Figueroa climbed to 4-1 in BKFC's squared circle with his second straight, defeating Dalvin “The Hippy Disciple” Blair via unanimous decision in their welterweight showdown. Two judges agreed on 49-46 while one scored the contest 48-47, all for Figueroa. The 24 year-old Figueroa said afterwards: “I fought last month, I fought this month, I’ll fight next month, I don’t care. Give me a contract and I’m there.” Blair, a product of New Jersey, is now 2-1 under the BKFC banner.
Massachusetts product Rico DiSciullo smashed his way to 3-0 with a third straight finish in the squared circle, this time knocking out Ashton “No Chance” Caniglia in lightweight action. The stoppage came 26 seconds into the second round. The Omaha, NE product Caniglia is now 1-1.
Guilherme Viana upped his BKFC record to 2-0 as the Brazilian-born Waterbury, Connecticut product scored his second straight, first-round KO at the expense of Juan Figuerva in the heavyweight division. Viana logged a pair of knockdowns before the referee called a stop to the contest with just one second left in the opening frame. Figuerva, who hails from Sunnywide, WA, is now 1-1.
Maine heavyweight Ras “Rasquatch The Jamaican Shamrock” Hylton picked himself up off the canvas three times and rallied for a fifth-round, standing TKO victory with just seven seconds left in his matchup with Branko Busick. Both fighters were making their BKFC debut. Busick, a former linebacker for the West Virginia University Mountaineers, represents Pittsburgh, PA.
Missouri’s Tray “Big Dog” Martin edged out “Nasty” Nate Ghareeb for the split decision in his action-packed BKFC debut. Two judges scored the welterweight contest in favor of Martin (48-47, 49-46) and one judge scored it for Ghareeb (48-47). Ghareeb, who hails from Southampton, MA, was making his BKFC debut after amassing a 13-3 record in professional MMA.
Myrtle Beach, SC’s Joey “The Raging Warrior” Gambino was victorious in his BKFC premiere. His featherweight bout with Kurtis “The Outcast” Ellis was stopped after Ellis suffered a fight-ending hand injury at 1:08 of the second round. Gambino is well respected for his career in professional MMA, where he boasts a 9-2 record with two appearances under the UFC banner. The Omaha, NE product Ellis is now 1-2.
Fort Worth, TX’s Brandon “The Voodoo Child” Meneses needed just 55 seconds to stop Zach “Lil Mac” Pannell via TKO in their featherweight matchup. Meneses is now 1-1-1 under the BKFC banner. Pannell, who represents Lancaster, PA, is now 1-5.
Lowell, MA’s Jared “Lenny” Lennon and Chachi Versace of Hudson, FL fought to a draw in the opening matchup of the night. One judge scored the bantamweight contest 48-46 for Lennon, one judge scored the bout 48-46 for the Brazilian-born Versace, and one judge called the fight a 47-47 draw. Lennon is now 1-1-1 under the BKFC banner, while Versace is now 0-1-1.
