Esteban “Mohawk” Rodriguez victorious in BKFC’s Michigan debut
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made its historic Michigan state debut with a night of jaw-dropping knockouts on Saturday night at the sold-out Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mount Pleasant, MI. The event was broadcast globally on The BKFC App.
In the BKFC Fight Night Michigan Main Event, surging Grand Rapids, MI cruiserweight contender Esteban “Mohawk” Rodriguez smashed his way to 5-1 with his fifth stoppage victory in a stunning, first-round knockout over the previously undefeated Zac Cavender. Rodriguez floored Cavender twice before their electric fight was stopped just 70 seconds into the opening round.
Rodriguez took aim at Alessio “Legionarius” Sakara, the newly crowned BKFC Cruiserweight World Champion, in his post-fight interview: “Buckle up, baby! I told you I’m coming and there’s nothing you can do to stop me!”
Added BKFC Founder/President David Feldman: “We have a new star in BKFC, and his name is Esteban Rodriguez. What a hell of a performance by him and Zac Cavender, and an absolutely amazing event here in Michigan!”
Cavender, who represents Las Vegas, is now 2-1 under the BKFC banner.
In the BKFC Fight Night Michigan Co-Main Event, undefeated Nathan “The Reaper” Rivera cruised to 5-0 by taking out former BKFC Featherweight World Title challenger Tommy “The Farmer” Strydom. The Atlanta product Rivera sent Strydom to the canvas twice before their hotly anticipated, 145-pound battle was called to a stop 34 seconds into the third round.
Rivera, who entered fight night as the #3 ranked contender in the BKFC featherweight division, called out fellow undefeated BKFC featherweight star Edgard “The Dreamkiller” Plazaola (6-0) in his post-fight interview: “I’ve called him out (before), and he’s been running. If you see him, there’s a cash reward on his head.”
Strydom, who hails from Johannesburg, South Africa, is now 4-1 in the Squared Circle.
In the BKFC Fight Night Michigan Featured Fight, the Detroit-born Joseph “The Dark Knight” Creer earned his second straight and fifth overall BKFC victory with a second-round stoppage over the previously undefeated Taylor “Ragin’” Bull in the light-heavyweight division. Time of the stoppage was 1:47 in Round 2 and followed a pair of knockdowns by Creer. Bull, who hails from Maskwacis, Alberta, Canada, entered fight night with a spotless 4-0 overall record. Creer is now 5-3.
Holland, MI’s Erick “El Travieso” Lozano logged five knockdowns in his one-sided, unanimous decision over Tylor “Redbird” Sijohn in cruiserweight action. Two judges scored the fight 50-40 and one had it 48-42, all for Lozano, who is now 3-5. Sijohn, who represents Worley, ID, moves to 0-3.
Livonia, MI bantamweight Justin “The Nightmare” Street upped his record to 3-2 with a hard-fought, unanimous decision over AJ “A-Train” Craig. Two judges scored the fight 50-45 and one had it 49-46, all in favor of Street, who’s now won back-to-back fights. The Billings, MT product Craig is now 2-3 in his bare-knuckle fighting career.
Clinton Township, MI’s Mike “The Hurricane” Hernandez turned heads in his BKFC premiere by defeating “The Mexican Muscle” Antonio Castillo Jr., via second-round stoppage in their featherweight matchup. Time of the stoppage was 1:15 in the second frame. Castillo Jr., a product of Massillon, OH, was also making his BKFC debut.
Unbeaten Hurricane, UT light-heavyweight David “The Sandman” Sanchez smashed his way to 2-0 with a second-round technical knockout over debuting Detroit fighter Terryl “Taj Mahal” Johnson. The stoppage came at the 1:19 mark in the second stanza. Both of Sanchez’s victories have come by knockout.
Oleg Magkeev of Ossetia, Russia was victorious in his BKFC debut, stopping Eric “BrotherVibe” Westbury 13 seconds into the second round of their light-heavyweight clash. Westbury, a product of Washington, D.C., was also making his BKFC debut.
Mattoon, IL welterweight Casey “The Lawless” Moses picked himself up off the canvas and rallied for a 57-second knockout over Paul “The Slayer” Schiller. Moses is now 1-1 while Schiller, who hails from Kenosha, WI, is now 0-1.
Fort Madison, IA upstart Aubrey “Merciless” Mendonca needed just 22 seconds to steamroll Junior “The Joker” Hicks in their meeting of debuting cruiserweight prospects. Hicks represents Greenfield, IA.
Detroit’s “P-Dott Da Knockout Artist” Parris Boyd was spectacular in his BKFC premiere, sending Ruben “The Beast” Arroyo to the canvas twice en route to a 31-second stoppage victory in their lightweight clash. Arroyo, a product of El Paso, TX, is now 0-3.
BKFC Fight Night Michigan Results
Esteban Rodriguez def. Zac Cavender via TKO in Round 1 (1:10)
Nathan Rivera def. Tommy Strydom via TKO in Round 3 (0:34)
Joseph Creer def. Taylor Bull via TKO in Round 2 (1:47)
Erick Lozano def. Tylor Sijohn via Unanimous Decision (50-40×2, 48-42)
Justin Street def. AJ Craig via Unanimous Decision (50-45×2, 49-46)
Mike Hernandez def. Antonio Castillo Jr. via TKO in Round 2 (1:15)
David Sanchez def. Terryl Johnson via TKO in Round 2 (1:19)
Oleg Magkeev def. Eric Westbury via TKO in Round 2 (0:13)
Casey Moses def. Paul Schiller via KO in Round 1 (0:57)
Aubrey Mendonca def. Junior Hicks via KO in Round 1 (0:22)
Parris Boyd def. Ruben Arroyo via TKO in Round 1 (0:31)
