‘Platinum’ Mike Perry knocks out Thiago Alves in BKFC KnuckleMania 4 main event
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made an epic first impression in its hugely anticipated California debut with KnuckleMania IV on Saturday night at the sold-out Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, CA.
In the KnuckleMania 4 main event that had the combat sports world buzzing, the biggest star in the sport, ‘Platinum’ Mike Perry, smashed his way to 5-0 in the BKFC squared circle with a 60-second technical knockout over former BKFC World Champion Thiago “Pitbull” Alves.
Perry, The BKFC King of Violence, who represents Orlando, FL, is riding high after three straight stoppage victories under the BKFC banner. Alves, a product of Coconut Creek, FL, fell to 2-1 after this must-see matchup of combat sports icons.
“My easiest fight yet – just like I said it would be! I’m the undisputed king of bare knuckle. I’m the No. 1 Pound for Pound. (Expletive) anybody who thinks differently,” Perry told the sold-out Peacock Theater.
“Darren Till, you fat (expletive), get over here, or I’ll come to you in the U.K. Nate Diaz has got a fight with Jorge Masvidal. We should throw hands. Shout out to him. I’m not a hater, bro; we’re all just out here trying to make it, and I’m fighting for every (expletive) step that I take.”
In the KnuckleMania IV co-main event, United Kingdom powerhouse Mick Terrill retained his BKFC World Heavyweight Championship with a technical knockout over Lorenzo ‘The Juggernaut’ Hunt.
Hunt, who held the BKFC World Cruiserweight Championship and BKFC World Light-Heavyweight Championship, was unable to continue fighting after he was dropped by Terrill and suffered a serious arm injury. He was attempting to become the first fighter to win three BKFC World Titles. With the loss, the Jacksonville, FL fighter’s BKFC record moves to 10-2.
Terrill, who now boasts a bare-knuckle record of 9-1, was gracious in victory, saying he’d be happy to grant Hunt a rematch for the belt: “One-hundred percent. I like Lorenzo, but I dropped him with the uppercut and he broke his arm.”
Time of the stoppage was 1:48 in the first round.
In the KnuckleMania IV feature fight, “Big” Ben Rothwell climbed to 3-0 after Todd ‘White Lightning’ Duffee suffered a shoulder injury in the first round of their highly anticipated heavyweight bout. The fight was called to a stop after just 43 seconds. Rothwell dropped Duffee, who hails from San Jose, CA, twice in the opening round.
A fired-up Rothwell, who represents Kenosha, WI, was disappointed to not be able to put on a longer show for fight fans at the jam-packed Peacock Theater in this matchup of long-time MMA fan-favorite fighters.
“I came here to knock him the (expletive) out for all of you. He clipped my nose and I was about to get payback. I just needed to get one good connection and it would’ve been a good, clean knockout. I’m sorry, people, I came to perform. I came here to get a title fight.”
At the sold-out event, it was announced that combat sports icon Conor “Notorious” McGregor of McGregor Sports and Entertainment Ltd. has become a part owner of BKFC, the world’s fastest growing combat sports promotion.
“Welcome to the big leagues. David Feldman, baby, we did it,” McGregor said.
Press Conference Quotes from David Feldman, Founder and President of BKFC
“We’ve got the biggest guy (Conor McGregor) in all of combat sports who’s now the part owner of the company. It’s going to move the needle immensely. We’re going to do a lot of big things, we’re going to enter a lot of new markets. Conor, thank you, and let’s blow this (expletive) up!”
“It was a great night of fights. Some unfortunate injuries, some unbelievable finishes, an amazing crowd, some huge announcements. All in all, a great night to wrap up our debut in this amazing city.”
“Our viewership numbers are the most views we’ve had in BKFC history, so this was a really good night for us. We’re over 12,000,000 live viewers worldwide, so that’s a phenomenal night for us.”
“Fight of the Night” is David Diaz versus Shane Jordan. They let it all hang out and it was just an unbelievable fight. Twelve bonuses were given tonight. I told the guys in the locker room, with it being our debut in California, you have to go out there and fight your (expletive) off. They fought their (expletive) off, so they’re going to get paid for it.”
“Knockout of the Night is Alfredo ‘El Perro’ Angulo, one of my favorite boxers of all time. Jeremiah Riggs swarmed him, grabbed him by the back of his hair and was hitting him, but Angulo came back with a devastating knockout, and I’m happy for him.”
“It was just a great night for us. I’m very, very happy to be here in Los Angeles.”
In one of the best single-round fights in BKFC history, Mexican Boxing Legend and BKFC debuting Alfredo ‘El Perro’ Angulo overcame a seemingly insurmountable onslaught of heavy punches from Jeremiah “Big Rig” Riggs before dropping the Vicksburg, MS brawler 93 seconds into the opening round of their middleweight battle. Angulo, a Mexican Olympian is 1-0, Riggs moves to 2-3.
Clearwater, FL’s Julian ‘Let Me Bang’ Lane was declared the winner via technical knockout in his middleweight bout with Evgeny ‘The Sailor’ Kurdanov after Kurdanov suffered a serious arm injury in the opening round. The ringside doctor stopped the fight at the conclusion of the first round. Lane is now 4-6 under the BKFC banner, while the Russian-born Los Angeles fighter Kurdanov falls to 0-2.
Tampa, FL’s Crystal ‘The Rugged Beauty’ Pittman needed just 48 seconds to take out Sydney ‘Sundance’ Smith of Waynesboro, VA via technical knockout in women’s bantamweight action. Pittman is now 3-3 on the strength of back-to-back stoppage victories, while Smith falls to 1-2.
David ‘El Perro Necio’ Diaz’s and Shane ‘Suga Shane’ Jordan’s back-and-forth bantamweight battle was ruled a unanimous draw after five hard rounds, with all three judges scoring it 47-47 apiece. Diaz avoided defeat by dropping Jordan in the fourth round – the only knockdown of the fight. The Mexican-born South Central Los Angeles fighter Diaz is now 2-1-1; Jordan, who also hails from Los Angeles, is 0-0-1.
The unbeaten Andrew ‘The King of Cali’ Angelcor edged out Ruben ‘Bad Boy’ Warr for the split-decision in their evenly matched lightweight bout. Two judges scored it in favor of the Barstow, CA product Angelcor (49-46, 48-47), while one gave it to the Louisville, KY fighter Warr (48-47). Angelcor is now 4-0-1 under the BKFC banner; Warr moves to 1-1 with the loss.
Imperial Valley, CA bantamweight Daniel ‘Machete’ Alvarez picked himself up off the canvas twice in the first round of his bout with Victor Rosas of Escondido, CA before ultimately earning the victory via technical knockout. The bout was stopped by the ringside doctor at the conclusion of the fourth round. Alvarez upped his BKFC record to 2-2 with the win; the debuting Rosas fell to 0-1.
Vincent ‘The Mexitalian Stallion’ Familari of San Gabriel Valley, CA overwhelmed Menifee, CA’s Fernando ‘The Menifee Maniac’ Gonzalez with five rounds of unrelenting forward pressure, paving the way for a decision in their spirited middleweight matchup. The judges scored it 49-46, 50-45, 49-46, all in favor of Familari. Both fighters were making their first appearance under the BKFC banner. Prior to Gonzalez’s BKFC debut, he was victorious in seven of his nine MMA bouts with Bellator MMA.
San Pedro, CA lightweight Tommy Aaron turned heads in his BKFC debut by taking out Richard ‘The Big Bad Wolf’ Brooks of South Central Los Angeles, CA via second-round TKO. Time of the stoppage was 1:14 in the second frame. Both fighters were making their BKFC debut.
In the first fight, Keith ‘The Officer’ Richardson defeated Cody ‘The Huntington Beach Good Guy’ Vidal in cruiserweight action. The ringside doctor called a stop to the bout at the conclusion of the second round. Richardson, who hails from Hollywood, CA, is now 2-0 after his victorious debut less than a month ago at BKFC 59. Vidal, who represents Huntington Beach, CA, moves to 0-1.
Celebrities in attendance at KnuckleMania IV included MMA legend Nate Diaz, reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Memphis Grizzlies, as well as defending BKFC World Champions Christine “Misfit” Ferea, David “The Redneck” Mundell and Kai “Hefty Bag” Stewart.
KnuckleMania IV Results
Mike Perry def. Thiago Alves via TKO in Round 1 (1:00)
(C) Mick Terrill def. Lorenzo Hunt via TKO in Round 1 (1:48) – Retains BKFC World Heavyweight Title
Ben Rothwell def. Todd Duffee via TKO in Round 1 (0:43)
Alfredo Angulo def. Jeremiah Riggs via KO in Round 1 (1:33)
Julian Lane def. Evgeny Kurdanov via TKO (doctor stoppage) in Round 1 (2:00)
Crystal Pittman def. Sydney Smith via TKO in Round 1 (0:48)
David Diaz vs. Shane Jordan is ruled a Unanimous Draw (47-47×3)
Andrew Angelcor def. Ruben Warr via Split Decision (47-48, 49-46, 48-47)
Daniel Alvarez def. Victor Rosas via TKO (doctor stoppage) in Round 4 (2:00)
Vincent Familari def. Fernando Gonzalez via Unanimous Decision (49-46×2, 50-45)
Tommy Aaron def. Richard Brooks via TKO in Round 2 (1:14)
Keith Richardson def. Cody Vidal via TKO (doctor stoppage) in Round 2 (2:00
