Those of you who had a Roy “Big Country” Nelson bareknuckle fight on your 2023 combat sports bingo card checked, raise your hand. No one? Well, that’s what arrived on Friday night, with Roy Nelson scheduled to top Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA on May 5 against Dillon Cleckler.
The brainchild of now-retired UFC star Jorge Masivdal, who got his start in the combat sports realm fighting in Florida backyards, Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA was billed as the first sanctioned bareknuckle MMA event in the state. And that, it seems, plus a presumably hefty payday, was enough to lure the notoriously hefty “Big Country” from his slumber (no, despite various reports, Nelson never officially retired following his Bellator MMA run).
Featured on the card were names like PFL champ Emiliano Sordi, fighting UFC and Gamebred Boxing alum Markus Perez, Irwin Rivera, Jon Tuck and more. Not to mention Charles “Felony” (but maybe better known as Krazy Horse) Bennett.
Full results and a live stream of the action can be found below. The card kicks off at 8PM ET.
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA: Big Country vs. Cleckler Results
Main Card
Roy “Big Country” Nelson def. Dillon Cleckler by TKO (right hand), Round 1, 3:24
Emiliano Sordi def. Markus Perez by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Sean Soriano def. Ago Huskić by TKO, Round 2, 1:30
Irwin Rivera def. Joseph Penafiel by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Carl Seumanutafa def. Jamahl Tatum by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Alexander Schenk def. Fidel Paulino by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 2:00
Darion Abbey def. Frank Tate by knockout, Round 1, 2:54
Handesson Ferreira def. Anthony Njokuani by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 4:09
Ryan Kuse def. Jarod Grant by submission (kimura), Round 1, 2:28
Keith Speed def. Charles Bennett by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 3, 4:22
