A quadrilogy of title fights. The debut of everyone’s favorite pearl-adorned fighter, Pearl Gonzalez. Julian “Let me Bang, Bro!” Lane.

The title fights came at heavyweight, 205lbs, 175lbs, and 155lbs. In the main event, it was Joey Beltran set to defend his heavyweight title against Sam Shewmaker. Hector Lombard and Joe Riggs, both well-known names to UFC fans, would anchor the co-feature, with 205lb gold on the line. Luis Palomino put his 155lb belt on the line opposite Tyler Goodjohn, while Thiago Alves, another well-known name to UFC fans, threw down with Ulysses Diaz for the vacant 175lb belt.

BKFC 18 was set to go down live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL on Friday, June 26. The action airs live on PPV via BKTVAPP.com 

Check below for full results.

BKFC 18: Beltran vs. Shewmaker Results

Main Card

Joey Beltran (c) def. Sam Shewmaker by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) – for the Police Gazette and BKFC heavyweight championship
Hector Lombard def. Joe Riggs by TKO (eye injury), Round 4, 1:07 – for the BKFC cruiserweight championship
Thiago Alves def. Ulysses Diaz by TKO (doctor’s stoppage), Round 3, 2:00 – for the inaugutal BKFC middleweight championship
Luis Palomino (c) def. Tyler Goodjohn by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) – for the Police Gazette and BKFC lightweight titles
Pearl Gonzalez def. Charisa Sigala by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Julian Lane def. Jake Bostwick by unanimous decision (50-44, 50-43, 48-45)
Jarod Grant def. Travis Thompson by TKO (doctor’s stoppage), Round 4, 0:35
Eddie Hoch def. Bruce Lutchmedial by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
Steve Herelius def. Juan Torres by split decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46)
Francesco Ricchi def. Brian Maxwell by TKO (right uppercut), Round 2, 1:25

Preliminary card

Montaser Aboughaly def. Luke Parsons via KO (referee stoppage after three knockdowns), Round 1, 0:34
Josh Alvarez def. Paul Teague by KO (overhand right), Round 1, 0:17
Yosdenis Cedeno def. Alan Arzeno by split decision (46-49, 49-46, 49-46)
Eduardo Concepcion def. Gabe Brown by KO, Round 1, 0:05

The post BKFC 18: Beltran vs. Shewmaker Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Bare Knuckle FC rose to prominence thanks to ‘The Queen of Bare Knuckle,’ Bec Rawlings, becoming something of a star for the promotion out of the gate. However, if anything really put the bare knuckle boxing organization on the map, it was the bloody showdown between Artem Lobov and Jason Knight earlier this year. The win by Lobov propelled him into a grudge match with boxing champ Paulie Malignaggi (Lobov won the bout after plenty of chirping and bad blood leading into the fight). Saturday at BKFC 9, the pair were running it back.

Going down in Biloxi, MS, BKFC 9 looked to reclaim some of the glory the pair brought to the company in their first scrap. Lobov vs. Knight 2 topped a card with plenty of UFC/MMA veterans, as Chase Sherman, Joey Beltran, Johnny Bedford, and Charles ‘Felony’ Bennett were also on the card. Of note, Sherman and Beltran were battling for the BKFC heavyweight championship.

The event kicks off at 9PM EST, with the PPV available via Fite.tv and traditional PPV outlets.

BKFC 9 Results:

Jason Knight def. Artem Lobov by TKO in Round 5 (0:29)
Joey Beltran def. Chase Sherman by Unanimous Decision
Johnny Bedford def. Charles Bennett by TKO (Hand Injury) in Round 2 (2:00)
Helen Peralta def. Maia Kahaunaele by TKO in Round 1 (1:57)
Kenny Licea def. Harris Stephenson by TKO in Round 1 (1:03)
Chris Sarro def. John McAllister by KO in Round 1 (1:32)
Kaleb Harris def. Jeff Chiffens by TKO (Referee Stoppage) in Round 2 (2:00)
Wes Combs def. Adrian Miles by DQ (Illegal Ground Strike)
Dillard Pegg def. Adam Pellerano by KO in Round 1 (0:46)

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On June 2 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship had their first event. Headlined by former UFC Heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez, the card was littered with a healthy handful of ex-UFC and Bellator talents including Bec Rawlings, Joey Beltran, Eric Prindle, and D.J. Linderman. Rodriguez came out on top in the main event to advance in the Heavyweight tournament, as did Beltran in the fight of the night against Tony Lopez.

Overall, at least judging by social media and press coverage, the event was a success. It was all over Twitter and other social media platforms. It was covered by many mainsteam media outlets (early MMA fans could only dream of such legitimate media fawning), and MMA publications. Fan response was pretty positive. But with all that being said, does the sport have a bright future in the USA?

Something many may not realize is that Bare Knuckle Boxing has been a thing in the UK and Europe for years. The sport has chugged along there, with the largest promotion being Bare Knuckle Boxing. BKB has seen fighters such as Melvin Guillard, Joe Riggs, Wes Sims, Shannon Ritch, and others walk through the ropes over there. Yet here in America Bare Knuckle Boxing had not been able to be regulated in over 100 years. Until this past Saturday in Wyoming.

For the sport to have a bright future you have to consider the two biggest issues, the first being public opinion. People look at fighters with no gloves, and bloody knuckles and see the sport as barbaric. Despite the graphic nature and more cuts that come along with no gloves, other combat sports can actually cause more brain trauma, as more padding only protects the hands, and not necessarily the brain.

The reality about changing public opinion is that you probably can’t, at least in the short term. It’s something that will only change with time. For example, the UFC was looked down upon and banned in many, many states for the first couple years of its existence. Remember “human cockfighting?” Turn up the blood and gore, remove the gloves. Here we are 25 years later and the UFC is a giant promotion and MMA is a large growing sport with a bright future.  Bare Knuckle Boxing is where the UFC was all those years ago.

https://twitter.com/Grabaka_Hitman/status/1003114422703882241

The other main problem that Bare Knuckle Boxing faces in America is getting commissions on board. Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship got Wyoming on board and got them to license the promotion, but that is the only state that has licensed Bare Knuckle thus far. The promotion’s best hope would be that other states will follow, especially some of the larger commissions. If they don’t they’d be forced to run their events exclusively out of Wyoming. Not the best thing, though it’s not a horrible situation to be in if PPV revenues are healthy.

Overall, the sport is new in America, but if the pieces fall into place the sport could have a bright future. Not to mention a bloody one.

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