The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship returns tonight for possibly its biggest card to date, BKFC 18. Four title fights top the card, coming to fans live from the Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. On top of the title fights, a number of other recognizable names litter the 14-fight card.
The heavyweight title is up for grabs in the show’s headliner, as current champion and former UFC and Bellator veteran “Mexicutioner” Joey Beltran takes on BKFC staple, “The Hard-Hitting Hillbilly” Sam Shewmaker. Beltran makes his second title defense, with the first ending in a fourth-round stoppage against Marcel Stamps. Shewmaker holds a 4-1-1 record in the BKFC ring, most recently taking out Bobo O’Bannon in the BKFC 15 headliner.
In the BKFC 18 co-main event, the vacant cruiserweight title is on the line between two longtime MMA veterans. Former Bellator champion and UFC vet “Showeather” Hector Lombard will take on “Diesel” Joe Riggs, a 69-fight MMA veteran. Neither fighter has lost in their combined six BKFC outings.
At featherweight, former World Series of Fighting title challenger and current BKFC champion Luis Palomino will defend his title against British “Tornado” Tyler Goodjohn. Palomino is 3-0 in the BKFC ring with two knockouts, while Goodjohn is only 1-0, albeit with plenty of bare-knuckle boxing fights with other organizations across the pond.
To kick off BKFC 18’s run of title fights, former UFC title challenger Thiago Alves will face off with “The Monster” Uly Diaz for the vacant middleweight title. “Pitbull” Alves picked up a win in his debut with BKFC last time out, while Diaz is 2-0, including his infamous three-second KO win his last time out at BKFC 14.
Former UFC and Invicta FC fighter Pearl Gonzalez makes her BKFC debut at BKFC 18 as well, as she fights Charisa Sigala. Sigala dropped her BKFC debut and has lost three straight fights between that and her two previous MMA fights. She will look to get back on track against “The Chi-Town Princess” Gonzalez, who has been training with Amanda Serrano, one of the best female boxers ever and recent headliner of iKON 7 in MMA.
Infamous two-time TUF alum “Nitrane” Julian Lane returns to the ring against 28-fight MMA veteran “Brutal” Jake Bostwick. Lane’s last appearance was a losing effort against the aforementioned Alves, while Bostwick picked up a decision win in his debut at BKFC 14.
MMA Sucka has fight fans covered with BKFC 18 results, with the preliminary card starting live at 7:30pm ET/4:30pm PT on BKFC’s YouTube page, followed by the main card at 9pm ET/6pm PT on the BKTV app and FITE TV.
BKFC 18 Results
Main Card
Joey Beltran def. Sam Shewmaker via unanimous decision (49-46 x2, 48-47), defends the BKFC heavyweight championship
Hector Lombard def. Joe Riggs via TKO (eye injury), 1:07 of Round 4, earns the BKFC cruiserweight championship
Thiago Alves def. Uly Diaz via TKO (doctor’s stoppage), 2:00 of Round 3, earns the BKFC middleweight championship
Luis Palomino def. Tyler Goodjohn via unanimous decision (50-45 x3), defends the BKFC featherweight championship
Pearl Gonzalez def. Charisa Sigala via unanimous decision (50-45 x3)
Julian Lane def. Jake Bostwick via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-43, 48-45)
Jarod Grant def. Travis Thompson via TKO (doctor’s stoppage due to cut), 0:35 of Round 4
Eddie Hoch def. Bruce Lutchmedial via unanimous decision (48-47 x2, 49-46)
Steve Herelius def. Juan Torres via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46)
Francesco Ricchi def. Brian Maxwell via TKO (right uppercut), 1:25 of Round 2
Preliminary Card
Montaser Aboughaly def. Luke Parsons via KO (referee stoppage after three knockdowns), 0:34 of Round 1
Josh “Famez” Alvarez def. Paul Teague via KO (overhand right), 0:17 of Round 1
Yosdenis Cedeno def. Alan Arzeno via split decision (46-49, 49-46 x2)
Eduardo Concepcion def. Gabe Brown via KO (right shovel hook), 0:05 of Round 1
