BKFC Fight Night Edmonton week is here. Seven days removed from a stop in Sturgis, SD for BKFC 79, David Feldman’s promotion heads to the Great White North for this week’s installment of bare-knuckle pugilism.
Saturday night, BKFC’s schedule continues with a fight night from Edmonton, AB’s River Cree Resort and Casino for the second of three cards this eighth month of the year. After BKFC Fight Night Edmonton concludes this weekend, the promotion treks to Budva, Montenegro for a show on Aug. 30.
Coverage of this week’s BKFC show begins with the one-hour countdown at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT on YouTube before moving onto DAZN for the fights themselves one hour later at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT.
If there are no adjustments to Saturday’s bout order, the final version of BKFC Fight Night Edmonton features a total of 10 bare-knuckle boxing matches.
BKFC Fight Night Edmonton Main Event: Drew Stuve vs. Will Santiago
At the top of the bill on Saturday’s event, you’ll see a middleweight (175 lbs) fight matching undefeated Drew Stuve (2-0 bare-knuckle) with Will Santiago (2-1-1 bare-knuckle.) All fights on BKFC Fight Night Edmonton are five rounds at two minutes per round, main event included.
Stuve has yet to lose thus far in his tenure as a bare-knuckle pugilist. Counting his fights in traditional boxing, he’s 3-1 in his pro career. Most recently, he sustained his first defeat in all competitions with a fourth-round knockout defeat to Facson Perrine in Montreal last November.
If ever there were a “home game” for Drew Stuve, Saturday night’s BKFC Fight Night Edmonton main event would be it. He’ll be fighting in his own backyard over the weekend, so can Edmonton’s favorite son give the hometown crowd the happy ending?
Meanwhile, Will Santiago has gone 2-2-1 in his last five fights dating back to his years in MMA. Back on Feb. 1, he was on the losing end of a third-round TKO (corner’s stoppage) from Dakota Cochrane (7-3 bare-knuckle) inside Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.
The American will obviously be headed into hostile territory this coming Saturday night. How will he fare up north in Canada?
BKFC Fight Night Edmonton Co-Main Event: Chad Lucanas vs. Tim Tamaki
Immediately beforehand, action takes place at lightweight when Chad Lucanas (2-0 bare-knuckle) meets up with Tim Tamaki (2-1 bare-knuckle) in an all-Canada showdown for the BKFC Fight Night Edmonton co-main event of the evening. Lucanas has gone 2-1 in his career to-date
Under bare-knuckle rules, he’s yet to lose as a fighter. On Aug. 31, 2024, he bested Zach Pannell (1-3 bare-knuckle) with a first-round knockout in BKFC Prospect Series: Edmonton.
Prior to that, he lost to Eric Wilson (split decision) in a modified rules boxing match, although Tapology doesn’t consider the result of this fight as part of the official records of both men. There’s been no scrutiny as far as Lucanas’ performance when he’s stepped into the ring in BKFC. Can he go 3-for-3 in the promotion?
Across the way, Tim Tamaki will be knuckling up for the first time under the BKFC promotional banner this coming weekend, having gone 2-3 in his last five fights. Back on March 28, he dropped a majority decision to Ago Huskic (1-0 bare-knuckle.)
Tamaki is a seasoned veteran of the sport of bare-knuckle boxing with three previous fights under the ruleset to his credit. Only time will tell if his BKFC debut results in a victory.
BKFC Fight Night Edmonton Featured Fight: Hasan al-Ghanim vs. Zach Pannell
Also on the BKFC Fight Night Edmonton main card on Saturday night, the featured contest of the evening happens in the lightweight ranks. Hasan al-Ghanim (3-0 bare-knuckle) will be making the walk to the ring to meet the aforementioned Zach Pannell (1-3 bare-knuckle) on Saturday.
al-Ghanim has yet to lose under the BKFC signature. On Oct. 25, he saw his fight versus Dusty Sparks (1-1 bare-knuckle) end with a unanimous decision victory after 10 minutes of action.
It was the first time that one of his fights required the judges’ scorecards to decide the winner. When a fighter is on a roll, as al-Ghanim is now, they can be at their most dangerous.
In the other corner, Zach Pannell has gone 1-3 so far as a professional. During KnuckleMania V on Jan. 25, he was on the losing end of a second-round knockout due to a left shovel hook vs. Travis Thompson (6-6-1 bare-knuckle) from Wells Fargo Center.
Another defeat would make it four in succession for Pannell. Will he turn it around on Saturday?
Final Thoughts
Which fight or fights are you looking forward to on BKFC Fight Night Edmonton? Let us know in the comments.
