BKFC 85 fight week is here, as is a new month of combat sports. Friday, the last month of 2025 in combat sports kicks off with some pugilism action. As has been the case several times this year, BKFC 85 will originate from Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL.
Coverage of Friday’s card begins at 6 pm ET/ 3 pm PT with the countdown show on YouTube before moving onto the fights themselves at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT. As always, the show will be seen in its entirety via DAZN.
If there are no adjustments to be made to Friday’s schedule between now and then, the final version of BKFC 85 will feature a full 12-fight card from David Feldman’s promotion in The Sunshine State of Florida. Tournament action takes place in the headliner on Friday night, as well.
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BKFC 85 Main Event: BKFC Lightweight Tournament Semifinal #2: Austin Trout vs. No. 4 Contender Luis Palomino
At the top of the bill on Friday night, the second semifinal of the ongoing BKFC Lightweight Tournament serves as the focus for your main event of the evening. It’ll be a rematch between Austin Trout (4-0 bare-knuckle) and No. 4 contender Luis Palomino (10-1 bare-knuckle.)
All fights, main event included, are an advertised maximum of five rounds at two minutes per round. The winner of Friday night’s main event advances to the lightweight tournament final, where Franco Tenaglia awaits in the new year.
Trout and Palomino first met in February of 2024. That night, the former scored a unanimous decision after 10 minutes of action in the BKFC 57 main event for the promotion’s welterweight championship (165 lbs.) What will happen now?
Austin Trout has yet to lose under bare-knuckle rules. Last time out, he bested Carlos-Trinidad Snake (7-1 bare-knuckle) by way of split decision on April 4 in BKFC 71’s main event. Trout has shown himself to be a tough customer at the shop on any given day, so will he go 2-for-2 versus Palomino?
Speaking of Luis Palomino an alumnus of the late Bellator MMA, he’s posted a record of 4-1 in his last five outings coming into BKFC 85. At present, he’s looking to build off of a unanimous decision win over Howard Davis this past March in a fight also held in Hollywood, FL.
Although a championship isn’t at stake this time, revenge is on the line for Palomino in the BKFC 85 main event this coming weekend. Only time will tell if he’s able to even the score.
BKFC 85 Co-Main Event: BKFC Bantamweight Championship: No. 1 Contender Justin Ibarrola vs. No. 2 Contender Ryan Reber
Immediately beforehand, it’s title time in the BKFC 85 co-main event of the evening. The Vacant BKFC Bantamweight Championship will be at stake when No. 1 contender Justin Ibarrola (8-0 bare-knuckle) squares off against No. 2 contender Ryan Reber (6-1-1 bare-knuckle.)
Ibarrola has been undefeated up to now. Back in July during BKFC 78, he bested Robert Armas (3-4 bare-knuckle) via split decision.
This young man is only 27 years of age and now, he’s only no more than 10 minutes of action away from adding a championship belt to his mantle. Can he handle the pressure in this title fight?
Meanwhile, Ryan Reber has posted a record of 3-1-1 in his last five treks to the ring. This past spring, he secured a split decision win over Matt Guymon (2-1 bare-knuckle) during BKFC Clearwater.
Much like his opponent, Reber has eight bare-knuckle fights to his credit. A victory here over the undefeated Justin Ibarrola on Friday night will be a fantastic highlight on his combat sports resume.
BKFC 85 Featured Fight: No. 1 Contender Leonardo Perdomo vs. Corey Willis
In the featured fight of the evening at BKFC 85, the big boys will go to battle. Heavyweight action takes place when No. 1 contender Leonardo Perdomo (9-0 bare-knuckle) collides with Corey Willis (2-0 bare-knuckle.) Both fighters are undefeated in bare-knuckle boxing heading into Friday’s fight.
Perdomo has had an active 2025, as BKFC 85 serves as the fourth fight of the year for him. Less than three months ago, he stopped Arnold Adams (7-5 bare-knuckle) in a rematch of a fight from July in BKFC 80’s main event. Since December of last year, Perdomo’s appeared in four contests, all of which have taken place in Hollywood, FL.
Will he cap his year with another trip to victory lane? Tune in and find out.
In the other corner, Corey Willis has gone 3-2 across all contests in his last five fights. Most recently, he scored a second-round TKO against Zach Calmus (5-4 bare-knuckle) in Sturgis this past August.
While his bare-knuckle boxing career is still in its early days, if Willis defeats the top contender at heavyweight, he’ll start his climb toward the title.
Rest of the Card
The BKFC 85 main card is rounded out by these fights:
- A women’s flyweight fight between Christine Vicens (4-1 bare-knuckle) and Carina Damm (bare-knuckle debut,)
- a welterweight contest matching Gorjan Slaveski (6-1 bare-knuckle) with Ja’Far Fort “Knox” (3-1 bare-knuckle,)
- a cruiserweight affair pairing Steven Townsel (5-4 bare-knuckle) against Julio Perez Rodriguez (3-1 bare-knuckle,)
- a lightweight showdown versing No. 5 contender Howard Davis (8-3-1 bare-knuckle) and Ramiro Figueroa (2-1 bare-knuckle,)
- a flyweight battle between Gee Perez (5-2 bare-knuckle) and Chancey Wilson (3-4 bare-knuckle,)
- and a bantamweight fight pairing Matt “Rambo” Russo (3-1 bare-knuckle) against Samuel Samples (2-2 bare-knuckle.)
Which fight or fights are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments.
