Keith Richardson doesn’t waste time in the Squared Circle

Keith Richardson doesn’t waste time.

The Rock Hill, SC product burst onto the bare knuckle fighting scene at BKFC 35 with a Fight-of-the-Year nominee victory over Justin Scoggins. Less than nine months later, the fast-rising Richardson had the BKFC World Bantamweight Championship belt around his waist.

In Richardson’s first fight on his way to recapturing the crown, he needed just 21 seconds to defeat Michael Larrimore in December. Less than 90 days since that victory, Richardson returns to action against Bekhzod Usmonov in the Main Event of BKFC Fight Night: Albuquerque on Feb. 28 at the famed Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque, NM, LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App.

“If you don’t fight, you don’t get paid,” he says with a laugh.

“I don’t take any time off. I think last year was the first time I’ve ever taken a full vacation from fighting, and I still trained throughout the trip. I never leave training camp, so I’m always ready for anything.”

Richardson hoped his lightning-fast victory over Larrimore would be enough to earn him a rematch against Alberto Blas, the only fighter to beat him in the Squared Circle and the reigning BKFC World Bantamweight Champion. But Richardson is just focused on winning.

“I’m a fighter, so I like to fight. Whoever wants it can get it until I get my belt back,” he says.

“I’m always looking for the finish. They don’t pay me by the punch, the hour or the round, so I’m always looking to get in there, do work, and finish my opponent as soon as possible.”