Bekhzod “The Lion” Usmonov shocked the combat sports world by stopping former Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) World Bantamweight Champion Keith “The Rockstar” Richardson in the Main Event of BKFC Fight Night: Albuquerque on Friday at the sold-out Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque, NM.
Friday’s event aired LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App.
The Tajikistan-born Albuquerque product dropped Richardson, who entered fight night as the No. 1 contender in the stacked BKFC bantamweight division, twice before the bout was stopped just 55 seconds into their highly anticipated headline showdown.
Following his win, Usmonov called for the next shot at undefeated BKFC World Bantamweight Champion Alberto “El Indio” Blas.
“I’m the No. 1 bantamweight in BKFC. I want the title shot, and I’ll knock out (Blas),” Usmonov told the jam-packed Kiva Auditorium.
Usmonov is now 2-1 on the strength of back-to-back stoppage victories in his blossoming BKFC career. Richardson, a product of Rock Hill, SC, is now 5-2 under the BKFC banner.
Only one of the 11 fights on Friday’s action-packed event went to the judges’ scorecards.
Albuquerque’s Donald Sanchez won his fourth straight fight and upped his BKFC record to 4-1 in Friday’s Co-Main Event, defeating Harrison “The Head Hunter” Aiken in the sole decision of the evening. All three judges scored the fight in favor of Sanchez (49-43×2, 48-44).
Sanchez called out BKFC World Middleweight Champion David “Redneck” Mundell after his victory.
“C’mon, Mundell — let’s do this,” Sanchez told the rocking Kiva Auditorium. “How many times do I have to say this? Give this fight to me already. Mundell, that belt is mine. Let’s go!”
Aiken, who represents Atlanta, is now 3-4 in his bare knuckle fighting career.
Chicago welterweight Derrick “Superman” Findley notched his third straight victory in the BKFC Squared Circle with a third-round KO over the previously unbeaten Felipe “Flip” Chavez in Friday’s Feature Fight. The bout was stopped with just one second left in the third stanza. Chavez, who represents Albuquerque, is now 2-1 in his BKFC career.
“Listen, I’m a threat in this division, and I’m calling out everybody,” a fired-up Findley told the jam-packed Kiva Auditorium. “I’m looking for a big name for my next bout, so let’s see what happens. I’m the new threat in this division.”
Albuquerque’s Eric “Thuggy Bear” Dodson picked himself up off the canvas five times, and logged three knockdowns of his own, in his thrilling, come-from-behind, standing TKO victory over Van “Tactic” Vo in their eight-knockdown featherweight battle. The bout was stopped 17 seconds into the third frame. Dodson, the younger brother of BKFC World Men’s Flyweight Champion John “The Magician” Dodson, is now 4-2 in his BKFC career. Vo, who hails from Kettering, OH, is now 1-4 under the BKFC banner.
“We were born to fight. Born and raised in Albuquerque, NM! We came here to put on a show,” Eric Dodson told the sold-out Kiva Auditorium. “I’m ready to get back in here as soon as I heal. Send me the next fight. Let’s do it.”
Belen, NM’s Derek “Rage” Perez notched his third win in the BKFC Squared Circle with a first-round TKO over “Savage” Mike Livingston in the bantamweight division. With the win, Perez upped his BKFC record to 3-4. The St. Louis, MO fighter Livingston sees his record fall to 0-4 with the loss.
Russian-born Albuquerque fighter Murat “Sambeast” Kilimetov cruised to 2-0 in his BKFC career with a 61-second TKO over Lamont “The KO King” Stafford in cruiserweight action. Both of Kilemetov’s wins have come by stoppage. Stafford, a product of Hobart, OK, is now 1-1 in his bare knuckle fighting career.
Albuquerque’s Will “Wild Bill” Albrecht returned to the win column and upped his BKFC record to 2-1 with a 95-second TKO at the expense of Brett “Da Beast” Fields in their middleweight matchup. Fields, who represents Chicago Heights, IL, is now 1-3 under the BKFC banner.
Red-hot Wichita, KS flyweight Justyn Martinez notched his second first-round finish in as many months with a 100-second TKO over Zay “Zaybomination” Garcia. Martinez is now 2-0 in 2025 after beginning his BKFC career with four losses and one no contest. The Lubbock, TX product Garcia falls to 0-2 with the loss.
Tampa, FL’s Jay “Action” Jackson notched a pair of knockdowns en route to a TKO victory at the expense of Kyle “The Irishman” McElroy in their back-and-forth, light-heavyweight tilt. The bout was stopped at the conclusion of the third round on the advice of the ringside doctor. Jackson is now 5-3 on the strength of back-to-back stoppage victories in his BKFC career. McElroy, who represents Albuquerque, is now 2-5 in the BKFC Squared Circle.
Albuquerque’s Lorenzo “The Disciple” Coca was victorious in his lightweight matchup against Ruben “The Beast” Arroyo. Their bout was called to a stop on the advice of the ringside doctor at the conclusion of the second round. Coca, who logged the sole knockdown of the bout, is now 1-1 in the Squared Circle, while the El Paso, TX product Arroyo falls to 0-2.
In the opening fight of the night, Abilene, TX’s Roderick “Icewater” Stewart needed just 76 seconds to earn his first BKFC victory with a first-round TKO over “Irish” Bryant McClain in middleweight action. Stewart scored a pair of knockdowns in the fight and improved to 1-1 under the BKFC banner with the win. McClain, who represents Albuquerque, was making his BKFC debut.
BKFC Fight Night: Albuquerque Results
Bekhzod Usmonov def. Keith Richardson via KO in Round 1 (0:55)
Donald Sanchez def. Harrison Aiken via Unanimous Decision (49-43×2, 48-44)
Derrick Findley def. Felipe Chavez via KO in Round 3 (1:59)
Eric Dodson def. Van Vo via TKO in Round 3 (0:17)
Derek Perez def. Mike Livingston via TKO in Round 1 (1:58)
Murat Kilimetov def. Lamont Stafford via TKO in Round 1 (1:01)
Will Albrecht def. Brett Fields via TKO in Round 1 (1:35)
Justyn Martinez def. Zay Garcia via TKO in Round 1 (1:40)
Jay Jackson def. Kyle McElroy via TKO in Round 3 (2:00)
Lorenzo Coca def. Ruben Arroyo via TKO in Round 2 (2:00)
Roderick Stewart def. Bryant McClain via TKO in Round 1 (1:16)
Author: Staff
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