One of BKFC’s most exciting fighters is finally getting a chance to prove he’s also one of their best.
Since debuting for BKFC in late 2022, Alberto “El Indio” Blas (4-0, 4 KO’s) has taken the bantamweight division by storm with a start to his career as electric as they come. Now, he’s set for his first title bout in bare knuckle, where he takes on Keith Richardson (4-0, 3 KO’s) at BKFC 62 on June 21st.
Blas is a born fighter, having competed as an amateur wrestler in his home country Cuba, where he was a member of the national freestyle wrestling team. At 22, he made the switch to MMA, going 4-0 as an amateur, but struggling to find the same success as a pro. While he possessed the potential to be great, it was evident that a change of scenery was needed. So, in 2022 at age 28, Blas would make the jump to bare knuckle and join BKFC.
Although his 4-0 record might not stand out in the world of combat sports, the way he’s gotten there is about as impressive as it gets. Debuting on the prelims of BKFC 34 in December of 2022, Blas made a massive statement ending his opponent Jeremiah Potts’ (0-2) night with a flurry of punches just 54 seconds into their match. His next fight was the same story but a little bit shorter, taking just 47 seconds to stop Robert Armas (2-3, 1 KO) at BKFC 45. At BKFC 49, El Indio’s legend only grew, sending Joao Guerra (0-1) to the mat twice before the official called the match, getting the job done less than a minute after the opening bell for the third straight fight. In his most recent showing, Blas faced former world title challenger Daniel Alvarez (2-2, 2 KO's) at BKFC 57 and once again dominated, ending the bout in 60 seconds with a vicious left hand that sent his opponent's mouth guard flying.
If you’ve been doing the math, you may have realized by now that Blas’ four fights have a combined time of less than four minutes, meaning that the time he’s spent in the squared circle is the equivalent of less than two full rounds. What he’s doing hasn’t just been impressive, it’s been borderline unbelievable. So how did this happen? Thanks to his wrestling background, Blas’ best work comes in the clinch, having won his first three bouts by dominating in tight. However, he’s far from a one-dimensional fighter and has shown the ability to win from a distance with explosive hands, most notably in the aforementioned fight with Alvarez. His speed has also been a huge factor in being able to dictate his matches and his athletic profile should mean that he'll be more than able to handle it if any of his future bouts go longer than one minute.
Blas is a budding superstar inside the ropes with the personality to go along with it. His post-fight backflips will grab your attention, but his confidence in interviews paints a picture of who he truly is. From his first fight onwards, he’s delivered the same message: he is the future 135 champ.
He’ll get a chance to back up that claim when he challenges BKFC Bantamweight Champion, Keith “The Rockstar” Richardson. The pair are set to fight in the co-main event of BKFC 62 on June 21st in Hollywood, Florida, USA. It should go without saying that this will be Blas’ biggest test to date.
This matchup highlights something else that makes the Cuban fighter so interesting. Since their start in 2018, many of BKFC’s biggest stars are older fighters who have established themselves in other sports, like Richardson, who is 40 and has spent over a decade in MMA earning a 22-11 record. Blas, despite having a brief stint in professional MMA, has made a name for himself in bare knuckle. At 29 years old, he represents the potential future of the company. If he can dethrone Richardson as the king of the bantamweights, it could signal a shift in BKFC to a younger, homegrown crop of competitors.
Labelling someone a "must-watch" fighter can often set unfair expectations, but with four dominant victories already under his belt, Alberto Blas more than fits the bill. Following his most recent win, Blas himself said it best, "I can do everything, and I'm only getting better". Whether his streak of one-minute matches continues at BKFC 62 or not, El Indio is set up to be one of the best in the business for years to come.
All photos courtesy of BKFC
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