BK Nation catches up with BKFC’s 145-lb champion “King” Kai Stewart.
On November 9th in his home state of Montana, “King” Kai Stewart (7-0, 2 KO) defeated Jimmie Rivera by unanimous decision to defend his BKFC Featherweight championship for the third time. The title defence puts him second all time in the men's division, tying David Mundell and trailing only Luis Palomino who has six.
However the world of combat sports moves quickly, so while it’s nice to reflect on accomplishments in the past, fans, media, and fighters alike are always asking “What’s next?” Kai began to answer this question before even leaving the squared circle after his win over Rivera.
“I’ve cleaned out the 145-lb division, I may not be ready for 155-lb. I want to make sure that I’m ready, because two division championships are in my future. I’m the King and the King will never die!”
In an exclusive interview with Bare Knuckle Nation, Stewart explained his thought process behind his wording of “may not be ready for 155-lbs.”
“When I said after the fight I’m not ready yet for 155-lbs. I didn’t mean skill-wise, I truly believe I can beat anybody in the world right now. I just think that I’m a small guy, 135-lbs we could get a belt there. We can just take a while before we get to 155-lbs. Let them have another fight, I think they’re giving (Howard Davis) a shot at the belt, fine, let “HD” win that belt I’ll go up and beat his a** for the belt too. But I need time, just a little bit of time, I just gotta put on some muscle, I’ve got to do it properly.”
“I’m fighting for legacy now, I’ve won four world titles, I don't need to win another one. If I never win another fight, I would have a career to hang my hat on, so I want to make sure everything is done professionally and correctly from here on out. However 135, 155, whatever they want me to do baby, I’m there. I’m King Kai and the King will never die.”
While it’s obvious that the champion has aspirations that take him outside of his division at 145-lbs, he’s still keeping a watchful eye on his kingdom at 145. Names like Brandon Allen, Howard Davis, and Bryan Duran don’t quite excite him the same way as a move to another division does. In his words:
“I don’t want an easy fight, and I honestly believe if we put anybody at 145 against me it’s just going to be another fight, I’m going to win the fight and the needle movement is not very much. They (the top 5) have to fight each other and we go from there. Everyone that has my name in their mouth has refused to fight a Top 5 guy. (Brandon Allen) has never been offered to me, I’ve never said no to any name in bare knuckle, I have never said no, so BKFC doesn’t even believe in him, and it’s because behind the scenes he’s said no to fights. Howard Davis has said no to fights. Bryan Duran has said no to fights, look at all these guys not taking true number one contenders fights, they come into the ring against me, and I maul them. I made Davis cry on the stool, Duran was done after two rounds. It’s going to keep happening.”
“Give me something exciting because right now that would do nothing for the sport, nothing for the division and quite frankly it does nothing for the King and the King wants to f****** eat and I can’t eat fighting people like Brandon Allen. It does everything for them, and does nothing for me, give me a superfight, give me another belt, that’s the way it has to be.”
At just 24 years old, the featherweight champion has accomplished more in the sport than many people could ever dream, but with evolution on his mind Stewart has continued to improve and refine his bare knuckle skillset over time.
“Even after four title wins I’m going to continue to get better, and change my game, and prove that I’m not done growing yet.”
While at the time of this interview we are only four days removed from his bout with Rivera, there is nothing but open waters for “King” Kai Stewart.
Comments