The top three fights to watch on KnuckleMania IV.
(Photo courtesy: BKFC)
BKFC’s presented its annual mega-show, KnuckleMania, for the fourth time this past weekend at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Beyond the action inside the ring, the event showed the company taking large steps forward towards entering the mainstream. For one, its presence in the state of California further legitimizes the sport, as one of the United States’ most respected and active commissions signed off on the proceedings. In addition, the presentation of the broadcast and live production inside the pristine venue sent a message to a potential new viewer that this is an operation to be taken seriously. Having Mario Lopez fresh off the set of Access Hollywood hosting the telecast further helped smooth the rough edges that might be intimidating to new fans.
The show also produced moments sure to flood the timelines and the headlines. Within the first ten minutes of the show, influencer and active BKFC fighter Bryce Hall cut a WWE-style promo and friend-turned-foe Tyler Holder, potentially setting up an all-influencer clash sans gloves. More importantly however, Conor McGregor made an appearance to announce that he is a new part-owner of the company, lending his star power, legitimacy and cash flow to BKFC, all but ensuring a degree of attention from mainstream outlets from here on out, if only to capitalize on those juicy McGregor clicks.
To BKFC’s credit though, it remained focused on its bread and butter: Constant, exciting action. Even with a few additional backstage segments—including an incredibly amusing interview with Ben Rothwell—the pacing of the show was right in line with the company’s hallmark. Fights were ready to walk immediately, and the show clocked in at around three tight hours.
The card might not have been the greatest in the company’s history by any means, but it produced some memorable in-ring moments:
(Photo courtesy: BKFC)
1. Alfredo Angulo vs. Jeremiah Riggs
As a gloved boxer, Alfredo Angulo produced some classics, such as his unforgettable battle with James Kirkland or his final bout against Vlad Hernandez that broke CompuBox records for most punches thrown in a super middleweight bout.
So when Angulo signed up for a bare knuckle fight in BKFC, one naturally expected action. But no one could have ever envisioned the mayhem that would ensue when he stepped in the ring with four-fight veteran Jeremiah Riggs.
Angulo and Riggs produced a 93-second classic, a fight that I personally sent to about a dozen people the moment it hit the social media timelines. It’s the kind of action that shows the unlimited ceiling bare knuckle can have in terms of cinematic brutality. Watching Angulo-Riggs, it’s hard to believe that violence like that is happening in a sanctioned environment.
Even the unfortunate element of the fight, Riggs’ blatant hair-pulling that went completely ignored by the referee, only added to the overall drama when Angulo freed himself and landed a one-punch knockout to flatten Riggs.
An incredible bite-sized classic victory from El Perro that anyone who likes fighting will not just enjoy, but watch again.
(Photo courtesy: BKFC)
2. Keith Richardson vs. Cody Vidal
This fight will go into the history books as the first sanctioned bare knuckle bout of the modern era in California, and it delivered.
Richardson fought through some truly hideous facial swelling that justifiably had commentator Chris Lytle convinced the bout would be stopped after the second round. Lytle was right about the fight being stopped after the second round, but he couldn’t have possibly predicted it would be because of Vidal’s grotesque injuries. With a bulbous, disfigured face, Richardson focused entirely on speed in the second round and chipped away at Vidal until his face was a bloody mess, opening up a gash over his left eye that deprived him of his vision. Vidal told his corner after the second round that he couldn’t see, and the doctor called a halt to the bout.
A bloody, dramatic battle that featured some true technical boxing and not just outright mayhem.
(Photo courtesy: BKFC)
3. Shane Jordan vs. David Diaz
A fascinating clash of styles between a New England Golden Gloves champion in Shane Jordan and Diaz, a pure bare knuckle fighter who learned the sport from the legendary Joey Beltran.
Apart from the action itself being entertaining, it was interesting to watch how an outright amateur boxing approach works against an unconventional, hyperactive bare-fisted brawling attack.
Jordan more than held his own not just in the ring, but in the out-of-the-ring feud that the bombastic Diaz perpetrated. With the fight ending in a draw, there’s a natural rematch between these two ready and waiting down the line—or immediately.
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