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SAWYER DEPEE: FROM GATEKEEPER TO CONTENDER

At BKFC 67, Sawyer Depee has a chance to finally cement himself as one of the best in the business.


Sawyer Depee poses before a fight.

Since debuting with BKFC in 2021, Sawyer Depee (5-2, 5 KO’s) has served mostly as a gatekeeper: a fighter who’s a cut above most, but not quite a true title contender. However, he has a chance to change his fortunes later this month, when he takes on Chris Camozzi (2-1, 2 KO’s) for the vacant BKFC Cruiserweight Title.

 

As is the case for almost every other fighter in the sport, Depee cut his teeth outside of bare knuckle. Like fellow Montana native Kai Stewart, he wrestled at the NAIA level in college before transitioning to amateur MMA. While he would find some success in these endeavours, including a couple of title wins in the Fusion Fight League, he eventually made the transition to BKFC in October of 2021. His first four matches were very indicative of his role as a gatekeeper. He went 2-2, with wins against a pair of debuting fighters in James Dennis (2-1, 2 KO’s) and Will Dunkle (0-2), but losses to higher profile opponents in Uly Diaz (5-3, 5 KO’s) and Quentin Henry (5-2, 5 KO’s).


After losing Henry in June of 2022, Depee would take a full year off before returning in June of 2023 to fight Gabriel Mota (1-2, 1 KO) at BKFC 44. He absolutely decimated Mota, landing blow after blow and stopping him just 46 seconds into the bout. In his two most recent matches against Jonathan Miller (2-2, 2 KO’s) and Keegan Vandermeer (2-2, 2 KO’s), he entered as the underdog, but as he did with Mota, he ran through both men, knocking them out in just one round. 


Sawyer Depee lands a right hand

It’s these recent string of matches where he’s really been able to showcase what makes him special as a fighter. While his short match times might suggest an ultra-aggressive style, that isn't necessarily the case. His approach is never to come out swinging, but instead to wait for an opening and attack it. Once he starts swinging, he's putting everything he has into each shot until his opponent is done for good. This was on full display in his bout with Vandermeer, where after two early knockdowns, he sent him to the canvas with one of the most vicious left hands you'll ever see.

 

These recent wins are what have him in the position he is now, set to compete for his first-ever belt in bare knuckle. On October 25th in the main event of BKFC 67, he’ll fight Chris Camozzi with the vacant cruiserweight title on the line. While Camozzi might not have the bare knuckle experience Depee does, having fought in just three matches, he's got plenty of experience elsewhere. Prior to bare knuckle, he competed in over 40 pro-MMA bouts, including 19 with the UFC, and his sole loss in BKFC came to former double-champion, and the man who vacated the cruiserweight title, Lorenzo Hunt. Camozzi is a clear step up from the fighters Depee has beaten recently, and his extensive background should make him less prone to the mistakes that he feasts on. Neither man has won a fight that’s gone past the first round, so expect some early action in this one.

 

In any sport, let alone bare knuckle, it’s never easy to rise up in the ranks, so when an opportunity arises, you have to take it. For Sawyer Depee, he’s finally being rewarded with his first chance to claim gold and to become more than just a gatekeeper.

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