BKFC 48 Results, The Magician Pulls a Title out of his Hat
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship was live in the 505 as they brought a packed card back to Albuquerque for the third time. Tingly Coliseum was packed with over 7,000 fan in attendance.
We started the night off with Justyn Martinez scoring what was thought to ko at the bell of round one over Austin Lewis, who was making his BKFC debut. Instead it was ruled a no contest and that Martinez hit Lewis with after the bell. The second fight of the night was Gene Perez from Belen, NM who was scheduled up against Anthony Sanchez a great war was in the making. Sanchez and Perez both came forward Sanchez cut Perez early in round two Perez came forward and landed some hard combos. Very even fight both fighters brought the pressure and they went the distance it was scored in Anthony Sanchez’s favor. The featured preliminary bout saw Richard Montano against Kyle McElroy in a heated bout. Montano scored an early knockdown but in round two McElroy cornered Martinez and landed a fury of punches that was enough for the referee to call a stop to the bout at 55 seconds into round number two.
The MAIN CARD started with Derrick Gates vs. Marc Entenberg. Entenberg starting very early scoring three vicious knockdowns but a right at the bell from Gates earned himself a knockdown. In round two Entenberg smelled blood as he came forward and landed a fight finishing right hand 14 seconds in round number two earning a victory. Sydney Smith vs. Melanie Shah was next, both fighters coming in with undefeated records. Smith scored first with a quick knockdown but Shah was quick to get up. Shah turned the tide and had smith on the ropes most of the fight. It was the pressure and harder shots from Shah that gave her the edge to earn a unanimous decision win (49-46 49-46 49-46).
A hometown Veteran Donald Sanchez was up against “Big Boy” Blake LaCaze of Louisiana. Sanchez was very technical in round one connecting with a hard shot flush on the chin of Lacaze that knocked him down. Sanchez delivered most of the damage and was the better boxer landing more effectively earning a unanimous decision win (50-44 48-46 50-44). Eric Dodson vs. Robert Armas was next Armas and Dodson came out quick. Armas landed a fury of punches that knocked down Dodson in round one as he was navigating Dodson’s speed. A super close fight we saw the judges score cards go in favor ofRobert Armas.
Will Santiago vs. Jeremie Halloway was underway next. Halloway seemed to be connecting more effectively while earning an early knockdown. Santiago was quick to get up and return fire. Santiago never backed down and Halloway was coming forward in the end the judges saw it razor thin ruling it a majority draw (48-46 47-47 47-47). A quick one was next as Joshua Moreno faced Jeremy Sauceda, Moreno was able to connect and cut Sauceda in the eye. Between rounds the corner of Sauceda called a stop to the fight.
Gee Cutman Perez vs. Bryce Hall was bizarre to say the least. Hall connected with a right for a knockdown and shot a takedown in the first round. The takedown seemed to injure Perez’s but no punishment was handed out. The bad luck continued for Perez who injured left arm. Perez fought the next round only using his right arm. Between rounds the doctor called a stop to the fight as Perez could no longer continue.
The co-main event was next Belen’s Derek Perez toed the line against South Carolina’s Keith Richardson. Richardson found his distance early and landed a right hook that dropped Perez 37 seconds into round number one for the knockout. John Dodson vs. JR Ridge was our main event and they delivered or Dodson did that is, left hands dropped Ridge in round one on two occasions making the referee step in after ridge couldn’t answer the count earning the inaugural 125 pound flyweight BKFC world title.
By Gabriel Padilla