Tony Soto Looks to Reassert Himself Against Surging JC Deleon
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship heads to Tennessee for the first time, June 19 with BKFC Fight Night Nashville, taking place at The Pinnacle, as a seasoned contender meets a dangerous, momentum-building challenger in the main event.
Former title challenger and current No. 3-ranked Tony “Loco” Soto returns to headline, squaring off against the rising JC “Corazon” Deleon in a matchup that carries major implications for the Lightweight division.
Soto enters the bout as one of the more battle-tested names on the BKFC roster. Riding a six-fight winning streak at one point, he put together an impressive run that included three knockouts and victories over notable competition such as Tyler Goodjohn and UFC veteran Kevin Croom. Known for his durability and willingness to engage, Soto has consistently delivered in high-action fights.
His 2024 clash with Franco Tenaglia earned Fight of the Year honors, a grueling war that showcased Soto’s toughness and ability to compete at the highest level of the sport. Since then, Soto has gone the distance in back-to-back five-round battles with Ben Bonner, coming up short on the judges’ scorecards both times. Despite those setbacks, Soto remains a dangerous and proven presence, and this fight offers him a chance to remind the division he’s still firmly in the mix.
Across from him, JC Deleon represents a very different kind of threat.
Deleon made an emphatic BKFC debut in 2021, scoring a second-round knockout and immediately turning heads with his finishing ability. After nearly four years away from the promotion, he returned in dramatic fashion with a third-round TKO victory over Ruben Warr, reestablishing himself as a serious contender.
While his résumé in BKFC is still developing, Deleon’s power and timing have already proven to be fight-altering weapons. A win over a ranked and respected opponent like Soto would instantly elevate his status and potentially turn him into one of the division’s breakout names.
The matchup itself presents a classic contrast. Soto brings experience, durability, and a high-volume approach forged through wars with elite competition. Deleon, meanwhile, carries the kind of explosive finishing ability that can change the course of a fight in a single exchange.
For Soto, the path to victory likely lies in dragging Deleon into deeper waters—forcing extended exchanges, testing his conditioning, and leaning on his experience in longer fights. For Deleon, the opportunity may come earlier, where his power and precision could disrupt Soto before the fight settles into a rhythm.
With divisional positioning at stake and two fighters at very different points in their careers, BKFC Nashville’s main event has all the ingredients for a high-stakes, high-impact showdown. Whether it’s Soto reasserting himself among the elite or Deleon announcing his arrival, June 19 could mark a pivotal moment in the division.
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