Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), the world's fastest growing combat sports promotion, presented BKFC 55, their seventh sold-out United Kingdom event, tonight at the Planet Ice Arena in Leeds. The event was broadcast globally on the BKFC App, FITE+ and Fubo Sports.
Headlining the sensational 12-bout card was a tremendous first round stoppage by Tampa, FL native Jared "Captain Deadpool" Warren (6-1, 1 NC) over previously undefeated light heavyweight Danny Christie (3-1) of Carlisle England. The hard-hitting southpaw drilled Christie to the canvas with a short left hand in the first minute of the opening stanza. Following up after Christie beat the count, Warren would score a knockdown shortly thereafter and a final trip to the canvas resulted in a referee’s stoppage at the 1:56 mark.
Warren entered the fight ranked No. 3 in the light heavyweight division, while Christie brought the No. 1 ranking into the match-up.
In the exciting middleweight co-feature, Poland’s Bart Krol (3-0) stayed undefeated with a fourth-round stoppage of popular local favorite Anthony Holmes (1-2). With both exceptionally talented bare-knuckle fighters competing evenly over three fast-paced rounds, Krol would take control in the fourth with lightning quick combinations. Following the fourth round, Holmes’ corner called a stop to the fight with Krol being declared the winner by technical knockout.
Cruiserweights debuters saw action in the special attraction bout with all-action Matty Hodgson, (1-0), stopping game Mason Shaw, (0-1) at the :29 mark of the second stanza.
Fighting in the light heavyweight division, Danny Mitchell (1-0) made his impressive BKFC debut winning a unanimous decision over John Ferguson (1-1).
In the cruiserweight division, Darren Hendry (2-1) defeated Luke Atkin (0-1), earning the referee’s stoppage from a barrage of unanswered punches at :25 of the second stanza.
Competing in an outstanding featherweight battle, Gary Fox (2-1) earned a unanimous decision victory over the valiant Robbie Brown (1-1). In a fight that featured heavy-handed, two-way action throughout, Fox’s power advantage would prove the difference.
In a matchup between BKFC light heavyweight newcomers, Nathan Owens (1-0) earned the stoppage over Conor Cooke (0-1). Dropping Cooke twice in Round 2, Owens was awarded the victory at the 1:12 mark of the second stanza.
Fighting in a tremendous cruiserweight bare knuckle clash, Karl Thompson (2-0) was victorious over David Oskar (3-1). Both combatants landed battering right hands throughout the torrid, bloody battle.
In the lightweight division, Italy’s Antonio Moscatiello (1-0) stopped Hynek Hospodarsky (0-1) of the Czech Republic at 1:58 of the first round. A blistering right-hand lead dropped Hospodarsky ending the fight.
In the welterweight division, Paul Cook (1-0) won a spirited unanimous decision over Luke Nevin (0-1).
Local favorite Jonny Graham (2-0) stopped Poland’s Abel Radomski (0-1) in the second round (1:40). Graham dropped Radomski in each of the first two rounds.
In the evening’s opening heavyweight bout, Agi Faulkner (2-0) knocked out Rob Cunningham (2-1) at the :57 mark of the opening bell. Faulkner was aggressive from the start, landing hard shots to the head and torso of Cunningham.
