Surging heavyweight contender Parker Porter improved to 2-0 with a jaw-dropping, come-from-behind KO over Dillon “Bad Boy” Cleckler in the Main Event of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) Fight Night on Saturday at the sold-out Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT.

The West Hartford, CT product picked himself up off the canvas and rallied for the KO at 1:08 of the opening round of their back-and-forth heavyweight showdown. Both of the unbeaten Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) vet’s wins have come by first-round finish.

“We’re not just out here to have fun. We’re here to climb the rankings; I want to take a run for that belt. I want to scrap for that strap,” Porter told at the jam-packed Mohegan Sun.

The former BKFC World Heavyweight Title challenger Cleckler, who hails from Pensacola, FL, is now 3-2 under the BKFC banner.

In Saturday’s Co-Main Event, heavyweight standout Josh “Stay Down” Watson smashed his way to 4-1 in the Squared Circle with a fourth straight stoppage victory over UFC vet Yorgan “The Mad Titan” De Castro. The KO came with just seven seconds remaining in the opening stanza.

The heavy-handed Las Vegas heavyweight called for his shot at undefeated BKFC World Heavyweight Champion “Big” Ben Rothwell in his post-fight interview: “He can get knocked out just like anyone else!”

De Castro, who hails from Fall River, MA, is now 1-1 under the BKFC banner.

Saturday’s event aired LIVE globally on The BKFC App.

In Saturday’s Feature Fight, JR “The Hurricane” Rumley made a BKFC premiere to remember as the Bassett, VA product stopped the previously unbeaten “Irish” Brennan Ward in the third round of their action-packed middleweight showdown. Rumley sent the former Bellator MMA star to the canvas twice to the finish 34 seconds into the third frame. Ward, who represents New London, CT, is now 1-1 in the Squared Circle.

Cranston, RI light-heavyweight Gary “Batman” Balletto was victorious in his BKFC premiere when his opponent, Rodney Thomas, was unable to answer the bell at the beginning of the second round. Balletto is the son of former International Boxing Union gloved boxing champ Gary “Tiger” Balletto. The Glendora, CA fighter Thomas is now 1-3 under the BKFC banner.

Springfield, MA’s Pat “The Gorilla Ninja” Casey defeated UFC vet John “Doomsday” Howard via TKO when the ringside doctor called a stop to their middleweight bout at the conclusion of the opening round. Casey upped his BKFC record to 2-2 with the win. Howard, a product of Boston, was making his BKFC premiere.

Montrose, CO middleweight Sergio “The Savage” Lopez earned his first BKFC victory with a TKO at the expense of Rick “Genghis” Hawn, a former member of the United States Olympic judo team and two-time Bellator MMA tournament champ. Time of the stoppage was 30 seconds into the third round. Hawn, who represents Plaistow, NH, is now 1-1 under the BKFC banner.

Worcester, MA bantamweight “Slick” Sito Navarro improved to 3-1 in his BKFC career with a decision victory over Quintan “The Hitman” Foye. Two judges scored the fight 50-45, while one had it 49-46, all in favor of Navarro. Foye, who hails from Greenville, NC, sees his record fall to 1-4 with the loss.

Taunton, MA’s Randy “The Zohan” Costa won big in his BKFC premiere against Nicky “No Holds Barz” Burgos in the featherweight division. The UFC vet recorded a pair of knockdowns to the KO stoppage with just one second left in the opening stanza. The Brooklyn, NY fighter Burgos is now 0-2 in the Squared Circle.

Abington, MA lightweight Peter “Slippery Pete” Barrett turned heads in his BKFC premiere as the UFC vet dropped Nash “The Ghost” Diederichs twice en route to the first-round finish. Time of the KO was 1:30 in the opening stanza. Diederichs, who hails from Saskatoon, SK, Canada, falls to 1-2 under the BKFC banner.

Marble, TX’s Ishiah “Hill Country Strangler” Carson needed just 15 seconds to record a TKO victory over Jared “Lenny” Lennon in bantamweight action. Carson and the Lowell, MA product Lennon are both now 1-1 under the BKFC banner.

Tewksbury, MA’s Joseph “JGP” Peters was victorious in his BKFC premiere in the first fight of the night, stopping Drew “Hard Body” Nolan in the first round of their light-heavyweight matchup. Peters sent Nolan to the canvas once, resulting in the TKO victory with 14 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Nolan, who represents Buffalo, NY, is now 1-3 in the Squared Circle.

BKFC Fight Night Mohegan Sun Results

Parker Porter def. Dillon Cleckler via KO in Round 1 (1:08)

Josh Watson def. Yorgan De Castro via KO in Round 1 (1:53)

JR Rumley def. Brennan Ward via TKO in Round 3 (0:34)

Gary Balletto def. Rodney Thomas via TKO in Round 1 (2:00)

Pat Casey def. John Howard via TKO in Round 1 (2:00)

Sergio Lopez def. Rick Hawn via TKO in Round 3 (0:30)

Sito Navarro def. Quintan Foye via Unanimous Decision (50-45x2, 49-46)

Randy Costa def. Nicky Burgos via KO in Round 1 (1:59)

Peter Barrett def. Nash Diederichs via KO in Round 1 (1:30)

Ishiah Carson def. Jared Lennon via TKO in Round 1 (0:15)

Joseph Peters def. Drew Nolan via TKO in Round 1 (1:46)