Dat Nguyen is back

Dat Nguyen is back

Thursday, Apr 27 2023 by BKFC Staff

Dat Nguyen is back.

After almost 18 months on the sideline, the former BKFC Champion made his highly anticipated return to the Squared Circle against Daniel Straus in the Main Event of BKFC 38 on Friday in Hollywood, FL, LIVE on The BKFC App.

Nguyen got the win by unanimous decision, improving to 4-1 under the BKFC banner. The Vietnamese-born Florida fighter is thrilled to be back in action but far from satisfied, grading his performance a six out of 10.

“I didn’t do anything that I was prepared to do to him, and I was very predictable. I had to use my heart and my guts because he hit very hard and it made the fight tougher than it had to be,” Nguyen says.

“I took Daniel lighter than I should have, and I paid the price.”

Nguyen is quick to praise Straus, a former champion under the Bellator MMA banner, for his skill and toughness. He’s hoping his gritty win earned him a shot at the winner of Louie Lopez’s and Kai Stewart’s BKFC 44 Main Event bout for the vacant BKFC World Featherweight Championship on June 9 in Great Falls, MT, LIVE on The BKFC App.

But for now another title shot would just be icing on the cake; Nguyen is just happy to be back after more than a year away from the spotlight.

“It feels so good to be back,” he says. “I love the fans, and the fans love me. My job is to entertain, and I take that responsibility very seriously.”