Josh Copeland’s first mission for BKFC was accomplished Saturday.

At BKFC 31 in Denver, Copeland was victorious in his bare knuckle fighting debut, scoring a third-round KO over Levi Costa in their heavyweight bout, LIVE on the BKFC app.

But Copeland didn’t just win; he left the Squared Circle mostly unscatched. 

“I’m actually shocked at how little bruising I have. I lucked out, and I’m thankful that I didn’t get blasted with anything nice and flush,” the former UFC heavyweight says. “I only have 10 to 20 percent tenderness on my forehead. My jaw is all good, my knuckles are fine. I’m very thankful for that.” 

Injuries were admittedly a concern for Copeland heading into his debut. BKFC heavyweights can inflict a lot of damage in a very short time.

Copeland was advised by some of his peers to not throw his punches with maximum force in order to preserve his hand’s health. That’s good advice, but Copeland couldn’t help but stray from their guidance in the final strikes of his opponent’s night.

“You’ve definitely gotta be smart, but I wasn’t holding back when I was throwing that big overhand, that’s for sure,” Copeland says with a chuckle.

Now that Copeland has his debut under his belt, he’s excited for more opportunities to knuckle up in the Squared Circle.

“I’m a competitor. I love being able to compete. I want to do this as long as my body will allow it.”

Check out our Events page for the next BKFC event in your area, and keep up to date on all the happenings in the Squared Circle with the new and improved BKFC app.