JULIAN ‘LET ME BANG’ LANE STRIKES GOLD IN BKFC-79 MAIN EVENT AT ICONIC STURGIS MOTORCYCLE RALLY
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Sturgis, SD (Aug. 2, 2025) The World’s Fastest Growing Combat Sports Promotion, Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), was firing on all cylinders on Saturday night with its second annual sold-out event at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally — BKFC 79 in Sturgis, SD.
In the BKFC 79 Main Event, Julian “Let Me Bang” Lane won the vacant BKFC Welterweight World Title with a hard-fought, five-round decision over the division’s former titlist, Gorjan “GoGo” Slaveski. Lane dropped Slaveski in the third and fifth rounds, leading to all judges calling the Clearwater, FL fighter the winner. Two judges scored it 49-44 and one had it 48-45. Lane, who made his promotional debut at BKFC 4 in 2018, is now 9-8 on the strength of six straight victories.
“Without God, none of us would be here and none of this would be possible,” Lane said in his post-fight interview. “David Feldman (BKFC Founder/President), I love you. Thank you for making this dream happen. I’ve been broken, I’ve been beat down, but I keep coming back from the dead. They can’t stop me, man.”
The Macedonia-born Miami fighter Slaveski is now 6-1. Saturday’s event aired LIVE worldwide on DAZN.
In the BKFC 79 Co-Main Event, Rock Hill, SC’s Taylor “Killa Bee” Starling edged out Shelby “Boom Boom” Cannon for the unanimous decision victory. Two judges scored the fight 48-47 and one judge scored it 49-46, all in favor of Starling, a former title challenger in the BKFC women’s flyweight and women’s strawweight divisions.
Starling is now 4-4 and called her shot for a rematch against BKFC World Women’s Strawweight Champion Britain Hart.
“All respect to Britain. I have so much love for her, but I’ve got to avenge that fight that we had last year. I feel like I deserve it. Britain, you know there’s no competition at 115 except me, and I’m ready to do it again!”
Cannon, who hails from Anderson, IN, entered fight night with a 4-1 overall record in her bare-knuckle fighting career.
In the BKFC 79 Feature Fight, Billings, MT’s Corey “What You Talkin' About” Willis improved to 2-0 in the BKFC heavyweight division at the expense of Zach “Shark Attack” Calmus. Willis dropped Calmus in the second round, and the ringside doctor called a halt to the fight at the conclusion of the second round. Both of Willis’ wins have come by stoppage. The Gloucester, MA product Calmus is now 5-4.
Smith Center, KS’s David Simpson needed just 27 seconds to stop the previously undefeated Brandon “Stronghold” Conley in their light-heavyweight matchup. With the technical knockout victory, Simpson climbs to 3-4 with all of his wins coming by stoppage. Conley, who hails from Chillicothe, OH, is now 2-1-1 in his BKFC career.
The inaugural BKFC Welterweight World Champion, Elvin “El Bandido” Brito, returned to the win column with a fourth-round, standing technical knockout over Brandon “Beastmode” Meyer. Brito sent Meyer to the canvas in the third stanza before the fight was stopped 32 seconds into the fourth round. The Maunabo, Puerto Rico product is now 7-6. Meyer, who hails from Omaha, NE, is now 3-3 under the BKFC banner.
Sturgis’ Shyanna Bintliff was victorious in her BKFC premiere, picking herself up off the canvas and rallying for the second-round stoppage victory at the expense of Marisol Ruelas in their women’s featherweight battle. Time of the stoppage was 1:11 in the second round. Bintliff, who also represents Las Vegas, NV, is now 2-0 in her overall bare-knuckle fighting career. Ruelas, a product of Chicago, was also making her BKFC debut.
Undefeated Ardmore, AL product Bear “The Last Barbarian” Hill smashed his way to 2-0 in the BKFC heavyweight division with a third-round knockout versus Billy “Big Sexy” Swanson. Both of Hill’s victories have come by stoppage. The Soddy Daisy, TN heavyweight Swanson was making his BKFC debut.
Sioux Falls, SD featherweight Traevon “Kid Cobra” Kroger upped his BKFC record to 2-0 with a second straight stoppage victory. Kroger’s matchup with Daniel “Tower Dog” Pettit of Cheyenne, WY was halted by Pettit’s corner between the first and second rounds. Pettit is now 1-3 under the BKFC banner.
Helena, MT’s Timmy Mason sent AJ “A-Train” Craig of Billings, MT to the canvas twice en route to the stoppage victory in their featherweight showdown. The ringside doctor stopped the bout at the end of the opening round, thereby raising Mason’s BKFC record to 2-2, Craig is now 2-1.
Spearfish, SD cruiserweight upstart Cody Kerr was victorious in his BKFC debut, needing just 61 seconds to score the technical knockout over Dillon “The Irish Thug” Blaydon. Blaydon, a product of Lincolnton, NC, was also stepping into the Squared Circle for the first time.
Saskatoon, SK, Canada lightweight Dan “The Primal” Godoy recorded his first BKFC victory in the opening matchup of the night, earning the win by technical knockout over Paco “The Texas Punisher” Castillo. The ringside doctor called a stop to the bout at the conclusion of the third round. Godoy is now 1-3 and Castillo, who hails from Hereford, TX, moves to 0-2 in defeat.
BKFC 79 Results
Julian Lane def. Gorjan Slaveski via Unanimous Decision (49-44x2, 49-45)
Wins Vacant BKFC World Welterweight Title
Taylor Starling def. Shelby Cannon via Unanimous Decision (48-47x2, 49-46)
Corey Willis def. Zach Calmus via TKO in Round 2 (2:00)
David Simpson def. Brandon Conley via TKO in Round 1 (0:27)
Elvin Brito def. Brandon Meyer via TKO in Round 4 (0:32)
Shyanna Bintliff def. Marisol Ruelas via TKO in Round 2 (1:11)
Bear Hill def. Billy Swanson via KO in Round 3 (1:20)
Traevon Kroger def. Daniel Pettit via TKO in Round 1 (2:00)
Timmy Mason def. AJ Craig via TKO in Round 1 (2:00)
Cody Kerr def. Dillon Blaydon via TKO in Round 1 (1:01)
Dan Godoy def. Paco Castillo via TKO in Round 3 (2:00)
Social Media
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Website: www.BKFC.com
Media Contact/Credentials
Bernie Bahrmasel
Double B Sports
Phone: + 1 773 592-2986
Email: BernieBahrmasel@yahoo.com
Twitter: @BernieBahrmasel
About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC)
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is the first promotion allowed to hold a legal, sanctioned, and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. Based in Philadelphia, and headed by President and former professional boxer David Feldman, BKFC is dedicated to preserving the historical legacy of bare knuckle fighting, while utilizing a specifically created rule set that emphasizes fighter safety. BKFC holds all of its bouts in a revolutionary circular four-rope ring, designed to encourage fast-paced and exciting bouts. The patented BKFC “Squared Circle” contains scratch lines, based on the Broughton Rules which governed bare knuckle fighting in the 19th century, and which requires fighters to “Toe the Line”: start every round face to face, and just inches apart.
In BKFC, only those fighters who are established professionals in boxing, MMA, kickboxing, or Muay Thai are allowed to compete. The referees and judges are required to have extensive professional combat sports experience. All fights are held under the auspices and control of an Athletic Commission. Unlike other fighting organizations and combat sports internationally which claim to be “bare knuckle”, but require wraps, tape, and gauze; BKFC is true to its word as fighters are not allowed to wrap their hands to within one inch of the knuckle. This makes BKFC unquestionably the truest form of bare knuckle fighting. BKFC is dedicated to not just creating the safest, most exciting, and highest-level bare-knuckle fighting organization in the world, it’s also leading the way for a new fully recognized professional combat sport. BKFC is truly the sport of the future, which fully respects its remarkable past.
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