Roderick “Ice Water” Stewart earned his nickname for his skills on the chessboard; not for his skills in the Squared Circle.

“I’d always tell (my opponents in chess) that I’ve got ice water in my veins because I’m cold in everything I do,” Stewart says. 

“I’m focused and ruthless in everything I do, and the name just stuck.”

“Ice Water” has proven to be an appropriate moniker for Stewart in his BKFC career. The 29-year-old St. Louis, MO product is headhunting for a third straight victory against the undefeated Bryce Henry in the Main Event of BKFC Fight Night Hammond on Oct. 18 at Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond, IN, LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App.

Henry is unbeaten in his first five trips to the Squared Circle, with all of his wins coming by stoppage. He’s widely regarded as one of BKFC’s most dangerous men. True to his nickname, Stewart couldn’t care less about the hype surrounding the fast-rising Henry.

“This is just another fight to me,” Stewart offers.

“He’s going to be long, and he’s going to want to play that pretty little game — his little pitter-patter shots — but I’m going to tuck my chin and march him down.”

This will be Stewart’s third BKFC fight since February, when he needed just 76 seconds to stop Bryant McClain in their matchup in Albuquerque, NM. 

“BKFC is a great platform, and I love the ruleset. I think I’m built for bare knuckle fighting,” Stewart says.

“I just want to fight. The extra stuff is cool — the money and a little popularity along the way — but at the end of the day I’d fight for BKFC for free,” he adds. 

“I just love it.”