Chad Lucanas is a professional prizefighter, but his most recent trip to the BKFC Squared Circle was personal.

Earlier this year, Lucanas’ jaw was broken when he was the victim of a cowardly suckerpunch. A little shy of six months later, the undeterred Lucanas smashed his way to 3-0 under the BKFC banner with a third straight, first-round stoppage victory.

“This was a really big one because it was something that I had to do for myself,” the 29-year-old Lucanas says. 

“I didn’t care about anything else. This one was for me, as a way to prove to myself that I belong in this game.”

Lucanas rose to the occasion at BKFC Fight Night Edmonton, stopping Tim Tamaki with just one second remaining in the opening round of their lightweight bout at the sold-out River Cree Resort & Casino in Lucanas’ hometown of Edmonton, AB, Canada.

Jaw injuries have derailed the careers of many top prospects in the fight game, but that isn’t the case for the fast-rising Lucanas.

“There was a lot of mental preparation that went into preparing for this fight. I think that was the biggest reason why I won,” he says.

“I would say that was my most dominant performance,” he adds. “I wouldn’t say it was my best performance because there are always things that can be improved upon, but I’m pretty happy.”