BKFC RETURNS TO ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2025 – KEITH RICHARDSON VS. BEKHZOD USMONOV HEADLINES

Albuquerque, NM (February 3, 2025) Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), The World’s Fastest Growing Combat Sports Promotion, make their long-awaited return to Albuquerque, NM at the Kiva Auditorium on Friday, February 28 headlined by a surefire bantamweight clash between former BKFC Bantamweight World Champion Keith ‘The Rock Star’ Richardson, (5-1), of Rock Hill, SC and fast-rising bare-knuckle veteran Bekhzod ‘The Lion’ Usmonov, (1-1), of Tajikistan.

Ticket information for BKFC Fight Night Albuquerque can be found at www.BKFC.com. The Kiva Auditorium is located at 401 2nd Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102, inside the Albuquerque Convention Center. Further details can also be found on their website. BKFC Fight Night Albuquerque will also be broadcast internationally as part of the BKFC+ Subscription for $7.99 per month on the BKFC App – The Best Value in Combat Sports.

“This is our fifth event in Albuquerque, New Mexico where we’ve promoted some of the company’s biggest and highest attended events,” said David Feldman, Founder and President of BKFC. “Our main event between Keith Richardson and Bekhzod Usmonov features two of the most exciting fighters in BKFC. Additionally, our undercard includes numerous top bare-knuckle fighters from New Mexico and Texas.”

Rated #1 in the deep bantamweight division, Keith Richardson will look to cement a future world title opportunity following a first-round knockout of Michael Larrimore headlining at BKFC-69 on December 6, 2024. Richardson lost the world title to Alberto Blas in his previous fight at BKFC-62.  Bekhzod Usmonov looks to extend his winning streak after a show-stopping, third-round knockout of Trevor Loken at BKFC-52.

Fighting in the  middleweight division at BKFC Fight Night Albuquerque, ‘Irish’ Bryant McClain makes his bare-knuckle debut against Roderick ‘Icewater’ Stewart, (0-2), of Abilene, TX. A native of Rio Rancho, NM, McClain holds a professional boxing record of 6-6-3. Newcomers Lorenzo ‘The Disciple’ Coca, (0-1), of New Mexico and Texas native Ruben Arroyo, (0-1), will clash in a lightweight battle as both seek their first victories under the BKFC banner.

Local fan favorite Eric Dodson, (3-2), brother of BKFC Flyweight World Champion John Dodson, faces off against Van ‘Tactic’ Vo, (1-3), of Kettering, OH, in a featherweight fight. Cruiserweight newcomers will see action as Murat ‘Sambeast’ Kilimetov, (1-0), clashes with Lamont ‘KO King’ Stafford, (1-0), of Oklahoma. Bantamweight Derek ‘Rage’ Perez, (2-4), of Belen, NM toes the line against ‘Slick’ Rick Caruso, (2-4), of Princeton, West Virginia.

Fighting in the men’s flyweight division, Zay ‘Zaybomination’ Garcia, (0-1), faces Justyn Martinez, (1-4), of Kansas. Texas based heavyweights Manuel ‘Mayor Mano’ Otero, (1-0), and Braxton ‘The Beautiful Monster’ Smith, (1-0), will try to stay perfect under the BKFC banner.

Light heavyweights will square off as New Mexico native ‘Wild Bill’ Will Albrecht, (1-1), and Brett ‘Da Beast’ Fields, (1-2), of Indiana step inside the squared circle. Rounding out the card, Kyle ‘The Irishman ‘ McElroy, (2-4), of Albuquerque, NM clashes with ‘Action’ Jay Jackson, (4-3), of Bay City, MN in the light heavyweight division.

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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.