Newark, NJ (Oct. 17, 2026) Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring defended his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) Bantamweight World Title for the first time with a split-decision victory over the previously undefeated John “The Magician” Dodson in the Main Event of BKFC 95 on Saturday night at the sold-out Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, streamed LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App.
Two judges scored the fight in favor of Herring (48-47, 49-46) and one scored it for Dodson (49-46), who entered fight night as the BKFC Flyweight World Champion.
The Coram, NY product Herring, formerly a World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion in his career as a professional gloved boxer, is now 3-0 under the BKFC banner. The UFC title challenger Dodson, who hails from Albuquerque, NM, is now 4-1-1.
“I think this is my first big test and I’m still getting better,” Herring said in his post-fight interview. “I understand it’s a decision, but it is what it is; the right man got the victory.”
It was announced on the BKFC 95 broadcast that BKFC Interim Flyweight World Champion Andrew “Legend” Strode will be the next challenger for Herring’s crown at 135 pounds as the two squared off after Saturday’s Main Event.
Former BKFC Featherweight World Title challenger Jimmie “El Terror” Rivera smashed his way to 4-2-1 by knocking out Brandon “Beastmode” Meyer in the BKFC 95 Co-Main Event. The Ramsey, NJ product Rivera dropped Meyer twice en route to the stoppage 46 seconds into the fourth round. Meyer, who represents Omaha, NE, is now 3-5.
Rivera left the door open to another run at BKFC Featherweight World Champion “King” Kai Stewart: “Jersey, let me hear you! Mr. Feldman, you keep coming to Prudential and I’ll keep coming back.”
In the BKFC 95 Feature Fight, former BKFC Lightweight World Title challenger Tony “Loco” Soto upped his record to 7-4 with a second-round knockout over Anthony “The Pistol” Pike. The stoppage came 40 seconds into the second frame. Pike, who hails from Tucson, AZ, is now 1-2.
The Hickory, NC fighter Soto took aim at fellow combat sports superstar Tony “El Cucuy” Ferguson in his post-fight interview: “Tony Ferguson, I want you to come to BKFC! You think you’re ‘El Cucuy,’ but I’m (expletive) ‘Loco!’ Come through!”
On the BKFC 95 broadcast, it was announced that combat sports superstar Derek “The One” Brunson is taking his talents to the BKFC Squared Circle and will make his highly anticipated debut at BKFC Fight Night Myrtle Beach on Nov. 20, LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App from Myrtle Beach Sports Center in Myrtle Beach, SC. Brunson is widely known and respected for his 21-fight tenure with UFC. His opponent will be forthcoming.
Here are some highlights from BKFC Founder/President David Feldman at the BKFC 95 Post-Event Press Conference.
“Great night of fights here at Prudential Center again. Great crowd, and the fighters really, really brought it … Prudential Center and the State of New Jersey are going to be big homes for us. We’re really happy with how everything went tonight and really excited for the future.”
Attendance: 8,392.
Performance of the Night: Brooke Evans.
Knockouts of the Night: Cole Cameron, Jimmie Rivera, Tony Soto.
Staten Island, NY’s Santo Curatolo turned heads in his BKFC premiere by knocking out Anthony “The Devil’s Advocate” Yost 37 seconds into the second round of their flyweight matchup. Curatolo floored Yost twice before the fight was halted. Yost, who represents Pensacola, FL, is now 2-2.
Mays Landing, NJ lightweight Dalvin “The Hippy Disciple” Blair cruised to 3-1 with an 82-second knockout victory at the expense of Paris “PDott The Knockout Artist” Boyd. All of Blair’s wins have come in the opening round. Boyd, who hails from Detroit, is now 1-1.
Blacksburg, VA’s Dustin “Hollywood” Bailey and “Too Tall” Noah Getahoun of Boonton, NJ fought to a three-round unanimous draw in their back-and-forth middleweight bout. All three judges agreed on the 28-28 decision. Getahoun logged the sole knockdown of the fight. Both fighters were making their BKFC debuts.
Neptune City, NJ’s Cole Cameron was victorious in his BKFC debut after stopping Phil “Hitman” Caracappa in the opening round of their bantamweight clash. Cameron recorded a pair of knockdowns before the fight was called to a halt at 1:44 of Round 1. Caracappa, who hails from Freehold, NJ, is now 1-2-1.
Jersey City, NJ’s Mike Medrano earned the win in his BKFC debut with a split-decision victory over seven-fight UFC veteran Rob “The Saint” Emerson in welterweight action. Two judges scored the fight for Medrano (30-27, 29-28) and one judge scored it for the Phoenix, AZ fighter Emerson (30-27), who was also making his BKFC debut.
Dylan Pitt of Bronx, NY was victorious in his BKFC debut after Nick “One Shot” Saragosa couldn’t continue their lightweight battle due to injury. Pitt scored a pair of knockdowns before the ringside physician called a stop to the fight 52 seconds into the opening round. The Kaneohe, HI product Saragosa is now 1-1.
Edgewood, KY’s “Bare Knuckle” Brooke Evans smashed her way to 2-0 with a five-knockdown TKO victory over Gabrielle Roman in the women’s flyweight division. The fight was stopped with one second remaining in the second round. Roman, who represents Perth Amboy, NJ, is now 2-4-1 in her BKFC career.
BKFC 95 Results
(C) Jamel Herring def. John Dodson via Unanimous Decision (46-49, 48-47, 49-46)
Defends BKFC World Bantamweight Title
Jimmie Rivera def. Brandon Meyer via KO in Round 4 (0:46)
Tony Soto def. Anthony Pike via KO in Round 2 (0:40)
Santo Curatolo def. Anthony Yost via KO in Round 2 (0:37)
Dalvin Blair def. Paris Boyd via KO in Round 1 (1:22)
Dustin Bailey vs. Noah Getahoun declared Unanimous Draw (28-28×3)
Cole Cameron def. Phil Caracappa via KO in Round 1 (1:44)
Mike Medrano def. Rob Emerson via Split Decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28)
Dylan Pitt def. Nick Saragosa via TKO in Round 1 (0:52)
Brooke Evans def. Gabrielle Roman via TKO in Round 2 (1:59)
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