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BILOXI, Miss. (April 6, 2019) – Former UFC veteran Artem Lobov defeated former UFC veteran and Mississippi native Jason Knight by unanimous decision (48-47 X 2, 48-46) to win the main event of “BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” in a Fight of The Year candidate on Saturday night at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Miss. and live on pay-per-view.
Knight started off fast, knocking down Lobov just 10 seconds in to round one. However, Lobov quickly popped up and came back to knock down Knight later in the first frame, again in round two, and for a third time in round three. The fourth and fifth stanzas showcased furious exchanges with both fighters leaving every ounce of themselves in the ring.
“I thought he was conquered many times,” said Lobov. “I dropped him three or four times. He’s a tough, tough kid. He kept coming and coming. That was a great fight.”
“We all know that I didn’t lose that fight,” said Knight. “We all know that I got robbed. It’s alright, I’m still going to party tonight.”
The co-main event featured former UFC veteran Chris Leben quickly overwhelming former Bellator standout Justin Baesman with a devastating left hand, followed by a series of uppercuts that stopped Baesman just :25 in to the light heavyweight contest.
Christine Ferea scored a technical stoppage win over Britain Hart for the Police Gazette American Women’s Featherweight Bare Knuckle Championship. Ferea had Hart in trouble midway through the second round as referee Dan Miragliotta called for time to have Hart’s severely bloodied and bruised left eye checked. The ringside physician stopped the contest moments later at 1:09 in to the second round.
“I’m the first woman to ever have this belt,” said Ferea. “I’m going to rep it strong and I’m super happy right now. The first round I was feeling (Hart) out. I was watching some of her footage and she can do it all. So, I just felt out the first round, touching her with the jab. And then the second round that’s when I went in and let my power go.
“I would love (a fight against Bec Rawlings)!” added Ferea. “I’ve been asking for a fight with her for three fights. I think I deserve it.”
Former BKFC heavyweight title challenger Sam Shewmaker and former UFC veteran Chase Sherman fought to a split draw (50-45 Sherman, 48-47 Shewmaker, 48-48) in a crowd-pleasing heavyweight attraction that featured spirited exchanges all the way until the final bell of the fifth round.
One BKFC lightweight tournament semi-final matchup saw Reggie Barnett defeat Rusty Crowder by unanimous decision (50-44 X 3). An extremely evasive Crowder was deducted one point in the fourth round for throwing Barnett to the canvas as Barnett cruised to the victory by a wide margin.
After his win, Barnett said, “Everybody expected me and Bedford to be fighting in the championship. Johnny comes to fight. I come to fight. So, you’re going to see nothing but fireworks and I personally think it’s a main event-caliber championship fight.”
In the other BKFC lightweight tournament semi-final contest Johnny Bedfordstopped Abdiel Velazquez :58 in to round four. Bedford scored two knockdowns in the second round, a third in the third frame and sent Velazquez to the canvas for the fourth and final time in round four, with Velazquez electing to not get back up and continue.
Before Barnett and Crowder fought, Bedford prophesied, “I anticipate I’m going to fight Reggie Barnett in the finals. I thought that from the beginning. I think Reggie knew that from the very beginning. And I think Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship knew that from the very beginning by putting us on opposite ends of the bracket. I think it doesn’t matter who you name the number one and number two seeds, we are the two top dogs in this division.”
With Barnett and Bedford winning their respective BKFC lightweight tournament semi-final bouts they will now face each other in the finals for a chance at BKFC’s first lightweight championship title.
In undercard action, former UFC fighter Isaac Vallie-Flagg scored a technical knockout victory over Randy Hedderick in a 165-pound showdown. Vallie-Flagg recorded two knockdowns in the third round and forced Hedderick to quit 1:22 in to round three due to an injured left hand.
About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship On June 2, 2018, Philadelphia-based Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made combat sports history when it promoted the first legal, sanctioned and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. “BKFC 1: The Beginning” took place in Cheyenne, Wyoming and featured 10 professional bouts, all under the auspices and control of the Wyoming Combative Sports Commission. BKFC uses only established fighters who have previously competed professionally in boxing, MMA, kickboxing and/or Muay Thai. All BKFC bouts are sanctioned and regulated by ABC member athletic commissions. For more information visit www.bareknuckle.tv or follow on Twitter at @BareKnuckleFC, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/bareknucklefc and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bareknucklefc.
Click HERE for Video from Giovanni Bartocci/Team Malignaggi
NEW YORK (April 2, 2019) – Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) hosted a media event in New York Tuesday as recent BKFC signee and former two-division boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi and former UFC standout and Conor McGregor stablemate Artem Lobov had a heated exchange and had to be separated in anticipation of a possible showdown between the two later this year.
Lobov is preparing to take on Jason Knight in the main event of “BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” this Saturday from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi and live on pay-per-view. If he is successful on Saturday night, a highly-anticipated showdown against Malignaggi looms.
“BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” will be broadcast across the United States and Canada, exclusively on pay-per-view through MultiVision Media, Inc., on all major television distribution outlets for $29.95. It will also be available worldwide via stream to all in-home and out-of-home connected devices at FITE-TV and www.bareknuckle.tv.
Tickets for “BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” are available now exclusively at www.bareknuckle.tv beginning at $35.
Here is what the fighters had to say Tuesday from Mendez Boxing in Manhattan:
PAULIE MALIGNAGGI
“Without disrespecting Jason Knight, because we’ll see what happens Saturday, but I think everyone here would like to see Malignaggi vs. Lobov. I see that it’s picking up traction and fans in general are talking about it.
“When I get Lobov in the ring, the goal is not just to win. I have to really excel and show something more. The goal would be to hurt him bad.
“Being in the gym every day gets me excited. In that way, I feel mentally reborn. I’m sure there will be tough days, but that’s par for the course. I think mentally you can find motivation that will spur you on to chase certain goals.
“I started talking to David Feldman first about being involved on the broadcast aspect of BKFC. But then he threw out numbers for me to fight that got my attention. Once we got past that first part of the conversation, things started moving along and here we are.
“There’s always adjustments to be made in a new discipline as far as how you’re going to throw and receive punches. We’re going to make small adjustments, but your base is your base. My base is boxing and we’re going to keep the things we want to keep.
“I’ve watched some of the bare knuckle fights and there are some fundamental differences. There are some things that boxers can take advantage of. But there are also some aspects that boxers might not be used to in bare knuckle.”
ARTEM LOBOV
“I’m a real fighter and I’m going to fight Paulie in a real fight. I want to make money for it. He knows I’m down. If you’re a real fighter, let’s fight in the ring.
“Let’s be honest, Paulie doesn’t want to fight me on the street, because he knows I’d tear him apart in seconds. But I want to prove myself in the boxing ring. That’s why I’m doing this. I want Paulie safe until the day I can finally put my hands on him.
“This is the only chance he has to get a shot in on me. When we do get to fight, he won’t get a hand on me, I guarantee that.
“I’m here to fight on Saturday night. I’m a true fighter. No one will ever make me quit. I don’t care about anything that Paulie can do to me.
“Paulie was always the fight I wanted. It’s ‘night night’ for Jason Knight this Saturday, then it’s on to Paulie. That’s the only fight I want. He deserves to get slapped around.
“Jason Knight was a top UFC fighter at one point. He’s a very tough opponent, but his strength was mixing disciplines. Just boxing me, he doesn’t have a chance.
“I love the bare knuckle training. This is my game. I love the stand-up fighting. My approach is that if you want to be a good boxer, you have to box a lot. I went into all of the best gyms in Ireland and got great sparring.”
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About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship On June 2, 2018, Philadelphia-based Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) made combat sports history when it promoted the first legal, sanctioned and regulated bare knuckle event in the United States since 1889. “BKFC 1: The Beginning” took place in Cheyenne, Wyoming and featured 10 professional bouts, all under the auspices and control of the Wyoming Combative Sports Commission. BKFC uses only established fighters who have previously competed professionally in boxing, MMA, kickboxing and/or Muay Thai. All BKFC bouts are sanctioned and regulated by ABC member athletic commissions. For more information visit www.bareknuckle.tv or follow on Twitter at @BareKnuckleFC, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/bareknucklefc and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bareknucklefc.
“BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” Takes Place Saturday, April 6 in Biloxi, Mississippi Featuring Chris Leben vs. Justin Baseman, Chase Sherman vs. Sam Shewmaker & Marcel Stamps vs. Martin Verdin As Part of Action-Packed Evening Live on Pay-Per-View
Click HERE for Interview Video with Lobov & Knight Tickets on Sale Now!
PHILADELPHIA (March 4, 2019) – Former UFC standout and Conor McGregor stablemate Artem Lobov will make his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) debut when he takes on Mississippi native and former UFC fighter Jason Knight in the main event of “BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” taking place Saturday, April 6 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi and live on pay-per-view.
“BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” is the second BKFC event of 2019 and will be the third to take place at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The event will be broadcast across the United States and Canada, exclusively on pay-per-view through MultiVision Media, Inc., on all major television distribution outlets for $29.95. It will also be available worldwide via stream to all in-home and out-of-home connected devices at FITE TV and www.bareknuckle.tv.
“I am really excited for this fight card and the main event,” said BKFC Founder and President David Feldman. “Artem Lobov and Jason Knight are two fighters that don’t know how to back up. Having this fight take place in Biloxi, Jason’s hometown, will be electric and I can’t wait to see that packed house. The card is stacked with Chris Leben, Marcel Stamps, Chase Sherman and many more.”
Tickets for “BKFC 5: Lobov vs. Knight” are available now exclusively atwww.bareknuckle.tv beginning at $35.
“It’s going to be ‘night night’ for Jason Knight on April 6,” said Lobov. “If we had fought in MMA, I think it would have been a competitive fight, but this is real fighting and he stands no chance against me. I’m happy to fight him in his hometown because I’ve always gone and taken the toughest challenges. They’re going to be cheering me when I’m leaving the arena.”
“I’m excited to fight someone like Artem Lobov in my hometown,” said Knight. “I’m ready to go out there and get this done. It’s going to be electric in the arena when they announce my name and I step into this fight. I don’t think he’s man enough to put me out like he says. He’s going to wish he never took this bare knuckle fight.”
The night of action will include former UFC veteran Chris Leben battling former Bellator standout Justin Baseman in a light heavyweight fight, Mississippi native Chase Sherman taking on BKFC fan-favorite Sam Shewmaker in a heavyweight attraction and Marcel Stamps, fresh off his BKFC victory over Kendall Grove, as he faces professional boxer Martin Verdin in a light heavyweight showdown.
A 32-year-old fighter from Russia, Lobov made his name on Season 22 of The Ultimate Fighter as part of Team McGregor, where he worked his way to the finals of the tournament before losing to Ryan Hall. He challenged Cub Swanson in a UFC main event in 2016, after picking up victories over Chris Avila and Alex White. While he lost his last three UFC bouts by decision, he owns 13 professional MMA wins and will take that experience into BKFC action.
Representing his hometown of D’lberville, Mississippi, Knight has a 20-6 professional MMA record since turning pro in MMA at just seventeen-years-old. He made his UFC debut in 2015 when he stepped in on two weeks’ notice to face Tatsuya Kawajiri in the Ultimate Fighter 22 finale, dropping a unanimous decision. Knight went on to win his next four UFC bouts between July 2016 and May 2017. He then lost four consecutive contests, the final three coming by decision.
Note: Artem Lobov had previously been announced to make his debut against Jason Knight at “BKFC 6” in Biloxi, MS, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, April 20.
