BEKHZOD USMONOV SHOCKS COMBAT SPORTS WORLD WITH LIGHTNING-FAST KNOCKOUT IN BKFC FIGHT NIGHT ALBUQUERQUE HEADLINER

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Albuquerque, NM (Feb. 28, 2025) Bekhzod “The Lion” Usmonov shocked the combat sports world by stopping former Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) Bantamweight World Champion Keith “The Rockstar” Richardson in the main event of BKFC Fight Night Albuquerque on Friday night at the sold-out Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque, NM.

Friday’s event aired LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App.

The Tajikistan-born Albuquerque product Usmonov dropped Richardson, who entered fight night as the #1 ranked contender in the stacked BKFC bantamweight division, twice before the bout was stopped just 55 seconds into their highly anticipated headline showdown.

Following his win, Usmonov called for the next shot at undefeated BKFC Bantamweight World Champion Alberto “El Indio” Blas.

“I’m the #1 bantamweight in BKFC. I want the title shot, and I’ll knock out (Blas),” Usmonov told the jam-packed Kiva Auditorium. 

Usmonov is now 2-1 on the strength of back-to-back stoppage victories in his blossoming BKFC career. Richardson, a product of Rock Hill, SC, is now 5-2 under the BKFC banner.

Only one of the 11 fights on Friday’s action-packed event went to the judges’ scorecards.

Albuquerque’s Donald Sanchez won his fourth straight fight and upped his BKFC record to 4-1 in Friday’s co-main event, defeating Harrison “The Head Hunter" Aiken in the sole decision of the evening. All three judges scored the fight in favor of Sanchez (49-43x2, 48-44).

Sanchez called out BKFC Middleweight World Champion David “Redneck” Mundell after his victory. “C’mon, Mundell — let’s do this,” Sanchez told the rocking Kiva Auditorium. “How many times do I have to say this? Give this fight to me already. Mundell, that belt is mine. Let’s go!” Aiken, who represents Atlanta, is now 3-4 in his bare knuckle fighting career.

Chicago welterweight Derrick “Superman” Findley notched his third straight victory in BKFC with a third-round knockout over the previously unbeaten Felipe “Flip” Chavez in Friday’s feature fight. The bout was stopped with just one second left in the third stanza. Chavez, who represents Albuquerque, is now 2-1 in his BKFC career.

“Listen, I’m a threat in this division, and I’m calling out everybody,” a fired-up Findley told the jam-packed Kiva Auditorium. “I’m looking for a big name for my next bout, so let’s see what happens. I’m the new threat in this division.”

Albuquerque’s Eric “Thuggy Bear” Dodson picked himself up off the canvas five times, and logged three knockdowns of his own, in his thrilling, come-from-behind, standing technical knockout victory over Van “Tactic” Vo in their eight-knockdown featherweight battle. The bout was stopped 17 seconds into the third frame. Dodson, the younger brother of BKFC Men’s World Flyweight Champion John “The Magician” Dodson, is now 4-2 in his BKFC career. Vo, who hails from Kettering, OH, is now 1-4 under the BKFC banner.

“We were born to fight. Born and raised in Albuquerque, NM! We came here to put on a show,” Eric Dodson told the sold-out Kiva Auditorium. “I’m ready to get back in here as soon as I heal. Send me the next fight. Let’s do it.”

Belen, NM’s Derek Rage Perez notched his third win with a first-round stoppage over “Savage” Mike Livingston in the bantamweight division. With the win, Perez upped his BKFC record to 3-4. The St. Louis, MO fighter Livingston sees his record move to 0-4 with the loss.

Russian-born Albuquerque fighter Murat “Sambeast” Kilimetov cruised to 2-0 in his BKFC career with a 61-second technical knockout over Lamont “The KO King” Stafford in cruiserweight action. Both of Kilemetov’s wins have come by stoppage. Stafford, a product of Hobart, OK, is now 1-1 in his bare-knuckle fighting career.

Albuquerque’s Will “Wild Bill” Albrecht returned to the win column and upped his record to 2-1 with a 95-second knockout at the expense of Brett “Da Beast” Fields in their middleweight matchup. Fields, who represents Chicago Heights, IL, is now 1-3 under the BKFC banner.

Red-hot Wichita, KS flyweight Justyn Martinez notched his second first-round finish in as many months with a 100-second stoppage over Zay “Zaybomination” Garcia. Martinez is now 2-0 in 2025 after beginning his BKFC career with four losses and one no contest. The Lubbock, TX product Garcia moves to 0-2 with the loss.

Tampa, FL’s Jay “Action” Jackson notched a pair of knockdowns en route to a knockout victory at the expense of Kyle “The Irishman” McElroy in their back-and-forth, light-heavyweight tilt. The bout was stopped at the conclusion of the third round on the advice of the ringside doctor. Jackson is now 5-3 on the strength of back-to-back stoppage victories. McElroy, who represents Albuquerque, is now 2-5.

Albuquerque’s Lorenzo “The Disciple” Coca was victorious in his lightweight matchup against Ruben “The Beast” Arroyo. Their bout was called to a stop on the advice of the ringside doctor at the conclusion of the second round. Coca, who logged the sole knockdown of the bout, is now 1-1 , while the El Paso, TX product Arroyo falls to 0-2.

In the opening fight of the night, Abilene, TX’s Roderick “Icewater” Stewart needed just 76 seconds to earn his first BKFC victory with a first-round stoppage over “Irish” Bryant McClain in middleweight action. Stewart scored a pair of knockdowns in the fight and improved to 1-1 under the BKFC banner with the win. McClain, who represents Albuquerque, was making his BKFC debut.

BKFC Fight Night Albuquerque Results

Bekhzod Usmonov def. Keith Richardson via KO in Round 1 (0:55)

Donald Sanchez def. Harrison Aiken via Unanimous Decision (49-43x2, 48-44)

Derrick Findley def. Felipe Chavez via KO in Round 3 (1:59)

Eric Dodson def. Van Vo via TKO in Round 3 (0:17)

Derek Perez def. Mike Livingston via TKO in Round 1 (1:58)

Murat Kilimetov def. Lamont Stafford via TKO in Round 1 (1:01)

Will Albrecht def. Brett Fields via TKO in Round 1 (1:35)

Justyn Martinez def. Zay Garcia via TKO in Round 1 (1:40)

Jay Jackson def. Kyle McElroy via TKO in Round 3 (2:00)

Lorenzo Coca def. Ruben Arroyo via TKO in Round 2 (2:00)

Roderick Stewart def. Bryant McClain via TKO in Round 1 (1:16)

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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.