Friday was a night of firsts for Reggie Barnett Jr. at BKFC 39.

Competing in the Main Event of the first ever bare knuckle fighting event in Virginia, the Chesapeake, VA native became the first fighter in BKFC history to compete 11 times in the famed Squared Circle.

Barnett Jr. rose to the occasion on Friday, improving his record to 9-2 with a third straight victory over Daniel Alvarez, LIVE on The BKFC App from the jam-packed Scope Arena in Norfolk. The Main Event bout was stopped in the third round after Alvarez badly injured his hand.

It was the third stoppage victory of Barnett Jr.’s career, but the BKFC World Bantamweight Champion isn’t satisfied with his performance.

“I was a little sloppy starting out, and I hate for a fight to be stopped like that, but his hand was broken and I was already beating him up,” the champ says. “It wouldn’t be safe for him to fight with just one hand – I hope the fans understand.”

Barnett Jr.’s next goal is to bring KnuckleMania – the biggest event of the BKFC calendar – to his native Virginia for the first time in 2024. He doesn’t have his next opponent in mind yet; the BKFC trailblazer just wants to continue making history with the world’s fastest growing combat sports promotion.. 

“In my next fight, I want to either win the BKFC World Flyweight Championship, or truly solidify myself as the BKFC World Bantamweight Champion with another big win,” says Barnett Jr., a veteran of BKFC 1. 

“I’m ready for whatever’s next.”