Ryan Shough has a chip on his shoulder heading into the inaugural BKFC Prospect Series event on Thursday in Miami.

Most fighters competing in the Prospect Series will be making their bare knuckle debut, or seeking a shot at redemption in the Squared Circle. But the heavy-handed Bellefontaine, OH heavyweight made his BKFC debut last July, when he defeated Joshua Sanchez via second-round TKO in Tampa. 

Thus, Shough’s goal isn’t just to win on Thursday – he’s looking to make a big-time statement in front of BKFC brass sitting ringside.

“My plan is to knock him out and look at Mr. Feldman and say, you know, that I deserve to be fighting on Friday nights on the big show, so let’s get that contract signed,” says Shough, who meets Leonardo Perdomo (1-0, 1 KO) on Thursday, LIVE on The BKFC App.

If Shough earns a multi-fight contract from BKFC Founder/President David Feldman, he’d like to get down to business as soon as possible.

“If I knock him out and don’t take much damage, and for some reason there’s an opening for a heavyweight fight at BKFC 49 on Friday, I’m absolutely down to fight,” he says.

Shough has been a fan of BKFC since 2018. He’s believed since then that he could hang with the best bare knuckle fighters on the planet, and he’s ready to prove it.

“I want to be the champ and considered one of the baddest heavyweights in the world.”