BKFC 36 Results: Belcher dethrones the champ Adams with shocking KO

BKFC 36 Results: Belcher dethrones the champ Adams with shocking KO

Saturday, Feb 25 2023 by BKFC Staff

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the world’s fastest growing combat sport, touched down in New Orleans for the first time this weekend, as Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 36 took place Friday, Feb. 24 at Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center in Kenner, LA, LIVE on The BKFC App.

In the Main Event, a new BKFC World Heavyweight Champion was crowned as Alan “The Talent” Belcher rallied after a pair of second-round knockdowns to defeat the defending champ Arnold “Bomaye” Adams via third-round KO. Belcher, a 15-time UFC vet, improved to 4-0 with his third straight KO to become the fourth Heavyweight Champion in BKFC history. Adams, who entered fight night as No. 3 on the BKFC Pound-for-Pound rankings, fell to 8-2 with the loss – his first defeat since 2019.

In the Co-Main Event, James “Lights Out” Lilley improved to 3-0 under the BKFC banner and firmly staked his claim as the No. 1 contender in the BKFC’s stacked lightweight division by defeating the No. 3-ranked Bobby “ODB” Taylor via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at the end of the third round. Taylor fell to 5-2, while Lilley upped his overall record to 8-0-1 and called for the next shot at defending BKFC World Lightweight Champion Luis “Baboon” Palomino (8-0).

In the Feature Fight, Kaleb “Lionheart” Harris needed just 39 seconds to score the fastest win of his 10-fight BKFC tenure with a first-round KO victory over Brad “Machine Gun” Kelly. Harris entered the bout as the No. 3-ranked BKFC welterweight and climbed to 6-4 with the fast finish, while Kelly fell to 3-2.

BKFC 36 Main Card

Alan Belcher defeated Arnold Adams via KO in Round 3 (:55) 

To become the new BKFC World Heavyweight Champion

James Lilley def. Bobby Taylor via TKO (doctor stoppage) at end of Round 3

Kaleb Harris def. Brad Kelly via TKO in Round 1 (:39)

Duke Sensley def. Joseph Creer via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 48-47 x2)

Dennis Labruzza def. Stephon Reese via KO in Round 2 (1:24)

Tony Jenkins def. Dillon Winemiller via TKO in Round 3 (1:25)

Bryce Henry def. Brandon Shavers via KO in Round 4 (1:53)

Andrew Angelcor and David Bosnick fight to Draw (47-47 x3)

Tyler Sammis def. Cody Schieve via KO in Round 1 (1:32)

BKFC 36 Preliminary Card

Blake Lacaze def. Brett Williams via TKO (corner stoppage) at end of Round 3

Brandon Meneses and Cody Mitchell fight to Majority Draw (48-46 Maness, 47-47 x2)

Michael Manno def. Frankie Shughart via KO in Round 1 (:25)

About Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC)

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), The World’s Fastest Growing Combat Sports Promotion, 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.