Undefeated heavyweight sensation Leonardo “El Zambo” Perdomo extended his unprecedented run of dominance on Friday by steamrolling two-time Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) Heavyweight Champion Arnold “Bomaye” Adams in their hugely anticipated rematch in the Main Event of BKFC 80 at the sold-out Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL.
Perdomo entered fight night as the No. 1 contender in the stacked BKFC heavyweight division. He lived up to sky-high expectations by quickly dropping Adams twice, leading to the TKO win just 69 seconds into the opening frame.
Perdomo and Adams first met in the BKFC 78 Main Event on July 12, with Perdomo winning by first-round finish in just 86 seconds at the sold-out Hard Rock Live.
The Cuban-born Miami heavyweight wrecking machine is the first fighter in BKFC history to record nine straight, first-round finishes — and Perdomo has accomplished the feat in his first nine trips to the Squared Circle.
Perdomo showed support to his loyal fanbase around the world in his post-fight interview: “Two years ago I (came to this country) with no shoes. I worked hard … I’ve got to thank all of you — you made me who I am. You supported me throughout my career, and we’re on the brink of accomplishing something very special! Thank you, Miami, and thank you, God!”
Adams, who represents Chicago, is now 7-5 in the Squared Circle.
In the BKFC 80 Co-Main Event, the undefeated Edgard “The Dream Killer” Plazaola cemented his status as the No. 1 contender in the stacked BKFC featherweight division with a dominant decision victory over BKFC United Kingdom Featherweight Champion Gary Fox. Plazaoloa dropped Fox in the third round and won the fight unanimously (50-44×2, 50-43). He is now 6-0 in the Squared Circle, with all but one of his wins coming before the fifth round.
The Nicaraguan-born Miami fighter called out undefeated BKFC World Featherweight Champion “King” Kai Stewart in his post-fight interview: “Kai Stewart, give me my belt! Gold is the only thing on my mind, and I’m ready for the challenge.”
Fox, who represents Billingham, England, is now 4-3 in the Squared Circle.
Combat sports legend Yoel “Soldier of God” Romero lived up to lofty expectations in his BKFC premiere as the former Olympic silver medal-winning judoka ran through Theo Doukas in Friday’s Feature Fight. The former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title challenger sent Doukas to the canvas three times in the second round, leading to the TKO victory with just four seconds remaining in the second stanza for the Cuban-born Coconut Creek, FL product. Doukas, who represents Spokane, WA, was also making his BKFC debut.
Chaos ensued in the Squared Circle before Friday’s Feature Fight, when “Platinum” Mike Perry and Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens exchanged words and shoves ahead of their showdown in the BKFC 82 Main Event on Oct. 4 at the legendary Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, LIVE worldwide on DAZN.
Here are some highlights from BKFC Founder/President David Feldman’s post-event press conference:
“Another great night here at the Hard Rock. Every time we do events here, they always ask us how we’re going to top it, and it just keeps on happening. This was a phenomenal event. This was either our 13th or 12th straight sellout here, so hats off to the fans and hats off to the fighters who brought it. This is the fastest growing combat sport in the world, and we’re very proud that we’re just growing bigger and bigger with every event. It’s been an amazing run for us, and there’s no stopping in sight.”
On what’s next for Leonardo Perdomo: “I think he’s definitely next in line for a title shot, it just depends if that’s what he wants or not. We do have an opportunity for him to change his life in the tournament we’re launching (The World’s Baddest Man Tournament) in April so he might choose to enter that.”
On what’s next for Edgard Plazaola: “He definitely surprised me with how dominant he was. I think Kai Stewart will have a fight before he fights Plazaola, but Plazaola’s next fight is for a championship. That’s done after tonight.”
On Yoel Romero’s BKFC debut: “His performance was great. He took his time, he was relaxed. He told me that he’s going to just keep on getting better and better and better. It’s hard to believe that a guy that age looks and performs the way he does, but hats off to Yoel Romero.”
On BKFC 82 in Newark, NJ: “(Mike Perry and Jeremy Stephens) can’t wait to knock each other out. They can’t wait to get in there and produce violence on each other, and on Oct. 4 it’s going to happen.”
On BKFC’s future in Las Vegas: “(Las Vegas) is certainly on the radar for 2026. We went over some hurdles that we had to overcome, and I think we’ll be in the mecca of combat sports in 2026, most definitely.”
Knockout of the Night: Jancarlos Rivera
Performance Bonuses: Leonardo Perdomo, Edgard Plazaola
Balls of the Night: Gary Fox
Smith Center, KS’s David Simpson turned heads with a 52-second, standing TKO victory over Jeremy “Pitbull” Smith in their battle of fan-favorite, light-heavyweight contenders. Simpson is now 5-3 on the strength of back-to-back, first-round finishes in the Squared Circle. Smith, who represents Johannesburg, South Africa, is now 3-3 in his BKFC career.
Unbeaten Broward County, FL upstart Bobby “B3” Henry is now 2-0 with back-to-back, stoppage victories in his BKFC career after stopping Stash “The Flash” Kuykendall in the second round of their lightweight matchup. Henry logged a pair of knockdowns before winning by TKO 34 seconds into the second frame. Henry was cornered by his older brother and undefeated BKFC sensation Bryce “Baba Yaga” Henry, who meets Jake Lindsey in the Main Event of BKFC Fight Night Hammond on Oct. 18 in Hammond, IN, LIVE on The BKFC App. The Fort Smith, AR product Kuykendall was making his BKFC debut.
Clewiston, FL bantamweight Chris “Dynamite” Garcia returned to the win column and upped his BKFC record to 5-1 with a 79-second TKO at the expense of Austin The Animal Lewis. Four of Garcia’s victories have come by stoppage before the fourth round. Lewis, who hails from Moriarty, NM, entered fight night with a 2-1-1 record.
Brazilian-born Coconut Creek, FL product Paulo Games sent Wanya “The Rated R Superstar” Reid to the canvas twice in the third round of their action-packed welterweight matchup, prompting Reid’s corner to call a stop to the fight before the beginning of the fourth round. Games is now 1-1 in the Squared Circle, while the Jamaican-born Broward County product Reid is now 2-2 after bringing a two-fight winning streak into Friday’s action.
Unbeaten Fort Myers, FL flyweight upstart Jancarlos “Baby Hulk” Rivera smashed his way to 2-0 in the Squared Circle with a 22-second, standing KO over Zay “Zaybomination” Garcia. The Lubbock, TX product Garcia is now 0-3 with BKFC.
Broward County, FL heavyweight Chino Blume earned his first BKFC victory with a 55-second TKO over Dillon “The Irish Thug” Blaydon. Blume notched a pair of knockdowns and is now 1-2 under the BKFC banner. Blaydon, who represents Port St. Lucie, FL, is now 0-2.
A first-round knockdown helped pave the way for Hollywood’s Rudy “The Black Widow” Levocz to win a three-round, unanimous decision victory over Justin “Pretty Boy” Williams of Panama City, FL in their meeting of debuting light-heavyweight prospects. Two judges scored the fight 30-26 and one had it 29-27, all in favor of Levocz.
BKFC 80 Results
(1) Leonardo Perdomo def. Arnold Adams via KO in Round 1 (1:09)
(1) Edgard Plazaola def. Gary Fox via Unanimous Decision (50-44×2, 50-43)
Yoel Romero def. Theo Doukas via TKO in Round 2 (1:56)
David Simpson def. Jeremy Smith via TKO in Round 1 (0:52)
Bobby Henry def. Stash Kuykendall via TKO in Round 2 (0:34)
Chris Garcia def. Austin Lewis via TKO in Round 1 (1:19)
Paulo Games def. Wayna Reid via TKO in Round 3 (2:00)
Jancarlos Rivera def. Zay Garcia via KO in Round 1 (0:22)
Chino Blume def. Dillon Blaydon via TKO in Round 1 (0:55)
Rudy Levocz def. Justin Williams via Unanimous Decision (30-26×2, 29-27)