For the first time, the world’s leading bareknuckle boxing organization touched down in New England on Saturday.
BKFC 61 took place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., and streamed on Triller TV with prelims live and free on MMA Junkie.
In the main event, former UFC bantamweight contender [autotag]Jimmie Rivera[/autotag] (2-1-1) out-battled former Bellator featherweight champion [autotag]Daniel Straus[/autotag] (0-2).
Rivera picked up his second bareknuckle win with a unanimous decision (50-45, 48-47, 50-45) victory over Straus, who still seeks his first.
“TUF 27” winner [autotag]Mike Trizano[/autotag] (1-0) made an immediate impact in his bareknuckle debut as he became the first man to defeat [autotag]Louie Lopez[/autotag] (3-1). A brutal right-left combination was all it took. Lopez was unable to get to his feet and the fight was stopped 62 seconds in.
Also on the card, former Bellator title challenger and Olympic judoka [autotag]Rick Hawn[/autotag] (1-0) defeated longtime regional MMA veteran [autotag]Stephen Stengel[/autotag] (0-1) with a 35-second TKO. Hawn, who is 47, lost his original opponent the day prior to the bout but agreed to fight the much larger Stengel on short notice.
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Check out the live BKFC 61 results below:
- Jimmie Rivera def. Daniel Straus via unanimous decision (50-45, 48-47, 50-45)
- Mike Trizano def. Louie Lopez via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 1:02
- Ryan Reber def. Anthony Foye via unanimous decision (49-46, 50-45, 48-47)
- Natalie Gage def. Sarah Click via TKO (doctor stoppage) – Round 2, 2:00
- Rick Hawn def. Stephen Stengel via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 0:35
- Zachary Calmus def. Connor McKenna via knockout (punch) – Round 3, 1:49
- Patrick Brady def. Lewis Rumsey via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 1:41
- Scott Roberts def. Chris Sarro via TKO (doctor stoppage) – Round 1, 0:27
- Pat Casey def. Sam Watford via unanimous decision (50-43, 50-43, 50-43)
- Danny Pettit def. Dylan Felion via TKO (punch) – Round 3, 0:36
