This Saturday, April 6th, bare-knuckle is back. This will mark the fifth pay-per-view brought to you by Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. It will be held in Biloxi, Mississippi. I’ve seen each one they have put on since they started putting these fights together last June, and each one has not disappointed. It’s definitely not for the faint at heart where you’re almost guaranteed to see a lot of blood or a nasty knockout. The card is loaded with fighters like Sam Shewmaker or the newest signings of Chris Leben and Artem Lobov that can knock anyone out in a blink of an eye. It also has a woman’s championship fight as well as two semifinal tournament fights for the Lightweight tournament. I figured this article I’d give my picks and how I think the fights may go down. I also got fellow Belly up writer, @cbshaffer53, to give his picks as well. So here they come…
Trey Beets vs Bobo O’Bannen
So the first fight we will take a shot at is the heavyweight fight between Trey Beets and Bobo O’Bannen. Now I tried to look up some fight stats on these guys and couldn’t find anything really, so this will strictly be a blind pick but with a name like Bobo O’bannen, you got to have heavy hands. Plus at heavyweight, this can be a walk-off knockout. Our fellow Belly Up writer Caleb took Troy Beets.
Sheena Star vs Ivana Coleman
The next fight up on the card is a 125lb woman’s bout between Sheena Star and Ivana Coleman. Now Coleman is riding a three-fight losing streak and has a 1-4 record. Star doesn’t have much better of a record since she has never won a fight and has last 10 in a row. Yes, ladies and gentlemen. 10 in a row. This could end up being a very sloppy fight or a very entertaining fight since both fighters are looking to get a “w” in their column. Now logic says that a fighter that is on a 10 fight losing streak isn’t that great, but I’m taking Star because you have to eventually win one sometime. Right? Caleb went the different route and took Coleman. I have a feeling he may get this one right.
Khalib Harris vs Harris Stephenson
Next fight is Khalib Harris vs Harris Stephenson in the 165lb division. Now this division has produced some entertaining fights so far. This one has the potential to be no different. Unlike our last two fighters, these to fights are pretty good. Harris Stephenson posts a 6-1 record whereas Khalib Harris posts a 3-1 record but lost his last fight. I think this is going to be a high volume of punches with Harris Stephenson coming out on top. Our friend Caleb once again picks opposite of me and goes with Khalib Harris.
Adbiel Velazquez vs Johnny Bedford
The next fight on the docket is a semi-final round in the lightweight division between Abdiel Velazquez and Johnny Bedford. Bedford has been around Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship since the first PPV, so I got to see him fight. He’s a very quick fighter, as well as powerful too. Even though Abdiel has a decent record at 9-6, I don’t think he can defeat Bedford. Caleb has Johnny Bedford winning this fight as well.
Randy Hederick vs Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Up next is another 165lb fight between Randy Hederick and Isaac Vallie-Flagg. Isaac is a little bit of a streaky fighter. Wins 2 lose 1 or wins 3 loses 2 in a row. This might be the fight to help get him on a winning streak because Randy Hederick posts a 5-13 record. Now I know it may sound like I’m picking on all the fighters that have losing records, and anything can happen in BKB, but even though he’s a streaky fighter I’m going with Isaac just because Randy Hederick record is not good at all. Belly Up writer Caleb is going with surprise surprise, Randy Hederick.
Rusty Crowder vs Reggie Barnet
The final Lightweight semi-final round fight is between Rusty Crowder and Reggie Barnet. Barnet is another one that has been part of the organization since the beginning. His hands are so quick. He’s also very fast when it comes to bobbing and weaving. I think he’s going to be too much for Rusty Crowder and comes out the winner. Caleb picks Reggie Barnet as well.
Sam Shewmaker vs Chase Sherman
Up next is a big heavyweight fight between Sam Shewmaker and Chase Sherman. For the people that watched Sam’s first fight, we remember that nasty knockout he landed in the very beginning of the first round. Since then he’s been up and down. He won a close decision in his next fight followed by a loss in the final tournament round. He bounced back his last fight but by split decision. I believe this will be Chase Shermans first fight in BKB. Unless Sherman shows something, in the beginning, I’m going with Big Ol’ Sam Shewmaker with possibly a knockout. Caleb picks Shewmaker as well.
Britain Hart vs Christine Ferea
The fight following the Shewmaker/Sherman fight is the woman’s American Featherweight bout between Britain Hart and Christine Ferea. Christine Ferea is a tough fighter but I believe Hart is tougher. In her fight against Bec Rawlings, she took a lot of hard shots, but she kept pushing forward. This is another fight to be a potential fight of the night. I’m going with Hart for the win. Caleb agrees as well.
Justin Baesman vs Chris Leben
This next fight is one of the two I’m really looking forward to. Its a 205lb fight between Justin Baesman and the newly signed Chris Leben. You may remember Leben from the UFC days in the early 2000s. He was a brawler. That’s why I think he finally found a sport that suites his strengths. Leben early on in his career was known for his chin but like everything, the older he got, the less the chin held up. I’m still going with Leben but its more of a fan pick because I’ve always rooted for him. I’d like to see an old-time Chris Leben knock out in this fight. Back to back picks our own Belly up writer Caleb agrees again and goes with Leben.
Artem Lobov vs Jason Knight
On to our final fight of the night. Like I said about the Leben fight, this is the 2nd of the two fights that I’m looking forward to. Another bigger name signing for Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, Artem Lobov vs Jason Knight. Like Leben, I think this is a sport right up Lobov’s alley. He’s always had solid hands. Now that he doesn’t have to worry about takedowns, he can focus strictly on boxing and land one of those Russian bombs. If he wins, which I’m going with him, sets up a potential grudge match with Paulie Malignaggi. He’s the boxer that helped trained Connor McGregor for the Floyd Mayweather bout. A video was leaked showing Malignaggi getting knockdown by McGregor, starting a huge feud between him and Connors camp. Let’s take it one step at a time though and see if Lobov gets the “w” here first. I’m going with Artem Lobov within his BKB debut, as well as Caleb too.
I would like to thank Caleb for giving his picks as well. Please go and follow him on twitter @cbshaffer53 as well as myself @jimbostsports and my show @STSportsPodcast.
