America’s Dillon Winemiller kicked off BKFC 41 with a ferocious seven-second KO victory over compatriot Matthew Maestas on the preliminary card of Sunday’s event at Bloomfield’s 1stBank Center.
But it was bad news for Australian former world champion Bec Rodriguez on the main card. Five years after becoming the organisation’s first female champion, Rodriguez failed in her bid to reclaim the flyweight title from Christine Ferea.
The duo traded wild shots again and again through two sensational rounds, but Rodriguez was cut badly over her right eye in the opening round.
A doctor allowed her to continue at the start of the second round, but a second check ahead of the start of the third round saw the doctor wave off the fight.
Rodriguez was in disbelief, loudly proclaiming: “F**k off!”
The pair had plenty of respect for each other after the bout’s unfortunate premature end, sharing a hug and praise – and with plenty of blood rushing down each fighter’s faces.
Ferea said afterwards: “I expected a tough girl… nothing I didn’t expect.”
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Earlier, Winemiller landed a vicious right jab to his rival’s jaw in the opening seconds of their five-round contest, and referee Dan Miragliotta was forced to wave off the bout as a dazed Maestas flopped onto the ring.
It was Winemiller’s first victory in BKFC, having suffered a TKO loss to Tony Jenkins in his promotional debut earlier this year.
It was also the third-fastest victory in BKFC history, the record being a three-second triumph.
Earlier in the preliminary card, American fighter Mitch Seybold notched a come-from-behind victory over Jack Willoughby. Seybold was knocked down in the opening round before bouncing back and flooring his rival twice to clinch a brutal TKO win.
BKFC 41 is headlined by a light heavyweight contest between former UFC champion Luke Rockhold and UFC veteran Mike Perry. Rockhold will make his bare-knuckle debut, while Perry is coming off two straight wins in BKFC.
Speaking with Fox Sports Australia after Friday’s BKFC41 press conference, Perry said he was expecting to both “wobble” Rockhold and make him “bleed”.
“Because I don’t care if you’re bigger, stronger, faster, taller,” Perry said.
“I don’t care about any of the attributes you have.
“I want to come after you, put my hands on you, hurt you.
“So I’m looking to break Rockhold’s chin down.
“I have to get past his range first, put my hands on him and do some damage.
“And I do expect to wobble him.
“But even if his chin can take it, I plan to close the distance, get my head on his chest, hit the body, which then opens up the head — and then I’ll hit him in the face.
“Bust him up, cut him open, make him bleed.”
