The Unintentional Bare-Knuckle Fighter: Kai Stewart’s Introduction to BKFC

Stewart began as a wrestler at the tender age of four and followed that path through college. He intended to transition into MMA until an unexpected call from BKFC changed the trajectory of his career. With three consecutive wins under his belt, Stewart quickly developed a passion for bare-knuckle fighting.

A Fresh Perspective in Bare-Knuckle Fighting

Stewart brings a fresh perspective to BKFC. Unlike many veterans who see this platform as a last resort, for Stewart, it’s a conscious first choice. Having a solid foundation in wrestling and a pro MMA victory to his credit, he stands apart in the BKFC circuit.

The Faceoff: Kai Stewart vs Louie Lopez

Stewart is preparing for a pivotal fight against Louie Lopez to determine the new BKFC featherweight champion. He remains undeterred by those who label him a wrestler rather than a striker, vowing to showcase his exponential growth and evolution as a fighter since joining BKFC.

A Promising Future in Bare-Knuckle Fighting and Beyond

Stewart’s youth, hunger, and willingness to learn make him a formidable player in the bare-knuckle fighting arena. He envisages a future that may lead him back to the MMA cage or to try his hand in another combat sport, but for now, he’s fully committed to the BKFC. With a sturdy wrestling background and unmatched grit, Stewart is poised to make a significant impact in bare-knuckle fighting.

Kai Stewart and BKFC: A Match Made in Heaven

Stewart’s journey in BKFC demonstrates a perfect blend of opportunity, passion, and talent. For him, BKFC is not just a platform but a home where he can leverage his wrestling background, fortitude, and eagerness to learn to thrive in the realm of bare-knuckle fighting. With time on his side, the sky is the limit for this young, dedicated fighter.

In a sport that’s often seen as the last chance for many, Stewart proves that with the right attitude and willingness to learn, it can be a first-choice arena for emerging talent. As he looks forward to his fight against Lopez, Stewart isn’t just stepping into the ring for another win; he’s striving to redefine what it means to be a bare-knuckle fighter.

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Alvarez made his bare-knuckle debut at BKFC 41 against fellow UFC veteran Chad Mendes, and it was a war. Both fighters landed two knockdowns over five rounds in a back-and-forth battle that ended with a split decision. While Mendes got a 47-46 scorecard from one judge, Alvarez took home the victory with two 47-46 scorecards from the other judges.

“This is a pleasure,” Alvarez said after the fight. “Chad is a f****** dog. I did not expect that. The man hits crazy hard. This is a dog fight in here. I’m convinced right now this is going to be the best sport in the world. BKFC is here to stay.”

In his first bare-knuckle fight, Alvarez was looking to use his reach advantage by throwing a long jab while measuring his shots. But Mendes had other plans and quickly answered back with powerful punches. While Mendes suffered a cut under his right eye, he caught Alvarez with a huge right hand that cracked the former UFC lightweight champion on the chin, dropping him to the canvas for the first knockdown in the fight.

Alvarez managed to get back to his feet and continued to paw ahead with his jab, while Mendes exploded forward and launched huge hooks, gunning for the knockout with every punch thrown. Alvarez got his payback with a short shot that briefly dropped Mendes to the ground, but the veteran featherweight bounced up almost out of frustration.

With the fight heading into the fifth and final round, Alvarez was starting to wear the damage on his face with blood trickling down from a cut over his eye and gushing from his nose. With the fight potentially slipping away, Alvarez opened up with a flurry of punches that overwhelmed Mendes, causing him to fall to the canvas. Mendes managed to get back to his feet, but as soon as the fight restarted, he launched a left-right combination that wobbled Alvarez, causing him to sit down for a split second, which the referee ruled as a knockdown to even the score between the fighters.

After the fight, Mendes offered congratulations to Alvarez and announced his retirement from the sport, saying “I’m officially hanging them up tonight. Thanks for all the awesome memories.”

Alvarez, on the other hand, plans to return to the BKFC ring after a successful debut for the promotion. “I’ll be fighting again,” Alvarez told reporters at the BKFC 41 post-fight news conference. “This training camp for me was like, I wanted to try something new. This is something new for me. I’ve never done this before. But when you take away the wrestling and the kicks and the knees and the elbows – I know my face looks like this, but this is going to go away in two weeks. The training camp was so much more enjoyable than an MMA training camp. Chad would know this and guys who do MMA would know this. The training camp for bareknuckle is so enjoyable.”

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Alvarez is embracing the exciting world of bareknuckle boxing, revealing that his training camp was so much more enjoyable than an MMA camp. He’s even more determined to continue in the sport after experiencing its nuances and the thrill of fighting without the constraints of wrestling, kicks, knees, and elbows.

And that’s not all, folks! Alvarez is convinced that bareknuckle boxing has a huge potential for growth and is high on BKFC’s future as a promotion. With shorter rounds and a more action-packed format, he believes that fans, fighters, and the sport as a whole will benefit from this exciting evolution.

So, get ready to witness Eddie Alvarez’s next big move in bareknuckle boxing. You don’t want to miss it!

The post Former UFC Champion Eddie Alvarez Shares Plans to Continue Bareknuckle Boxing After BKFC 41 Win: ‘I Had a Lot of Fun’ appeared first on unleashed mma.