Dustin Pague beat Julian Lane to win the BKFC Welterweight Title Saturday in an early fight of the year candidate.
The intense six-round battle showcased the skill and savagery that makes bare knuckle the world’s most exciting combat sport.
It was a high-quality, technical fistfight.
The challenger stayed on the outside, moving side-to-side as Lane came forward. A Pague left hook caught Lane as he moved backward, dropping him for an early knockdown.
Lane had a better round three and stunned Pague early in the fourth. Pague held on to survive.
“He did a really good job of changing his game plan. I was predicting him to come out stronger in the early rounds. But he turned it on later in the rounds, which was impressive,” Pague told interviewer Cyrus Fees after the match.
The two fighters embraced in respect before round five began. It was another close round, with Lane the more effective man in the clinch.
The crowd cheered when ring announcer Jeff Houston announced the fight was going to the overtime round. In BKFC, fights go to an extra round if the scorecards are even after the fifth.
In the extra stanza, it was back-and-forth. The bloodied Pague’s legs seemed to give out briefly. A Lane left knocked him into the ropes and advantage seemed with the champion.
Pague reached down and landed a massive right that shook Lane seconds before the final bell.
That may have been the difference.
The judges scored the fight unanimously 57-56 for the new champion, who dropped to his knees in joy after the decision was read.
Pague: “Fight Could Have Went Either Way”
“I’m proud to say I went up against him. This fight could have went either way. If we fought ten times, he’d win five of them,” said Pague.
Pague thanked God, his family, training team and friends back in Pennsylvania.
A disappointed Lane felt he came off the canvas to earn the victory.
“I definitely overcame the adversity and fought my ass off to steal the W man,” said Lane.
“I think I did what I needed to do. I definitely won that last round,” he said.
BKFC President Feldman wants to see Lane-Pague II
BKFC President David Feldman was ringside for the fight and praised both fighters.
“I asked these two guys to set the tone tonight. Set the tone for 2026. And these two bad ass warriors set the tone tonight.”
“And they’re gonna go home with extra money. And I wanna see this fight again,” said Feldman.
Former Boxing Champion Jamel Herring Wins BKFC Debut
In the BKFC 86 co-main event, former boxing champion Jamel Herring successfully debuted with a unanimous decision over Matt Guymon. All three judges scored the bout 50-43 for Herring.
Herring effectively controlled distance, popping Guymon with right jabs and touching him to the body as he came forward. The awkward Guymon had trouble connecting on the slick Herring.
A Herring left off a miss caused Guymon’s hand to touch the canvas in round two for the bout’s only knockdown.
In round three, Guymon was docked a point for tossing Herring to the canvas.
Herring stayed in control in the last rounds. Fans booed as the action slowed late in the fifth.
Herring was pleased with his first bare knuckle fight.
“It was fun but awkward as hell,” Herring said with a laugh.
“It was definitely a different experience. But first, foremost, I want to thank God for allowing to be here,” he said.
Herring said he was “a little rusty” in his first fight in nearly two years. He praised Guymon for his toughness and mentioned a possible fight with bantamweight champion Justin Ibarrola.
Full BKFC 86 Results
BKFC 86 Prelims
-Bantamweight: Jared Lennon (1-1-1) DRAW Chachi Versace (0-1-1) (Scores 48-46, 47-47, 46-48)
-Featherweight: Brandon Meneses (1-1-1) def. Zach Pannell (1-5)-TKO Round 1
BKFC 86 Main Card
-Featherweight: Joey Gambino (1-0) def. Kurtis Ellis (1-2)-TKO Round 2 (hand injury)
-Lightweight: Tray Martin (1-0) def. Nate Ghareeb (0-1)-Split Decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46)
-Heavyweight: Ras Hylton (1-0) def. Branko Busick (0-1)-TKO Round 5
-Heavyweight: Guilherme Viana (2-0) def. Juan Figuerva (1-1)-KO Round 1
-Lightweight: Rico Disciullo (3-0) def. Ashton Caniglia (1-2)-KO Round 2
-Welterweight: Ramiro Figueroa (4-1) def. Dalvin Blair-Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
-Bantamweight: Jamel Herring (1-0) def. Matt Guymon (2-2)-Unanimous Decision (50-43, 50-43, 50-43)
Main Event
-Welterweight: Dustin Pague (6-2) def. Julian Lane (9-10)-Unanimous Decision (57-56, 57-56, 57-56)-Pague Wins BKFC Welterweight World Title
Up Next:
The next BKFC event is Knucklemania VI on 7 February in Philadelphia.
All photos in the article courtesy of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
