Esteban “Mohawk” Rodriguez prevailed in a war of attrition with Chris Camozzi at BKFC 88 in Denver on Friday. The fourth-round stoppage win earned Rodriguez the BKFC interim cruiserweight title.
Mohawk rushed into Camozzi at the opening bell, grabbing behind the head and firing right uppercuts. Camozzi pushed him off and looked to slip and counter.
By the midway point of round one, the pace slowed. Camozzi was noticeably bleeding. The veteran finished the fight with a few cuts on his face, and was checked by the Colorado commission medical staff before round three.
The brawl continued in round two as Mohawk continued to press the action. Camozzi landed some good shots but Rodriguez had the edge.
The fight was stopped for a medical timeout in round three. Rodriguez complained to the referee after he took a knuckle in the eye.
Late in round four, it looked like the fight could go the distance. Both fighters were willing but tired and nothing of consequence had landed.
Then, it was over. Camozzi dipped down and fired to the body. Rodriguez countered with a right uppercut to the head that froze Camozzi. Follow up punches forced the UFC veteran to a knee. Referee Nick Berens counted him out at the 1:43 mark.
It was a sudden ending to a fierce battle.
“I told you guys. I’m cleaning out the division,” Rodriguez told BKFC’s Cyrus Fees after the fight.
“Let’s go. Anything is possible. I’m the living testimony,” he said.
“Sakara, come out to play,” he yelled, issuing a challenge to BKFC Cruiserweight Champion Alessio Sakara.
Warrior Camozzi Announces Retirement
While Rodriguez rejoiced in his first title win, a bittersweet Camozzi announced he’s done with fighting.
“I feel great. My friends, family, everybody. Don’t worry,” Camozzi told Fees when asked how he felt after the fight.
“I wanted to do this here in Denver. Tell everybody ‘thank you’. I decided this week I’m retiring.”
“My life is getting busy. I got a daughter on the way next month. I want to be a family man. Be present for my kid.”
Camozzi said he “wanted to go out throwing”, giving his hometown Denver fans a memorable battle.
He did that and a whole lot more in a outstanding professional fight career that saw Camozzi compete at the highest level in three combat sports: MMA, kickboxing and bare knuckle.
BKFC 88: Full Results
-Lightweight: Matt Maestas def. Ruben Arroyo-TKO Round 2
-Flyweight: Anthony Yost def. Angelo Trujillo-Unanimous Decision
-Cruiserweight: Deron Winn def. Erick Lozano-TKO Round 3
-Flyweight: Octavin Turner def. Jody Steffensmeier-Unanimous Decision
-Welterweight: Rodney Hinton def. Andrew Yates-TKO Round 1
-Cruiserweight: Josh Fremd def. Jared Torgeson-KO Round 1
-Heavyweight: Corey Willis def. Josh Copeland-TKO Round 2
-Lightweight: Ramiro Figueroa def. Elvin Brito-Unanimous Decision
Main Event-Title Fight
-Cruiserweight: Esteban Rodriguez def. Chris Camozzi-KO Round 4
(Rodriguez Wins BKFC Interim Cruiserweight Title)
Photos Courtesy of BKFC
