It looked like it was over.
Ryan Petersen was up against the ropes taking heavy punishment from Gregoris Cisneros early in round one of Friday’s BKFC Fight Night Bethlehem main event. Cisneros, the hard-punching former BKB champion, looked moments away from victory.
Petersen kept punching back. His face swollen and bleeding, the +300 betting underdog didn’t lose his resolve.
Petersen threw a jab followed by a right that caught Cisneros on the chin, dropping him to his knees. The Venezuelan beat the count but shook his head when asked if he wanted to continue.
RYU BROUGHT THE VENOM TO THE VIPER! 🐍💥 Ryan Petersen pulls off the upset with a FIRST-ROUND KNOCKOUT!
#BKFCBETHLEHEM | Presented by @BuckedUp https://t.co/nUIk4qhfZK
— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) October 10, 2026
The fight was over. Ryan Petersen had scored one of the most unlikely comebacks in BKFC history.
“Brother, I ain’t ugly for no reason,” Petersen told BKFC’s Chris Lytle, when asked how he was able to take so much punishment.
“I was hoping not. That’s why I tried to cover and tried to move. I was hoping they wouldn’t. All glory to God,” Petersen said when Lytle mentioned he thought the fight might be stopped during Cisneros’s onslaught.
Lytle asked Petersen if he was willing to face unbeaten welterweight contender Bryce Henry.
“I have yet to say no to anybody,” said Petersen.
Sean Schultz Silences Lex Ludlow in Grudge Match
Unbeaten cruiserweight Lex Ludlow and newcomer Sean Schultz had to be separated at Thursday’s weigh-ins, with both men saying they would knock the other “on his ass”.
It was the underdog Schultz (1-1) who kept true to his word. Schultz knocked Ludlow (4-1) down three times en route to a first-round stoppage win.
Ludlow charged and the two fighters grappled to the floor after the opening bell. Ludlow tried to get inside again and the fighters tied up.
Schultz came forward with a left followed by a right, with a follow up right knocking Ludlow down. Ludlow got up as the ref counted seven.
The fight resumed and Schultz landed a big overhand right followed by another right that felled Ludlow for the second time.
A Schultz right hand over the top knocked Ludlow flat on his back for the third knockdown. Ludlow tried but couldn’t beat the referee’s count.
THE MOST HATED MAN FINALLY TASTES DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF SEAN SCHULTZ! 🤯
#BKFCBETHLEHEM | Live NOW on BKFC+ https://t.co/lzEr56Ry9Z
— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) October 10, 2026
The bad blood continued after the fight. It appeared Schultz and Ludlow didn’t shake hands and Schultz had more words for Ludlow in an interview with BKFC’s Patty Duong.
SEAN SCHULTZ JUST FLIPPED THE CRUISERWEIGHT DIVISION UPSIDE DOWN 🤯
#BKFCBETHLEHEM https://t.co/ONnlVzle74
— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) October 10, 2026
Castillo Jr Rises from Canvas
In the BKFC Fight Night Bethlehem Featured Fight, Antonio Castillo Jr rose from a first-round knockdown to stop Jay Haas in the second round.
ANTONIO CASTILLO JR. FIGHTS THROUGH ADVERSITY TO SECURE THE 2nd RD KNOCKOUT! 🤯🔥
#BKFCBETHLEHEM | Live NOW on BKFC+ https://t.co/IhUO2ss2Mq
— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) October 10, 2026
Full results.
BKFC Fight Night Bethlehem Results
-Heavyweight: Nathaniel James def. Marc Worthington-KO Round 2
-Women’s Bantamweight: Marisol Ruelas def. Taylor Dagner-Unanimous Decision
-Heavyweight: Brian Newman def. Mark Culp-TKO Round 1
-Welterweight: Christian Torres def. Brett Shoenfelt- KO Round 1
-Heavyweight: Maurice Morris def. Lewis Rumsey- Unanimous Decision
-Bantamweight: Travis Thompson def. Nick Burgos- Unanimous Decision
-Light Heavyweight: Mike Liberto def. Joseph “JoJo” Schillizzi-KO Round 1
-Middleweight: Douglas LoBasso def. Justin Walters-TKO Round 1
Featured Fight
-Lightweight: Antonio Castillo Jr def. Jay Haas-KO Round 2
Co-Main Event
-Cruiserweight: Sean Schultz def. Lex Ludlow- KO Round 1
Main Event
-Welterweight: Ryan Petersen def. Gregoris Cisneros- TKO Round 1
