Bare Knuckle FC held its first event in Hawaii on Saturday at Honolulu’s Blaisdell Arena.
It was veterans over local boys in the main and co-main events, as two more experienced fighters from the mainland bested Hawaii locals.
Doug Coltrane (4-2, 3 KOs) returned to the winner’s circle in the main event. The veteran knocked out MMA veteran Maki Pitolo (0-1) with just one second left in the opening round.
The shorter Pitolo pressed Coltrane behind a high guard and head movement. His left hand near his chest, Coltrane snapped jabs or quick check-hooks and moved to his left.
Coltrane’s lefts had a noticeable impact. His opponent’s face swelled under the left eye by the one-minute mark. The crowd cheered as Pitolo, a Hawaii native now residing in Las Vegas, came forward.
Late in round one, Coltrane popped a jab that landed near Pitolo’s left eye. The hometown fighter kneeled then covered his left eye, as the referee counted him out at the 1:59 mark.
DOUG ‘COLDRED’ COLTRANE CLOSED THE ISLAND SHOW WITH A COLD FINISH 🥶🔥#BKFCHONOLULU | Watch on BKFC+ pic.twitter.com/mC14FwyFwf
— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) April 12, 2026
The win snapped a two-fight losing streak for North Carolina’s Coltrane, who also ended a 20-month layoff. He called out number-one contender Marcus Edwards after the fight.
Creer Outboxes Kanekoa; Extends Win Streak
Rising light heavyweight Joseph “The Dark Knight” Creer (6-3) prevailed in the co-feature. Creed defeated Hawaii’s Kealii Kanekoa (1-1) when the fight was stopped in Kanekoa’s corner after the third round.
The Detroit southpaw set the tone early. Creed landed a good straight left and left uppercuts in the clinch. He dropped Kanekoa with another left as he came forward, and had the local on roller skates after a right hook landed clean later in the round.
JOSEPH CREER WAS HANDING OUT DAMAGE UNTIL IT WAS DONE 😤🔥#BKFCHONOLULU | Live NOW on BKFC+ pic.twitter.com/VFVKraGTug
— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) April 12, 2026
Creer continued to conrol the distance with long right jabs and left hands in round two. The game Kanekoa continued to come forward and eat shots. His swollen and bloodied face testified to Creer’s accuracy.
The doctors checked Kanekoa’s face before round three. It was more of the same as Creer controlled distance and snapped the hometown lad’s head back with rights and lefts. After the round, the ringside doctor stopped the fight.
“My key to victory is always the same. First, fast, long and gone,” Creer said, when asked by Chris Lytle about his gameplan in the postfight interview.
“Keep that jab out there and move your feet. Be pretty. Be pretty,” he said.
It was the third straight win for Creer, who impressively defeated then unbeaten Taylor Bull before a home state crowd at BKFC Michigan.
Misech Earns First Bare Knuckle Win
The BKFC Fight Night Honolulu Featured Fight matched two MMA veterans.
Toby Misech (1-2) earned his first bare knuckle win by unanimous decision over Charles “Felony” Bennett (1-4). All three judges scored the bout 47-44 for Hawaii’s Misech.
Things went well for Bennett early. The offbeat MMA veteran, wearing boxing shoes of different colours, scored two flash knockdowns of Misech in round one.
Misech, a southpaw, was the aggressor and Bennett mainly looked to counter. Misech knocked Bennett down in the third, and again with a left to the ear area that knocked Bennett off balance in round four.
The crowd roared as Miscech and Bennett traded in the fight’s closing seconds. It was a hard-fought and technical battle between two talented veterans.
TOBY MISECH WON THE CHESS MATCH AND HIT CHRCKMATE ♟️👊#BKFCHONOLULU | Live NOW on BKFC+ pic.twitter.com/o0MtWHxGQl
— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) April 12, 2026
BKFC Hawaii Results
-Cruiserweight: Vincent Aragona def. Simeon Crawford-TKO Round 1
-Super Welterweight: Jerome Macalino def. Pono Enos-KO Round 1
-Welterweight: Joseph Calarruda def. Fatu Tuitasi-Unanimous Decision
-Lightweight: Nicholas Saragosa def. Kaylan Gorospe-KO Round 2
-Bantamweight: Maika Samson def. Jayden Cenal-KO Round 2
-Women’s Lightweight: Hazel Nahienaena def. Kat Rabellizsa-Unanimous Decision
-Middleweight: Randy Kamaiopili def. Shiro Hitto-TKO Round 2
-Light Heavyweight: Namakana Pakala def. Chris Cisneros-Unanimous Decision
-Lightweight: Chris Inocencio def. Jovan Alayon-TKO Round 1
-Welterweight: Justin Cornell def. Zach Zane-TKO Round 2
-Featherweight: Toby Misech def. Charles “Felony” Bennett-Unanimous Decision
-Light Heavyweight: Joseph Creer def. Kealii Kanekoa-TKO Round 3
-Middleweight: Doug Coltrane def. Maki Pitolo-KO Round 1
Photo Credit: BKFC
