Former BKFC bantamweight champion Keith Richardson will take on Tajikistan’s Bekhzod Usmonov in the main event at BKFC Fight Night Albuquerque on 28 February. BKFC officially announced the matchup today.
Richardson, 5-1 (4 KOs), is coming off a first-round demolition of previously unbeaten Michael Larrimore at BKFC Atlanta last December. Richardson stopped Larrimore in just 21 seconds.
The win was Richardson’s first since a devastating knockout defeat to current bantamweight champion Alberto Blas last June. Blas stopped Richardson in the first round of Richardson’s first defence of the belt he won from Reggie Barnett Jr.
Usmonov fights out of New Mexico by way of Tajikistan. He’s 1-1 in BKFC. He lost a close decision to UFC veteran Jimmie Rivera in his debut before stopping Trevor Loken in October 2023.
Fighting out of the legendary Jackson-Wink MMA Academy, the Tajik fighter is a veteran of 16 MMA bouts who’s also competed in pro boxing and bare knuckle.
The BKFC Fight Night Albuquerque card features a number of fighters from New Mexico and neighbouring states. Local pro boxing veteran “Irish” Bryant McClaim makes his debut. MMA veteran and local lad Eric Dodson (3-2) is also scheduled for action. Dodson is BKFC flyweight champ John Dodson’s brother.
Veterans Jay “Action” Jackson and Kyle McElroy will meet in a light heavyweight bout. Ten bare knuckle fights are scheduled in all (fight card subject to change).
How to Watch BKFC Fight Night Albuquerque
BKFC Fight Night Albuquerque streams live on the BKFC App. A monthly subscription costs just $7.99, and includes both live and on demand fights.
Fans in the Albuquerque area can catch the action live at the Kiva Auditorium. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
“This is our fifth event in Albuquerque, New Mexico where we’ve promoted some of the company’s biggest and highest attended events. Our main event between Keith Richardson and Bekhzod Usmonov features two of the most exciting fighters in BKFC. Additionally, our undercard includes numerous top bare-knuckle fighters from New Mexico and Texas,” said BKFC President David Feldman in the press release.
