Tajikistan’s Bekhzod Usmonov triumphantly returned to BKFC with a shocking first-round knockout of former champ Keith Richardson. The bantamweight bout headlined BKFC Fight Night Albuquerque on Friday night.
Richardson (5-2) switched between orthodox and southpaw, pawing with jabs to establish range. Usmonov (2-1) caught Richardson with a solid right a few seconds in.
Another Usmonov right dropped Richardson, who popped up only to be knocked down again by Usmonov. Referee Andrew Glenn cautioned the Tajik fighter, who clapped his hands waiting for the action to continue.
Another Usmonov right landed after the restart. A follow up combination dropped Richardson and Glenn waved off the fight. Official time was 55 seconds of round one.
“Number one bantamweight. I kill him. I want fight for a title shot. I will kill that guy from Cuba,” Usmonov told Cyrus Fees, referring to BKFC Bantamweight Champion Alberto Blas.
It was a huge win for Usmonov. He scored his second straight KO win, coming back after a 16-month layoff. There’s no doubt he’s a legitimate contender in the BKFC bantamweight division.
For Richardson, it’s a crushing loss. He was the number one contender and positioned for a rematch with Blas, who stopped him in the first round last June.
Donald Sanchez Wins Fourth Straight BKFC Match
In the co-feature, homoetown hero Donald Sanchez (4-1) won a unanimous decision over veteran Harrison Aiken (3-4).
Sanchez knocked Aiken down seconds into round one, scoring another knockdown before the round was over.
Fighting as a southpaw, Aiken boxed well and scored with the right jab. Sanchez had a big edge in power, knocking Aiken down for the third time in round four.
Aiken kept trying but couldn’t land anything of note on Sanchez, who won by scores of 49-43, 48-44, and 49-43. It’s the fourth consecutive win for Sanchez. He lost his BKFC debut on points to Jeremy Smith in August 2022.
“He hung in there. He took the shots. I landed them clean. Dropped him a few times. He did damn good,” Sanchez said after the fight.
Sanchez called out BKFC Middleweight Champion David Mundell. If the fight gets made, BKFC fans can expect another big fight in Albuquerque.
Derrick Findley Blasts Out Felipe Chavez
Pro boxing veteran Derrick Findley (3-2) is resurrecting his fighting career in bare knuckle.
Findley stunned the hometown crowd with a out-of-nowhere knockout of local lad Felipe Chavez. The fight ended with just a second left in round two.
Findley patiently stalked Chavez, who tied up Findley when he got close. Chavez outlanded Findley early but was cut under the right eye by a short punch.
Late in round two, Findley turned Chavez in the clinch and unloaded with a left and follow up punches that dropped Chavez. Chavez couldn’t beat the referee’s count and Findley had stunned the previously unbeaten local hero.
“I’m a threat in this division. I’m calling out everybody. I’m really looking for a big name,” Findley said, as the crowd booed.
It’s Findley’s 3rd win in a row. He started his BKFC career with two losses, then took two years off. The layoff has done him well. Findley seems more confident fighting without gloves and has established himself as a legitimate threat in the welterweight division.
BKFC Fight Night Albuquerque Full Results
28 February, 2025
Kiva Audotorium, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Broadcast: BKFC+ App, DAZN
-Middleweight: Roderick Stewart (1-2) def. Bryant McClain (0-1)-TKO Round 1
-Lightweight: Lorenzo Coca (1-1) def. Ruben Arroyo (0-2)-TKO Round 2
-Light Heavyweight: Jay “Action” Jackson (5-3) def. Kyle McElroy (2-5)-TKO Round 3
-Flyweight: Justyn Martinez (2-4) def. Zay Garcia (0-2)-TKO Round 1
-Light Heavyweight: Will Albrecht (2-1) def. Brett Fields (1-3)-TKO Round 1
-Cruiserweight: Murat Kilimetov (2-0) def. Lamont Stafford (1-1)-TKO Round 1
-Bantamweight: Derek Perez (4-4) def. Micah Livingston (1-4)-TKO Round 1
-Featherweight: Eric Dodson (4-2) def. Van Vo (1-4)-TKO Round 3
Featured Fight:
-Welterweight: Derrick Findley (3-2) def. Felipe Chavez (2-1)-KO Round 2
Co-Main Event
-Light Heavyweight: Donald Sanchez (4-1) def. Harrison Aiken (3-4)-Unanimous Decision
Main Event
-Bantamweight: Bekhzod Usmonov (2-1) def. Keith Richardson (5-2)-KO Round 1
Photos Courtesy of Phil Lambert/BKFC
