Alessio Sakara is your new BKFC Cruiserweight Champion
Rome, Italy (October 25, 2025) – Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) crowned a new BKFC Cruiserweight World Champion on Saturday night at BKFC 83 in Rome, Italy, as Italian martial arts legend Alessio dethroned Chris Camozzi in their action-packed main event battle.
Two judges agreed on the 48-47 verdict for Sakara, and one judge scored 48-47 for Camozzi, who was defending his title for the second time. Sakara, who represents Rome and Coconut Creek, FL, is now 2-0 in his BKFC career; the Denver, CO product Camozzi is now 4-2.
Sakara vs. Camozzi headlined BKFC 83, an outstanding international martial arts event during BKFC’s highly anticipated return to Italy at the sold-out Palazzo Dello Sport in Rome, which was broadcast LIVE worldwide via the BKFC app. (The full event can now also be viewed on the BKFC app.)
“I am 44 years old and now world champion,” Sakara said in his post-fight interview against the roaring Palazzo Dello Sport. “Follow your dreams for the next generation!”
BKFC partner Conor McGregor added: “That was the most inspiring performance I have ever seen in my entire combat sports life! A 44-year-old man, who has been around the block, comes back and crowns himself the BKFC Cruiserweight World Champion in his hometown!”
In the BKFC 83 Co-Main Event, former BKFC Lightweight World Champion Franco Tenaglia took a big step closer to regaining the title by defeating Ben “The Bomber” Bonner in Saturday’s semifinals of the BKFC Lightweight World Title Tournament. Two judges scored the fight 48-47 for Tenaglia, and one had it 48-47 for Bonner, who entered fight night as BKFC’s interim world lightweight champion. Tenaglia, who represents Alicante, Spain and Buenos Aires, Argentina, is now 5-0 in his BKFC career, while Middlesbrough, British fighter Bonner moves to 4-2.
The undefeated Tenaglia will now meet the winner of the highly anticipated rematch of Austin “No Doubt” Trout and Luis “Baboon” Palomino in the other semifinal of the BKFC Lightweight World Tournament in the Main Event on December 5 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
“Have some respect for my name. I’m going to keep moving forward,” Tenaglia said in his post-fight interview. “After I win the title, we will go to Argentina.”
In Saturday’s Featured Fight, undefeated Josef “The Berzerker” Hala sent Francesco Ricchi to the canvas four times en route to the standing technical knockout victory to challenge for the inaugural BKFC European Middleweight Championship. The stoppage came at 1:43 of round three. Hala is now 5-0 in his bare-knuckle fighting career. The fighter from Strakonice, Czech Republic, is his country’s first BKFC champion. Former BKFC Middleweight World Champion Ricchi, a native of Rome and Fort Lauderdale, FL, is now 7-3 in the Squared Circle.
“I am the first champion from the Czech Republic,” Hala said through his interpreter in his post-fight interview. “Today I made history as the very first BKFC champion from the Czech Republic.”
Undefeated Nico “The Iron” Gaffie won the inaugural BKFC European Featherweight Championship with an electric 73-second knockout victory over Jelle “Barbarian” Zeegers. The Marbella, Spain product is now 3-0 with three stoppage time wins and entered fight night as the #2 ranked contender in the BKFC Featherweight division. Zeegers, who represents Tilburg, is now 1-1 in his BKFC career.
“I’m going to follow in Conor McGregor’s footsteps and become a two-division world champion at 135 pounds and 145 pounds,” Gaffie said through his interpreter at his post-fight press conference. “God put me on this path for a reason, and I am following His path.”
Former BKFC World Welterweight Championship challenger Carlos Trinidad-Snake moved to 7-1 with the biggest win of his impressive career Saturday by stopping Jimmy “The King” Sweeney in the third round of their 165-pound matchup. Former BKFC European Championship challenger Sweeney is the most experienced bare-knuckle fighter in modern history and brings a 29-5 record into fight night. The time of the TKO finish was 18 seconds in the third round. Hailing from Omaha, NE, Trinidad-Snake entered fight night as the #2 ranked contender in BKFC’s welterweight division. Sweeney, a product of Sligo, Ireland, is now 0-2 under the BKFC banner.
Wilmington, NC featherweight James “Get Down” Brown improved to 5-1 with a corner stop over previously undefeated Dan “Indian Spice” Chapman. Brown now has back-to-back wins and entered Saturday’s action as the #5 ranked contender in the BFKC featherweight division. Chapman’s corner called for the fight to be stopped at the end of the fourth round. Indonesian-born Welshman Chapman is now 6-1 in his bare-knuckle fighting career.
Milan, Italy’s Walter Pugliesi moved to 2-0 with a first-round knockout over BKFC UK Cruiserweight Champion Karl “The Wasp” Thompson in their non-title bout. The fight was stopped with nine seconds left in the opening stanza. Thompson, a product of Sedgefield, UK, is now 4-1 under the BKFC banner and entered fight night as the #2 ranked contender in the BKFC cruiserweight division.
Coventry, UK heavyweight Krzysztof “Big Man” Wisiewski improved to 2-0 under the BKFC banner with a technical knockout victory over previously undefeated Haze “The Huntsman” Hepi. The ringside doctor stopped the fight at the end of the third round due to a nasty cut on Hepi’s eyelid. Hailing from Christchurch, New Zealand, Hepi is now 3-1 in his bare-knuckle career.
Zilina, Slovakia’s Tomas Melis, picked himself up from the canvas and rallied for a first-round knockout against former BKFC Cruiserweight World Title challenger Andrea “Italian Thunder” Bicchi. The fight was stopped with just one second left in the opening frame. Melis is now 2-0 with back-to-back first-round stoppages in BKFC action. Bicchi, who represents Florence, Italy, is now 3-3 in his bare-knuckle fighting career.
Monsummano Terme, Italy cruiserweight Ernesto “Big 20” Papa punched his way to 2-0 under the BKFC banner with a 53-second, two-knockdown technical knockout victory over Fred “The Piranha” Sikking. Both of Papa’s wins came by first-round finishes. Hilversum, Dutch product Sikking made his BKFC debut.
Florence’s Ouadia “The Tiger” Tergui was victorious in his BKFC debut, stopping Enzo “Osso Duro” Tobbia via TKO in the third round of their middleweight bout. The fight ended in some controversy when an apparent eye poke went unnoticed by the referee. As Tobbia turned to recover from the illegal attack, Tergui swarmed to the finish. The time of the interruption was 1:12. Tobbia, representing Chioggia, Italy, is now 1-1 in the Squared Circle.
BKFC 83 Results
Alessio Sakara def. Chris Camozzi via split decision (48-47×2, 47-48) – Wins the BKFC World Cruiserweight Championship
Franco Tenaglia def. Ben Bonner via split decision (48-47×2, 47-48) – Wins BKFC World Lightweight Title Semi-Final
Josef Hala def. Francesco Ricchi via TKO in round 3 (1:43) – Wins inaugural BKFC European Middleweight title
Nico Gaffe defines. Jelle Seas via KO in round 1 (1:13) – Wins inaugural BKFC European featherweight title
Carlos Trinidad-Snake def. Jimmy Sweeney via TKO in round 3 (0:18)
James Brown def. Dan Chapman via TKO in Round 4 (2:00)
Walter Pugliesi def. Karl Thompson via KO in round 1 (1:51)
Krzysztof Wisiewski def. Haze Hepi via TKO in round 3 (2:00)
Tomas Melis def. Andrea Bicchi via KO in round 1 (1:59)
Ernesto Papa final. Fred Sikking via TKO in round 1 (0:53)
Ouadia Tergui def. Enzo Tobbia via TKO in round 3 (1:12)
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