Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship returns to Denver, Colorado on April 17, 2026, with BKFC 88 at the National Western Center. The main event features former BKFC Cruiserweight World Champion Chris Camozzi squaring off against knockout specialist Esteban “Mohawk” Rodriguez for the BKFC Interim Cruiserweight Title. This matchup pits the division’s top two ranked fighters in what promoters expect to be a high action contest.
Main Event Breakdown: Camozzi vs Rodriguez
Chris Camozzi (4-2) represents Denver as a former titleholder who captured the BKFC Cruiserweight World Championship with a first-round knockout of Sawyer DePee at BKFC 67 on October 25, 2024. He defended that title successfully against Andrea Bicchi at BKFC 73 in Florence, Italy on April 26, 2025, winning by decision. His most recent appearance resulted in a contested unanimous decision loss to Alessio Sakara at BKFC 83 in Rome on October 25, 2025.
Esteban “Mohawk” Rodriguez (5-1, 5 KOs) from Grand Rapids, Michigan brings momentum into this interim title fight. Rodriguez has finished his last three opponents inside the distance:
- Keegan Vandermeer (KO-2 at BKFC 56)
- Julio Perez Rodriguez (KO-1 at BKFC 78)
- Zac Cavender (KO-1 at BKFC Fight Night Michigan)
Rodriguez’s career record shows five knockouts in six fights, including early finishes of Jaquis Williams (KO-1 at BKFC 43) and Erick Murray Jr (KO-2 at BKFC Fight Night Omaha).
Notable Undercard Matchups
Lightweight Division
Former BKFC World Champion Elvin “El Bandido” Brito (7-6) of Gulf Breeze, Florida meets Ramiro Figueroa (4-1) of Commerce City, Colorado. Brito enters following a fourth-round stoppage win over Brandon Meyer at BKFC 79 on August 2, 2025. Figueroa carries recent victories over Dalvin Blair (UD at BKFC 86) and Howard Davis (KO-2 at BKFC 85), complementing his 7-4-1 professional boxing record with three knockouts.
Heavyweight Clash
Denver favorite Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (2-2) faces Corey “WhatYouTalkingBout” Willis (2-1) from Billings, Montana. Copeland last competed against current BKFC Heavyweight World Champion Andrei Arlovski at BKFC 78, with the bout stopped in round four due to cuts. Willis looks to rebound from his competitive showing against top-ranked heavyweight Leonardo Perdomo at BKFC 85.
Additional Fight Card Bouts
The BKFC 88 card includes several additional matchups across multiple weight divisions:
| Division | Fighter 1 | Fighter 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Cruiserweight | Josh Fremd (Englewood, CO) | Jared Torgeson (Moses Lake, WA) |
| Welterweight | Andrew Yates (3-1, Las Vegas, NV) | Rodney Hinton (1-0, Orlando, FL) |
| Flyweight | Angelo Trujillo (0-1, Grand Junction, CO) | Anthony Yost (1-2, Pensacola, FL) |
| Flyweight | Octavin Turner (1-0, Houston, TX) | Joby Steffensmeier (Debut, Davenport, IA) |
| Light Heavyweight | Tyler Sijohn (0-3, Worley, ID) | JoJo Chillizzi (Debut, Williamston, NC) |
| Lightweight | Matt Maestas (0-3, Denver, CO) | Ruben Arroyo (0-3, Westminster, CO) |
| Lightweight | Sergio Lopez (1-1, Montrose, CO) | Brett Hudson (0-2) |
Event Details and Context
BKFC President David Feldman emphasized the organization’s success in the Denver market. According to Feldman, Denver has consistently produced strong attendance numbers and the April 17 card features several Colorado-based fighters. The National Western Center, located at 4850 National Western Drive in Denver, Colorado 80216, will host the event. Tickets are available through BKFC.com.
This marks BKFC’s sixth event in Denver. The interim cruiserweight title bout serves as the promotion’s method of determining division hierarchy while the title picture sorts itself out. With Camozzi as the former champion and Rodriguez as an undefeated prospect before his lone setback, the matchup provides clear division rankings implications.
Expert Fighter Final Verdict
BKFC 88 delivers a legitimate main event between the cruiserweight division’s top two contenders. Camozzi brings championship experience and home state advantage, while Rodriguez carries the momentum of three consecutive first-round knockouts. The stylistic contrast between Camozzi’s veteran presence and Rodriguez’s finishing power provides tactical intrigue beyond simple rankings advancement. For fighters and trainers analyzing bare knuckle strategy, this matchup offers a study in experience versus finishing ability at the highest organizational level. The undercard depth, particularly the Brito vs Figueroa lightweight bout and Copeland’s heavyweight return, adds legitimate competitive value for the Denver market. This card delivers substance over spectacle, which is what serious combat sports practitioners should demand from any promotion.