The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) continued its rapid ascent in the world of combat sports, marking another milestone with a packed house at Arena Sofia, Bulgaria, for BKFC-58 on Friday, March 22.
This event underscored BKFC's growing global appeal, showcasing fighters from thirteen different countries, and delivering a night brimming with action and memorable moments.
The cruiserweight clash headlining the night saw Bulgarian contenders Toni Markulev and Kaloyen Kolev go head-to-head in a thrilling five-round battle. Markulev's skill and power were on full display as he secured a unanimous decision victory (48-46 across all judges' scorecards), highlighted by a knockdown in the first round and dominance in three rounds. This win marked an impressive debut for Markulev, while Kolev's record adjusted to 1-1.
The co-main event brought international flair with Serbia's Vaso Bakocevic facing off against Egypt's Ramadan Nooman in a welterweight bout that went the distance. Bakocevic emerged victorious via majority decision, a contest made notable by a knockdown of Nooman in the second round.
Further adding to the event's diversity, the featherweight bout between Zohrab Azimov and Veselin Ivanov was declared a split draw after five rounds of intense competition, demonstrating the evenly matched talent in BKFC's roster.
Other standout performances included Yunus Batan's TKO victory over Zhivko Stoimenov, Dominik Estorer's dramatic first-round knockout against Steve Pasche, and Stanoy Tabakov's stunning KO win against Petr Beranek. Additionally, lightweights Angel Petkov and Iliyan Adrianov recorded majority and knockout victories, respectively, while Nicole Schaefer and Ruslan Tokhtarov secured wins in their respective divisions, highlighting the depth and excitement present at BKFC events.
BKFC-58 not only delivered an unforgettable night of fights but also solidified the promotion's status as a major player in the combat sports world, bringing together a diverse array of talent and fans in Bulgaria.
BKFC-58 Results
Toni Markulev def. Kaloyen Kolev via Unanimous Decision (48-46x3)
Vaso Bakocevic def. Ramadan Nooman via Majority Decision (48-46, 46-48, 47-47)
Zohrab Azimov vs. Veselin Ivanov is ruled a Split Draw (48-46, 46-48, 47-47)
Yunus Batan def. Zhivko Stoimenov via TKO in Round 4 (0:21)
Dominik Estorer def. Steve Pasche via KO in Round 1 (1:59)
Mehdi Barghi def. Nikolai Alexiev via KO in Round 1 (1:47)
Stanoy Tabakov def. Petr Beranek via KO in Round 1 (1:24)
Angel Petkov def. Felipe Maia via Majority Decision (49-45x2, 47-47)
Iliyan Adrianov def. Tomas Vojtela via KO in Round 1 (1:38)
Nicole Schaefer def. Daniela Graf via TKO in Round 2 (2:00)
Ruslan Tokhtarov def. Zdrovko Dimitrov via Unanimous Decision (48-47, 49-46, 48-47)
Emil Enchev def. Sakis Zampelos via KO in Round 1 (0:38)