BKFC 39 Barnett vs Alvarez picks, best odds & best bets

The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship heads to Norfolk, Virginia this Friday for BKFC 39 at Scope Arena.

A bantamweight world championship fight between Reggie “EAZ-E” Barnett Jr. and late replacement Frank “Machete” Alvarez will headline the event, as will a highly anticipated rematch between Britain Hart and Jenny Savage for the women’s strawweight world championship.

Barnett was supposed to face Gustaf “Forehead Forward” Cedermalm, but Alvarez was called up for the fight late last week after Cedermalm backed out.

BKFC President David Feldman expressed his enthusiasm for the occasion, saying, “Norfolk and the state of Virginia have consistently ranked high on our list of preferred live event destinations. We’ve listened to the fans who have travelled from that area to our events on the East Coast, and we expect a large and passionate crowd of BKFC fans on March 24 at the Scope Arena.”

The Main Event and Co-Main Event on Friday are two of the most exciting fights in recent memory, but BKFC’s debut in Virginia features a full slate of other must-see bouts, including the Feature Fight of the night between UFC vet Dustin “The Disciple” Pague and James “Knucklehead” Dennis, as well as the return of fan favourites Jay “Action” Jackson and Pat “The Gorilla Ninja” Casey, a five-time Bellator MMA veteran, who will make his bare knuckle debut on the BKFC 39 Prelim Card.

Reggie Barnett Jr. vs Frank Alvarez

Reggie Barnett Jr vs Frank Alvarez

The main event of the night features Reggie Barnett Jr., a popular fighter from Chesapeake, Virginia, who defeated Jarod Grant at BKFC Fight Night Tampa 2 in July 2022 to win the BKFC interim bantamweight title.

Barnett then went on to defeat undefeated fighter Geane Herrera in a five-round unanimous decision at BKFC 32 in Orlando, Florida.

Barnett’s only defeats came at the hands of former world champion and BKFC legend Johnny Bedford. He’ll be up against Frank “Machete” Alvarez, who was called up on short notice.

On Friday night in Norfolk, Barnett will become the first fighter in bare knuckle history to “toe-the -line” in 11 fights. Barnett is the veteran of 10 BKFC fights for just the two losses, both by decision.

BetOnline – one of the best BKFC betting sites – have Barnett -400 to win the bout with his opponent’s best odds quoted at +300.

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In stark contrast to Barnett’s experience , Alvarez who will stand across the ring from him on a late notice call-up, will be on a “Rocky” like trajectory fighting for a world title after just one bare knuckle fight stopping JR Ridge in Round 1 at BKFC 25.

In true “Rocky” form, Alvarez’s best hopes rest with “a puncher’s chance” of an early round stoppage. Barnett has a tendency to have his fights go to decision with seven of his 10 bare knuckle fights going to the judges.

There is no doubt Barnett will be looking to drag the fight in to the later rounds where his proven ring stamina will prevail against Alvarez who has never fought past the first round in BKFC.

As a betting proposition, we’re really not getting the kind of “Rocky” like odds we would need to get involved in the hope of an Alvarez first or second round KO; so have to be with the defending champion at the -400 price on the moneyline.

Britain Hart vs Jenny Savage

Britain “8.0” Hart vs Jenny “Savage” Clausius

In the co-main event, Britain Hart will defend her women’s strawweight world championship against Jenny Savage in a highly anticipated rematch with Savage looking for redemption against the only fighter to have beaten her in bare knuckle boxing.

At BKFC 19 in 2021 Hart improved her record to 3-2 in bare knuckle with a third-round stoppage over Savage. The loss Savage with a 1-1 BKFC record. Savage has since won both bare knuckle fights since with latest by first round KO at BKFC 29 in Montana.

Hart, from Bedford, Virginia, has dominated in two career-defining wins: a unanimous decision over archrival Bec Rawlings at BKFC 26 on June 24, 2022; and a decision win over Charisa Sigala at BKFC 29 on September 10, 2022.

Hart also defeated MMA veteran Pearl Gonzalez at BKFC 21 in Miami and combat sports superstar Paige VanZant in an unforgettable fight at KnuckleMania 1 in Tampa, Florida; with both those fights going to the judges.

Savage has won two straight fights at strawweight since her loss to Hart at BKFC 19, including a 38-second finish of Nekah Dmitriyeva at BKFC 29.

Savage has reportedly been sparring in preparation for this title shot with the undisputed queen of BKFC Christine “Misfit” Ferea so will no doubt be very well prepared for this title shot despite this only being her third bare knuckle fight since losing to Hart in July 2021.

Despite that though the odds are not conducive enough to bet against the champion retaining the belt here with Hart’s reach and determination likely to again drag the fight in to the late rounds and toward the judges.

Dustin Pague vs James Dennis

Dustin “The Disciple” Pague vs James “Knucklehead” Dennis

UFC veteran Dustin “The Disciple” Pague takes on his third bare knuckle fight since losing on debut to Jake Young in November 21.

While Pague’s record there will read as a loss, it was actually a disqualification with Pague judged to have hit Jake Young while he was down. Pague was easily winning the fight at that point and should be coming in to this matchup as bare knuckle unbeaten.

Pague made all the right adjustments after that disappointment when he reappeared in March 2022 to hand three fight BKFC veteran Eddie Hoch a beating via a first round KO.

James “Knucklehead” Dennis made an inauspicious BKFC debut losing by first round KO to Sawyer Depee in October 2021, but made amends knocking out Brian Maxwell with a vicious right cross for a second round stoppage.

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Dennis has book-ended both those bare knuckle fights with two Fusion Fight League MMA losses.

There is no doubting Dennis’ heart and while he prolly have the best fight name of any of the current BKFC roster, “Knucklehead” will be outclassed by the absolute power and speed of Pague here.

Dimitri Angelini vs Will Worley

Dimitri Angelini vs Will Worley

Dimitri “The Modern Gladiator” Angelini has found a tough opponent here as he searches for his BKFC debut win against Will “The Wolverine” Worley.

Angelini has officially had just the one BKFC fight for a first round loss by KO to Ronnie Rogers at BKFC, but his other professional record fights have both been in bare knuckle/MMA fights and have both been losses by KO.

Worley on the other hand was on a four fight MMA winning streak before losing by submission at his latest fight. Three of those four MMA wins were by KO/TKO so no surprise to see Worley now chance his hands in the bare knuckle “squared circle”.

Worley will in this fight and win comfortably.

Ka’sim Ruffin vs Trai Santos

Ka’sim Ruffin vs Trai Santos

Ka’sim “Caution” Ruffin is making his BKFC debut on Friday night against Trai Santos whose only appearance inside the “squared circle” resulted in a majority decision at BKFC 23 against Nick Villar.

Ruffin has only had two fights since December 2020 both resulting in losses at the hands of the judges.

Santos has been similarly inactive with his only fight since a November 2021 MMA loss being the bare knuckle draw against Villar in April.

This kind of matchup really is “flip-a-coin” style betting and normally where that happens you would lean toward the better odds, but have to push toward Santos to win this with aid of the experience from his debut effort.

Jay Jackson vs David Simpson

Jay Jackson vs David Simpson

Despite the fact both fighters here are coming off tough KO losses at their last bare knuckle fights, this fight should prove to be a “banger”.

Simpson was only caught late by David Mundell for a fifth round KO at his latest BKFC outing in July 2022, and was arguably still well in the fight at that stage. Simpson took that fight off a quick backup after a round two BKFC KO of Jeff Souder just two months prior.

Simpson’s only other BKFC fight was a decision loss to Scott O’Shaugnessy on debut at BKFC 20 back in August 2020.

Jay “Action” Jackson comes to the ring off a second round KO to Jared Warren at BKFC 32 in November 2022.

After a debut KO win, Jackson lost on points before a round three winning KO against Terry Janoski at BKFC 25.

There’s a very good chance this fight could go deep in to the scheduled rounds despite both fighter capable of dropping bombs.

David Simpson’s BKFC record would read 2-1-0 but for that late stoppage last time out, and in what will be a very entertaining fight we think he’ll do enough to get the better of Jackson as a bare knuckle betting underdog.

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