Bulgarian Main Event Doesn’t Disappoint

BKFC 58 was another staple event for the bare-knuckle discipline as the sport continues to grow in the European market. The main event was a showcase between Bulgarian Bulldozers ending in a total bloodbath, while other fights also entertained the crowd.
Bulgarian Bloodbath Main Event
In a fight that could have been over in the first 30 seconds, the two Bulgarian cruiserweights put on an instant classic at BKFC 58. Toni Markulev dominated the first round with a knockdown early on in the fight; Kaloyan Kolev could return to his feet but continued to sustain heavy damage throughout the round. Kolev was already bleeding profusely but could see out the round as it was evident that Markulev had depleted his gas tank, trying to end the fight early.
Rounds two and three saw Kolev objectively fight himself back into the competition, as Markulev would also start to bleed excessively during this phase of the fight. By comparison, the fourth was much more competitive, with both boxers trying to angle for the best shot while looking incredibly tired by the time the bell rang for the end of the round.
With a minute left in the fight, both fighters were content with the result going to the judges. Kolev had shown a fantastic chin by taking multiple shots but continued to fight. The final bell rang with many clinches and a show of mutual respect between the fighters. At this point, the commentators said they didn’t envy the judges given how close the fight was, with a draw rather probable.
Before announcing the winner, Jeff Houston, the resident BKFC announcer, welcomed the crowd to applaud both fighters, stating that they had provided one of the best BKFC main events in years. Toni Markulev was, however, named the winner by three rounds to two, having arguably edged rounds four and five. The pair exchanged words after the fight, hoping to arrange a rematch given how entertaining this fight was. A second meeting between these fighters would please not only fight fans but also MMA news websites.
Bakočević Dominates Nooman

One of the most exciting aspects of the BKFC 58 card was the international flavor, something the prior event in Sofia lacked. The co-main event between Vaso Bakočević and Ramadan Nooman showcased the global reach of the BKFC product. The Serbian controlled the first round as his Egyptian counterpart could not land any credible offense.
Nooman’s prowess to fight in a boxing ring was placed under a microscope as he started the second round in a peculiar fashion. Multiple mistimed attacks exposed him to power shots from Bakočević as he landed a ground-shaking right hand that left Nooman on the canvas. To his credit, the North African fighter got up, smirked, and said he wanted to continue. While the ref was checking Nooman, Bakočević had to be pushed out of the way as he was eager to finish the fight.
Ultimately, this was how the remaining three rounds played out. Bakočević, however, could have been more effective, and Nooman was more defensively street-wise, not exposing himself to as many attacks. The Egyptian could land a few combos, but these didn’t seem to phase his opponent much. Bakočević would have wanted to win the KO but still had his hand raised by a majority decision from the judges’ scorecards.
Adrianov Warms Up Crowd with First-Round KO

The first fight on any main card billing has a particular duty to set the tone for the night ahead. If the crowd is flat, it might not get into the groove and react at key moments. Ilian Adrianov ensured that wasn’t the case here at BKFC 58. When the first bell sounded, his Slovakian opponent, Tomáš Vojtela, looked uncertain despite having a significant reach advantage.
Vojtela tried to land an overhand right countless times but never connected. His other punches fell incredibly flat without any momentum. He noticeably slipped after launching an attack, which caused Adrianov to start laughing mid-fight. With 30 seconds left on the clock, Adrianov picked his spot and hit a jaw-dropping combo, putting the lights out for Vojtela. The count was called off as it was clear he could not continue.
The crowd rightly popped as they saw Adrianov win his BKFC debut, especially with a finish already being touted as knockout of the year. There was a hush slightly after as many medical team members were called to check on the downed fighter. Luckily, he could stand for the official announcement and congratulate his opponent in a remarkable display of sportsmanship. Vojtela took to Instagram shortly after the fight to show that despite taking a hard punch, he was okay and strangely in good spirits!
Schaefer Earns Win Over Graf
Anyone who appreciates women’s boxing will understand the hard work and dedication that Daniela Graf has put into her craft for many years, boxing, kickboxing, and putting herself back on the map for this fight in BKFC; she’s a credit to German combat sports. Therefore, it’s a massive achievement for Nicole Schaefer to defeat her adversary. After the second round, Graf and her corner decided she couldn’t fight due to the damage sustained. Schaefer showed the heart of a warrior in those two rounds as she took hits (which caused a good level of bleeding) but continued to fight, the exact performance that is championed by MMA news sites.
The question for Schaefer now is, does she want to do bare-knuckle again? She’s still a pro boxer and will undoubtedly get more opportunities after defeating Graf. It could be an exciting and successful career for the young German in either boxing discipline she chooses to pursue.
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By Dean McHugh.