BKFC fighter hurls cannoli at opponent, sparks chair-grab melee

A BKFC press conference turned into a pastry-fueled melee Thursday when Philadelphia fighter Johnny Garbarino rushed the stage and pelted opponent Mike Richman with a cannoli.

Garbarino, who meets Richman in the featured bout at BKFC Liberty Brawl this Friday at Xfinity Mobile Arena, has used the cannoli toss as a signature stunt against past opponents, MMA Mania reports. Richman initially kept his cool. "Do you feel better, kid?" he said, per the report. "You ain't going to get me mad; I'm going to save it for Friday."

Richman grabs folding chair after second exchange

That composure did not last. Later in the presser, the two traded insults from their seats before Garbarino threatened to smack Richman and stood up. Richman grabbed a folding chair and charged toward the Philly native before security stopped him. The former lightweight champion later acknowledged Garbarino "got a rise" out of him.

At a post-presser faceoff, Garbarino hit Richman with another cannoli and accidentally caught BKFC president David Feldman in the crossfire, according to MMA Mania. The scuffle injected sudden heat into a bout that had drawn little attention before Thursday.

BKFC Liberty Brawl airs Friday with two title fights topping the card. Austin Trout faces Ben Bonner for the vacant lightweight strap, while Britain Hart defends her strawweight belt against Sarah Shell.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Video: BKFC fighter pelts opponent with cannoli, nearly starts chair-swinging brawl | BKFC Liberty Brawl