One of the cool things about the DAZN-streamed main event between Eddie Alvarez vs. Jeremy Stephens TONIGHT (Sat., Jan 25, 2025) from inside Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa., is that it would have been equally as cool at any point in their careers.
Go back 20 or 15 years ago when “The Underground King” was winning Bellator gold against Toby Imada or Pat Curran, while “Lil Heathen” was duking it out in Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) stacked Lightweight division against the likes of Melvin Guillard, Marcus Davis and Joe Lauzon, among others, and this would still be a compelling, exciting fight.
And tonight will be no different.
Starting at 8 p.m. ET (details here), we’ve got the fifth installment of BareKnuckle Fighting Championship’s (BKFC) “KnuckleMania.” And it’s time for an epic matchup 20 years in the making (watch it on DAZN here).
Oh, and did I mention the heavyweight championship is also on the line? I don’t believe I did. Big boys in no gloves throwing heat for 8 pounds of gold — it’s former UFC star Ben Rothwell taking on the reigning heavyweight champion Mick Terrill. “Big Ben” is 3-0 in his bare-knuck career while Terrill is riding a 4-fight win streak in which he’s stopped his opponent every time.
More guaranteed fireworks, if you ask me.
KnuckleMania 5 Alvarez vs. Stephens QUICK RESULTS:
165 lbs.: Jeremy Stephens def. Eddie Alvarez via TKO (corner stoppage, Rd. 3, 2:00)225+ lbs.: Ben Rothwell def. Mick Terrill via KO (Rd. 1, 0:36) — HIGHLIGHTS!125 lbs.: Bec Rawlings def. Taylor Starling via unanimous decision (50-44 x2, 49-45)225+ lbs.: Pat Brady def. Zach Calmus via TKO (Rd. 1, 0:53)175 lbs.: John Garbarino def. Apostle Spencer via KO (Rd. 1, 1:59)165 lbs.: Kaine Tomlinson Jr. def. Pat Sullivan via KO (Rd. 1, 0:37) — HIGHLIGHTS!225+ lbs.: Steve Banks def. Joey Dawejko via TKO (Rd. 3, 1:54)155 lbs.: Brandon Meyer def. Zedekiah Montanez via KO (Rd. 2, 0:39) — HIGHLIGHTS!140 lbs.: Travis Thompson def. Zach Panell via KO (Rd. 2, 0:41) — HIGHLIGHTS!137 lbs.: Phil Caracappa def. Noah Norman via DQ (Rd. 4, 0:40) — HIGHLIGHTS!175 lbs.: Cody Russell def. Logan Tucker via TKO (Rd. 3, 0:49)175 lbs.: Itso Babulaidze def. Bryan McDowell via unanimous decision (48-42 x3, 47-43)
KnuckleMania 5 Alvarez vs. Stephens LIVE PLAY-BY-PLAY:
Eddie Alvarez vs. Jeremy Stephens
Round 1: Stephens in red, Alvarez in black. Alvarez pumping the jab early. Right and ducks the return fire. To the body now. Stephens misses an uppercut, both men get in short lefts. Alvarez dodges a couple jabs, eats one. Slow round here.
10-9 Alvarez
Round 2: Alvarez walks Stephens back to the ropes, gets in a couple. Right hands by both men, looks like Stephens’ had more affect. They clinch and dirty box for a bit. Both men throwing more this round and landing more. Eddie on volume, Stephens looks like he’s had more significance.
10-9 Stephens
Round 3: The more Stephens can engage in a brawl, I think the better he’s done. Eddie is the better pot-shotting technician. As I say that, Alvarez stands in the pocket after landing a right and gets blasted by the return fire, hitting the canvas. He’s up. Jabs from the former champ. Stephens misses a 1-2. Shovel uppercut gets in from “Heathen”. Alvarez bullies forward and lands some in close. One-arm clinch and Alvarez lands a series of short shots. Stephens powers forward and a right sends Alvarez down again! He shakes his head to try and clear the cobwebs and gets up before the bell.
10-7 Stephens
The corner stops it in between rounds, and Stephens is happy to taunt the crowd.
Final result: Jeremy Stephens defeats Eddie Alvarez
Mick Terrill (C) vs. Ben Rothwell for BKFC’s Heavyweight Championship
Round 1: Terrill in white, Rothwell in black and red. Rothwell pawing forward, pokes Terrill in his right eye. He lunges in with a lead left, Rothwell slips it, and lands an ENORMOUS counter right hand. Terrill is out, flat on his back and we’ve got a new heavyweight champion!
Final result: Ben Rothwell defeats Mick Terrill
Bec Rawlings vs. Taylor Starling
Round 1: Starling in black and yellow, Rawlings in black and white. Starling unloading first here. Not landing super clean, but getting in a few as she’s way up on volume early. Rawlings gets a series of short rights, then a counter right drops Starling as she’s coming forward. They both land hooks. Rawlings gets in a right. Another and Starling is bleeding from the mouth and/or nose. Starling whiffs big.
10-8 Rawlings
Round 2: Clean right hand stuns Starling. Rawlings gets in a left, too. This is honestly as good as I can remember Rawlings looking in maybe her entire career. Rawlings methodical here as Starling is circling on the outside. Starling gets in a right hand. Jab by Rawlings.
10-9 Rawlings
Round 3: Rawlings with a straight right. Starling isn’t moving her head much at all, and it’s let Rawlings land her rear hand almost at will. Jab by Starling, 1-2 from Rawlings and a right a few seconds later.
10-9 Rawlings
Round 4: Rawlings hits a left, Starling swings back and bloodies up Rawlings’ mouth. They both exchange knuckles. Her corner told her to be more aggressive, and it’s backfired a bit so far, letting Starling have more moments than she’s had otherwise. Patient Bec was picking her shots well, brawling Bec is getting hit more.
10-9 Starling
Round 5: Nice level change from Rawlings on an entry as she comes up with a right and takes the return fire on her forearm. Rawlings being technical is serving her well. 1-2 from Starling, but a big right and down goes Starling. No, the ref calls it a slip. Rawlings hit her while she was down and immediately apologized. Starling doesn’t seem bitter about it and they exchange pleasantries before resuming the punching. Rawlings with a nice short right.
10-9 Rawlings
Final result: Bec Rawlings defeats Taylor Starling
Pat Brady vs. Zach Calmus
Round 1: Calmus in blue, Brady in black. Brady on fire to start. Combo one lands, combo two drops Calmus. He’s up. Big left hand. Brady firing, Calmus trying to fire back with occasional rights, but eating an absolute onslaught. Brady just keeps the avalanche on and Calmus is bleeding and staggering. Finally the ref stops it.
Final result: Pat Brady defeats Zach Calmus
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