BKFC 95: Herring vs. Dodson Brings Champion vs. Champion to Newark

BKFC 95 heads to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday, October 17th, with a champion-versus-champion main event. BKFC Bantamweight Champion Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring defends against flyweight titleholder John “The Magician” Dodson, who moves up to 135 pounds in pursuit of a second belt.

A two-division title bid

Herring makes the first defence of the bantamweight title he won in May. The former WBO boxing world champion is 2–0 in BKFC, and his experience as a southpaw boxer gives him a clear advantage in range management, timing and counterpunching. Fighting close to his New York roots, Herring will look to keep the smaller challenger at the end of his jab and make his physical size count.

Dodson arrives as BKFC’s reigning flyweight champion with a 4–0–1 bare-knuckle record. The former UFC title challenger is moving up a weight class to challenge for bantamweight gold, relying on the fast hands, explosive entries and unorthodox attacks that have defined his career. A victory would make Dodson a two-division BKFC champion.

The contest is a classic clash of styles: Herring’s length and composed boxing against Dodson’s speed and sudden bursts. Herring’s ability to control range may be decisive, but Dodson has built his reputation on turning small openings into fight-changing moments.

Rivera and Meyer co-headline

The co-main event sees former UFC contender Jimmie “El Terror” Rivera take on Brandon “Beast Mode” Meyer at welterweight. Rivera owns a 3–2–1 BKFC record and brings extensive MMA experience, while Meyer enters with a 3–4 bare-knuckle record.

Rivera has previous history with Dodson, having beaten him by unanimous decision in the UFC in 2018. Although that result has no direct bearing on Saturday’s title fight, it gives the co-main event an added connection to the headline bout.

The supporting bouts

The main card also includes flyweight action between Santo Curatolo and Anthony Yost, lightweight Tony “Loco” Soto against Anthony Pike, and a women’s flyweight bout between Gabrielle Roman and Brooke Evans. The full lineup features 12 bare-knuckle fights, with the card subject to late changes during fight week.

For Herring, it is an opportunity to establish himself as the clear ruler of the bantamweight division. For Dodson, it is a chance to turn a move up in weight into a historic second championship. Either way, BKFC 95 is built around a simple question: can Herring’s elite boxing keep Dodson at range, or will “The Magician” produce another explosive upset?