BKFC 85 Results: Austin Trout Advances To BKFC Lightweight Tournament Final

The BKFC lightweight title will now be claimed by either Austin Trout or Franco Tenaglia in 2026.

Trout, 40, remained undefeated at BKFC 85 with a third-round TKO victory over old foe Luis Palomino. The fight was a rematch of their welterweight title fight at BKFC 57, which Trout also won by unanimous decision.

With the win, Trout now advances to the BKFC lightweight tournament final, which will be for the vacant 155-pound title. He will face Tenaglia, who won his semifinal matchup against former interim champion Ben Bonner in October.

AUSTIN TROUT ADVANCES TO FACE FRANCO TENAGLIA IN THE LIGHTWEIGHT FINAL! #BKFC85 | Presented by @BuckedUp pic.twitter.com/DD6vFtMcCz
— Bare Knuckle FC (@bareknucklefc) December 6, 2025

The victory was not without controversy, as fans in the Hard Rock Live did not approve of the doctor's stoppage at the end of the third round. The fight was stopped due to a cut over Palomino's left eye. Palomino immediately protested the stoppage, claiming his vision was not impaired.

While Trout still needs one more win to become a two-division champion, BKFC 85 was the crowning moment for Justin Ibarrola, who claimed the vacant bantamweight title in the co-main event. Ibarrola improved to 10-0 with a third-round TKO win over 'Royal' Ryan Reber.

Ibarrola weathered a minor storm in the first two rounds before catching Reber early in the third round. It was a left hook that floored Reber early in the frame and a short right hand to the eye that forced him to a knee just a few seconds later.

BKFC 85 also marked the return of heavyweight phenom Leonardo Perdomo, who improved to 10-0 with another knockout win. Veteran Corey Willis became the first fighter to take Perdomo into the third round but succumbed to the same fate as every other opponent of 'El Zambo.'