BILOXI, Mississippi — When seasoned combat sports veteran Cody “Freight Train” East steps into the ring to face Isaac “Ike” Villanueva at BKB Bally’s Fightnight, he expects an explosive, high-intensity encounter that will not require the judges’ scorecards to decide a winner. Set for October 23 at 7 PM CT, the clash features two heavy-hitting veterans known for their stopping power, and East has made it clear that he does not anticipate the bout going the full distance.
“I can knock him out. My goal is to stop him. We’re two big boys fighting bare-knuckle. I don’t see it going five rounds,” East stated firmly ahead of the matchup.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and fighting out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, East enters this high-stakes 225-pound bout carrying two decades of comprehensive combat sports experience. Now 38 years old, the veteran striker believes his latest training camp has positioned him to be stronger, better conditioned, and significantly more comfortable with his weight than he has been in previous outings.
Across the ring stands Villanueva, an equally experienced combat sports veteran who brings toughness and a storied career to the squared circle. While East respects his opponent’s longevity in the sport, he believes that applying a relentless, sustained pace could expose critical vulnerabilities.
“I can tell you he’s a tough guy. He’s got experience. He’s been around. He looks in shape. I expect a good fight out of him. But at the same time, I’ve also seen him quit in some fights. When I push him enough, I expect him to look for a way out,” East remarked regarding his strategic assessment of Villanueva.
East Discusses His Five-Round Prediction and Training Camp
The journey to fight night has been notably smoother for East this time around, primarily due to a more streamlined approach to managing his weight. He noted that his most recent training camp was considerably kinder to his body compared to previous preparations, which often demanded drastic last-minute weight cuts.
“I know my training was really good. My weight came down really nicely. Last time, I cut a lot of weight before the fight – almost 30 pounds. This time I didn’t have to do that. I was only eight pounds over,” East explained.
A cornerstone of East’s preparation has taken place at the renowned Jackson Wink MMA facility in Albuquerque. There, he worked under the guidance of coach Mike Winklejohn alongside a specialized strength and conditioning team at Forge Fitness. According to the heavyweight fighter, these collaborative training shifts played a vital role in elevating his overall cardiovascular endurance, physical strength, and functional flexibility.
A significant catalyst for his peak conditioning came from sparring sessions with fellow mixed martial artist Josh Hokit, who has been preparing for a high-profile UFC title fight. The unique cross-training partnership allowed both athletes to sharpen their respective skills under intense competitive conditions.
“I was fortunate enough to get a lot of work in with Josh Hokit. He’s getting ready for his title fight in the UFC. I’d help him with some MMA rounds, and then he’d help me with some bare-knuckle rounds,” East detailed.
Crucially, these training sessions did not involve striking with exposed knuckles, but rather focused on replicating the exact rules, constraints, and physical demands of bare-knuckle boxing—including the intricacies of clinch fighting and striking exchanges without the threat of takedowns. East credits the sheer intensity of these workouts with preparing him for the sustained pressure he plans to unleash against Villanueva.
Finding Freedom in Bare-Knuckle Boxing
After navigating a lengthy career spanning multiple combat sports disciplines, East has discovered a refreshing sense of stylistic simplicity within bare-knuckle boxing. He points to the compact nature of the BKB fighting arena, known as the Trigon, and the rapid pace of the three-minute rounds as elements that perfectly suit his aggressive fighting philosophy.
“There’s nowhere to run. It’s good to fight. It’s straight to action. I enjoy that. I don’t have to wrestle nobody. I don’t have to be on the floor. I can let my hands go and not worry about holding back,” East said.
However, that uninhibited style of fighting introduces severe tactical risks. Having previously suffered a broken hand in competition, East understands intimately that bare-knuckle combat punishes technical sloppiness and demands a level of precision far beyond conventional gloved boxing.
“You’ve got to be accurate, right? You can’t afford to punch somebody in the head. You’ve got to hit them in the eyes, nose, lips, chin… You’ve got to be accurate with your punches. You can’t just throw stuff,” he warned.
Despite his extensive background in mixed martial arts, transitioning smoothly between distinct combat formats has never posed a major hurdle for East. He fondly recalls competing in multi-disciplinary tournaments earlier in his career where he was required to fight under boxing, kickboxing, and MMA rules on the exact same night, forcing him to adapt his mindset on the fly. For this upcoming bout, however, his focus has remained entirely dedicated to refining his hand-striking precision.
A Fighter’s Beginnings
East’s entry into the world of combat sports began like it did for many fans of his generation: watching television and believing he possessed the raw tools to succeed. As a young man with a background in wrestling and football, he watched fellow New Mexico standout Diego Sanchez compete on the inaugural season of the reality television series The Ultimate Fighter.
“I wrestled and played football. I saw on TV that Diego Sanchez was fighting on The Ultimate Fighter. I can do that. And then yeah, I went and did it,” East recalled.
Starting his professional fighting journey around the age of 17, East found crucial early support from his family, particularly an uncle he identifies as Frank. His younger brother, Tyler East, also carved out a path in combat sports, allowing the siblings to develop their professional careers side by side.
Even his famous moniker, the “Freight Train,” stems from a memorable moment early in his training tenure. While participating in a sparring session with former MMA world champion Carlos Condit—who was then preparing for a bout against Brock Larson—East landed a devastating overhand punch that left a lasting impression.
“I hit him and he said I hit like a train,” East remembered. The nickname stuck, eventually becoming synonymous with his heavy-handed fighting style.
A Purpose Beyond Fighting
While combat sports have demanded immense physical and mental dedication throughout his life, East maintains that his most important and fulfilling work takes place far away from the canvas. Away from the spotlight of fight promotions, East is a licensed clinical social worker who dedicates his full-time efforts to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and severe substance addiction.
His daily responsibilities involve guiding vulnerable clients through the difficult process of achieving sobriety, securing housing stability, and rebuilding their fractured lives.
“What’s important to me is my family and God. The fans might know that I’m a CSW. I work with people who are struggling with homelessness and drug addiction. That’s my full-time job,” he emphasized.
For East, the core philosophies of martial arts and social work share a common foundation built on discipline, mental fortitude, and the willingness to sacrifice immediate comforts for long-term stability. He frequently draws parallels between the principles required to succeed in combat sports and the tools needed to overcome personal hardships in everyday life.
“It’s not just about fighting for me. I use the discipline, a bit of martial arts, to try to pass that to my clients – denying the flesh and not looking for instant gratification,” East explained. “That is something that is so normal in this world these days. We all want instant gratification, and teaching people to work toward long-term goals is what’s necessary to have long-term success.”
Looking Toward the Next Challenge
Looking beyond his immediate obligations in the Trigon, East has also expressed enthusiasm for potential cross-promotional showdowns between BKB and rival bare-knuckle organizations like BKFC. Confident in the talent pool of his home promotion, he believes BKB athletes would definitively prove their superiority in a head-to-head event.
“Yeah, if they want to. They’re going to lose. I think we’ve got better roster fighters. I think we’re a better show. I think it’d be great. Who is really the best?” he posed.
For the moment, however, all of East’s focus is locked squarely on Isaac Villanueva. Armed with a manageable weight cut, a rigorous training camp designed to peak his conditioning, and a veteran’s mindset, the Albuquerque native is fully prepared to dictate the tempo in Biloxi. His objective remains straightforward and uncompromising: pressure his opponent relentlessly, capitalize on any defensive openings, and finish the fight before the final bell sounds.
