BILOXI, Mississippi — The stage is officially set for a high-stakes night of combat sports as fighters hit their marks on the scales Thursday afternoon ahead of Friday’s highly anticipated fight card. Headlining the upcoming combat sports showcase at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi, former BKB lightweight world champion Jarod "Kid Gatti" Grant and his opponent, Pantera Guerrero, successfully made weight, clearing the final hurdle before they step into the squared circle for a pivotal super lightweight main event showdown.
The ceremonial and official weigh-ins, which took place Thursday, marked the official commencement of fight week activities for the marquee event, billed as Bally’s Fightnight by BKB. With both athletes successfully making weight within the super lightweight limit, the main event is fully confirmed and ready to deliver the intense, high-octane action that fans of bare-knuckle boxing have come to expect from the promotion.
Jarod "Kid Gatti" Grant, a seasoned veteran and former titleholder who has long established himself as one of the most exciting and dynamic competitors in the sport, stepped onto the scale first and registered an official weight of 140.3 pounds. Across from him, challenger Pantera Guerrero tipped the scales at a crisp 139.8 pounds, safely beneath the divisional threshold. With both fighters successfully hitting their targets without drama or controversy, attention now pivots entirely to the opening bell on Friday night.
For Grant, Friday evening’s main event represents much more than just another fight on his professional record. The former lightweight champion enters the ring with a singular, laser-focused objective: securing a dominant victory that will catapult him back into the championship conversation and earn him another opportunity to fight for a world title. In the upper echelons of combat sports, momentum is everything, and Grant understands that an impressive performance against a tough opponent like Guerrero is the most effective way to send a message to the rest of the division and the promotion’s matchmakers.
"My goal is to get back into the title picture, and that starts with an impressive win on Friday night," Grant said following the weigh-ins, reflecting the determination and urgency that have characterized his professional career.
The main event promises to be a grueling tactical and physical battle. Guerrero, equally hungry to make a statement on a major stage, brings a dangerous style and a competitive fire that will test Grant from the opening seconds. As two of the division’s most skilled athletes prepare to clash under the bright lights of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi, fans and analysts alike are anticipating a fiercely contested battle that could very well steal the show and determine the trajectory of the super lightweight division for the foreseeable future.
Cub Hawkins and Rowdy Montgomery Make Weight for BKB Biloxi Co-Main Event
While the main event features a critical clash at super lightweight, the co-main event carries an equally compelling narrative and high competitive stakes. In a fascinating battle of divisional dynamics and undefeated momentum, reigning BKB light heavyweight world champion Cub "The Savage" Hawkins is making a calculated and risky move down in weight to test his skills against the undefeated Rowdy Montgomery in a high-stakes middleweight co-main event encounter.
During Thursday’s official weigh-ins, Hawkins successfully negotiated the transition down to the middleweight division, stepping onto the scale and registering 159.3 pounds. His opponent, the dangerous and unblemished Rowdy Montgomery, tipped the scale right at the limit, weighing in at an even 160 pounds.
Hawkins, widely respected for his devastating power, toughness, and championship pedigree as the reigning light heavyweight kingpin, faces a fascinating challenge in Montgomery. Dropping down a weight class always introduces a set of variables concerning how an athlete’s body will respond to the weight cut, how their power will translate to a lighter division, and whether their stamina will hold up under the pressure of an aggressive opponent. In Montgomery, Hawkins is meeting an adversary who has yet to taste defeat inside the ring—a factor that inevitably breeds supreme confidence and fearless aggression.
The co-main event offers a classic clash of styles and career trajectories: a reigning champion seeking to conquer new territory by testing himself in a lower weight class, matched against a surging, undefeated contender looking to derail a champion and cement his own status as an elite force in the sport. Both men looked sharp and composed during the weigh-in proceedings, signaling that they are fully prepared to leave everything in the ring when they square off in Biloxi.
Beyond the headlining and co-headlining attractions, the undercard for Bally’s Fightnight by BKB is packed with compelling matchups, featuring a blend of explosive contenders, returning former champions, and fan favorites looking to make their mark on a significant platform.
In a crucial light heavy division matchup that promises plenty of fireworks, Brandon "The Shredder" Shavers is set to lock horns with German "The Butcher" Ramos. Shavers weighed in at 173.1 pounds for the encounter, while Ramos registered 175.5 pounds, bringing plenty of size, power, and intensity to the undercard. Both fighters are known for their willingness to engage in the pocket and trade heavy blows, making this light heavyweight pairing a strong candidate for fight-of-the-night honors.
The event will also showcase the highly anticipated return of several former BKB champions, adding a deep layer of veteran credibility and championship experience to the fight card. Ike Villanueva, a former titleholder known for his thunderous punching power and dramatic finishes, is slated to return to action. Villanueva will face Cody East in a compelling bridgerweight showdown that is expected to feature heavy artillery from both corners.
Additionally, former champion Monica Medina is set to make her return to the ring, stepping back into competition to face Claudia Zamora in a lightweight matchup. Medina’s technical skill and experience have long made her a staple of high-level competition, and her bout against Zamora adds further depth to a card already brimming with divisional implications.
With the weigh-ins successfully concluded and all fighters safely making weight, the focus now shifts entirely to the physical reality of fight night. The event is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET, offering a comprehensive and action-packed card from the opening preliminary bouts all the way through to the championship-caliber main event. Fans who are unable to attend the fights live in person at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi will have full access to the broadcast, as the entire event will be televised live on Bally Sports Live and EstrellaTV Fast channels, ensuring that combat sports enthusiasts around the country can tune in to witness the action unfold in real time.
