Rolando Dy has firmly established himself as the reigning BKB super welterweight champion, but the trailblazing Filipino martial artist is already looking ahead to a much grander legacy inside the Mighty Trigon. While his immediate focus is locked squarely on a high-stakes title defense this weekend, Dy has made no secret of his long-term ambitions to capture additional gold, explicitly setting his sights on the upper weight classes and the dominant pound-for-pound juggernaut of the bare-knuckle circuit, LT Nelson.
Before any multi-division aspirations can materialize, however, Dy must first successfully navigate one of the toughest tests of his career. On October 10th at BKB 60, Dy is scheduled to step back into the squared circle to defend his prestigious Police Gazette diamond belt against formidable five-time BKB champion Scott McHugh in Great Britain.
The upcoming clash marks a critical juncture for the defending champion, who etched his name into the history books by becoming the first Filipino fighter to ever capture a major bare-knuckle world championship. Dy enters this weekend’s sophomore title defense riding a wave of momentum, having delivered a stunning second-round finish against former boxing world champion Paulie Malignaggi at BKB 54 back in May. That statement victory not only proved Dy’s elite-level striking credentials in the gloveless arena but also cemented his status as a marquee attraction in the sport.
As he prepares for the hostile environment of fighting in the United Kingdom against a seasoned veteran like McHugh, Dy has been transparent about his grander blueprint for the sport. Outlining his ideal scenario, not just in Newcastle on Saturday but across his career moving forward, Dy shared his future championship goals, noting his desire to secure the victory this weekend before setting his sights firmly on the middleweight division.
"Win this belt and maybe win another belt in middleweight in the future," Dy explained in an interview with Bare Knuckle Bowker. "I know LT is a tough person. So, I’m trying. Maybe I’ll challenge him after I defended my belt against Scott McHugh in Britain."
BKB 60 and the Path Beyond for Rolando Dy
The road to double-champ status necessarily runs through LT “Smash” Nelson, a commanding force within the organization who commands immense respect throughout the bare-knuckle community. Nelson has continuously demonstrated the drive and skill required to cement himself as a multi-division champion under the BKB banner. That relentless ambition was on full display recently when Nelson secured a dominant fifth-round technical knockout victory at BKB 56 in Los Angeles, further solidifying his reputation as one of the most dangerous and durable competitors in the sport.
Nelson currently holds a firm grip on both the middleweight and super middleweight championships, establishing himself as a pound-for-pound powerhouse. Adding an intriguing layer to the potential matchup between the two elite fighters, Nelson also recently made a successful divisional foray into the super welterweight class—the very division helmed by Dy—where he secured a notable victory over Serob Minasyan.
Aware of Nelson’s multi-belt dominance and his recent crossover into familiar territory, Dy has already begun formulating a strategic proposal for a future showdown with the reigning double-champion. Rather than demanding an immediate jump straight to a title opportunity without conditions, Dy has offered a pragmatic approach that respects Nelson’s current division obligations while setting the stage for an eventual superfight.
"Yeah. I mean I have a proposal for him," Dy said when discussing the logistical path to a potential matchup. "Maybe he defend his belt first in the middleweight. Then whatever the result, if I win or if he defended his belt up in middleweight, maybe we can do the rematch in my belt. But I hope I can challenge him first in the middleweight and give me a chance to earn my second belt against him."
For now, all of those ambitious scenarios remain secondary to the immediate challenge waiting across the Atlantic. Scott McHugh represents a deeply experienced and credentialed adversary who knows what it takes to conquer the BKB landscape. As Dy steps into the Mighty Trigon at BKB 60, he carries not only the pride of the Philippines but also the weight of a division looking to see if its king can successfully turn back one of the promotion’s most decorated veterans. A victory in Newcastle will keep the diamond belt securely in his possession and keep the door wide open for the historic multi-division campaigns that Dy envisions for his future in bare-knuckle fighting.
