BKFC returns March 19, signs DeMarcus Corley

Just over a month after seeing one of its marquee signings fall in her debut, BKFC will return to its usual stomping grounds of Biloxi, Mississippi for its latest pay-per-view, which pits UFC veteran Leonard Garcia against Joe Elmore in the main event and features a familiar journeyman’s bare knuckle debut.

The 41-year-old Garcia (18-13-1 MMA, 1-1 BKFC) was once MMA’s patron saint of the unearned split decision, as his largely impotent haymakers and tendency to absorb punches with his face had a weirdly hypnotic effect on judges. More than four years after hanging up the four-ounce gloves, he took his talents to BKFC, where he’s knocked out Julian Lane and been knocked out in return by Jim Alers.

Elmore (13-12 MMA, 2-0 BKFC) was 10-5 at one point in his MMA career before hitting a nasty skid, though he’s managed to dispatch Will Chope and Tom Shoaff in BKFC.

The new face this time around is 46-year-old DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley (51-33-1, 28 KO), who hasn’t seen action since a 2019 stoppage loss to Custio Clayton. He fought just about everyone at or near 140 pounds during his time in the ring, and now meets former BKFC title challenger Reggie Barrett Jr (3-4 MMA, 5-2 BKFC).

“Leonard Garcia against Joe Elmore is a true bad-blood match and perfect for our main event,” BKFC president David Feldman said. “Both guys have wanted to fight each other for a long time and both have promised to finish the other in striking fashion. DeMarcus Corley is a former world champion boxer who has fought numerous big names over the last twenty years and surely will be tested by Reggie Barnett Jr, who is excited to welcome him to BKFC.”