Uruguay's Tonga Reyno Wins Historic First South American Bare-Knuckle Fight
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Uruguayan fighter Gastón 'Tonga' Reyno won the main event of the first-ever Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) event in South America.
- Reyno defeated American opponent Josh Krejci by technical knockout in the first round, maintaining his undefeated record in the sport.
- The event, held in Montevideo, marked a significant debut for BKFC in the region and was attended by Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi.
Uruguayan fighter Gastón 'Tonga' Reyno secured a dominant victory in the main event of the historic first Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) in South America. Reyno knocked out his American opponent, Josh Krejci, in just over a minute of the first round, extending his undefeated streak in the brutal sport.
The welterweight bout, held at the Antel Arena in Montevideo, saw Reyno, standing at 1.80 meters, face off against the shorter Krejci. Reyno landed 8 of his 17 significant strikes, efficiently ending the fight via technical knockout. Krejci, in contrast, landed 16 of his 29 attempts. Reyno's victory was his fourth in BKFC, showcasing a rapid adaptation to the extreme demands of bare-knuckle fighting.
I have my heart full receiving the affection of Uruguayans in the street, I imagine the Antel Arena will be crazy.
Reyno expressed immense joy and surprise at the outcome, fueled by the enthusiastic reception from the Uruguayan crowd. He hopes this successful debut event will pave the way for future BKFC competitions in Uruguay. The event's significance was underscored by the presence of Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi, marking BKFC's official entry into the South American market.
Bare-knuckle fighting, characterized by combat without gloves and only wrist wraps, produces faster, high-impact fights compared to traditional boxing or MMA. This unique format requires refined technique to prevent hand fractures and severe facial cuts. Reyno, a seasoned international competitor in taekwondo, muay thai, and MMA, reaffirmed his status as a leading martial artist in the continent with this commanding performance.
I couldn't even imagine this result in my best dreams.
Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.