BKFC president Dave Feldman believes Leonardo Perdomo 'could be one of the scariest heavyweights in all of combat sports right now.'
Perdomo scored a vicious 14-second knockout at BKFC 93 last Friday to extend his undefeated bare-knuckle boxing record to 12-0.
The 34-year-old from Cuba didn't even have to use his right hand, as three successive lefts put opponent Bear Hill on his backside.
Hill looked frightened to make his feet after crashing to the canvas and failed to make the referee's count, as a lively Perdomo celebrated with his team.
âÂÂPerdomo is an absolute beast," Feldman said, speaking to talkSPORT.com after the event at Hollywood's Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
"He could be one of the scariest heavyweights in all of combat sports right now.
âÂÂPerdomo vs [Andrei] Arlovski for the BKFC heavyweight title at Knucklemania next year is going to be incredible.âÂÂ
Perdomo has emerged as one of bare-knuckle boxing's deadliest heavyweights in the last three years.
'El Zambo' made his BKFC debut in June 2023 and hasn't lost since, finishing all but one of his fights in the first round to retain a 100 per cent KO ratio.
McGregor's praise for Perdomo
Speaking in March 2025, BKFC part-owner Conor McGregor said Perdomo is one of the scariest men in his heavyweight division.
"We had our heavyweight sensation âÂÂEl ZamboâÂÂ, representing Cuba, knock out a former WBA boxing heavyweight world champion in 13 seconds," McGregor exclaimed.
âÂÂI have a 13-second KO also. So when I heard 13 seconds, I was like, 'Yes, I know how good that feels!'
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"HeâÂÂs an asset and a credit to the country of Cuba. Heavyweights, watch out, and our heavyweight division is stacked in bare-knuckle.
"We've got some incredible heavyweights in this division and 'El Zambo' is one of the scariest men in it."
Following his KO of Hill, the promotion immediately announced Perdomo will face former UFC heavyweight champion Arlovski in the main event of Knucklemania VII in February 2027.
"We love Miami so much that we're bringing Knucklemania to Miami this year and it'll be Leonardo Perdomo vs Andrei Arlovski for the heavyweight championship," Feldman said.
"Let's go!"
Arlovski, who fought 42 times in the UFC between 2000 and 2004, won the belt by defeating fellow ex-UFC heavyweight Ben Rothwell at this year's Knucklemania.
The 47-year-old transitioned into bare-knuckle boxing last year and has won his two fights under the BKFC banner.
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