Kai Stewart (born June 17, 2000) is an American bare-knuckle boxer and mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship in the featherweight division, where he is the current and inaugural BKFC Featherweight Champion. As a mixed martial artist, he has competed in the welterweight division.
| Kai Stewart | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 17, 2000 Liberal, Kansas, United States |
| Other names | Hefty Bag |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st) |
| Division | Welterweight (MMA) Featherweight (Bare-knuckle boxing) |
| Fighting out of | Great Falls, Montana, United States |
| Team | Great Falls Wolfpack |
| Years active | 2021–present (bare-knuckle boxing) 2022 (MMA) |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 1 |
| Wins | 1 |
| By submission | 1 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Bareknuckle boxing record | |
| Total | 7 |
| Wins | 7 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Wrestling career
editKai Stewart attended Charles M. Russell High School, where he was a three-time Class AA Montana state finalist in wrestling, including a 138-lb state championship in 2018.[1]
Stewart attended Minot State University in his first year, where he was a member of the MSU Beavers wrestling team. He compiled a 2-3 record as a freshman.[2] He transferred to the University of Providence in his 2020 sophomore year.[3][4]
Mixed martial arts career
editStewart made his professional MMA career against Frank Meno on December 10, 2022, at Fusion Fight League's event, entitled Seasons Beatings Great Falls. He won the bout by rear-naked choke.[5]
Bare-knuckle boxing career
editIn his BKFC debut, Stewart faced Darrick Gates at BKFC Fight Night: Montana on October 9, 2021. He won the fight via first-round knockout.[6][7]
Stewart then faced Daniel Gary at BKFC 24 on April 30, 2022. He won the fight via first-round knockout.[8]
Stewart next faced Rusty Crowder at BKFC 29 on September 10, 2022. He won the bout via split decision.[9][10]
Featherweight champion
editStewart faced Louie Lopez for the inaugural BKFC Featherweight Championship at BKFC 44 on June 9, 2023. He won the bout by unanimous decision to win the championship.[11][12] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[13]
In his first title defense, Stewart faced Howard Davis on December 2, 2023, at BKFC 56.[14] He won the bout by unanimous decision.[15][16] This fight earned him another Fight of the Night award.[17]
Stewart defended his title against Bryan Duran on June 21, 2024 in the main event of BKFC 62.[18] He won the bout by unanimous decision.[19] This fight earned him another Fight of the Night award.[20]
Stewart made the third successful defense of his BKFC featherweight title by unanimous decision against Jimmie Rivera on November 9, 2024 at BKFC on DAZN: Montana.[21]
Championships and accomplishments
edit- Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
- BKFC Featherweight World Champion (One time, current; inaugural)
- Three successful title defenses
- Fight of the Night (Three times) vs. Louie Lopez, Howard Davis and Bryan Duran[13][17][20]
- Youngest champion in BKFC (22 years, 11 months old)
- BKFC Featherweight World Champion (One time, current; inaugural)
Mixed martial arts record
edit| 1 match | 1 win | 0 losses |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | Frank Meno | Submission (rear-naked choke) | FFL Season Beatings Great Falls | December 10, 2022 | 2 | 0:00 | Great Falls, Montana, United States |
Bare knuckle record
edit| 7 matches | 7 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 0 |
| By decision | 5 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 7–0 | Jimmie Rivera | Decision (unanimous) | BKFC on DAZN: Montana | November 9, 2024 | 5 | 2:00 | Billings, Montana, United States | Defended the BKFC Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–0 | Bryan Duran | Decision (unanimous) | BKFC 62 | June 21, 2024 | 5 | 2:00 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | Defended the BKFC Featherweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 5–0 | Howard Davis | Decision (unanimous) | BKFC 56 | December 2, 2023 | 5 | 2:00 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | Defended the BKFC Featherweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 4–0 | Louie Lopez | Decision (unanimous) | BKFC 44 | June 9, 2023 | 5 | 2:00 | Great Falls, Montana, United States | Won the inaugural BKFC Featherweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 3–0 | Rusty Crowder | Decision (split) | BKFC 29 | September 10, 2022 | 5 | 2:00 | Great Falls, Montana, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Daniel Gary | KO (punches) | BKFC 24 | April 30, 2022 | 1 | 1:10 | Great Falls, Montana, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Darrick Gates | TKO (punches) | BKFC Fight Night: Montana | October 9, 2021 | 1 | 1:24 | Billings, Montana, United States |
References
edit- ^ "CMR grad Stewart joins Providence wrestling team". Great Falls Tribune. August 24, 2020. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ "Kai Stewart". MSU Beavers. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ "Kai Stewart". UP Argos. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ "Kai Stewart: College wrestler by day, BKFC star by night". BKFC. April 28, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ "Kai Stewart". Sherdog. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
- ^ Matthew Wells (October 9, 2021). "BKFC Fight Night Montana results: Joe Riggs knocks out Melvin Guillard in 59 seconds". MMAjunkie.com.
- ^ "Photos – Best of BKFC Fight Night: Montana". MMA Junkie. November 17, 2021.
- ^ Harkness, Ryan (May 1, 2022). "Watch: Bare Knuckle FC 24 fight ends with crazy uppercut knockout faceplant". mmamania.com.
- ^ King, Kristen (September 11, 2022). "BKFC 29 results, highlights: Hart Beltran wins gold, Joe Riggs headbutted in co-main". Bloody Elbow.
- ^ "BKFC 29 Results: Hart vs. Sigala". MMA Fighting. September 10, 2022.
- ^ Mercado, Eddie (June 10, 2023). "BKFC 44 full results, video highlights: Kai Stewart wins title fight". Bloody Elbow.
- ^ Tieman, Richard (June 12, 2023). "Former CMR Wrestler Crowned World Champion at BKFC 44". ABC FOX Montana.
- ^ a b BKFC on YouTube (June 10, 2023). "BKFC 44 Bonuses". youtube.com.
- ^ "Mike Perry vs. Eddie Alvarez headlines BKFC 56 in Salt Lake City on Dec. 2". mmafighting.com.
- ^ Tucker, Bryan (December 2, 2023). "BKFC 56 Results: Perry vs. Alvarez". MMA Fighting.
- ^ Samano, Simone (December 3, 2023). "BKFC 56 official results and prelims live video stream". MMA Junkie.
- ^ a b BKFC on YouTube (December 2, 2023). "BKFC 56 UTAH PERRY vs ALVAREZ Press Conference - LIVE - David Feldman announces bonuses". youtube.com.
- ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (April 30, 2024). "Kai Stewart vs Bryan Duran headlines BKFC 62 Hollywood in June". FIGHTMAG.
- ^ "BKFC 62 Results | BKFC". Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ a b BKFC (June 21, 2024). "BKFC 62 HOLLYWOOD Post-Event Press Conference - LIVE!". BKFC on YouTube. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
- ^ Iskenderov, Parviz (November 10, 2024). "Kai Stewart bests Jimmie Rivera by decision to retain title at BKFC Montana". FIGHTMAG.
