The inaugural BKFC Ice Wars event at Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant, Michigan delivered on its promise of bare-knuckle action, culminating in a devastating knockout that left one former hockey player unconscious on the synthetic ice.
In the main event, Catlin “Big Snake” – a 6’6″, 287-pound chief from Alberta, Canada – landed a thunderous right hand that dropped Zach “The Hooligan” Hughes cold in the closing seconds of the first round. The knockout punch was so powerful that Hughes was left motionless on the ice before slowly regaining consciousness.
“Oh, my gosh, he’s out. That may be it,”
exclaimed commentator Todd Romero as Hughes crumpled to the synthetic surface.
“He’s out. That might be it in the main event.”
The knockout capped off a night of intense USA versus Canada battles, with the northern neighbors emerging victorious 6‑4 in the international rivalry format. Big Snake’s victory was particularly meaningful, as he dedicated his performance to inspiring youth in his native community.
“I did this fight because there’s a lot of people that are losing the paddle right now. I want to prove to them don’t ever f***ing give up,”
Big Snake said in his post‑fight interview.
“And I’m here for you guys. You guys ever f***ing feeling lost? I’m Big Brother.”
Nick “Gorgeous” Laporte earned the first TKO in Ice Wars history with a barrage of punches that overwhelmed Matt “Dunner” Dunn in just 32 seconds of the opening round.
“Just like we f***ing plan. One and done, baby,”
Laporte said after his dominant victory. Remarkably, his twin brother Will also competed on the same card, making them only the 10th set of twins to fight professionally on the same combat sports event in history.
The unique ruleset allows martial artists to grab jerseys and pull opponents—a dynamic borrowed directly from hockey fighting. This creates extended exchanges in close quarters, with uppercuts becoming the weapon of choice for most competitors throughout the night.
BKFC Cruiserweight Champion Chris Kamozey, who provided commentary for the event, noted:
“These guys are able to push and pull. It reminds me a lot of, like, Gee Jiu‑Jitsu, but being able to punch each other.”
Several participants showcased how hockey experience translated to success in the ice box. Ryan “Ice Cold” Snowbeck delivered a Fight of the Night performance against Alex “The Great” Marchicello, trading heavy shots in a bloody three‑round war that had the crowd on their feet.
“I want to thank everybody for coming here in Mount Pleasant Michigan. If you thought that was in Cainter’s hell, give you a hell, yeah,”
Snowbeck shouted to the crowd after his unanimous decision victory.
The synthetic ice surface presented unique challenges for martial artists, with several admitting they had to adjust their training and skate sharpening techniques specifically for the artificial surface. Multiple bouts were temporarily stopped when helmets came loose, though organizers had upgraded to leather straps to minimize interruptions.
Safety remained paramount throughout the event, with medical staff stopping several matches due to injuries. James “The Hooligan” Brooks was forced to withdraw from his bout against Will Laporte due to what appeared to be a dislocated shoulder suffered after falling hard on the unforgiving synthetic surface.
The event also marked the first time fans could tip competitors in real‑time using cryptocurrency through the Portal app, with several participants receiving digital tips during and after their performances.
The USA vs. Canada format created genuine tension throughout the evening, with partisan crowds trading chants and both sides desperately wanting bragging rights. Canada’s victory was sealed by Big Snake’s knockout, but the Americans showed heart with wins from competitors like Derek “The Buck” Gates and Ryan Snowbeck.
“USA’s going to make a comeback. I’m so proud to get to represent this country again since I left the military,”
said Air Force veteran Hughes before his main event bout, though his patriotic mission would end in defeat.
BKFC Ice Wars successfully launched a new chapter in combat sports, combining the primal appeal of hockey brawls with the technical skill of bare‑knuckle boxing. With competitors already calling for quick returns to action, the ice league appears poised to carve out its own frozen corner of the MMA game.
