Five questions with Joey Beltran before he headlines BKFC Fight Night Fort Lauderdale 

Five questions with Joey Beltran before he Headlines BKFC Fight Night Fort Lauderdale 

Thursday, Apr 14 2022 by BKFC Staff

Joey “The Mexicutioner” Beltran is one of the biggest stars in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship universe. 

Beloved by fans worldwide for his classic battles in the BKFC Squared Circle, and previously the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Beltran is back in action April 21 at BKFC Fight Night at Charles F. Dodge City Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL. In his first bout since losing the BKFC Heavyweight Championship to Arnold Adams in November, Beltran takes on Frank Tate in the Main Event, LIVE on BKTV.

Why do you think you’ve been so successful with BKFC?

You know, a lot of it goes back to me being a street fighter when I was a kid and in high school (laughs). Getting punched with a bare fist, that’s nothing to me. My first training was in boxing, before I eventually took the MMA route. In my heart of hearts, boxing was always what I loved the most. When BKFC came along, I was already a fan of the sport. When I had the opportunity to step into that first tournament back in 2018, it was just meant to be.

Obviously you accomplished a lot in the UFC world, but do you at all regret that you couldn’t have been doing bare knuckle boxing for your whole career, or does everything happen for a reason?

Yeah, I believe in that. Everything happens for a reason. It was meant to be. Finally when I became champion in 2019, it all played out the way it was supposed to.

You enjoyed a really nice run as BKFC Heavyweight Champion. Is life any different without the belt?

It’s business as usual. But, if anything, I think I should’ve maybe enjoyed it a bit more. I should’ve worn the belt a bit more (laughs). Who knows? That’s just me. It’s just a part of the journey. I’m winning it back. 

At the end of the day, does it matter who you fight?

No. That’s a big mistake I made in my preparation for the last fight. I over thought it so much. I’d wake up in the middle of the night thinking about the fight. It wasn’t until the third round of my last fight, with Arnold Adams, where it just clicked. He’s just another guy. Nobody in the world can do what I do. I truly believe that; nobody in the world can do what I do. It’s just a matter of stepping on the gas pedal and running these guys over, and that’s what I plan on doing these next couple fights, whoever it is.

Do you think you’ll finish Frank in Fort Lauderdale?

I do. I really honestly do. I think he’s super dangerous. If I stand there and let him hit me, it’s going to hurt (laughs). But, once again, I just think that if I do what I do, he’s not going to be able to handle it. I’ve been working on a lot of stuff, sharpening my tools, and mixing it in with my organized chaos, as I like to call it. It’s going to be good, man.