Oluwale Bamgbose made a statement in his bare-knuckle boxing debut, finishing UFC veteran Karl Roberson in two rounds on the main card of BKFC 82 in Newark, New Jersey. His dominant performance caught the attention of Conor McGregor, who was impressed by Bamgbose’s explosive showing.
The fight itself wasn’t your typical BKFC matchup. Bamgbose used spinning strikes to overwhelm Roberson, who later went viral for appearing to wear an ankle monitor during the bout. Roberson, who was arrested in 2023 on burglary and theft charges, had the device hidden under his sock.
After his second-round TKO victory, Bamgbose spoke about the situation, revealing he didn’t notice the ankle monitor until after the fight.
“I did my research on Karl, so I saw a little bit of what he had gone through,” Bamgbose told Bloody Elbow. “I don’t know the full backstory, man. I just respect Karl. Sometimes in life, we go through things where we want to seek vengeance, and that’s where having God is important. I’m not sure if he has a relationship with God or not, but whenever someone offends you, don’t take matters into your own hands. Let God handle that.”
Bamgbose said he was glad Roberson still had the chance to fight despite his situation.
“That’s a blessing,” Bamgbose added. “Some people who did what he did never got that opportunity. They’re in jail. The fact that he can still compete shows God’s favor on his life. He just has to appreciate that and grow. He’s a great fighter, and he’s still young. I believe he’ll learn from whatever he’s going through and come back better.”
The Nigerian-born fighter admitted he only noticed the ankle monitor after both men went to see the medical staff post-fight.
“I saw it after the fight,” Bamgbose said. “The medical team mentioned it, and I was like, what? Then I noticed it myself. But he’s a tough guy. I think his leg gave out with the first knockdown, but he still got up like nothing happened. That’s when I realized he’s built different.”
Now 38, Bamgbose isn’t slowing down. The former UFC middleweight believes he’s just getting started in BKFC and wants to make a title run. With his unorthodox style and explosive power, Bamgbose is looking to bring more excitement to the Squared Circle.
The Nigerian fighter already has his eyes on cruiserweight champion Chris Camozzi and plans to return before the year ends.
