Artem Lobov Plans On Breaking Jason Knight’s Jaw At Bare Knuckle FC

Fan favorite Artem Lobov will make his bare knuckle boxing debut when he meets Jason Knight in the main event of tonight’s (Sat., April 6, 2019) Bare Knuckle FC 5 from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Miss.

Lobov recently asked for and was granted his release from the UFC in order to sign with Bare Knuckle FC. ‘The Russian Hammer’ was recently slapped by former boxing champ Paulie Malignaggi, but he has to get through Knight first.

If you listen to him, that’s not going to be a problem. Lobov recently told MMA Junkie Radio he plans to make short work of Knight in incredibly violent fashion:

“I feel free, relaxed, nothing to worry about. Just walk up to Jason Knight, break his jaw, and go home.”

A Different Style

In order to do so, Lobov admitted he did watch some of Knight’s UFC bouts. But he’s not sure if they will be of much use if any, because he knows he’ll implement different stances in a boxing-only fight. Without having to worry about takedowns, he can show his full stand-up potential:

“It’s not much use, and I know this for myself because my style of boxing is very different from how I fight in MMA,” Lobov said. “Because I don’t have to worry about takedowns. Because I can close the distance, and in MMA it was always hard to show my true standup potential. I have a pretty short reach, so I have to close the distance just to strike. But then when I close the distance, I was in wrestling range. So I always was in this weird situation.”

Not Afraid Of A Broken Hand

Due to the hard-hitting boxing in BKFC, Lobov also knows broken hands are a part of the game. He’s used to fighting through them in training camps, however, and will keep throwing hammers if he does suffer one:

“When you look at it close, it’s technical,” Lobov said. “It’s very easy to break your hands in boxing. So if you break your hand, what are you going to do for the rest of the fight? So of course, if you’re me, then you don’t give a [expletive] if you break your hands. My hammers, I’ll still be throwing them.”

Plan For Pro Boxing

If and when he’s able to get past Knight, the obvious grudge match with Malignaggi awaits him. Yet Lobov knows he needs to make a statement in Biloxi tonight. It’s his first stepping stone towards establishing a career in professional boxing, so just a decision will not be enough:

“I want to get through Jason first,” Lobov said. “I want to make it nice and quick. Just a win is not enough for me here. I feel I want to put on an impressive performance because I am planning on moving to boxing eventually. Jason is my step toward Paulie and Paulie is my step toward professional boxing. That’s my plan.”