Kai Stewart Retained His BKFC Title Against Jimmie Rivera
Kai Stewart defeated Jimmie Rivera by unanimous decision in Billings, Montana, on November 9, 2024. The five-round result retained Stewart’s BKFC featherweight championship, with two judges scoring it 50–45 and the third returning 49–46.
A third defense in his home state
The contest took place at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark, a venue already important in Stewart’s sporting history. He had competed there as a high school wrestler and made his successful BKFC debut there in 2021.
The Rivera victory made Stewart 7–0 in BKFC and completed his third title defense. He described the challenger afterward as an important test who had helped him grow.
Stewart had built a championship sequence
Stewart first won the inaugural featherweight championship against Louie Lopez at BKFC 44 in Great Falls. Successful defenses against Howard Davis and Bryan Duran followed before the Rivera assignment.
The Montana decision extended that sequence and left Rivera with a BKFC record of two wins, two losses and one draw. The judges agreed on the winner despite differing slightly over the margin.
Rivera brought extensive MMA experience
Rivera’s earlier UFC career included decision victories over Urijah Faber in September 2016 and Thomas Almeida in July 2017. Those results formed part of his rise through the bantamweight division before his bare-knuckle transition.
He could not add the BKFC championship in Billings. Stewart’s successful defense preserved the belt while giving the experienced challenger a full five-round contest against the unbeaten titleholder.
Sources
- Montana Sports: scorecards, records, venue and championship history
- BKFC: November 9 championship event
- UFC: Faber and Almeida results
- UFC: Almeida unanimous-decision interview
