Luis Palomino accuses well-known fighters like Eddie Alvarez and Chad Mendes of intentionally avoiding him, claiming they are evading the opportunity to face him in a headline bout. Palomino, who holds two division titles and boasts a flawless 8-0 record in bare-knuckle competition, has become the face of the BKFC promotion. However, he expresses growing frustration regarding his fight schedule. Despite his continuous efforts to challenge opponents such as former UFC champion Eddie Alvarez, Chad Mendes, and even Mike Perry, his requests seem to fall on deaf ears.
In an interview with MMA Hook, Palomino vents his frustration, stating, “These guys do not want to see me. That’s the honest truth. I believe I have found my niche here. I found what I couldn’t find during my MMA days. What eluded me in the cage, I found here, and I think they recognize it too. I’m not an easy payday. I genuinely believe they are avoiding me. That is the truth. It’s amusing. Nobody mentions my name, and not only do they ignore my name, but they also refuse to accept my challenges when I mention theirs. It’s quite amusing.”
For nearly a year, Palomino consistently called out Mendes after his successful bare-knuckle debut in 2022, but his calls went unanswered. Mendes, to his credit, expressed uncertainty about competing in BKFC again after his initial introduction. However, he eventually returned to face Alvarez in a highly talked-about event in April. This led Palomino to realize that Mendes wasn’t interested in the challenge or the risk of facing him, instead opting for the financial gain and attention that a fight with Alvarez, who was new to bare-knuckle fighting, would bring. Subsequently, Mendes announced his retirement.
“We had Chad Mendes come in, he made his debut, and I openly offered him a title shot, but the guy remained silent for an entire year,” Palomino expressed his disappointment. “Every victory I achieved, I publicly called out his name, but all I heard was silence. Then, after ignoring my challenges for a year, he suddenly wants a fight with Eddie Alvarez. It puts me in a position where you want to come and collect these big paychecks in the organization, but you’re not willing to face the best. You were chasing gold in the UFC.”
Palomino now believes Alvarez is giving off the same impression. Despite defeating Mendes and expressing his desire to compete in bare-knuckle fighting again, Alvarez isn’t convinced that Palomino should be his opponent. “I’m already in talks with Eddie Alvarez. We had a respectful exchange of words on social media, but he gave me some nonsense like ‘you and I will never fight for money.’ What does that mean?” Palomino questioned. “You’ve held gold in the UFC. You’ve held gold in Bellator. You went looking for gold in ONE FC, and now you’re in bare-knuckle, but you’re not interested in gold here? In becoming the champion? Or is it that you simply don’t believe you can defeat me?”
Palomino nearly secured a more prominent opponent for his upcoming fight when former boxing champion Austin Trout, who defeated UFC legend Diego Sanchez in his BKFC debut in February, was expected to be his opponent. Unfortunately, the deal fell through, and Palomino was subsequently matched up against Lilley.
While acknowledging the dangers posed by Lilley and emphasizing that he isn’t overlooking him, Palomino is starting to weigh the risk versus reward in these matchups against the chance to face a seasoned veteran. Additionally, he is growing tired of hearing newcomers to BKFC being hailed as the face of the promotion while he has been the most consistent fighter since his debut in 2020.
“It’s incredibly frustrating,” Palomino shared. “You’ve got Mike Perry in the house too, and he has only three fights, yet they’re touting him as the king of bare-knuckle. I have all the respect for Perry; we have no issues with each other, but he’s another name I’ve suggested to the company because it would be a super fight. I’m seeking the biggest fight possible for myself, for the biggest paycheck. These guys come over here to get paid, and they’re getting paid relatively more than the champion? No problem, but they have to go through me. If they want to call Mike Perry the king of BKFC, fine, no problem, let’s fight for it.”
Palomino is uncertain about how to change the course when it comes to future opponents, but he hopes that eventually, someone will accept his challenge. He yearns for a moment in the spotlight, similar to what many MMA and boxing veterans have received without prior experience in bare-knuckle fighting.
“I’m here, defeating everyone in my path, but I’m not getting any of the big names I’m asking for,” Palomino expressed his frustration. “I don’t know. I understand the marketing aspect for the organization, signing UFC fighters. I think it’s a great idea, great for us, but now that we have established some BKFC stars, let these people come and earn their money. If you want to join the organization, come face me now. I’m in a position where I hold two titles, and they use that excuse, hiding behind the statement that ‘I can’t go for the titles yet; I’ll just collect a paycheck here.’ I’m in this peculiar position. I have no problem relinquishing one or both titles as long as I get the names.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about BKFC fighters.
Q: Why is Luis Palomino frustrated with top fighters avoiding him in BKFC?
A: Luis Palomino is frustrated because he believes that top fighters like Eddie Alvarez, Chad Mendes, and Mike Perry are intentionally avoiding him in BKFC. Despite his impressive record and two-division championship, Palomino’s calls for high-profile opponents have gone unanswered, leading to his growing frustration with the situation. He desires the opportunity to prove himself against these notable fighters and believes they are ducking him.
More about BKFC fighters.
- BKFC Official Website
- Luis Palomino’s BKFC Profile
- Eddie Alvarez’s Official Website
- Chad Mendes’s Official Instagram
- Mike Perry’s Twitter Account
