BKFC KnuckleMania 5 video: John Garbarino earns brutal first-round knockout, proposes to girlfriend in the ring
John Garbarino had a night he’ll never forget at BKFC KnuckleMania 5 on Saturday.
As a native of Philadelphia, who lives just a block away from the Wells Fargo Center, Garbarino had a lot riding on his fight on Saturday and he came through with a stunning performance to finish Apostle Spencer in the first round.
The fast and furious fight was non-stop from the start but it was Garbarino who pushed the pace and kept looking for the knockout. He got his wish after he unloaded a massive punch that caught Spencer off guard and he dropped to the canvas as a result.
John Garbarino gets the KO win #KM5 | #KnucklemaniaV | #AlvarezStephens | Watch live now exclusively on DAZN pic.twitter.com/N9VA1jim8Z
— DAZN Sport (@DAZN_Sport) January 26, 2025
While he wasn’t completely unconscious, Spencer was pretty clearly dazed and confused and the referee made it to the final 10 count before he could fathom getting back to his feet. The crowd erupted with Garbarino scoring the knockout with just one-second remaining with the official time at 1:59 in in the first round.
Knock out your opponent ✔️
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) January 26, 2025
Propose to your girlfriend ✔️
John Garbarino leaves #KnuckleManiaV a two-time winner pic.twitter.com/wsDMrt404C
The finish even got Conor McGregor’s attention as the BKFC co-owner praised Garbarino after the win.
Bare knuckle love ❤️ #shesaidyes
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 26, 2025
Incredible John Garbarino all the way through, just wow! On the weigh in stage with the cannoli move, to in the ring with stellar defensive work slipping and dipping under heavy attacks so beautifully, followed then by the big one shot KO win!…
Following a celebration with the local crowd, Garbarino then invited his girlfriend in the ring where he revealed he asked her mother for permission to marry her daughter. He then got down on one knee with a ring in hand to propose to his girlfriend as the emotions overwhelmed her.
“Will you be my bride?” Garbarino asked.
She embraced him with an emphatic yes and Garbarino had even more to celebrate on top of his first-round knockout in front of a hometown crowd in Philadelphia