Crazy 1 punch knockout BKFC 20
#BKFC20 pic.twitter.com/1ypGt3qdQi— SEATTLE MIKE (@fightswfriends)
August 21, 2021
Justin
Thornton, a veteran of 24 professional mixed martial arts
bouts, has reportedly died due to injuries sustained in a knockout
loss under the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship banner this past
August.
My
MMA News was first to report Thornton’s death. Thornton fell
face first to the canvas after absorbing a right hand from Dillon
Cleckler at BKFC in Biloxi, Miss., on Aug. 20. Thornton was
taken out of the ring on the stretcher. He remained hospitalized
since the bout and was also on a ventilator, according to various
reports. Thornton was 38 years old.
“This morning we were very saddened to be notified of the passing
of one of our fighters, Justin
Thornton, who competed at BKFC-20 on August 20, 2021,” BKFC
president Dave Feldman said in a statement released to
MMAjunkie.com. “We join the rest of the combat sports community
in sending our deepest condolences to his family and loved
ones.”
Thornton compiled a 6-18 mark in MMA over the course of a
professional career that began in 2008. He entered the BKFC bout
vs. Cleckler on a five-bout MMA losing streak in which he was
finished by each of his opponents inside of a round — two via
knockout or technical knockout. Thornton previously faced Cleckler
at Island Fights 20 in 2013, losing via TKO in 65 seconds. Cleckler
owned an 11-1 MMA mark and was coming off a pair of knockout wins
in BKFC.