Reggie Barnett Jr.

{{Short description|American bare-knuckle boxer, boxer and mixed martial artist}}

{{Infobox martial artist

| name = Reggie Barnett Jr.

| other_names = Educated Hands

| image =

| image_size = 200px

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|07|04}}

| birth_place = Chesapeake, Virginia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| death_cause =

| residence =

| nationality = American

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=5}}

| weight = {{convert|134|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}

| weight_class = Flyweight
Bantamweight
Lightweight (MMA)
Super featherweight (boxing)
Bantamweight (Bare-knuckle boxing)

| reach =

| style =

| stance =

| fighting_out_of = Virginia Beach, Virginia

| team =

| rank =

| wrestling =

| years_active = 2018–present (bare-knuckle boxing)
2015–2017 (MMA)
2015–2019 (boxing)

| box_win = 6

| box_kowin = 2

| box_loss = 2

| box_koloss =

| box_draw =

| box_nc =

| mma_kowin = 1

| mma_subwin = 1

| mma_decwin = 1

| mma_koloss =

| mma_subloss = 1

| mma_decloss = 3

| mma_draw =

| mma_nc =

| url =

| sherdog = 189139

| footnotes =

| updated =

}}

Reginald Barnett Jr. (born July 4, 1986) is an American bare-knuckle boxer, boxer and mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, where he is a former BKFC Bantamweight Champion. As a mixed martial artist, he has competed in the Flyweight, Bantamweight and Lightweight division.

Mixed martial arts career

Barnett started his professional MMA career in 2015 and competed until 2017. Throughout his career, he compiled a 3-4 professional record.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Reginald-Barnett-Jr-189139|title=Reginald Barnett Jr.|last=Sherdog.com|website=Sherdog|access-date=January 13, 2024}}

Professional boxing career

Barnett boxed professionally between 2015 and 2019. Throughout his career, he amassed a record of 6-2.{{Cite web|url=https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/735049|title=BoxRec: Reggie Barnett Jr.|website=boxrec.com|access-date=January 14, 2024}}

Bare-knuckle boxing career

In his BKFC debut, Barnett faced Travis Thompson at the inaugural Bare Knuckle FC event held on June 2, 2018. He won the bout via unanimous decision.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2018/6/3/17422002/bare-knuckle-fc-results-and-videos-ufc-vets-rodriguez-rawlings-and-beltran-pick-up-wins-mma|title=Bare Knuckle FC results: UFC vets Rodriguez, Rawlings and Beltran pick up wins|date=June 3, 2018|publisher=bloodyelbow.com|author=Anton Tabuena}}

Barnett faced James Clayton Burns at BKFC 2 on August 25, 2018. He won the bout via unanimous decision.{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/8/25/17782834/bare-knuckle-fc-2-results-bec-rawlings-wins-split-decision-over-britain-hart-retains-title|title=Bare Knuckle FC 2 results: Bec Rawlings wins split decision over Britain Hart, retains title|date=25 August 2018|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Marc Raimondi}}

Barnett entered the BKFC Lightweight tournament and faced Rusty Crowder at BKFC 5 on April 6, 2019. He won the bout via unanimous decision.{{cite web|url=https://mymmanews.com/bare-knuckle-fc-5-results/|title=Bare Knuckle FC 5 results|author=Eric Kowal|website=mymmanews.com}}{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2019/04/bare-knuckle-fc-5-artem-lobov-jason-knight-classic-fight#:~:text=Full%20BKFC%205%20results%3A,47%2C%2048%2D46).|title=Bare Knuckle FC 5 results: Artem Lobov wins thrilling brawl over Jason Knight|date=April 7, 2019|author=Dave Doyle|publisher=MMA Junkie.com}}

Heading into the tournament final, Barnett faced Johnny Bedford on June 22, 2019, at BKFC 6. He lost the bout by unanimous decision.{{cite web|url=https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/article_68f6bf92-96a9-11e9-8970-cf87c787756a.html|title=Chesapeake fighter Reggie Barnett Jr. loses bare knuckle title bout|date=June 24, 2019|work=The Virginian-Pilot}}

Barnett faced Matt Murphy on February 15, 2020, at BKFC 10: Lombard vs Mundell. He won the bout by second-round technical knockout via punches.{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/02/bare-knuckle-fc-10-results-highlights-hector-lombard-decisions-david-mundell-debut|title=BKFC 10 results, highlights: Hector Lombard decisions David Mundell in debut|date=16 February 2020|publisher=mmajunkie.com}}{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/02/bare-knuckle-fc-10-results-highlights-hector-lombard-decisions-david-mundell-debut|title=BKFC 10 results, highlights: Hector Lombard decisions David Mundell in debut|website=MMA Junkie|date=2020-02-16|access-date=2021-02-04}}

Barnett faced Abdiel Velazquez on September 11, 2020, at BKFC 12. He won the bout via unanimous decision.{{cite web |url=https://www.badlefthook.com/2020/9/11/21433317/bkfc-12-results-thiago-alves-edges-julian-lane-hector-lombard-bombs-grove-boxing-bare-knuckle |title=BKFC 12 results: Thiago Alves edges Julian Lane, Hector Lombard bombs Kendall Grove |author=Scott Christ |date=11 September 2020 |website=badlefthook.com}}{{cite web|url=https://combatpress.com/2020/09/bkfc-12-alves-vs-lane-results/|title=BKFC 12 RESULTS: ALVES EKES PAST LANE, LOMBARD CRUSHES GROVE|date=September 11, 2020|author=Matt Quiggins|publisher=combatpress.com}}

Barnett faced DeMarcus Corley on March 19, 2021, at BKFC 16. He won the fight via retirement after the fourth round.{{Cite web|url=https://www.badlefthook.com/2021/3/19/22340953/demarcus-corley-bare-knuckle-debut-age-46-wants-show-still-threat-bkfc-16-boxing-news-2021|title = DeMarcus Corley set for bare knuckle boxing debut at age 46, wants to show he's still a threat|date = 19 March 2021}}

Barnett faced Johnny Bedford in a rematch for the vacant BKFC Bantamweight Championship at BKFC 20 on August 20, 2021. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.{{cite web|url=https://mmasucka.com/2021/08/20/bkfc-20-results/|title=BKFC 20 Results|date=August 20, 2021|website=mmasucka.com|author=Andrew Harbaugh}}

=Bantamweight champion=

Barnett faced Jarod Grant for the BKFC interim bantamweight title on July 23, 2022, at BKFC Fight Night: Tampa 2. He won the bout by technical decision to win the interim title.{{cite web|url=https://www.mixedmartialarts.com/news/bkfc-fight-night-tampa-2-results-reggie-barnett-jr-wins-interim-bantamweight-title|title=BKFC FIGHT NIGHT TAMPA 2 RESULTS - REGGIE BARNETT JR. WINS INTERIM BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE|date=July 25, 2022|author=BKFC|publisher=mixedmartialarts.com}}

On December 21, 2022, Bedford announced his retirement from bare-knuckle fighting and other combat sports. Barnett would be promoted to undisputed champion the following month.{{cite web|url=https://mymmanews.com/johnny-bedford-out-antony-retic-to-face-jarod-grant-for-interim-bantamweight-strap/|title=Johnny Bedford Out, Antony Retic to face Jarod Grant for Interim Bantamweight Strap|website=My MMA News|date=2022-03-12|access-date=2023-11-29}}

In his first title defense, Barnett faced Daniel Alvarez at BKFC 39 on March 24, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/2/17/23605103/britain-hart-vs-jenny-savage-2-strawweight-title-fight-set-for-bkfc-39|title=Britain Hart vs. Jenny Savage 2 strawweight title fight set for BKFC 39|author=Mike Heck|date=February 17, 2023|publisher=mmafighting.com}} He won the bout by doctor stoppage in the third round.{{cite web|url=https://bloodyelbow.com/2023/03/25/bkfc-39-results-highlights-reggie-barnett-jr-finishes-frank-alvarez-to-retain-title-mma-news/|title=Bareknuckle or MMA? Barnett Jr. survives illegal throw, Wright hit with spinning back kick at BKFC 39|first=Eddie|last=Mercado|publisher=Bloody Elbow|date=March 25, 2023}}

Barnett faced Keith Richardson for the BKFC Bantamweight Championship at BKFC 52 on October 20, 2023. He lost the fight via second-round technical knockout.{{cite web|url=https://combatpress.com/2023/10/bkfc-52-barnett-vs-richardson-results/|title=BKFC 52 RESULTS: RICHARDSON STOPS BARNETT, EARNS TITLE|publisher=Combat Press|first=Dan|last=Kuhl|date=October 20, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/gallery/bkfc-52-best-photos-from-south-carolina|title=BKFC 52: Best photos from South Carolina|publisher=MMA Junkie|date=October 20, 2023}}