Event: BKFC 85: Trout vs. Palomino 2

Date: Friday, December 5, 2025

Location: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, FL

While the main event grabs the headlines, the undercard of BKFC 85 offers some of the most intriguing spots for bare knuckle boxing betting. One matchup that has caught the eye of sharp bettors is the flyweight bout between the aggressive Matt “Rambo” Russo and the southpaw wrestler Justin Samples.

Both men are looking to bounce back from mixed results, and their clashing styles—a Philly shell counter-puncher vs. a compact southpaw wrestler—make this a fascinating tactical battle.

Tale of the Tape

Fighter Profile: Matt Russo

Russo is a fighter defined by volatility—both in and out of the ring. After his highly publicized removal from BKFC 57 due to reported legal issues involving alleged fentanyl distribution, Russo has returned with a point to prove.

The Good:

• Counter Punching: Russo likes to lean back in his stance, baiting opponents into range before firing back. When he’s on, he shows flashes of legitimate boxing defense.
• The Left Hook: This is his money punch. He feels safest pulling back and firing the check left hook. If Samples overcommits, he will walk right into this.
• Double Jab: When he is disciplined, Russo sets up his attacks with a crisp double jab. It’s his best tool for controlling distance, though he doesn’t use it enough.

The Bad:

• Defensive Gaps: Russo attempts to use a “Philly Shell” style defense, but he often lacks the discipline to make it work. He drops his hands frequently, leaving him exposed to overhands.
• Wild Swings: He has a tendency to abandon technique for wild, looping shots. While dangerous, these leave him wide open to being countered down the middle.
• The “Justin Street” Factor: In his fight against Justin Street in March, Russo was winning the exchanges until a bad cut led to a doctor stoppage. He didn’t react well to Street’s mid-fight adjustments, raising questions about his fight IQ when Plan A fails.

Fighter Profile: Justin Samples

Samples comes from a wrestling background, which gives him a unique movement set for bare knuckle. He is a southpaw who is comfortable ducking under shots, but his boxing offense is still a work in progress.

The Good:

• Southpaw Advantage: Samples has decent footwork for a wrestler. He is compact and hard to hit clean because he constantly changes levels.
• The Hook: Like many wrestlers-turned-boxers, Samples loves the hook. If he trusts it and lets it go, he has the power to hurt Russo.
• Durability: His compact style allows him to “duck and cover” effectively. In bare knuckle boxing, making yourself a small target is a legitimate defense.

The Bad:

• Boxing IQ: There are clear holes in his game. He often doesn’t know what to do after throwing his cross, leaving him frozen and exposed.
• Passive Offense: He has flashes of good combinations but doesn’t seem confident enough to chain them together. He needs to add body work to his game to slow down a mover like Russo, but he rarely goes downstairs.
• Capitalization: Samples likely lacks the ring awareness to punish Russo’s wild swings. Where a seasoned boxer would see an opening, Samples might just reset.

The Matchup: Chaos vs. Structure

This fight comes down to whether Russo can keep his composure. Samples is a “compact” target—he ducks, he weaves, and he stays low. This is frustrating for a head-hunter like Russo.

However, Samples’ fatal flaw is his hesitation. He is a southpaw with a wrestler’s base, which should theoretically trouble Russo, but Samples rarely throws enough volume to steal rounds. He freezes after his power shots, and that is exactly the moment Russo likes to fire his counter left hook.

Russo’s “lean back” style is risky, but Samples doesn’t have the reach or the jab to exploit it. Expect Russo to bait Samples into lunging, then tag him on the entry.

Bare Knuckle Boxing Betting Verdict

For those looking at bare knuckle boxing betting markets, the value lies with Russo. While his defense is porous, his offensive output is significantly higher than Samples’. Samples is too hesitant to win a decision in a sport that rewards aggression.

Russo has shown he can bounce back from adversity (the arrest, the cut vs. Street). He will likely be the one pressing the action, and in a close fight, judges favor the aggressor.

The Pick: Matt Russo to Win