'The Russian Hammer' Artem Lobov kicked off his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship career with a hard-earned decision win over fellow former UFC star Jason 'The Kid' Knight, but as his pics show, he didn't come out unscathed.
The Ireland-based Russian fighter took on Knight in the main event of the Bare Knuckle FC 5 event at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi.
And the pair went toe to toe for five full rounds in a bout that left men cut, battered and bruised after an action-packed contest that won the respect of those watching, as well as each other.
Lobov ran out the unanimous decision winner, earning scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 48-46 to claim the victory.
WARNING: GRAPHIC PHOTOS
The lead-up to Lobov's Bare Knuckle debut was overshadowed by a skirmish between The Russian Hammer and former two-division world boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi, who has also signed to the promotion.
Also on rt.com 'Malignaggi was too easy for McGregor, he won't be a problem for me': Artem Lobov (VIDEO)The pair look set to be on a collision course for a bout later this year after Malignaggi slapped Lobov during a media event earlier in the week.
The Bare Knuckle 5 event on Saturday night featured a host of former UFC stars who enjoyed a mixed night of results at the event.
Former castmate on The Ultimate Fighter Season 1, Chris Leben, claimed a 25-second knockout victory in the night's co-main event bout while another former TUF housemate, Johnny Bedford, earned a KO of his own in the fourth round of his contest.
It wasn't such a good night for former UFC heavyweight Chase Sherman, who fought opponent Sam Shewmaker to a split draw, despite winning all five rounds on one judge's scorecard. The overall scores read 50-45 (Sherman), 48-48 (Shewmaker), 48-48.