# Arnold Adams

Arnold Adams (born July 9, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer. He currently competes in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, where he is the inaugural and a two-time BKFC Heavyweight Champion. As of July 25, 2024, he is tied at #3 in the BKFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.

## Mixed martial arts career

Adams started his professional MMA career in 2008 and competed until 2016. Throughout his career, he compiled a 7-10 professional record.

## Bare-knuckle boxing career
### Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
#### Heavyweight Tournament & BKFC Heavyweight Champion

In his BKFC debut Adams faced DJ Linderman in the Heavyweight Tournament Quarter-Finals, at the inaugural Bare Knuckle FC event held on June 2, 2018. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Heading into the semi-final, Adams faced Joey Beltran at BKFC 2 on August 25, 2018. He won the fight by fourth-round technical knockout. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.
Adams faced Sam Shewmaker in the heavyweight tournament final, at BKFC 3: The Takeover on October 20, 2018. He won the bout via split decision to become the first BKFC heavyweight champion and Police Gazette Heavyweight American Champion.
In his first title defense, Adams faced Chase Sherman at Bare Knuckle FC 7 on August 10, 2019. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

#### Post-title reign

Adams faced Bobo O'Bannon at Bare Knuckle FC 16 on March 19, 2021. He won the fight via first-round knockout. This fight earned him the Knockout of the Night award.
Adams faced Mick Terrill at BKFC 19 on July 23, 2021. He won the bout via third-round knockout.

#### Second title reign

Adams faced defending BKFC World Heavyweight Champion Joey Beltran in a rematch on November 6, 2021, at BKFC Fight Night: New York. He won the bout by unanimous decision, thus becoming BKFC Heavyweight Champion once again.
Adams faced Dillon Cleckler on May 6, 2022, at Bare Knuckle FC 25. He won the bout by knockout in the second round to defend the title. This fight earned him another Fight of the Night award.
Adams faced Alan Belcher at BKFC 36 on February 24, 2023. He lost the title via third-round knockout.
Adams faced Mick Terrill in a rematch for the vacant BKFC Heavyweight Championship on December 2, 2023, at BKFC 56. He lost the bout by fourth-round knockout.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Bare-knuckle boxing

* Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
** BKFC Heavyweight World Champion (Two times; inaugural)
** Police Gazette Heavyweight American Champion (One time)
** Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Joey Beltran 2
** Knockout of the Night (Two times) vs. Bobo O'Bannon and Dillon Cleckler

### Mixed martial arts

* Hoosier Fight Club
** Hoosier FC Heavyweight Championship (One time)
* Fight Club OC
** FCOC Super Heavyweight Championship (One time)

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 17 matches | 7 wins | 10 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 3 |
| By submission | 1 | 2 |
| By decision | 2 | 5 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 7–10 | Don'Tale Mayes | TKO (submission to punches) | HFC 29 | June 4, 2016 | 5 | 3:09 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | Lost the Hoosier FC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–9 | Daniel James | TKO (punches) | HFC 27 | February 6, 2016 | 1 | 2:06 | Michigan City, Indiana, United States | Won the Hoosier FC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–9 | Aaron Noel | KO (knee) | Duneland Classic 9 | October 30, 2015 | 1 | 1:51 | La Porte, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 5–9 | Miodrag Petkovic | TKO (punches) | United Combat League: Cut Throat | September 19, 2015 | 3 | 1:13 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Loss | 4–9 | Leroy Johnson | Decision (unanimous) | Camp Lejeune: For the Leathernecks 4 | September 2, 2015 | 3 | 4:00 | Jacksonville, North Carolina, United States | For the FCOC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 4–8 | William Baptiste | Decision (unanimous) | FCOC: For the Leathernecks IV | May 8, 2015 | 3 | 4:00 | Jacksonville, North Carolina, United States | Won the vacant FCOC Super Heavyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 3–8 | Robert Neal | Decision (unanimous) | Conflict MMA 20: Fight Club Series | September 27, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Macon, Georgia, United States | |
| Loss | 3–7 | Allen Crowder | Decision (unanimous) | RDMMA: Battle in the South 9 | August 2, 2014 | 3 | 4:00 | Wilmington, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 3–6 | Lindsay Rowse | Submission (verbal) | Conflict MMA 17: Havoc at the Civic Center 3 | April 26, 2014 | 1 | 2:38 | Savannah, Georgia, United States | |
| Loss | 2–6 | Allen Crowder | Submission (choke) | RDMMA: Battle in the South 8 | March 22, 2014 | 2 | 0:31 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 2–5 | Tomar Washington | Decision (split) | Conflict MMA: Carolina Cage Fights 16 | February 15, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | North Charleston, South Carolina, United States | |
| Loss | 1–5 | Adrian Henderson | Decision (unanimous) | Conflict MMA: Carolina Cage Fights 15 | December 7, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | North Charleston, South Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 1–4 | Joe Council | TKO (punches) | Conflict MMA: Carolina Cage Fights 13 | September 14, 2013 | 1 | 4:16 | North Charleston, South Carolina, United States | |
| Loss | 0–4 | Brandon Sayles | TKO (punches) | DPP: The Real Deal | January 15, 2010 | 1 | 3:21 | Columbus, Georgia, United States | |
| Loss | 0–3 | John Hawk | Decision (unanimous) | UMMAXX: All Heart, No Fear | August 15, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Akron, Ohio, United States | |
| Loss | 0–2 | Ed Carpenter | Submission (punches) | ISCF: Bad Intentions | December 13, 2008 | 1 | 3:42 | Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Loss | 0–1 | Boban Simic | KO | C3: Domination | November 22, 2008 | 1 | 2:50 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |

## Bare knuckle record

Professional record breakdown :
| 10 matches | 7 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 2 |
| By decision | 2 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 7–3 | Mick Terrill | KO (punches) | BKFC 56 | December 2, 2023 | 4 | 0:47 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | For the vacant BKFC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Loss | 7–2 | Alan Belcher | KO (punches) | BKFC 36 | February 24, 2023 | 2 | 0:34 | Kenner, Louisiana, United States | Lost the BKFC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–1 | Dillon Cleckler | KO (punches) | Bare Knuckle FC 25 | May 6, 2022 | 2 | 0:34 | Orlando, Florida, United States | Defended the BKFC Heavyweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 6–1 | Joey Beltran | Decision (unanimous) | BKFC Fight Night: New York | November 6, 2021 | 5 | 2:00 | Salamanca, New York, United States | Won the BKFC Heavyweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 5–1 | Mick Terrill | KO (punch) | Bare Knuckle FC 19 | July 23, 2021 | 3 | 0:38 | Tampa, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Bobo O'Bannon | TKO (punches) | Bare Knuckle FC 16 | March 19, 2021 | 1 | 1:58 | Biloxi, Mississippi, United States | Knockout of the Night. |
| Loss | 3–1 | Chase Sherman | Decision (unanimous) | Bare Knuckle FC 7 | August 10, 2019 | 5 | 2:00 | Biloxi, Mississippi, United States | Lost the BKFC Heavyweight Championship & Police Gazette Heavyweight American Championship. |
| Win | 3–0 | Sam Shewmaker | Decision (split) | Bare Knuckle FC 3 | October 20, 2018 | 5 | 2:00 | Biloxi, Mississippi, United States | Heavyweight Tournament Final, won the vacant BKFC Heavyweight Championship and vacant Police Gazette Heavyweight American Championship |
| Win | 2–0 | Joey Beltran | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Bare Knuckle FC 2: A New Era | August 25, 2018 | 4 | 0:09 | Biloxi, Mississippi, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | D.J. Linderman | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Bare Knuckle FC 1 | June 2, 2018 | 2 | 2:00 | Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States | |