News UPDATE: Justin Thornton who was brutally KO'd at BKFC 20 last August has passed away

[Poatan Power]

I've always hated this take. These fighters aren't engaged in an altruistic pursuit. They're doing it for a paycheck. It is, quite frankly, a stupid way to make a living—as this incident harshly demonstrates—but it's their choice.

People do things for a paycheck almost universally. Some professions are more admirable than others for various reasons depending on your worldview.

 

[jeff7b9]

Shame on the promoter as well. 30lbs smaller and on a 5 fight losing streak and they give him a fighter with a combined fight record of 15-1

It was a clear cut squash match. There's no way a guy with a 6-18 record who recent fought at 175lb catchweight should be fighting 240lb 15-1 guy

They purposely sent that guy out there to get knocked out brutally

That's fucked up.

Also fuck the sanctioning body.

Fucked up all around for putting that man in such a lopsided scenario.

 

[Sticko]

yes. Are you new to prizefighting or something. Those guys are bodies they know what they sign up for.

this is a horrible situation but this isn’t caused by a punch it’s the way he fell down.

As a promoter or a commissioner, if you know one fighter is very unskilled and unprepared and almost certain to get knocked out by a much more skilled opponent, you aren't doing enough to protect that fighter.
Terrible matchmaking. Fight should not have happened. Thornton should not have been allowed to fight.

 

[Bowel-forged Stool]

Sad news. Hope to see a full recovery and him returning to the “sport” he loves ASAP

 

[CatchnShoot]

I'd have to see how he fell, but my guess is he had a pre-existing injury to his C-Spine and maybe a combo of the punch and falling on his face finished off a fracture and damaged the spine and/or caused inflammation around it.

lol.... I'd have to see how he fell.... but here's my absolutely garbage opinion on the injury.

You played yo'self.

 

[TCE]

lol.... I'd have to see how he fell.... but here's my absolutely garbage opinion on the injury.

You played yo'self.

Lol, his post made me laugh as well.

Why even comment and "guess" what happened when you haven't even seen the footage?

 

[SaltedVinegarfootstomps]

So the winner of this fight is the bad guy from bloodsport. He kills his blatantly overmatched opponents because killing is badass.

 

[WHITEBELT JESUS]

 

[CatchnShoot]

So the winner of this fight is the bad guy from bloodsport. He kills his blatantly overmatched opponents because killing is badass.

100% not Cleckler’s fault, he was just being the badass he’s paid to b

 

[Poatan Power]

Lol, his post made me laugh as well.

Why even comment and "guess" what happened when you haven't even seen the footage?

lol.... I'd have to see how he fell.... but here's my absolutely garbage opinion on the injury.

You played yo'self.

So, I've watched the footage now.

The reason I made the comment

"but my guess is he had a pre-existing injury to his C-Spine and maybe a combo of the punch and falling on his face finished off a fracture and damaged the spine and/or caused inflammation around it"

is because the mechanism of injury (a ground level fall following a knockout punch) is extremely, extremely, extremely unlikely to result in spinal damage of any kind, God forbid an injury resulting in intubation and paralysis... that could be permanent?! That's something you see in motorcycle accidents, falls off of rooftops/ high ladders or high speed MVA's, brutal batteries with hammers/pipes/etc., suicide attempts by swan dive off of multiple story buildings, etc.

I guess I could have been more precise with my words but my point was the mechanism of injury didn't make sense to the injury cited. but after watching the footage it's still exactly what I thought. I just assumed you knew by my username that I'm an ER/ICU trauma RN and would immediately value my twitter level of analysis.

 

[The_Renaissance]

While I agree with everyone calling out the horrible matchmaking, just to add 1 little wrinkle to this: Justin Thornton and Dillon Cleckler had fought before.

They met in MMA once, when Cleckler was 2-0 as a professional and Thornton was 3-7. MMADive says Cleckler won by KO/TKO but doesn't say which round.

Also Cleckler's 15-1 record is counting all his pro MMA, amateur MMA, and pro bareknuckle experience together.

The really concerning thing is Thornton's record shows he's been finished at least 8 times in the first (4 subs, 4 KO/TKOs). Tapology's data is incomplete so the actual total is probably higher than 8.

Thornton actually lost by KO/TKO in Walt Harris's first pro fight and in Chase Sherman's second pro fight. He's been a professional tomato can for a long time.

This guy has no idea how to fight.

Yeah it's sad for him but sometimes you have to address the elephant in the room - some people are just shit at fighting and should not be allowed to continue fighting and getting themselves badly hurt.

 

[lrgfsh]

He died.

 

[Swarthy]

Shame on the promoter as well. 30lbs smaller and on a 5 fight losing streak and they give him a fighter with a combined fight record of 15-1

It was a clear cut squash match. There's no way a guy with a 6-18 record who recent fought at 175lb catchweight should be fighting 240lb 15-1 guy

They purposely sent that guy out there to get knocked out brutally

Your right man. But at the same time he signed on to fight. Where do you draw the line of responsibility. The promotion for offering the fight? Everyone in his camp for allowing it to go forward? Or himself for agreeing?

Fucking sucks. Wish him all the best in recovery and heart goes out to his loved ones and fans.

Things like this really are heart wrenching and shitty.

 

[Swarthy]

He died.

Wait really?

 

[storeybuckle]

Shame on the promoter as well. 30lbs smaller and on a 5 fight losing streak and they give him a fighter with a combined fight record of 15-1

It was a clear cut squash match. There's no way a guy with a 6-18 record who recent fought at 175lb catchweight should be fighting 240lb 15-1 guy

They purposely sent that guy out there to get knocked out brutally

That’s terrible

 

[Volador]

He died.

Source?

 

[Gio]

Source?

 

[JayPettryMMA]

Was looking for this thread to post in it. Sad to hear this.

 

[HockeyBjj]

I watched the KO. The way he fell onto his neck looked to be the worst part.

Reminded me of hockey someone hit from behind and going head first into the boards, and the neck just compressing in ways the spine can’t take. We have a poor Minnesota highschool kid get paralyzed about once a year from that type of neck injury.

RIP. Unfortunately it seemed only a matter of time before a Bare Knuckle fatality with the sleezy matchmaking being the biggest danger.

 

[Jogurt]

Sad news, RIP Justin. Thanks for the fights