Cecy Ulloa Eyes Mexican BKB History vs Andy Nguyen

Cecy Ulloa headlines the co-main event of BKB 59 on September 19 in Tijuana, defending a bid for the BKB Super Flyweight Championship against Andy Nguyen in her first fight on Mexican soil in more than five years.

The Puerto Vallarta native returns home carrying more than just a title shot. A win over Andy Nguyen would make Cecy Ulloa the second Mexican woman to win bare-knuckle gold, joining Paty Juarez in that distinction. Bare Knuckle Boxing's new partnership with Zanfer, the Mexican boxing promotion supplying infrastructure and logistics for the Tijuana card, signals the promotion wants this to be the first of several Mexico dates, not a one-off.

What Is Cecy Ulloa Fighting For At BKB 59?

Cecy Ulloa is fighting Andy Nguyen for the BKB Super Flyweight Championship in the co-main event of BKB 59 in Tijuana on September 19. Ulloa called the return home "a big deal" and said she's ready to bring the belt back to Mexico. She framed the fight as bigger than the title itself, saying she wants to be a trail blazer for bare knuckle in Mexico and "open the door for other athletes." That framing matters given how new the sport still is regionally. Ulloa pointed out that bare knuckle carries a rougher reputation than it deserves, arguing boxing and MMA gloves cause similar cuts and contusions and that the stigma is fading as more Mexican fans get exposed to the discipline.

How Andy Nguyen's MMA Background Changes The Matchup

Andy Nguyen brings a mixed martial arts pedigree as a multiple-time King of the Cage atomweight champion, and Cecy Ulloa expects that to show up in how the fight is contested. Ulloa said she hopes Nguyen is ready to trade, framing herself as the fighter more comfortable engaging in a phone booth. That's a notable comment given Nguyen's cage background often lends itself to a more measured, distance-based approach than the toe-to-toe style bare knuckle tends to reward. If Nguyen tries to use footwork and MMA-honed range instead of standing and trading, it could turn into a stylistic chess match rather than the firefight Ulloa is calling for.

Betting Angle

There's no widely posted line yet on Ulloa vs. Nguyen, but the matchup sets up as a classic aggressor-versus-technician spot that bettors should watch closely once odds open. Ulloa's public comments framing herself as the more willing brawler suggest she wants this fight to stay phone-booth close, which tends to favor the fighter with better output and durability over 90 seconds per round rather than the more technical boxer. Given Nguyen's MMA cage title pedigree, expect oddsmakers to weigh her against Ulloa's bare-knuckle infighting experience, and expect any home-crowd Tijuana energy to be baked into a short Ulloa price if the promotion leans into the hometown storyline.

Ulloa's history adds context to the stakes. She lost a BKFC 4 title fight to Bec Rawlings back in 2019 and said she's been building toward a moment like this ever since. She described that 2019 bout as a learning experience, saying she went in treating it like straight boxing before understanding the strategy specific to bare knuckle. That experience gap, five-plus years removed from a green fighter figuring out the sport to a former title challenger who has fully bought into its nuances, is part of why she sounds so confident heading into Tijuana.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Cecy Ulloa fighting at BKB 59?

Cecy Ulloa is fighting Andy Nguyen for the BKB Super Flyweight Championship in the co-main event of BKB 59 in Tijuana on September 19.

Would a win make Cecy Ulloa a bare-knuckle boxing champion from Mexico?

Yes, a win over Andy Nguyen would make Cecy Ulloa the second Mexican woman to win a bare-knuckle title, following Paty Juarez.

Has Cecy Ulloa fought for a bare-knuckle title before?

Yes, Cecy Ulloa previously challenged Bec Rawlings for a title at BKFC 4 in 2019 and came up short.