BKFC 73 Italy Preview: Camozzi vs Bicchi Predictions & Main Card Bets

 BKFC makes its debut in Italy with a high-stakes event live on DAZN. BKFC 73 Italy (April 26, 2025, 1:00 PM EDT) is a historic first for the promotion – the first official event on Italian soil. The card is headlined by undefeated Cruiserweight champion Chris Camozzi (3-0) defending his title against local star Andrea “Italian Thunder” Bicchi (4-0), an all-Italian cruiserweight showdown. In the co-main event, European Welterweight titans Rico Franco (9-0) and Bare-Knuckle legend Jimmy “King” Sweeney (15-4) meet in the rubber match of their trilogy for the vacant European title. Fans can expect intense, gritty action throughout the main card – multiple fighters are unbeaten, two belts are on the line, and home heroes feature heavily. We break down each main-card fight with odds, predictions, and best bets.

Main Card Fight Predictions & Betting Breakdown

Chris Camozzi vs Andrea Bicchi — Cruiserweight (Title Bout)

• Fighters: Chris Camozzi (3-0) vs Andrea Bicchi (4-0)

• Odds: Camozzi –558, Bicchi +350 (Camozzi heavy favorite)

• Weight: Cruiserweight (205 lbs) – Championship bout for the vacant title.

• Prediction: Camozzi by decision. The seasoned Camozzi uses his 78″ reach and UFC-honed skills to outpoint the shorter, aggressive Bicchi. Camozzi’s grappling background and clinch work should neutralize Bicchi’s pace, yielding a clear victory on points.

• Best Bet: Camozzi moneyline. Backing the veteran champ is the smart play – Camozzi should win comfortably. A decision-line prop (e.g. Camozzi by UD) also offers solid value given the styles, but the straightforward moneyline is safest.

Rico Franco vs Jimmy Sweeney — Welterweight (European Title Trilogy)

• Fighters: Rico Franco (9-0) vs Jimmy Sweeney (15-4)

• Odds: Franco +107, Sweeney –143 (Sweeney slight favorite)

• Weight: Welterweight (170 lbs) – European Title. Third fight of their trilogy, each is 1-1.

• Prediction: Sweeney by decision. The ageless Irish legend Sweeney (bare-knuckle veteran and multi-weight champion) will lean on experience and volume. Franco, a relentless British striker coming off a health battle, is tough but Sweeney’s ring IQ and pressure should edge him late. Expect a close but clear win for Sweeney in a gritty war.

• Best Bet: Sweeney moneyline. Sweeney’s pedigree makes him a reliable pick. Given Franco’s resilience and the split odds, consider also a “fight goes distance” prop if available (both men are durable), but Sweeney ML is the primary play.

Haze Hepi vs Steve Banks — Heavyweight Bout

• Fighters: Haze Hepi (4-0) vs Steve “Panda” Banks (4-2)

• Odds: Hepi –475, Banks +310 (Hepi heavy favorite)

• Weight: Heavyweight (no limit) – Featured co-main.

• Prediction: Hepi by decision. Australian rookie Hepi (a powerhouse boxer turned BKFC star) is undefeated and favored by even Conor McGregor for a reason. He will pressure older, former Muay Thai champion Banks relentlessly. Banks has legit power, but two recent losses indicate vulnerability. Expect Hepi to outwork Banks and win a clear decision.

• Best Bet: Hepi moneyline. Hepi should dominate, so locking in the heavy favorite is wise. (With odds as short as –475, small returns only, so wager conservatively.) If betting value is needed, Over 1.5 rounds could be smarter – Banks isn’t likely to fold early, so a late stoppage or decision is likely, making a “goes distance” prop appealing.

Ernesto Papa vs Toni Estorer — Cruiserweight Bout

• Fighters: Ernesto Papa (0-0) vs Toni Estorer (1-1)

• Odds: Papa +148, Estorer –200 (Estorer favorite)

• Weight: Cruiserweight (~205 lbs).

• Prediction: Estorer by decision. Italian MMA/kickboxer Papa is a powerful local debutant but inexperienced in bare knuckles. German striker Estorer has fought BKFC and edged a veteran. Estorer’s boxing and prior experience give him an edge; he’ll likely weather Papa’s aggression and win on points.

• Best Bet: Estorer moneyline. Despite local hype, backing the seasoned Estorer is the expert play. Papa’s underdog line is tempting (+148), so a small stake on Papa ML could be a contrarian value pick, but safest money is on Estorer to prevail.

Navid Mansouri vs Ruslan Tokhtarov — Light Heavyweight Bout

• Fighters: Navid Mansouri (0-0) vs Ruslan Tokhtarov (1-0)

• Odds: Mansouri –135, Tokhtarov +102 (Mansouri slight favorite)

• Weight: Light Heavyweight (~195 lbs).

• Prediction: Tokhtarov by decision. England’s Mansouri is a former boxing champ making his BKFC debut, whereas Austria’s Tokhtarov is a world-champion kickboxer with heavy hands. Both are technical strikers, but Tokhtarov’s aggressiveness should edge this one. Expect Tokhtarov to tag the older Mansouri repeatedly en route to a close win.

• Best Bet: Tokhtarov moneyline. His modest underdog line (+102) is too good to ignore. As a value play, Tokhtarov ML offers upside if he pulls the upset. (Mansouri is the safer favorite, so a small hedge on Mansouri + odds could also be considered, but expert lean: Tokhtarov.)

Jindrich Byrtus vs Arbi Chakaev — Cruiserweight Bout

• Fighters: Jindrich Byrtus (0-0) vs Arbi Chakaev (1-0)

• Odds: Byrtus +109, Chakaev –145 (Chakaev favorite)

• Weight: Cruiserweight (~205 lbs).

• Prediction: Chakaev by decision. Czech prospect Byrtus is an up-and-comer known for smart counterpunching, but Austrian Arbi Chakaev is a pro boxing champion making his BKFC debut with power to spare. Chakaev’s skill and finishing instinct should outmatch the rookie Byrtus. Look for Chakaev to win a competitive fight, likely via late stoppage or clear decision.

• Best Bet: Chakaev moneyline. The seasoned Chakaev at –145 is the stronger play. Byrtus +109 is tempting for a sleeper pick (and could land in a firefight), but expert consensus favors Chakaev’s grind-it-out victory.

Jesus De Nazaret vs Tomas Melis — Light Heavyweight Bout

• Fighters: Jesus De Nazaret (0-0) vs Tomas Melis (0-0)

• Odds: Nazaret +170, Melis –232 (Melis heavy favorite)

• Weight: Light Heavyweight (~195 lbs).

• Prediction: Melis by TKO/decisive win. Spanish newcomer De Nazaret is entirely untested, whereas Slovakia’s Melis is a veteran MMA fighter who has even held a bare-knuckle belt in Europe. Melis will press the action and look for a finish. Expect a one-sided affair – likely Melis overwhelms Nazaret late in the fight.

• Best Bet: Melis moneyline. At –232 the favorite is almost a lock; wager small but confidently on Melis. (Nazaret’s +170 is enticing for a longshot upset, but with no experience vs Melis’s pedigree, the smart money is on Melis.)

Nicole Schaefer vs Sara Bitto — Women’s Bantamweight Bout

• Fighters: Nicole Schaefer (1-0) vs Sara Bitto (1-0)

• Odds: Schaefer –191, Bitto +142 (Schaefer favorite)

• Weight: Women’s Bantamweight (~135 lbs).

• Prediction: Schaefer by decision. Germany’s Schaefer is a K-1 Muay Thai champ and displayed precise striking in her debut. Italy’s Bitto, the first Italian woman in BKFC, is game but less experienced. Schaefer’s sharper boxing and reach advantage should earn her a unanimous decision over Bitto’s pressure.

• Best Bet: Schaefer moneyline. The edge goes to the more polished striker, making Schaefer ML the top pick. Bitto +142 is intriguing for a home-crowd upset, but Schaefer’s methodical win is most likely.

Walter Pugliesi vs Dominik Herold — Cruiserweight Bout

• Fighters: Walter Pugliesi (0-0) vs Dominik Herold (1-0)

• Odds: Pugliesi +239, Herold –344 (Herold dominant favorite)

• Weight: Cruiserweight (~205 lbs).

• Prediction: Herold by TKO. Italian MMA veteran Pugliesi is making his BKFC debut against Czech knockout artist Herold, who is undefeated with multiple belts in regional promotions. Herold’s power and experience in the squared circle make him overwhelming; he’ll likely finish Pugliesi by stoppage or one-sided decision.

• Best Bet: Herold moneyline. This is a near-100% play – Herold’s –344 line is steep, but he should deliver. Given the disparity, consider a small wager on Pugliesi at +239 for fun, but experts overwhelmingly back Herold to take this easily.

FAQ

• What are the BKFC 73 predictions? BKFC 73 Italy is expected to follow the odds: Chris Camozzi is a heavy favorite over Andrea Bicchi, and we expect Camozzi to win via decision. In the co-main, Jimmy Sweeney is favoured to beat Rico Franco. Other favorites likely to win include Haze Hepi, Toni Estorer, Ruslan Tokhtarov, Arbi Chakaev, Tomas Melis, Nicole Schaefer, and Dominik Herold. We’ve broken down each matchup above with our expert picks (Camozzi, Sweeney, Hepi, Estorer, Tokhtarov, Chakaev, Melis, Schaefer, Herold).

• What are the Camozzi vs Bicchi odds? The current Camozzi vs Bicchi odds show Camozzi as a heavy favorite (around –550 on the moneyline) and Bicchi as a sizable underdog (around +350). This reflects Camozzi’s experience and status as champion. We predict Camozzi to win the title bout.

• What are the best BKFC bets today? The best BKFC bets depend on value vs risk. Key picks for BKFC 73 are the favorites we listed: Camozzi ML, Sweeney ML, Hepi ML, Estorer ML, Tokhtarov ML, Chakaev ML, Melis ML, Schaefer ML, and Herold ML. If you want some higher-upside plays, consider Bicchi +350, Pugliesi +239, or Tokhtarov +102, but the expert consensus is on the listed favorites. Always bet responsibly and compare odds across books.

• What are the BKFC picks? Our expert BKFC picks for the main card (based on analysis above) are: Camozzi, Sweeney, Hepi, Estorer, Tokhtarov, Chakaev, Melis, Schaefer, and Herold. Each is chosen to win and, where noted, the predicted method (usually decision or TKO). These picks reflect both the fighters’ form and fight conditions at BKFC 73.

• How do bare knuckle boxing odds work? Bare knuckle boxing odds work the same as in any combat sport. A negative moneyline (e.g. –150) means that fighter is favored; a positive line (e.g. +200) is the underdog. Odds reflect the probability of each fighter winning. For example, Camozzi –558 vs Bicchi +350 means Camozzi is heavily expected to win. Always shop around for the best odds and use knowledgeable analysis like ours to find value.

• Who are the expert BKFC picks? The “expert” picks (like those we provide here) are typically based on fighter resumes, styles, and recent form. For BKFC 73, experts lean on veterans and proven strikers: Camozzi, Sweeney, Hepi, Estorer, and the other favorites listed above. These picks represent the consensus “best bets” among analysts, but upsets can and do happen. Use them as a guide along with your own research.

• How to watch BKFC 73 live? BKFC 73 Italy airs live on DAZN at 1:00 PM EDT on April 26, 2025. DAZN subscribers can stream the event worldwide. (In Italy, the venue is Palazzo Wanny in Florence.) The event will also likely stream on BKFC’s official platforms for subscribers. Make sure your DAZN subscription is active, and tune in on fight day to catch all the action live.