Cody East targets early finish against Ike Villanueva at BKB Biloxi after leaner camp

Cody “Freight Train” East is confident he will not need all five rounds to defeat Ike Villanueva when the two meet at BKB Bally’s Fightnight in Biloxi, Mississippi on October 23, 2026. The 38-year-old Albuquerque native, competing at 225 pounds, says a smoother training camp has him arriving in the best shape of his bare-knuckle career.

East, a 6-foot-3 veteran with two decades of combat sports experience, cut nearly 30 pounds before his previous fight. This time around, he arrived only eight pounds over the limit. “My weight came down really nicely,” he said. “Last time, I cut a lot of weight before the fight — almost 30 pounds. This time I didn’t have to do that. I was only eight pounds over.”

Much of the credit goes to a revamped support structure at Jackson Wink MMA, where East has been working under coach Mike Winklejohn alongside a new strength and conditioning team at Forge Fitness. The changes, he says, have improved his cardiovascular endurance, strength and flexibility heading into the contest.

A notable addition to his preparation has been training alongside fellow MMA fighter Josh Hokit, who is preparing for a UFC title fight. The two exchanged disciplines during camp — East helping Hokit with MMA rounds while Hokit assisted East with bare-knuckle-specific work. “I was fortunate enough to get a lot of work in with Josh Hokit,” East said. “He’s getting ready for his title fight in the UFC. I’d help him with some MMA rounds, and then he’d help me with some bare-knuckle rounds.”

East clarified that those sessions do not involve striking with exposed knuckles. Instead, the focus is on the tactical demands of bare-knuckle boxing — clinch fighting, compact striking and operating without the option of takedowns.

On his opponent, East is respectful but pointed. Villanueva is an experienced combat sports veteran whom East acknowledges as tough and well-conditioned. However, East believes sustained pressure will ultimately tell. “I can tell you he’s a tough guy. He’s got experience. He’s been around. He looks in shape. I expect a good fight out of him. But at the same time, I’ve also seen him quit in some fights. When I push him enough, I expect him to look for a way out.”

Beyond this specific matchup, East has spoken about finding a genuine affinity for bare-knuckle boxing after years across multiple combat disciplines. He is particularly drawn to BKB’s compact fighting area, known as the Trigon, and the format’s emphasis on constant engagement. “There’s nowhere to run,” he said. “It’s straight to action. I enjoy that. I don’t have to wrestle nobody.”