Sawyer "Diesel" Depee: Montana's BKFC Cruiserweight Knockout Artist
Sawyer "Diesel" Depee is an American bare knuckle boxer from Lolo, Montana who fights at cruiserweight in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. He holds a reported 5-3 record and earned a shot at the vacant cruiserweight world title against UFC veteran Chris Camozzi at BKFC 67 in October 2024 after stringing together a run of first-round knockouts.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sawyer Depee |
| Nickname | Diesel |
| Hometown | Lolo, Montana, USA |
| Weight Class | Cruiserweight / Light Heavyweight |
| BKFC Record | Reported as 5-3 |
| Debut | 2021 |
| Notable Bout | vs. Chris Camozzi, BKFC 67 (vacant cruiserweight title) |
| Organization | BKFC |
Overview
Depee made his professional bare knuckle debut with BKFC in 2021 and built his career out of Lolo, a small community in western Montana near Missoula. He fights in the cruiserweight range, listed at around 72 inches tall with a 75-inch reach, and represents the kind of regional, blue-collar competitor that has populated BKFC's ranks since the promotion's early years.
Away from the ring, Depee has been described in local Montana coverage as an outdoorsman and a "girl dad" who spends time hunting, fishing and shooting with his daughter. That grounded, small-town image became part of how regional outlets framed his rise toward a world title shot.
BKFC Career
Depee competed exclusively under the BKFC banner, fighting his way up the cruiserweight ladder against opponents including Gabriel "Hands of Stone" Mota at BKFC 44 and James Dennis on the promotion's Montana cards. The defining stretch of his career came when he reeled off three consecutive first-round knockouts, a run that lifted him from gatekeeper status into title contention.
That form earned him a place in the main event of BKFC 67 on October 25, 2024, at the Denver Coliseum, where he faced UFC veteran Chris Camozzi for the vacant BKFC world cruiserweight championship. The opportunity was the biggest of Depee's career and the first time a fighter from his corner of Montana had reached that stage in the promotion.
The fight did not go his way. Camozzi landed a heavy right hand and scored a knockout at 1:06 of the opening round, claiming the title and dropping Depee to a reported 5-3. It was the second straight title attempt Camozzi had needed to land the belt, and the speed of the finish underlined how thin the margins are at cruiserweight.
Fighting Style
Depee is a power puncher first. His pre-title run was built almost entirely on early stoppages, which marked him as a fighter who looks to end bouts quickly rather than grind through full distance. In the short-round, no-clinch BKFC format, that knockout-hunting approach can carry a fighter a long way, and it was the engine behind his climb up the division.
The flip side showed against Camozzi: a fight decided by who lands the first clean heavy shot can end either way in seconds, and against an opponent with comparable power, Depee's aggressive style left little margin for error. His listed reach gives him range to work behind, but his identity in the ring remains that of a finisher.
Notable Fights
| Date | Opponent | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 25, 2024 | Chris Camozzi | BKFC 67 | L - KO Rd 1 (vacant cruiserweight title) |
Depee's earlier wins, including his three-fight first-round knockout streak and bouts against Gabriel Mota and James Dennis, built the record that carried him into the Camozzi title fight. Some undercard results are reported rather than fully documented across public databases.
Legacy
Depee's career sits among BKFC's regional contenders rather than its champions, but his run to a world title shot from a town the size of Lolo speaks to how the promotion has built its base. By stacking first-round finishes, he turned himself from a gatekeeper into a main-event fighter and gave Montana fans a competitor to follow on the national stage.
The loss to Camozzi closed one chapter, but at cruiserweight a single heavy hand can reopen the title picture quickly. For context on where Depee fits, see the best BKFC fighters of all time, the promotion's pay guide, and fellow cruiserweight Quentin Henry.
FAQ
What is Sawyer Depee's BKFC record?
Depee's bare knuckle record is reported as 5-3, all under BKFC since his 2021 debut. The figure dropped from 5-2 after his title loss to Chris Camozzi.
Did Sawyer Depee win a BKFC title?
No. Depee challenged Chris Camozzi for the vacant cruiserweight world championship at BKFC 67 in October 2024 and lost by first-round knockout.
Where is Sawyer Depee from?
Depee is from Lolo, Montana, near Missoula, and has fought on BKFC cards held in his home state.
Why is Sawyer Depee called "Diesel"?
The nickname fits his style as a heavy-handed pressure fighter who built his title run on a streak of first-round knockouts.
