A 26-year-old American is in a medically induced coma after getting hit with a throat punch during a recent bare-knuckle boxing match

• Francesco Ricchi, 26, was placed in a medically induced coma after a weekend bare-knuckle fight.
• Ricchi defeated Noah Cutter in the third round of a match at the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 14 event in Florida.
• Cutter later said on social media that he had learned his opponent had been taken to a hospital because of a throat punch that caused complications.
• "Obviously accidental," Cutter said.

A 26-year-old American named Francesco Ricchi is in a medically induced coma that is being attributed to a throat punch from a recent bare-knuckle boxing match.

The bout took place at the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship 14 event in Miami on Friday.

Noah Cutter lost in the third round to Ricchi but said on social media that he had learned his opponent had been taken to the hospital.

"Prayers and best wishes to my opponent Francesco," Cutter said, according to MMA Fighting.

"I've been informed he's in the hospital in a medically induced coma due to bleeding in his lungs from a hematoma in his trachea due to a throat punch during the fight."

Cutter said it was "obviously accidental," adding: "We come out here to hurt each other but I never want to see this for an opponent. Prayers from my family. Heal up."

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's president, David Feldman, sent a statement to MMA Fighting.

"First and foremost our thoughts are with Francesco and his family at this time as we pray for a quick and full recovery," Feldman said.

"The injury did not deter Francesco from a victorious result on Friday night but complications during the surgery at the hospital have resulted in a greater issue to his health."

BKFC is a young combat-sports company but has made big strides through the years.

It was dubbed "the bloodiest show in town" by Insider in 2019, has held an event featuring Paulie Malignaggi and Artem Lobov, and, this past weekend, created headlines for a three-second knockout, the fastest KO in the company's three-year history.

• Read more:
• Floyd Mayweather announces a return to the ring for a boxing exhibition on February 28
• One of the UFC's scariest knockout artists has warned nobody is 'bulletproof,' and says he'll KO everyone in his weight class
• Rafael dos Anjos sliced Paul Felder's face open in a bloody 5-round war, then called-out Conor McGregor for a 155-pound fist-fight
• An American called Khaos Williams scored a 30-second KO and UFC boss Dana White said it's 'one of the most vicious' he's seen
• A bare-knuckle boxer scored a 3-second knockout Friday and set a new record for the fastest KO in BKFC history