The first ever USA state-sanctioned bare-knuckle boxing match got a bloody ending on Saturday night – and a big response from a rowdy crowd.

Arnold Adams, a 32-year-old MMA heavyweight, pounded ex-UFC fighter D.J. Linderman's face into a bloody mess in front of 2,000 loud and wild fans at a hockey rink that usually hosts birthday parties and skating lessons in Wyoming's capital.

Adams used an effective left jab to win a technical knockout. The ringside doctor stopped the match after the second round.

Worse for wear: DJ Linderman (right) fights on with nasty cuts in his bare knuckle defeat by Arnold Adams. Credit:The Wyoming Tribune Eagle

Tens of thousands more tuned in for the pay-per-view event, which featured 10 bouts, including four heavyweight fights in a tournament format.