Gustavo Balart debuted in ONE Championship in 2019 and quickly found life difficult on the global stage. Three straight losses for the Cuban Olympian was a wake-up call that would see him return with a force. After 2020, Balart stepped back onto the global stage with a renewed focus. With four straight wins, he has secured a shot at the ONE Interim Strawweight MMA World Title at ONE Fight Night 24 against Jarred Brooks. It is all he has ever wanted. “This is my dream. I have been working for this all my life,” Balart said to ONE. “What I left behind is so much. I worked really hard to be here and the time is now. There is no tomorrow. I am really happy to have this opportunity to fight. That night I am going to give it my all.” “All I know is that on August 2, ONE Championship will have a new king in the 125-pound division.  His name is Gustavo Balart Marin.”  The interim title will position the victor to be next for Joshua Pacio. However, Balart is open to defending the interim title if the Filipino cannot return from injury right away. The Cuban wants to compete against the best of the best, whoever it may be. “Winning the interim belt will give me a chance to face whoever is next on the list, including the undisputed champion. My job is to try to be the new champion, and to do that, I need to defeat anyone in my path,” the Cuban remarked. “Personally, I don’t care about names. I will go after whoever is the champion. It could be Pacio, could be another fighter, but he is the one with the belt, and that is why I must face him.” Brooks dominated the strawweight division upon his arrival, in large part due to his wrestling. That is an area Balart believes he can control with his decorated background. On August 2, he thinks the ultimate deciding factor will come down to who controls the ring with their grappling. “I think that whoever wrestles the best that day will be victorious. He will have a hard time trying to take me down. He will be tested. I will match his level and intensity,” Balart stated. “I am going to defend myself. I am not going to let him take me down. No way. I will counterattack. I don’t think he is going to get frustrated, but if he is trying and trying, he is going to make things easier for me.” While Brooks has talked about going for the knockout, Balart does not believe the talk. He still expects the same “Monkey God” to arrive in Bangkok. If that is the case, Balart promises to be ready to show the world he has finally arrived on top of the strawweight mountain. “He is going to try to do what he does best. He likes taking fighters to the ground,” Balart said. “When he tries to do that to me and realizes that he cannot do it, he will also find out my striking is better than his. It will be the end for him.” ONE Fight Night 24: Brooks vs. Balart airs at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Friday, August 2, on Prime Video for free to all Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.

It's fight week in London! Cage Warriors 174 returns to the capital with a stacked card and the first of our $50,000 PrizeFighter tournaments! The best of UK, Europe and beyond are set to collide in London's iconic indigo at The O2, as we kick off an eight-day stretch of elite MMA culminating in  CW 175  and UFC 304 in Manchester. The crown jewel of CW 174 is the PrizeFighter tournament, as Alexander Lööf, Aidan Stephen, Shirzad Qadrian and Weslley Maia - along with alternates Michele Martignoni and Alessandro Giordano vie for a huge cash prize, and a shot at the bantamweight title. Elsewhere on the card, indigo legend Jordan Vucenic moves up in weight to face Polish veteran Adrian Kępa. Former middleweight champion James Webb moves to light heavyweight to face Vale Tudo specialist Adam Biegański, while Ryan Shelley, Nik Bagley, Milad Ahady and Thomas Paull all look to take another step up the featherweight ladder. In a late change to the fight card, the interim flyweight title bout between Amir Malekpour and Nicolas Leblond will now not take place, after Malekpour was forced to withdraw on medical grounds shortly after accepting the fight. Leblond remains on the card in a bantamweight contest against newcomer Gerasimos Sioutis, who carries a four-fight winning streak into the bout. The final CW 174 card is as follows… Cage Warriors 174: London | LIVE on  UFC Fight Pass Main Card – 12:30 (PT) | 15:30 (ET) | 20:30 (BST) | 21:30 (CEST) Bantamweight PrizeFighter Final 159 lb Catchweight Adrian Kępa vs Jordan Vucenic Flyweight Ger Harris vs Jawany Scott Light Heavyweight Adam Biegański vs James Webb Featherweight Ryan Shelley vs Nik Bagley Featherweight Milad Ahady vs Thomas Paull Prelims – 09:30 (PT) | 12:30 (ET) | 17:30 (BST) | 18:30 (CEST) Welterweight Rafael Aronov vs Jamie Richardson Bantamweight Imad Bouamri vs Jimmy Quinn Bantamweight Gheorghe Grozav vs Tommy Brunning Welterweight Sergio Gavinelli vs Craig Edwards Bantamweight PrizeFighter Semi-Final Aidan Stephen vs Alexander Lööf Bantamweight PrizeFighter Semi-Final Shirzad Qadrian vs Weslley Maia Bantamweight PrizeFighter Alternate Bout Alessandro Giordano vs Michele Martignoni Early Prelims – 07:00 (PT) | 10:00 (ET) | 15:00 (BST) | 16:00 (CEST) Bantamweight Gerasimos Sioutis vs Nicolas Leblond Strawweight Jennifer Trioreau vs Rhi-Rhi Hudson Lightweight Daniel Crooks-May vs Jordan Little Flyweight Camilla Bergstrøm vs Eimear Darcy Welterweight Giacomo Michelis vs Mush Aslani Light Heavyweight Francesco Mazzeo vs Vanderlei Junior Featherweight Luca Borando vs Matt Elliott Cage Warriors 174: London will air live on  UFC Fight Pass  and international broadcast partners.

2024 Olympic Games Day 3 falls on Monday, July 29th, promises another round of thrilling judo action with world champions and experienced athletes taking to the tatami. Among the favourites is Canada's Christa Deguchi, making her Olympic debut in the highly competitive -57kg category. The intense rivalry between Deguchi and fellow Canadian Jessica Klimkait has captivated fans, but only Deguchi will represent Canada after a rigorous selection process. In the -57kg category, the top seed is Christa Deguchi, followed closely by current World Champion Huh Mimi (KOR). The 2016 Olympic Champion, Rafaela Silva (BRA), is also a major contender. France’s Sarah Leonie Cysique, the Tokyo Olympic silver medallist and a key player in France's historic Mixed Team event victory, holds Europe's top seeding position. Other notable European athletes in the top seeds include Eteri Liparteliani (GEO), Tokyo Olympic Champion Nora Gjakova (KOS), and Marica Perisic (SRB). Daria Bilodid (UKR), who won bronze in Tokyo in the -48kg category, has successfully transitioned to this new weight class, evidenced by her recent European Championship gold. In the men's -73kg category, Lasha Shavdatuashvili (GEO) is a significant figure, aiming for a fourth Olympic medal. Leading the category is Hidayat Heydarov (AZE), currently in excellent form and guided by Azerbaijan's 2008 -73kg Olympic Champion, Elnur Mammadli. Japan’s Hashimoto Soichi, ranked #2, has taken the spotlight since Ono Shohei's retirement. Nils Stump (SUI), who made history by winning the World title for Switzerland in 2023, is seeded third after recovering from injury and winning a Grand Slam and placing third at the World Championships. Manuel Lombardo (ITA) and Brazil’s Daniel Cargnin, both in their first Olympic cycle in this category, are also strong contenders.

Throwback cover from the February/March 2021 edition features the cast of Cobra Kai-- Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, and Martin Kove!

As a 23-year-old graduate student in Middle America in the early 1970s, I was hungry for whatever I could learn about the Asian martial arts. On the East Coast and West Coast, schools had been emerging and multiplying since the mid-1960s, but those of us who lived in “flyover country” had few opportunities to broaden our understanding of arts like karate, kung fu, judo and taekwondo. At Union University in my hometown of Jackson, Tennessee, I’d been fortunate to train from 1969 to 1970 in the then little-known art of hapkido. In a field-house basement, a Korean student and former captain in the ROK Army known only as Mr. Suh organized and taught the system to a small group of dedicated students. Suh ran a no- nonsense traditional class, and for 10 months, we couldn’t get enough of his instruction. Despite the bruises and the blood, we always looked forward to our next session.  Fellow student Ivy Scarborough put it this way: “Mr. Suh was trained in an environment that was very much ‘real world’ and where survival was at stake. I am very glad we had the benefit of that mindset.”  When Suh unexpectedly returned to Korea in the fall of 1970, we were devastated. How could we continue our training? Kang Rhee had a taekwondo school in Memphis where Elvis Presley and Bill Wallace had studied, but that was 80 miles away. As a young man working his way through college, I could afford neither the time nor the tuition. Without an instructor, I turned to books, magazines (Black Belt being the primary one), television and movies to learn about any style I could find.  Around that time, a seminal movie appeared, and it compelled me to wrestle with some tough questions about my future. I ultimately wound up re-evaluating my career choice.  Cinematic Inspiration  After conceiving of the storyline, Tom Laughlin began filming Billy Jack in 1969, and the movie hit theaters in 1971. The moment I saw it, I was impressed by the fight scenes. Apparently, many others were, as well — the movie grossed an unprecedented $40 million. For me, though, Billy Jack carried a special meaning for several reasons.  First, the hero’s techniques were nearly identical to the ones Suh had taught us. Until that point, few Americans even knew what hapkido was. Stunt adviser/coordinator Bong Soo Han changed all that when he brought the art to the big screen via Laughlin.  Second, Billy Jack made an impression on me for a much deeper reason, one that I suspect was the opposite of what the producers had hoped for. In the movie, we see a communal Native American school in the desert South- west operated by what can best be described as “make love, not war” hippies left over from the ’60s. Being pacifists, they’re constantly besieged by bigots and racists who insult them, demean them and assault them. (Laugh- lin did an excellent job shining a light on the abuse and poverty that many Native Americans faced at that time and, sadly, that many still do.)  Fortunately, the Native Americans have Billy Jack, a former Green Beret Vietnam vet, to watch over them. Throughout the movie, he employs his hapkido skills to deliver a series of well-deserved beatdowns to the redneck lawmen and bullies. The irony of the situation is that the movie is supposed to be a call for peace and nonviolence, yet the only way the school and the pacifists can survive is if Billy Jack uses violence to protect them.  I found myself relating more to Billy Jack and his violent solutions to the problems than to the peaceful, nonviolent folks. Given that I was majoring in religion, psychology and theology, that said a lot about the path I was laying out for my life.  Literary Inspiration  In their book On Combat, Lt. Col. Dave Grossman and Loren Christensen talk about three kinds of people in the world: sheep, wolves and sheepdogs. Most people are sheep, they explain: “kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other except by accident or under extreme provocation.”  The authors also recognize the existence of wolves, or people who behave as predators and “feed on the sheep without mercy.” Pretending the wolves don’t exist or fail- ing to prepare to deal with them condemns the sheep to slaughter. Fortunately, there are sheepdogs: police officers, soldiers and others in society who protect the sheep from the wolves.  In the movie, Billy Jack is a sheepdog. His willingness to use measured violence guarantees the peace-and-love crowd the opportunity to exist.  Just as I drew a different conclusion from the movie than the producers likely intended, I also had an alternative view of the movie’s theme song, One Tin Soldier. A 1960s anti-war tune written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, it delivered a message of nonviolence that seemed to fit well with the movie’s concept — or, at least, with the pacifist half of the story. In One Tin Soldier, the aggressive valley people (wolves) demand the treasure owned by the mountain people (sheep), who kindly offer to share with their brothers “all the secrets of [their] mountain and all the riches buried there.” But being wolves, the valley people are not satisfied with that, so they mount up, draw their swords and butcher the peace- ful mountain people. When they uncover the treasure, it simply reads, “Peace on earth.”  There won’t be any trumpets blowin’  Come the judgment day  On the bloody morning after  One tin soldier rides away. It’s a beautiful song with a lovely melody and a sen- timental message. Sadly, it addresses none of the reali- ties of the world. You see, after I watched Billy Jack and listened to One Tin Soldier, it seemed that the problem in the song was not so much the valley people/wolves who were behaving according to human nature. The problem was the mountain people/sheep who, in their naiveté, failed to protect themselves. A basic distrust of their “brothers” below, along with a little preparation and training to defend themselves, would have saved lives and preserved the peace they held so dear. Not coincidentally, that notion serves us well in the real world, too.  Historical Inspiration  I doubt Tom Laughlin, who passed away in 2013 at age 82, would have liked my conclusion about Billy Jack and One Tin Soldier. Yet I felt like I was in good company with my interpretation of both. Consider what author George Orwell said: “Men can only be highly civilized while other men, inevitably less civilized, are there to guard and feed them.”  A similar concept, most likely derived from a Rudyard Kipling poem, reads, “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” (People Sleep)  After contemplating Billy Jack, I decided that they could keep the tie-dye T-shirts and misplaced pacifism. I would take the hero’s hapkido, indomitable spirit, and sense of duty and justice every time. In a nutshell: If a person has no capacity for violence, he or she is a healthy, productive citizen — and a sheep. If a person has a capacity for violence but no empathy for fellow citizens, he or she is a sociopath — a wolf.  But what if a person has a capacity for violence and a deep love for other citizens? Then that person is a sheepdog, a warrior. Someone who’s walking the hero’s path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and emerge unscathed. (Grossman and Christensen, 181)  Real-Life Inspiration  By 1974 I wanted to walk into that darkness far more than I wanted to stand outside in the light and applaud others who dared to enter. So I became a soldier.  During the next 30 years, the nomadic lifestyle of a soldier made training in a single martial art impossible. So, from a cold dojo in Alaska to the steamy jungles of Central America and the gritty sand of Southwest Asia, I determined to make a virtue out of necessity.  In Colorado during the 1980s, I trained in judo and taekwondo. The 1990s found me under the tutelage of a taekwondo grandmaster in Kentucky. While living in Virginia, I was fortunate to train in the direct lineage of Ip Man’s wing chun. Today, I teach self-defense in Florida and, of course, I continue to train.  A few years ago, after a rather intense “light contact” sparring session, my opponent observed the following about me: “You kick like a Korean, punch like an Okinawan, grapple like a Japanese and move to engage like a Chinese.” Being a purist when it comes to style, he meant it as a veiled insult. I chose to take it as a compliment.  In his poem Ulysses, Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote, “I am a part of all I have met.” How true. I owe so much to all those who have guided me on my martial arts sojourn. As I stealthily maneuver toward age 70, it’s been more than 50 years since the first night I bowed in to Suh’s hapkido class in that musty basement. Despite all the training I’ve experienced, my thoughts often harken back to him.  If I ever encounter Mr. Suh again, I will thank him for introducing me to hapkido and the warrior way that led me to the life of a sheepdog.  James D. Brewer is a retired U.S. Army officer, writer, lecturer, teacher and lifelong warrior. Over the past 50 years, he’s trained in hapkido, shorei-goju karate, judo, taekwondo, Army combatives and wing chun. A former instructor at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he teaches writing at Polk State College in Florida. This article is excerpted from his upcoming book Seeking an Indomitable Spirit: Lessons Learned From My 50-Year Sojourn in the Martial Arts.

Cobra Kai is returning for its sixth and final season, premiering on July 18th, 2024. And in the final series look out for a cameo appearance from Black Belt Magazine itself! Brace yourselves for more action-packed drama compared to season 5. This epic 15-episode season is divided into three thrilling parts, kicking off this summer.  Stay with us to uncover everything you need to know about the grand finale of Cobra Kai . Release Dates for Cobra Kai Season 6 Part 1 of Cobra Kai Season 6 premieres July 18,  Part 2 on Nov. 24.  Final part of Season 6 will arrive in 2025. With all three batches consisting of five episodes each.  What to Expect in Cobra Kai Season 6? With Cobra Kai eliminated from the Valley, our beloved senseis and students face the decision of whether to compete in the Sekai Taikai—the world championships of karate. “That takes things to the next level,” co-showrunner Hayden Schlossberg teased about this looming international challenge. And while Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith) was vanquished last season, don't forget that Cobra Kai’s founder John Kreese (Martin Kove) is back after faking his death and escaping prison. What might he be planning now that he’s free? “There are lots of surprises in Season 6. You’ll love it,” Kove hints in a behind-the-scenes video from February. The sneak peek reveals the cast preparing on set, practicing martial arts, and getting hyped for the intense episodes ahead. “It’s gonna be a banger,” promises Xolo Maridueña, who plays Miguel Diaz. Watch the full video below. Who’s Back for the Final Showdown? The stellar cast includes: Ralph Macchio William Zabka Martin Kove Xolo Maridueña Jacob Bertrand Mary Mouser Tanner Buchanan Peyton List Gianni DeCenzo Courtney Henggeler Vanessa Rubio Dallas Dupree Young Yuji Okumoto Alicia Hannah-Kim Griffin Santopietro Oona O’Brien Who’s Behind Cobra Kai? Cobra Kai is crafted by the talented trio Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg through their production company, Counterbalance Entertainment. Upon announcing the series' conclusion, they reflected on the journey of original Karate Kid Daniel LaRusso (Macchio), from his 1984 Valley arrival to today’s underdog heroes. This final season fulfills their vision for Daniel, Johnny, and the entire Miyagiverse. “Our Day 1 goal with Cobra Kai has always been to end it on our terms, leaving the Valley in the time and place we’ve always imagined,” they shared. “We announce this with immense pride and thankfulness. While this may be a bittersweet moment for fans, the Miyagiverse has never been stronger.”  Stay tuned to Black Belt Magazine for all the latest updates and insider scoops on Cobra Kai’s epic final season! But remember: Cobra Kai never dies.

Steve Garcia, a 32-year-old featherweight with 17 years of MMA training under his belt, remains eager to demonstrate his abilities in the Octagon. Initially slated to fight SeungWoo Choi this weekend at the APEX, Garcia offered to step in against Dan Ige when Joanderson Brito withdrew from their scheduled matchup. Garcia’s willingness to take on multiple opponents reflects his confidence and commitment to his craft. “If it comes down to it, then I'll fight both of them,” Garcia declared. “I'll fight him (Choi) on the undercard and then I'll fight him (Ige) on the main card.” Garcia’s dedication to training for five-round fights underscores his ambition to reach the top. Despite recent knockouts against Chase Hooper, Shayilan Nuerdanbieke, and Melquizael Costa, he sees this success as a continuation of his long-term efforts rather than a new beginning. “I feel like my back was kind of against the wall after I lost in Singapore (in 2022 to Maheshate),” Garcia said. “I told my management team I wasn't going to embarrass them. I just wanted to prove what I'm capable of, and I feel like I've been doing that. We're on a three-fight win streak, and it's kind of crazy. So I feel like I'm trending in the right direction and I have a lot to prove.” Garcia’s humility, grounded in his faith and the support of his wife, keeps him focused despite his recent successes. “Number one, I'm a man of faith and I feel like if I don't stay humble, God will humble me. And number two, I have a wife that will humble me, too. (Laughs) She always reminds me, ‘Don't let your head get too big.’” Confidence is essential for Garcia, who has been training since he was 15. He believes in his journey and his ability to achieve greatness. “For me to do what I do, you have to have confidence,” Garcia said. “You have to believe in yourself. I've been training since I was 15 years old. I'm 32, so it was about 17 years in the making. At some point, I have to tell everybody and show everybody that I can do it.” As New Mexico’s “Mean Machine,” Garcia remains serious about his career, but he also finds moments to enjoy the journey. “It depends on the day. Later in the weekend, I'm just like, ‘Dude, what are you doing?’ But when I'm recharged and I'm happy and I have my energy and I'm not beat up, hell yeah. I'm like, nobody else can do what I do. I'm one of 600 people in the world doing this, so I'm going to ride this out. I'm trying to keep the belt in my sights, and it's very far down the road, but I'm a lot closer than I was last time.” Catch Steve Garcia in action at UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs Jandiroba, live from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prelims start at 5pm ET/2pm PT, with the main card kicking off on ESPN & ESPN+ at 8pm ET/5pm PT.

2024 August PFL Playoffs, available live across ESPN platforms in the U.S. and via DAZN in Canada, Europe and additional premium sports platforms internationally Biaggio Ali Walsh set for PFL SmartCage return Tickets for all three must-see events available now via Ticketmaster The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced additional bouts taking place during the 2024 PFL Global Season Playoffs, which will be available live in the U.S. across ESPN, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes. The PFL Playoffs can be seen live on DAZN throughout Canada and Europe, with premium sports platforms hosting the events across the world. On Friday, August 2 at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN, the Heavyweight and Women’s Flyweight divisions will take center stage. In a marquee addition to the event,  Tyrell Fortune  (14-2) will face  Sergei Bilostenniy  (12-3) in a Heavyweight alternate contest. In all, five early bouts have been added to an already stacked night of action.  Two weeks later on August 16, the Light Heavyweight and Lightweight Playoffs emanate from the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL.  Biaggio Ali Walsh  (1-0) makes his sophomore professional appearance against undefeated  Korey Taylor  (4-0) during the ESPN-main card. A 205-pound alternate bout pitting  Antonio Carlos Jr.  (16-6) against  Karl Albrektsson  (14-5) is confirmed, while a 155-pound alternate fight between  Elvin Espinoza  (10-1) and  Mads Burnell  (19-6) is also official for the early card. The Playoffs will conclude on August 23 at The Anthem in Washington D.C. with the Welterweight and Featherweight divisions. A 170-pound alternate bout pitting  Neiman Gracie  (13-5) against  Luca Poclit  (10-2) is confirmed, while a 145-pound alternate fight between  Tyler Diamond  (14-3) and  Enrique Barzola  (20-9-2) is also official.  The PFL Regular Season features a true sports-season format, where elite fighters from around the world compete in a Regular Season, Playoffs, and Championship, with each winner of the six weight divisions receiving a $1 million purse. PFL Heavyweight and Women’s Flyweight Playoffs Main Card ESPN | ESPN+ (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada & Europe) Friday, August 2 - 9:00 pm EST Heavyweight Semifinal Main Event:  Denis Goltsov  (34-8) vs.  Tim Johnson  (18-9)  Women’s Flyweight Semifinal Co-Main Event:  Dakota Ditcheva  (12-0) vs.  Jena Bishop  (7-1) Heavyweight Semifinal Main Card Bout :  Oleg Popov  (18-1) vs.  Linton Vassell  (25-9)  Women’s Flyweight Semifinal Main Card Bout:   Liz Carmouche  (22-7) vs.  Taila Santos  (21-3) PFL Heavyweight and Women’s Flyweight Playoffs Early Card ESPN+ (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada & Europe) 6:00 pm EST Heavyweight Alternate Bout:  Tyrell Fortune  (14-2) vs.  Sergei Bilostenniy  (12-3) Featherweight Bout:  Alexei Pergande  (4-0) vs.  Daniel Boehle  (4-2) Featherweight Bout:  Cody Law  (8-2) vs.  Zachary Hicks  (9-5) Lightweight Bout:   Sergio Cossio  (27-9-1) vs.  Dedrek Sanders  (8-4) Welterweight Bout:  Jaleel Willis  (16-6) vs.  Anthony Ivy  (14-7) PFL Light Heavyweight and Lightweight Playoffs Main Card ESPN | ESPN+ (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada & Europe) Friday, August 16 - 9:00 pm EST Light Heavyweight Semifinal Main Event:  Impa Kasanganay  (17-4) vs.  Josh Silveira  (13-3)  Light Heavyweight Semifinal Co-Main Event:   Rob Wilkinson  (19-2) vs.  Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov  (23-7-1) Lightweight Semifinal Main Card Bout:   Gadzhi Rabadanov  (22-4-1) vs.  Michael Dufort  (13-5)  Lightweight Semifinal Main Card Bout:   Brent Primus  (14-3) vs.  Clay Collard  (25-13)  Lightweight Main Card Bout:   Biaggio Ali Walsh  (1-0) vs.  Korey Taylor  (4-0) PFL Light Heavyweight and Lightweight Playoffs Early Card ESPN+ (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada & Europe) 6:00 pm EST Light Heavyweight Alternate Bout:  Antonio Carlos Jr.  (16-6) vs.  Karl Albrektsson  (14-5)  Bantamweight Bout:   Danny Sabatello  (14-4) vs.  Lazaro Dayron  (8-0) Lightweight Alternate Bout:  Elvin Espinoza  (10-1) vs.  Mads Burnell  (19-6) Featherweight Bout:   Jordan Oliver  (1-0) vs.  Braydon Akeo  (5-3) Women’s Featherweight Bout:   Michelle Montague  (5-0) vs.  Marilia Morais  (3-1) PFL Welterweight and Featherweight Playoffs Main Card ESPN | ESPN+ (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada & Europe) Friday, August 23 - 10:00 pm EST Featherweight Semifinal Main Event:  Brendan Loughnane  (29-5) vs.  Kai Kamaka  (14-5-1)  Welterweight Semifinal Co-Main Event:   Magomed Umalatov  (16-0) vs.  Don Madge  (11-5-1)  Featherweight Semifinal Main Card Bout:   Gabriel Braga  (14-1) vs.  Timur Khizriev  (16-0)  Welterweight Semifinal Main Card Bout:   Shamil Musaev  (18-0-1) vs.  Murad Ramazanov  (12-1)  PFL Welterweight and Featherweight Playoffs Early Card ESPN+ (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada & Europe) 6:30 pm EST Welterweight Bout:   Ray Cooper III  (25-10-1) vs.  Mukhamed Berkhamov  (16-2)  Welterweight Alternate Bout:   Neiman Gracie  (13-5) vs.  Luca Poclit  (10-2)  Featherweight Alternate Bout:   Tyler Diamond  (14-3) vs.  Enrique Barzola  (20-9-2) Featherweight Bout:   Brahyan Zurcher  (8-0) vs.  James Gallagher  (12-3) Featherweight Bout:  Jesse Stirn  (16-6) vs.  Jose Perez  (8-1)

ONE Championship continues to bolster the ONE 168 lineup for their return to Denver, Colorado, on Friday, September 6. In MMA action, lightweights Maurie Abevi and Samat Mamedov will tussle inside the Circle. After dropping his ONE debut to Halil Amir, Abevi has shown himself to be a solid lightweight forced in two follow-up matches. The Swiss athlete notched impressive wins over Blake Cooper and Zhang Lipeng. When Abevi walks down the aisle inside Ball Arena, he will hope to stake his claim as a legitimate threat to the gold by putting together a highlight-reel finish. Mamedov makes his promotional debut sporting a perfect 10-0 record. Perhaps more impressive than the unblemished marks is that nine wins occurred in the first round. The exciting lightweight scrap could be a dark horse for Fight of the Night. Muay Thai firepower will excite the Denver crowd as Johan Estupinan meets Sean Climaco in a flyweight showdown. Estupinan burst onto the scene with a 27-second knockout over Kouta Omori at ONE Friday Fights 64. Two weeks later, he added another win by defeating Zafer Sayik by unanimous decision. Climaco will look to slow his rise and show that American Muay Thai is ready to make a mark in ONE with a knockout of his own. In his organizational debut, Climaco ousted Josue Cruz inside the first round. When he returns to the global stage for his second outing, the American expects to feel more comfortable and perform even better. ONE 168: Denver airs live on Friday, September 6, from the Ball Arena at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Prime Video.

Day Two of judo at the Paris Olympic Games will take place on Sunday, July 28th, featuring competitors in the U52kg and U66kg weight classes. This day could potentially highlight predictable outcomes for the gold medals. However, given the unpredictable nature of the Olympic Games where mental fortitude is as critical as skill, surprises may be in store. Among the strong contenders are siblings Uta and Hifumi Abe from Japan, who are looking to replicate their remarkable gold-medal victories in Tokyo. In contrast, World Champion Odette Giuffrida of Italy, ranked third globally, is determined to enhance her Olympic medal collection with a gold, building on her previous silver and bronze achievements. a Also vying for gold in the U52kg category is France's Amandine Buchard, ranked fourth. Known for her passionate and heartfelt performances, Buchard, a silver medalist from Tokyo, is aiming to reach the top of the podium in Paris. Another notable athlete is Chelsie Giles of Great Britain, who consistently finishes with a medal, evident from her previous Olympic bronze and consistent top-five finishes since 2022. The Abes are set to create another magical moment in Paris, yet several competitors are prepared to challenge this narrative. Abe Uta, for instance, poses a significant threat in the early rounds of the -52kg category, with the potential to upset top seeds, predominantly from Europe. Diyora Keldiyorova from Uzbekistan and Distria Krasniqi of Kosovo, transitioning to a new weight class after her Olympic triumph in the -48kg category, are also serious contenders aiming for dual Olympic titles. The competitive field is formidable, and predicting outcomes is challenging. Each of the top three seeds from Tokyo is poised for success again in Paris, joined by other strong contenders like Reka Pupp of Hungary, Gefen Primo of Israel, and Germany's Mascha Ballhaus. Emerging talents like Ariane Toro Soler from Spain and Binta Ndiaye of Switzerland could also make surprising advances. In the U66kg category, Hifumi Abe is well-positioned to navigate through the brackets potentially facing Denis Vieru of Moldova, the top seed who had a remarkable 2023 but has faced challenges this year. The field remains competitive, with former medalists like Vazha Margvelashvili of Georgia seeking to defend or improve their standings. The judo arena in Paris is set for dramatic bouts and potential upsets, with every athlete aiming to etch their names in Olympic history.

The inaugural judo events at the Paris Olympic 2024 Games are scheduled for Saturday, July 27th, with the spotlight on the lightweight categories. The women's U48kg division is particularly noteworthy as competitors vie to replace the reigning champion, Distria Krasniqi. Leading the pack is Italy's Assunta Scutto, who has made a notable return to form by advancing to the finals at the World Championships after a hiatus. Scutto's resilience makes her a prime candidate for the gold medal. In the race for supremacy, Scutto faces stiff competition from Asia's elite judokas: Mongolia's Bavuudorj Baasankhuu, Abiba Abuzhakynova from Kazakhstan, and Japan's Tsunoda Natsumi. These athletes are poised to challenge their European counterparts for dominance. France's Shirine Boukli, a crowd favorite and European champion from Montpellier 2023, alongside her victory at this year’s Paris Grand Slam, is also a top contender. Other notable competitors include Serbia's Milica Nikolic, who has thrived amid intense national competition, and Portugal's Catarina Costa, known for her rivalry with Boukli in significant finals. Spain’s Laura Martinez Abelenda, although facing a tougher path by rankings, showcases the unpredictable nature of judo, demonstrating that surprises are always possible. Tugce Beder of Turkey and Sweden's Tara Babulfath, both with impressive pre-Games performances, are also expected to make an impact. Turning to the men's U60kg category, all eyes are on Japan’s Nagayama Ryuju following Naohisa Takato's gold in Tokyo. With Japan's storied history in judo, expectations are high for Nagayama. Key challengers include Azerbaijan's Balabay Aghayev, Turkey's Salih Yildiz, and Ukraine’s Dilshot Khalmatov. Spain's Francisco Garrigos, the reigning World Champion and a three-time European Champion, stands out as a frontrunner in this category. He contends with tough opponents like Taiwan's Yang Yung Wei, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, and Georgia’s current World Champion, Giorgi Sardalashvili, who enters with great promise. France's hopes are pinned on Luka Mkheidze, the Tokyo bronze medalist, as he competes at the Champ-de-Mars Arena with the iconic Eiffel Tower in the backdrop. This setting heralds a thrilling commencement to the judo competitions in Paris, promising unpredictability and high-level sporting drama.

Several judo athletes have already arrived in France for the Olympic Games, including the refugee team that landed on Monday. They are among the first of many competitors and delegations who will be gradually arriving over the next few days. All are set to train intensely in Paris, aiming for peak performances from July 27th to August 3rd. This weekend also marked the arrival of the Olympic flame in Paris, which has been weaving through the city streets, sparking widespread enthusiasm. This fervor is eagerly anticipated to transition into the stands of the Arena Champ-de-Mars, the venue for the judo events. Highlighting the significance of the occasion, on Tuesday, celebrated judoka Clarisse Agbegnenou carried the flame up the Eiffel Tower, joining the ranks of former judo torchbearers like double Olympic champion David Douillet, 1980 Olympic champion Angelo Parisi, and Romane Dicko, who is chasing her first Olympic gold. The choice of France as the host nation underscores its deep ties to judo, following other significant judo nations like Great Britain in 2012, Brazil with its large judo community, and Japan— the birthplace of judo by Jigoro Kano in 1882. France offers a robust platform for the sport’s further growth and showcases on the international stage. Stay tuned for updates and profiles of the judo competitors at the 2024 Olympic Games.