BRAVE Combat Federation will be returning to Europe on August 24 for BRAVE CF 86, the organization’s debut event in Bulgaria. The show will be headlined by a battle of giants as Bulgaria’s Atanas Djambazov takes on Arab MMA legend Mohammed Said Maalem in a Light Heavyweight clash. This will be Said Maalem's second main event fight of the year for BRAVE Combat Federation. He previously fought at BRAVE CF 81 in Slovenia against Erko Jun, where he suffered a first-round knockout loss and he will return to action under the bright lights of BRAVE CF after recovering in the local circuit.  Atanas Djambazov, meanwhile, will be making his BRAVE Combat Federation debut at home. Djambazov was last seen inside the cage when he secured a first-round submission win over Paris Vaklas. After this, the Bulgarian has been away from the sport and now, will be returning to headline the biggest show in Bulgarian MMA history. The co-main event will feature Jivko Stoimenov taking on Alex Lohoré, who is making a quick return to the BRAVE CF cage after an impressive promotional debut at BRAVE CF 83 in the Netherlands. Lohoré stopped former champion Marcin Bandel in the first round and aims to continue his momentum towards a title shot. Jivko Stoimenov, Lohoré’s opponent, is on a two-fight winning streak with a professional record of 14 wins and 6 losses. He will be making his BRAVE CF debut and aims to make a strong impression in front of his home crowd in Bulgaria, as well as in the BRAVE CF Super Welterweight division. BRAVE CF 86, to be held in Burgas, will be the sixth event of 2024 for BRAVE Combat Federation and part of the organization’s 2024 Europe Tour.

Before ONE Championship’s triple-champion Anatoly Malykhin arrives in Atlanta for ONE 169, the Russian has his eyes set on ONE 168: Denver on Friday, September 6. And it’s not because he is competing on that card as well. “Sladkiy” is locked in on the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title matchup between champion Jonathan Haggerty and Superlek Kiatmoo9. As both men are in peak form, Malykhin believes it will all come down to who plays it smarter on September 6. “Haggerty is on a roll right now, but Superlek has also been performing beautifully. I think the winner will be the one who is mentally better prepared because both of them have proven their skills in the ring,” Malykhin told ONE. Superlek has been dominant as of late. So much so that many believe he is the pound-for-pound best striker on the planet. The ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion is on a 10-bout winning streak in ONE, including Rodtang Jitmuangnon and Takeru Segawa. But Haggerty has come into his own since moving to bantamweight with stunning knockout results over Nong-O Hama, Fabricio Andrade, and Felipe Lobo. The collision inside the Ball Arena has Malykhin on the edge of his seat. “They are unyielding, have strong characters, and can turn a fight around. It’s going to be a good fight,” the Russian stated. The matchup is razor-thin in the eyes of the three-division World Champion. Both men have specific advantages, according to Malykhin, that make it a difficult matchup to call. “Superlek is big for this weight class and works very well with his elbows, often cutting his opponents. His advantage will be elbow strikes and size. Haggerty’s advantage is his speed and technique,” Malykhin detailed. The ONE Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight, and Middleweight World Champion was not able to make a prediction for who would walk out of Denver with the gold over their shoulder. His only prediction was that fans are in store for a thrilling five-round match between arguably the two best and most exciting strikers going today. “Who will win? Only the gods will decide that day. Is a knockout guaranteed? I think this fight will go the distance,” Malykhin commented. ONE 168: Denver airs live on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Friday, September 6.

As far as Andre Petroski from the UFC can recall, there isn’t really a rivalry to speak of between Philadelphia, where he calls home, and Pittsburgh, the hometown of his opponent this weekend, Josh Fremd. “I don’t think so,” he said on Tuesday afternoon when asked if there was any kind of interstate tension between the Pennsylvania sports cities. “I can’t remember the last time Pittsburgh was as good as Philadelphia in a sport; maybe since the Steelers, since Roethlisberger. “I wouldn’t say there was a rivalry there, but I guess we could go ‘King of Pennsylvania,’” he added with a smile, suddenly latching onto the newly fabricated stakes of this weekend’s preliminary card fixture. “Yeah — we’re fighting for (best middleweight) in Pennsylvania.” While it’s always nice to add a little something fun into the mix heading into Fight Night in order to keep things light, it’s not as if Petroski is suffering from a shortage of motivation or focus heading into this one. Saturday marks the former Ultimate Fighter competitor’s second appearance of the year, and things certainly didn’t work out as intended the first time around. Thrilled to be competing close to home in Atlantic City against Jacob Malkoun at the end of March, Petroski had positive moments in the opening stanza, stinging and dropping the Australian at one point and running close to level through the initial five minutes. Early in the second, he looked to change levels, crashing forward in search of Malkoun’s hips, but he found them in the wrong way, catching his hip in the temple. Dazed, he stumbled to the canvas, landing on knees and elbows, presenting Malkoun with a perfect opportunity to plant a thudding soccer kick into his midsection that hastened the stopping of the fight. “Frustrating is the best word for it,” Petroski said when asked about the experience, his second straight defeat after collecting victories in each of his first five UFC starts. “I do think there are adjustments that I can make, for sure, like being more dangerous when I’m hurt, being more composed. “I watch (Charles) Oliveira and (Fabricio) Werdum and those guys, when they would get cracked, are really good at catching submissions and being dangerous in that fight,” he continued, citing the Brazilian ex-champions as competitors to study and emulate when put in vulnerable situations inside the Octagon. “So I think that’s where — it’s frustrating, but I can take something from it. “If there wasn’t anything I could take from it, that would be hard.” Now more than three months removed from the setback, Petroski genuinely seems like he’s put the frustrating result behind him, shifting all his focus to Fremd and, more importantly, getting things moving in the right direction again this weekend. “Champions have short memories,” he began when asked about the process of turning the frustrations into fuel and what’s already happened in the past where it belongs. “So we move on and get the next one.” That opportunity comes Saturday in Denver, where he will stand opposite the strapping Fremd, who similarly touches down looking to bounce back after a disappointing result in his most recent appearance. After landing on the wrong side of the results in each of his first two promotional appearances, the 30-year-old Fremd logged quality wins over Sedriques Dumas and Jamie Pickett to kick off his 2023 campaign and bring his record level inside the Octagon. A month after his win over Pickett, the Factory X Muay Thai representative stepped up to face Roman Kopylov, replacing the injured Anthony Hernandez, and landing on the business end of a one-sided defeat culminating with a nasty straight shot to the liver. But for Petroski, this one isn’t about the guy standing on the other side of the Octagon on Saturday night and what he brings to the table; it’s about himself, the tools and weapons he possesses, and finally delivering a complete effort on fight night. “(The key to success this weekend) is putting it all together,” he said with a hint of angst in his voice, almost as if he was tired of offering incomplete glimpses of himself through his first seven UFC appearances. “Not just one round, not just seven minutes, but 15 minutes. “A lot of the same stuff,” Petroski added, identifying the elements he believes will allow him to have the type of performance he’s expecting this weekend. “Working strategy with my coach, Eddy Torres, and coming up with the best game plan.” And should it all come together as desired, Petroski will go back to Philly with a victory back at the top of his resume and state-wide bragging rights in tow, as well. Don't miss a moment of UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs Cortez, live from Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on July 13, 2024. Prelims start at 7pm ET/4pm PT, while the main card kicks off at 10pm ET/7pm PT.

Perhaps the two biggest challenges faced by martial artists striving to maintain a high level in their art while building a functional level in self-defense pertain to finances and time management. Because Warren Buffett hasn’t gotten back to me on the finance question, I’ll restrict my advice to making the most of your training time—something with which I have decades of experience. The Problem Imagine that you’re about to engage in a fight. Your opponent is bigger and stronger than you, and he kicks and punches better than you. You decide to close the distance and wind up in the clinch. Oops! He’s skilled in that range, too, and now you’re tied up and unable to execute any of your sweeps or throws. No problem, you go to the ground, only to find that he’s a better ground fighter. Executive Summary: It’s a no-win situation for you. Your only alternative is to cheat. Which is where contemporary jeet kune do, the system Paul Vunak and I teach, comes in. Specifically, its cutting-edge street component, dubbed “filthy MMA,” provides the answers you need to prevail in such a scenario. To get started, you need to adopt a streamlined approach to drilling and sparring that focuses on the JKD concept of economy of motion and applies it to the four critical components of a street fight. Then factor in the tactical advantages afforded by filthy MMA to tilt the odds further in your favor. The best part is, you can accomplish all that in a mere 15 minutes a day five times a week. Why prepare for the worst-case scenario? Because it teaches you how to execute, under pressure, a game plan that virtually guarantees victory. Street fights are chaotic events; seldom, if ever, do they go the way you think they will. One thing you can be sure about is that they’ll always be messy. There’s no such thing as a fair fight. A fight is an all-out, anything-goes experiment in pure survival. With such high stakes, you need something to level the playing field. The Solution The solution to the problem is composed of five 15-minute segments that should be practiced once a week. You’ll need two padded sticks, two training knives and a round timer, as well as MMA gloves, eye protection and foot/shinguards for you and your partner. Because the drills last 15 minutes, you can do them as one long round or break them up into five three-minute rounds or three five-minute rounds. The sparring is designed to be light; the person doing the feeding should turn it up a notch if the action is too easy or back off if it’s too hard. The idea is to not trade blows but to turn your opponent’s blows into targets for your destructions. If you choose to rest between rounds, you can, but try to limit breaks to 10 or 20 seconds. Use the first round as a warm-up. Start slowly and let the intensity increase. Strive to peak near the end of each round. STAND-UP: From the starting position for the drill (1) The partner feeds Thomas Cruse a punch, and Cruse stops it with an elbow destruction (2) The partner follows up with a low roundhouse kick, and Cruse effects a knee destruction (3) When the partner transitions to a high kick, Cruse blocks and goes for his groin (4) The debilitating nature of the groin kick, especially when used against a high kick, demands extreme caution during sparring. The Components When you’re on a tight schedule, you want your training to prepare you for anything that can happen in a fight: dealing with kicks and punches, dealing with the clinch and various traps, dealing with the ground, and dealing with blunt and edged weapons. Kickboxing: The key here is not to trade blows like you would in a bout; it’s to destroy incoming blows. Have your partner put on gloves and foot/shin guards. While you’re moving around, he feeds you kicks and punches aimed at your head, thighs and groin. Terminate each attack with a destruction that targets the relevant arm or leg. If he throws a high-line attack, use your elbow; if it’s a low-line attack, use your knee. Clinching and Trapping: From the Muay Thai clinch, maintain your hold on your partner’s neck while jockeying for the center line. Utilize pummeling and keep your base and balance. Once you have control of the center, insert head butts, elbow strikes, thumb gouges to the eyes and knee thrusts to the groin. Jump up to the standing guard and simulate a bite. (Use extreme caution with bites and eye attacks.) Next, have your partner try to take you to the ground with throws and single- and double-leg takedowns. If you fall, stand up and start again. Ground Fighting: Begin in the guard. Pin his arms, head-butt and simulate biting to create an opportunity to jump to your feet. Then hammerfist his groin and pass his guard to the knee-on-the-stomach position. Punch your way down to the cross-side pin, then use your shoulder to block his mouth in case he tries to take a chunk out of you. Next, slide your knee through to the mount, punching him as you do so. Finally, your opponent, who’s on the bottom, traps your base and bridges, which places him on top and in your guard. Now it’s his turn. (Remember that your main objective on the ground is to get back on your feet. The only reason for continuing the aforementioned sequence is to familiarize you and your partner with all the options.) Weapons: No matter what type of weapons are in play, you need only one technique: defanging the snake. Easy to learn and easy to remember, it entails attacking the attacking hand. Begin by having your partner charge you, launching strikes at your head and body with a training weapon. Step back and counter each strike with a disabling blow effected with your weapon. Thomas Cruse (left) and his partner start in the clinch with each man struggling to gain inside position (1) Cruse manoeuvres into a spot (2) From which he can simulate a head butt to the face (3) He then unleashes a series of knee strikes to the groin and abdomen (4) elbows to the head (5) and thumb strikes to the eyes The Caveats The time when you’re most vulnerable in a fight—and in the drills described in this article—is the gap between each range, the period in which the fight is in flux. You’re not in a range you’re familiar with, so you’re unsure what to do. Example: From long range, you rush in for a takedown but run into a well-placed knee or a series of punches. Stunned, you don’t know what to do next. You wind up getting beat down. Or you find yourself on the receiving end of a barrage of blows as you struggle to get back on your feet after fighting on the ground. Fill those transitions with nonstop strikes. If you’re standing, punch your way from kickboxing range to the clinch. Focus on simple punches like the jab and cross—a sequence Bruce Lee called the straight blast. At close quarters on your feet and on the ground, plow through the positions with head butts, elbows, knees, punches and eye attacks. Work your way to your feet carefully, guarding against your opponent’s counters. You’re especially susceptible to knee strikes. When you’re struggling to get upright, it’s easy to run into a knee to the face, so be prepared. The Package In combat, you need to flow from range to range and tactic to tactic. To develop that ability, have your partner tuck a padded stick and a training knife in his waistband or pocket and you do the same. From long range, spar with the sticks—only a hit to the hand counts. Drop the weapons and without missing a beat, pull out the training knives and continue sparring. Then drop them and transition into kickboxing with destructions. Punch your way to the clinch, jockey for the inside position and begin your filthy MMA attacks. Both parties should then fall to the ground, after which each side executes the ground manoeuvres described above. Work your way to your feet, watching for opportunities to strike. You’ve just completed round one. If you spent 15 minutes doing that, fine. You’re done for today. If not, repeat until you hit the 15-minute mark. Your goal is to become so familiar with each range that you don’t experience any emotional spikes during the transitions. The Spice Listed below are several options and additions designed to spice up the drills: • Change weapons. Fight stick vs. knife, two knives vs. two knives, two sticks vs. two sticks, stick and knife vs. stick and knife, and so on. • Add a second opponent. Train for the mass attack. • Allow submissions. Options include wind and blood chokes, arm bars, triangles, and leg and foot locks. • Change the environment. Train on concrete and grass. Work out around the furniture in your home. Set up obstacles. And, for the ultimate in reality-based training, have loved ones stand nearby and role-play people who need to be protected. GROUND: Thomas Cruse (left) is held in the closed guard (1) He uses a quick bite to break the opponent’s concentration long enough to establish an upright posture that entails immobilizing his arms by holding his biceps (2) Next, Cruse fires off a head butt to the chin (3) He immediately stands (4) Punches him in the groin (5) Moves to his side (6) Uncorks a few more punches (7) and (8) moves to side control        

Tracy Cortez Steps Into Her First UFC Main Event Against Rose Namajunas This Saturday. Look Back At Some Of Her Previous Bouts That Led Her To This Point. Tracy Cortez has made a steady climb up the ranks since earning her UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in July 2019. Her decision win over Mariya Agapova put her in position, and she also won over many fans when they heard her story, which included a teary tribute to her late brother Jose, who passed away due to cancer in 2011. Her making it to the UFC was also her brother’s dream, and Cortez has honored her late sibling well since joining the organization. After starting out at bantamweight, Cortez has found a home back in the flyweight division, and she has her biggest opportunity to date as she steps in for the injured Maycee Barber to headline a fight night against former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas in Denver on July 13. Before Cortez makes the second-to-last walk of the night, take a look at the body of work that led her to this major chance to ascend the rankings. vs Vanessa Melo [ UFC Fight Night 164, Sao Paulo] With high expectations going into her UFC debut, Cortez had a hard-fought battle against Vanessa Melo in Melo’s backyard of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The contest was a tight one, but once Cortez mixed things up and implemented her grappling, she was able to wrest control of the fight. vs Stephanie Egger [UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen, Abu Dhabi] Cortez’s reputation as a fundamentally sound wrestler with great ability to maintain control grew greatly in her decision win over Stephanie Egger on Fight Island. Each round looked eerily similar to the one before — with Cortez getting Egger to the mat before maintaining control and dishing enough damage while on top. vs Justine Kish [UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Gastelum, UFC APEX] Facing a wily veteran in Justine Kish, Cortez aced another test while handling Kish’s ability to scramble, even on the bottom. While Cortez maintained control for the first round, Kish’s defense held up better in the second, forcing Cortez to adjust. The third round was the toughest yet for Cortez in the Octagon, but she was able to bring it home on the scorecards. vs Melissa Gatto [UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje, Phoenix, Arizona] Fighting in her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, Cortez once again got her wrestling going early against Melissa Gatto. However, Gatto pushed back and found success with her own grappling, proving Cortez was in for a difficult battle. Fighting out of an armbar, Cortez was able to find success with her hands to chain together her wrestling, and despite Gatto’s submission attempts, she was in dominant position for most of the rest of the fight. vs Jasmine Jasudavicius [UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2, UFC APEX] In what was likely her sharpest display yet, Cortez displayed slick boxing against Jasmine Jasudavicius, hurting the Canadian several times across 15 minutes. It was exactly the performance Cortez hoped for in front of the Noche UFC crowd, and it was enough to secure her fifth win in the Octagon. Don't miss a moment of UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs Cortez, live from Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on July 13, 2024. Prelims start at 7pm ET/4pm PT, while the main card kicks off at 10pm ET/7pm PT.

Get ready for an electrifying night of action as UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. Cortez brings unexpected twists and thrilling new matchups to the octagon! Here are a few updates for the UFC Fight Night.. Fans are in for an unforgettable event this Saturday, July 13, at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. The welterweight division just got hotter with the addition of a compelling bout between Evan Elder and Darrius Flowers. Both fighters are known for their relentless aggression and dynamic skill sets, promising an explosive showdown. In a surprising turn of events, Viviane Araujo has been forced to withdraw from her highly anticipated flyweight clash with Jasmine Jasudavicius due to injury. Stepping in as her replacement is none other than UFC newcomer Fatima Kline. Kline, the reigning CFFC strawweight and flyweight champion, boasts an unblemished record of 6-0. Her debut in the UFC is sure to be a spectacle as she looks to extend her winning streak against the formidable Jasudavicius. Don’t miss out on what promises to be an epic night of fights, packed with unexpected challenges and rising stars ready to make their mark in the UFC!

Olympic judo gold medalist Gella Vandecaveye is leveraging her platform to combat a preventable crisis: childhood blindness in Rwanda. Partnering with Belgian NGO Light for the World, Vandecaveye is launching a crowdfunding campaign to fund life-changing cataract surgeries for Rwandan children. Cataracts, a leading cause of blindness in low-income countries, affect an estimated 1,836 children in Rwanda. With a simple €150 surgery, many of these children could regain their sight and avoid a life of poverty. "My goal is to raise €7,500 to provide cataract surgery for at least 50 children," says Vandecaveye, who plans to visit Rwanda in September to witness the impact of Light for the World's programs firsthand. "With your support, we can give these children a brighter future." Every donation, no matter the size, makes a significant difference: €50  covers post-operative care and check-ups for 5 children €30  funds ophthalmology consultations for 5 children €150  fully funds a cataract surgery for one child By contributing to this campaign, you are not only restoring sight to children in need, but also raising awareness about preventable blindness in Rwanda. Together, we can open eyes and change lives.

ONE Fight Night 23 marked the first meeting between grappling wunderkinds Tye Ruotolo and Jozef Chen. The July 5 meeting started methodically before Ruotolo scored a takedown and looked for submissions the rest of the way. The aggressive nature of the American led to a unanimous decision win in the catchweight contest. But he still wasn’t satisfied with his showing in Bangkok. “I could have performed a lot better. It’s not a performance that I’m very proud of. I didn’t have the best camp, and I didn’t feel the best way going through the fight. It’s the fact that I won even on my worst day – it makes me happy,” Ruotolo said after ONE Fight Night 23. “But that’s not a performance that I like to have, especially in a place like Lumpinee. I have so much respect for the people in the audience and the stadium, so I always do my best to give a good show.” Anytime two athletes compete, they learn from each other. The preconceived notions go out the door, and that can be said for Ruotolo’s experience with Chen as well. After the 10-minute battle, Ruotolo talked about what he took away from his experience with the South African. “You know, he looks like a nerd online, to be honest with you. But he’s a little bit stronger in person. But yeah, all respect to Jozef. He’s such a good representative of jiu-jitsu. [He has] really amazing technique, and [he’s] a really good kid. I’m really grateful to have the match with him,” the ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Champion remarked. While Ruotolo got his hand raised, part of his disappointment was not entering the match at 100%. After the event’s close, the Atos BJJ star revealed he had been dealing with a few nagging injuries leading up to the match. “Just within my camp, I was sick for most of it. And even before the fight, I really was feeling a bit off. I’ve been going through a couple little neck things. It has kind of been affecting a little bit of my nerve, the vagus nerve,” Ruotolo said. “I really wasn’t feeling great going into the match, but even on all my worst days, I just gotta man up and get it done, and that’s what I did. I’m stoked to get it done, and in my next performance, I will be better. I’m going to go home and get in front of everything that would prevent me from having a great performance in my next one. I’ll perform how I’m supposed to.” In his post-match interview, Ruotolo explained that his work wasn’t done and that he wanted to compete against other elite grapplers. Building an enduring legacy as one of the all-time greats is a driving motivation. The allure of MMA also captures some of his attention, especially after watching his brother Kade’s MMA debut in ONE. “I can’t wait to do MMA, you know, I’m so excited to go. I’ve been watching my brother’s last fight, it got me so fired up. It was so rad to see him. We always grew up watching MMA fights, and we always knew that we wanted to be MMA fighters one day, too, not just [become] fighters, but the best. So I’m happy to get this win in jiu-jitsu. One more for the legacy. My legacy is not done. I want to be the best in the world of jiu-jitsu. No questions, no matter what. I know I’m on my way,” the American stated. While Ruotolo stands atop the BJJ mountain, he is driving towards becoming known as the pound-for-pound best in the world. Until that goal is met, MMA will have to wait. No matter how much he is being drawn to the sport. “I think right now, we’re probably considered the best, my brother and I, for sure. But I want to be pound-for-pound, the best in the world. So I’m not going to stop until I get to that. But an MMA fight, that’s such a big thing for me, so I’m excited to be a part of the race there too,” Ruotolo said.

Rising Star Ready to Prove Her Skills in High-Stakes Showdown.. Anyone familiar with the regional MMA scene knew it was only a matter of time before Fatima Kline, the unbeaten 23-year-old phenom, would step into the UFC Octagon. After achieving "Double Champ" status in the Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC) by securing the strawweight title alongside her previously held flyweight belt, Kline was initially set to join Dana White's Contender Series. However, fate had other plans. When Viviane Araujo withdrew, Kline was chosen to replace her against ranked flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius this Saturday in Denver, bypassing the Contender Series for an immediate UFC debut. “It’s been crazy,” Kline remarked on her whirlwind week. “I’ve always wanted this; I was ready the second I got the call. I’m super-excited. This has been my dream since I was 10, and now I’m ready to show I belong here.” Kline, who boasts a perfect 6-0 record and trains alongside flyweight contender Erin Blanchfield, was widely regarded as a top-tier prospect destined for the UFC. Winning titles in two divisions before turning 24 underscored her exceptional talent, further validated by the UFC's decision to pit her against a ranked opponent like Jasudavicius right out of the gate. “I’m really happy to jump in with some of the best in the world; I believe that’s where I belong,” Kline said confidently. “Skipping the Contender Series and stepping up against the No. 15 fighter at a higher weight class feels like the right path for me. I’m one of the best in the world, and this is my chance to prove it.” Though new to the UFC spotlight, Kline has already experienced fight week pressures, having cornered Blanchfield in past events. This familiarity has eased her transition into the high-stakes environment. “My life is kind of based on chaos, so this wasn’t a surprise to me,” Kline admitted. “Getting the call felt like everything I’ve worked for had led to this moment. Being alongside Erin in her fights has prepared me for Saturday night.” Kline’s immediate goal is to make a significant impact in the flyweight division before eventually moving back to her preferred strawweight class. Confident in her skills and readiness, she aims to make a statement with her performance against Jasudavicius. “I expect to knock her out and finish her,” Kline said matter-of-factly. “I’ve fought at 125 before, I train with one of the best 125ers on the planet, and I’m ready for this fight.” Catch every moment of UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. Cortez, live from Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on July 13, 2024. Prelims begin at 7pm ET/4pm PT, followed by the main card at 10pm ET/7pm PT.

Jasmine Jasudavicius, a 35-year-old representative of Niagara Top Team and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) graduate, is ready to bring her vibrant energy to the UFC Octagon once again. Known for her lively demeanor and boundless energy, Jasudavicius is set to face newcomer Fatima Kline this Saturday at UFC Denver. In a recent interview, Jasudavicius shared her excitement and pre-fight rituals, revealing her unique approach to managing energy and nerves. “I get a little bit of an edge, and I know this,” she said, referencing a playful video on her Instagram where she jokes about needing to be kept in her cage as training camp progresses. “I try to stay to myself a lot, that way there is no one to snap on or anything.” Reflecting on her UFC 297 victory against veteran Priscila Cachoeira, Jasudavicius described the intensity of the moment. Cachoeira's failure to make the flyweight limit added tension to the bout, which shifted to bantamweight. Jasudavicius channeled her energy into a dominant performance, ultimately submitting Cachoeira in the third round after delivering significant punishment. “My team always teases me, like, ‘Okay Jas — enjoy it, but we’re here for business,’” she recounted. “But it gets to a point where I’m like, ‘I’m done enjoying this; now it’s time for serious business.’” This weekend, Jasudavicius was originally scheduled to fight veteran Viviane Araujo. However, plans changed when Araujo withdrew, and Jasudavicius was informed mid-afternoon of the switch to Kline. “He said, ‘We lost Viviane,’ and at first, I said, ‘Well go find her; we’re a week away,’” she laughed. “We were already down in Denver, staying at this really cool Airbnb, so I showed the guys and said, ‘You guys deal with this; I’m gonna go take a nap.’” Despite the opponent change, Jasudavicius and her team focus on her overall preparation rather than tailoring it specifically to each opponent. “Yes, I’m preparing for an opponent, but, at the same time, I'm preparing to be the best version of myself,” she explained. Jasudavicius acknowledges the advantage of her experience over Kline, who is set to make her UFC debut. “I think that’s a huge benefit I have,” she said. “I remember my debut like it was yesterday, and I’m thankful that I was able to go through Contender Series first, and then have the debut.” Looking forward to Saturday night, Jasudavicius summed up her mindset: “I’m not here for a long time, I’m here for a good time. So I'm trying to fight often, get that experience in, and ideally, keep making my way up to get that belt.” For her, a successful night means one thing: “Getting my hand raised.” Don’t miss UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. Cortez, live from Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on July 13, 2024. Prelims start at 7pm ET/4pm PT, with the main card kicking off at 10pm ET/7pm PT.

Featherweight Main Event: Ramiro "El Cachanilla" Jiminez vs. Takahiro Ashida Bantamweight Co-Main Event: Ismael "Kraken" Zamora vs. Teppei "Tetsu Jagaimo" Suwabe Combate Global today announced the return of its ‘Mexico vs. Japan’ series of star-studded fights for the second time in two years, airing live in English on Fuse (9 p.m. ET/PT) from Miami on Saturday, July 27. COMBATE GLOBAL ‘Mexico vs. Japan II’ will be headlined by a featherweight (145 pounds) showdown between undefeated 2023 “COPA COMBATE” champion Ramiro “El Cachanilla” Jimenez  (10-0) and former Japanese regional champion, Takahiro Ashida  (26-14-2). “What a classic matchup,” said COMBATE GLOBAL CEO Campbell McLaren.  “Modern day Aztecas vs. Samurais.  Both of these countries have great martial arts traditions, so sparks are going to fly next month.” The 25-year-old Jimenez, who hails from Mexicali, B.C., Mexico took his young career to new heights in December, defeating three different opponents in one night to become the fifth “COPA COMBATE” one-night, eight-man, $100,000 grand prize tournament champion in COMBATE GLOBAL history. En route to becoming the tournament victor, Jimenez delivered highlight reel finishes in each of his last two tournament bouts –a first round (2:59) head kick knockout on Chile’s Mauricio Eguiluz and a first round (1:57) submission (kimura) of Dominican Republic wrestling  Jimenez’s gritty and crowd-pleasing style of fighting has helped him earn 8 of his 10 professional career wins to date via (T)KO or submission. Ashida, 34, hails from Saitama, Japan, and is a former featherweight champion with a wide range of fight experience under different sets of rules, ranging from MMA to Shootboxing to kickboxing. Heading into his 43rd professional MMA bout, Ashida, who has earned 50 percent of his MMA career wins by way of (T)KO or submission, is a six-time veteran of RIZIN, Japan’s version of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). In the bantamweight (135 pounds) co-main event, Ismael “Kraken” Zamora  (8-2) will take on Teppei “Tetsu Jagaimo” Suwabe (13-11-1). Zamora is a 24-year-old native of Mexico City, Mexico and a member of the Bonebreakers, Mexico’s top MMA camp that won the 2022 COMBATE GLOBAL competition reality television series that pitted fighters from four different gyms around the world against one another with a $50,000 grand prize at stake. An aggressive-minded fighter with fast feet and hands, Zamora will seek his fourth consecutive victory in La Jaula when he faces Suwabe. The 34-year-old Suwabe of Shizuoka, Japan will compete for the third time this year, and look for his third straight win after defeating each of his last two opponents in famed, long-standing Japanese promotion DEEP. In a featured welterweight (170 pounds) affair, COMBATE GLOBAL’s Marcos “El Lobo” Lloreda  of Miami will battle another DEEP competitor in 26-year-old Shoma Yamada  (3-2) of Aichi, Japan.

For the first time in over a decade, GLORY, the world’s largest kickboxing organisation, returns to Croatia.  GLORY 95  will take place at the Arena Zagreb in the heart of the nation’s capital on September 21 . Today it was announced tha, at GLORY 95, we will see the return top welterweight star  Hamicha (41-2, 30 KO) . The 28-year-old will step back in the ring for the first time since November and will be aiming to extend his undefeated GLORY streak to 6-0 when he takes on French kickboxing & Muay Thai champion  Cedric Do (16-5, 9 KO) , who won his one and only GLORY appearance by knockout back in 2019. Currently ranked third in the GLORY welterweight division, Hamicha has won five straight fights in GLORY with an impressive 80% KO ratio. In his last fight at COLLISION 6, the Moroccan defeated a tough Diaguely Camara, now he takes on another Frenchman in Do. As revealed yesterday, GLORY 95 will also see the return of Croatian legend  Mladen Brestovac (55-14-1, 37 KO) . The former GLORY heavyweight title challenger will say goodbye to the sport of kickboxing in what will officially be his retirement match in his hometown of Zagreb. ‘The Scorpian Sting’ will meet fellow veteran  Vladimir Tok (41-20, 28 KO) . Headlining GLORY 95 is a blockbuster heavyweight main event showdown between the number one ranked  Levi Rigters (18-2, 8 KO)  and Croatian superstar  Antonio Plazibat (22-5, 16 KO) . GLORY 95 will be live exclusively on Videoland in the Netherlands, on DAZN in France & Belgium, and Bally Live & Stadium across the United States & Canada. For full global broadcast listings, please visit  GLORYKickboxing.com .