Grappling ace Bianca Basilio will return to the mat on Friday, May 3, at ONE Fight Night 22 on Prime Video . The Brazilian will tussle with Nanami Ichikawa in a 132-pound catchweight submission grappling contest. The BJJ World Champion will enter without too much information on her opponent. Still, she is focusing on her own game to get back in the win column. “I don’t know Ichikawa, but I know she will be prepared for the fight, just as I will be ready to submit her. It’s a fight that has no points, it’s a submission-only, so I’ll prepare to finish the fight that way. I believe that when you enter a battle, you have to be ready, and I will be, ” Basilio told ONE. Although she is mostly unfamiliar with her opponent, Basilio is not unprepared for what the Japanese grappler has to offer. The Brazilian athlete has looked at footage to understand her style better ahead of the May 3 showdown. “I watched some of her fights and saw that she plays more by passing guard than by doing guard. So, it’s going to be a very good war, because I like to do guard, but I also pass guard. I work well on takedowns, and that’s why I believe it will be a good fight. But I’m going to submit her in the fight,” the Brazilian said. Basilio was last on the global stage against Tammi Musumeci. Although she came out on the losing end, she was not submitted by the American. The 28-year-old is mentally tough and plans to use her intellect as a centerpiece for her upcoming ONE Fight Night 22 match. “I believe that my biggest advantage, besides being technically and physically prepared, is that I have a very good mentality. This is one of my differences. I have a very good mentality to take on this fight. And I believe that when you have the right mindset, nothing can stop you,” Basilio remarked. There is one objective for Basilio in Bangkok — win. She wants to get her hand raised as quickly as possible, which may be difficult to top her ONE debut in 2022 when she won in under a minute. “I hope to finish the fight as quickly as possible. In my last fight, I finished in 47 seconds, and that could happen even faster in this fight. I’m going to do my best and show my jiu-jitsu more,” the Brazilian stated. When the bell rings, Basilio plans to bring the same exciting grappling action to the fans. She wants to stay true to her aggressive style and pick up the finish. Basilio hopes to secure a quick win and pick up an additional $50,000 performance bonus to continue chasing her dreams on the global stage. “My jiu-jitsu is aggressive jiu-jitsu. I’m a fighter who likes to go for it. In my training, I always go for submission, not just scoring points. So finishing this fight and being able to show more of who I am on the mat is what I’m going to look for,” Basilio said. “And, having a great performance, getting this bonus would be another dream come true in my life. I want to change my life, and this would be another step toward what I want to achieve in my life.” ONE Fight Night 22 airs live on Prime Video o n Friday, May 3, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime members based in the U.S. and Canada.

BRAVE Combat Federation is set to make its debut in the Netherlands with BRAVE CF 83, on May 25, in association with world-class martial arts organization Enfusion, through its ECE MMA brand. The show will be headlined by a blockbuster main event as former Super Welterweight champion Marcin Bandel will face European superstar Alex Lohore, as both men look to hunt down Kamal Magomedov, the reigning number one 175-pounder in MMA. Polish star Marcin Bandel begins his road back to the top after his title loss against current champion Kamal Magomedov at BRAVE CF 77, and is eager to secure a rematch. Before that loss, Bandel had secured four consecutive victories, including notable wins over Magomed Ayskhanov, Luis Felipe Dias, and Ismail Naurdiev, the latter of which earned him the BRAVE CF Super Welterweight title. Hailing from Lodz, Bandel currently holds a professional MMA record of 22 wins, eight losses and one draw with 19 of his victories coming through submissions. Alex Lohore, on the other hand, is a well-known name in European MMA and will make his promotional debut at BRAVE CF 83 against Bandel. Born in France and fighting out of England, Lohore boasts a decade-long career with achievements including becoming a Welterweight champion and a Middleweight title challenger in the European circuit. As part of the fight, Lohore has been offered a significant opportunity to compete in the innovative Super Welterweight division of BRAVE CF, which has provided a comfortable space for fighters struggling due to the weight gap between the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions. The bout between Bandel and Lohore is expected to make waves in the Super Welterweight Division with champion Kamal Magomedov likely to keep a close eye on the proceedings. The co-main event of the evening will witness the promotional debut of none other than Nabil Haryouli, one of the most famous kickboxers in Europe. ''Tyson'', who boasts an undefeated MMA record of 4-0, will take on Zabiullah Mubarez in a Featherweight bout of epic proportions.  BRAVE CF 83 marks the organization’s third event of 2024 and the second event of its 2024 European Tour. The Netherlands will become the 14th European nation to host BRAVE CF.

UFC has named lightweight fighter Beneil Dariush as the 2024 recipient of the Forrest Griffin Community Award. This accolade, named after UFC Hall of Famer Forrest Griffin, honors a UFC athlete each year for outstanding volunteer and charity work, and for their significant positive impact on the community. The award is part of the UFC Honors President’s Choice category, with the recipient personally selected by UFC President & CEO Dana White. UFC Honors is an annual recognition program celebrating exceptional UFC athletes, performances, and memorable moments. As the award winner, Beneil will receive a $25,000 donation for a charity of his choice, provided by the UFC Foundation. His contributions will be celebrated at the 2024 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony during the 12th Annual UFC International Fight Week. This event is scheduled for Thursday, June 27, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and will be live-streamed on UFC FIGHT PASS. Dana White praised Beneil's efforts, stating, “Beneil does an incredible job giving back to his community. He sets a perfect example of how athletes should use their platforms to raise awareness and help those less fortunate. It’s an honor to present him with this award.” Beneil began his philanthropic efforts in 2018 by collaborating with the Shlama Foundation, raising funds and awareness during his training periods. As a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, he held meet-and-greets and training sessions where a portion of the proceeds supported the foundation. After earning his first $50,000 performance bonus in 2019, Beneil funded two orphanages in Haiti through Promise Child Ministries, called Cap-Haitian Children’s Home. These facilities each accommodate over 20 students and are staffed with teachers, administrative employees, and custodians. Promise Child, established in 2003, sponsors children in various countries, including Haiti, South Asia, and Uganda, aiming to empower underserved children through education, nutrition, shelter, and Gospel-centered care. Additionally, Beneil contributes to his Southern California community by teaching jiu-jitsu and self-defense classes to youth at Kings MMA. He educates students aged 8 – 17 about the fundamentals of jiu-jitsu, self-defense, and nutrition five days a week. Ranked as the no. 6 contender in the lightweight division, Beneil is a veteran of 29 fights, holding a record of 22-6-1 (16-6-1 UFC) since his debut in 2014. He is also a successful competitor in world jiu-jitsu championships, having secured three gold, two bronze, and four silver medals.

No matter which category a particular system belongs to — traditional martial arts, reality-based self-defense, modern combatives — almost all instructors of those systems teach methods for stopping a blade-wielding psycho. Or at least they think they do. Before you start sending me hate mail and planning a cancel campaign, let me explain. You see, almost all knife-defense techniques work great in theory. They also work on a compliant student in the safe confines of the dojo. But when applied in a life-or-death situation, many of them amount to responses that I like to call “death by martial arts myth.” That’s because many knife-defense methods are based on fight fallacies. In other words, they train you to respond to attacks that a criminal with a knife will never use, and that could leave you mortally wounded during a real encounter. This article is not meant to criticize any particular style but rather to present a reality check for martial artists who are serious about fending off a knife attack. To that end, I’ll examine five of the most common knife-defense training methodologies in an effort to see why they’re likely to leave you bleeding … or worse. Training Myth 1: The Attack Will Start With a Knife in Hand In 99 percent of the edged-weapon classes and seminars I’ve attended, the instructors had everyone start with the training knife in hand. That makes sense on paper. But on the street? Not so much because this is not how a gangster will gut you. Quite the contrary. I’ve spent 15 years studying surveillance footage and cellphone videos that have been uploaded to the internet, and I’ve watched stabbing after stabbing. Rarely does the victim ever see the knife coming. And after I co-founded a combatives training company called Tiga Tactics with Dr. Conrad Bui, we compared notes and found that his years of research reaffirmed what I’d observed. With the exceptions of police responding to calls of blade-wielding suspects or rare cases involving mass stabbings, most knifings are actually surprise attacks in which the weapons are concealed until the very last moment, at which point the assailants launch a barrage of piston-like thrusts or repetitive slashes. If your practice sessions always start with your partner holding a blunt trainer in his or her hand, you’re perpetuating a knife-fight fallacy. Instead, research how evildoers actually use knives. Then emulate those sociopathic tactics with a trusted training partner. Have your partner start with the training knife clipped to his or her pocket, tucked into a waistband or hidden behind the back. Then have the person draw the knife at random and attack. Of course, it’s important to do this slowly and safely at first with the proper protective gear. Eventually, however, you’ll want to pressure-test it by having your partner progressively increase the speed, intensity and spontaneity. Training Myth No. Training Myth 2: You Can Kick the Knife Hand to Stop the Attack Whether it’s Bruce Lee in 1971’s The Big Boss or Mark Dacascos in 2019’s John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum, movies make it seem like kicking an opponent’s knife hand is a solid technique. After all, you’re using your longest and most powerful limb to counterattack while you keep the weapon away from your head and internal organs improbable because it’s based on the fallacy that a villain not only will have his edged weapon in his hand but also will present it so obviously that you can reach out and crescent-kick his wrist. As noted in Training Myth No. 1, knife-wielding maniacs like to keep their weapons hidden until they charge you like a linebacker blitzing the quarterback. Most of the time, they’ll close the gap so quickly you won’t have time to even raise your foot, let alone fire off a kick. Furthermore, this technique is just too risky. Aside from the fact that it’s hard to not telegraph a kick, the bad guy just needs to flinch and you’re likely to get your foot or leg lacerated. Training Myth 3: It’s Possible to Block and Counterattack Simultaneously and Effectively A classic knife defense entails blocking the stab with one arm and simultaneously punching or kicking with your other side. Tactically speaking, it seems efficient. Why not save time and motion by combining defense and offense? Problem is, you’re dividing your power and accuracy. Either your strike is strong and accurate but your block is weak (and you get stabbed), or your block is strong (and you stop the attack) but your strike is weak and inaccurate. Or both your block and strike are inaccurate (and you get stabbed). The concept of blocking and striking works only when your opponent launches a single committed stab and then stops the moment you make contact. But after watching dozens, if not hundreds, of real-life knife attacks, I can tell you that almost never happens. When a criminal has committed to taking a life, he’ll attack with the speed and brutality of a jackhammer. The take-away is that doing two things (blocking and striking) rarely will be faster than doing one thing with deadly intent. After all, action usually beats reaction — especially during a knife ambush, which is what most knife attacks are. In a recent sampling of 25 online videos depicting authentic blade attacks, 90 percent of the victims were stabbed between two and 10 times in about two seconds. So what’s the fix for this fallacy? Focus on your first priority: Don’t get hurt! This should seem obvious, but many people don’t pressure- test realistically enough to realize how easy it is to get cut or stabbed. They don’t realize that the adrenaline dump experienced under duress will cause physiological side effects like tunnel vision and the loss of fine-motor control. Knowing this, you should keep your knife defense as simple as possible — think “cave-man fighting.” Leave the complex choreography to the Hollywood stunt coordinators. Instead, focus on stopping the attack with tough but direct blocks while simultaneously moving toward the opponent to take away his leverage before getting control of the knife hand. Then and only then should you consider your counteroffensive. T Training Myth 4: It’s Best to Immediately Disarm the Attacker If you’ve practiced grappling arts like judo, aikido or Brazilian jiujitsu or Filipino arts like kali or escrima, you probably know plenty of knife disarms. Armbars, wrist locks, elbow locks, shoulder locks, knife stripping — the list goes on. They all can work in the right context, just not as the first move in your edged-weapon defense. Instructors often teach a knife disarm as the first or second move against a stab or slash. Much like Training Myth No. 2, this works only if the attacker launches a single committed thrust and then stops, giving you the chance to grab his hand, wrist or arm to begin your disarm. In my years of research, I’ve found that edged-weapon attacks almost always involve repetitive motions, which means the criminal will pull back the knife to immediately attack again. And again. And again. If the assailant is holding the knife in a forward grip, the attack most likely will be a straight thrust to the torso. Whether or not the first stab succeeds, he’ll pull the knife back and immediately thrust again. If the bad guy has the knife in a reverse grip, the attack often will be a downward thrust to the head, neck or upper chest. And again, whether or not the first stab succeeds, he’ll lift the knife up near his ear or behind his head and immediately bring it down several more times. This sewing-machine-like delivery makes it almost impossible to effect an immediate disarm, which is often a sequence of intricate movements — not cave-man-like at all and not likely to work when the adrenaline dump has you losing fine-motor control. What’s the best way to bust this myth? Don’t put disarms at the top of your go-to list. Instead, use what I call the PROtect system: Protect yourself from the blade, reposition to a safer spot so you can control the knife hand and then unleash your barrage of offensive strikes. Tenderize him with your elbows, knees and palm heels. If he’s still holding the knife, unleash some more strikes. If you think he’s been stunned enough and you absolutely need to take his knife away, then use your disarm of choice. Training Myth No. 5 Training Myth 5: You Should Just Go for Your Weapon Inevitably, whenever I ask new students what they’d do if they were confronted by a psycho with a blade, one of them responds, “I’d pull out my knife and cut him first.” If the class is made up of firearm enthusiasts, the response will be, “I’d pull out my gun and shoot him first.” If there’s a Jackie Chan or Jason Bourne fan in the crowd, the response might be, “I’d grab an improvised weapon, like my belt or a broomstick.” Makes absolute sense. Any sane person would want to level the playing field. So why is this a myth? In a real-life knifing, you won’t have time to draw a weapon or find an object to use as an improvised weapon. Remember Training Myth No. 1? My research has shown that goons keep their knives hidden until the last moment. They don’t pull them out and twirl them around so you have enough time to deploy your own blade. Sorry, but life’s not like West Side Story — knife duels rarely happen in modern society. If a sociopath is intent on killing you with an edged weapon, he’ll do everything in his power to do it stealthily and quickly, leaving you just a fraction of a second to respond. Use that time to protect yourself first, then reposition and control before you unleash some strikes. After tenderization, you’ll have done enough to “earn your draw,” which is when you can use your knife or firearm. Plan of Action Plan of Action: Find the Edged-Weapon Falsehoods The martial arts are a lot like the sciences. To solve a problem (i.e., getting stabbed), you come up with a hypothesis (strategies), narrow down the variables (techniques) and then perform a series of experiments (spar or pressure-test). If the results don’t yield what you want, you tweak the variables and run through the whole process again. But unlike in the sciences, many people stop at “narrow down the variables” and never get to the experimenting part. They don’t put on protective gear and test their techniques with trusted training partners. In fact, some opt to skip even trying to solve a real problem (how violent criminals actually use knives on the streets) and instead focus on solutions to fantastical problems (e.g., knife dueling). As martial artists, we have a responsibility to learn not just the cultural and historical aspects of our systems but also the techniques that have the greatest chance of allowing us to save our lives and the lives of our loved ones. We all must question our arts, our instructors and our training methods. Only in this way can we make sure we’re not practicing knife-defense techniques that could result in “death by martial arts myth.” Patrick Vuong is a Southern California–based writer and the co-founder of Tiga Tactics, a combatives training company. A self-defense teacher since 1999, he uses his knowledge of diverse fighting methods to close the gap between two traditionally separate warriors: martial artists and firearm enthusiasts. He’s an instructor in several systems, including the Filipino art of pekiti tirsia kali. For more information, visit tigatactics.com . This article originally appeared in a 2021 edition of Black Belt Magazine.

Ramazan Gitinov is scheduled to make his return at BRAVE CF 82 in Mauritius on May 11 and ahead of his much-anticipated return to action, the Bahraini fighter is getting some guidance from MMA superstar Islam Makhachev and legendary former fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov. Both Makhachev and Nurmagomedov are original members of the KHK MMA team, alongside names like Jose Torres, Eldar Eldarov, Frankie Edgar, and James Gallagher, among others. Their time with KHK MMA proved to be vital to their rise in the MMA world and now they are giving back by helping the new generation of the team, with Ramazan widely considered as the top prospect in mixed martial arts. Reflecting on his training experience with both legends of MMA, in preparation for BRAVE CF 82, Ramazan emphasized the importance of learning from the best and expressed his ambitions for the future. ''Training with Islam and Khabib has been a great pleasure. They are the golden standard in Lightweight MMA and it is an honor to be here. Lions train with lions and I want to be at the top just like them. For that to happen, I need to work hard and I cannot wait to show the world what I've been working on. See you in Mauritius,” Ramazan said.  Currently undefeated in his professional MMA career, Ramzan has four wins and no losses on his resume on top of his illustrious amateur MMA career which saw him win three IMMAF World Championships. In his long 30-fight amateur career, Ramazan only suffered two losses out of which the first one came in Africa against Eliezer Kubanza at the 2017 IMMAF African Open Championships. Returning to the continent where he faced his initial amateur defeat, Ramazan is fuelled by a deep desire for redemption, particularly against the undefeated Prince Lolia, a teammate and fellow countryman of Kubanza. The fight between Ramazan and Lolia will be one of the major attractions of a stacked BRAVE CF 82 fight card which will mark the fourth event of BRAVE Combat Federation in Africa. The event further cements BRAVE CF’s position as the only international MMA organization to host events in the African continent and will be headlined by the Bantamweight title fight between Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres and Nkosi Ndebele.

Anker, a global leader in mobile charging technology, and the UFC, the premier mixed martial arts organization, have announced a new partnership. Anker has been named the "Official Charging Partner of UFC" for the Middle East and Africa. This collaboration highlights a shared commitment to excellence, speed, and reliability, mirroring the intense energy of UFC's events. This year is pivotal for the UFC as it hosts its first-ever event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—UFC FIGHT NIGHT: WHITTAKER vs CHIMAEV on June 22, featuring a key bout between former champion Robert Whittaker and rising star Khamzat Chimaev. The season will continue with two more events in Abu Dhabi, underscoring UFC’s expansion in the region. These events are set to captivate over 700 million fans across 170 countries, showcasing Anker’s role in powering these landmark sports events with their advanced charging solutions. Nick Smith, UFC’s VP of International Business Development, expressed excitement about integrating Anker’s innovative technology to enhance the fan experience at these critical events. Faisal Shah, General Manager at Anker Innovations MEA, emphasized that the partnership reflects Anker’s commitment to energizing lives beyond just charging devices. This initiative not only brings state-of-the-art technology to the sports arena but also charges up the spirit of competition and resilience shared by both brands. As UFC expands globally, Anker will ensure that each event remains electrifying, providing essential power solutions to fans and athletes alike, keeping them connected to every moment of excitement.

UFC Fight Night Nicolau vs. Perez at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas had fans on the edge of their seats as fighters clashed in a series of explosive bouts. The evening was highlighted by a surprising knockout in the flyweight main event between Alex Perez and Matheus Nicolau, where Perez secured a victory with a powerful right hook in the second round. The spotlight was squarely on Alex Perez and Matheus Nicolau in a fight that promised fireworks but ended in dramatic fashion. At 2:16 of the second round, Perez landed a devastating right hook that sent Nicolau to the canvas, marking a significant comeback for Perez in the flyweight division. The light heavyweight co-main event saw Bogdan Guskov facing off against Ryan Spann. Guskov displayed superior power and technique, ending the fight with a relentless ground and pound at 3:16 of the second round. In the women's flyweight division, Karine Silva won a unanimous decision against Ariane Lipski in a closely contested match that showcased Silva's strategic prowess and stamina. The heavyweight bout featured Jhonata Diniz who knocked out Austen Lane with a fierce left hook early in the second round, while Uros Medic made quick work of Tim Means in the welterweight matchup, securing a knockout with a sharp uppercut in the first round. David Onama claimed a unanimous decision victory over Jonathan Pearce in a tactical battle that tested both fighters' endurance and skill sets. The preliminary bouts were not short on action. Victor Henry delivered a stunning standing TKO against Rani Yahya in the bantamweight division. Austin Hubbard and Ketlen Souza both won their fights by unanimous decisions, demonstrating their dominance and strategic acumen. One of the most dramatic submissions of the night came when Chris Padilla defeated James Llontop with a rear-naked choke in the first round, showing his grappling superiority. Additionally, Ivana Petrović showcased her submission skills by securing an arm triangle choke victory over Na Liang in the third round. Here are the complete results: MAIN EVENT | FLYWEIGHT · 125 LBS | PRO MMA Matheus Nicolau vs. Alex Perez Perez defeats Nicolau via KO/TKO, Right Hook at 2:16 Round 2 of 5 CO-MAIN EVENT | LIGHTWEIGHT · 205 LBS | PRO MMA Ryan Spann vs. Bogdan Guskov Guskov defeats Spann via KO/TKO, Ground and Pound at 3:16 Round 2 of 3 MAIN CARD | FLYWEIGHT · 125 LBS | PRO MMA Karine Silva vs. Ariane Lipski Silva defeats Lipski via Unanimous Decision MAIN CARD | HEAVYWEIGHT · 265 LBS | PRO MMA Jhonata Diniz vs. Austen Lane Diniz defeats Lane via KO/TKO, Left Hook at 2:12 Round 2 of 3 MAIN CARD | WELTERWEIGHT · 170 LBS | PRO MMA Tim Means vs. Uros Medic Medic defeats Means via KO/TKO, Uppercut at 2:09 Round 1 of 3 MAIN CARD | FEATHERWEIGHT · 145 LBS | PRO MMA Jonathan Pearce vs. David Onama Onama defeats Pearce via Unanimous decision PRELIMINARY CARD | BANTAMWEIGHT · 135 LBS | PRO MMA Rani Yahya vs. Victor Henry Henry defeats Yahya via KO/TKO, Punches (standing TKO) at 2:36 Round 3 of 3 PRELIMINARY CARD | LIGHTWEIGHT · 155 LBS | PRO MMA Austin Hubbard vs. Michal Figlak Hubbard defeats Figlak via Unanimous Decision PRELIMINARY CARD | HEAVYWEIGHT · 265 LBS | PRO MMA Don'Tale Mayes vs. Caio Machado Mayes defeats Machado via Unanimous Decison PRELIMINARY CARD | STRAWWEIGHT · 115 LBS | PRO MMA Ketlen Souza vs. Marnic Mann Souza defeats Mann via Unanimous Decision PRELIMINARY CARD | LIGHTWEIGHT · 155 LBS | PRO MMA James Llontop vs. Chris Padilla Padilla defeats Llontop via Submission, Rear Naked Choke at 4:33 Round 1 of 3 PRELIMINARY CARD | FLYWEIGHT · 125 LBS | PRO MMA Ivana Petrović vs. Na Liang Petrović defeats Liang via Submission, Arm Triangle Choke at 1:29 Round 3 of 3 PRELIMINARY CARD | LIGHTWEIGHT · 155 LBS | PRO MMA Maheshate Hayisaer vs. Gabriel Benítez Hayisaer defeats Benítez via Split Decision

Australian flyweight Steve Erceg has swiftly climbed the UFC rankings, moving from his debut to a title fight within just a year. As he prepares to face Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 301, the Perth native aims to join fellow Australians like Alexander Volkanovski in the ranks of UFC champions. Get to know more about Erceg as he gears up for the biggest challenge of his career: Journey to MMA Erceg's interest in MMA sparked during his younger years as a WWE fan, admiring fighters like Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. The transition to MMA began when Brock Lesnar moved to UFC, and Steve witnessed Frank Mir defeating the larger Lesnar by submission. This moment inspired Erceg to explore martial arts as he sought to understand the techniques that allowed smaller fighters to prevail. Favorite Fighters and Inspirations Erceg admires a variety of fighters, including Georges St-Pierre and José Aldo for their striking skills, especially in leg kicks. Outside the UFC, he looks up to boxing legends like Roy Jones Jr., Floyd Mayweather, and Muhammad Ali, along with kickboxing greats Ernesto Hoost and Ramon Dekkers. Currently, he draws significant inspiration from Alexander Volkanovski, noting his poise and skill in challenging fights. Nickname Origin Erceg's nickname "Astroboy" emerged casually during a brainstorming session, suggested because of a perceived resemblance to the character. Despite its spontaneous origin, the nickname has stuck with him in the fighting community. Martial Arts Credentials and Preferred Techniques Erceg holds a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu. His favorite grappling technique is the guillotine, and his preferred striking method is the leg kick, reflecting his comprehensive combat skill set. With UFC 301 slated for this weekend, Steve Erceg is focused on not just participating but leaving a lasting impact, hoping to secure his place as a UFC champion and continue Australia's legacy in the sport.

After storming into lightweight contention in ONE Championship, Halil Amir will now turn his attention to the featherweight division after ONE Fight Night 22  on Friday, May 3, Amir will move down to take on Akbar Abdullaev. For Amir, he believes the move will make the best use of his physical presence inside the ring. “I’m not a big lightweight, and I think in this weight class, I’ll be faster and stronger,” Amir related to ONE. “My opponent, Akbar, is a good fighter. He has explosive kicks, and he’s a classic kickboxer. His strong point is obvious – his striking technique.” “No Mercy” is 3-0 in the organization, with two finishes by KO/TKO. He has proven his power can stop the best lightweights, but he wants to be even more dangerous at featherweight. He plans to keep the record perfect and become an instant title contender with another emphatic finish. “I don’t have a special plan for him. I will enter the ring and move forward, as always,” the Turkish star said. “My goal is to finish him. If I cannot succeed, I’ll do everything in my power to make the referee raise my hand.” “After my victory, I want to fight for the belt or with someone from the top five rankings.” In preparation for the move, Amir has even trained with one of the greatest talents to ever compete in MMA, Khabib Nurmagomedov. After traveling to Dagestan, the 29-year-old was able to continue his evolution as a martial artist and improve his complete arsenal. “Khabib did several training sessions. For me, it was a very good experience. He has hard training at his school,” Amir said. “Khabib always has strict discipline during training. Naturally, the work was focused on wrestling and grappling.” “As a person, he is a very simple person. He is often immersed in training and helps his team and, of course, he was also pushing me during the training sessions.” ONE Fight Night 22 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, May 3. The event is free for all Amazon Prime members based in the U.S. and Canada and begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

The “Toughest Test in MMA” the 2024 PFL Global Season debuts Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, UT June 21 with Lightweight and Light Heavyweight action   Lightweight’s Clay Collard and Mads Burnell meet in main event   2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Impa Kasanganay faces Jakob Nedoh co-main event   2024 PFL Global Season, Available Live Across ESPN platforms in the U.S. and via DAZN in Canada, Europe and additional premium sports platforms internationally The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, UT will host 2024 PFL Global Season action on Friday, June 21 with fights in the Lightweight and Light Heavyweight divisions.   The night’s main event will feature 2023 PFL Lightweight finalist Clay Collard facing Mads Burnell. June 21 will be a homecoming for Collard, who was born and still trains in Utah. One of the most exciting fighters in MMA is fresh off an impressive victory over former Bellator Lightweight Champion Patricky Pitbull.    2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Impa Kasanganay will take on Jakob Nedoh in the co-main event. Elite fighters from the two divisions will be taking to the PFL SmartCage looking to secure 2024 PFL Playoff berths and continue their journeys to PFL World Championship glory and the $1 million prize.   “We are excited for the toughest test in MMA, the PFL Global Season, to debut in Salt Lake City,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “The PFL’s sports season format lends itself to action for fans in attendance and those watching in 160 countries worldwide. 2024 PFL Playoff berths and the chance to continue their $1 million journey hang in the balance for these elite athletes.”   The second half of the 2024 PFL Global Season continues June 21, from Huntsman Center with Lightweight and Light Heavyweight division action. The card will feature respective division points leaders Michael Dufort, Brent Primus, Elvin Espinoza, Rob Wilkinson, Josh Silveira and Dovlet Yaghimuradov returning to Global Season action.  2024 PFL Global Season event at the Huntsman Center will be available via pre-sale Tuesday, April 30 with a general on-sale Wednesday, May 1 only at  Ticketmaster .   The PFL Global 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.   2024 PFL Global Season is available live across ESPN platforms in the U.S. and via DAZN in Canada, Europe and additional premium sports platforms internationally.   Full Fight Card Lightweight Clay Collard v Mads Burnell Light Heavyweight Impa Kasanganay v Jakob Nedoh Lightweight Patricky Pitbull v Bruno Miranda Light Heavyweight Rob Wilkinson v Josh Silveira Light Heavyweight Dovlet Yagshimuradov v Simon Biyong Light Heavyweight Antonio Carlos Jr. v Alex Polizzi Lightweight Brent Primus v Solomon Renfro Light Heavyweight Sadibou Sy v Tom Breese Lightweight Gadzhi Rabadanov v Elvin Espinoza Lightweight Michael Dufort v Adam Piccolotti Lightweight Anthony Romero v Sergio Cossio Light Heavyweight Laurynas Urbonavicius v Karl Albrektsson Featherweight Brayhan Zurcher v TBA

Big News” Hughes first Bellator appearance will be against Hawaii’s Bobby King   Bellator Welterweight Champion Jason Jackson defends title against undefeated Ramazan Kuramagomedov   Bellator Champions Series Dublin on Saturday, June 22 at 3Arena streams live on Max in the U.S., DAZN in the U.K. & Virgin Media Television in the Republic of Ireland The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, today announced that Ireland’s Paul Hughes (11-1) will make his promotional debut against Hawaii’s Bobby King (12-6) in a Lightweight bout on Saturday, June 22 at Bellator Champions Series at 3Arena in Dublin.   Bellator Champions Series Dublin is headlined by Welterweight World Champion Jason Jackson (18-4) facing undefeated Ramazan Kuramagomedov (12-0), and the must-see fight card also features a Women’s Featherweight clash between two former title challengers, when Ireland’s Sinead Kavanagh (9-6) takes on Australia’s Arlene Blencowe (15-10). A Bantamweight No. 1 contender matchup is also on the docket, as Kasum Kasumov (15-1) of Russia goes toe-to-toe with Brazil’s Matheus Mattos (14-2-1). At Middleweight, undefeated Hungarian Norbert Novenyi Jr. (7-0) will look to remain undefeated when he faces American Top Team’s Dalton Rosta (8-1). A previously announced contest pitting Peter Queally against Yancy Medeiros has been scrapped from the card.   Bellator Champions Series Dublin will stream live in the U.S. on Max, and in the U.K. on DAZN beginning at 5 pm GMT, while locally in the Republic of Ireland, the event will be aired on Virgin Media Television. "The following week, truTV will re-air Bellator Champions Series Dublin for U.S. viewers, with additional programming details to be shared in the coming weeks. Tickets for the event can be purchased now through  Ticketmaster.ie .     At 27-years-old, Hughes accomplished everything possible on the regional stage before entering free agency, and was sought after by every major mixed martial arts promotion on the planet before choosing to join PFL. A former Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion prior to making the leap to Lightweight, Hughes has won eight of his 11 professional wins via stoppage and now will try his hand against Bobby King when he competes on June 22. A six-fight veteran of Bellator, King proudly hails from Hawaii and has faced some of the toughest tests Bellator’s Lightweight division has to offer, facing names the likes of Alexander Shabliy and Gadzhi Rabadanov.    The 2024 Bellator Champions Series schedule is as follows:  - Friday, May 17 – Bellator Champions Series Paris – Accor Arena - Saturday, June 22 – Bellator Champions Series Dublin – 3Arena - Saturday, September 7 – Bellator Champions Series San Diego – Pechanga Arena - Saturday, September 14 – Bellator Champions Series London – OVO Wembley - Saturday, October 12 – Bellator Champions Series Chicago – Wintrust Arena - Saturday, November 16 – Bellator Champions Series Paris – ADIDAS Arena - Tuesday, December 31 – Bellator Champions Series – TBD   Bellator Champions Series Dublin Main Card Max (U.S.) | DAZN (U.K.) | Virgin Media Television (Republic of Ireland) Saturday, June 22 - 5 pm GMT  Welterweight World Title Bout C- Jason Jackson  (18-4) vs.  Ramazan Kuramagomedov  (12-0) Lightweight Bout Paul Hughes  (11-1) vs.  Bobby King  (12-6) Women’s Featherweight Bout Sinead Kavanagh  (9-6) vs.  Arlene Blencowe  (15-10) Middleweight Bout Norbert Novenyi Jr.  (7-0) vs.  Dalton Rosta  (8-1) Bantamweight No. 1 Contender Bout Kasum Kasumov  (15-1) vs.  Matheus Mattos (14-2-1) Light Heavyweight Bout Simeon Powell  (9-1) vs.  Abdullah Er-Ramy  (7-1) Bantamweight Bout Brian Moore  (16-10) vs.  Francesco Nuzzi  (10-1) Bantamweight Bout Sarvarjon Khamidov  (15-0) vs.  Marcirley Alves  (12-3)  Featherweight Bout Nathan Kelly  (10-2) vs.  Fabacary Diatta  (9-1) Women’s Featherweight Bout Olena Kolesnyk  (9-6) vs.  Sara Collins  (5-0) Women’s Featherweight Bout Michelle Montague  (4-0) vs.  Karolina Sobek  (4-2)

Conor McGregor, a name synonymous with combat sports, has once again made headlines, not just for his impending UFC 303 clash against Michael Chandler, but for stepping into a new role as part-owner of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). This strategic move blends McGregor's love for combat with his knack for business, ensuring that the sports world remains on its toes with his every move. The announcement came amidst preparations for his highly anticipated return to the UFC octagon, where he's set to face Chandler. But it's not just his fighting prowess that's drawing attention. McGregor's engagement with BKFC adds a new layer to his multifaceted career, intertwining his entrepreneurial spirit with his combat skills. His recent social media posts have fanned the flames of speculation, suggesting he might even step into the bare-knuckle ring himself. "Thank you to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship for this amazing opportunity!" McGregor exclaimed during the BKFC KnuckleMania 4 event, officially revealing his investment. "The future of combat sports is going to be bright, and we're only getting started!" McGregor's involvement with BKFC isn't entirely new. The Irishman made a surprise appearance at a BKFC event last year, even hinting at a potential fight in the organization. But taking ownership stakes is a whole different level of commitment. Eddie Alvarez, a former foe and current BKFC participant, commented on McGregor's potential in the bare-knuckle scene. Alvarez noted McGregor's unique striking style, which he believes could transition well into the gloveless format of BKFC, adding an intriguing possibility of seeing 'The Notorious' in a whole new fighting domain. McGregor's expansion into BKFC ownership continues to demonstrate his knack for blending business acumen with his combat sports career, ensuring that his impact on the world of sports entertainment remains both innovative and formidable. This venture is not just a business move for McGregor but a strategic alignment with a growing combat sport that promises raw, unbridled action, mirroring McGregor's own approach to his fights and business. McGregor's ownership stake in BKFC adds another layer to his already extensive business empire, which includes his Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand and various other ventures. With UFC 303 looming, where McGregor will showcase his skills against Chandler, the combat sports community is buzzing not only about the fight but what McGregor's involvement with BKFC could mean for the future of both sports.