UFC announced that it will return to Louisville, Kentucky for just the second time in the promotion's history, and the first time in over thirteen years, with a highly anticipated fight night event scheduled for Saturday, June 8. The UFC FIGHT NIGHT® in Louisville will feature preliminaries streaming exclusively on ESPN+ in both English and Spanish, beginning at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT. The main card will be simulcast on ESPN and ESPN+ in both languages, starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. Tickets for the event will be available starting Friday, April 26 at 10 a.m. ET on ticketmaster.com , with a limit of eight tickets per person. UFC Fight Club® members will have an early opportunity to purchase tickets on Wednesday, April 24 at 10 a.m. ET through www.ufcfightclub.com . Additionally, UFC newsletter subscribers will have access to a special Internet pre-sale on Thursday, April 25 starting at 10 a.m. ET, which can be accessed by registering for the newsletter at UFC.com . Eric Granger, ASM Global General Manager, expressed gratitude to Louisville Tourism and the Louisville Sports Commission for their support, stating, "We are honored to welcome UFC back to Louisville and to host such a prestigious event at the KFC Yum! Center. Our venue is known for delivering unforgettable live entertainment experiences, and we are excited to host an action-packed night of world-class MMA action.” UFC Executive Vice President of Event Development, Peter Dropick, shared his enthusiasm about returning to Louisville, noting the long-awaited event is set to delight fans in Kentucky with a spectacular show at the KFC Yum! Center. Greg Fante, President & CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission, also expressed excitement about hosting the UFC Fight Night, highlighting the strong local fanbase and the electrifying atmosphere anticipated for the event. Fans can also enjoy VIP Experience packages through On Location, UFC's Official VIP Experience Provider, which offers premium seating, VIP access to weigh-ins, all-inclusive hospitality, and meet-and-greets with UFC fighters. For more details, visit UFCVIP.com . The event will showcase several exciting bouts, including: Light heavyweight contender Dominick Reyes versus Dustin Jacoby Bantamweight bout between Raul Rosas Jr. and Ricky Turcios Welterweight clash between Miguel Baeza and Punahele Soriano Lightweight match featuring Thiago Moises and Ludovit Klein Middleweight bouts and more exciting matchups across various weight classes For the latest updates on additional bouts and event details, please visit www.ufc.com . All bouts are live and subject to change.

After a sold-out event last October, GLORY kickboxing returns to France with  GLORY 91  this Saturday, April 27, at the Dome De Paris, Paris. The GLORY welterweight title will be on the line in the main event as the reigning & defending champion  Endy Semeleer (35-1, 17 KO)  welcomes the challenge of top contender  Chico Kwasi (42-5, 22 KO) . In the co-main event, after his crazy GLORY Heavyweight Grand Prix performance, the wild & exciting  Bahram Rajabzadeh (66-2, 58 KO)  steps down to light heavyweight and meets the hard-hitting Paris-based  Kevin Oumar (33-4, 7 KO) , a French kickboxing champion & budding MMA star. Belgian-Moroccan superstar  Youssef Boughanem (187-43-8, 119 KO)  steps into the GLORY ring for the very first time in his illustrious career as he meets the Ukraine’s  Stanislav Kazantsev (25-8-1, 7 KO) . The best of French kickboxing will be on display throughout the rest of the card as a host of the nation’s top stars will be in action against opponents from all over the world. Top French heavyweight  Sofian Laïdouni (35-3-1, 17 KO)  going up against German veteran  Vladimir Tok (51-19, 28 KO) , the always exciting  Pascal Toure (18-6, 6 KO)  of Lyon takes on former title contender  Mo Amine (29-6, 16 KO)  with the winner qualifying for the GLORY Light Heavyweight Grand Prix, the highly anticipated GLORY return of French star  Cyril Benzaquen (57-12-3 ,  8 KO)  as he faces House of GLORY star  Sofiane Abdelkhalek (3-2-1, 2 KO) , and veteran French fighter  Bobo Sacko (75-6-1, 29 KO)  comes in to make his GLORY debut against top Spaniard  David Mejia (61-16, 18 KO) . GLORY 91 will be available to watch live on Bally Live in North America, DAZN in France & Belgium, Videoland in the Netherlands and via worldwide PPV on  TrillerTV.com . For global broadcast information, please go to  GLORYKickboxing.com . GLORY 91 Prelims Start Time:  6:30pm CEST | 5:30pm BST | 12:30pm EST | 9am PST GLORY 91 Main Card Start Time:  8pm CEST | 7pm BST | 2pm EST | 11am PST GLORY 91 Fight Card Main Event GLORY Welterweight Title Champion Endy Semeleer (36-1, 18 KO) vs. No1 Chico Kwasi (42-5, 22 KO) Co-Main Event Light Heavyweight Bahram Rajabzadeh (66-2, 58 KO) vs. Kevin Oumar (33-4, 7 KO) Catchweight 72 kg Youssef Boughanem (187-43-8, 119 KO) vs. Stanislav Kazantsev (25-8-1, 7 KO) Heavyweight No. 6 Sofian Laïdouni (35-3-1, 17 KO) vs. Vladimir Tok (51-19, 28 KO) Light Heavyweight: LHW Grand Prix Qualifier No 5 Mo Amine (29-6, 16 KO) vs. No 9 Pascal Toure (19-6, 7 KO) Welterweight Cyril Benzaquen (57-12-3, 8 KO) vs. Sofiane Abdelkhalek (3-2-1, 2 KO) Featherweight David Mejia (61-17, 18 KO) vs. Bobo Sacko (75-6-1, 29 KO) Preliminary Card Welterweight No 6 Robin Ciric (21-7, 7 KO) vs. Diaguely Camara (24-5-1, 10 KO) Welterweight No. 5 Ismail Ouzgni (4-1, 1 KO) vs. Mehdi Ait El Hadj (31-4-2, 8 KO) Middleweight Florian Kroger (19-10, 6 KO) vs. Ramy Deghir (5-1, 1 KO)

Alex Lohoré has signed a multi-fight agreement with BRAVE Combat Federation and is the latest addition to the groundbreaking Super Welterweight division (175lbs). Born in France and fighting out of England, ‘’Da Killa King’’ holds a professional record of 23 wins and 10 losses having started his MMA career back in 2013 and is set to be the latest addition to an ever growing roster of Super Welterweights, currently headed by undefeated world champion Kamal Magomedov. During his decade-long career, Lohoré became a Welterweight champion and a Middleweight title challenger in the European circuit, and has been involved in multiple title fights during his run in regional promotions, showcasing his championship caliber across two weight-classes.   Having proved his talent in the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions, Alex has a huge opportunity at BRAVE Combat Federation as he will be able to compete in the Super Welterweight division in the organization. ''All the Super Welterweights at BRAVE CF, get ready! ''Da Killa King'' is arriving to take his spot! And I've got a spot for you in my garden, I'm digging your grave right now!'', said Alex in a video to announce his signing''. The 175-pound division in BRAVE CF has been hailed as a game-changer in the world of MMA as it has been an ideal place for fighters who are too big for the Welterweight division and at the same time, too small for the Middleweight division. BRAVE CF has also introduced the Super Lightweight class, for 165-pound fighters, who are too small for Welterweight, but too big for Lightweight.  Fighters that struggled due to this gap in the weight divisions have found comfort in the new Super Welterweight division that BRAVE CF introduced, and have showcased the best version of themselves – champion Kamal Magomedov, former titleholder Marcin Bandel, title challenger Ismail Naurdiev and Brazilian finishing machine Luiz Cado just a few examples.  Lohore can reap the benefits of the weight class when he steps into the BRAVE CF Arena for his debut, which is expected to be announced very soon, as he’s expected to be featured heavily during BRAVE CF’s 2024 Europe Tour.

After three exciting events, the first half of the 2024 PFL Regular Season is in the books, and as always, there was no shortage of stunning, shocking, and exciting moments that made fans all over the world go “WOW!”  From fantastic debuts to new contenders taking over, here are some of the biggest storylines from the first half of the PFL New season:  New Heavyweight King?  With the acquisition of Bellator last year, the PFL also welcomed some big names to their already stacked roster, and a handful of them made their PFL Regular Season debuts. Perhaps the most successful debut belonged to that of former Bellator Interim Heavyweight Champion Valentin Moldavsky, who announced his arrival in a big way in the main event of PFL: San Antonio earlier this month.  Moldavsky needed roughly half a round to demolish 2022 PFL Heavyweight Champion Ante Delija and take over the top spot in the heavyweight standings. If this is an indicator of how dominant Moldavsky will be, we could be looking at this season’s PFL Heavyweight Champion.  Things are Getting Dangerous in the Women’s Flyweight Division Also making its debut this season is a new weight class, the women’s flyweight division, featuring some of the most dangerous 125-pounders in the world.  Speaking of dangerous, PFL UK Champion Dakota Ditcheva made arguably the biggest splash in the division, scoring a dominant first-round TKO win in her global roster debut. Ditcheva, along with Bellator champion Liz Carmouche and former UFC standout Taila Santos are the clear favorites to capture the league’s inaugural 125-pound women’s title, and it’s gonna be exciting to see these stars go head-to-head.  Madness at 205 Pounds It’s safe to say that the PFL’s light heavyweight division is the league’s most stacked.  After the first half of the season, FIVE fighters are tied in the standings, all with six points each. That means all five light heavyweight fights so far have ended by first-round stoppage, and that’s a pretty wild stat.  Former champions Impa Kasanganay, Rob Wilkinson, and Antonio Carlos Junior, as well as Josh Silveria and Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov are all in the running for the postseason. While we’ll definitely get a clearer picture once the rest of the season plays out, it’s going to be fun to see who actually does make it to the semifinals.  One subplot that has emerged from the light heavyweight division this season is the catastrophic 205-pound debut of former welterweight king Sadibou Sy, who lost via injury at PFL: Las Vegas. If Sy misses out on the postseason, it will be the first time in his PFL career.  The Brendan Loughnane Revenge Tour Two seasons ago, Brendan Loughnane’s story was the most compelling thing going on in the PFL. A long-time PFL fan favorite who always came up short, Loughnane finally won the big one and became the first world champion to come out of the United Kingdom since Michael Bisping.  Loughnane was on top of the world, and then the following season, saw himself getting booted out of playoff contention after getting knocked out by eventual champion Jesus Pinedo.  At PFL: Chicago, Loughnane bounced back in stunning fashion with a first-round TKO win over Pedro Carvalho and taking over the number one spot in the 145-pound standings.  Can Loughnane return to the mountaintop this year? We’ll find out soon enough.  The second half of the 2024 PFL Regular Season resumes on June 13th at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns with UFC 302, set to unfold at the Prudential Center on June 1, 2024. Featuring a high-octane lineup, the event is headlined by a lightweight clash between current champion Islam Makhachev and the number four ranked contender, Dustin Poirier. Below is a detailed Fight Card of the fights scheduled for UFC 302, this promises to be a thrilling night. Main Event: Islam Makhachev (25-1-0) vs. Dustin Poirier (30-8-0) In a much-anticipated main event, reigning champion Islam Makhachev will defend his lightweight title against veteran Dustin Poirier. Makhachev, known for his formidable grappling skills, faces a versatile striker in Poirier, who has a reputation for his heart and knockout power. This bout is a stylistic clash that could redefine the lightweight hierarchy. Co-Main Event: Sean Strickland (28-6-0) vs. Paulo Costa (14-3-0) Middleweights Sean Strickland and Paulo Costa square off in the co-main event. Strickland's precise boxing meets Costa's aggressive brawling style, making this fight a potential candidate for Fight of the Night. Both fighters are looking to assert themselves as title contenders with a decisive victory here. Welterweight Bout: Randy Brown (18-5-0) vs. Elizeu dos Santos (24-7-1) A battle between two seasoned welterweights, Randy Brown and Elizeu dos Santos, promises action. Both fighters are known for their striking skills and finishing abilities, setting the stage for a striking duel. Middleweight Bout: Cesar Almeida (5-0-0) vs. Roman Kopylov (12-3-0) Rising star Cesar Almeida takes on Roman Kopylov in a middleweight contest. Almeida, still undefeated, looks to continue his ascent against Kopylov, who brings experience and a robust striking game. Flyweight Bout: Su Mudaerji (16-6-0) vs. Joshua Van (10-1-0) Flyweights Su Mudaerji and Joshua Van clash in what is expected to be a fast-paced fight. Mudaerji’s striking prowess and Van's grappling skills will test each fighter's versatility and endurance. Lightweight Bout: HyunSung Park (9-0-0) vs. Andre Lima (8-0-0) Two undefeated lightweights, HyunSung Park and Andre Lima, face off in a battle of rising stars. Both fighters have shown promising potential and look to make a statement. Welterweight Bout: Niko Price (15-7-0) vs. Alex Morono (24-9-0) Niko Price and Alex Morono bring their aggressive fighting styles to this welterweight matchup. Both known for their knockout power, this fight could end quickly and decisively. Heavyweight Bout: Jailton Almeida (20-3-0) vs. Alexandr Romanov (17-2-0) A heavyweight showdown features Jailton Almeida against Alexandr Romanov. This bout pits Almeida’s submission skills against Romanov’s wrestling, highlighting a classic grappler versus grappler matchup. Middleweight Bout: Roman Dolidze (12-3-0) vs. Anthony Hernandez (12-2-0) Roman Dolidze and Anthony Hernandez are set to collide in a middleweight bout where both fighters are known for their grappling and submission abilities, promising a tactical ground war. Welterweight Bout: Mickey Gall (7-5-0) vs. Bassil Hafez (8-4-1) Mickey Gall and Bassil Hafez aim to climb the welterweight ranks. Both fighters have shown resilience and skill on the ground, making this a potential grappling chess match. Welterweight Bout: Philip Rowe (10-4-0) vs. Jake Matthews (19-7-0) Philip Rowe faces Jake Matthews in a match that will test Rowe's striking against Matthews' well-rounded skill set. Both fighters are looking for a win to boost their standings in the welterweight division. Lightweight Bout: Grant Dawson (20-2-1) vs. Joe Solecki (13-4-0) Grant Dawson and Joe Solecki will showcase their lightweight skills. Dawson's wrestling base and Solecki's jiu-jitsu acumen make this a compelling ground-centric fight. Women's Bantamweight Bout: Ailin Perez (9-2-0) vs. Joselyne Edwards (13-5-0) The women's bantamweight division sees Ailin Perez face off against Joselyne Edwards. Both fighters are known for their aggressive striking, setting up a bout likely to be decided on the feet. UFC 302 is shaping up to be a blockbuster event, with compelling matchups across all divisions. Fans can expect a night filled with drama, excitement, and top-tier MMA action.

New world champion Isao Inokuma dumps Rodolfo Peres of Argentina with a tai-otoshi throw at the 4th World Judo championships in Brazil as described in the 1966 edition of Black Belt Magazine . The beautiful painting is credited to Curtis Voss. Get this iconic throw back tee exclusively at the Black Belt shop https://shop.blackbeltmag.com/collections/new-products

Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah Al-Qahtani meets Morocco’s Taha Bendaoud in Main Event PFL MENA set to become home to top MMA fighters from the Middle East and North Africa competing in the proven PFL Season format with all events staged live in the MENA region The fight card will feature fighters in the Featherweight and Bantamweight division competing in a PFL Playoff win and advanced format The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced the matchups for PFL MENA: Riyadh, the first fight card of the inaugural season of PFL MENA. The historic season opener, which will take place at The Green Halls, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will feature fighters from the Featherweight and Bantamweight divisions, competing in the patented PFL Playoff win and advance format. All four PFL MENA Season events will be live on MBC ACTION and on SHAHID, the leading TV and streaming platform in MENA, by MBC GROUP and will be accessible to fans across the region. In addition to PFL MENA, the PFL Global Season, PFL Europe, the Bellator Champions Series and PFL’s Pay-Per-View Superfight Division events will be available to watch on the Saudi Sports Company SSC via Shahid’s VIP + Sports package. All cutdowns and highlights can be seen on MBC ACTION, SHAHID & SSC. Headlining the card will be The Kingdom’s own Abdullah “The Reaper” Al-Qahtani taking on Morocco’s Taha Bendaoud in a Featherweight main event. Pete Murray, CEO of PFL, said: "PFL is all about creating opportunities, and we're proud to offer fighters in the MENA region a chance to compete. With its talented athletes, MENA is a perfect fit for PFL's season format, giving fighters a big stage to showcase their skills. By bringing top-tier events to the region, we're not only serving passionate MMA fans but also pushing the sport forward. Our goal is to grow MMA and expand PFL's reach globally, and working with SRJ Sports to build PFL MENA has been incredibly rewarding." Danny Townsend, CEO at SRJ Sports Investments, said: “The launch of PFL MENA is another massive moment for sport in this region and we are thrilled to have played our part in making it happen. As SRJ, we’re aiming to redefine the landscape of international sport in a way that brings more and more opportunities to Middle Eastern sport and young talent and grows our shared sporting ecosystem. PFL MENA will do just that, with PFL MENA: Riyadh launching the perfect global platform to showcase the trailblazing talent coming from this part of the world.” Here is the complete Fight Card Main Event Featherweight Bout Abdullah Al-Qahtani vs. Taha Bendaoud Co-Main Event Bantamweight Bout Ali Taleb vs. Nawras Abzakh Bantamweight Bout Xavier Alaoui vs. Rachid El Hazoume   Featherweight Bout  Islam Reda vs. Adam Meskini   Bantamweight Bout  Tariq Ismail vs. Jalal Al Daaja   Bantamweight Bout Elias Boudegzdame vs. Hassan Mandour   Amateur Female Atomweight Bout Hattan Alsaif vs. Nada Faheem   Featherweight Bout   Maraoune Bellagouit vs. Motaz Askar   Featherweight Bout  Ahmed Tarek vs. Abdelrahman Alhyasat Showcase Featherweight Bout Mido Mohamed vs. Yazeed Hasanain   Showcase Flyweight Bout Malik Basahel vs. Harsh Pandya PFL MENA: Riyadh will be the first installment of the thrilling four-event sport-season format featuring the region’s top fighters and a groundbreaking initiative with SRJ Sports Investments ("SRJ"). The rest of the inaugural season will take place across key markets in the Middle East.

This Proven Judo Arm Lock Can Be Your Secret Weapon in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Too! Brazilian jiu-jitsu is such an effective martial art in part because it never stops evolving. BJJ practitioners experiment. They often discover techniques taught in other arts — like sambo and wrestling — test them on the mat, and, if they’re successful, incorporate the new moves into their everyday training. Sometimes they rediscover a technique that was forgotten or overlooked. Such is the case with waki-gatame, a time-honored judo arm lock that manifests, with slight variations, in many martial arts. Presented below is an analysis of the move, which stands a good chance of becoming part of BJJ’s evolution toward improved effectiveness. Judo Arm Lock for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: “Lost” Arm Lock Ude-hishigi-waki-gatame is often called simply waki-gatame. Its name translates to “arm-crush armpit hold” — for good reason. The mechanism involves the hyperextension of your opponent’s elbow, which happens when you clamp his or her arm in your armpit. In essence, your armpit becomes the fulcrum for the leverage on which the lock depends. Technically, waki-gatame is an armbar. An armbar, of course, is any arm lock that hyperextends the elbow. In judo, waki-gatame is usually applied while standing, but it also has functionality in an array of ground positions. In BJJ, the technique is often relegated to standing self-defense applications. However, occasionally, one sees it originate from a ground position. In some respects, waki-gatame is a lost technique in the BJJ world. My goal with this article is to encourage you to examine it in a new light and see its value for BJJ ground fighters in search of a submission. For assistance, we will consult Sid Kelly, an eighth-degree black belt in judo and a sixth degree in jujitsu. Kelly has found waki-gatame to be an extremely versatile and rather ignored arm lock. He arrived at this conclusion after five years of research that included experimenting and filming. From his investigation, he discovered more than 70 situations in which waki-gatame can be applied. In addition, he found that many of those situations are on the ground. Because waki-gatame is an integral component of judo, it will be examined here mostly from a judo perspective. The technique is part of the Kodokan Judo Institute’s official list of nine joint locks, so it’s totally legitimate — not a fringe move at all. But because BJJ is renowned for its submissions and ground skills, waki-gatame also will be viewed from a BJJ perspective. You’ll see that it functions in no-gi grappling, as well. Before You Begin The preconditions, along with the keys to success, for waki-gatame come from the aforementioned work of Sid Kelly. His research found that to apply the technique, four conditions need to be present. In certain cases, a fifth is necessary. The difficulty of setting them up varies according to the exact application. • The opponent must be in a frontal position or be able to be brought to a frontal position. • You must be able to maneuver your body into the required position as shown in the photos.  • You must be able to extend the opponent’s arm. • In some cases, the opponent must be in motion in order for you to get him or her into a frontal position. Once you understand these preconditions, it’s relatively easy to determine whether waki-gatame is possible in any given situation. After ascertaining the preconditions for the specific version of the move you’re seeking to use — especially if it will take place on the ground — you’ll be able to develop and refine your technique. For the sequences of the moves that make up waki-gatame, see the photographs. Keys to Success An effective waki-gatame hinges on your ability to perform five points correctly, Kelly has found. All are vital, and they build on each other, so it’s best to learn them in order. 1. Position of the Body: It’s critically important that your body be as far forward as possible so your groin is positioned under your opponent’s armpit. If your body is too far back, the arm lock cannot be applied effectively. 2. Application of Pressure on the Arm: Pressure must be applied between the elbow and shoulder. Your side must make constant contact. If pressure is applied to the shoulder, it becomes a shoulder lock, which is illegal in judo competition. 3. Placement of the Elbow: The pinkie and the natural bend of the opponent’s elbow must be in line with each other. For maximum effectiveness, pressure should be exerted on the outside of the elbow. The technique is usually done by feel, but in general, you pull or push the arm in the direction of the pinkie. You can pull up, or you can pull or push sideways. If you have to push down at the wrist to apply waki-gatame, it won’t be effective, so be sure to adjust the position of the opponent’s elbow by twisting the arm before you begin. Then you can pull up, or you can pull or push sideways to finalize the lock. 4. Position of the Hands: To maximize force and leverage, both hands should grip the far side of the opponent’s wrist. Note that placing your hands close to the elbow decreases leverage. Use both hands to pull or push as far from the elbow as possible. 5. Overall Posture: A large triangular posture with your legs is the most stable and therefore the best for combative purposes. A small triangular posture is unstable and makes it difficult to change positions. Enhanced Effectiveness Waki-gatame can be augmented by adding a pronating wrist lock. To obtain the most leverage possible, press the captured hand’s knuckles toward the inside of the opponent’s forearm. Doing so makes escape from waki-gatame much more difficult. Caveat: Before you attempt a pronating wrist lock in a grappling competition, ask whether wrist locks are legal under the rules being used. For instance, wrist locks are illegal in judo competition but are legal in some submission-based combat sports. Final Considerations When you apply waki-gatame with force and commitment while standing, you can break the opponent’s elbow. This makes it one of the more dangerous arm locks in the martial arts. Use caution and always stay in control during training and while using the move, especially from a standing position. It’s generally safer when initiated from a ground position because gravity doesn’t contribute to the likelihood of damage. Note that because of a change in the rules advocated by the International Judo Federation, standing arm locks are now forbidden in judo contests. However, in most BJJ tournaments, waki-gatame is allowed while standing and on the ground. For this reason, adding it to your BJJ game can be beneficial for competition as well as self-defense. Because rules can vary from school to school and event to event, it’s best to ask what’s legal and what’s illegal. This will help prevent trouble or even a disqualification. “Waki-gatame is a versatile, powerful and practical arm lock,” Kelly reminds us. It may not be the No. 1 arm lock, but it is an official joint lock in the Kodokan curriculum, and this recognition only reinforces the concept that it can be a great addition to your arsenal. Remember that the early Kodokan style of judo provided the major influence in the creation of BJJ. Apparently, waki-gatame did not cross over completely from judo into BJJ, making it a lost arm lock. This article hopes to change that. You’ve seen how it can be employed from a variety of top and bottom ground positions, making it a remarkable addition to your ground-grappling repertoire. Since it’s not used as frequently as other arm locks, it can enable you to catch your opponent off-guard. With all that you’ve learned about waki-gatame, all that’s left is to start incorporating this extremely versatile but often overlooked arm lock into your ground game. Andrew Zerling is a New Jersey–based martial artist and author of the multi-award-winning book Sumo for Mixed Martial Arts: Winning This article originally appeared in a 2021 edition of Black Belt Magazine.

One of the most anticipated events of the year is now confirmed. The  GLORY Light Heavyweight Grand Prix  is now official for  June 8  and will take place at the  Rotterdam Ahoy  in the Netherlands. After the incredible Heavyweight Grand Prix earlier this year, it is now time for the eight best light heavyweights on the planet to go head-to-head in a thrilling one-night tournament to decide who the baddest fighter in the division is. Already confirmed to compete are former champion  Sergej Maslobojev (38-6, 23 KO) , rising star  Stefan Latescu (17-2, 8 KO) , the experienced  Bogdan Stoica (58-14, 40 KO) , and the winner of Mohamed Amine (29-6, 16 KO) vs. Pascal Toure (19-6, 6 KO) at GLORY 91 this Saturday will also punch his ticket into the Grand Prix. In addition to the above names, GLORY can also now announce that ‘Mister Cool’  Ibrahim El Bouni (41-9-1, 22 KO)  has officially thrown his hat into the ring and will enter combat sports’ toughest tournament. “The Heavyweight Grand Prix was one of the most exciting events in kickboxing history, drama and emotion in one night,” said Marshall Zelaznik, GLORY CEO. “Now it is time for the light heavyweights to shine.  With the current field and the soon to be announced fighters, we can expect another epic night of the best stand-up action in the world. These kinds of events are where the best fighters step up and claim their place in kickboxing history.” Fans can register their interest for tickets right now through the pre-sale link onGLORYKickboxing.com . The GLORY Light Heavyweight Grand Prix will be available to watch exclusively on Videoland in the Netherlands, on DAZN in France & Belgium, and on Bally Live in North America.

BRAVE Combat Federation president Mohammed Shahid has confirmed that Pavel Dailidko’s next fight will be for the inaugural BRAVE CF Heavyweight World Title. Pavel, who went up against Valdrin Istrefi at BRAVE CF 81 in Slovenia, made a statement when he knocked out Istrefi in the second round. Not only was this the fourth straight win for ‘The Experiment,’ but this was also his fourth-straight finish in BRAVE Combat Federation with his past three fights ending in first-round knockouts. The Lithuanian, who was vocal about wanting to fight for the Inaugural BRAVE CF Heavyweight world title solidified his claim to the opportunity with his win at BRAVE CF 81.  BRAVE CF President Mohammed Shahid praised Dailidko's outstanding performance and confirmed his title shot for the upcoming bout.  ‘’Pavel did exactly what he needed to do. Prove to everyone he is undeniable for a title shot. He put on a great performance against a tough fighter in Istrefi, who has double the amount of his experience. I can confirm he is fighting for the inaugural BRAVE CF Heavyweight world title in his next fight, and I am excited to see him in action again,” Shahid said. With the win, Pavel improved his professional MMA record to eight wins and two losses with all eight of his wins coming through finishes. BRAVE CF 81, which took place in association with WFC at the Hala Tivoli Arena in Ljubljana, Slovenia, marked the beginning of BRAVE CF 2024 calendar. With eight more events already announced for 2024, BRAVE CF is set to further expand its reach in Europe by hosting five additional events as part of the 2024 European Tour. Debut events in the Netherlands and Croatia are among the highlights.

Lucero "La Loba" Acosta Injured New Main Event - Alejandra "Azul" Lara vs Gisela "La Emperatriz" Luna Jimbo Slice Battles a New Opponent, Unbeaten Jaden Ortega, in a 175 Lbs Catchweight Fight, after Ovidio Bojorquez Bows Out Due to Injury Undefeated Rivals Mauricio Rios vs Tony Cortez suare off in Mexico Vs. USA Battle for Co-Main Event COMBATE GLOBAL today announced a new women’s flyweight (125 pounds) Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) main event matchup between former world championship challenger Alejandra “Azul” Lara (9-7) and nine-time kickboxing champion Gisela “La Emperatriz” Luna (5-1), live on Fuse at 9:30 p.m. ET from Miami on Saturday, May 11. Fuse is the exclusive English-language home of COMBATE GLOBALMMA .  The new main event matchup comes after previously announced Lucero “La Loba” Acosta , who had been slated to face off with Lara, was forced to withdraw from the commitment this week due to a fractured meniscus sustained in training camp. The 32-year-old Luna of Buenos Aires, Argentina will make her COMBATE GLOBAL promotional debut, bringing with her a stellar resume that includes nine regional kickboxing championships, including four South American titles and five Argentinian national titles, as well as an outstanding overall record of 36-3-1 in the sport of kickboxing. In MMA competition to date, Luna has earned four of her five professional victories via (T)KO or submission. At 29 years of age, Lara, who hails from Medellin, Colombia and fights out of San Diego, Calif., is looking to return to the win column since teaming up with 10 th Planet San Diego Jiu Jitsu and Training Center several months ago.  She has since been training with the likes of superstars Phil Davis and Cat Zingano. Lara has faced off with a handful of world-class opponents, including Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, whom Lara challenged for the Bellator women’s world flyweight title, and Muay Thai world champion Lena Ovchynnikova, whom Lara defeated by way of third round (4:03) submission (rear-naked choke) in 2018. A second change to the COMBATE GLOBAL card on May 11 was announced today after previously announced Ovidio Bojorquez , who had been scheduled to take on Jimmie “Jimbo Slice” Pace, Jr. (3-1), was forced to bow out of the welterweight (170 pounds) fight due to a hand injury sustained in training camp. The 28-year-old Pace, Jr., better known by his nickname, will collide with unbeaten fellow knockout artist Jaden Ortega (1-0) in a 175-pound catchweight contest. Ortega is a 22-year-old prodigy from Spokane, Wash., where he trains under Rick Little at Sik Jitsu, the home of former world champion, Julianna Peña and undefeated COMBATE GLOBAL star, Melissa “La Mamba” Amaya. A former All-American high school football star, Ortega posted an overall 4-1 record as an amateur, notching all of his victories via (T)KO, inside of two rounds.  Ortega made his professional debut on May 19, scoring a (T)KO on Billy Martin in the first round of battle. “Jimbo Slice,” hails from Miami and is a former undefeated (3-0) amateur who has since earned all of his professional wins by way of (T)KO or submission, including a thunderous 16-second knockout of Spain’s Boris Garcia last July 1.  In the previously announced COMBATE GLOBAL featherweight (145 pounds) co-main event, Mauricio Rios (4-0) will square off with fellow undefeated, new star Tony “The Conqueror” Cortez (2-0) in a Mexico vs. USA showdown. Rios of Mexico City is a 25-year-old member of the fearsome Bonebreakers fight squad and has earned three of his four professional wins by way of submission. The 22-year-old Cortez, who is on a 10-fight win streak since the start of his career as an amateur, looks to keep his perfect record intact, winning his last two bouts via submission and KO.

Another top pound-for-pound kickboxing star is coming to ONE Championship. On Tuesday, April 23, Masaaki Noiri announced he had signed with ONE. The 30-year-old is excited to bring his talents to the organization and compete against more elite strikers. "I'm truly happy. I've been waiting for this moment, finally! I'm also very excited. I can't wait to step into the ring with only elite fighters and prove my abilities," Noiri told ONE. Noiri is a two-division K-1 World Champion and K-1 Grand Prix Champion. The 30-year-old has shown his incredible skill over the years, but now comes a new chapter for the Japanese star. "I believe ONE is the ultimate stage for striking, so I wanted to challenge myself in that ring. I'm pursuing to be the strongest in the world through martial arts, so I chose this path to test if the current Masaaki Noiri can make it in ONE," the 30-year-old said. However, the pound-for-pound great is not coming just for his shot at glory. Although he is eyeing gold in the future, Noiri also wants to elevate Japan even further alongside Takeru Segawa. "To definitely win the ONE world title. Not just me, but together with Takeru Segawa. And we'll prove the strength of Japanese fighters to the world," Noiri explained. Noiri also told ONE that he wants to take on the best strikers in the world. Undoubtedly, he will get that chance, as ONE's roster of strikers is loaded with talent. After the announcement, No iri posted a statement on X, stating he has finally arrived. "As ONE officially announced, I have signed a contract with ONE Championship, the highest stage for striking. If I want to pursue being the strongest in the world that I believe in, this is a stage I had to challenge," Noiri said. "I've finally arrived here. This marks the start of the final chapter for me as a martial artist, Masaaki Noiri. I'm nothing but excited to be on a stage filled with formidable fighters. Let's see how far I can go. Please look forward to it. I'll be fighting while carrying Japan on my back, so I appreciate your support more than ever!"