The UFC, the world's leading mixed martial arts organization, has joined forces with 4ocean, the global leader in ocean cleanup, to combat the ocean plastic crisis. This exciting partnership kicks off with the "Fight for the Ocean" sweepstakes, launched in celebration of Earth Day 2024. How You Can Win Big and Support Ocean Cleanup Want a VIP trip to your favorite UFC event and a meet-and-greet with Dana White? Enter the "Fight for the Ocean" sweepstakes! Every dollar you donate equals one pound of trash removed from the ocean, and all proceeds directly support 4ocean's cleanup efforts worldwide. Enter online at [Fight for the Ocean website] with a minimum $1 donation, or go the mail-in route if you prefer. Boost your chances by donating more! Join the Fight, Win Prizes "We're thrilled to join forces with the UFC to make a serious dent in this crisis," said Alex Schulze, 4ocean's CEO and co-founder. "Partnerships like this are what fuel our mission to clean oceans and empower communities." The campaign ends on International Coastal Cleanup Day (September 21st). One lucky winner scores two tickets to the UFC event of their choice through 2025! Plus, there are awesome monthly prizes like UFC legacy replica mini belts. Let's Make a Difference! This is your chance to join the UFC and 4ocean in the fight for our oceans. Enter to win, and contribute to a cleaner future for our planet.

After winning the Road to ONE, Sean Climaco is ready to make his presence felt on the global stage in his ONE Championship debut at ONE Fight Night 22 . The American striker will take on Josue “Tuzo” Cruz in a flyweight Muay Thai battle to open the card on May 3. “Fans should expect technical violence. I’ve got knockout power in both my hands and hard kicks,” Climaco told ONE. “I have an aggressive and exciting fighting style. I’m ready to put it on show for the fans inside Lumpinee Boxing Stadium and those watching all over the world.” The road to the top of the division may seem daunting as a flyweight. Rodtang Jitmuangnon, Superlek Kiatmoo9, and a host of other talented strikers fill the ranks. Climaco, however, is taking everything one bout at a time and focusing on the task at hand. “It’s an honor to compete and be in the same weight class as these guys, but I’m not going to let all the media and the lights affect me once it’s time to fight. I’m just going to treat it like it’s another day in the office, go in there and fight the way I fight, and not let all the outside stuff distract me,” the American said. “Of course, I’m training harder than ever, but that’s how you’re going to have to do it whenever you get called to fight in one of the biggest organizations in the world. I think I’m fully prepared for that.” For the matchup with Cruz, Climaco is just trying to enter in peak form. Although he has taken a look at some video of his opponent, he is ready to adapt to whatever happens on May 3. “I saw a little bit of film of his fights. I think he’s going to come out and take his time. He’s a Mexican fighter, so he’s probably more boxing-heavy. But I’m not taking too much of what I’ve seen into this fight because we’re fighting in ONE Championship now,” Climaco mentioned. “It’s a different atmosphere. He might come out differently than he does in his fights that you see online. Sometimes guys are going to fight like they see red and start swinging like crazy trying to get the $50,000 bonus.” “I’m just gonna fight my fight.” Climaco understands the pressure of competing on the global stage, but he is trying to take everything in stride to kickstart ONE Fight Night 22 with a massive knockout. However, if it needs to be a three-round war, the Californian is also prepared for that. Regardless, Climaco hopes to show his victory in the Road to ONE tournament is just the beginning of his ascent toward flyweight contendership. “The ideal way to win would be a knockout, but I’m not going to force it. I always fight to hurt my opponent, not score points,” Climaco said. “But I also have to fight smart. You can’t be reckless with the little gloves. I have been sparring with the little [4-ounce] gloves to prepare, and it’s a different ball game.” “I see myself finishing him in the second round. The first round will be more like getting those ONE debut jitters out, feeling, seeing what he’s got, but after that, I’m going to finish it in the second.” ONE Fight Night 22 airs live on Prime Video on 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 lands in Mauritius for the first time on May 11, with BRAVE CF 82 taking place in St. Pierre. In total, it will be the fourth event in Africa for the company; further cementing the organization’s spot as the only global MMA promotion to host events in the continent.   The historic event now has a fitting fight card as well which is stacked from top to bottom featuring African stars going up against global MMA names, and headlined by the biggest title fight of 2024. The main event will see the trilogy showdown between BRAVE CF Bantamweight champion Nkosi Ndebele and former champion Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres. This will be the first ever trilogy in BRAVE CF and will also be the first trilogy in MMA history with each fight happening in a different continent.  In the co-main event of the evening, Zimbabwe’s Nicholas Hwende looks to push his case for a Bantamweight title shot when he takes on the undefeated Khurshed Nazarov. Khurshed Nazarov comes into the fight with a 9-0-1 record and can shake things up in the Bantamweight division if he manages to impress at BRAVE CF 82.  After a memorable 2023, African superstar Eliezer Kubanza hopes to start 2024 on a high note as he fights the experienced Karim Rabei in a Super Welterweight showdown. Kubanza is undefeated in his professional MMA career with all his wins coming via stoppages. Karim, on the other hand, has fought around the world in his decade-long career and makes his BRAVE CF debut at the event.  A battle of two undefeated phenoms will unfold at BRAVE CF 82 when Ramazan Gitinov takes on Prince Lolia. Touted as the best amateur fighter in IMMAF history, Gitinov is currently undefeated in his four-fight professional MMA career while Lolia has a similar resume to showcase as he is currently 3-0.  The card will also feature a flyweight battle between Bidzina Gavashelishvili and Luthando Biko giving the fans a long list of reasons to get excited about the event in Mauritius, as BRAVE CF continues to lead the development of the sport in the continent. BRAVE CF 82 Full Fight Card Bantamweight world championship   Nkosi Ndebele (c) vs Jose Torres 3 Bantamweight Nicholas Hwende vs Khurshed Nazarov Flyweight Bidizina Gavashelishvili vs Luthando Biko  Featherweight Ylies Djiroun vs Ananias Mulumba Super Welterweight Eliezer Kubanza vs Karim Rabei Lightweight Ramazan Gitinov vs Prince Lolia

2024 PFL Europe event in Newcastle takes place on June 8 at the Utilita Arena with Bantamweight and Women’s Flyweights beginning their own ‘Path to Greatness’  Massive event will also see Boxing World Champion Savannah Marshall make her PFL SmartCage debut in her hometown of Newcastle against Brazil’s Mirela Vargas  Fireworks guaranteed as showcases bouts added featuring Manchester’s Kane ‘The Danger’ Mousah meets Ireland’s Dylan Tuke and the return of Lewis McGrillen  Viral superstar Ben Woolliss also set to make his PFL Europe debut on June 8  Tickets for PFL Europe Newcastle are available from www.Ticketmaster.co.uk and the card will be streamed live on DAZN beginning at 5 pm GMT The Professional Fighters League (PFL), today announced the entire stacked card for the PFL Europe Newcastle event on Saturday June 8th. The huge event includes the Bantamweights and Women’s Flyweight rosters looking to secure their spots in the PFL Europe Playoffs this September.  The 2024 PFL Europe Season promises non-stop action, with returning stars and new elite talent from across Europe, all looking to begin their ‘Path to Greatness’ for the coveted PFL Europe Championship and $100,000 in prize money. The event will also see local hero  Savannah Marshall  make her MMA debut against Brazil’s  Mirela Vargas , as well as a host of other elite level European MMA showcase bouts. PFL Europe Newcastle will air exclusively in the U.K. on DAZN beginning at 5 pm GMT, with tickets on sale now at  Ticketmaster.co.uk . “We can’t wait to come back to Newcastle on June 8th, where PFL Europe officially launched in 2023. Our Bantamweight and Women’s Flyweight rosters are packed with quality and represent the best that the elite European MMA scene has to offer, and with the Regular Season format all of these fighters know what’s at the end of the line - the European title, $100k and a pathway to our Global Season,” said Head of Fighter Operations for PFL Europe, Dan Hardy. “But it wouldn’t be a PFL Europe event without a stacked evening of showcase bouts, and we have a great selection of future stars, simmering tensions and a local hero in Savannah Marshall making her MMA debut.”  A high-profile signing that shook the combat sports world in 2023, and a native of the North East of England, Marshall is a must-watch talent, boasting ten victories by knockout in her illustrious boxing career. Marshall joins the deepest female combat sports roster in the world, which includes a familiar foe in Claressa Shields. Her first test in MMA comes in the form of Vargas, a three fight professional, who will be entering enemy territory when she challenges Marshall in front of a partisan crowd.  With the winners progressing and the losers going home, the stakes could not be higher for the Bantamweights, as England’s highly regarded Scouser  Dean Garnett  (12-2-1), who is on a four-fight win streak, faces Belgium’s  Ayton De Paepe  (12-4) as both step into the PFL SmartCage for the first time.  Also at Bantamweight, last year’s finalist, Ireland’s  Frans Mlambo  (15-6) looks to bounce straight back to his winning ways against Scotland’s ‘The Apocalypse’  Luke Shanks  (10-4), while returning champion  Khurshed Kakhorov  (12-1) begins the defense of his PFL Europe title as he puts it all on the line against dangerous Georgian  Kikadze Bondo  (8-3-1) who dominated striking expert Dom Wooding last time out. Rounding off the Bantamweights,  Alexander Luster  (7-1), who has lit up the German MMA scene with all seven of his professional wins coming inside the opening two-rounds, faces  Alperen Karabulut  (10-3, 1 NC), who becomes the first Turkish fighter to ever compete inside the PFL SmartCage.  In the Women’s Flyweight division, one of the most highly regarded female prospects in the world of MMA,  Shanelle ‘The Nightmare’ Dyer  (4-0) will make her PFL Europe Season debut against Georgian submission specialist  Mariam Torchinava  (9-2). Also on the card Dyer’s bitter rival and viral sensation,  Sammy-Jo Luxton  (2-0), makes her long awaited PFL Europe debut versus the returning Dutch talent  Lizzy Gevers  (3-1).  Finishing off the Women’s Flyweight season bouts, 2023 finalist  Valentina Scatizzi  (2-2) from Italy will go up against France’s vastly experienced 43 year-old  Marie Loiseau  (6-4) and Ireland’s SBG trained  Dee Begley  (4-5) faces Poland’s  Paulina Wisniewska  (2-0), who will be looking to continue her perfect 2-0 professional record. There will also be one additional Welterweight Season fight, due to a fight cancellation in Paris.  Jack Grant  (19-8) will face off against  Charlie Leary  (17-13-1) to proceed to the playoffs and join the semi finalists who were victorious in Paris.  In addition to the Bantamweight and Women’s Flyweights, Newcastle will also see a number of elite showcase bouts in one of the most stacked cards in all of European MMA this year. Following on from his narrow defeat to 2023 Lightweight champion Jakub Kaszuba, Bellator veteran  Kane Mousah  (14-6) from Manchester will clash with Ireland’s fan-favorite  Dylan Tuke  (7-4) ,while fellow Manc, the hard hitting  Lewis McGrillen  (8-1) also returns. Elsewhere on the card, viral superstar and two-time kickboxing world champion  Ben Woolliss (2-0) will look to continue his unbeaten pro MMA record in his first fight with the PFL since signing a multi-fight deal, Woolliss will take on  Maher Belkhadir  (1-1) of France. Completing the matchups on June 8th, unbeaten  Mark Ewen  (5-0) switches over from Bellator to take on  Mathias Poiron  (7-1) of France, and exciting new PFL signing  Ibragim Ibragimov  (6-0), makes his much-anticipated debut against  Josh Reed  (13-8) of Wales. Ibragimov, originally from Dagestan, represents a sporting family with three of his brothers signed to Manchester United.  The 2024 PFL Europe Season began last month with an incredible sold-out show in Paris, before rolling into Newcastle Upon-Tyne at Utilita Arena on June 8, and moving into new territory in Glasgow for a huge night of playoff action at OVO Hydro on September 28. The season will conclude with an epic Championship event at a venue to be announced in the near future.   Updated PFL Europe Newcastle Main Card: DAZN (U.K.) June 8 - 5 pm GMT  Main Event Savannah Marshall  (Debut) vs.  Mirela Vargas  (1-2)  Lightweight Showcase Bout   Kane Mousah  (14-6) vs.  Dylan Tuke  (7-4) Welterweight Season Bout Jack Grant  (19-8) vs.  Charlie Leary  (17-13-1) Bantamweight Season Bout Dean Garnett  (12-2-1) vs.  Ayton De Paepe  (12-4) Women’s Flyweight Season Bout Shanelle Dyer  (4-0) vs.  Mariam Torchinava (9-2) Featherweight Showcase Bout Ibragim Ibragimov  (6-0) vs.  Josh Reed  (13-8) Bantamweight Season Bout Frans Mlambo  (15-6) vs.  Luke Shanks  (10-4) Women’s Flyweight Season Bout Lizzy Gevers  (3-1) vs.  Sammy-Jo Luxton (2-0) Lightweight Showcase Bout Mark Ewen  (5-0) vs.  Mathias Poiron  (7-1) Bantamweight Season Bout Khurshed Kakhorov  (12-1) vs.  Bondo Kikadze (8-3-1) Women’s Flyweight Season Bout Valentina Scatizzi  (2-2) vs.  Marie Loiseau (6-4) Featherweight Showcase Bout Ben Woolliss  (2-0) vs.  Maher Belkhadir  (1-1) Bantamweight Bout Alexander Luster  (7-1) vs.  Alperen Karabulut  (10-3, 1 NC) Women’s Flyweight Bout Dee Begley  (4-5) vs.  Paulina Wisniewska  (2-0)

We know that karate was developed in the Ryukyu Islands, an archipelago located southwest of Japan. The largest of the Ryukyu is, of course, Okinawa. The people of the Ryukyu shared a common ancestry with the people of Japan and spoke a language, called Uchinaguchi, that had a common origin with the language of Japan. This is why many of the words we use in karate are actually Uchinaguchi words. Before 1429, there were three warring factions on Okinawa: Hokuzan (literally, “northern mountain”), Chuzan (“middle mountain”) and Nanzan (“southern mountain”). In 1429 Chuzan emerged victorious, and all the Ryukyu Islands became unified under its first king, Sho Hashi. But precisely when on this timeline did karate develop? The origins of the art are obscure — and have been made even more so by the passage of time and the spread of myths and misconceptions. Gichin Funakoshi, the father of modern karate, addressed this subject: “Inasmuch as there is no written material on the early history of karate, we do not know who invented and developed it, nor even, for that matter, where it originated and evolved. Its earliest history may only be inferred from ancient legends that have been handed down to us by word of mouth, and they, like most legends, tend to be imaginative and probably inaccurate.” In 1936 Chojun Miyagi, the founder of goju karate, gave a lecture in Osaka, Japan, titled “Karate-do Gairyaku,” or “General Explanation of Karate-do.” In one section that dealt with the history of karate, Miyagi stated that it has its roots in the Chinese martial arts: “The name karate is a special term in Okinawa, and if we look for its origin, we find it can be traced to Chinese boxing.” Later in the lecture, Miyagi discussed the major theories concerning the introduction of the Chinese martial arts: “How was Chinese boxing introduced to the Ryukyu Islands? There is no definitive historical evidence, but there are many theories. The three main theories are: • The 36-Men Theory. This theory asserts that in 1392, 36 Chinese men came to the Ryukyu Islands and introduced Chinese boxing to the Ryukyu people. • The Oshima-Note Theory. In 1762 a Ryukyu ship bound for mainland Japan was forced ashore by a storm at Oshima in Tosa, a province of Shikoku Island. Among the crew was an intellectual named Shiohira Pechin Seisei, who talked about the Ryukyu Islands and their people to a native scholar of Tosa Province, Choki Tobe. The latter recorded the conversation in a notebook, which was titled Oshima Hikki (Oshima Note). In the third volume of the Oshima Note, a section of gossip entitled ‘Skillful Boxer’ relates that a Chinese boxer by the name of Kusanku traveled to the Ryukyu Islands with his students and practiced what, at that time, was called kumiai-jutsu (combat techniques). This book, then, contains some of the most reliable literature about the origins of karate in the Ryukyu Islands. Even Gichin Funakoshi weighed in on the lack of facts pertaining to karate’s origins: “Inasmuch as there is no written material on the early history of karate, we do not know who invented and developed it, nor even, for that matter, where it originated and evolved. • The After-Keicho Theory. In the year Keicho 14 (1609), the Satsuma clan conquered the Ryukyu Islands and established a regime based on brutal repression. Official policy prohibited ownership or use of weapons. One theory has it that for lack of better means of protection, the art of karate developed naturally among the defenseless Okinawans. Another theory asserts that it was during this time of crisis that karate was actually introduced.” Let us consider each of these possible explanations. The 36-Men Theory Starting around the year 1372, Ryukyu established a formal relationship with China. As was typical of many smaller countries in Asia, Ryukyu took on the role of a vassal state. In exchange for acknowledging China’s supremacy, the government of China sent envoys to Ryukyu to provide culture and technology. In 13935 the Ming emperor sent the so-called “36 men” (also known as the “36 families” to Ryukyu. Their purpose was to educate the people of Ryukyu in various Chinese ways. Some taught navigation and the Chinese written language, while others brought crafts such as shipbuilding and papermaking. However, there appears to be no direct evidence of the 36 men having brought martial arts to Ryukyu. The Oshima-Note Theory The pertinent section of this document states that one year earlier — presumably in 1761 — a man named Kusanku traveled to Ryukyu with several disciples and taught his kumiai-jitsu, or combat techniques. While we don’t know exactly who Kusanku was or why he visited Ryukyu, he might have been part of a diplomatic mission from China because such missions were common during this period. But as we shall see in the discussion of the final theory, the knowledge gained from Kusanku may have been just part of the total martial arts knowledge acquired and subsequently developed by the people of Ryukyu. The After-Keicho Theory No. 1 In Japan, the Shimazu family became the lords of Satsuma domain on the island of Kyushu around the year 1030. Around 1196, the shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo conferred the title “Lord of the Southern Islands” — that is, the Ryukyu — on the leader of Satsuma, and the title was passed down through the family. While the Shimazu may have claimed the right to control the islands, there’s no evidence that they ever attempted to do so before the late 16th century. Beginning in the late 16th century, a Satsuma lord named Shimazu Iehisa began a quest to invade Korea. To support this, he made frequent demands of the king of Ryukyu (Sho Nei), such as resupplying Iehisa’s troops. While Sho Nei agreed to some demands, he chose to ignore others. As a result, in 1609 some 3,000 troops from Satsuma invaded the Ryukyu Islands as punishment. Despite having considerable forces (estimated between 1,000 to 3,000 soldiers) and weapons (including swords and Chinese-style firearms), the warriors of Ryukyu were defeated by the battle hardened Shimazu — thanks in no small part to his effective use of European-style matchlock arquebuses. Sho Nei was taken prisoner and held captive in Japan for three years. He was allowed to return to Ryukyu only after swearing an oath of allegiance to Shimazu. From that point forward, while the king was allowed to remain the nominal ruler of Ryukyu, ultimate authority rested with the lord of Satsuma. In his discussion of the After-Keicho Theory, Miyagi actually outlines two theories. One proposes that the Shimazu governed Ryukyu with “brutal repression,” thus forcing the people of Ryukyu to develop karate-do “naturally.” This tends to support the belief by many students of karate-do that the art was created by the peasant class to defend against the military forces. There are two problems with this theory, however. First, there is a well-established history of martial arts residing in the domain of the pechin (warriors) rather than the peasants. The pechin were part of the gentry of Ryukyu, and many served as royal guards — for example, Sokon Matsumura, one of the most famous of the pechin, was the personal bodyguard of the last three kings of Ryukyu. Second, the historical evidence indicates that while the Shimazu did establish certain rules of law within Ryukyu (with strict punishments for failure to abide by them) and demanded what essentially amounted to taxes, day-to-day governance of Ryukyu still rested with the king’s government. There is little, if any, evidence of repression. In fact, Shimazu went to great lengths to make life seem normal to allow Ryukyu to maintain a profitable trade relationship with China. The After-Keicho Theory No. 2 The other theory is that karate resulted “during this time of crisis.” While Miyagi did not explain what he meant by this, it’s reasonable to assume he meant that the pechin, defeated by the Shimazu and disheartened at the capture of their king, may have pledged themselves to prepare for the next battle — a battle that could have ended the Ryukyu kingdom entirely. Miyagi stated that “official policy prohibited ownership or use of weapons” after the 1609 invasion. The belief that Satsuma rule prohibited weapons is incorrect. What it prohibited was the export of any new arms to Ryukyu because of an embargo put in place by the Tokugawa shogunate in 1634. Ryukyu was free to retain its existing arms. It also must be noted that Miyagi may have been referring to a supposed weapons ban instituted earlier in Okinawa during the reign of King Sho Shin. The belief that weapons were banned by the kingdom can be traced to an erroneous translation made by noted Okinawan historian Ifa Fuyu. The reign of Sho Shin (1465-1527) lasted half a century and was noted for the development of a centralized government, the establishment of a social class system, the organization of religion and an increase in prosperity via trade. In 1509 a monument known as the Momourasoe Balustrade was erected in the king’s honor. It listed 11 “distinctions” marking the greatness of the country under the king’s leadership. In 1932, just four years before Miyagi’s lecture, Ifa, a historian born in Naha and known as the father of Okinawan studies, translated the fourth distinction as “this country used the armor for utensils” and suggested that karate was a direct result of the loss of weapons. George H. Kerr, author of the highly regarded Okinawa: History of an Island People, used Ifa’s work to conclude that “private ownership and use of arms were done away with,” that “swords were no longer to be worn as personal equipment” and that “the petty lords were ordered to bring all weapons to Shuri, to be stored in a warehouse under supervision of one of the king’s officers.” However, in 1955 Okinawan researcher Nakahara Zenchu discovered a flaw in Ifa’s translation.10 He found that the fourth distinction actually states, “Brocade and embroidered silk are used for garments, and gold and silver are used for utensils. Swords, bows and arrows are exclusively accumulated as weapons in protection of the country. In matters of finance and armament, this country excels other countries.” Rethinking Karate History As a result of the 1609 invasion and subsequent imprisonment of the king, it’s reasonable to assume that the pechin would prepare, albeit secretly, for another invasion by Satsuma, one that might bring about the end of the kingdom. Such preparations likely would have included the development of improved hand-to-hand fighting techniques (karate-do), as well as new types of weapons (Okinawan kobudo) fashioned from common implements. Such weapons included the eku (oar), kama (sickle) and kuwa (hoe). In conclusion, I believe there’s a strong argument to be made for the following: Karate was developed by the pechin of Ryukyu as a result of the Shimazu invasion of 1609. Its purpose was to defend the kingdom in the event of another invasion by the Shimazu. The pechin sought knowledge and training from their martial arts friends in China, and they weaponized common tools to conceal their purpose from the Shimazu. Why is this important to martial artists today? Because karate is not just a martial art; it was developed as a strictly defensive art, never intended to be used in anger or avarice.  Understanding the history of this art gives us a greater perspective on that old maxim Karate ni sente nashi. There is no first attack in karate. Gary J. Garrahan has a third-degree black belt in karate-do from the Shoryuin Muso Chishin Ryu Heiho school. Based in Bakersfield, California, he’s a member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. This article originally appeared in a 2021 edition of Black Belt Magazine.

Ben Tynan has been making his presence known in ONE Championship, and the Canadian will get another chance to shine on Friday, June 7. “Vanilla Thunder” will be right back in action at ONE 167: Stamp vs. Zamboanga  against Mauro Cerilli. Tynan knocked off Kang Ji Won in his ONE debut in 2023 and made it back-to-back wins in early April by defeating Duke Didier. The two wins even captured the attention of heavyweight king Anatoly Malykhin. Inching closer to title contention, Tynan will have another shot in U.S. primetime to state his case as one of the division’s elite. But Cerilli is looking to do the same exact thing. The Italian heavyweight is a winner in two of his last three outings, with his only loss coming at the hands of Amir Aliakbari. When “The Hammer” returned last September, Cerilli defeated Paul Elliott by TKO. A win over Tynan would put him right back into the thick of things at heavyweight and derail the hype train of the Canadian as it begins to pick up steam. Unquestionably, Malykhin will be watching intently from the sidelines inside the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. The winner will emerge with a huge boost to their ONE Heavyweight MMA World Championship chase. The heavyweight bout joins a stellar event lineup showcasing the very best in martial arts. ONE 167: Stamp vs. Zamboanga airs live and free on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Friday, June 7, to Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.

The Professional Fighters League (PFL), is proud to announce that Ireland’s  Paul Hughes  (11-1) has signed an exclusive, multi-fight contract with the promotion.  “I am absolutely ecstatic to sign with the PFL. The regular season format, in my eyes, is the ultimate form of MMA competition and is for the ultimate prize of one million dollars,” Paul Hughes said. “I’m ready to prove that I am the best lightweight on the planet.” "Professional Fighters League is always going to be in the mix when it comes to the free agency market and this was certainly the case with Paul Hughes, someone we have had our eye on for quite some time," PFL CEO Peter Murray said. "I'm looking forward to seeing Paul continue his journey with PFL in big fights that continue to test his skills.” Only 27 years of age, Hughes accomplished everything possible on the regional stage before entering free agency, where he was pursued by every major mixed martial arts promotion on the planet before choosing to join PFL. A former Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion before moving up to Lightweight, Hughes is currently in the midst of a five-fight winning streak and eight of his 11 professional victories have come via stoppage. Hughes will now bring his elite skill set to one of the strongest divisions in all of the PFL when he makes his promotional debut in the near future.

The 2024 PFL Global Season returns June 13 with Heavyweight and Women’s Flyweight action Heavyweight’s Valentin Moldavsky and Linton Vassell meet in main event Undefeated Women’s Flyweight Dakota Ditcheva faces Chelsea Hackett in co-main event Bellator athletes make their return to Mohegan Sun Arena in MMA’s toughest test, the 2024 PFL Global Season 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 Tickets for 2024 PFL Global Season event at Mohegan Sun available today via Ticketmaster The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced the second half of the 2024 PFL Global Season will kick off on Thursday June 13 live from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT with action in the Heavyweight and Women’s Flyweight division.    The night’s main event will feature Heavyweight points leader Valentin Moldavsky facing Linton Vassell while rising superstar Dakota Ditcheva is set to face Chelsea Hackett in the co-main event. Elite fighters from the Heavyweight and Women’s Flyweight divisions will take 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. “The PFL’s season format is the toughest test in MMA with the addition of elite athletes from Bellator, returning to Mohegan Sun, and PFL Europe looking to clinch a position in the 2024 PFL Playoffs,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “The PFL is excited to bring our brand of MMA to Connecticut, as well as our fans from 160 countries around the globe.” The second half of the 2024 PFL Global Season beginning on June 13, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT will feature respective division points leaders Valentin Moldavsky, Daniel James, global sensation 2023 PFL Europe Champion Dakota Ditcheva, Taila Santos and Liz Carmouche. Additionally, Oleg Popov, Denis Goltsov, Jena Bishop and Kana Watanabe will return to Global Season action. The 2024 Global Season event will also see the return of Bellator athletes to Mohegan Sun Arena.  2024 PFL Global Season event at Mohegan Sun will be available today via Ticketmaster . 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.

School owners, tournament organizers, and seminar hosts will now have access to their own directory and promotions section in Black Belt Magazine digital platforms via the Black Belt Magazine School and Event Directory Black Belt Magazine Directory Free School Listing  Free for all legitimate martial arts schools, clubs, events, and organizations. Take advantage of this resource to amplify your presence and reach new heights in the martial arts world.  FREE Event Listing  The Black Belt Magazine School and Event Directory is provided as a resource and showcase for your martial arts business and can be part of your marketing and promotion “as featured in Black Belt”. By simply registering your school or event with Black Belt Magazine you benefit with exposure to martial arts aficionados from every corner of the globe. As part of our innovative editorial strategy, selected schools listed in the directory will also be featured, showcasing their extraordinary expertise and achievements to the martial arts community.  This is one more step forward in Black Belts mission to have the most complete and inclusive coverage of all martial arts worldwide.  Join the Black Belt Directory today. To register your school or event simply visit our website.  For those seeking even greater visibility, premium placement options are available.

BRAVE Combat Federation’s first event of 2024, BRAVE CF 81 is in the books, as it delivered an action-packed night of fights in the sold-out Hala Tivoli Arena in Ljubljana, Slovenia on Saturday, April 20 in association with WFC. It was a successful beginning for the company's 2024 European Tour, which will also visit the Netherlands, Croatia, France, and Germany.  The tour will be a momentous occasion for MMA in Europe, as BRAVE CF will become the most hosted organization in the continent. BRAVE CF 83, which takes place in Alkmaar, on May 25, will turn the Netherlands into the 14th nation to host BRAVE CF. In the main event of the last night, at BRAVE CF 81, Erko Jun stopped Mohammed Said Maalem in the first round to secure a shot at the vacant Light Heavyweight title. Erko dropped Said with a huge right hand while moving backwards and proceeded to finish the fight with punches at the three-minute mark of the opening round. This is the second-straight first-round finish in BRAVE CF for Erko Jun who also extended his winning streak to five fights, setting the momentum perfectly for his next fight.  Christian Mach put on a grappling clinic in the co-main event as he secured a unanimous decision win over hometown favourite David Forster. Mach, who came into the fight in search of his first win in the organization after taking up the fight on a ten-day notice, dominated throughout the three rounds and gave no room for Forster to mount any significant offense or counter Mach's relentless pressure. In the opening fight of the card, Gerard Burns made quick work of Danijel Spoljaric to secure his second straight first-round finish in BRAVE CF. Burns, who had plenty of support in the arena thanks to the Irish fans, made Spoljaric tap to strikes with just seconds to go in the first round. In his post-fight speech, Burns noted that he plans to capture the BRAVE CF Flyweight title. Domen Drnovsek made a memorable professional MMA debut as he submitted 30-fight veteran Andrian Murug in the first round. Domen, who is known for his BJJ prowess, was looking for a submission from the start and after multiple attempts, he managed to make Murug tap with an armbar midway through the first round. The Heavyweight showdown between Patryk Dubiela and Kasim Aras did not last long as some heavy shots from Dubiela made the referee step in and stop the fight within the first minute of the opening round. Elsewhere, just like their staredown, the fight between Baki Sahin and Haris Aksalic proved to be a nail-biter. Turkish wrestling champion Sahin, who was making his BRAVE CF debut almost choked out Aksalic only to see the Slovenian escape the submission attempt and finish the fight with ground and pound. Monika Kucinic’s rise towards becoming the next big star in European MMA continued at the event as she submitted Sofiia Bagishvili in the third round with an armbar. Interestingly, Sofiia almost got an armbar submission in the first round but failed to capitalize on her position and later paid the price for it. After the win, Monika called out Sabrina de Sousa in her post-fight speech. Pavel Dailidko knocked out Valdrin Istrefi to secure his fourth straight finish in BRAVE Combat Federation. While the stoppage did not come in the first round like his last three fights, Pavel only needed a minute and a half in the second round at BRAVE CF 81 to stop Istrefi before calling for a title shot. With only one fight going the distance, BRAVE CF 81 delivered plenty of action for the fans in attendance and around the world. The event will be followed by BRAVE CF 82 on May 11 in Mauritius. BRAVE CF is also scheduled to return to Slovenia in October. Here are the results of BRAVE CF 81 Slovenia. BRAVE CF 81 Slovenia Fight Results  Main Card Light Heavyweight: Erko Jun def. Said Maalem via KO (punches) - 3m06s - Round 1 Super Lightweight: Christian Mach def. David Forster via unanimous decision (30-27,30-27,30-27) Heavyweight: Pavel Dailidko def. Valdrin Istrefi via TKO (elbow and punches) - 1m37s - Round 2 Strawweight: Monika Kucinic def. Sofiia Bagishvili via submission (armbar) - 1m58s - Round 3 Preliminary Card Heavyweight: Haris Aksalic def.  Baki Sahin via TKO (strikes) - 4m27s - Round 1 Heavyweight: Patryk Dubiela def. Kasim Aras via TKO (strikers) - 48s - Round 1 Super Welterweight: Domen Drnovsek def. Andrian Murug via submission (armbar) - 3m14s - Round 1 Flyweight: Gerard Burns def. Danijel Spoljaric via TKO (Strikes) - 4m56s - Round 1

UFC 300: PEREIRA vs. HILL, which took place on Saturday, April 13, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, has been hailed as one of the most successful events in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO). The event not only drew impressive numbers in terms of gate receipts and attendance but also set new benchmarks in viewership and merchandise sales. Here are the records at UFC 300. UFC 300 Records Event Highlights Gate Revenue:  The event generated $16.5 million in gate receipts, ranking as the third highest-grossing UFC event ever. Attendance:  A record-setting crowd of 20,067 spectators marked a new high for a UFC event at T-Mobile Arena, contributing to UFC's sixth consecutive sellout in 2024 and the eleventh straight sellout since October 2023. Viewership:  The UFC 300 preliminaries became the most-watched Pay Per View Prelims in UFC history across various ESPN platforms, including ESPN+, Hulu SVOD, ESPN, and ESPN Deportes. The event peaked with 2.49 million viewers at 9:48 PM ET, just before the main card began on ESPN+. Merchandise Sales: This event achieved the highest merchandise sales ever for a UFC arena event, ranking second among all UFC events, only behind UFC 193: ROUSEY vs. HOLM. Global Partnerships:  It also set a new record for the highest-grossing sponsorship sales for a UFC event, with all available inventory sold out. Commercial Pay Per View Sales:  In the U.S., Canada, and Australia, UFC 300 topped charts with the highest Pay Per View buy rates since 2021, making it a standout event across multiple regions. Social Media Impact:  On social media, UFC 300 became the best performing event in UFC's history, amassing over 1.1 billion video views during the fight week, led by viral clips such as Max Holloway's knockout of Justin Gaethje. UFC 300 not only underscored the growing popularity of mixed martial arts globally but also demonstrated UFC’s capacity to attract large audiences both onsite and online, setting a new standard for sports entertainment events.

Cedric Doumbe set for Bellator debut at Accor Arena against Derek Anderson Patchy Mix defends the Bellator Bantamweight belt against Magomed Magomedov in main event, France’s Gregory Babene competes in Middleweight contender’s bout against Holland’s Costello van Steenis Tickets available for Bellator Champions Series Paris available now at  Accorarena.com Bellator Champions Series Paris streams live on Max in the U.S., as well as on DAZN in France and the U.K. The Professional Fighters League (PFL), today announced that Bellator Champions Series Paris on Friday, May 17 will now feature  Cédric “The Best” Doumbé  (5-1) in the co-main event against  Derek Anderson  (17-4, 1 NC). A bonafide global phenomenon, Doumbé has also signed an exclusive, multi-year contract extension with PFL and will be making his Bellator debut on the heels of his appearance at PFL Europe Paris earlier this year. “The Best” will be taking on the 12-fight Bellator veteran nicknamed “Barbaric,” a winner in three out of his last four Bellator appearances. "Re-signing Cedric Doumbe to a multi-year contract extension has been one of our highest priorities since he joined the promotion last year," PFL CEO Peter Murray said. "Cedric is a large part of our continued growth in France, and now he will compete at Bellator Champions Series Paris on a fight card that can be streamed by fans in the U.S. on Max, as he continues his trajectory through our global leagues. "Bellator Champions Series Paris streams live in the U.S. on Max, and in France, as well as the U.K. only on DAZN beginning at 5 pm CEST. The following week, truTV will re-air Bellator Champions Series Paris for U.S. viewers, with additional programming details to be shared in the coming weeks. Tickets for the event are on sale now at  Accorarena.com .In the main event of Bellator Champions Series Paris, current Bellator Bantamweight Champion  Patchy Mix  (19-1) returns to action against  Magomed Magomedov  (16-1). Mix and Magomedov renew a rivalry that began in 2022 at the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix Semi Finals, a tournament Mix went on to win. A previously announced world championship bout pitting Usman Nurmagomedov against Alexander Shabliy has been scrapped from the card due to an injury to Nurmagomedov. The bout will be re-booked in the near future.In addition to the main and co-main event, France’s  Gregory Babene  (23-11) will have an opportunity to secure a future Middleweight title shot with a win on May 17 against Holland’s  Costello Van Steenis  (14-3), and former Olympian and French Heavyweight,  Slim Trabelsi  (6-0) returns to Paris where he began his career as Francis Ngannou’s training partner. Trabelsi is set to face Scotland’s  Louie Sutherland  (6-2) at Heavyweight. 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 Complete Bellator Champions Series Paris Main Card Max (U.S.) | DAZN (France & U.K.) Friday, May 17 - 5 pm CEST Bantamweight World Title Bout:  C- Patchy Mix  (19-1) vs.  Magomed Magomedov  (16-1) Welterweight Co-Main Event Bout:   Cédric Doumbé  (5-1) vs.  Derek Anderson (17-4, 1 NC) Middleweight Contender’s Bout:   Gregory Babene  (23-11) vs. Costello van Steenis (14-3) Featherweight Main Card Bout:  Yves Landu  (20-9) vs.  Jonas Bilharinho  (11-2-1) Lightweight Main Card Bout:  Archie Colgan  (9-0) vs.  Thibault Gouti  (17-6) Preliminary Card Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Slim Trabelsi  (6-0) vs.  Louie Sutherland  (6-2) Lightweight Preliminary Bout:   Mansour Barnaoui  (20-6) vs.  Yusuke Yachi  (26-13) Middleweight Preliminary Bout:   Imamshafi Aliev  (9-0) vs.  Mike Shipman  (15-4) Women’s Featherweight Preliminary Bout:   Aspen Ladd  (11-5) vs.  Ekaterina Shakalova  (8-1) Featherweight Preliminary Bout:  Asael Adjoudj  (7) vs.  Bruno Fontes  (6-0)