As he prepares for his second consecutive headline fight, UFC middleweight sensation Brendan Allen shared insights into the mental and physical preparations propelling his impressive win streak. Ahead of his much-anticipated bout against Paul Craig last November, Allen's philosophy was clear: "I just need to be myself. That’s enough to succeed.” This mindset was evident when Allen, hailing from Louisiana, showcased a dominating performance in the Octagon, culminating in a victory by rear-naked choke in the third round. Allen credits his success to a positive internal dialogue, especially when faced with adversity. "Speaking to myself as a friend rather than being overly critical has been crucial," he explained, highlighting the importance of mental fortitude in his preparation for his upcoming fight against Chris Curtis this Saturday. With Marvin Vettori originally slated as his opponent, Allen now faces Curtis, who steps in on short notice. Despite this change, Allen's focus remains unwavering. He views each fight as an opportunity to evolve, likening mental preparation to the physical training in jiu-jitsu or wrestling. "It’s all about adapting and overcoming whatever life throws at me," Allen stated. The unpredictability of fight week and the unique challenges posed by each opponent test a fighter's resilience. Allen, however, has learned to navigate these uncertainties, using them as fuel to sharpen his focus and determination. "The key is not to overthink and to avoid dwelling on negatives," he shared. Allen's goal is to translate the dedication and skill honed at Kill Cliff FC in South Florida into success in the Octagon. Reflecting on past experiences, he acknowledges the importance of bringing his best self to each fight. "If I can do that, I believe I can beat anyone," Allen confidently declared. The upcoming match against Curtis isn't just a fight; it's an opportunity for Allen to demonstrate his growth and technical prowess since their last encounter in December 2021. "It's not about settling scores. It’s about showcasing the best version of myself," Allen emphasized. Despite the lower stakes in rankings against Curtis compared to Vettori, Allen's focus is on delivering a performance that highlights his skills and determination. He remains unfazed by the potential risks, concentrating solely on his performance. "My goal is to remain focused and execute my game plan flawlessly," Allen concluded, ready to face whatever challenges come his way in the Octagon.

In matters of karate kata, there are all sorts of purported explanations for what’s really going on. What appears to be a simple step sideways, we’re confidentially told, is actually a clever foot sweep. Or an entry into a grappling position.   By Dave Lowry  After we become trusted students, our teachers demonstrate that what looks like the mere clenching of a fist is actually an ingenious way of grabbing an opponent’s wrist and applying a devastating lock that will have him writhing on the ground. The explanations invariably imply that the “outer” movements of a kata are only the superficial crust of the karate pie. The layer of apples, peaches or cherries below the observable crust — the “inner” stuff of the pie — is the real taste of karate, we’re told. There’s a rich vocabulary to describe these secret meanings. Kakushite is one of them. Literally, it means “hidden hand.” Oyo waza is another one. Waza, of course, is “technique.” The o means “to answer” or “respond,” and yo is “to apply.” Thus, oyo waza refers to the application of a deeper or more personal answer than might be found in the obvious meaning of the kata movements. And we have ura waza, the “underneath” or “reverse” technique, as well as oku-den, or “inner teachings.” With all these terms, it seems there’s at least a common notion that what one sees in the kata is not entirely what one gets — or is capable of getting if one has the right instruction. The idea of special techniques secreted within the movements of a kata is not as simple as it seems, however. Some insist that the whole thing is just a relatively modern fabrication. This theory holds that many of the supposed secrets of kata are not indigenous in Okinawan karate. The art, while it may lead to extraordinary abilities, does not have special initiations or esoteric teachings. It is, goes the theory, just a matter of learning what’s there, what is plainly and clearly taught. There are, for example, no secret techniques in the art of juggling. Want to be able to juggle a dozen balls? Instruction is available and actually easy to find. You don’t have to be initiated. You just have to be given that instruction — and practice until your arms fall off. It’s merely a matter of dedicated, concentrated effort on your part. So it is with the kata, according to this theory. Learn to effectively move your body, to coordinate your responses and to maximize your power. There are no secrets. Just practice and build your experience. Further, according to this school of thought, the whole notion of secrets tucked into the kata came about as a result of the Okinawans being exposed to the traditional martial arts of Japan, the koryu. These arts have a rich tradition of concealing the “real” objectives of the techniques within the kata. What seems like a block is actually an attack. What is apparently the target is just misdirection so outsiders who might be watching won’t know what’s really going on. The Okinawans became aware of these conventions and saw them as a sophisticated approach to a fighting art, so they contrived a narrative of hidden meanings within their karate kata in an attempt to make their arts seem as profound as those of the Japanese. This is an interesting theory with much to recommend it. The Okinawans, we know, were both intimidated by and impressed with the grand martial arts of the samurai. They might have copied some of the conventions of the classical Japanese ryu. On the other hand, the theory ignores the deep history of the Okinawan fighting arts, which not only developed but also thrived independently of Japan. It also fails to take into account a realistic view of Okinawan culture. In many ways, Okinawa’s culture is layered in secrecy and complexity. Much of Okinawan religion is esoteric. Because villages were separated geographically and were sometimes in competition for limited resources, secrets of all kinds were jealously guarded. Secret or hidden meanings within a kata would not have been just a facet of Okinawan karate; they would have been a fundamental part of its practice. Which theory is more accurate is a matter for historians to investigate. But even if you have no interest in the history of your style of karate, you must understand that this idea will have ramifications in your practice. If your teacher says, in essence, “Stick around and eventually I’ll show you the good stuff,” you have to decide if this is legitimate or if it’s just a scam to keep you as a member of the dojo. If you’re told that the outer, obvious meanings of a kata are just the top layer and that vast, important concepts lie beneath, your practice will reflect that. If, on the other hand, the teacher says, “This is it; this is all there is,” you might fail to look at what’s not immediately obvious. You might conclude that karate is not nearly as profound as it truly is. You’ll get no answers from me on this one. I’m still thinking about it. I can say my karate teachers, both of whom were Okinawan, never much used any of the terms mentioned above. They did, however, use the Okinawan word dju sometimes. It’s a weird word, one that means “to re-energize” or “to bring to fruition.” My teachers said that for a kata to really become useful, the practitioner has to infuse it with dju. They explained that this results from the proper application of power and mechanics, along with the effective contraction and expansion of the body. Learn dju, they said, and the kata’s value is grasped. I wonder if that is a secret. Dave Lowry has written Karate Way since 1986. For more information about his articles and books, visit blackbeltmag.com and type his name into the search box.

ONE Championship will bring a treasure trove of martial arts action to the masses on Friday, April 5, with an all-action doubleheader of the world’s greatest athletes. ONE Friday Fights 58  will set the stage in the morning with two extraordinary title tilts. Eleven Muay Thai and kickboxing bouts will bring pure adrenaline to your television screens. Superbon and Marat Grigorian go head-to-head for the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Championship in the main event of the evening. Before the featherweight titans throw down, Jonathan Di Bella defends the ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Title against Muay Thai king Prajanchai PK Saenchai. Luminaries Nong-O Hama and Seksan Or Kwanmuang will also compete on the card against Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai and Yutaro Asahi, respectively. Then, in U.S. primetime, ONE Fight Night 21  delivers a capstone on the day with two more thrilling title tilts. ONE Lightweight Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion Regian Eersel defends the kickboxing crown against France’s Alexis Nicolas. In the co-main event, Tye Ruotolo defends the ONE Welterweight Submission Grappling World Title against Izaak Michell in what will be Ruotolo’s most grueling test to date. But the action before the two title matches will be just as exhilarating. A taste of the rest of the card includes heavyweight phenom Ben Tynan returning against Duke Didier, Hiroyuki Tetsuka attempting to continue his streak of incredible finishes versus Valmir Sa Silva, and Kade Ruotolo battling Francisco Lo in a 180-pound catchweight submission grappling encounter. The two events will get your weekend started off with action across four different martial arts, with a raucous crowd in Bangkok, Thailand, for each show. ONE Friday Fights 58 gets underway on watch.onefc.com and ONE’s official YouTube channel at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT before the global PPV begins at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT on watch.onefc.com . ONE Fight Night 21 airs live and free on Prime Video at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT for all Amazon Prime members based in the U.S. and Canada.

DraftKings Designated as Official Sports Betting, Online Sports Betting, iGaming, and Fantasy Sports Operator Heavyweights and Women’s Flyweight Divisions Kick Off 2024 PFL Regular Season 2024 PFL Regular Season, Available Live on ESPN platforms in the U.S. and via DAZN in Canada, Europe and additional premium sports platforms internationally The Professional Fighters League (PFL) will kick off the 2024 Regular Season this Thursday, April 4 live from the Boeing Center in San Antonio. Fans can tune into the action live on ESPN platforms in the U.S. and via DAZN in Canada, Europe and additional premium sports platforms internationally. The PFL Regular Season is widely regarded as the toughest test in MMA, with fighters looking to secure positions in the PFL Playoffs and ultimately the PFL World Championship. The 2024 Regular Season just got tougher with the addition of Bellator athletes and the new Women’s Flyweight division. Beginning this season, DraftKings will be featured as the “Official Sports Betting, Online Sports Betting, iGaming, and Fantasy Sports Operator of the PFL.” Odds will be available for fans to wager on each Global Regular Season event, subject to regulatory approvals. PFL’s first Regular Season event of 2024 features some of the best Heavyweight and Women’s Flyweight fighters from around the world, headlined by 2022 PFL World Champion Ante Delija and Bellator’s former Interim Heavyweight champion Valentin Moldavsky with a co-main event featuring Denis Goltsov facing Linton Vassell.“ Ahead of what will be a historic and transformative year for PFL, we’re proud to announce our new relationship with DraftKings to provide MMA fans with a wide-range of betting and gaming opportunities,” said PFL Chief Commercial Officer Bryan Calka.“ The toughest test in MMA, the PFL Regular Season, just went up a level as the league’s world-class talent was supercharged by the addition of Bellator stars. There will be no shortage of must-see matchups for fans to engage with when the 2024 PFL Regular Season starts this Friday, April 4 from Boeing Center in San Antonio, live on ESPN platforms in the U.S. and DAZN in Canada and Europe.” 2024 PFL Regular Season San Antonio - April 4 at Boeing Center MAIN CARD Heavyweight Main Event: ANTE DELIJA vs. VALENTIN MOLDAVSKY  Heavyweight Co-Main Event: DENIS GOLTSOV vs. LINTON VASSELL  Women’s Flyweight: LIZ CARMOUCHE vs. JULIANA VELASQUEZ  Women’s Flyweight: DAKOTA DITCHEVA vs. LISA MAULDIN  UNDERCARD Heavyweight: MARCELO GOLM vs. DANIEL JAMES Heavyweight: BLAGOY IVANOV vs. SERGEI BILOSTENNIY Women’s Flyweight: TAILA SANTOS vs. ILARA JOANNE Heavyweight: STEVE MOWRY vs. OLEG POPOV Women’s Flyweight: KANA WATANABE vs. SHANNA YOUNG Women’s Flyweight: CHELSEA HACKETT vs. JENA BISHOP Featherweight Showcase: LUCAS BRENNAN vs. DIMITRE IVY Bantamweight Showcase: BRYCE MEREDITH vs. TY JOHNSON

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC ), The World’s Fastest Growing Combat Sports Promotion , has announced their highly anticipated BKFC-60  event this Saturday, April 6   from Planet Ice – Milton Keynes  will be broadcast on Viaplay Sports  in the United Kingdom.   BKFC-60  is headlined by the BKFC Lightweight European Championship between No. 2 Ranked James ‘Lights Out’ Lilley , (8-1-1), of Wales and Franco Tenaglia , (2-0), of Spain. Co-featured Danny ‘The Bastard’ Christie , (3-1), Carlisle, UK defends his BKFC Light Heavyweight UK Title against David ‘One More’ Round  (2-1), of Wales. Also featured is a clash between top contenders Gary Fox  (2-1), and John Hick , (4-0), for the BKFC Featherweight UK Title. Viaplay Sports 1 and 2 is available on Sky channels 419 and 420, on Virgin as channels 551 and 552 and on Amazon Prime as an add on subscription. Also available on the Viaplay streaming service, supported by a wide range of devices and platforms, including major Smart TV brands; iOS and Android smartphones and tablets; Chromecast, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV and Google TV; and PC and Mac. Available from £9.99 per month, visit  https://viaplay.com/gb-en/  for more information.   Viaplay has rights to LALIGA, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup, International football fixtures, Coppa Italia and DFB Pokal; BKT United Rugby Championship, TOP14 rugby, EPCR Challenge Cup, NHL, IIHF World Championship, NASCAR and KSW."   Remaining tickets for BKFC-60  can be purchased at BKFC.com . Planet Ice – Milton Keynes is located at 1 S Row, Elder Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 1DL, United Kingdom. BKFC-60  is sponsored by Forged Irish Stout, Bucked Up, Grunt Style, Fubo Sports, Only Fans, Rasha and Savage Sip Coffee.

Being a one-handed man in a butt-kicking contest usually entails being on the wrong end of the beating. But Jake Peacock of ONE Championship has defied those odds.   The 30-year-old limb-different striker will make his ONE Championship debut at ONE Friday Fights 58 against Kohei Shinjo on Friday, April 5. After winning the Road to ONE: Canada tournament, Peacock has a chance to step on the global stage and inspire the world.   Peacock competed in a variety of sports growing up. It stoked his competitive fires and never allowed him to back down from a challenge.   “My parents were really supportive. They would lead me in a certain direction, but they’d let me figure it out for myself,” Peacock told ONE.   “As far as I can remember, I played basketball. I swam competitively. I played everything, as well as football. I did karate and stuck to that. I’ve always had the attitude and outlook to never think of myself as being different. That gave me the mindset that if I wanted to do something, I was going to do it.”   Growing up differently led to also dealing with the cruelty of bullying. However, Peacock’s parents had put him into karate as a child, and his coach, Steve Groom, never taught him any differently than the other students.   Instilled with the skills to defend himself, a chance meeting with a bully allowed him to stand up against his aggressor and show the confidence that was building within himself.   “He showed me that I have no limits in any sphere of the sport and he instilled in me the belief that I can do anything I put my mind to,” Peacock recalled.   “There was one time that someone was getting a little physical with me. He pinned me up in the changing room, and that was the time I got into my first fight.”   “I’m glad that fight actually happened and that someone forced me into a position that I had to physically defend myself, because then I knew that I wasn’t going to be pushed around.”   His martial arts journey continued in karate, but eventually, he would take on the “art of eight limbs.”   Although a limb-different athlete, Peacock has found ways to find advantages in other ways to win a multitude of matches.   “If you look at all my fights, I’m 12-1 with 11 finishes. All of my finishes have been something different. It’s either been a left leg or my left hand or my right arm or my right leg to the head or to the body,” Peacock said.   “My mom once said after one of my fights that I’m the Swiss Army Knife of Muay Thai because I’ve got lots of different weapons.”   After claiming numerous titles in Canada, Peacock learned about the Road to ONE tournament in 2023.   He knew at that moment he had a date with destiny.   “From the moment I heard about Road to ONE, I knew I was destined for the world stage. ONE Championship is the world stage. What’s funny is that four years ago, I messaged Chatri. I said I would love the honor of fighting for ONE,” the Canadian stated.   By winning the tournament, he earned his place on the global stage. On April 5, the world will get to know Jake Peacock.   While many may start by focusing on his limb-difference, Peacock is confident that when the bell rings, they will begin to focus on the skills that brought him to the Muay Thai mecca, Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.   “I never even like to draw attention to [my limb difference]. I like to keep my head down and just do what I do and be recognized as a great fighter. It’s an amazing opportunity to inspire and encourage people,” Peacock said.   “I knew I was born for the big stage. I was born for the best competition. The thing about me is that I love to entertain. There’s great fighters out there, but there’s not a lot of entertainers – I can fight and I can entertain. That’s what I’m going to do in ONE.”   ONE Friday Fights 58 airs live on watch.onefc.com  on Friday, April 5, for $24.99.

The press conference held in Mauritius ahead of BRAVE CF 82 highlighted BRAVE Combat Federation’s commitment towards changing the landscape of MMA in the nation. BRAVE Combat Federation is all set to debut in Mauritius on May 11 and underline its status as the only global MMA organisation to host events in the African continent. Ahead of the event, a press conference was held at the Labourdonnais Waterfront in Port-Louis on April 2, highlighting the significance of the upcoming event. Led by Mauritius MMA Federation President Mr Avinash Ramtohul, Club Mauritius Chairman Mr Giandev Moootia and Mr Maubarak Boodhun, Consultant (Former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports), the press conference highlighted how the upcoming BRAVE CF event is bound to change the MMA landscape in Mauritius. During the press conference, Mr Avinash Ramtohul stressed on the importance of the upcoming event and mentioned how it can unearth the potential of MMA in Mauritius.  "This event will open opportunities for local athletes and inspire them to new heights and shape their MMA careers and achieve the highest-ended MMA development,” Mr Avinash Ramtohul noted. It was outlined that BRAVE CF brings unparalleled exposure and opportunities to Mauritian and African fighters and by hosting the event in Mauritius, BRAVE CF not only elevates the country's profile on the global MMA stage but also contributes significantly to tourism, local businesses, and the overall economic landscape. "BRAVE CF event in Mauritius will bring positive global attention to our country and our business communities due to its high involvement in several international media alliances across the world,” Mr Giandev Moootia said. BRAVE Combat Federation has hosted events in South Africa and Morocco; with Mauritius now set to become the third African nation to host a BRAVE CF event. At the same time, BRAVE CF has been playing a crucial role in providing a global platform for MMA fighters from Africa. "Very few Mauritians can travel internationally to participate in any internationally high-level sports event. So, bringing the event to Mauritius is a unique opportunity for our people to come and see for themselves what sports can bring. One of those is unity which is a very important pillar in nation-building,” Mr Maubarak Boodhun added. Athletes from 12 African nations have so far fought inside the BRAVE CF cage with Nkosi Ndebele of South Africa currently reigning on top of the BRAVE CF Bantamweight division as the World Champion.  It was also announced that the historic trilogy fight between Nkosi ‘The Future’ Ndebele and Jose ‘Shorty’ Torres would be headlining BRAVE CF 82 in Mauritius. The highly anticipated showdown between Africa's own Nkosi Ndebele and Jose Torres will be the first-ever trilogy fight in the history of BRAVE Combat Federation and the first-ever trilogy in MMA history to span over 3 different continents; further elevating the significance of the event.

It’s fight week in Dublin! Cage Warriors hits the Emerald Isle as part of the 2024 world tour this Saturday night, with an epic bill of mixed martial arts action from the iconic RDS. In the evening’s main event, Team Ryano’s James ‘Jimbo Slice’ Sheehan gets his first shot at CW gold, as he faces ‘The Swiss Army Knife’ Daniel Konrad. The pair will contest the 170lb title recently vacated by Giannis Bachar, who is currently competing on the UFC’s latest season of The Ultimate Fighter. In the co-main event, Paul ‘Big News’ Hughes is back in action. With previously scheduled opponent Edgar Escarrega not being medically cleared, Brazilian veteran Fabiano Silva has stepped up on just six days’ notice. Also on the card, fan favourites Ger Harris and Taka Mhandu return, taking on Gregory Wamytan and Rory Evans respectively. The final Cage Warriors 170 card is now as follows Cage Warriors 170: London | LIVE on  UFC Fight Pass Main Card – 13:00 (PT) | 16:00 (ET) | 21:00 (BST) | 22:00 (CET) Vacant Middleweight title: Daniel Konrad vs James Sheehan Catchweight (160lbs): Fabiano Silva vs Paul Hughes Flyweight: Gregory Wamytan vs Ger Harris Featherweight: Ville Mankinen vs Decky McAleenan Bantamweight: Rory Evans vs Taka Mhandu Prelims – 10:00 (PT) | 13:00 (ET) | 18:00 (BST) | 19:00 (CET) Featherweight: Ieuan Mackenzie vs Solomon Simon Bantamweight: Enrico Di Gangi vs Scott Harvey Featherweight: Kallum Parker vs Ryan Shelley Flyweight: Jenny Line vs Eimear Darcy Bantamweight: Tomasz Zdanowski vs Ciaran Brady Welterweight: Ben Petches-Kelly vs Dara Ward Featherweight: Valentino Riva vs Matt Elliott Catchweight (120lbs): Jennifer Trioreau vs Sinéadh Ní Nualláin Flyweight: Paweł Jezierski vs Jamie Abbott-Bissett Cage Warriors 170: Dublin will air live on  UFC Fight Pass  and international broadcast partners.Tickets are available via  CageWarriors.com .

Ben Tynan will try to continue to impress when he returns to ONE Championship on Friday, April 5, at ONE Fight Night 21 . The heavyweight is looking to break into the division's upper echelon with a follow-up performance to his dominant debut against Duke Didier. But before he makes his walk to the ring in Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Tynan is reflecting on the path that brought him to the global stage. "My father was from northern Canada. My mom was raised in Hawaii, and he met her on vacation. He was a dorky-looking tourist guy, but he had a lot of game and convinced her to move to Canada. Which is a shocker because Fort McMurray is way up there away from everything," Tynan told ONE. "But yeah, they had five kids. I'm the youngest of them all. The best looking of them all. But I got some really cool siblings, and we're all super close." "Vanilla Thunder" credits his family for his penchant for combat sports. He has felt like it is a part of his being and not just a profession. Tynan also noted the outside influences that helped spark that passion from what he saw in media growing up. "I've always liked fighting. I feel like I'm bred for combat, it's in my DNA. I come from a lot of fighters. My dad was a fighter," Tynan recalled. "He died when I was a little kid. So I was raised by my mom and my older siblings. It was cool having them mentor me, but at the same time, having five kids, we were rough on each other. That definitely toughened me up too." "But yeah, I think there's so many things [that influenced me]. 'Dragonball Z' is one of them. And I watched so much professional wrestling as a kid, 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin and The Rock, and I used to always be like, 'It'd be cool to be a professional wrestler!'" After losing his father at an early age, Tynan drew inspiration from his siblings. Attempting to be like his oldest brother would move him to take the first step in his martial arts journey. "My oldest brother was like my father figure. He wrestled a year in high school, and I often followed in his footsteps. So, I decided, 'Alright, I'm gonna wrestle too,'" the Canadian remarked. "My family weren't really wrestlers. I come from a track family. My mom was runner-up in State for sprints. She ran in college. My sisters and my brothers too. I grew up going to track meets my whole life. But I always liked wrestling, so I stuck with it." Tynan found success on the mats, but it was different from the traditional journey for an athlete in the sport. The man who would become known as "Vanilla Thunder" did not compete until he was in junior high. However, his dedication to the sport is a blueprint for all athletes to follow, showing the importance of what hard work can achieve. "I started wrestling late. Most of the guys that compete at the D-1 [college] level were going to wrestling tournaments since they could walk. I didn't start until the seventh grade," Tynan stated. "I was a late bloomer. I didn't get my growth spurt till my junior year of high school, and that's when I grew over six feet. And by my senior year, I was wrestling at 182, but I didn't notice things really clicking." "I remember I got done with the state tournament in Washington in my senior year. And I performed great, I placed fifth – I didn't do as good as I wanted to, I wanted to win it – but I remember my sister coming to me, and she was like, 'Ben, I feel like you're just hitting your stride. This is so great.'" "Luckily, I was able to walk onto the junior college team and prove myself there. It was right towards the end of high school when I started to get more confidence." While focused on his wrestling, Tynan got his first taste of MMA when he arrived in college. His coaches were already competing and training in the sport. After watching them prepare after practices, Tynan got the itch to learn more skills and began developing his all-around tool set. "When I was at junior college, my coach Scott Norton fought MMA, and my other coach Brad Luvaas also fought MMA. They had professional fights. After wrestling practices, the coaches would do their own striking," the heavyweight said. "I remember coming up to them after my first season, and I was like,' Hey, I really want to try learning some striking and MMA.' Scott was like, 'Sure, Tynan,' so he would just teach me the basics." "I started working with them, and then I started going to an MMA gym, Ring Demon, right there in the Seattle area. That got the spark going and got me excited for fighting." After transferring to North Dakota State and completing his wrestling career, Tynan decided to enter the world of MMA. First, it was in the amateur ranks, where an 8-0 record gave him the confidence to turn pro. The wins kept coming with a 4-0 start on the regional circuit. Then came the call he was looking for, as ONE Championship offered him a contract to join the global stage. "I always liked ONE, and [I was in the audience when] they came here to Denver. A few months later, I had them calling me up wanting me to fight for them," Tynan said. "I was really excited about the way they put on their shows and just the energy from it. So the second I got that call, I was like, 'Let's do this.'" After a strong debut against Kang Ji Won, Tynan has emerged as one of the sport's top heavyweight prospects. Another dominant win at ONE Fight Night 21 could prove he is ready for the elite of the division, and give the heavyweight division another strong and exciting contender who is always looking for the finish. "I have huge plans. I plan on being a World Champion. I plan on being one of the best heavyweights to ever do it. So, I figured I'd do it with ONE," Tynan said. "I want to keep climbing. I want to line these guys up. So, after this one, I want the next toughest guy you can get. I want to climb until I get that belt." ONE Fight Night 21 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, April 5, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime members in the U.S. and Canada.

Suablack Tor Pran49 will look to extend his perfect ONE Championship record to 6-0 on Friday, April 5, at ONE Fight Night 21 .   The Thai striker will meet Vladimir Kuzmin in a bantamweight showdown as he inches closer to title contention. But Kuzmin is not there to lay down for anyone.   The Russian is coming off a win at ONE 166: Qatar, and adding the first loss to Suablack’s ONE record will allow him to make noise at bantamweight. The danger has the 27-year-old Thai star locked in on Kuzmin’s greatest weapons.   “I think Vladimir is another great opponent. He’s probably the toughest job for me since I joined ONE, but I think I can manage to handle him. I think Russian fighters have faster footwork and attacks than Thai fighters, but I see many flaws in his gam e,” Suablack told ONE.   “Vladimir’s strength lies in his right hand, while his weakness is that he is not good at close combat. If I stay close to him, don’t give him a chance to create distance, I’ll have a good chance to beat him.”   In four of his five wins, Suablack has gotten a knockout finish. He hopes to add to that total against Kuzmin but notes the difficulties in finishing his Russian opponent due to his defensive style.   “I think the reason Vladimir has never been knocked out in ONE is because he always avoids trading blows. His style is defensive. Fighters who choose to play it safe instead of aggressively are rarely knocked out,” the Thai striker stated.   “If I fought in the same style as him, I think I’d never be knocked out, too. But my style is: You hurt me, I hurt you back.” Intent on drawing Kuzmin into exchanging blows, Suablack is confident he can earn another knockout in front of the Bangkok audience.   If he can complete that quest, his status as one of the top contenders in the division may be difficult to ignore.   “I’m confident on a certain level that I can knock Vladimir out in this fight. I’m confident that my weapons are powerful enough to knock him down to the canvas. I believe I can be the first person to knock him out in ONE,” Suablack remarked.   As Jonathan Haggerty reigns over the division, Suablack is in pursuit of the throne.   The 27-year-old knows this is his biggest opportunity to date to force the Brit to recognize another threat to his crown.   “Being ranked in the top five is really important to me because it means I’m close to the opportunity to challenge for a World Title. As long as my name is included in the rankings, it is beyond my dreams,” Suablack said.   “If one day I have the opportunity to fight in a title match, it will be a massive life opportunity. I haven’t reached my destination yet, but when I get there, I’ll consider myself successful in my career.”   ONE Fight Night 21 airs live on Prime Video  on Friday, April 5, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime members in the U.S. and Canada.

Wheelchair Self-Defense: Making Effective Self-Defense Available to Wheelchair Users By Colm Whooley   What I would like to do here is introduce the concept of real and practical self-defense for wheelchair users, hopefully change your perception and understanding of self-defense for wheelchair users, and most importantly encourage you to actively look at how you can facilitate and invite wheelchair users to participate in your school or class.    To give a little background into the evolution and development of this self-defense course, it is important to say that this article is not about me as a wheelchair user, it’s about giving you some background on how the course and techniques were developed, and how you can empower and teach wheelchair users real and effective self-defense.   My interest in martial arts goes back to the early 70s when I trained in Kempo Karate, Boxing and some Jiu-Jitsu. However, in the 1980s, when traveling home from work on my motorcycle, I was involved in a road accident. I broke my back and sustained a spinal cord injury.  As a result, I now use a wheelchair to mobilize.  For a couple of years my only involvement with martial arts was through reading martial arts books and Black Belt Magazine .   However, it was two quotes by Bruce Lee in a magazine that got me thinking again that maybe real and effective self-defense was possible for me as a wheelchair user: “Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it.”   “Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.” These quotes touched a chord with me.   I started looking into Jeet Kune Do and was fortunate enough to find the top Jeet Kune Do instructor here in Ireland, Martin O’Neill. At the time I was CEO of Spinal Injuries Ireland based in the National Rehabilitation Hospital.   While l was initially looking to see if effective self-defense was a realistic option for me as a wheelchair user, I also thought it could be something of real value to look at developing a program for all the new wheelchair users going through the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Martin kindly traveled down to the National Rehabilitation Hospital to meet and discuss the possibilities of developing a self-defense program.    Our first meeting was a real learning experience. We bounced ideas back and forth, tried various techniques and strategies and ruled out numerous ideas.  We both agreed that with the honest and critical approach we were taking, an effective self-defense program might be possible.      It is more than 25 years since the initial meeting with Martin and the program has evolved and changed. As part of the evolution, I have continued to train with numerous instructors from the USA the U.K. and Europe including Martin O’Neill  Jeet Kune Do Ireland,  James Devine  Coach MKG North Dublin, Tim Tacket  Founder of the JKD Wednesday Night Group, Alain De Preter  Jun Fan Gung Fu instructor Andy Kimura  Senior Certified Instructor Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute Seattle USA, Phil Norman  Ghost Fighting U.K. and Andy Norman  Founder and Head Instructor Defense Lab...(biography continued at the end of the article).       A number of the unique core principles developed in the course include:     Fighting within our Zone:  As a wheelchair user we quickly realized when developing the course, that we cannot bring the fight to the attacker or chase him, because when we maneuver or propel our wheelchair, we drop our hands and our heads are totally exposed. To address this, we developed the principle “Fighting within our Zone” If you think of “Our Zone” as a circle, with us sitting in the middle. The distance to the perimeter of the circle i.e. The Zone is approximately two arm lengths from the wheelchair user’s head. Once the attacker is outside the zone the threat is reduced. “He can’t strike or grab us. When the attacker moves inside our zone to grab or strike us, our guard goes up. Palms facing the attacker, appearing to be passive i.e. saying back off, I don’t want trouble. But ready to respond to a strike or a grab, think of a Cobra Snake, if you move too close to it, he will strike, but if you step back, he doesn’t chase you. The Guard: As outlined when discussing the principle of “Fighting within our Zone,” maneuvering and having our guard up creates a challenge. There is also the risk of an attacker charging or lunging forward and pushing us at head or shoulder height tipping us out of our wheelchair. Our Guard addresses this. As an attacker threatens or approaches the wheelchair user, we move the wheelchair slightly back positioning ourselves and our wheelchair, so that our right knee is now pointing at the attacker’s centreline. Think of the Jeet Kune Do stance. By positioning ourselves this way, it reduces the key target area “our head”. Increases our striking range, but MOST IMPORTANTLY minimizes the chance of being tipped out of our wheelchair. With practice Wheelchair users can with minimum movement pivot their wheelchair slightly which will off balance the attacker if he grabs you. Striking Angles: One of the challenges we had when developing the course was looking at how as a wheelchair we could generate maximum power when we strike an attacker. The obvious problem is a wheelchair is by design, designed to move and maneuver optimizing the mobility of the wheelchair user. If as an example we look at a straight punch delivered from a standing position, power is generated and you brace yourself with your feet on the ground. If we use a straight punch, the laws of psychics will apply on contact and we will lose energy as the wheelchair moves back. Our positioning with our adapted guard addresses some of this issue. But what really helped was delivering strikes at a slight angle. This negates the movement of our wheelchair, so striking upwards again at an angle or using a backfist across our body means we can deliver our strikes with power. The Finger Jab/Bil Jee  works particularly well, when we trap a grabbing arm and strike upwards. Trapping and anchor hand: As outlined when discussing “Fighting within our Zone” we cannot bring the fight to the attacker or chase him. Also, from a sitting position we cannot reach a standing attacker’s head to strike. However, when an attacker reaches down to grab us, we consider this a real gift; we can generate significant power, trapping the attacker’s arm, because it also helps our balance. We do not push the arm down, rather think of us pulling the attacker's arm in and close against our body. This does a number of things, besides immobilizing the attacker’s arm, it massively improves our balance and striking power. Because we are using the attackers balance against himself, pulling the attacker down compromises his balance, but also significantly it brings the attackers head into range where various strikes can be applied i.e. Finger Jab, Palm Strike or Back Fist or the thumb jab to the eye which works particularly well. During all the research and reports on attacks on wheelchair users, grabs to the shoulder or throat area have been widely used by the attacker. Applying the same principle of trapping we can bring the attacker down and into striking range. Note: With all techniques we teach wheelchair users to apply strikes simultaneously on trapping attackers’ arm in one move, delivering maximum power. More background on the author and his work:  (Continued)...Some of the styles of martial arts we tried included Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun, Kali, Krav Maga, Silat, Combatives and Defense Lab.   While we weren’t always able to incorporate what they were teaching into our course, we were getting a real insight into what was possible.  Over the years we have been able to introduce some special techniques that really worked well for wheelchair users under pressure.   The course is unique in that it has been developed specifically for wheelchair users and instructors who want to teach wheelchair users, with tried and tested techniques. The course is more than just learning self-defense it’s also about empowering and giving the participants real confidence in their ability.   The course is now being taught here in Ireland, the U.K. Europe, and the USA. And, I’ve had the pleasure of running online classes for disabled patients in one of the largest rehabilitation hospitals in the USA, The Shepherd Center.   One of the core reasons for anyone learning self-defense is because they want to feel safer when out and about. And more than ever this is a key factor for wheelchair users. Sadly, we are living in changing times particularly for wheelchair users.    When we first started developing the self defense system for wheelchair users over 25 years ago, violence against wheelchair users was not as prevalent as it is now. Why do wheelchair users need martial arts and self-defense training? To illustrate the violence wheelchair users are now facing, I have included some Newspaper headlines and statistics to illustrate the level of violence.   Newspaper Headlines    “Wheelchair user kicked to death by attacker” “Wheelchair user threatened with a knife” “Wheelchair user robbed and raped.”  “Teenage girl in wheelchair robbed and sexually assaulted” “Wheelchair user injured in “appalling” attack” “Despicable assault on a wheelchair user”   Statistics and Reports A report released by the USA department of justice’s bureau of justice statistics  finds that between 2011 and 2015, people   with disabilities ages 12 and older were victimized at two-and-a-half times the rate of the general population. Persons with disabilities were victims of 26% of all nonfatal violent crime, while accounting for about 12% of the population. The rate of violent victimization against persons with disabilities (46.2 per 1,000 age 12 or older) was almost four times the rate for persons without disabilities (12.3 per 1,000).     The World Health Organisation  ( WHO)  reported that disabled people are one and a half times more likely to experience violence,   and a survey in Britain published stated that the number of disability hate crimes reported has risen by 75% in one year alone.   In a review carried out by John Moores University’s Centre for Public Health, it highlights the fact that both children and adults with disabilities are at a higher risk of violence than their non- disabled peers. And the most shocking statistic for me is children with a disability are almost four times more likely to experience violence and much more likely to be bullied in school than non-disabled children.    Initially the course was just taught in the National Rehabilitation Hospital and at some centres, but an email from a mom in Yosemite National Park in California changed all that. The mom had read about the course and asked if we were teaching it in the USA, because her young son who was a wheelchair user had tried to find somewhere that would teach him self-defense without success. This got me looking at how I could make the course available to wheelchair user in different countries and also to instructors so they could teach it to wheelchair users in their schools.   At the same time as part of the development of the course, I had been training online with defense Lab, so I contacted Andy Norman of defense Lab and explained that I was looking to see how I could develop an online self-defense course for wheelchair users and instructors and make it available.   Andy kindly invited me over to Valencia  in Spain  to discuss what could be done. Following on from the meeting in Spain, Andy Norman and Grek Fenollosa Co-founders of defense Lab immediately said they would love to help and agreed to work with me refining techniques and then produce an online course.   It is important to say, what is unique about the DL Wheelchair Self defense Course , is that it addresses the challenging dynamics of defending and fighting from a wheelchair.   Hopefully this article has challenged and changed your perceptions and got you thinking about teaching wheelchair users’ self-defense in your class. If you have any questions, I would love to hear from you, so feel free to email me at colmwhooleyjkd@yahoo.com  I am also more than happy to chat on Zoom.   If you would like more details about the course, please go to the link below https://www.defenselabcourses.com/wheelchair-users-self-defense     Colm Whooley

Former double world champion Mohammad Fakhreddine has a target painted on his back. With a flurry of call-outs from fellow fighters, he is hands down the most-wanted fighter on the BRAVE Combat Federation roster at the moment.  Mohammmad Fakhreddine , who last entered the BRAVE CF cage at BRAVE CF 57, recently voiced his ambition to compete for the Super Welterweight title with the intention of becoming the first-ever three-division champion in the BRAVE Combat Federation. However, Fakhreddine’s desire has sparked a range of reactions from his counterparts. Current Super Welterweight champion  Kamal Magomedov  welcomed the challenge from Fakhreddine but had a warning for the Arab MMA legend. "Be careful what you (Fakhreddine) wish for. I am here and waiting for you. Let's do it!" Magomedov responded. After winning the title back at BRAVE CF 77, Magomedov is waiting for his first title defence. The title picture is expected to be clear at BRAVE CF 81 as  Ismail Naurdiev  and  Luiz Cado  will fight in the co-main event with the winner likely to get the next title shot.  Cado, riding a three-fight winning streak heading into BRAVE CF 81, also expressed his interest in facing Fakhreddine, extending an invitation to the Lebanese MMA star for a showdown at BRAVE Combat Federation’s debut event in Dubai scheduled for November.  "Fakhreddine is a legend. I want to win my belt and then defend against him in Dubai – let’s do it,” Cado said. At the same time, Fakhreddine's aspirations for a third title did not sit well with South African Middleweight  Chad Hanokem . He questioned the double-champion status of Fakhreddine while also criticizing the BRAVE CF Veteran for pursuing a third title. "Don’t talk about being a triple champion when you haven’t defended anything. You little rat, don’t play me like you’re not afraid of this challenge,” Hanokem said. The most interesting name among the fighters that want to step into the cage with Fakhreddine, however, is  Mohammed Said Maalem . Maalem and Fakhreddine has a long history having already fought twice in the organisation. There were controversies involved in both these fights and Said wants to have a proper closure for the rivalry.  "My story with Fakhreddine is like a movie. And every movie has its ending. Fakhreddine, let’s go brother!,” he said ahead of his upcoming BRAVE CF 81 headliner against Erko Jun.  While there is no confirmation about the return of Fakhreddine, one thing remains clear: he has plenty of options to consider.