Corey Anderson Wins Vacant Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship Patricio Pitbull Retains Bellator Featherweight Title in Co-Main Event A new era of MMA kicked off today in Belfast, Northern Ireland with Bellator Champions Series, a card that saw a new champion crowned and the most decorated champion in promotional history, retain his title. Here are the results for Bellator Champions Series 2024, Belfast. In the main event, Corey Anderson (18-6) took home the vacant Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship in front of a supportive hometown crowd for Belfast’s Karl Moore (12-3), utilizing his superior wrestling and top control to earn a unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45). With the win, “Overtime” became the eighth 205-pound champion in Bellator history. After the bout, Anderson set his sights on improving, “Overtime isn’t satisfied, we have more work to do, and more names to beat.”   The greatest Bellator athlete of all-time, Patricio Pitbull (36-7) emphatically finished Jeremy Kennedy (19-4) with strikes at 4:07 in the third round of their Featherweight World Championship bout, earning his 24th win under the Bellator banner, a promotional record. Following the bout, Pitbull made it clear that “I’m not done yet, Aaron Pico, you’re next,” potentially setting the stage for a highly anticipated bout between the strikers in the future. Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen has a new No. 1 contender following a unanimous decision (29-28 x3) victory for Fabian Edwards (13-3) over Aaron Jeffery (14-5). After the bout the 30-year-old Birmingham, England native had two words for the current 185-pound champion “I’m coming,” setting up the rematch for some time later this year. In a grudge match nearly two years in the making, Leandro Higo (23-6) took home a unanimous decision victory (29-28 x3) over James Gallagher (12-3) after a back-and-forth brawl. Both fighters found success on the feet, with Higo scoring multiple spinning back fists and Gallagher’s jab breaking through Higo’s guard. Ultimately, Higo’s relentless wrestling and ground and pound separated him enough in the deciding final round to get the nod from the judges.  Kicking off the action for the main card, the undefeated Manoel Sousa (11-0) clashed with the always-exciting Tim Wilde (17-5-1) in a Lightweight bout. Originally struggling to find his range early due to Wilde’s fluid footwork, Brazil’s Sousa eventually found his target at 4:48 in the first round, resulting in a highlight reel knockout finish, the seventh of his career.  Next up for Bellator Champions Series, is May 17 at the Accor Arena in Paris, where in the main event, Usman Nurmagomedov (17-0, 1 NC) will attempt to remain undefeated and retain his Lightweight title when he locks horns with Alexander Shabliy (23-3), a man who has not been beaten in eight years. The co-headliner features Bellator Bantamweight Champion Patchy Mix (19-1) returning 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.  In addition, the main event for Bellator Champions Series Dublin on Saturday, June 22 was announced earlier today and will be headlined by Welterweight World Champion Jason Jackson (18-4) facing undefeated Ramazan Kuramagomedov (12-0) at the 3Arena in Dublin. Complete Bellator Champions Series Belfast Fight Card:  Main Card Light Heavyweight Championship Bout Corey Anderson vs. Karl Moore Corey Anderson Wins Vacant Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship Featherweight Championship Bout Patricio Pitbull vs. Jeremy Kennedy Patricio Pitbull Retains Bellator Featherweight Title in Co-Main Event Middleweight No. 1 Contender Bout Fabian Edwards vs. Aaron Jeffery Fabian Edwards wins by unanimous decision Featherweight Bout James Gallagher vs. Leandro Higo Leandro Higo took home a unanimous decision victory over  James Gallagher Lightweight Bout Tim Wilde vs. Manoel Sousa Manoel Sousa defeated Tim Wilde via KO at 4:48 of Round 1 Bellator Champions Series Belfast Early Card Results Ciaran Clarke  (9-0) defeated  Darius Mafi  (4-2) via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 0:41 of round three Alfie Davis  (17-4-1) defeated   Oscar Ownsworth  (8-3-1) via unanimous decision (30-27 x3) Luke Trainer  (8-1) defeated  Grant Neal  (9-2) via unanimous decision (30-27 x3) Nathan Kelly  (10-2) defeated  Vikas Singh Ruhil  (12-8) via KO (elbow) at :40 of round one Abraham Bably  defeated (4-0)  Isaiah Pinson  (3-1) via unanimous decision (30-27 x3) Nate Kelly  (3-2 AM.) defeated  Jordan Elliott  (2-4 AM.) via submission (armbar) at 1:48 of round one

Logline:  Russian immigrant Sergei Kravinoff is on a mission to prove that he is the greatest hunter in the world. Who: It stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson  in the title role alongside Ariana DeBose , Russell Crowe , Fred Hechinger , Christopher Abbott  and Alessandro Nivola . Kraven:  Kraven is a hunter - warrior  with animalistic powers. Taylor-Johnson described his take on the character as a conservationist , a "protector of the natural world” and an "animal lover.” Production:   Kraven the Hunter  is an upcoming American superhero film  based on the Marvel Comics  character of the same name . It is intended to be the fifth film in Sony's Spider-Man Universe  (SSU).  When: Kraven the Hunter  is scheduled to be released in the United States on August 30, 2024. Bonus: Also features a Russian mercenary  who can turn into a human/ rhino   hybrid ! Check out the kick-ass trailer!

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), will debut in the New England area with BKFC-61 headlined by a Women’s Bantamweight Fight between arch-rivals, Former Boxing World Champion Heather ‘The Heat’ Hardy of Brooklyn, NY and BKFC Flyweight World Champion Christine ‘Misfit’ Ferea of Las Vegas, NV at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.   Ticket information for BKFC-61 can be found at www.BKFC.com . The Mohegan Sun Arena is located at 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT 06382. More information can also be found on their website, www.MoheganSun.com . BKFC-61 will also be broadcast internationally as part of the BKFC+ Subscription for $7.99 per month on the BKFC App – The Best Value in Combat Sports  and is sponsored by Forged Irish Stout, Bucked Up, Grunt Style, Fubo Sports, Only Fans, Rasha and Savage Sip Coffee.   Said the confident Hardy about the matchup, “I’m very grateful to fellow champion Christine Ferea. I humbly reached out to her personally asking for some work and she made the fight happen. That said, she’s advertising this fight like she’s going to war and we are going to school. Class is about to be in session!" Retorted Ferea, “ Rule No 1 Heather, ‘never try to outshine the master.’”   “Heather Hardy and Christine Ferea are two of the toughest and most successful women in combat sports,” said BKFC Founder and President David Feldman. “They’ve wanted to fight for the last couple of years and we’re thrilled to promote this fight as our debut headliner at the beautiful Mohegan Sun Arena.”   “This is our company’s first promotion in the New England area and we’re planning a full card of sensational fights befitting this famed combat sports venue and the great area fans.”   A true pioneer in women’s combat sports, Heather Hardy boasts a professional boxing record of 24-3 over her 11-year professional career. Victorious over long-time rival Shelly Vincent on October 27, 2018 at Madison Square Garden, the popular Brooklyn, New York native fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a world champion – earning the WBO Women’s Featherweight World Title.   Hardy has also fought four times in Bellator including victories against fellow boxing world champion Ana Julaton and Ana Yauger. Internationally known as the toughest and most talented female fighter in combat sports , Christine Ferea has dominated the women’s flyweight division with six straight victories including sensational wins over Australian rival Bec Rawlings in her last two fights. Ferea also holds wins in show-stopping performances against Taylor Starling, twice against Britain Hart in addition to Calista Silgado and Calie Cutler.   Additional fights for BKFC-61 will be announced shortly.

One of the most popular systems of kung fu in the world today is wing chun. It was cast into the international spotlight by Bruce Lee, whose formal training started in the art, but its popularity has exploded since Donnie Yen brought founder Ip Man to life in four blockbuster movies. Despite all this exposure, many aspects of the southern Chinese system are not well-known outside of Hong Kong. One of them is its crime connection. That link is so prominent in the former British colony that wing chun is sometimes referred to as “gangster fist.” This moniker came about because of the relationship the system had with the Chinese Triads, the secret societies known as saam hap wui. When Ip arrived in Hong Kong in the 1950s to spread wing chun, the Triads were very active. One of Ip’s students was Jiu Wan. Jiu was schooled in the Chan Yiu-Min lineage in China. Chan Yiu-Min was the eldest son of Ip’s teacher Chan Wah-Shun. It was not widely known, but Jiu was also a Triad member. The gangster-fist nickname stemmed more from Jiu’s involvement than from anything Ip ever did. One of Jiu’s students was Lee Hoy Sang, my first wing chun sifu. That makes Jiu one of my sigung. When I was a young student, I first heard that he was involved with the Triads — we all understood the meaning of “gangster” in this context. It was not until I’d completed two decades of subsequent research into wing chun’s origins that I learned there’s a second triad connection, one that has a completely different meaning than what’s generally understood by the public. So what exactly is this obscure relationship between a triad and the martial art? If you search for answers, you won’t find any in the brand of wing chun that’s taught today. You have to delve into its traditions, even its origins. There, you’ll learn that triad refers to the core concepts and principles of the art. THE KNOWN TRIAD CONNECTION The dictionary tells us that triad has three meanings: a group of three; a secret society that originated in China, typically involving criminal activity; and a chord of three tones related to the harmonic basis of tonal music. The second definition, of course, is the obvious one that applies here. It refers to the social and political groups that have functioned in Chinese society for hundreds of years, with historical roots in secret societies and trade associations. They were organized for a variety of reasons: to protect territory, to support business, to raise dowries for weddings and to help with funeral costs. Some of them did engage in illicit activity, but many were created for mutual aid and the promotion of brotherhood. Some are still active to this day. Criminal Triads functioned originally as political secret societies and flourished during the 17th century when they attracted Chinese who opposed the Qing dynasty. When the Qing collapsed in 1912, many of these members were enlisted by the Chinese Nationalist Party, known as the Kuomintang. Over time, the political activities of some Triads faded as they began engaging in crime. In the early to mid-18th century during the Opium Wars, these Triads transitioned to organized crime. The original Chinese characters used to refer to Triads are tin dei yan, meaning “heaven, earth, human.” Sometimes the sequence was rendered tin yan dei, which means “heaven, human, earth.” These terms are as old as the Taoists, the group that originated the concept. MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY During the anti-Qing movement in the transitional years (1644-1683), the Southern Shaolin Temple was a hotbed of activity. Together with those loyal to the Ming dynasty, the Shaolin monks created a political secret society called the Faht Paai Hung Mun, with hung mun referring in general to anti-Qing groups. Within this secret society, they developed an enhancement to their personal self-defense systems, which means they upgraded their warriors’ ability to defend themselves — more in terms of small-combat tactics than large-scale warfare. During this time, experts from the Ming military, the Shaolin Temple and the martial arts community came together to share knowledge. Each group contributed to the new system, which was based on the paradigm shift of maximum efficiency, the point at which nothing can be added or subtracted without losing efficiency. Whether designing a new system or upgrading an existing one, improved efficiency is achieved by building a foundation that’s based on the laws of physics as applied to human anatomy. In the 17th century, the scientific method was not formally established in China, but the physics of combat was well-known. To discover a way to be more efficient in hand-to-hand combat, they focused on time, space and energy. In ancient China, these concepts were referenced using the terms heaven/time, earth/space and human/energy — also known as the triad. The Chinese reasoned along these lines: When we look up at the sky, we see the movement of the sun each day and the moon each month; this gave rise to the concept of time. When we look down at the ground, we see different directions such as north, south, east and west; this gave rise to the concept of space. We have the ability to move physically through space and mentally through time, projecting future activities and remembering what happened in the past; this gave rise to the concept of human. Time-space-energy, heaven-earth-human — this is the reality in which we live regardless of context. From life-or-death combat to sending a person to Mars, we need to base our actions on the laws of time, space and energy. For example, to improve a punch or a kick, we can look at the concept of economy of motion. By definition, this means accomplishing the same or more by using less energy in a shorter period of time while moving across a smaller space. The ancient Chinese took economy of motion and evolved it into a system that eventually reached what we call maximum efficiency, on which wing chun is based. The first form of the system teaches position (time) and structure (space). This form is known as siu nim tau, or “little idea in the beginning.” They designed the second wing chun form to emphasize maximum efficiency of energy. It’s called saam jin bou, or “three battle steps.” Benny Meng, author of this article, visits the Southern Shaolin Temple History Museum. The nearby display gives information about the political secret society created by the monks. THREE BRIDGES Wing chun as a fighting system was born out of the triad of time, space and energy in the secret societies of the Southern Shaolin Temple during the 17th century, guided by the concepts of maximum efficiency and economy of motion. One of the original concepts to emerge from the Southern Shaolin Temple was saam mo kiu, the “three connecting bridges,” used to help people understand the levels of awareness. The first stage of awareness is fau kiu, or “wandering bridge,” the stage of confusion. Here, a person is at the wrong time, the wrong place and with the wrong energy. This is akin to a beginner in the martial arts attempting self-defense against a resisting opponent. The difficulties the beginner faces are less about his or her technique and more about a lack of experience that leads to use of the wrong technique, the wrong energy or the wrong timing. The second stage is saan kiu, or “separate bridge,” the stage of awareness and understanding. Here, a person gains additional experience and understanding over time and begins to operate at the right time, the right place and with the right energy — but not always consistently or with all three connected simultaneously. This is the intermediate martial artist who has gained experience through training, with practical and effective technical ability that works against a resisting opponent. The third and final stage is weng kiu, or “eternal bridge,” the stage of maximum efficiency. Here, a person operates consistently at the right time, right place and with the right energy with such precision that nothing can be added or subtracted without losing efficiency. This is the martial arts master who has fully internalized his or her knowledge, skill and experience. While the three bridges form a concept that was defined at the Southern Shaolin Temple, it’s a universal progression that applies to practitioners of any skill set. Left: three-gates/six-gates “heaven” fighting position. (Explanation: In this posture, a person turns sideways to enable maximum extension of and reach with the arms and legs. Sometimes called the three-gates or six-gates fighting posture, or long-short fighting posture. This typically focuses on kicks and strikes.) Middle: the nine-gates “human” fighting position. (Explanation: In this posture, a person is squared up to theopponent, allowing both arms and legs to engage simultaneously. The person can target to the right, left and center on the horizontal axis, as well as the head, upper chest and lower abdomen on the vertical axis. Combined, this creates nine gates. This posture allows the use of multiple limbs at once, as well as simultaneous offense and defense. This is typically for medium range, allowing kicks, strikes, traps, clinches, knees, elbows and controls.) Right: the six-gates “earth” fighting position. (In this posture, a person changes height and widens his or her base for grappling. By changing levels, the top three gates are removed as targets. This is sometimes called the six-gates fighting posture or the grappling fighting posture. This is typically used at close range, permitting catches, tackles, takedowns and transitions to grappling.) BECOMING SUPERIOR To prevail against a faster and stronger opponent, you need to have a better position (time factor) and a superior structure (space factor), as well as be able to generate power from any position or with minimum distance (energy factor). The original two forms mentioned above also contain the wing chun formula, a concept for placing the human body in three-dimensional space to triangulate for maximum efficiency. The three-dimensional space referenced by the wing chun formula is composed of length (the two-line concept), height (the three-reference-point concept) and width (the five-line theory concept). Combined, these three concepts are referred to as the sap ming dim ( ), or “10 bright points,” which is the result of adding two, three and five. This formula is used by wing chun practitioners to screen all physical movements for economy of motion. This was the original intention behind wing chun’s siu nim tau form — to harmonize awareness of the body with the sap ming dim references. This use of time, space and energy in fighting is an external application of the heaven, earth and human triad concept and is sometimes referred to as the external triad. It follows that there’s also an internal triad, one that’s composed of intelligent thinking (heaven), feeling and emotions (earth), and action and intention (human). Within the Shaolin temples of the past, the warrior monks focused on achieving enlightenment and becoming self-actualized. They discovered that three things are essential for developing a person completely: how to think, how to feel and how to act. Combined, these three factors form the aforementioned internal triad, which also can be thought of as attitude. For human development, these three powers are crucial because they are ultimately the only factors over which we have control. They are the factors we struggle to master. Thus, Shaolin kung fu is about mastery of self, not training to subdue an opponent. When we learn to control our internal reality, that ability can be extended beyond the self to influence and sometimes control situations around us. Demonstration of the “separate bridge” of wing chun: The student (left) has broken his opponent’s structure/space but does not have his own structure available through the nine gates. The student lacks complete time and space control, which renders the takedown less efficient. While we might physically subdue an opponent, we’re still not in control of the person mentally or emotionally. This is true in human development and especially crucial in crisis situations such as life-or-death combat. Untrained people, when presented with a crisis, tend to immediately think negatively. When negative emotions take over a person’s awareness, the physical body is also negatively impacted. This sequence leads to a confused mind, negative feelings and a stiff body. It’s possible for a person to be trained to perform a well-executed technique, but if the internal triad is undeveloped, the person’s skills won’t work under the stress of real-life applications. It’s clear that the wing chun triad refers not only to philosophical teaching (external triad) but also to the map to self-development everyone needs (internal triad). The kung fu system may have been born at the Southern Shaolin Temple and once been associated with criminal Triads, but in its current incarnation, it has nothing to do with the “gangster fist” and everything to do with living a more fulfilled life. Benny Meng is a renowned wing chun instructor and researcher. He serves as curator of the Dayton, Ohio–based Ving Tsun Museum, which he co-founded in 1993. For more information, visit vtmuseum.org .

Mohammed Usman, fresh from his triumph on The Ultimate Fighter season 30, is eagerly anticipating his third UFC bout against the promising Mick Parkin at the upcoming UFC Fight Night: Ribas vs Namajunas. Before his victory on the show, Usman deliberately avoided donning UFC-branded attire, aspiring to earn his place in the organization authentically. His knockout win against Zac Pauga marked his formal entry into the UFC, initiating a journey of relentless ambition and skill enhancement. In his UFC debut, Usman displayed his prowess by defeating the formidable Junior Tafa, and he continued his ascent by outperforming Jake Collier in his next fight. These victories solidified his confidence and belief in his rightful place within the UFC. Facing Mick Parkin, an undefeated contender known for his hype and skill, Usman sees a perfect opportunity to further his momentum and eye the heavyweight Top 15. Usman appreciates the varied challenges the UFC has presented him with, allowing him to elevate his game and refine his skills against diverse types of fighters. He remains humble yet determined, focusing on each fight as a step towards his ultimate goal of climbing the heavyweight ranks. With a positive outlook on his growth and the fights ahead, Usman is dedicated to making 2024 a landmark year in his UFC career, emphasizing skill development and strategic ascension in the heavyweight division.

Bellator Champions Series Belfast at SSE Arena headlined by two world title fights Ireland’s James Gallagher fights Brazil’s Leandro Higo in grudge match two years in the making Bellator Champions Series Belfast airs live on DAZN in Europe March 22 The Professional Fighters League (PFL), today announced the premiere Bellator Champions Series event on Friday, March 22 at The SSE Arena, Belfast will be headlined by two world title fights. Widely considered to be the Bellator “G.O.A.T.” Patricio Pitbull (35-7) will defend his Featherweight title for a ninth time when he meets Canada’s Jeremy Kennedy (19-3) in the co-main event. Pitbull, one of the most decorated fighters in MMA, conquered two weight classes simultaneously and holds the most wins in Bellator history. Ireland’s James Gallagher (12-2) has a new opponent for the inaugural Bellator Champions Series event, Brazil’s Leandro Higo (22-6). Gallagher and Higo were originally slated to face off in 2023. Additionally two preliminary bouts have been announced to round out the card. Two unbeaten Middleweights square off when England’s Steven Hill (7-0) meets Jordan Newman (6-0) and in a Light Heavyweight contest Luke “The Gent” Trainer (7-1) faces Grant Neal (9-1).  The debut Bellator Champions Series Belfast event on March 22 is anchored by a battle for the vacant Bellator Light Heavyweight World Championship pitting former title challenger Corey Anderson (17-6, 1 NC) against Northern Ireland’s Karl Moore (12-2). The card can be seen live in Europe on DAZN beginning at 5 pm GMT / 12 pm ET, additional distribution information including a U.S. broadcast partner will be announced soon. Patricio Pitbull vs. Jeremy Kennedy Patricio Pitbull will put his belt on the line when he takes on No. 1 contender and winner of six out of his last seven bouts, Jeremy Kennedy. Pitbull's massive presence in MMA is second to none, boasting a legacy that includes conquering two weight classes simultaneously and holding the most wins in Bellator history (23). Defeating stars of the sport, including former featherweight world champion AJ McKee and former lightweight world champion Michael Chandler, Pitbull aims to retain his stake in the Featherweight division against the wrestling standout. No slouch in his own right, the 31-year-old Kennedy has been victorious against the elite in the featherweight division, including Aaron Pico and Pedro Carvalho, and believes he has the experience and tools to dethrone his Brazilian foe in front of the Belfast crowd on March 22. James Gallagher vs. Leandro Higo  A grudge match two years in the making, Leandro Higo moves up to Featherweight to face Ireland’s James Gallagher in a main card matchup. Hailing from Mossocro, Brazil, Higo has proven to be a dangerous opponent for anyone in the bantamweight division with his unparalleled jiu-jitsu background, collecting 13 submission victories in his professional career. Also a highly touted submission ace, Gallagher returns to action on the heels of an impressive victory over James Gonzalez at Bellator 298. Once initially slated to face each other in March of 2023, Higo and Gallagher will now have the opportunity to settle their differences inside the Bellator cage.  Bellator Champions Series Belfast Main Card Light Heavyweight World Title Bout:   Corey Anderson  (17-6, 1 NC) vs.  Karl Moore  (12-2) Featherweight World Title Bout:  Patricio Pitbull  (35-7) vs.  Jeremy Kennedy  (19-3) Middleweight No. 1 Contender Bout:  Fabian Edwards  (12-3) vs.  Aaron Jeffery  (14-4) Featherweight Main Card Bout:   James Gallagher  (12-2) vs.  Leandro Higo  (22-6) Lightweight Main Card Bout:  Tim Wilde  (17-4-1) vs.  Manoel Sousa  (10-0) Preliminary Card Bantamweight Preliminary Bout:  Ciaran Clarke  (8-0) vs.  Darius Mafi  (4-1) Lightweight Preliminary Bout:   Tofiq Musayev  (21-5)  Alfie Davis  (16-4-1) Middleweight Preliminary Bout:   Steven Hill  (7-0) vs.  Jordan Newman  (6-0) Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout:   Luke Trainer  (7-1) vs.  Grant Neal  (9-1) Featherweight Preliminary Bout:  Nathan Kelly  (9-2) vs. Vikas Singh Ruhil  (12-7) Heavyweight Preliminary Bout:   Abraham Bably  (3-0) vs.  Isaiah Pinson  (3-0) Amateur 130-Pound Catchweight Bout:   Nate Kelly  (2-2 AM.) vs.  Jordan Elliott  (2-3 AM.) Doors for the event open at 4 pm local time, with the first preliminary bout taking place one hour later at 5 pm. Prior to the Professional Fighter’s Leagues industry shaping acquisition of Bellator in November of 2023, Bellator held 301 events building a recognized worldwide roster of elite talent. In re-imagining Bellator the PFL will continue the commitment of investing in athletes from underserved regions while continuing to add global stars to the roster.

The undefeated king of Super Welterweights is unfazed by the challenge posed by whoever wins the clash between Ismail Naurdiev and Luiz Cado. As the anticipation builds for the BRAVE CF 81 co-main event clash between Ismail Naurdiev and Luiz Cado, Super Welterweight champion Kamal Magomedov is keeping a close eye on the proceedings.  For Magomedov, this bout carries significant implications as the winner could be next in line to challenge him for the title.  The undefeated Russian won the Super Welterweight title back at BRAVE CF 77 in December 2023 when he stopped former champion Marcin Bandel in the first-round. The win not only catapulted him to the top of the division but also extended his winning streak in BRAVE Combat Federation to three fights. As Magomedov waits for his first title defense, he is unfazed by the threat posed by Naurdiev and Cado. The Russian pointed out that Naurdiev has a habit of losing to top competition and shrugged off Cado’s chances as well.  For Magomedov, it is just a matter of who his next victim would be.  ‘’Ismail Naurdiev is not a difficult opponent for me. He will always lose to the top fighters, and I’m one of them. I am the champion, I will finish him or the Brazilian, easy. So far 11 guys have tried and I’ve finished 11, who will be number 12?,” Magomedov said.   Cado goes into the fight at BRAVE CF 81 on a three-fight winning streak in the organization and had an unforgettable 2023. Naurdiev, meanwhile, is coming off an impressive win over Tahar Hadbi and is in search of the elusive Super Welterweight gold which he failed to capture on two separate occasions. While these two are the frontrunners to challenge Magomedov, Arab MMA legend and former two-division titleholder Mohammad Fakhreddine is also in the mix. Fakhreddine recently expressed his interest in challenging for the Super Welterweight gold with the intention of becoming a three-division champion in BRAVE Combat Federation.  Nonetheless, the air surrounding the BRAVE CF Super Welterweight title is expected to be clear after BRAVE CF 81 which takes place at the Hala Tivoli Arena, in Ljubljana, Slovenia on April 20.

Nong-O Hama has lost two straight bouts, but that doesn’t mean the former ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion is giving up on his climb back to the top of the mountain in ONE Championship at ONE Friday Fights 58. The talented Thai striker will try to get back in the win column on Friday, April 5, against Kulabdam Sor Jor Piek Uthai at ONE Friday Fights 58 . After a decorated career, some have speculated that Nong-O could be staring down the barrel of retirement, but the legendary Muay Thai figure assures everyone his time in the sport is not done yet. “In my opinion, my setbacks are something that can happen to any athlete. But my heart is still fighting. My body is still able to do it. Let me say it again: This fight is not going to be my last fight,” Nong-O told ONE . Many elite athletes across various sports will talk about how the mental game is just as big of a part of athletics as the physical. For Nong-O, that rings true even more in the face of recent defeats. The Thai superstar admits to facing those negative feelings head-on and putting them behind him to focus on taking the next step back toward prominence. “I accept that I cannot avoid having a negative attitude. Anyone feels bad when they lose, but I try not to dwell on negative feelings too much,” the Thai icon admitted. The match against “Left Meteorite” is more than just about getting another win on the global stage. After losing his gold to Jonathan Haggerty, Nong-O wants to use this match as a statement he is ready to contend again. “I was a champion before, and I lost my belt. I will say that I thought about coming back to take my belt back as soon as I lost to Jonathan Haggerty. Now, I’m trying to earn a title shot, and I believe that I’ll come back greater than ever,” Nong-O stated. “My goal before retiring is to become the World Champion again.” The want to get his title back over his shoulder is making Nong-O an even more dangerous opponent. The 37-year-old has been breaking down Kulabdam’s game to tailor a game plan toward the heavy-handed striker. “I change my training and game plan for every fight because each of my opponents has a different style,” the former bantamweight king said. “For this fight, I know my opponent has a good punch. So I focused on protecting myself from his punches.” Driven by the desire to earn a shot at the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title, Nong-O is anticipating another exciting bout in Bangkok to showcase his legendary Muay Thai skills. If Kulabdam matches the intensity, Nong-O is prepared for a three-round firefight. “This fight is going to be explosive. I’m ready to go toe-to-toe with him, and I’ll never back down,” Nong-O said. Although much respect is given to his Thai counterpart, Nong-O wants to deliver a message that he will not walk through him and take his spot in the bantamweight pecking order. “I give Kulabdam 10 out of 10. This man is in top form right now. But he doesn’t dare think that he’s going to beat me easily,” Nong-O stated. ONE Friday Fights 58 airs live and free on ONE’s official YouTube channel on Friday, April 5. The action begins at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT.

Christine Bannon Rodrigues 9x WAKO World Karate Champion, SAG stunt woman, master instructor and co-promoter of the Ocean State Grand Nationals. She graced the August 2000 cover in her flaming red Karate Gi demonstrating the flying side kick in perfect form. No wonder she dominated the circuit for over a decade. In the cover story, Christine demonstrates multiple kicks with Bill Wallace.

Payton Talbott, an emerging star in the UFC's bantamweight division, reflects on his victorious debut and looks forward to his next challenge against Cameron Saaiman this Saturday. Despite a rocky start in his first UFC match, where he lost the initial round, Talbott's unyielding spirit and strategic prowess led him to a triumphant finish by making his opponent, Nick Aguirre, submit. His ability to stay composed under pressure, especially after a challenging first round, showcases his exceptional talent and mental fortitude. Talbott, a Dana White’s Contender Series graduate, expressed his desire for improvement following his debut. He acknowledged the need for better takedown defense and a more aggressive ground game to prevent opponents from dominating the rounds. Despite facing a formidable wrestler in Aguirre, Talbott's determination and skill adaptation were evident as he navigated through the match to secure a win. The 25-year-old fighter from Reno, Nevada, attributes his calm and composed demeanor in the cage to rigorous training and life challenges he faced growing up. Talbott's journey to the UFC is marked by a combination of physical preparation and mental resilience, developed through overcoming personal struggles and intense training sessions with heavier sparring partners. With a professional record of 7-0, Talbott has quickly risen through the ranks, showcasing his potential as a future star in the bantamweight division. His upcoming match against Cameron Saaiman, another promising talent, is anticipated to be a captivating contest. Both fighters share a background of fast-tracked careers and a hunger for success in the UFC, setting the stage for an exciting showdown. As Talbott prepares for his sophomore UFC appearance, he remains focused on delivering a memorable performance and securing a victory through a finish. His aspirations for the future include competing in front of a live audience and facing well-known fighters, signaling his ambition to solidify his place in the sport. Payton Talbott's journey from a challenging debut to facing a fellow rising star in Cameron Saaiman reflects his resilience, skill, and determination to excel in the UFC. Fans and enthusiasts eagerly await this weekend's bout, expecting a thrilling display of talent and sportsmanship.

Bahrain's own BRAVE CF will return to the United Arab Emirates with its first event in Dubai before going back home to the Kingdom of Bahrain at the end of the year. Mixed Martial Arts in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region has taken some major developmental strides over the past seven and a half years under the guidance of BRAVE Combat Federation. BRAVE CF is now planning to take matters to the next level for MMA in MENA in 2024. BRAVE CF will end the year of 2024 with a doubleheader in Dubai and Bahrain. In November, BRAVE CF will be returning to the UAE for the organization’s debut event in Dubai. This will be followed by a return to its home in the Kingdom of Bahrain in December, underlining the organization’s commitment towards bringing global eyeballs to the region. The organization has so far hosted 32 events in the MENA region. Beyond the numbers, BRAVE CF has been focused on a two-pronged strategy to grow the sport in the region: taking the MMA stars of MENA to compete around the world and at the same time, creating a global platform that can attract the eyes of the world to the region. The strategy has paid dividends as well. Arab legends like Jarrah Al-Silawi, Mohammad Fakhreddine, Hamza Kooheji, Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady, and many others gained global exposure through BRAVE Combat Federation. At the same time, a long list of global MMA stars has showcased their skills at the BRAVE CF events which happened in the MENA region as well. Fighters like Stephen Loman, Nkosi Ndebele, Brad Katona, and Amin Ayoub among many others witnessed their title-crowning moments happen in the Middle East. As the organization returns to the region for two blockbuster events in 2024, it will once again provide a global platform for the sport to thrive in MENA.

The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the fastest growing and most innovative sports league, has extended its partnership with Westgate Resorts through 2026.This partnership, which began during the 2023 PFL World Championship, will provide fans with exclusive access to special booking opportunities for the PFL regular season, playoffs and world championship events, spanning across 10 cities in the United States. “The Professional Fighters League is excited to continue our partnership with Westgate Resorts for the 2024 PFL Global Season and through 2026,” said PFL Chief Commercial Officer Bryan Calka. “The 2024 PFL Global Season promises to be the toughest yet, with new athletes and travel to 10 major U.S. cities. We are excited to collaborate with Westgate Resorts on this unique and innovative partnership.”In addition, Westgate Resorts is thrilled to provide fans with an exclusive opportunity to win an unforgettable VIP experience.Richard Siegel, executive vice president of Westgate Resorts, expressed his excitement about the collaboration and said, "We're thrilled to offer fans a chance to win an extraordinary VIP package for the PFL playoff fight in Hollywood, Florida. This partnership underscores our commitment to curating exceptional experiences for our esteemed guests."The lucky winner of this VIP package will receive four VIP tickets to the highly anticipated PFL playoff fight. The winner will also enjoy a two-night stay at a luxurious Westgate Resorts property, exclusive swag and a meet-and-greet opportunity with PFL talent. To enter for a chance to win this extraordinary VIP experience,   click here . The 2024 PFL Regular Season kicks off on April 4 in San Antonio, TX, followed by events in Las Vegas, NV, on April 12 and Chicago, Il, on April 19. Tickets and VIP experiences for the first half of the 2024 PFL Regular Season are available now. All events will be available live in the U.S. on ESPN, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes. Fans can watch live in Canada and throughout Europe on DAZN.