BRAVE Combat Federation returns to Pakistan with BRAVE CF 85 on August 18 and the event will be headlined by a title eliminator at Featherweight between Omar Solomanov and Rauan Bekbolat. This bout, featuring two of the top featherweights in their prime, promises to showcase the highest level of mixed martial arts for fans in Pakistan and worldwide and the stakes are incredibly high. Reigning 145-pound champion Nemat ''Eagle'' Abdrashitov will be up next for the winner of the main event, in what promises to be the biggest Featherweight title fight since BRAVE CF 4, when Elias Boudegzdame and Masio Fullen contested the first-ever BRAVE CF lineal world title - Boudegzdame came out victorious and became the first-ever BRAVE CF champion of the world. Coming into BRAVE CF 85, Omar Solomanov will be defending an 11-fight winning streak. The Ukrainian, undefeated in BRAVE Combat Federation, has not lost since 2014 and came close to a title shot with his victory over Ilyar Askhanov at BRAVE CF 71. However, he needs one more win to cement his status as a title contender, and he faces a tough challenge in Rauan Bekbolat. The Kazakh superstar has already demonstrated his championship calibre outside of BRAVE Combat Federation, having been a champion in the Asian regional circuit. Eager to make his mark on the global stage, Bekbolat comes into the organization on a four-fight winning streak, with all victories by stoppage. Both Solomanov and Bekbolat are large Featherweights with well-rounded skill sets, boasting a combined 21 career wins. With a title shot against Abdrashitov up for grabs, both fighters are determined to maintain their winning streaks, making this the biggest fight of the year so far in the BRAVE CF Featherweight division. In addition to the high-stakes Featherweight showdown between Solomanov and Bekbolat, BRAVE CF 85 will feature three exciting India vs. Pakistan matchups, making it an ideal fight card for the BRAVE International Combat Week.

The great Toshiro Mifune star of the Seven Samurai made his Fighting Stars debut in the 1982 cover promoting the series Shogun. Learn more about this cover and the entire magazine preserved in digital format: https://www.blackbeltmag.com

BRAVE Combat Federation emerged victorious in the battle for Asian supremacy as BRAVE CF fighters secured a 5-1 victory over YFU fighters at BRAVE CF 84, held this Friday, in Zhengzhou, China. And more than that, the most global organization in the world extended its world record as China became the 33rd country to host BRAVE CF, with the promotion also equalling the record for most Asian nations visited with 13. Here are the results of BRAVE CF 84. In the main event, the only non-tournament fight of the night, Bidzina Gavashelishvili secured his second consecutive win in BRAVE Combat Federation by defeating Erasyl Shukataev after a hard-fought three-round contest.  Shukataev knocked Bidzina down twice in the first round and troubled the Georgian with his reach advantage. However, Bidzina controlled the pace in the second round with precise boxing and a late takedown. He relied on his grappling and clinch skills in the third round to neutralize his Kazakh opponent's reach advantage and cruised to victory. Following his win, Bidzina said that he is top contender in the Flyweight division and declared his intent to pursue the title. The co-main event of BRAVE CF 84, which headlined the BRAVE CF vs YFU portion of the card, featured a high-level technical contest between Brice Picaud and Qinghe Zhang. Both fighters engaged in back-and-forth grappling exchanges, living up to the pre-fight expectations. Unfortunately, the fight ended anticlimactically when Zhang suffered a knee injury after the second round, forcing the referee to call off the bout and award a TKO victory to Picaud, who wrapped up the dominant performance of BRAVE CF fighters.  Borislav Nikolic made a strong case for a Bantamweight title shot by securing a first-round TKO victory over Eqiyuebu, who entered the fight on a four-fight winning streak. Nikolic dominated early in the stand-up and brought the fight to the ground with a guillotine attempt. Although the 19-year-old Chinese star escaped the submission attempt, Nikolic's experience proved decisive as he finished the fight with elbows from the top position, and even went as far as taking the initiative to stop landing down blows on his opponent, ''inviting'' the referee to finish the fight. The bout between Maimaitituoheti and Izzeddine Al Derbani delivered big time, with both fighters exchanging heavy strikes from the start. Al Derbani took control midway through the first round with his kicks and quickly ended the fight by submitting his Chinese opponent with a triangle choke, bouncing back strongly from his loss at BRAVE CF 80. Former Interim title challenger Olzhas Eskaraev delivered a dominant performance, overwhelming China's Zehao Zhang over three rounds to secure a unanimous decision win. This victory marks Eskaraev's second consecutive win in BRAVE CF, bringing him closer to a potential rematch with BRAVE CF Lightweight champion Abdisalam Kubanychbek. Yang Weiqiang handed Mohamed Alsameea his first professional MMA loss in the second fight of the night, securing the lone victory for YFU in the promotional duel. Yang nearly finished Alsameea in the second round after struggling against the Bahraini's grappling in the opening round. In the third round, Yang opened a cut on Alsameea with vicious elbows on the ground before earning a decision victory. Kazakhstan’s Aivaz Aidinov utilized his wrestling skills to dominate Peng Zhengwen in the opening bout, securing a decision win and setting the tone for the BRAVE CF fighters. BRAVE CF 84 was the organization's fourth event of the year, following events in Slovenia, Mauritius, and the Netherlands. BRAVE CF heads to Pakistan for BRAVE CF 85, which will be held as part of BRAVE International Combat Week in Lahore on August 18.

Black Belt Magazine  proudly showcases exceptional martial arts training programs and events from around the world. Find this event in our Directory Section  and list your event free to a worldwide audience. This week we feature 4 martial arts events upcoming this August 2024. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMAA Hall of Honors Legacy Weekend  August 9-10 Charlotte, NC More information Legacy 11 August 10  Stockton, CA More information AmeriKick Internationals August 15-17 Atlantic City, New Jersey  More information The Internationals August 30-31 Pasadena, California  More information

As a martial art/combat sport, taekwondo has gone through several transformations. Each generation of practitioners is plagued by critics who express disdain for anything new.That’s to be expected. However, I must say that I agree to a certain extent with those who are unhappy with the current state of the art. As practiced in some locations, taekwondo has devolved from a wonderful martial art into an ineffective sport. If this continues, it may result in the marginalization of taekwondo.  The Slide  The majority of what’s written about the martial arts falls into the how-to category. Most authors are practitioners and therefore focus on the technical aspects of their style. They laud its self-defense potential while promoting its benefits for self-development.  For much of history, these claims went unchallenged. Each art existed in a vacuum, and little was done to shine a light into the darkness that surrounded any of them. Then in 1993, the world as we know it changed. That’s when the UFC was born.  In this new format of competition, all martial artists were welcome. The bouts were full contact, and very few techniques were illegal. Any athlete had the opportunity to bring his best game and let the winner be determined through the process of elimination.  What followed in the octagon is of little importance to the discussion at hand. The purpose of this article is not to determine whether one martial art is superior to another. It’s to examine what the goals of a modern martial art — specifically, taekwondo — should be.  Historically, both sports and martial arts have been regarded as paths to self-development. A primary benefit of training has been the improvement of the individual and the betterment of society. Furthermore, it’s widely believed that the physical training has a profound positive effect on the mental and spiritual components of the practitioner. The Expectations Taekwondo as a sport has always prided itself on the physicality of its competitions. Athletes wear little or no protective gear and compete in a full-contact format that allows and actually rewards head kicks. The original intent of this was to distinguish taekwondo from predominantly punching arts like karate and boxing.  Taekwondo, with its focus on full-contact kicking and allowance of knockouts, offered a unique form of fighting, one that validated the technical acumen of athletes. It also created a no-nonsense environment in which practitioners needed to undergo hardcore training to withstand the rigors of competition. Along the way, they devised better ways to maximize the effectiveness of their kicks.  Fast-forward to the present: Taekwondo is one of many combat sports. MMA, the most prominent member of this group, has cast a shadow over its less-telegenic predecessor. MMA appeals to viewers, who tend to crave easily understandable sports that don’t require expertise or a practitioner’s perspective to enjoy. Meanwhile, sport taekwondo’s increasing complexity with respect to techniques and scoring have made it even less user-friendly.  This latter observation hasn’t been lost on the leaders of sport taekwondo. Since its addition to the 1988 Olympics, taekwondo has struggled with the demands of the International Olympic Committee. It’s my opinion that taekwondo’s continued inclusion in the Games has come at great cost — to the sport and the art. Among those costs was the appointment of a new master for taekwondo: the IOC’s executive board.  Another cost has been bad publicity. In recent years, there have been numerous incidents involving poor refereeing and poor sportsmanship. The reports that resulted helped create a lackluster competition format in which players clinch excessively and don’t engage sufficiently, and that has caused concern among taekwondo’s leaders.  Many of the problems stem from the electronic chest protectors used in Olympic competition. They were adopted to standardize scoring, which is laudable. How- ever, used in conjunction with them is a multitiered scoring system. No longer is it necessary to create “trembling shock” or displacement of body mass to score a point. One merely has to engage the opponent and place a foot on his or her chest protector with sufficient contact and adequate duration, which closes the circuit and registers a point.  A bigger problem involves head kicks. No longer are such techniques judged for power. All that’s required is contact. The result is that athletes don’t need to kick with proper technique; they merely need to lift their leg to touch their opponent’s head to score.  Several questions must be asked: Did these changes have a positive or negative effect on the sport and the martial art as a whole? Moreover, is there a way to serve two masters — the IOC and taekwondo purists — without alienating either or both? Finally, if the goals of each group are so disparate, is there enough commonality to allow modern taekwondo to flourish and grow?  The Purpose  I would argue that taekwondo’s value proposition is not contingent on its effectiveness in combat or self-defense. In reality, most parents choose taekwondo for their children to enrich their development of life skills. Discipline, confidence, humility, determination, patience and perseverance are a few of the attributes parents hope to cultivate in their kids. The good news is that regardless of the rigors and challenges of Olympic-style training and competition, the martial art of taekwondo will continue to deliver on this promise.  The issue that remains is this: What effects have the quest to keep taekwondo in the Olympics had on that value proposition? There’s no doubt that great amounts of time, energy and money have been spent to maintain its Olympic status. In fact, some might argue that the focus on this has hindered the advancement of the players’ skills.  As I mentioned, before taekwondo’s Olympic aspirations, most energy went to attempting to differentiate it from other martial arts, especially karate. The scoring system reflected the central values of taekwondo as a martial art: by rewarding kicking and ignoring hand techniques. The moves needed to be powerful, and knockouts were encouraged. Head kicks, of course, were the preferred method for those knockouts. Furthermore, intricate kick combinations were crafted and used. Points were awarded only if a proper technique with proper power and proper focus landed on the proper target.  So the question is, What changed and why?  The Problem  Taekwondo needed to appeal to the masses, and it needed to be welcomed by the risk-adverse IOC. Unfortunately, the scoring system didn’t seem to reflect what spectators saw during matches. This didn’t concern the purists, but it proved detrimental to the effort to globalize the sport of taekwondo.  For any sport to enjoy mass appeal, it needs to be easily understandable and exciting to watch — and, some might argue, have an element of danger. If these conditions are met, the public will clamor for the sport, and that means advertisers and sponsors will invest. There’s great pres- sure on sports in general to fill stadiums and engage TV viewers so profits can be maximized.  The effect this had on taekwondo was significant. The scoring system was changed to allow more points to register. The required contact level was lowered. A warning system was instituted to punish those who didn’t attack or appeared to stall. As so often happens, the cure had unintended consequences.  First, athletes who’d normally be forced to commit to a technique to reach the power threshold could now simply kick with more speed to earn a point. This was a significant departure from the premise that taekwondo was a full-contact martial art — one in which, absent the chest protector, a fighter would be severely injured. Now the chest protector was relegated to delineating target areas. It was no longer necessary for protection.  The second unintended consequence: The balance between offensive and defensive techniques was altered. Speed and touch — as opposed to power and body dis- placement — were rewarded. One need look no further than the 2012 Olympic Games, in which electronic chest protectors were used. The protector could not discern between a properly executed taekwondo kick and the simple contact that resulted when a foot hit the sensor. Any point that was scored electronically could not be challenged. In virtually every match, taekwondo purists could see perfectly executed kicks that didn’t score on the electronic protector, as well as poorly executed techniques that did. Also in play was the new head-kick rule. Scoring no longer depended on the amount of contact or the nature of the technique; it rewarded any contact from virtually any technique that struck the face or helmet. At this point, it’s essential to note the impetus for those changes. Over several world championships and Olympic events, critics of taekwondo had pointed out the lack of consistency and the seemingly biased results involving various countries and nationalities. The World Tae- kwondo Federation, in an attempt to correct this, altered the rules.  The Result  In the past, taekwondo athletes were forced to train with proper technique and powerful execution if they wanted to score in competition. Points were not awarded for a mediocre technique executed poorly or a good technique executed without power. In current competitions, how- ever, athletes train with the electronic chest protectors so they can learn how to score points on it. Any contact that registers is then deemed a valid technique. Thus, an electronic device is defining what a proper technique is.  Yet another change has impacted sport taekwondo. The WTF technical committee adopted a multitiered scoring system designed to reward techniques based on their difficulty and the purists’ vision of what taekwondo should be. A body kick was now awarded one point. If it was a turning kick to the body, it received an added point. A jumping technique received an additional point. A head kick received three points.  I, along with Steven Capener, Ph.D., created and then championed this effort, which was adopted by the general membership and used in the world championship and the Olympic Games. Our logic was that it would be better to reward techniques that require more skill. Additionally, we wanted to continue to encourage head kicks, so we crafted a rule that rewarded athletes for attempting more difficult techniques even though that might leave them vulnerable to counterattack. Here’s the rationale: Under previous rules, a head kick and a body kick were scored the same. However, a roundhouse to the head is more prone to being countered with a body kick, and it requires more energy and better timing to execute. When both are scored equally, a smart competitor will opt for the less-risky body kick. However, once the scoring dynamic shifted to reward head kicks, the value proposition changed. Athletes are now willing to attempt a head kick — even though they can be countered with a body counterkick — because they might receive three points as opposed to one.  This simple change has had a profound effect on the behavior of athletes and on the public’s perception of sport taekwondo. Practitioners are attempting more high-level techniques because they know they’ll be rewarded. It’s made competition more exciting for the public and thus more attractive to sponsors.  Before I move on, I must concede that the electronic chest protector has had one positive effect on taekwondo: It’s leveled the playing field. The protector is politically blind and doesn’t care about nation of origin or past performance. Regardless of whether it works well or is imperfect, at least it’s unbiased.  It’s important to note, however, that all attempts to correct the previous dysfunctional scoring system have created an even more potentially unfair arena. Referees have been granted greater subjective scoring power through the new rules. Techniques that are rewarded by the electronic chest protector cannot be challenged, but they’re worth only one point. Referees, however, can still penalize athletes and thus can have a greater effect on the outcome. The Proposal At this point, we need to examine the issue of martial art versus martial sport. Are the objectives of the sport of taekwondo and the martial art of taekwondo similar, dissimilar or disparate? If they are dissimilar, are there enough points of connectivity so one can coexist without adversely affecting the other? Or are the goals so dispa- rate that the differences cannot be reconciled? In my opinion, there are significant differences between the goals and objectives of the sport and the art. However, these differences are not irreconcilable. Areas of commonality can be defined and enhanced by having the right training goals and objectives. More important in the sport arena, those goals and objectives can be recognized by a more discerning scoring paradigm that better reflects the original intent of taekwondo as a martial art. The goals and objectives of both first must be defined with an eye on the past. As such, I offer the fol- lowing for consideration. First, both the sport of taekwondo and the martial art can be a mechanism for personal development. Master- ing the required skill set is arduous and time-consuming. It also requires patience and determination. The practitioner not only refines his physical skills but also gains mental acuity and focus. A factor that separates taekwondo from other sports is its emphasis of tradition, honor and seniority. In fact, I would argue that this is what’s made taekwondo a world- wide phenomenon. Not only do athletes gain physical ability, but they also learn restraint and respect. Done well, taekwondo — whether it’s practiced as a sport or a martial art — can yield these benefits. For this reason, they should be core objectives of both. The technical objectives of the art and the sport, as I mentioned, have been bifurcated. The sport was adjusted to meet the requirements of the IOC, while the martial art is still focused on proper technique and the maximization of power and economy of motion. This was originally reflected in taekwondo competition. If the case is that the martial art of taekwondo is power-based and serves as a viable means of self- defense, does this need to be mirrored in its competitive form? If not, do we need to refine the objectives of both to explain the disconnect? A more important question is, In a speed-versus-power environment in which contact is not encouraged, is there even a need for a chest protector? After all, it hinders the athlete’s ability to move. In most other forms of martial arts competition, the striking implements are padded, not the targets. This affords the participants more freedom of movement while protecting them no matter where they’re hit. Currently, taekwondo instructors must explain the differences between martial arts practices and competition preparation. Athletes must focus on the objectives of the sport, which are now electronic and don’t encourage the development of new techniques and combinations. It’s fair to ask whether taekwondo competition as a sport no longer enhances taekwondo as a martial art.  I posit that the new competitive arena in which sport taekwondo exists is dumbing down the technical acu- men of the athlete. When any sport allows the scoring system to define its objectives, it limits itself to the technology that’s available. It would make more sense to build the objectives of the sport based on the objectives of the martial art — and then design a suitable scoring paradigm. The question that remains is whether we’ve mortgaged the future of all taekwondo in an effort to maintain its status as an Olympic sport. Many purists think this is the case. Even with a scoring system that prioritizes head kicks over body kicks, the frequency of kicking has experienced a decline in recent years. In closing, it’s worth considering whether taekwondo was ever meant to be practiced by the masses. Perhaps it should be reserved for the dedicated few who have the work ethic and diligence to excel. Although some purists would agree, I do not. The alternative is to accept that there must be two versions of taekwondo that are tangentially related yet significantly different: the martial art that’s practiced in the dojang and the sport that’s used in competition. Regardless of one’s position on this matter, the issue must be addressed by the powers that be. It’s my hope that they can resolve their differences. It’s the only way to maintain taekwondo’s legacy as a martial art and its status as an international sport. Herb Perez won a gold medal in taekwondo at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. As a result, he was Black Belt’s 1992 Co-Competitor of the Year.  This article originally appeared in a 2019 edition of Black Belt Magazine.

MMA fighters are always evolving, and Serghei Spivac is no exception. This weekend, he’s set to prove just how much he’s improved when he faces Marcin Tybura in a highly anticipated rematch at UFC Vegas 95. The two heavyweight contenders will clash again at the UFC APEX, four years after their first meeting, where Tybura emerged victorious via unanimous decision. But Spivac believes the outcome will be very different this time around. “A lot of time has passed,” Spivac told UFC.com ahead of their rematch. “I've grown, I've matured, I'm more confident in myself, and I think that it's gonna be a very different fight.” Since that initial defeat, Spivac has taken the experience in stride, viewing it as a crucial learning moment in his career. He’s fought whoever the UFC has put in front of him, and now, he’s ready to show the world just how far he’s come. “Even though it was a loss last time, I can't be upset with that. I think that was a necessary experience. He's a great fighter, and I thank him for that experience,” Spivac said. As the ninth-ranked heavyweight, Spivac is laser-focused on this rematch, which could propel him closer to his ultimate goal. But he’s not letting the past cloud his judgment—he’s ready to take whatever the fight gives him and seize his moment. “We always get prepared very intensely. Sometimes it's a submission, sometimes it's a knockout. I just let the fight dictate the pace, and I let the fight tell me what I have to do to get the victory,” he added. Spivac sees this rematch as a perfect opportunity to showcase his evolution as a fighter. Fans who tuned in for their first fight will be eager to see how much he’s grown—and Spivac is confident they won’t be disappointed. “This is just the next fight. As I said before, a loss is still a lesson that I learned. It's an experience that I’ve got. And then we do our work, we do our job, and we'll see what happens,” he said. Don’t miss this thrilling rematch between Serghei Spivac and Marcin Tybura at UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs Spivac 2, live from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, on August 10, 2024. Will Spivac’s evolution lead him to victory, or will Tybura prove too tough to handle once again? Prelims start at 4pm ET/1pm PT, with the main card live on ESPN & ESPN+ at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

Polish heavyweight contender Marcin Tybura is gearing up for his third consecutive UFC main event, but this time, he's faced with a rematch that could make or break his climb up the rankings. After a dominant win in his last bout, Tybura might have expected a higher-ranked opponent, but instead, he'll take on a vastly improved Serghei Spivac in the main event of UFC Vegas 95. Tybura, who previously defeated Spivac in 2020, admits he wasn't thrilled when the fight was first announced. However, he's embracing the challenge and is determined to showcase his evolved skill set. "I would have preferred a higher-ranked opponent, but a UFC fight is a UFC fight. Serghei has improved a lot since our last match, and I'm excited to prove myself again," Tybura said. Since their last encounter, both fighters have undergone significant changes. Tybura has switched coaches and training camps, while Spivac has bulked up and refined his skills. Tybura is not underestimating his opponent, acknowledging that this will be a completely different fight from their first meeting. Their rematch also comes after Tybura's impressive submission victory over Tai Tuivasa at UFC Vegas 88, marking his first submission win in the UFC. Despite this, Tybura knows that defeating Spivac again won't necessarily propel him up the rankings but sees it as an opportunity to solidify his reputation. "Winning this fight might not boost my ranking, but it's about putting on a great performance and building my name. I'm ready to brawl and show that I can dominate," Tybura declared. As Tybura prepares to face Spivac once more, he's confident in his ability to secure another victory and set his sights on higher-ranked competition in the UFC heavyweight division. Don't miss UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs. Spivac 2, live from UFC APEX in Las Vegas on August 10, 2024. Prelims start at 4 PM ET/1 PM PT, with the main card kicking off at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT on ESPN & ESPN.

Starting the 70 days - 6 events across 6 Nations Journey BRAVE CF 84 is scheduled to take place in Zhengzhou, China on Friday, August 9th, 2024, in partnership with WLF (YFU), featuring elite competitors from China facing off against global stars, highlighted by Team BRAVE CF versus Team YFU matchups. BRAVE CF 84 Live stream will be available on Black Belt Magazine. Bidzina Gavashelishvili and Erasyl Shukataev will face off in a significant Flyweight bout at the event, which is crucial for the division that has not yet crowned its first champion. The main event will be the sole fight on the card that does not involve a BRAVE CF vs. YFU matchup. Borislav Nikolic will be back for his fifth fight with BRAVE CF in the co-main event, where he will take on the Chinese rising star Eqiyuebu, who is currently on a four-fight winning streak. Nikolic will have the chance to prove himself for a world title shot, but he will need to face the challenge presented by Eqiyuebu, who is considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters on the YFU roster. Catch the LIVE STREAM of BRAVE CF 84 here Here is the Full Fight Card: Two fighters missed weight ahead of BRAVE CF 84 in China but the fight card remains intact with six YFU vs BRAVE CF plus a tremendous main event. Here are the official weigh-in results for BRAVE CF 84, China. Main Event: Catchweight: 59.2kg: Bidzina Gavashelishvili (59.2kg) vs. Erasyl Shukataev (59.10kg) Team YFU vs Team BRAVE CF: Catchweight: 62.5kg: Qinghe Zhang (62.25kg) vs. Brice Picaud (62.5kg) Bantamweight: Eqiyuebu (61.45kg) vs. Borislav Nikolic (61.35kg) Featherweight: Maimaitituoheti (66kg) vs.  Izzeddine Al Derbani (68.25kg)* Lightweight: Zehao Zhang (70.5kg) vs.  Olzhas Eskaraev (71.6kg)* Flyweight: Yang Weiqiang (57.1kg) vs. Mohamed Alsameea (57.05kg) Catchweight: 64.5Kgs: Peng Zhengwen (64.4kg) vs. Aivaz Aidinov (64.45kg) *Didn't make weight, will forfeit a percentage of the purse to opponent

UFC is back at UFC APEX with a main event featuring heavyweight fighters No. 8 ranked contender Marcin Tybura and No. 9 ranked Serghei Spivac aiming to resolve their rivalry.  UFC FIGHT NIGHT: TYBURA vs SPIVAC 2 is set to take place on Saturday, August 10 in Las Vegas. The event will be aired on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, with a simulcast on ESPN+ in both English and Spanish. The preliminaries will kick off at 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT, followed by the main card at 7 pm ET / 4 pm PT. The main event is scheduled for five rounds, while all other fights are scheduled for three rounds. Her are the Official Weigh-in Results | UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs Spivac 2. UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs Spivac 2 Official Weigh-In Results: Main Card Main Event - Heavyweight Bout: Marcin Tybura (252) vs Serghei Spivac (238)  Co-Main Event - Featherweight Bout: Damon Jackson (146) vs Chepe Mariscal (149)* Welterweight Bout: Danny Barlow () vs Nikolay Veretennikov (170.5) Bantamweight Bout: Chris Gutierrez (136) vs Quang Le (136)  Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Yana Santos (135.5) vs Chelsea Chandler (141)** Featherweight Bout: Toshiomi Kazama (136) vs Charalampos Grigoriou (136)  Prelims Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Karol Rosa (135.5) vs Pannie Kianzad (135.5)  Heavyweight Bout: Jhonata Diniz (258) vs Karl Williams (243)  Featherweight Bout: Youssef Zalal (145.5) vs Jarno Errens (145.5)     Women’s Strawweight Bout: Stephanie Luciano (115) vs Talita Alencar (115.5)   *Chepe Mariscal exceeded the weight limit for the featherweight division. **Chelsea Chandler surpassed the bantamweight limit. Make sure you catch every second of UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs Spivac 2 streaming live from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 10, 2024. The preliminary fights begin at 4pm ET/1pm PT, followed by the main card airing live on ESPN & ESPN+ at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

Cage Warriors have today revealed details of a huge light heavyweight title bout for their upcoming return to Manchester's BEC Arena for Cage Warriors 178 on Saturday, September 21st. Former middleweight champion James Webb will look to join an exclusive club of two weight Cage Warriors champions when he faces challenges Andy 'The Vice' Clamp for his 205lbs title. Previous two weight champions include the likes of Dan Hardy, Conor McGregor and Mason 'The Dragon' Jones. Clamp (13-2, 1NC) captured CW gold in his previous outing in the famous yellow gloves, using his suffocating ground game to wear out Matty Byfield, before earing the finish via ground 'n' pound in the third round of their CW 168 headliner. Prior to that, he scored a first round submission over the then undefeated Ghassan Abdenabi, extending his finishing percentage to 93%. Rangy on the feet at 6'4, Clamp has honed his world class ground game under UK MMA mainstay Tom Blackledge, his coach of over a decade. Challenger Webb enters the bout off the back of a successful 205lb debut, where he convincingly out-struck Polish scrapper Adam Biegański over three rounds. He previously held gold in the middleweight division, with wins over the likes of Craig White, Mick Stanton, Thomas Robertsen and Jason Radcliffe. Webb trains under another former CW middleweight champion, Team KF Head Coach Chris Fields. "We've got two big guys with big pedigrees going at it for the light heavyweight title at the BEC Arena..."  said CW President Graham Boylan. "Andy Clamp has scaled the mountain of Cage Warriors, and he's going to have the home crowd behind him for his first defence in Manchester." "He'll have an excellent challenger in James Webb, who's walking into enemy territory in pursuit of a second world title."  "We're going to have a real North versus South clash on our hands at CW 178!" Clamp vs Webb will take place over five rounds on the main card of CW 178: Manchester.Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks, with the entire event airing live on  UFC Fight Pass  and international broadcast partners.

True martial artists can sense when the director understands fight scenes and when they don’t. Perhaps no modern director gets it right more often than not than David Leitch! Plus, it stars Brad Pitt and Bad Bunny! Bullet Train , directed by David Leitch, showcases his extensive background in action and martial arts, elements that have become his directorial signature. Leitch's career began as a stuntman and martial artist, which provided him with a profound understanding of physical performance and choreography. His early work included serving as a stunt double for Brad Pitt, the star of Bullet Train, in films such as Fight Club and Mr. & Mrs. Smith . Transitioning to directing, Leitch co-directed ohn Wick (2014), a film that revolutionized action cinema with its meticulously crafted fight scenes and stylized violence. This background in high-octane, intricately choreographed action sequences is evident in Bullet Train , where the combat scenes are not just visually spectacular but also integral to the storytelling. Leitch's proficiency in martial arts has significantly influenced his directorial style, blending realism with cinematic flair. After the success of John Wick , he directed Atomic Blonde (2017), and Deadpool 2 (2018), further cementing his reputation for creating dynamic action sequences that are both innovative and intense. Bullet Train benefits from Leitch's martial arts expertise, featuring a diverse cast of characters, each with unique fighting styles that contribute to the film's fast-paced, engaging narrative. His ability to choreograph complex fight scenes while maintaining character development and plot progression sets "Bullet Train" apart, making it a standout in the action genre. Leitch’s direction ensures that the film is not only a thrilling visual spectacle but also a cohesive and compelling story. Stream Bullet Train  now!

As we marvel at the athletic skill in the 2024 Paris Games, we are inspired to revisit some of the greatest martial arts champions of the Games.  From the grace and precision of judo to the explosive power of taekwondo, the Olympics have showcased countless moments of martial arts excellence. Among these champions, a few have risen to iconic status, their names synonymous with both their sport and the spirit of the Olympics. These athletes have not only earned medals but have also left indelible marks on their disciplines, inspiring future generations of martial artists around the world. Judo   Judo was first included in the Summer Olympic Games at the 1964 Tokyo Games, marking the sport's debut on the global stage. Initially, only male judoka competed until the 1988 Summer Olympics, where women's judo was introduced as a demonstration sport. It wasn't until the 1992 Summer Olympics that women judoka were officially awarded medals, recognizing their skill and dedication alongside their male counterparts. Teddy Riner France  The Olympic GOAT, 4-time Gold Medalist.  Teddy Riner is widely acknowledged as the greatest judoka in the world, his career adorned with an impressive collection of accolades. With four Olympic medals, three of them gold and ten World Championship titles to his name, Riner's dominance in the sport is unparalleled. His remarkable ten-year unbeaten streak is a testament to his superior size, strength, and technique, which have consistently overwhelmed his opponents and set him apart in judo history. Photo credit Judo Insider Ryoko Tani Japan  Photo credit Judo Insider Tani is a Japanese martial arts legend winning medals in Judo at five Olympic Games. Tani's Olympic journey began at the 1992 Barcelona Games, where she won a silver medal in the women's 48 kg category. She repeated this feat at the 1996 Atlanta Games, solidifying her status as a formidable competitor. It was at the 2000 Sydney Games that Tani achieved the pinnacle of her career, winning her first Olympic gold medal. She successfully defended her title at the 2004 Athens Games, further cementing her legacy. Kayla Harrisson  USA  Photo credit Judo Insider UFC great Kayla Harrison's Olympic significance is profound and multifaceted, as she made history by becoming the first American to win a gold medal in judo at the 2012 London Olympic Games. Her victory not only marked a milestone for American judo but also showcased the emergence of the sport on the global stage. Her achievement not only broke new ground for American athletes in a sport that had previously lacked prominence but also inspired a new generation of judokas, elevating the profile of judo in the United States and the world. Tae Kwon Do Taekwondo made its Olympic debut as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Games, showcasing the martial art to a global audience. It was again featured as a demonstration sport at the 1992 Barcelona Games.  Due to its growing popularity and the efforts of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF), taekwondo was officially included as a full medal sport in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.  This inclusion marked a significant milestone, recognizing taekwondo's global appeal and the dedication of its practitioners. Hadi Saei Iran  The most successful Iranian athlete in Olympic history and the most titled champion in the sport of Tae Kwon Do by winning 19 world class titles (three olympic titles in 2000, 2004 and 2008, two world championships titles, four world cup titles and one world olympic qualification tournament. Saei along with Steven Lopez are the only men to capture 3 Olympic medals in Tae Kwon Do.  Panipak “Tennis” Wongpattanakit Thailand   Thailand's greatest Tae Kwon Do champion, Panipak "Tennis" Wongpattanakit, achieved historic success by winning the gold medal in the 49 kg category at the 2024 Olympics. She became the first Thai athlete to win two consecutive Olympic gold medals and the first Thai to earn three consecutive Olympic medals. Panipak is also tied with Korea’s Hwang Kyung-seon for the most Olympic Tae Kwon Do medals for a female athlete. Arlene Limas USA Former open tournament karate champion turned Olympian, Arlene Limas, had a highly successful career, winning numerous national and world championships on the open circuit.  However, it was the Olympic calling that led the Chicago native to change her training techniques to Olympic-style Taekwondo.  Limas made history when she became the first American to win a gold medal in Taekwondo at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, where the sport made its Olympic debut as an exhibition event. Her groundbreaking achievement not only highlighted her versatility and dedication but also paved the way for future American athletes in the sport.