Each week's Black Belt Watchlist is free to watch on Pluto TV! The tagline hit like a roundhouse kick: “America wasn’t ready... but he was.” The Black Belt Watchlist is proud to recommend this week’s explosive pick: Invasion U.S.A.  starring none other than Chuck Norris . And who else? Well…it doesn’t really matter—because once Chuck shows up, he's all you need. So fire up your weekend with some high-octane Chuck— Invasion U.S.A.  is streaming NOW for free on Pluto TV. Watch now : https://pluto.tv/us/search/details/movies/5cf0197ddabfdf5685ca98ff Let’s get things started the right way: When Chuck Norris was born, the doctor cried. Never slap Chuck Norris.   You know the rest. He’s more than a martial artist or an action hero—Chuck is a pop culture phenomenon with a roundhouse kick that reshaped Hollywood (and a few bad guys' faces along the way) Chuck is so badass in this movie. How badass? Let’s just say, even Florida’s deadliest creatures know when they’re outmatched. No weapons are needed — Chuck uses his bare hands. Released in 1985, Invasion U.S.A.  is peak ’80s adrenaline. Chuck plays a retired CIA agent dragged back into action to stop an all-out terrorist invasion of American suburbs. Explosions, rocket launchers, mall shootouts—it’s a red-white-and-boom thrill ride from start to finish. There is so much more. We won’t spoil it—you’ll have to see it for yourself. Perhaps the best part? It’s streaming for free!

Get ready to kick off your weekends with Black Belt Movie Weekend —your weekly dose of free, high-octane martial arts action movies! Each week, we showcase a pulse-pounding film packed with epic fight scenes, dynamic heroes, and legendary Black Belt moves. From classic kung fu battles to modern-day street brawls, there’s something for every action fan. Tune in, turn up the adrenaline, and witness the power, precision, and discipline that only true martial arts cinema can deliver —always free, always fierce. FREE on Black Belt Channel Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E3AK58Hyc8 Enter the Fire - Action Cage fighter Jake Bolt is a man running out of time—and out of chances. After crossing a ruthless mob boss with a score to settle, Bolt vanishes into the violent underbelly of San Francisco, where danger lurks around every corner and survival is never guaranteed. Hunted by professional killers and haunted by his past, Bolt wages a brutal war through the city’s shadowy streets, back-alley fight clubs, and neon-lit nightclubs. With the woman he loves caught in the crossfire and his family questioning his loyalty, Bolt must dig deep to reclaim his honor and confront the demons that brought him here. But there’s only one way out: face the mob boss and his army of enforcers in a final, no-holds-barred cage match where the stakes are life, death—and redemption. All Star Cast & Credits Starring: Ian Lauer ( The Reliant ) Lou Ferrigno ( The Incredible Hulk ) Teresa Navarro ( Delirium ) Chris Showerman ( George of the Jungle 2 ) Greg Maness ( Richard The Lionheart ) Michael Placencia ( Demon ) Guy A. Grundy ( Acts of Violence )

PFL EUROPE BRUSSELS FULL CARD RELEASED FOR 5 JULY AT THE ING ARENA Patrick “The Belgian Bomber” Habirora will make his first ever headline bout for PFL as he faces his toughest challenge yet in English veteran Danny “Hot Chocolate” Roberts who aims to make a statement in his PFL debut The final addition to the PFL Europe Brussels card is the undefeated Belgian prospect Movsar Ibragimov, who will make his PFL debut against the Netherlands’ Gerardo Fanny The first round of the 2025 PFL Europe Bantamweight Tournament will take place on the card featuring eight athletes from six different European countries Tickets for PFL Europe Brussels are on-sale here , with the event available in Belgium, France, UK & Ireland exclusively on DAZN, and exclusively in the US on the PFL app The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has released the final fight card ahead of PFL Europe Brussels on 5 July at The ING Arena, with all bouts now confirmed for fight night. Remaining tickets are available here . PFL Europe Brussels Card: ING Arena, Brussels, BelgiumDAZN (Belgium, France, UK & Ireland)  | PFL app (US)Saturday, 5 July  PFL Europe Welterweight Main Event Showcase Bout: Patrick Habirora (6-0) vs. Danny Roberts (18-8) PFL Europe Bantamweight Co-Main Event Showcase Bout: Taylor Lapilus (21-4) vs. Ali Taleb (12-1) PFL Europe Featherweight Showcase Bout: Gaetano Pirrello (16-7-1) vs. Salvatore Liga (5-0) PFL Europe Light Heavyweight Showcase Bout: Boris Mbarga Atangana (5-0) vs. Bruno Santos (3-3) PFL Europe Welterweight Showcase Bout: Khamzat Abaev (5-0) vs. Chequina Noso Pedro (9-4) PFL Europe Bantamweight Showcase Bout: Movsar Ibragimov (6-0) vs. Gerardo Fanny (14-5) PFL Europe Featherweight Showcase Bout: Ibragim Ibragimov (9-0) vs. Mathys Duragrin (5-0) PFL Europe Bantamweight Tournament Bout: Dean Garnett (12-3-1) vs. Toumas Grönvall (12-8-1)* PFL Europe Bantamweight Tournament Bout: Mahio Campanella (7-1) vs. Matiss Zaharovs (7-3) PFL Europe Lightweight Showcase Bout: Nicolas Di Franco (10-4-1) vs. Catalin Safta (6-3) PFL Europe Bantamweight Tournament Bout: Anas Azizoun (5-1) vs. Gustavo Oliveira (10-2) PFL Europe Bantamweight Tournament Bout: Julien Lopez (7-4-1) vs. Jan Ciepłowski (8-0) PFL Europe Women’s Flyweight Showcase Bout: Paulina Wiśniewska (5-0) vs. Jessica Cunha (9-4) PFL Europe Featherweight Showcase Bout: Adam Meskini (9-3) vs. Tiziano Ferranti (10-1) PFL Europe Bantamweight Showcase Bout: Fahdi Khaled (2-0) vs. Levi Batchelor (2-0) PFL Europe Welterweight Showcase Bout: Salvo Giudice (1-0) vs. Brice Belghazi (1-1) * Alex Luster is forced to withdraw from the PFL Europe Bantamweight Tournament due to injury. Dean Garnett will now face Finland’s Tuomas “The Tank Engine” Grönvall (12-8-1), a relentless grappler who always pushes the pace, and will now look to seize the opportunity at the ING Arena on 5 July. Following popular demand, Movsar Ibragimov (6-0) becomes the final Belgian to be added to the already stacked PFL Europe Brussels card on 5 July. The 2022 IMMAF Bantamweight Champion and a decorated amateur, Ibragimov has gone from strength to strength since turning professional, finishing all six of his opponents, five of them in the very first round. He will face the Dutchman Gerardo Fanny (14-5), a former National Champion in Belgian promotion Strength & Honour Championship. With 12 of his 14 wins coming via finish, he’s known on the European circuit for his devastating striking and aggression, who’s coming to upset the Belgian crowd with a victory.  The historic evening of European mixed martial arts will be headlined by Belgium’s own Patrick “The Belgian Bomber” Habirora (6-0), who will make his first walk to the SmartCage as the main event in a Welterweight Showcase bout when he goes up against England’s highly skilled veteran Danny “Hot Chocolate” Roberts (18-8) in his PFL debut.  Habirora boasts a flawless record, with five of his six victories coming by way of KO/TKO, thanks to a devastating striking skillset which has fueled the Belgian’s rapid rise and made him a fan favourite. The shining star hailing from Team Sendo in Brussels will meet the 14-UFC fight seasoned star Danny Roberts, whose decorated career with a total of 13 career finishes will make him Habirora’s most experienced and dangerous opponent to date, and looks to take the Belgian to places he’s never been inside the SmartCage. In the co-main event will be the new PFL signing Taylor "Double Impact" Lapilus (21-4), whose recent run of dominance with eight wins in his last nine fights has made him a true phenom in the Bantamweight division. He will go up against the 2024 PFL MENA Bantamweight Champion Ali Taleb (12-1), a fighter with ferocious knockout power and only one loss in his professional career, which will prove to be a true clash of the world’s best at 135 lbs.  Also on the card will be the first round of the PFL Europe Bantamweight Tournament, featuring athletes from six different countries looking to start their path towards the Championship and $100,000.  PFL Europe Brussels will be exclusively broadcast on DAZN in Belgium, France, the UK & Ireland, the home of MMA, boxing, European football, women’s football, and the NFL (excl. USA). DAZN is building the ultimate sports entertainment platform, based on premium sports rights, world-leading technology, and multi-platform distribution.

The 2007 cover of Black Belt  magazine featured the late Richard Bustillo, a pioneering martial artist and direct student of Bruce Lee. Bustillo began his training in Jeet Kune Do at Lee’s Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute in Los Angeles, where he studied alongside Dan Inosanto. In 1967, the two delved into Filipino martial arts—kali, escrima, and arnis—training under masters like Angel Cabales. Their efforts helped ignite a global revival of these traditional systems. In 1976, Bustillo was promoted to senior instructor in Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do by Sifu Inosanto. He later passed on Lee’s teachings to Brandon and Shannon Lee, ensuring the legacy continued into the next generation. Learn more about this cover and the entire magazine preserved in digital format: https://www.blackbeltmag.com

PFL Cape Town takes place on Saturday, July 19th at the Grand Arena, GrandWest Tickets on Sale Now via Ticketpro here The Professional Fighters League (PFL) held an open workout ahead of the debut of the inaugural season of PFL Africa, which is set to take place on Saturday, July 19th at the Grand Arena, GrandWest in Cape Town, South Africa. The open workout took place at the Champions Academy RDC Gym in Kinshasa, Congo, and featured Nigeria’s Juliet Ukah and South Africa’s Ceileigh Niedermayr . The two PFL Africa stars will face off in a Showcase Women’s Strawweight bout at PFL Cape Town. In front of the fans and media in attendance, Ukah and Niedermayr showcased their skills in a public training session before facing off for the first time ahead of their highly anticipated showdown. Juliet Ukah said:“I’m very happy to be on the first PFL Africa card, and my fight with Ceileigh is going to be an exciting one. We’re going to be representing the two biggest MMA nations in Africa, and we want to help put African MMA in the global spotlight. Compared to her, I think I’m the more experienced fighter and the better striker, so I’m comfortable wherever the fight goes. I expect to get the finish, but I don't mind going to a third round if needed. Ceileigh, let’s bring out the best in each other and show the world how well African women can fight!” Ceileigh Niedermayr said:“It’s truly an honor to be part of the first-ever women’s fight in PFL Africa. This fight camp isn’t just about preparing for my next opponent — it’s a reflection of my lifelong dedication to martial arts. I’m always pushing myself to grow, to evolve, and to become the best fighter I can be.” “On fight night, I’m bringing a new level of Smiley Savagery to the SmartCage. I have a lot of respect for Juliet as a fighter, and I welcome the chance to test myself against her, but I don’t think she’s ever faced anyone like me. I’m expecting an exciting, high-level battle — and I’m ready for it.” The historic PFL Cape Town event will kick off the 2025 PFL Africa Tournament, featuring First Round matchups in the Heavyweight and Bantamweight divisions. The event will also be headlined by five must-see PFL Champions Series bouts, including a Middleweight World Championship main event between titleholder Johnny “Pressure” Eblen (16-0) and challenger Costello “The Spaniard” van Steenis (16-3). Tickets for the event are on sale now via Ticketpro. PFL Cape Town begins at 4:30 PM SAST / 10:30 AM EST with the PFL Africa Tournament, followed by the PFL Champions Series, which begins at 8:30 PM SAST / 2:30 PM EST. A U.S. broadcast partner will be announced shortly.

From his first championship win in 1964 to earning the Black Belt Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024, Mike Stone has never stopped making waves in the martial arts world. Now in 2025, he's still globe-trotting—active, influential, and unstoppable. Proof that true warriors never slow down. A pioneer in the past and a powerful voice in the present, Mike Stone continues to shape the future of martial arts in this new era of influence. Learn more about this cover and the entire magazine preserved in digital format: https://www.blackbeltmag.com

This 1980 cover of Black Belt  magazine featured Mike Stone , the first American Karate Champion and a member of the prestigious Black Belt Hall of Fame . By the 1980s, Stone had firmly established himself in Hollywood, playing a key role in introducing audiences to what would become the hugely popular ninja movie genre. Beyond his competitive success and cinematic influence, Stone remains a celebrated figure in the martial arts world, with his contributions continuing to be recognized globally. Learn more about this cover and the entire magazine preserved in digital format: https://www.blackbeltmag.com

ONE Championship (ONE), the world’s largest martial arts organization, today announced the first two matchups for ONE 173, the promotion's blockbuster return to the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday, November 16. The announcements were made during a press conference at Spiral Hall in Tokyo earlier this afternoon. In the main event, an undisputed ONE Featherweight Kickboxing World Champion will be crowned when reigning king Superbon  squares off against interim titleholder Masaaki Noiri  in a highly anticipated World Title unification bout. Noiri captured the ONE Interim Featherweight Kickboxing World Title with a stunning knockout victory over Tawanchai PK Saenchai at ONE 172 this past March, setting the stage for this showdown with Superbon. In the co-main event, undisputed ONE Heavyweight MMA World Champion “Reug Reug” Oumar Kane  will defend his gold against former titleholder Anatoly Malykhin  in a highly anticipated rematch. “Reug Reug” scored a historic upset in their November 2024 meeting at ONE 169, becoming the first-ever MMA World Champion from Senegal and handing Malykhin the only defeat of his professional career. Still ONE Middleweight and Light Heavyweight MMA World Champion, the Russian is now seeking redemption, while Kane is eager to cement his legacy and close the door on this heavyweight rivalry.  ONE 173 will emanate live from the Ariake Arena on November 16, with global broadcast details being announced at a later date. Pre-sale tickets will be available tonight beginning at 7 p.m. JST via ePlus . Tickets will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. JST on Saturday, July 5. Additional marquee bouts for ONE 173 will be announced in the near future.

Lightweights Gadzhi Rabadanov and Alfie Davis Advance to World Tournament Finals Bantamweights Marcirley Alves and Justin Wetzell Advance to World Tournament Finals Women’s Flyweights Liz Carmouche and Jena Bishop Advance to World Tournament Finals The PFL Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight & Middleweight Semifinals Begin Friday, June 27 on ESPN & ESPN+ at Wintrust Arena in Chicago The Semifinals of the 2025 PFL World Tournament rolled on tonight at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, with finalists in the Lightweight, Bantamweight and Women’s Flyweight divisions officially punching their tickets to August's Finals. In the Lightweight Finals, England’s Alfie Davis (19-5-1) will challenge 2024 PFL Lightweight Champion Gadzhi Rabadanov (26-4-2) for the 2025 PFL World Tournament title. At 135 pounds, Justin Wetzell (12-2), riding a five-fight win streak, will square off against Brazil’s Marcirley Alves (14-4) in the Bantamweight Finals to determine this year’s tournament champion.In the Women’s Flyweight Finals, elite jiu-jitsu specialist Jena Bishop (9-2) will go head-to-head with former Bellator Champion Liz Carmouche (24-8), with the winner claiming the 2025 PFL World Tournament crown. The main event showcased 2024 PFL Lightweight Champion Gadzhi Rabadanov against PFL debutant Kevin Lee (20-9), with a spot in the 2025 PFL Lightweight World Tournament Finals on the line. Rabadanov delivered a dominant performance from the opening bell, displaying surgical precision and relentless pressure. Methodically stalking his opponent, he picked his shots with composure and power, ultimately overwhelming Lee, who collapsed face-first before the end of the first round.The co-main event featured former Bellator Women’s Flyweight Champion Liz Carmouche taking on the undefeated Elora Dana (8-1) for a spot in the PFL World Tournament Finals. Carmouche came out aggressively, looking for an early knockout, but Dana managed a takedown—only for Carmouche to reverse the position using the momentum to land on top. From there, Carmouche unleashed a barrage of elbows, opening a massive hematoma on Dana’s forehead. The remainder of the fight played out largely on the feet, with Carmouche staying in control and ultimately earning a unanimous decision victory—handing Dana the first loss of her professional career.France’s Mansour Barnaoui (22-7) faced off against Colorado’s undefeated wrestling standout Archie Colgan (12-0) in a high-stakes Lightweight matchup. The opening round delivered a bit of everything—back-and-forth exchanges, vicious knees in the clinch, and multiple takedowns. In the second, Colgan leaned into his wrestling pedigree, applying relentless pressure. But the 29-fight veteran Barnaoui weathered the storm and turned the tide momentarily with a perfectly timed punch that clipped Colgan. Ultimately, Colgan’s dominant top control and relentless pace proved decisive, earning him a clear unanimous decision and moving him one step closer to a Lightweight Title shot.Marcirley Alves opened the contest with a dominant striking performance, inflicting significant damage on his opponent, Jake Hadley (12-4), early in the fight. By the second round, Hadley was visibly showing the effects, at one point even losing his footing under pressure. The third round continued in the same fashion, with Alves amassing a staggering 187 total strikes compared to just 18 from Hadley.Former Bellator Champion Brent Primus (16-4) squared off against longtime Bellator veteran Alfie Davis in the first Lightweight Semifinal. Both fighters had their moments in the grappling exchanges, but it was in the second round that striking took center stage. Davis showcased his unorthodox style, using range and precision to land significant damage. Although Primus secured a key takedown in the third round, it was “The Axe Man’s” explosive striking that ultimately made the difference, earning him a hard-fought decision victory.Kicking off the main card, Bantamweights Justin Wetzell and Mando Gutierrez (11-4) finally settled their long-standing rivalry inside the SmartCage, after multiple near matchups on the regional circuit. Following a brief feeling-out period, Wetzell took control with superior grappling, maintaining dominant top position for much of the fight. Gutierrez was unable to shift the momentum, ultimately falling by unanimous decision. The 2025 PFL World Tournament continues on Friday, June 27, with the Heavyweight, Light Heavyweight and Middleweight Semi Finalists competing live on ESPN, ESPN+ and DAZN. The Early Card begins at 8:30 pm EST, with the Main Card kicking off at 10:30 pm EST.   2025 PFL World Tournament Wichita: Semifinals Main Card Results: Gadzhi Rabadanov (26-4-2) def. Kevin Lee (20-9) via TKO at 2:37 round one Liz Carmouche (24-8) def. Elora Dana (8-1) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Archie Colgan (12-0) def. Mansour Barnaoui (22-7) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Marcirley Alves (14-4) def. Jake Hadley (12-5) via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 20-26) Alfie Davis (19-5-1) def. Brent Primus (16-5) via unanimous decision ((29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Justin Wetzell (12-2) def. Mando Gutierrez (11-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)   2025 PFL World Tournament Wichita: Semifinals Early Card Results: Jena Bishop (9-2) def. Ekaterina Shakalova (9-3) via submission (rear-naked choke)  Magomed Magomedov (21-4) def. Savarjon Khamidov (16-1) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Vinicius Cenci (9-3) def. Antonio Caruso (10-3) via submission (triangle choke) at 1:43 of round one Darragh Kelly (8-0) def. Mike Hamel (11-7) via submission (neck crank) at 3:09 of round three Ilara Joanne (13-10) def. Saray Orozco (8-7) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) Nick Meck (9-2) def. Alan Domingues (11-7) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:10 of round one Upcoming 2025 PFL World Tournament Schedule: 2025 PFL World Tournament: Semifinals - June 27 - Wintrust Arena, Chicago 2025 PFL World Tournament: Finals - August 1 - Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ 2025 PFL World Tournament: Finals - August 15 - Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte, NC 2025 PFL World Tournament: Finals - August 21 - Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Hollywood, Florida

Do you remember Jay T. Will? Featured on the cover in 1975, Jay T. Will trained under American kenpo legends Ed Parker and Al Tracy, eventually earning his 8th-degree black belt from Tracy. Will taught over 10,000 students and made his mark as a tournament competitor, but he became most famous as the referee for the PKA—earning Referee of the Year honors in both 1982 and 1983, and being named Karate International  magazine’s “Referee of the Decade.” He was also a prominent media commentator for martial arts competitions. Learn more about this cover and the entire magazine preserved in digital format: https://www.blackbeltmag.com

Each week's Black Belt Watchlist is free to watch on Pluto TV! What happens when you drop Dolph Lundgren , Tony Jaa , and Michael Jai White  into the middle of a relentless, bone-breaking action film? You get Skin Trade...an all-star martial arts throwdown  that pulls no punches and delivers everything fight fans crave — power, precision, and purpose. Watch now : https://pluto.tv/us/on-demand/movies/5fa97821f6e14a001aa5e241 After his family is murdered by a Serbian gangster with global criminal ties, NYC detective Nick  travels to Southeast Asia  to track down the syndicate responsible. Teaming up with a hardened local Thai detective, Nick launches a violent mission to dismantle a human trafficking network — one broken bone at a time. And let’s not forget the showdown between Tony Jaa and Michael Jai White  — a long-awaited face-off that absolutely delivers. Brutally captured with wide, sustained shots , the fight avoids the typical over-cut Hollywood style, giving audiences a clear view of the real technique, timing, and power  both men bring. Add in Dolph Lundgren’s  cold command presence, and you’ve got a hard-hitting action film that’s equal parts adrenaline and authenticity . If you're looking for a movie where the fights are real, the hits land hard, and the martial arts are the main attraction , this week’s Watchlist pick is a must-see. Skin Trade is straight-up fight cinema, the kind we at Black Belt Magazine  champion — and not just for the cast. This film lets martial arts speak loud and clear.

Have you ever trained in China? Back in 1983, Black Belt   Magazine featured Roger Tung on its cover—a true Hall of Fame Pioneer of American Wushu. More than just a celebrated sifu, Tung was a driving force behind introducing Wushu to the United States. In the early 1980s, he helped lead some of the first American training delegations to mainland China, forging a historic cultural exchange. His influence can be seen in the success of martial arts legends like Anthony Chan, Keith Cooke, Peter Morales, Dennie Brown, and Cynthia Rothrock. Learn more about this cover and the entire magazine preserved in digital format: https://www.blackbeltmag.com