This Saturday, the UFC makes its electrifying return to Seattle after over a decade, and trust us – this fight night will have you on the edge of your seat! Climate Pledge Arena will be the battleground where legends, contenders, and hungry newcomers collide in bouts that promise non-stop action. How to Watch UFC Seattle 2025 Location:  Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA Date:  Saturday, February 22, 2025 How to Watch:  Prelims at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT, Main Card at 9 PM ET/6 PM PT live on ESPN+ Main Event: Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong Can Cejudo, the former champ, reclaim his glory, or will Song Yadong cement his place as the division’s next big thing? This high-stakes bantamweight showdown promises fireworks, with both fighters desperate for victory. Co-Main Event: Brendan Allen vs. Anthony Hernandez Allen wants revenge. Hernandez wants dominance. This isn’t just another fight – it’s a grudge match that could reshape the middleweight landscape. Main Card Thrillers: Jean Silva vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan:  A featherweight clash guaranteed to deliver highlight-reel moments. Rob Font vs. Jean Matsumoto:  Will Font’s experience outshine Matsumoto’s undefeated streak? Alonzo Menifield vs. Julius Walker:  Power meets potential in this electrifying light heavyweight battle. Prelims Packed with Talent: Andre Fili vs. Melquizael Costa:  A must-watch for featherweight fans. Ion Cutelaba vs. Ibo Aslan:  Explosive power and relentless aggression on full display. Adam Fugitt vs. Billy Ray Goff:  Expect heart, grit, and thrilling exchanges. Nursulton Ruziboev vs. Eric McConico:  A middleweight showdown with future implications. Ricky Simón vs. Javid Basharat:  Bantamweight fireworks guaranteed. Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Nick Klein:  Watch out for these rising stars. Modestas Bukauskas vs. Rafael Cerqueira:  The perfect curtain-raiser for a night of unforgettable action. Don’t just hear about it after – be part of the adrenaline, the drama, and the glory. Tune in to ESPN+ this Saturday and witness UFC history unfold live in Seattle!

“If you define success by achieving specific things on a rigid path, then you set yourself up for disappointment. True success is process-oriented, goal-focused.” – Herb Perez In this episode of The Black Belt Podcast, host Harinder Singh sits down with Olympic gold medalist, martial artist, and strategist Herb Perez to uncover the mindset and philosophy behind true success. Herb shares insights from his new book, One Champion’s Pathway: A Guide to Personal Success, detailing the non-linear journey to mastery. Herb’s wisdom is drawn from years of competition at the highest levels, his experience as a coach, and his deep understanding of strategy in martial arts and life. Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or martial artist, this episode is packed with insights to help you cultivate focus, perform under pressure, and play the long game! Click the link below to listen now on your favorite platform: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3t227s4 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3KvsIDy Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3Kxcg5D Main Directory: https://theblackbeltpodcast.buzzsprout.com/

The July 1970 cover of Karate Illustrated   featured Chuck Norris , already a rising martial arts star. He would go on to win a total of six world karate championships, solidifying his place in martial arts history before becoming a Hollywood legend with Walker, Texas Ranger . Learn more about this cover and the entire magazine preserved in digital format: https://www.blackbeltmag.com

As the 19th century rolled over to the 20th century, opinions regarding which fighting method was better—English boxing or boxe Francaise—were all over the map. Arguments often boiled down to pure bias, or occasionally which side of the channel one resided on. Among unbiased observers today, there's little doubt that both pursuits can be entertaining for spectators and have contributed greatly to the advancement of ring strategies and tactics. That historical contention did, however, motivate me to research the subject, and that led to my discovery of a martial artist who competed at the top tier in boxing and boxe Francaise. His name was Georges Carpentier, aka "The Orchid Man" or "The Orchid Kid." At the aforementioned turn of the century, Carpentier was a noted boxe Francaise competitor who went on to win the French championship in 1907. The sport was in its heyday at the time, so we can assume that Carpentier was forced to face some of the best fighters the field had to offer. But English boxing was making great inroads, and the allure of bigger paychecks was hard to ignore. With expanded economic horizons in his mind, Carpentier opted to try his hand at boxing. Georges Carpentier Carpentier boxed with a smooth, precise style and fleet footwork that belied his boxe Francaise origins. He rapidly moved up in the ranks, taking the European welterweight, middleweight, and heavyweight titles. In an effort to annex the light-heavyweight title in the States, he found himself facing a fine champion called Battling Levinsky, a boxer noted less for his power than for his excellent ring generalship. Levinsky had taken on some of the best brawlers his division had to offer, and he always comported himself well. The two pugilists faced off on October 12, 1920. Carpentier wound up taking the honors and the win, if not the title. But it was this fight that brought the well-regarded, dapper Orchid Man to the attention of Jack Dempsey's flamboyant manager, a man named Jack Kearns. Kearns was able to use the subsequent meeting of two seemingly contrasting personalities—the urbane Carpentier and the rough-and-ready Dempsey—to launch what would become the golden era of boxing. Jack Dempsey, ready to box Kearns parlayed this bout between the genteel and the brutal into the first million-dollar gate ($1,789,238 to be exact). It took place in a specially built outdoor arena that could accommodate 80,000 people. Carpentier was the lighter fighter, but many thought his sharpshooting right hand and seemingly effortless footwork would nullify the Manassa Mauler's brawling style, particularly if he could stretch the match into the later rounds. The billed "Battle of the Century" took place July 2, 1921, with the first round pretty much going how Dempsey enthusiasts thought it would. It was in the second round when Orchid Man fired an overhand that rocked the previously unrockable champ and kept him on the move. The crowd responded accordingly—and watched intently to see if history was going to be made. By round three, Dempsey had returned to form, pummeling and cornering his lighter foe. In round four, he dropped Carpentier with a hook to the body, and the man stayed down until the count of nine. The boxe Francaise fighter valiantly regained his feet—and was promptly dropped again thanks to a punishing shot to the jaw. The blow left him stretched out and unable to move a muscle until the count of eight. At that point, Carpentier was unable to regain his feet, and Dempsey reigned supreme. Despite the official outcome, there's little doubt Carpentier and boxe Francaise earned a great deal of respect that day. After all, he was the smaller man, and he used his skills to put a feared and formidable champ, who was in his prime, in trouble in the second round. In any era, that's no small feat for any man or for any martial art.

The UFC Apex in Las Vegas was the stage for an unforgettable night of MMA action on February 15, 2025, headlined by Jared Cannonier’s spectacular knockout victory over Gregory Rodrigues. The event, featuring 12 intense bouts streamed live on ESPN+, delivered a mix of explosive finishes and gritty decisions that left fans buzzing. Main Event: Cannonier Stuns Rodrigues in Round 4 Jared Cannonier proved why he’s a force to be reckoned with in the middleweight division, finishing Gregory Rodrigues with a brutal flurry of punches just 21 seconds into the fourth round. After three competitive rounds, Cannonier seized the moment when Rodrigues dropped his guard, unleashing a series of precise strikes that brought the fight to a dramatic end. This win cements Cannonier’s status as a top-tier contender. Co-Main Event: Zalal Shocks Kattar Youssef Zalal pulled off a major upset, outpointing seasoned fighter Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision. Zalal’s speed, movement, and well-timed counters impressed the judges, marking a pivotal moment in his featherweight journey. Main Card Breakdown Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Dylan Budka (185 Lbs): Shahbazyan made a statement with a first-round knockout, landing a crushing right hook at 1:35 to reaffirm his place as a rising middleweight talent. Nazim Sadykhov vs. Ismael Bonfim (155 Lbs): Sadykhov’s aggressive approach led to a doctor’s stoppage after the first round due to Bonfim’s visible damage. Andre Petroski vs. Rodolfo Vieira (185 Lbs): Petroski’s wrestling and control on the ground earned him a clear unanimous decision over the Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace. Preliminary Card Highlights Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews (145 Lbs): Delgado scored a first-round KO/TKO with a devastating overhand right and follow-up ground strikes at 2:58. Angela Hill vs. Ketlen Souza (115 Lbs): Hill narrowly edged out Souza in a hard-fought split decision. Rafael Estevam vs. Jesus Aguilar (125 Lbs): Estevam’s sharp striking and control earned him a unanimous decision win. Gabriel Bonfim vs. Khaos Williams (170 Lbs): Bonfim locked in a D’arce choke at 4:58 of the second round, forcing Williams to tap. Elijah Smith vs. Vince Morales (135 Lbs): Smith dominated from start to finish, securing a unanimous decision. Valter Walker vs. Don’Tale Mayes (265 Lbs): Walker showcased his grappling skills with a quick heel hook submission at 1:17 of the first round. Jacqueline Cavalcanti vs. Julia Avila (135 Lbs): Cavalcanti’s superior striking and control earned her a unanimous decision victory. UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues delivered an action-packed evening, featuring standout performances and rising stars making their mark. Stay tuned for more UFC news, in-depth fight analysis, and exclusive updates!

The January 1992 cover of Black Belt Magazine showed world-class martial artists Hiro Koda and Yuki Koda . Hiro Koda would later work as the stunt coordinator for the wildly popular Cobra Kai series! Learn more about this cover and the entire magazine preserved in digital format: https://www.blackbeltmag.com

MMA fans, mark your calendars! UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues is set to take place on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.  This 12-fight card , featuring elite contenders and rising prospects, promises fireworks from start to finish. Broadcast live on ESPN+ , this event features a middleweight main event showdown  between veteran knockout artist Jared Cannonier  and the surging Gregory Rodrigues . The co-main event sees the return of striking specialist Calvin Kattar , who will take on the ever-dangerous Youssef Zalal  in a featherweight contest. Here’s everything you need to know about the stacked fight card! Main Event: Middleweight Showdown Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues (185 lbs) A clash between power strikers, Cannonier  aims to assert his dominance and inch closer to another title shot, while Rodrigues , known for his aggressive style and well-rounded skillset, looks to secure the biggest win of his career. Expect an intense battle with high stakes in the UFC’s middleweight division . Co-Main Event: Featherweight Fireworks Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal (145 lbs) Veteran featherweight Calvin Kattar  returns, looking to bounce back from recent setbacks, while Zalal , known for his speed and slick movement, is determined to make a name for himself against a highly-ranked opponent. This fight is a must-watch for striking enthusiasts! Main Card: Rising Stars & Veterans Collide Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov (155 lbs) A lightweight war is expected as Bonfim  and Sadykhov  bring relentless pressure, crisp boxing, and finishing ability. Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews (145 lbs) Featherweight prospects collide as Delgado  and Matthews  battle for supremacy and a potential ranking breakthrough. Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Dylan Budka (185 lbs) Shahbazyan, once a rising star, faces Budka , a gritty opponent looking to make a statement. Rodolfo Vieira vs. Andre Petroski (185 lbs) A grappling chess match is on the horizon as Vieira , a world-class BJJ ace, squares off against Petroski , a relentless wrestler with knockout power. Preliminary Card: Action-Packed Showdowns Julia Avila vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (135 lbs) Avila looks to reassert herself in the women’s bantamweight division against the surging Cavalcanti . Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith (135 lbs) Bantamweight fireworks expected as Morales  and Smith  go head-to-head. Valter Walker vs. Don'Tale Mayes (265 lbs) Heavyweights clash in a bout where one punch can end the night in an instant! Rafael Estevam vs. Jesus Aguilar (125 lbs) A high-paced flyweight battle where both men will push the pace from start to finish. Angela Hill vs. Ketlen Souza (115 lbs) Veteran Angela Hill  returns to prove she still belongs among the elite against Souza , a rising force in the strawweight division. Gabriel Bonfim vs. Khaos Williams (170 lbs) Two of the most dangerous finishers in the welterweight division collide in a bout guaranteed to deliver excitement! Why You Can’t Miss UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues! ✅ Stacked Card  featuring a mix of veterans and rising contenders. ✅ Potential Title Implications  in the middleweight and featherweight divisions. ✅ Non-Stop Action  from start to finish. ✅ Live on ESPN+  – Stream all the action from anywhere!

Attention, fight enthusiasts! The UFC is turning up the heat down under in Sydney, Australia, on February 8, and this is an event you simply cannot afford to miss. The Qudos Bank Arena will host two of the year's most thrilling title fights, so make sure to keep your schedule open for this one. In the main event, middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis returns to defend his title against the man he dethroned, Sean Strickland . This is Strickland’s opportunity for redemption, but Du Plessis aims to show his victory was no accident. Will Strickland regain his glory, or will Du Plessis cement his status as the middleweight king? The stakes are higher than ever! But that’s not all! The co-main event showcases the formidable strawweight champion Zhang Weili , who will defend her title against the undefeated sensation Tatiana Suarez . Suarez has been a dominant force in the division, and Weili will need all her skills to retain her belt. This is a clash of titans guaranteed to deliver excitement! And there's even more – the card is packed with heavyweight clashes, light heavyweight battles, and emerging stars eager to make an impact. From the early prelims to the main card, each fight is filled with action and drama. Here’s how to watch: Early Prelims: 6pm ET / 3pm PT on ESPN+, Disney+, and UFC FIGHT PASS Prelims: 8pm ET / 5pm PT on ESPN 2 and ESPN+ Main Card: 10pm ET / 7pm PT, exclusively on ESPN+ PPV Weigh - In Results: MAIN CARD Main Event - Middleweight Title Bout: Dricus Du Plessis (185) vs Sean Strickland (185) Co-Main Event - Strawweight Title Bout: Zhang Weili (115) vs Tatiana Suarez (114.5)  Heavyweight Bout: Justin Tafa (266) vs Tallison Teixeira (263)    Light Heavyweight Bout: Jimmy Crute (206) vs Rodolfo Bellato (205)  Welterweight Bout: Jake Matthews (170.5) vs Francisco Prado (170.5)  PRELIMS Featherweight Bout: Jack Jenkins (146) vs Gabriel Santos (145.5) Lightweight Bout: Tom Nolan (155.5) vs Viacheslav Borshchev (156) Women’s Flyweight Bout: Wang Cong (125) vs Bruna Brasil (125.5)   Bantamweight Bout: Colby Thicknesse (135.5) vs Aleksandre Topuria (135.5)  EARLY PRELIMS Lightweight Bout: Rongzhu () vs Kody Steele (156)  Welterweight Bout: Jonathan Micallef (170) vs Kevin Jousset (171)  Lightweight Bout: Quillan Salkilld (156) vs Anshul Jubli (155.5)

Tony Dorsett, the legendary "Hawk" and College and NFL Hall of Famer, appeared on the cover of Fighting Stars  in December 1981. Learn more about this cover and the entire magazine preserved in digital format: https://www.blackbeltmag.com

Let’s spend a little time with a man whose parents seemed to have some idea of what they were bringing forth when they christened him Oscar Matthew Battling Nelson. Warning: This “lesson from the masters” is a no-go under today’s boxing rules, but it still holds value for self-defense. It’s insane to think that such tactics were at one time considered hunky-dory for use in the ring. While raised in the United States, Nelson was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1882, and this hometown led to another of his nicknames: “The Durable Dane.” And he was exactly that: durable. Nelson was never noted a stylist. He was as far from pretty as one can get, but he was old-school Tough with a capital T. He would emerge from his corner with his arms crossed in front of his body and start throwing with wild abandon, seemingly always swinging for the fences. The man could have been the poster boy for the I’ll-take-three-of-his-to-give-one-of-mine school of fighting. Notice I said fighting and not boxing tactics. As fearsome as the man was inside the ring, no one mistook what he did for anything resembling the sweet science. Battling Nelson — whose name was often shortened to simply Bat — would just go after his opponents no matter the consequences. He fought two 40-round fights, one of which occurred in 1902 and involved Christy Williams. There were 49 knockdowns, the most in boxing history, with Bat toppling seven times and Williams 42 times. (No doubt that helped establish Williams as a mighty durable fellow, too.) The Durable Dane once broke his left arm in the middle of a 15-round bout but soldiered on, explaining at the end of the fight that it “made me somewhat cautious and kept me [from] winning by a knockout.” There's no doubt that Battling Nelson was one of the most ferocious fighters to ever step into the ring, but that aforementioned lack of finesse would seem to preclude him from teaching us 21st century fighters anything about the sweet science, right? After all, physical hardiness and sheer pluck are difficult to drill. Before you dismiss him, consider this: Nelson was not the cleanest of fighters. In fact, his inside work was exceptionally vicious. Jack London, noted author of such classics as The Call of the Wild  and The Sea Wolf , was also an avid boxing fan (Jack did a bit of boxing himself), and he often reported on major fights for newspapers. Not necessarily a fan of the vicious Dane’s style, London dubbed him “The Abysmal Brute.” One of Bat's abysmal — and quasi-legal–tactics was the “scissor punch.” In the era of skintight gloves, Nelson would fire a lead hook to the liver with his thumb and index finger extended in, well, scissors-fashion. This additional bit of pinpoint penetration is more disconcerting than you would think, especially to a body that’s used to percussive blows. We don’t know if Nelson delivered his scissor punch with his hook hand palm downward or with it facing himself. However, experimentation has revealed that, at least for me, the palm-down version allows for better liver penetration. Now, before you go smacking the heavy bag with this bit of nastiness, allow me to say that my experimentation also has revealed that my hands are not as durable as the Durable Dane’s. That is, I find it’s mighty easy to jam my thumb and particularly my index finger when throwing the scissor punch into the mix. The following are the steps I take to throw a version of the technique that seems to work nicely for people with anything less than Battling Nelson’s adamantine skeleton. I’ve dubbed it the “Nelson dig.” Begin to fire a lead hook to the liver. As your arm moves, turn your hand so it’s palm-down. Extend your thumb, but not completely. Give the thumb a bit of support with the second knuckle of your index finger. Once you find the correct thumb-forefinger bolstering position, this blow can be delivered with surprising speed and power, but it doesn’t exactly need power behind it. That penetrating shot to the liver is mighty unsettling. Again, save this one for the street or historical recreations. Don’t try it in competition.

Prepare yourself for an evening filled with relentless action! UFC Saudi Arabia ignites Riyadh on February 1, 2025, featuring an exhilarating middleweight showdown between Israel Adesanya and Nassourdine Imavov ! The co-main event showcases the emerging talent Shara Magomedov facing off against the formidable British competitor Michael "Venom" Page in a contest for dominance! UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Imavov airs at a unique time! Prelims start at 9am ET / 6am PT. Main card action begins at 12pm ET / 9am PT. The entire event is available on ESPN+ in the United States. The main event is set for five rounds. All other matches are scheduled for three rounds. UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs Imavov Official Weigh-In Results: MAIN CARD Main Event - Middleweight Bout: Israel Adesanya (185) vs Nassourdine Imavov (185)   Co-Main Event - Middleweight Bout: Shara Magomedov (185) vs Michael “Venom” Page (185.5) Heavyweight Bout: Sergei Pavlovich (249) vs Jairzinho Rozenstruik (252)   Bantamweight Bout: Said Nurmagomedov (135.5) vs Vinicius Oliveira (135) Lightweight Bout: Fares Ziam (156) vs Mike Davis (155.5) PRELIMS Featherweight Bout: Muhammad Naimov (145.5) vs Kaan Ofli (145)  Heavyweight Bout: Shamil Gaziev (260) vs Thomas Petersen (263)   Lightweight Bout: Terrance McKinney (156) vs Damir Hadzovic (155.5)  Women’s Flyweight Bout: Jasmine Jasudavicius (125) vs Mayra Bueno Silva (126)  Featherweight Bout: Bogdan Grad (145.5) vs Lucas Alexander (148.5)* Heavyweight Bout: Hamdy Abdelwahab (260) vs Jamal Pogues (264)   *Lucas Alexander weighed in above the featherweight limit of 146 pounds. He forfeits 30% of his purse to his opponent.

The September 1980 cover of Black Belt featured Kajukenbo Grandmaster George Iversen , founder of the Hawaiian Kajukenbo Association. With over thirty-five years of experience as both a student and teacher, he developed one of the most effective methods for passing on the greatest lessons in martial arts — lessons he learned from legendary masters such as Adriano Emperado, Sid Asuncion, James Mitose, William Chow, Henry Okazaki, and Bing Fai Lau. Learn more about this cover and the entire magazine preserved in digital format: https://www.blackbeltmag.com