Martial Arts News

Veteran global sports executive Loren Mack has joined BKB in a landmark role. | 📷: Jonathan Wong/South China Morning Post/Getty

Bare Knuckle Boxing has made an important signing to its executive team, inking veteran global sports executive Loren Mack as the chief marketing officer and executive vice president of strategy.

Founded by entrepreneur Mike Vasquez and former professional fighter Dhafir “Dada 5000” Harris, Mack has joined BKB after his most recent run with the Professional Fighters League, where he served as senior vice president of communications. BKB announced the hiring of Mack with an official press release sent Wednesday morning ahead of its upcoming show in Los Angeles on July 18. Per the release, Mack will oversee global brand strategy and much more.

Loren Mack brings UFC, ONE Championship and PFL experience to Bare Knuckle Boxing “As chief marketing officer and executive vice president of strategy, Mack will oversee BKB global brand stra…

Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov believes Islam Makhachev is in for a tricky outing against Ian Garry.

Makhachev (28-1) is set to defend his welterweight title for the first time against Garry (17-1) in the main event of UFC 330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Makhachev’s friend and mentor, Nurmagomedov, notes that his protégé has never faced an opponent as tall as Garry.

Advertisement

Why Khabib Nurmagomedov believes Ian Garry is a difficult matchup for Islam Makhachev Nurmagomedov admits that Garry’s elusive style is a difficult puzzle to crack. “The Eagle” further notes that Makhachev, nearing 35, is six years older than Garry. According to the former unbeaten lightweight champion, the stylistic threat from Garry, combined with the age difference, makes it a difficult matchup for Makhachev.

“We’ve never faced an opponent this tall - 193 cm [6'4"],” Nurmagomedov said on the "Smol Talk" podcast. “We'll have to…

A matchup pitting a former Rizin Fighting Federation champion from Japan against a Chinese 135-pounder is confirmed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s upcoming visit to Shanghai.Kai Asakura seeks back-to-back UFC wins against Qileng Aori in ShanghaiAfter a stellar run in Rizin, Kai Asakura suffered back-to-back defeats at flyweight upon joining the UFC. He then moved up to bantamweight and picked up his first win in the promotion. Asakura will now look to compile a win streak when he takes on Qileng Aori at UFC Shanghai on Aug. 29.

Advertisement

Aori enters the bout with a 4-5-1 UFC record. He has struggled for consistency, with just two wins in his last six outings. The 33-year-old is coming off a TKO defeat to Cody Haddon in May.

Meanwhile, Asakura will look to build momentum after recording his maiden UFC win in May. He knocked out Cameron Smotherman at UFC Macau, marking his 17th finish in 22 career wins. Flyweight is firmly in the rear-view mirror for t…

Ultimate Fighting Championship star Conor McGregor will host a new Fox Nation original series centered around Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship beginning in 2027.

Fox Nation announced on Monday that it has partnered with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and BKFC co-owner McGregor for a new original documentary competition series titled "World's Baddest Man." The show is scheduled to premiere in the summer of 2027 and will culminate with a live championship finale.

Advertisement

World’s Baddest Man’ brings Conor McGregor and BKFC together for a combat sports competition According to Monday's announcement, McGregor will serve as the host and a prominent on-screen presence throughout the new Fox Nation series as fighters from around the world compete in a bracket-style tournament for the right to be crowned the "World's Baddest Man."

“Conor McGregor is one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports, and we're excited to partner with him on a bold new…

Conor McGregor's return to action in the Ultimate Fighting Championship ended in disappointment, but speculation surrounding his next opponent has already begun following his injury at UFC 329.

“Notorious” suffered a knee injury on the opening kick he threw in his rematch against Max Holloway, who was then declared the victor. BetOnline.ag has now released odds for McGregor's next fight, which will serve as the final bout on the former two-division champion's current UFC contract.

Advertisement

Michael Chandler opens as favorite for Conor McGregor’s next fight Michael Chandler has opened as the betting favorite at 2/1 to face McGregor next. The long-discussed matchup between the two former opposing “The Ultimate Fighter” coaches was originally set to go down in 2024 before McGregor withdrew because of injury.

A trilogy bout with Holloway follows at 3/1. With their rivalry at 1-1, a rubber match could be on the cards. Moreover, “Blessed” repeatedly called for th…

Dana White’s Contender Series will return for its 10th season on Aug. 11, with all episodes set to stream exclusively on Paramount+.

The long-running talent showcase will once again give aspiring mixed martial artists the opportunity to earn an Ultimate Fighting Championship contract by impressing the UFC President and CEO, as well as the promotion's matchmakers.

Advertisement

Dana White's Contender Series returns for Season 10 Season 10 will consist of 10 Tuesday night episodes beginning on Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Each episode will feature five bouts, with every episode streaming exclusively on Paramount+.

Since its debut in 2017, DWCS has become one of the UFC's primary talent pipelines. Across its first nine seasons, along with Dana White's Contender Series: Brazil, the series has awarded more than 300 UFC contracts.

Furthermore, the show has also produced four UFC champions: Sean O'Malley, Jamahal Hill, Jack Della Maddalena and current light h…

Cris Cyborg believes her rivalry with fellow former Ultimate Fighting Championship star Ronda Rousey stemmed from the latter’s reluctance to face her at the height of their careers.

The current Professional Fighters League champion claims Rousey had every opportunity to accept a super-fight during her prime but chose not to.

Advertisement

The history behind the UFC superfight fans wanted between Cris Cyborg and Ronda Rousey Cyborg reflected on her rivalry with Rousey in a new interview with Sherdog’s Marcelo Alonso ahead of her retirement bout against Ketlen Vieira at PFL Tampa. The Brazilian legend also noted that if "Rowdy" wouldn’t fight her when they were both active and winning, she definitely wouldn’t accept a fight now.

“That was something the fans put together. Ronda had the opportunity to fight me when she was at her peak, and she didn't want to,” Cyborg explained of a fan-made poster that was rumored to be genuine. “If she didn't want it in her prime…

Michel Pereira is no longer on the Ultimate Fighting Championship roster after his decision loss to Sharabutdin Magomedov at UFC Baku.

"Demolidor" leaves the promotion after building a 10-6 record inside the Octagon across two weight classes. However, he has lost four of his last five fights, ending his UFC run on a lackluster note.

Advertisement

UFC parts ways with Michel Pereira after six-year Octagon run Pereira has exited the UFC after six years in the promotion. He made his UFC debut against Danny Roberts in 2019 and has since won 10 fights inside the Octagon. The 32-year-old completed his previous contract with a split-decision victory over Zachary Reese in February following a losing streak. He then signed a one-fight deal to face Magomedov in Azerbaijan.

His last appearance ended in a unanimous decision defeat. Pereira later criticized referee Herb Dean for not deducting points from Magomedov despite issuing multiple warnings for hair pulling. Magomedov…

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla believes there are correlations between mixed martial arts and basketball.

Mazzulla, who’s attended several Ultimate Fighting Championship events, was recently seen training MMA with esteemed coach Eric Nicksick at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. He has revealed that he looks up MMA gyms to train at while traveling through different cities during the NBA season.

Advertisement

Joe Mazzulla uses MMA coaching practices in the NBA Mazzulla believes MMA helps him build a fighter mentality, which is required while taking on rival NBA teams in enemy territories.

“I think it just keeps you fresh, mentally and physically, so that when I'm helping the team, I have a little bit of that fighter mentality,” Mazzulla told Ariel Helwani. “It just helps grow a little bit of an edge, and every little bit helps.”

Mazzulla is also taking specific inputs from Nicksick about communicating with athletes. He believes there are similarities betw…

Dricus Du Plessis has opened up about his lone loss in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which came against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319.

The former UFC middleweight champion admitted that he spent his training camp preparing for fast-paced scrambles, only for Chimaev to adopt a far more conservative approach, which ultimately threw him off.

Dricus du Plessis revisits defeat to Khamzat Chimaev: ‘There was no scramble’ The South African lost to Chimaev in August of last year, giving up nearly 22 minutes of ground control time to “Borz.” Moreover, Chimaev followed the same pattern in every round: putting du Plessis into the crucifix position and occasionally landing short strikes from top position. Speaking to Submission Radio, "Stillknocks" explained how his opponent’s grappling approach took him by surprise.

“It's a style thing. The way he moved, it's something that I haven't seen, haven't felt, and it wasn't a strength problem at all,” du Plessis said. “It was just a…

Rapper Machine Gun Kelly’s old feud with Conor McGregor is still simmering after the former Ultimate Fighting Championship double champ suffered a crushing defeat at UFC 329.

MGK referenced his altercation with McGregor at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards while mocking the Irishman on social media.

Advertisement

MGK revives his long-running feud with Conor McGregor after the former UFC champion's loss to Max Holloway. MGK, who refrained from publicly commenting on his infamous clash with McGregor at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards at the time, ridiculed the fighter after his TKO defeat to Max Holloway at UFC 329. McGregor's Octagon return following a five-year hiatus ended in just 69 seconds as he appeared to suffer a knee injury while throwing his opening kick against Holloway. MGK shared a series of photos on Instagram after UFC 329, including one with McGregor throwing a punch at the musician during the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards.

“Knees weak of old …

Dominick Cruz believes Conor McGregor’s return to action in the Ultimate Fighting Championship was motivated by more than financial gain, suggesting the former two-division champion was looking for a way to escape the lifestyle that produced his wealth.

McGregor suffered a knee injury with the opening strike he threw at UFC 329. The referee called a halt to the bout a little over a minute in, as "Notorious” was unable to plant both feet firmly while advancing and repeatedly fell over. This marks the second McGregor fight in a row that has ended in an anticlimactic leg injury, as his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier back in 2021 resulted in a bone break.

Advertisement

The former UFC champion shares his theory behind McGregor’s comeback attempt Cruz spoke from experience, having dealt with several major injuries during his own career.

“We keep saying he doesn't need to come back because he's got the money, but I disagree,” Cruz said on the UFC 329 post-show on…