MMA UK

Spain to become 30th nation to host BRAVE CF, with BRAVE CF 75 set for November 18

Frankie 07/10/2023

BRAVE Combat Federation is set to break new ground as the most global organization in the world prepares to host an event in Spain for the first time. BRAVE CF 75 takes place on November 18, in Tenerife, and is hosted in association with Fight2One, with Spain as the 30th country to host a BRAVE CF show. This year, BRAVE CF cemented its position as the most global MMA organization in the history of the sport when it reached the 29th country hosted, a world record for any mixed martial arts organization, which will now be extended to 30 with BRAVE CF 75. Now, before 2023 comes to an end, the fastest-growing promotion in the industry will extend its reach in Europe by hosting its first-ever show in Spain, the home of former BRAVE CF stars such as Ilia Topuria and Arkaitz Ramos. Europe has always been a focal point of interest for BRAVE CF, since the organization first did an event in the continent, back in June of 2018, with BRAVE CF 13 taking place in Northern Ireland. Since then, BRAVE CF has repeatedly showcased its commitment with the development of MMA in the continent, including being the only MMA organization putting on shows in European soil at the height of the covid-19 pandemic, while also expanding into several new territories. With BRAVE CF 75, Spain becomes the 13th European country that BRAVE CF has visited, meaning Europe has now overtaken Asia as their most common continental destination for the company. Spain joins Northern Ireland, England, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Russia, Belarus, Italy, Poland, Serbia, Germany, and France as BRAVE CF’s European homes. Stay tuned for fight announcements, ticket information and more!

Wales to play host to Cage Warriors title fight

Frankie 29/07/2022

Sam Creasey will put his title on the line when Cage Warriors returns to Wales on Saturday, August 13th. The Ebbw Vale Centre will play host to the meeting of the flyweight champion (15-4) and Stipe Brčić (10-2) at CW 142. Creasey had been due to defend the belt against undefeated Italian star Dylan Hazan at CW 141 last week in London. However, the bout fell through after his opponent weighed in at two-and-a-half pounds above the championship limit of 125lbs. The Englishman will now face a stiff test against Brčić, who has impressed by recording five wins since May 2019 under the banner of German promotion EMC, where he was crowned champion at both flyweight and bantamweight. “I’m looking forward to sharing the cage with Germany’s number one and putting on a hell of a fight for those who missed me in London,” said the champ. It will be a 15th Cage Warriors outing for Creasey, who clinched the title last October courtesy of a third-round submission of Luke Shanks. The 34-year-old was then defeated by Shanks in a December rematch, but he retained the belt nevertheless due to his opponent’s failure to make weight. Brčić, 29, who fights out of the Croatian capital of Zagreb, said: “It’s an honour to fight for the best promotion in Europe. As always, the fans can expect a great show from me. “Sam is a good fighter and a real champ. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to win the belt. Let the best man win!” In addition to a flyweight title bout, some of Wales’ top fighters – such as Aaron Aby and Josh Reed – have already been confirmed for CW 142, with plenty more still to be announced. Tickets are available now – CLICK HERE TO SECURE YOURS!

Korea To Become 11th Asian Country To Host A BRAVE CF Event

Frankie 08/04/2022

After a year spent expanding in Europe, with shows in Serbia, Russia, Poland, Italy, and Belarus, BRAVE Combat Federation has geared towards Asia once again in the first trimester of 2022. After its landmark show in its home in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the fastest-growing organization in the world will resume life on the road with its debut in Korea. BRAVE CF 58 takes place on April 30th, in Incheon, and is hosted in association with Beast Championship Federation, a leading local organization. With the show, Korea will officially become the 26th nation to host a BRAVE CF show. But not only that, Korea will be further proof of BRAVE CF’s commitment to the development of mixed martial arts in all regions of Asia, as BRAVE CF 58 also marks the organization’s debut in East Asia. Korea joins the other 10 Asian countries in having hosted BRAVE CF events, with all regions covered. BRAVE CF has previously gone to Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, India, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Philippines, and Kyrgyzstan, with most of these countries have had more than one event out of the 57 already hosted by the promotion. The fight card for BRAVE CF 58 so far also indicates the attention to the development of the area, by mixing local fighters from Korea and neighbouring countries such as Singapore with international names from South Africa, France, Poland, Brazil, and others. By providing local names with global exposure and world-class competition, BRAVE CF hopes to accelerate the development of these athletes and the local scene as a whole, as is the norm with the organization wherever it goes.

Madison Square Garden to Host Bellator’s Return to NYC on Friday, June 14

Frankie 12/04/2019

Bellator is returning to the “Big Apple” on Friday, June 14, 2019 for its second event at Madison Square Garden with a stacked card to be streamed exclusively on DAZN. MSG, “The World’s Most Famous Arena” and Mecca of combat sports, will host Bellator’s return to Manhattan on June 14 with huge matchups. The blockbuster event features two of the sport’s most recognizable names in Lyoto Machida (25-8) and Chael Sonnen (31-16-1), who will finally meet after years of parallel MMA careers. Both fighters were in New York this week to speak about the upcoming matchup – images from Tuesday’s press conference available here. The card will also see Renzo Gracie Academy NYC standout Neiman Gracie (9-0) meet the winner of Rory MacDonald and Jon Fitch in a semifinal matchup of Bellator’s Welterweight World Grand Prix. Since MacDonald will enter his bout against Fitch on April 27 in San Jose as champion, the victor at Bellator 220 will then carry the belt into their matchup against Gracie on June 14. Additionally, the Viacom-owned promotion is moving the previously announced 175-pound catchweight contest between grappling ace Dillon Danis (1-0) and Max Humphrey (3-2) from Chicago’s May event to June 14 inside Madison Square Garden. Fresh off two boxing wins in 2018 to remain undefeated at 22-0, Heather Hardy (2-1) is ready to return to the site of her mixed martial arts debut, when she brings her exciting style back to the Bellator cage against a soon to be announced opponent. Additional contests will be announced in coming weeks Tickets to Bellator 222 go on sale Friday, April 12 at 10 a.m. ET, with a pre-sale taking place Thursday, April 11 at 10 a.m. ET, and can be purchased online from Ticketmaster.com, MSG.comand Bellator.com. Bellator 222 will stream live exclusively on DAZN, the fastest-growing sports streaming service in the world, at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App. After signing with Bellator last year, Machida successfully made his highly anticipated promotional debut on one of the biggest cards of the year. The former UFC light heavyweight champ, known as “The Dragon,” bested Rafael Carvalho at Bellator’s event in Hawaii. The two-division threat, who spends time training in both his native Brazil and Los Angeles, owns notable career wins over Tito Ortiz, “Shogun” Rua, Dan Henderson, Rashad Evans and Randy Couture, and is looking to parlay his recent success at middleweight into a win over Sonnen at 205-pounds. Hailing from West Linn, Ore., Sonnen is fresh off his semi-final run in Bellator’s Heavyweight World Grand Prix which finished earlier this year. With other notable wins over the likes of Wanderlei Silva, “Rampage” Jackson, Michael Bisping and “Shogun” Rua already under his belt, Sonnen now hopes to add the legendary Machida to his brilliant resume of renowned victories. After jumping up in weight class to compete in the biggest tournament in the promotion’s history, the former University of Oregon wrestler doesn’t seem to have lost a step and now moves down a weight to meet “The Dragon” on June 14. Neiman Gracie has laced up the Bellator gloves seven times in his nine-fight professional career, but no victory has been as impressive as his most recent win against Ed Ruth in the opening round of the Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix. With the submission win over Ruth, the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt has now submitted opponents in five straight contests, including a submission win over Dave Marfone that took place during Bellator’s inaugural event at MSG, Bellator NYC. Now, with championship gold on the line, Gracie look to keep his streak alive when he meets the winner of Rory MacDonald and Jon Fitch. Few 1-0 fighters invoke the sort of reaction that Dillon Danis does, so both haters and fans of the 25-year-old jiu-jitsu ace will have a chance to make their opinions heard when he returns to the Bellator cage for his sophomore appearance on June 14. Danis will now attempt to build upon his impressive toehold submission win during his promotional debut over Kyle Walker at Bellator 198 in Chicago. Looking to derail Danis’ hype will be Max Humphrey, a 30-year-old who calls Missouri home. Prior to his last outing in July, Humphrey finished three of his first four opponents in the opening round, competing on the regional MMA circuit. Making her fourth appearance under the Bellator banner, Hardy hopes to duplicate the game plan that earned her an impressive knockout win over Alice Yauger in her professional debut inside the same venue that will host her bout on June 14, Madison Square Garden. Hailing from Brooklyn, N.Y., Hardy has built an imposing boxing resume prior to joining forces with Bellator, where she’s collected a pair of titles in multiple weight classes; the WBC International Female Super Bantamweight belt and the WBC International Female Featherweight belt. “The Heat” has protected an unblemished mark of 22-0 through a six-year stint inside the boxing ring. Updated Bellator 222 Fight Card: Light Heavyweight Feature Bout: Lyoto Machida (25-8) vs. Chael Sonnen (31-16-1) Welterweight World Grand Prix Semifinal Title Bout: Winner of Rory MacDonald/Jon Fitch vs. Neiman Gracie (9-0) 175-Pound Catchweight Feature Bout: Dillon Danis (1-0) vs. Max Humphrey (3-2) Women’s Flyweight Feature Bout: Heather Hardy (2-1) vs. TBD