BYB 22 Rocky Mountain Brawl: Public Weigh-In, Press Conference and Fight Night Info

For Immediate Release: November 29, 2023

BYB 22 Rocky Mountain Brawl: Public Weigh-In, Press Conference and Fight Night Info

DENVER, COLORADO – BYB Extreme Fighting Series, the modern-day originators of bare knuckle fighting in the US will host its Colorado debut at BYB 22 Rocky Mountain Brawl on Saturday, December 2 at the Stockyards Event Center in Denver. The historic card will be headlined by three title fights. Champion Mark “The Shark” Irwin defends his BYB Lightweight title against 21-year-old phenom Julio Tanori. Champion Monica Medina and Denver’s Paty Juarez will go to battle one more time to cap off their BYB Women’s Lightweight and Police Gazette World Diamond Belt trilogy, which currently stands at a win a piece. Undefeated Robert Serna will take on the “Uncrowned King of the Trigon” Lorawnt-T (LT) “Smash” Nelson of Arvada, CO for the BYB Super Middleweight belt.

Plus:

  • Greeley, CO’s “Red” Sonya Dreiling looks to avenge her previous split decision loss to Miranda “SheHulk” Barber.
  • Shelby “Boom Boom” Cannon and Mexico’s Cecy Ulloa face off in a women’s title eliminator match.
  • Former UFC star Ike Villanueva looks to continue his climb up the BYB heavyweight ranks when he goes up against Jay Fish.
  • Former world title contender Tommy Turner gets back in the Trigon against Aurora, CO’s Mitch Seybold.
  • Harry “The Hitman” Gigliotti makes his BYB debut against Cody Jenkins.

Press and fans are welcome to join the public weigh-in on Friday, December 1. Media can apply for credentials at bybextreme.com/byb22media.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2023:  MEDIA DAY

WHAT:  BYB 22 Public Weigh-In, fighter Face-Off and Press Conference

Fighter and Executive Availability Upon Request

WHERE:  Stockyards Event Center

5004 National Western Drive 

Denver, CO 80216

WHEN:  Friday, December 1, 2023, 5 PM MT

Streamed live on @bybextreme YouTube and Facebook Pages

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2023:  FIGHT NIGHT

WHAT:  BYB 22: Rocky Mountain Brawl

WHERE:  Stockyards Event Center

5004 National Western Drive 

Denver, CO 80216

WHEN:  Saturday, December 2, 2023, Doors Open at 6 PM MT, Bell Time 7 PM MY

Broadcast live and free in US and Canada on beIN SPORTS XTRA and beIN SPORTS XTRA en Espanol; broadcast elsewhere via PPV at bybbareknuckle.tv.  

For how to watch visit:  bybextreme.com/watch.

Current card, subject to change:

MIDDLEWEIGHT

Tommy Turner v. Mitch Seybold

SUPER FLYWEIGHT

Shelby Cannon v. Cecilia Ulloa

HEAVYWEIGHT

Ike Villanueva v. Jay Fish

SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT

Harry Gigliotti v. Cody Jenkins

WELTERWEIGHT

Miranda Barber v. Sonya Dreiling

BYB MEN’S LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

Mark Irwin v. Julio Tanori

BYB WOMEN’S LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE

POLICE GAZETTE WORLD DIAMOND BELT

Monica Medina v. Patricia Juarez

BYB SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE

Lorawnt T Nelson v. Robert Serna  

ABOUT BYB

Originating in South Florida with backyard legend Dada 5000, whose backyard fights gained worldwide popularity online, BYB was founded to harness the excitement of bare knuckle fighting into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, London, and Dubai, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States and globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle fighting. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.

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Martinjak-Hatch III to Headline BYB 23 Bare Knuckle Brawl in the Pines II on January 18 in Pembroke Pines, FL

For Immediate Release: November 20, 2023

Martinjak-Hatch III to Headline BYB 23 Bare Knuckle Brawl in the Pines II on January 18 in Pembroke Pines, FL

Croatian champion Marko Martinjak and American Jarome Hatch to complete their Trigon Trilogy, fighting for the Police Gazette World Diamond Belt for the third time on a third continent. 

Tickets on sale now at bybtickets.com/pines.

Pembroke Pines, FL –  BYB Extreme Extreme Bare Knuckle Hall of Fame matchmaker Mel Valenzuella announced today that BYB’s Jarome Hatch and BKB’s Marko Martinjak will face off for a third and final time in the patented Trigon for the Police Gazette World Diamond Belt at BYB 23 Brawl in the Pines II at the Charles F. Dodge Center in Pembroke Pines, FL on January 18. 

The head-to-head series currently stands at one win a piece with Hatch capturing the title at BYB 16 in Dubai this past March before dropping the belt to Martinjak in a rematch this past June at BYB 18 in London.  Having already faced each other in Dubai and London, North America will be the third continent that the cruiserweights will have battled on for the prestigious title whose lineage traces back to the great John L. Sullivan.  BYB 23 will mark Martinjak’s US debut, as well as the first time Hatch has fought for the title in his home country.  Martinjak will joining training mate Adriana Vukovic on the card.  Vukovic will be facing BYB Women’s Welterweight champion and Police Gazette World Diamond Belt holder Jozette Cotton in the BYB 23 co-main event. 

Said Martinjak, “I’m glad to finish this trilogy on American soil.  Having boxed in the Middle East and Europe, to dance this last dance in the US truly epitomizes an American Dream come true for me. I hope that he has recovered from his injury and that he will come to the Trigon as ready as possible, because I can’t wait for the bell to ring so I can settle this thing once and for all.”

Said Hatch, “I’ve been waiting for this since London, even if we all know it shouldn’t have gotten to the “trilogy.”  It will be my pleasure to fight him again and silence him forever. Here in the States, just like it was in Dubai, it’ll just be him and me and he won’t have the UK ref to help and save him this time.”

BYB 23 Brawl at the Pines II will take place January 18 at the Charles F. Dodge Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Tickets are available now at bybtickets.com/pines. Follow @bybextreme on social for more information.

ABOUT BYB

Originating in South Florida with backyard legend Dada 5000, whose backyard fights gained worldwide popularity online, BYB was founded to harness the excitement of bare knuckle into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, London, and Dubai, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.

BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Returns to Pembroke Pines, Thursday, January 18, 2024 for BYB 23 Brawl in the Pines II

For Immediate Release: November 14, 2023

BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Returns to Pembroke Pines, Thursday, January 18, 2024 for BYB 23 Brawl in the Pines II

BYB Undefeated Women’s Super Welterweight Champion Jozette Cotton to defend title against Croatia’s Adriana Vukovic.

Pembroke Pines, FL –  BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series announced today that it will return to the Charles F. Dodge Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida on Thursday, January, 18 for BYB 23 to kick off its 2024 calendar year.  The return to Pembroke Pines follows a sold-out show at the same venue that was highlighted by four (4) world title fights in a show this past August.

BYB’s Hall of Fame matchmaker Mel Valenzuela and Bare Knuckle Hall of Fame President Scott Burt announced that the BYB 23 card will feature a dual title defense by undefeated BYB Super Welterweight Champion and Police Gazette World Diamond Belt holder Jozette Cotton (3-0) against MMA star Adriana Vukovic.

Cotton’s dominance of the division has been equally consistent and impressive, defeating former WBC title contender Erin Toughill in her bare knuckle debut, then winning the titles on the historic BYB 12 card against Miranda Barber, and successfully defending them against then-undefeated Jamie Driver this past May in a co-main event at BYB 17 in Rock Hill, SC.

Her January 18 opponent Vukovic is one of Croatia’s top female fighters, and a teammate of two-time Police Gazette title fighter Marko Martinjac.

On the defense and the opponent, Cotton said bluntly, “I don’t care who they are or where they are from, if they want what’s mine, they better be prepared to die for it.”  

Tickets for BYB 23 will go on sale later this week, and more fights to be announced shortly. Follow @bybextreme on social for more information.

ABOUT BYB

Originating in South Florida with backyard legend Dada 5000, whose backyard fights gained worldwide popularity online, BYB was founded to harness the excitement of bare knuckle into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, London, and Dubai, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.

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LT “Smash” Nelson and Robert Serna to Face off for BYB Super Middleweight Belt at BYB 22 Rocky Mountain Brawl, Saturday December 2 at the Stockyards Event Center in Denver

LT “Smash” Nelson and Robert Serna to Face off for BYB Super Middleweight Belt at BYB 22 Rocky Mountain Brawl, Saturday December 2 at the Stockyards Event Center in Denver

Newly-crowned champion Sam Liera to take time off from fighting and vacate title.

Denver, CO – BYB Extreme Fighting Series Hall of Fame matchmaker Mel Valenzuela has added a third title fight to the BYB 22 Rocky Mountain Brawl card on Saturday December 2 at the Stockyard Event Center in Denver.  In addition to title defenses by BYB Lightweight Champions Mark Irwin and Monica Medina, undefeated Robert Serna (3-0, 3 KOs, Beeville, TX) will take on the “Uncrowned King of the Trigon” Lorawnt-T (LT) “Smash” Nelson (3-1-1, 3 KOs, Arvada, CO via Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) for the BYB Super Middleweight belt.

After unifying the Interim and BYB Super Middleweight championship in August with a decisive victory over Jose Fernandez, Sam Liera (6-0, 4 KOs, Fullerton, CA) has decided to take time off from fighting to contemplate his future.  In a post fight interview with ring announcer Kody “Big Mo” Mommaerts, the 39-year-old Liera opined at the time that the only thing that could slow him down was “old age.” In light of those comments and without immediate plans to defend the title in arguably BYB’s most talented weight class (that includes not only Nelson and Serna, but Ryan Jett, former champion Fernandez, and knockout artist Isaiah Quinones, among others), BYB has decided to vacate the title and allow the active contenders to battle for division supremacy. 

Said BYB CEO Gregory Bloom, “Sam Liera is BYB legend, and we hope to see him back in the Trigon when he’s ready.  In the meantime, as evidenced on our broadcast after his last fight against Jose Fernandez, there are hungry guys literally lined up to challenge for the Super Middleweight belt.  We feel it’s only fair to the fighters and the fans to allow those contenders the opportunity to fight for the title.”

Liera handed Nelson his only bare knuckle loss in a December 2022 decision for the BYB interim Super Middleweight title in what was named the 2022 Bare Knuckle Hall of Fame Fight of the Year.

Said Valenzuela, “After the unification match between Sam and Jose, LT deserves a rematch of a fight that he felt he would have won should the match been allowed to have gone more than 5 rounds.  He’s been hungry and waiting.  Similarly, Serna has knocked out opponents on both sides of the Atlantic and is as deserving as anyone for a shot at gold.”

Tickets for BYB 22 Rocky Mountain Brawl will go on sale shortly and more exciting fights to be announced soon.  To stay up to date, follow @bybextreme on social media or visit bybextreme.com.

About BYB Extreme

Originating in South Florida with backyard legend Dada 5000, whose backyard fights gained worldwide popularity online, BYB was founded to harness the excitement of bare knuckle fighting into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, London, and Dubai, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States and globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle fighting. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.

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Announcing BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting’s Colorado Debut: BYB 22 Rocky Mountain Brawl, Saturday December 2 at the Stockyard Event Center in Denver

 

For Immediate Release: September 26, 2023

Announcing BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting’s Colorado Debut: BYB 22 Rocky Mountain Brawl, Saturday December 2 at the Stockyard Event Center in Denver

Denver, CO – BYB Extreme Fighting Series, the modern-day originators of bare knuckle fighting in the US, announced today that it will host its Colorado debut at BYB 22 Rocky Mountain Brawl on Saturday December 2 at the Stockyard Event Center in Denver.  Along with the date and venue announcement, BYB’s Hall of Fame matchmaker Mel Valenzuela announced two headline title fights for the card. Champion Mark “The Shark” Irwin defends his BYB Lightweight title against 21-year-old phenom Julio Tanori; and champion Monica Medina and Paty Juarez will go to battle one more time to cap off their BYB Women’s Lightweight and Police Gazette World Diamond Belt trilogy, which currently stands at a win a piece.  

Medina, who lost to Juarez in a controversial split decision in May 2022 before capturing the title by unanimous decision this September, is looking to lay the rivalry to bed.  Said Medina, “3 strikes and she’s out. I’m wrapping this trilogy up in spectacular fashion in her own back yard and leaving no doubt.” 

Said the ever-modest Irwin, “Being the biggest star inBYB, I think it’s only fitting that I’m headlining the end of year event and I’m excited to go out there and remind everyone why I’m in this position. SHARK WEEK IS BACK on BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle for the season finale!”

On BYB’s first fight in Centennial State, BYB CEO Greg Bloom said, “I couldn’t think of a better way to cap off a historic 2023 than to give Denver fight fans a taste of what real bare knuckle fighting is all about – in the smallest ring in combat sports, with the tightest corners, and with nowhere to run.  Denver fans will experience a night of straight-up fist fights rather than the cardio clinics that have been masquerading as bare knuckle brawls in their state. There’s nothing like a BYB event.  As our founder Dada 5000 says, ‘We make the weekends.’” 

Tickets go on sale shortly and more exciting fights to be announced soon.  To stay up to date, follow @bybextreme on social media or visit bybextreme.com.

About BYB Extreme

Originating in South Florida with backyard legend Dada 5000, whose backyard fights gained worldwide popularity online, BYB was founded to harness the excitement of bare knuckle fighting into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, London, and Dubai, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States and globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle fighting. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.

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BYB Bare Knuckle Signs Winthrop Basketball’s Kelton Talford to NIL Deal

BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series Announces NIL Deal with Winthrop Men’s Basketball All-Big South Forward Kelton Talford Ahead of October 21 Show in Rock Hill, SC

Since debuting bare knuckle fighting in South Carolina in December 2022, BYB 21 on October 21st will be the third show BYB has done at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center.

Rock Hill, SC – BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series CEO Gregory Bloom announced today that the company has entered into a NIL deal with Winthrop University Men’s Basketball first-team All-Big South forward Kelton Talford to serve as a brand ambassador ahead of the Florida-based promotion’s October 21st, BYB 21 “Fall Brawl” show at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina. 

Last year at Winthrop, a public university located just a half a mile from the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center, Talford averaged 16.2 points/game (4th in Big South), 8.2 rebounds/game (2nd in Big South) and led the league with a .669 field goal percentage en route to being named first-team all-conference as a junior.  Prior to lacing up with the Eagles, Talford starred at Great Falls High School in nearby Chester County, SC.

Said Bloom, “Over the past year, we have made a concerted effort to establish Rock Hill as one of our homes away from home. Fight fans in Rock Hill, Fort Mill and the Metro-Charlotte market have embraced BYB’s brand of fighting with such energy, that we wanted to continue to invest not only in the market itself, but in the communities that make it thrive, not the least of which is Winthrop University.  Kelton is the embodiment of this energy and community.” 

Bloom added, “BYB looks to invest in athletes on the rise, whether in the Trigon or through these types of strategic partnerships.  BYB’s brand of bare knuckle fighting in the Mighty Trigon is the future of both combat sports and sports entertainment.”

For more information about BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting, visit bybextreme.com or follow on social @bybextreme.

About BYB Extreme

Originating in South Florida with backyard legend Dada 5000, whose backyard fights gained worldwide popularity online, BYB was founded to harness the excitement of bare knuckle fighting into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, London, and Dubai, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States and globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle fighting. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.

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Dada 5000 to Oleksandr Usyk: I’ll Ref Your “Bare Knuckle Street Fight” Backyard Brawl-Style and We Can Donate All Proceeds to Soldier Relief Efforts in Ukraine

For Immediate Release: August 29, 2023

Dada 5000 to Oleksandr Usyk: I’ll Ref Your “Bare Knuckle Street Fight” Backyard Brawl-Style and We Can Donate All Proceeds to Soldier Relief Efforts in Ukraine

Miami, FL – The recent Oleksandr Usyk-Daniel Dubois fight continues to draw headlines after controversial alleged low-blows to the champ, with Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk stating, “With all due respect to Daniel Dubois who is our guest and our opponent, it is difficult to express respect for the way they treated the fight, for the way they wanted to get the victory. Sometimes it happens, you hit someone with an illegal blow, yeah it is normal. But when you keep doing this on purpose, it means you have some sort of dirty plan.”

During the post-fight press conference, Krassyuk and Usyk entertained the idea of any rematch being “bare knuckle tomorrow, maybe right now. Not boxing gloves, but a street fight.”

The originator of modern bare knuckle boxing, Dhafir “Dada 5000” Harris, the founder and brand ambassador for BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series who rose to fame from by staging backyard bare knuckle fights that went viral online and subsequently became the subject of the “Dawg Fight, a Netflix documentary by Billy Corbin, offered the following:

“It was only a matter of time before fighters from all disciplines started recognizing that bare knuckle fighting is the purest and simplest form of combat sports. To have Oleksandr Usyk, the unified WBO, IBF and WBA champion of the world, offer to take his gloves off to settle a beef?  Well, that’s right up my alley.  I want to invite the champ to come watch his fellow countryman, Mariupol’s Alexander Sitarchuk, fight in the Mighty Trigon on September 16 in Biloxi to see what the sport is really about: two men, no gloves, in the smallest fighting area in combat sports.  It’s put up or shut up in the Trigon. Then I’ll personally ref the match between Usyk and Dubois, and we can give all proceeds to a charity of the champ’s choice to benefit Ukrainian soldiers impacted by the ongoing war.”

About BYB Extreme

Originating in South Florida with backyard legend Dada 5000, whose backyard fights gained worldwide popularity online, BYB was founded to harness the excitement of bare knuckle fighting into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida, South Carolina, London, and Dubai, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States and globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle fighting. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.

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Tickets On Sale Now For BYB 21 Live from Rock Hill, South Carolina

BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Returns to the Rock Hill Sports and Entertainment Center,  Saturday, Oct. 21 for BYB 21

On October 21st BYB Bare Knuckle returns to Rock Hill, South Carolina with a vengeance as Charlotte’s “Preacherman” Joshua Oxedine looks to avenge his loss to California bad boy Mark The Shark Irwin in a rematch for the BYB lightweight championship. 

That’s not the only title on the line as DJ Linderman returns to the Trigon to defend his BYB heavyweight belt against Rashad “Daywalker” Coulter. 

Hard hitters Trevor Ollison and Nick Hawkins meet in a battle of light heavyweights, and much more.

For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.

BYB 19 Brawl in the Pines Full Results

BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting returned home to South Florida for BYB 19 Brawl in the Pines on Thursday, August 10 at the Charles F. Dodge City Center. The action-packed card will featured four hard-hitting title matchups in BYBs patented mighty Trigon, the smallest fighting surface in combat sports.

Full Results:

Sam Liera left no doubt unifying the BYB Super Middleweight Championship with a dominating performance over hometown champion Jose Fernandez in Fernandez’s return match from injury. Liera won by third-round TKO.

Carlos Alexandre claimed the vacant BYB Welterweight title with an impressive fifth-round TKO against heavy-hitting former UFC star Andre Ewell.

Fight of the Night went to Lorawnt-T Nelson and UK’s James Connelly (BKB) who fought to a unanimous draw in a battle for the vacant Police Gazette World Diamond 156-165 Belt after numerous big shots and a pair of point deductions against Connelly.

Brandon Birr outlasted Harold McQueen in a slugfest to be crowned the first-ever BYB featherweight champion after a sixth-round DQ and Doctors Stoppage. 

Yordan Fuentes got his first win in the Trigon in his bare knuckle debut against Brandon Johnson with a fourth-round TKO.

Rynell Riley won by a first round DQ after Gregoris Cisneros hit him with late blows in a super middleweight matchup.

Heavyweights Josh Burns and Levi Costa traded big shots throughout their five-round fight bout with Costa coming away with the unanimous decision.

Jessika Smith earned her first bare knuckle victory with a fifth round TKO over Casie Dees. Referee Bobby Wombacher ruled the chaotic opening bout between Chad Kelly and Zion Tomlinson Sr. a no-contest after the second round.