BYB Extreme Fighting Series to Sponsor Tamayo-Cosentino Racing’s Number 45 Car in February 18’s 60th Annual Daytona ARCA 200
Miami, FL – Today, BYB Extreme Fighting Series President Mike Vazquez, who in 1999 formed HRT Motorsports, NASCAR’s first Hispanic racing team, announced that the Miami-based bare knuckle fighting promotion will sponsor driver Tony Cosentino’s number 45 car at this weekend’s Daytona ARCA 200.
Said Vazquez, “I’ve spent many years in and around motorsports, and always enjoyed supporting young teams and drivers, especially local talent, and have been a long-time and early supporter of [team co-owner] Enrique Tamayo’s foray into racing.”
“I can’t wait to see Tony open up at Daytona, and [BYB Co-Founder Dhafir “Dada 5000” Harris] and I are looking forward to the race, and to meeting the team, driver and fans at Daytona international Speedway.”
In prior years, BYB has sponsored cars in the NASCAR Truck Series and NASCAR’s Busch Series.
As a result of Vazquez’s Hispanic NASCAR initiative, NASCAR’s Hispanic fan base has grown by over 631% since 1999 to become over 8.6% of NASCAR’s overall fan base, totaling 7 million US Hispanic NASCAR fans. Additionally, Vazquez was instrumental in the creation and success of the NASCAR Mexico Series. Established in 2005, it’s becoming among the top racing series throughout Mexico and Latin America.
“Just like with our fighters, I am proud to support these world-class athletes from all walks of life, and show my appreciation for the sacrifices they go through to be at the top of their game. From mental toughness to physicality, the parallels between combat sports and motorsports are very tangible.”
Fans at home can tune in to FS1 on February 18 to and cheer on the BYB car #45 at 1:30 ET.
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 boxing into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle boxing on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida and London, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle boxing. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.
BYB kicked off its 2023 calendar year at the sold out Miramar National Guard Armory in Miramar, Florida in a night that saw Nadine Mandiau defeat Randine Eckholm by majority decision in the evening’s fight of the night. During the live PPV broadcast, NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal joined announcers Mike Goldberg and Paulie Malignaggi to provide color on a pair of bare knuckle matchups.
BYB Extreme Fighting Series Announces BYB 16: Desert Brawl, the First-Ever Bare Knuckle Boxing Event in the Gulf-Region
BYB 16 in Association with CoreSports will be held Saturday, March 18, 2023 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in the United Arab Emirates
Dubai, UAE – After closing 2022 out with historical firsts, including the first-ever sanctioned women’s bare knuckle matches in the United Kingdom and South Carolina’s first-ever bare knuckle fighting event, BYB CEO Gregory Bloom announced today that the US-based BYB Extreme Fighting Series will host the first-ever bare knuckle boxing event in the Gulf-region. BYB 16: Desert Brawl will take place St. Patrick’s Day weekend at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in the United Arab Emirates in the heart of the city’s Irish Village.
The historic night of fights will be held in association with CoreSports, a UAE-born and based international sports event company and broadcasting platform. Since its launch in 2018, CoreSports has prided itself on providing sports fans worldwide with exclusive content from Strongman and Powerlifting to Boxing, MMA and ArmWrestling.
“BYB promised to bring bare knuckle boxing to a mainstream, global audience, and BYB 16 will be the next step in doing just that,” said Bloom. “The UAE has fast become a cultural hub and international destination for sports and entertainment. Through BYB 16 and our partnership with CoreSports, BYB will spread its reach at that of bare knuckle boxing to not only the UAE, but to countries throughout the region, as well as to parts of Europe and South Asia.”
BYB 16 tickets will be available later this week. You can sign up to watch BYB 16 Live at: app.coresports.tv/signup.
In the coming days and weeks, BYB will be announcing more details on the event, as well as the remaining schedule of shows – both domestic and abroad – for the 2023 year. BYB’s next show, BYB 15; Broward Brawl takes place Friday, February 3 in Miramar, FL.
For more information, follow @bybextreme and @coresportsworld on social media.
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 boxing into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle boxing on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida and London, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle boxing. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.
ABOUT CORESPORTS
CoreSports is a UAE born and based international sports event company and broadcasting platform specializing in developing and delivering sporting projects from the point of conception to the point of execution. Launched in 2018, Coresports prides itself on providing sports fans worldwide with exclusive content from Strongman and Powerlifting to Boxing, MMA and ArmWrestling. With an impressive ever growing subscription base of over 100,000 active subscribers, Coresports is now partnering with BYB Extreme; adding Bare Knuckle Boxing to its repertoire, continuing to provide fans unforgettable action packed live and streaming experiences.
Coming off Historic 2022 BYB Announces Series of Initiatives Slated for 2023
Miami, FL – Born in the backyard of Dhafir “Dada 5000” Harris at his renowned Greenhouse in West Perrine, developed by visionary Miami businessman Mike Vazquez, and now lead by combat sports veteran Gregory Bloom, the Miami-based BYB Extreme Fighting Series announced today a number of initiatives slated for 2023 on the heels of its historic 2022.
Bloom, who took over CEO duties this past September from Vazquez, announced today that BYB will open its 2023 campaign at the Miramar National Guard Armory on February 3, and laid out plans for subsequent events.
Said Bloom, “2022 was an incredible year for our company, and 2023 is already looking to dwarf those accomplishments. After our kickoff at home in South Florida this February, in the first half of 2023, BYB will put on a pair of international shows on two separate continents, an exhibition in a new state and in one of the country’s top DMAs, and roll out a handful of disruptive partnerships that are sure to realign the fight sports landscape.”
Since 2015, BYB has created a blueprint for upstart combat sports to position themselves for mainstream popularity, without sacrificing the lessons learned via its community-based roots in poverty-riddled West Perrine.
“In those early days,” Harris says, “the backyard was a way for the community to come together in a healthy and respectful way. We harnessed aggression and frustration that was festering in the neighborhood and turned it into a positive. Whether we are in South Florida, Carolina or London, that attitude and commitment continues today.”
Said Vazquez, “The sport comes first. From top to bottom, our leadership team is composed of individuals with a track record of success and respectability in sports, entertainment and business. Taking cues from Dada’s early days at the Greenhouse and lessons learned from decades of experience, BYB has developed its own home-grown stars, taking a slow, long-term and strategic approach to roll-out and growth, and is positioning our brand and talent to flourish for years to come.”
He added, “BYB matches are built to bring out the best in competitors and, in turn, the sport. Spectators leave our shows knowing they were at a genuine sporting event with bonafide athletes. The quick, action-filled rounds and matches in the smallest fighting surface in combat sports are structured to leave viewers – in the arena or watching around the world – entertained.”
With the full-time involvement of Bloom, who previously served as BYB’s counsel and has almost 20 years of combat sports experience, BYB is committed to positioning itself as not just a leader in bare knuckle fighting, but in combat sports.
Among 2022’s historic highlights alluded to above, BYB:
hosted the first-ever sanctioned women’s bare knuckle event in UK history;
hosted he first-ever women’s championship match in UK History;
hosted the first-ever bare knuckle fighting event in South Carolina history;
broadcasted on OTT and OTA platforms through Sinclair Broadcast Group’s Stadium
hosted the return of live professional sports to Trump National Doral Miami following the PGA’s withdraw in 2016;
saw three executives – Vazquez, Harris and Matchmaker Mel Valenzuela – inducted into the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame in Belfast, NY.
Said Harris, “Each year and each show builds upon those before it and the foundation we laid right here in Miami. We are committed to doing the very best by our competitors, fans and partners, and I couldn’t be more proud of the legacy we are building and the history we are making.”
BYB 15: Broward Brawl will be held February 3 at the Miramar National Guard Armory, 5001 Flamingo Rd, Miramar, FL 33025. Tickets are on-sale now at bybtickets.com
ABOUT GREGORY BLOOM
Bloom is a partner at the sports and entertainment law firm of ChaseLawyers and has almost twenty years experience in the world of combat sports. During that time period, he has represented multiple Olympic medalists, top-ranked fighters and world-champions in both boxing and MMA, and has helped them negotiate lucrative agreements with entities such as UFC, Bellator, Strikeforce, Top Rank, Matchroom, Probellum and PBC. He also worked for nine (9) years as general counsel for world- renowned MMA organization Combate Global, and during that time assisted them in their securing of major media deals with internationally recognized television and streaming platforms such as ESPN, Univision, Telemundo, Televisa, NBC Sports and Eurosport. Additionally, Mr. Bloom has also worked as a licensed promoter for the past six (6) years, and he has successfully promoted over seventy (70) live events throughout the world.
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 boxing into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle boxing on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida and London, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle boxing. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.
Rock Hill, SC – In South Carolina’s first ever bare knuckle fighting event, Sam Liera overcame a 3rd round eye poke and a pair of knockdowns in the 5th to win the BYB Interim Super Middleweight title over LT Nelson, setting up a unifying match with BYB Super Middleweight champ Jose “The GOAT” Fernandez in 2023.
In the co-main event, hometown fighter Joshua Oxendine finished Christopher Gonzalez with a vicious body shot KO in the 1st round.
Brandon Birr defeated Kendell Ward in the first ever bare knuckle fighting event contest in South Carolina history via 2nd Round TKO.
Ryan Jett improved to 1-1 in the Trigon with a 1st round KO of Nathan Mitchell.
Andre Ewell made his Trigon debut in impressive fashion with a 17-second KO of Nick Villar.
BKB’s Jordan Tompkins defeated Nick Campbell by 1st round KO.
Trevor Ollison took out Roger Hunnell with a 1st round TKO.
Manuel De La Torre outslugged Henry Williams for a 5-round unanimous decision.
Tylor Sigmon made easy work of Cody Jenkins winning via 2nd Round TKO.
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 boxing into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle boxing on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida and London, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle boxing. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.
BYB 14 Carolina Brawl will take place December 9 at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Last month, the South Carolina State Athletic Commission legalized bare knuckle fighting events in the state. BYB 14 will be the first such event in the Carolinas. Undefeated super middleweights LT “Smash” Nelson and Sam “The Caveman” Liera will face off in the main event for the BYB Interim Super Middleweight title. The winner will face BYB Super Middleweight champion Jose “The GOAT” Fernandez in 2023 upon Fernandez’s return to action following surgery. To purchase tickets, visit bybtickets.com.
WELTERWEIGHTS Joshua Oxendine (Fighting Out of Pembroke, North Carolina) vs. Christopher Gonzalez (Fighting Out of Dade City, Florida by way of Passaic, New Jersey)
SUPERMIDDLEWEIGHTS Ryan Jett (Fighting Out of Charlotte, North Carolina) vs. Nathan Mitchell (Fighting Out of Batesville, Mississippi)
WELTERWEIGHTS Andre Ewell (Fighting Out of Riverside, California) vs. Nick Villar (Fighting Out of Glastonbury, Connecticut)
LIGHTHEAVYWEIGHTS Nick Campbell (Fighting out of Spartanburg, South Carolina) vs. Jordan Tompkins (BKB – Fighting out of London, England)
LIGHTHEAVYWEIGHTS Roger Hunnell (Fighting Out of Tazewell, Virginia) vs. Trevor Ollison (Fighting Out of Hot Springs, Arkansas)
MIDDLEWEIGHTS Manuel De La Torre (Fighting Out Fullerton, California) vs. Henry Williams (Fighting Out of Clearwater, Florida)
SUPER FEATHERWEIGHTS Brandon Birr (Fighting Out of Cleveland, Ohio) vs. Kendell Ward (Fighting Out of Nampa, Idaho)
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 boxing into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle boxing on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida and London, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle boxing. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.
Meet Joshua Oxendine: Charlotte Gym Owner, Marine Veteran, Minister, and the Lumbee Tribe’s First Professional Fighter
Oxendine to Face Dusty Little in Co-Main Event of BYB 14: Carolina Brawl, Carolina’s First Bare Knuckle Fighting Event
Rock Hill, SC – “I like to baptize my opponents in the ring,” fighter and minister Joshua “Preacherman” Oxendine half-joked ahead of his December 9th matchup against Dusty Little at the Rock Hill Sports and Event Center.
The Carolina-based brawler is a renaissance man of sorts, carving his own unique path in life. As a Marine wounded in combat, it took Oxendine the better part of two years and countless surgeries to learn to walk and run again, nursed back to health by his high school sweetheart Bricella, whom he married at age 19.
Oxendine, 28, started boxing at age 14 and took up MMA at 19. Upon turning professional, he became the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina’s first professional fighter. In 2021, he and Bricella opened OxFitness, a functional training, kickboxing and boxing gym at 1916 Sardis Road North in Charlotte, with a mission to serve as a family-oriented facility to change the lives of people in the community and build a place where everyone feels welcomed.
Oxendine has been ministering with Casa De Avivamiento/House of Revival since 2019, and is currently working towards BA in Christian Ministries at Liberty University.
Said Oxendine, “As much as I love laying hands on people in the ring, it brings me even greater joy knowing I can use my passions to leave a positive impact on my community and the world.”
BYB 14 Carolina Brawl will take place December 9 at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Tickets are available at bybtickets.com. Last month, the South Carolina State Athletic Commission legalized bare knuckle fighting events in the state. BYB 14 will be the first such event in the Carolinas. Undefeated super middleweights LT “Smash” Nelson and Sam “The Caveman” Liera will face off in the main event for the BYB Interim Super Middleweight. The winner will face BYB Super Middleweight champion Jose “The GOAT” Fernandez in 2023 upon Fernandez’s return to action following surgery.
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 boxing into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle boxing on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida and London, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle boxing. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.
A Pair of New Champions Crowned at BYB 13: Tampa Brawl For It All Desmond Green defeats three-time BKB champion Scott McHugh to be crowned the inaugural BYB Middleweight Champion along with the Police Gazette Diamond Belt. DJ Linderman stops Tony Lopez on a TKO/DS after the 6th Round to win BYB Heavyweight Title. Tampa, FL – BYB returned to the Florida State Fairgrounds on Saturday, November 19 with BYB 13 Tampa Brawl For It All featuring 9 hard-hitting bare knuckle brawls.
Desmond Green knockedout Scott McHugh in the 3rd Round to become the inaugural BYB Middleweight Champion and claim the Police Gazette Diamond Belt.
Doctors stopped the match before fighters came out for the 7th and DJ Linderman defeated champion Tony Lopez by TKO for the BYB Heavyweight belt.
Monica Medina defeated Jessica Link by UD after 5 in a super featherweight women’s battle.
Ukraine’s Bovar Khanakov defeated Isaac Freeman by unanimous decision in a 5-Round slugfest.
Christopher Gonzalez picked up his first win in the Trigon besting John Birdsong by 1st Round KO.
Julio Tanori shocked and thrilled the crowd with a 2nd Round KO over Toby Misech.
Cub Hawkins continued his impressive run in the Trigon, remaining undefeated with a 1st Round KO over newcomer Garrett Call.
Art Parker defeated Matt Strickland by 1st Round TKO in a battle of heavyweights.
Jarome Hatch opened the night with a 1st Round TKO over Scott O’Shaughnessy.
Tampa, FL – Continuing its long-standing partnership and support of the organization, BYB announced today that it will be gifting veterans and service members 250 tickets to November 19’s BYB 13: Tampa Brawl For It All event through VetTix.org. Vet Tix provides tickets to currently-serving Military and Veterans from all branches, as well as to immediate family of troops KIA.
Said BYB President Mike Vazquez, “Veteran’s Day is a reminder to us all of what is really important. Through Vet Tix, we are able to show a small gesture of our appreciation to the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much on our behalf. We are proud that a large part of our audience is composed of military members, and love the level of energy and support they bring to our shows.”
BYB 13: Tampa Brawl For It All will take place at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida on Saturday, November 19. Those qualified under the categories listed above who are interested in attending can visit VetsTix.org to reserve their tickets.
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 boxing into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience. Since 2015, BYB has worked diligently to grow the reach of bare knuckle boxing on both a domestic and international level, hosting events in Wyoming, Mississippi, Florida and London, and is continuing to work with athletic commissions throughout the United States globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bare knuckle boxing. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.
