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.
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.
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.
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 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.
BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Returns to Biloxi, Mississippi, Saturday, Sept. 16 for BYB 20: Brawl on the Bayou
Rematch between champion Paty Juarez and Biloxi’s Monica Medina for the BYB Women’s Lightweight Championship and the Police Gazette Women’s 135 Diamond Belt highlights bare knuckle fighting’s return to the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
BYB 20 will be broadcast live on beIN SPORTS XTRA & beIN SPORTS XTRA en Espanol OTT and OTA platforms .
Biloxi, MS – BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series announced today that tickets have gone on-sale for BYB 20: Brawl on the Bayou for Saturday, September 16 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi. Visitbybextreme.com for more information and ticketing link.
The main event is the long-awaited rematch between champion Paty Juarez and Biloxi’s own Monica Medina for the BYB Women’s Lightweight championship and for the Police Gazette women’s 135 Diamond Belt. In their last meeting, also in Biloxi on May 22, 2022, Juarez and Medina went 7 rounds and saw Juarez win on split decision, much to the hometown’s displeasure. In addition to retaining her BYB title, Juarez was named the inaugural Police Gazette women’s 135 Diamond Belt, at the time just the 19th Diamond Belt to be awarded in the organization’s 142-year history. The rematch had been postponed until now due to Juarez rehabbing injury.
BYB Matchmaker Mel Valenzuela also announced that the card will feature a cruiserweight matchup between former Bellator competitor Kaelii Kanekoa and Lebanon’s Mohamad “The Killer” Ghorabi. Kanekoa, who saw Trigon action at May’s BYB Trigon Combat, will be making his bare knuckle debut, while Ghorabi returns to action following his impressive BYB debut in Dubai this past February where he scored a first-round knockout.
The Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame’s 2022 BYB Debut Fighter of the Year Julio Tanori returns to action in a lightweight matchup against BYB newcomer Jeremiah Potts.
BYB 20 will mark the bare knuckle debut of heavyweight “Hurricane” Ike Villanueva, who has over 30 professional combat sports fights under his belt, as he takes on Matt “The Attack” Kovacs who steps back into the Trigon for the first time since BYB 3.
Also announced is the US debut of BKB’s Jonny Jones, who last saw Trigon action at BYB 12 with a Fight of the Night performance and victory over Henry Dossett. Jones faces off against Argentina’s Walter Saravia in an international matchup.
BYB 20 will be broadcast live and free in both English and Spanish in the US and Canada on Free on beIN SPORTS XTRA & beIN SPORTS XTRA en Espanol. Visit bybextreme.com/watch for how and where to watch.
More fights to be announced soon. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow on social @bybextreme.
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.
BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting returns home to South Florida, Thursday, August 10 at the Charles F. Dodge Center in Pembroke Pines, Florida for BYB 19: Brawl in the Pines.
The action-packed card will feature FOUR hard-hitting title matchups in BYB’s patented mighty Trigon, the smallest fighting surface in combat sports. BYB Super Middleweight champion and Miami-native Jose Fernandez returns to action to face interim champ Sam Liera in a title unification bout. Undefeated brawlers Brandon Birr and Harold McQueen meet for the inaugural BYB Featherweight title. A new champion will claim the vacant BYB Welterweight belt as Andre Ewell goes toe-to-toe with Carlos Alexandre. And BYB Super Welterweight champion and Police Gazette World Diamond 146-155 Belt holder Desmond Green will take on BKB’s James Connelly from the UK in a cross-promotional match for the Police Gazette World Diamond 156-165 Belt.
Card, Subject to Change:
Chad Kelly vs. Zion Tomlinson
Yordan Fuentes vs. Brandon Johnson
Josh Burns vs. Levi Costa
Rynell Riley vs. Gregoris Cisneros
Casie Dees vs. Jessika Smith
Desmond Green vs. James Connelly (BKB)
Brandon Birr vs. Harold McQueen
Andre Ewell vs. Carlos Alexandre
Jose Fernandez vs. Sam Liera
Isaiah Quinones vs. TBD
BYB 19 will be broadcast live in the US and Canada on beIN SPORTS. Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster. Visit bybextreme.com for more information.
BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting SeriesAnnounces Partnership with beIN SPORTS in North America beIN SPORTS will become home to the “Best of BYB” in the U.S. and Canada, as well as for exclusive BYB events including the live BYB 18 Inaugural Police Gazette International Cup on Sunday, June 25, at London’s Indigo at the O2 The network will also be the English and Spanish-language destination for bare knuckle fights slated for August, September, October, and December 2023
MIAMI, FL – June 8, 2023 – BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series announced today a media rights agreement with flagship sports network beIN SPORTS to exclusively broadcast the “Best of BYB” shows throughout the year in North America. The partnership ensures new and existing fight fans in the U.S. and Canada have access to premier BYB content through beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español. Matches and shows will also air on beIN SPORTS XTRA and beIN SPORTS XTRA en Español, the network’s free, 24/7 English and Spanish-language live sports channels.
“We are proud to announce our partnership with beIN SPORTS as 2023 is a year of strategic growth and overarching success for BYB as we continue to build both our international and domestic footprints,” said BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series CEO, Gregory Bloom. “This partnership with one of the foremost sports and entertainment networks in the world, capitalizes on the massive, worldwide appeal we have developed over the past months – from introducing professional bare knuckle fighting to the Middle East, to hosting the first-of-its-kind bare knuckle tournament in London, while showcasing our unique style of bare knuckle fighting to a hungry and growing North American fanbase.”
Bloom added, “Bare knuckle fighting is the new frontier in combat spectator sports. BYB is proud to be the modern-day originator of bare knuckle fighting in the United States, and as we showcase our product to new audiences, we are equally proud to be putting out the best, most exciting and purest form of combat sports on the market today. Unlike other combat sports properties, our patented Trigon ring – the smallest in combat sports – presses the action, forces the participants to engage, leaves nowhere to run, and results in some of the most fantastic finishes in all the various fighting arts. Through our agreement with beIN SPORTS, we can provide more fight fans across North America exactly what they want – competitive matches decided by the fighters, not by the judges.”
Longtime announcer for combat sports Mike Goldberg and former two-weight world champion Paulie Malignaggi will serve as co-hosts for the “Best of BYB” English edition. World-renowned commentator Claudia Trejos will lead the Spanish-language broadcast team. As part of the agreement, beIN SPORTS will broadcast the BYB 18 Inaugural Police Gazette International Cup on Sunday, June 25 live from London’s Indigo at the O2, the first-ever tournament-style event pitting U.S. vs UK-based fighters. BYB 18 will consist of nine match-ups featuring American BYB fighters going against BKB’s UK-based fighters, with the promotion scoring the majority of victories to be awarded the Police Gazette International Cup. BYB 18 will also feature three additional bare-knuckle matches, showcasing BYB’s continued expanding roster of international talent.
The action continues with BYB 19 on August 10th in South Florida, BYB 20 on September 16th in Biloxi, Mississippi, BYB 21 on October 21st in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and BYB 22, a special show in December with the location and date to be announced in due course.
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 globally to expand the fanbase growing sport of bareknuckle fighting. For more information on BYB, visit bybextreme.com and follow @bybextreme on social.
About beIN SPORTS North America
Launched in 2012, beIN SPORTS offers viewers world-class sports content and entertainment across multiple platforms including TV channels beIN SPORTS and beIN SPORTS en Español, live streaming on beIN SPORTS CONNECT and free English-language channel, beIN SPORTS XTRA. A cornerstone of beIN SPORTS is its unrivaled live soccer coverage, which includes live matches from LaLiga, Ligue 1, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, Recopa Sudamericana, Turkish Süper Lig, Africa Cup of Nations, CAF Confederation Cup, CAF Champions League and International Friendlies as well as news and in-depth analysis of all the top leagues from around the world. In addition to soccer, beIN SPORTS serves as a haven for fans of wrestling, mixed martial arts (MMA), skiing and handball, among others. Through beIN SPORTS CONNECT, authenticated subscribers in the U.S. and DTC Pay subscribers in Canada can also enjoy all the exciting action from the two networks and stream live overflow matches offered in HD on their computer, tablet or smartphone. Fans can also experience live high-quality sports properties for free via beIN SPORTS XTRA. This includes season-long access to XTRA soccer matches, XTRA combat sports, XTRA adventure sports, XTRA original studio productions, and a robust library of historically relevant sporting events. For more information, visit www.beINSPORTS.com and www.beINSPORTSXTRA.com. www.beINSPORTS.com
Rock Hill, SC – In the main event for BYB 17 Brawl at Rock Hill in Rock Hill, South Carolina and in front of a hostile crowd, Mark Irwin out-battled Joshua Oxendine for five rounds to win by majority decision and claim the first ever BYB Lightweight Championship.
In the co-main event, Jozette Cotton successfully defended the Police Gazette World Diamond Belt against Jamie Driver by 7-round UD, knocking the challenger down several times throughout the contest.
Ryan Jett handed Trevor Ollison his first bare knuckle defeat TKO’ing the Man Blackie Chan in the first.
Former UFC star Rashad Coulter stays undefeated in bare knuckle making easy work of Jordan Mitchell and staked his claim for a title match against BYB heavyweight champ DJ Linderman.
Kylle McMillan handed Tylor Sigmon his first loss in the Trigon with a 5 round UD.
Charlotte’s Maurice Morris knocked out former BYB heavyweight Harris Aiken in a cruiserweight matchup.
In his bare knuckle debut, Harold McQueen knocked out Pablo Caballero handing the Argentinian his first loss in 4 contests.
Zion Tomlinson finished Mattia Fonda in the second round by TKO.
The night’s opener went the distance with an impressive performance in his BYB debut by Matt Almy against a tough Kendell Ward. Almy won by UD after 5.
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.
