Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA is set to return, and it will be hosting a pair of $500,000 U.S. tournaments in 2026.
In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Masvidal revealed that he has secured new funding for the promotion, which hosted several events in 2023 and 2024 featuring the likes of Junior Dos Santos, Roy “Big Country” Nelson, Alan Belcher and others.
After taking all of 2025 off, the promotion, which features the Unified Rules of MMA only without gloves, will host events on April 10 and May 1, 2026, kicking off tournaments at lightweight and heavyweight.
Among the fights announced, UFC heavyweight vet Todd Duffee will face former PFL star Bruno Cappelozza on the May 1 date in Miami, while Anthony Smith returns from retirement to face fellow UFC alum Chase Sherman as part of the April card.
A former UFC title challenger at light heavyweight, Smith (38-22) retired off a loss against Zhang Mingyang last year.
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA bears the nickname of its founder, Jorge “Gamebred” Masivdal, who also ran Gamebred FC and Gamebred Boxing in recent years. He told MMA Junkie Radio that “We’re giving as much money as we can to the fighters,” adding that “Really, who’s doing anything right now? It’s just worked out perfectly.”
Guto Innocente vs. Mohammed Usman and Alexandr Romanov vs. Nikolay Kovalenko have also been announced for the April card, which will be held in the Dominican Republic. Usman, brother of former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, was released by the UFC last year after failing a drug test.
