The first fight between these two marked Escoboza’s lone loss in bare-knuckle which took place during their July 2022 showdown. Of all of Warren’s BKFC wins, Escoboza was the lone fighter to go to the judges’ scorecards.

Jared Warren vs Jomi Escoboza II

When asked about what changes he may have seen in his opponent’s game before their sequel clash, Jared Warren said,

“I watched the two fights he’s had since I fought him. He won them both. It’s not even like a s**t talking kind of thing but I feel like he slowed down a little bit. Even though he won, I felt like he was looking kind of fatigued a bit in those fights. He had said something about he had a knee injury for one of them. So he wasn’t able to run as much or something.”

“But even though I do agree that he won the fights fair and square, I feel like he did slow down some. For me like I never stop training and never stop trying to improve. Because I feel like there’s just an endless amount of things to learn about boxing. So I’m just always in there trying to up my game and I’m definitely a much-improved fighter from our first fight two years ago. I’ve learned a lot of stuff since then.”

Lineal champion Lorenzo Hunt vacated the belt in this weight category. ‘The Juggernaut’ has a title reign at cruiserweight to focus on and also embarked on a recent attempt at BKFC heavyweight gold at KnuckleMania IV. Warren does admittedly wish he could have fought Hunt for this distinction. But that being said, ‘Captain Deadpool’ is just glad it’s a lineal belt and not for interim BKFC gold like his rematch with Josh Dyer was.

Jared Warren

The last fight Warren had saw him finish UK light heavyweight champion Danny Christie in the opening round at BKFC 55. The performance was so impressive that Mike Perry shouted out Warren’s effort there whilst appearing on The MMA Hour.

While BKFC middleweight champion and Shift Combat teammate David Mundell has been gunning for that Perry fight, if things pan out a certain way Warren thinks it would be cool to throw down with the King of Violence champion. Ultimately though, Warren is a true team player and would want his combative compatriot Mundell to get that coveted contest if possible.

The aforementioned Josh Dyer would seem next to fight whoever emerges as the champion. This inference can be made going off the present rankings hierarchy in the promotion.

BKFC 62

Warren has, as mentioned, fought Dyer twice before. When a possible fight down the line was mentioned to him, Jared Warren stated,

“Yeah, I’d definitely entertain it and down the line is key. The reason I say that is because he would need to earn it. If you look at his record, he hasn’t won a fight in almost three years. That’s because his last couple (of) fights which were like bigger paying, bigger name fights with me being included is they both ended on DQ. By something that he did because he was hurt both times. When he fought Joe Riggs, Joe Riggs dropped him.”

“He got up, he headbutted Joe Riggs. Split him open, it was a DQ, it was the end of the fight. Same thing, I fought him, I hurt him in the second round a couple (of) times, and he blasted me in the back of the head after the bell. I mean both times, he was looking for a way out. It sucks for everybody, the fighters involved. The organization doesn’t like it, they don’t want to have to pay to bring a kid back who keeps getting no contests and stuff.”

BKFC

Warren continued, “That being said if he actually went out, won a few fights fair and square then yeah I could see him being a possible contender. But as it sits right now, he doesn’t deserve the s***. Like I’ve been grinding, fighting the best guys consistently for years to get to this point. He’s been sitting on his ass being stupid (laughs).”

That being said, this Dyer discourse is moot unless Warren goes 2-0 over Jomi Escoboza. The number one ranked light heavyweight has a chance to do just that and finally cement himself as a lineal BKFC titleholder this weekend at BKFC 62 in Hollywood, Florida.

The post Jared Warren on Jomi Escoboza Rematch and Possible Mike Perry Fight appeared first on Cageside Press.

John Bryan has spent over two decades working for MGM, Disney and Warner Brothers and leads BYB’s broadcast and streaming partnership efforts. In regards to this acquisition Bryan noted, “The future is now. Major consumer brands and mainstream broadcasters and streaming services are quickly recognizing the untapped value of bare-knuckle fighting and its inevitable impact on the market.”

“BYB pioneered the sport and, having put together a sustainable roadmap for both the organization and the sport’s international growth, BYB has just accelerated this entire process by instantly increasing not only its live show output, but also its sponsored content library.”

BKB

Jim Freeman and Joe Smith-Brown began BKB in 2015l frequently running the Liverpool Echo Arena, London’s Indigo at the O2, has promoted internationally in Phuket, Thailand. BKB showcases a roster of over 175 combatants who are among some of the best bare-knuckle fighters in the world including Jimmy Sweeney, Marko Martinjak, Barrie Jones and Dan Chapman.

Both Freeman and Smith-Brown will stay with BYB in executive roles. Freeman will continue to handle day-to-day operations for BYB Extreme in Europe while Smith-Brown will stay on with BYB Extreme to oversee continued European expansion.

BYB president Mike Vazquez said, “This is an unprecedented tipping point in mainstream bare-knuckle fighting globally. Since the inception of both companies, we’ve maintained and developed a working relationship with BKB that has showcased cross-promotional fights since 2021, giving fans what they truly want and deserve: the best fighters in the world, taking the gloves off and facing one another in the oldest and purest form of combat sports. This acquisition was a natural next step in becoming the biggest, baddest bare-knuckle company in the world, with the largest international footprint and over 250 fighters from six continents and over two dozen countries, not to mention broadcasting on numerous platforms, globally, and to millions of people.”

BKB’s Smith-Brown stated, “Over the past decade, we’ve had the pleasure of growing alongside BYB, and in doing so are proud to have paved the way for bare-knuckle to grow throughout Europe and the World. BKB has been instrumental in ushering the fastest-growing combat sport on the planet to meet its growing international demand. We are proud to have created one of the world’s leading combat sports companies, and the acquisition by BYB is evidence of that. From here, the sky’s the limit. There’s now no better place or bigger stage than BYB for fighters and fans alike in the bare-knuckle arena.”

The post BYB Extreme Acquires BKB In Massive Bare Knuckle Move appeared first on Cageside Press.

Dada 5000 is best known for being the main character in the documentary “Dawg Fight,” as well as for his Bellator 149 brawl with the late Kimbo Slice. The fight with Slice was notable for Dada being rushed to hospital after the bout, allegedly having two heart attacks in the cage, and remaining hospitalized for weeks afterward. However, the loss would soon be turned into a no-contest following a drug-test failure from Slice. Dada 5000 would not be seen in the public eye for some time following the bout.

Last April Dada reemerged, and made the jump from promoting backyard fights to fights in a cage. Bare Knuckle Boxing has become something of a popular combat sport since its legalization in Wyoming in 2018. Dada 5000 launched BYB Extreme Fighting Series last April, another upstart Bare Knuckle organization. The promotion notably debuted the triangular “trigon” cage at the event, which has been proclaimed as the smallest cage in combat sports. Their first event was held in Wyoming, and after a year hiatus, BYB is back.

This time, the card is set to go down in Dada’s backyard of Hollywood, Florida. Taking place at the Hard Rock Casino, as of right now there are only two fights confirmed for the card, although Dada told Cageside Press that the card will likely be finalized this week with ten fights for the event. The main event for the card features Matt “The Attack” Kovacs taking on PFL veteran Muhammed “Mo Muscle” DeReese. The co-main is expected to be a showdown between Mike Trujilo, against Matt Delanoit. Trujillo and Delanoit both fought on the first BYB card as well.

The card is expected to be broadcast on PPV. In a statement to Cageside Press Dada 5000 said of the card: “It’s game over for the rest, the best done linked up with the best! On March 7, we will put together the greatest Bare-Knuckle show on Earth.”

The post Dada 5000’s “Brawl at the Rock” Set for March 7, PFL Vet Muhammed DeReese Faces Matt Kovacs appeared first on Cageside Press.

Editor’s Note: Adam LeBarr is a Staff Writer for BKB.

Brad Pickett, better known to some as ‘One Punch’ is set to make his bare-knuckle boxing debut late next month at BKB 16 in the O2 Arena, rather close to home for the former UFC and WEC competitor. His debut will mark the end of a two-year retirement, at least when talking about competing, as he still remains retired from MMA.

Pickett had his first professional MMA bout in November of 2004, later helping pave the way for the lighter weight-classes, ultimately bringing them to the grandest stage of mixed martial arts, the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He would make his first appearance for the promotion in November 2011, where he would suffer a loss in a thrilling fight against former Bantamweight champion, Renan Barao.

Now moved on from mixed martial arts, at least for now (you never know), ‘One Punch’ recounts his favorite moment of his MMA career, taking us down memory lane.

Cageside Press spoke with Brad Pickett while in training for his up-and-coming BKB bout, and his personal, close-to-home favorite moment comes as no surprise.

“Knocking out Yves [Jabouin] in Nottingham, England, with an uppercut. He was a dangerous striker, and also with a nickname like ‘One Punch’ it’s nice to live up to it once in a while,” he laughed.

At UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. Miocic in September of 2012, Pickett would score a first-round knockout of Jabouin, bringing his record at the time to 2-1 under the UFC banner.

Simply put, Pickett says his first emotion was pure happiness, saying, “[It] was great to fight in front of all my family and friends.”

During his 13-year career, competing for Cage Rage, WEC, UFC, etc. Pickett has many, many fantastic moments. With over 17 combined finishes, 25 total victories, Brad will now look to find success in the born-again sport that is bare-knuckle boxing. He will make his debut against Mark Handley, who is currently 2-0-1 in BKB.

What was your favorite moment of Brad Pickett’s MMA career? Leave a comment below.

The post Ahead of BKB Debut, Brad Pickett Recounts Favorite Moment of MMA Career appeared first on Cageside Press.

Dada 5000, also known as Dhafir Harris, is a former backyard fighter, and Bellator star most notable for nearly dying after his fight with Kimbo Slice at Bellator 149. After suffering a heart attack in the cage and being in cardiac arrest, Dada survived and subsequently went into the shadows for a bit. However, back from the dead, Dada is back in front of the MMA world. This time, in a promoter’s role.

Bare Knuckle Boxing has been a sport on the rise since the legalization of it in Wyoming among other states since last summer. Dada is capitalizing on this recent trend by bringing BYB Brawl 1: “Brawl For It All” to Cheyenne Ice & Event Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on April 5. The nine-fight card will be on PPV, on DirectTV, Dish, In Demand, and also on FITE TV for the low price of $25.

BYB Brawl 1 will be headlined by a rematch between “Chocolate” Alfonso Frierson and Mike Trujillo, who both appeared in the “Dawg Fight” documentary. Also, former Bellator and Contender Series competitor Jamelle Jones will square off against MMA veteran Matt Kovacs in another bout. All fights will be contested in the “Trigon Triangle” cage, a 187 square foot, triangle-shaped structure that includes 7-foot high fences.

According to a press release with Sherdog, Dada is “fully recovered” from the injuries he suffered against Slice in their 2016 bout. After a third-round TKO loss to Slice at the Toyota Center in Houston in which both fighters badly gassed, Dada was transported to a hospital, where he suffered from severe dehydration, fatigue, and renal failure. Dada alleged after the bout that he suffered two heart attacks as well, supposedly dying in the cage in the process.

However, Slice would test positive for performance-enhancing drugs after the fight and the fight would be overturned to a no-contest. This means that Dada 5000 died in the cage, and yet still didn’t lose. The press release also says that Harris is “far from being a retired fighter” and hints that he could return to compete under the BYB Promotion.

The post “Dada 5000” Returns to Promote Bare Knuckle Boxing Event in April appeared first on Cageside Press.