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| (Image Source: FightBook MMA/BRAVE Combat Federation) |
BRAVE Combat Federation has been recognized by FightBook MMA as the number one Global Promotion in mixed martial arts following a historic 2023. Throughout the year, the organization broke the world record for being hosted in most countries and extended it – now, BRAVE CF has hosted shows in 30 different nations. The company has also brokered gigantic broadcasting deals which have increased its viewership in almost a billion potential households while also hosting the first international editions of the BRAVE International Combat Week (BICW).
The biggest combat sports festival on the planet, the BICW took place outside of Bahrain for the first time last February when Serbia played host to an incredible week with the IMMAF World Championship and a sold-out BRAVE CF 69 with 20,000 fans flocking the Stark Arena. In the main event of the evening, Abdisalam Kubanychbek unified the Lightweight world title in a huge performance against a very tough Kamil Magomedov. The BICW then had its first edition in South America, once again in association with IMMAF (International MMA Federation) which hosted its Pan-American Championships – BRAVE CF 73 headlined the Pan-American BICW again with a world title on the line – the vacant Bantamweight championship was won by Jose Torres in a blockbuster fight against Nkosi Ndebele (who would later go on to claim the title in the rematch).
On two occasions, BRAVE CF broke the world record for host countries by a mixed martial arts organization – first by reaching 29 nations with BRAVE CF 74, in France; and then extending it by 30 nations, with Spain at BRAVE CF 75. Another milestone in 2023 was the 800th athlete that has fought for BRAVE CF with the organization now having given global opportunities to 821 fighters from 88 different countries, highlighting its international reach.
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BRAVE CF Announces Two Events For Slovenia In 2024 With Partner Organization WFC
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| (Image Source: BRAVE Combat Federation) |
BRAVE Combat Federation officially announced that it will make its return to Slovenia in 2024 in association with leading regional promotion WFC. Following the announcement of the partnership between the two organizations, BRAVE CF is excited to confirm two events taking place in the said country where the first will happen on April 20, 2024 in Ljubljana and the second show will occur on October 19, 2024. BRAVE CF and Slovenia have a long-standing relationship dating back to early 2020 – in January of that year, BRAVE CF and WFC put on BRAVE CF 34, the first-ever BRAVE CF show in the country. Benoit Saint-Denis earned his first BRAVE CF win on that night with victories for the likes of Zach Makovsky and Phil Hawes also brightening up the first Slovenian event.
In 2023, BRAVE CF returned to Ljubljana for BRAVE CF 70 headlined by Erko Jun’s debut in which he earned a KO win over local legend Marko Drmonjic. The event also featured a gigantic battle between Joilton Lutterbach and Andreas Gustafsson Berg which is one of the candidates for Fight of The Year at the 2023 BRAVE CF Awards. BRAVE CF’s commitment to the development of European MMA continues at full speed as the partnership with WFC comes into effect. The next generation of superstars from the continent will have the opportunity to emulate the likes of Ilia Topuria, Khamzat Chimaev, Benoit Saint-Denis, Muhammad Mokaev, and many others, who have excelled in the BRAVE CF Arena in previous years.
Last year, BRAVE CF also increased its European presence, returning to Serbia and Slovenia and debuting in France and Spain which means that BRAVE CF has gone to 13 European nations more than any other continent. On February 2, 2024, BRAVE CF president Mohammed Shahid and WFC president Zlatko Mahic will be in attendance at NEBO in Ljubljana for the official press conference launching the partnership and the two events that will take place in Slovenia in 2024.
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Major League Wrestling, Oceania Pro Wrestling Forge International Partnership
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| (Image Source: Major League Wrestling) |
In an exciting move that promises to break barriers in interpromotional collaborations, Major League Wrestling (MLW) and Oceania Pro Wrestling (OPW) have officially announced a partnership. This collaboration between the two organizations marks a significant step forward in expanding the global reach and impact of both promotions. “We are thrilled to team with Oceania Pro Wrestling. The fans down under are some of the most passionate and we can’t wait to bring them something special as two organizations team-up for some exciting opportunities. Buckle up, we’re going to give you an unforgettable experience," said MLW CEO Court Bauer.
“We have some exciting broadcasting announcements to come for 2024 that will involve the MLW and OPW relationship. This is a truly unique partnership by two innovative wrestling companies, to have OPW champions recognised by MLW as their regional champions and to bring MLW to Australia in 2024 and beyond. OPW wrestlers will show MLW fans how good we are down under, and who knows what that will mean for MLW in the future," said OPW owner Cam Vale. The partnership between MLW and Oceania Pro Wrestling is set to bring about a myriad of collaborations, showcasing the best of both worlds in professional wrestling. From championships to innovative content creation, fans can expect a thrilling array of fights and entertainment that transcends geographical boundaries.
MLW has been on an impressive trajectory of growth in recent times. The addition of renowned wrestler and MMA fighter Matt Riddle to its roster has fueled excitement among fans, adding a new dynamic to MLW’s already stacked lineup. MLW programming has now expanded its reach to 60 countries, solidifying its position as a global wrestling phenomenon. The highly anticipated launch of MLW’s action figure line with Boss Fight Studio is just around the corner, promising fans the opportunity to own a piece of their favorite MLW stars. MLW has also been making waves by expanding its 2024 tour schedule to include: Tampa, Chicago, and New York City, bringing MLW’s signature fusion of wrestling styles to audiences nationwide. Oceania Pro Wrestling has distinguished itself in the wrestling world hosting a diverse range of wrestling experiences in the Oceania including the highly acclaimed Starrcast Down Under and marquee wrestling events.
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Global Fight League Announces Groundbreaking Docu-Series To Launch The World's First Team-Based International MMA League
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| (Image Source: FightBook MMA/Global Fight League |
The Global Fight League (GFL) – formerly known as the “World Fight League” – is set to launch the world’s first team-based international MMA league in unprecedented fashion with an in-depth documentary series exploring the current state of the combat sports industry. The docuseries will give fans a first-of-its-kind look at the formation of the first true MMA League, from fighter recruitment and business operations to the selection of eight inaugural global team franchise locations.
A key focus of the series will be following 64 professional fighters’ lives as they compete in one of eight tournaments across three events for the first official GFL Team Contracts. Submissions are now open for fighters to register for the docuseries and tournaments at mmagfl.com. GFL made headlines when founder and Commissioner Darren Owen announced the league as the first ever MMA entity to implement a 50/50 revenue share between the independent team owners and athletes. The groundbreaking league will also classify all GFL athletes as employees with guaranteeing contracts, health insurance, and pension plans.
“From fighter pay to health care, the Combat Sports industry as it currently stands is riddled with issues the current leaders have no interest in solving. With this league and docuseries we’re going to show fans not only the unfiltered journey of athletes in this business, but also how the historically proven league model will address the biggest issues they face. Global Fight League is the evolution of MMA, with a forward-thinking leadership team that will partner with athletes to ensure their biggest needs are met while delivering high quality fights for fans around the world," commented Owen.
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TrillerTV Scores AFC Asian Cup 2023 Rights For UK And Ireland
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| (Image Source: TrillerTV/Asian Football Confederation) |
TrillerTV, the global streaming service formerly known as FITE, announced the exclusive acquisition of broadcasting rights for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ in the UK & Ireland. The deal makes all of its games available live as part of the TrillerTV+ subscription. The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ is the pinnacle of Asian football, featuring the best talent from the top 24 footballing nations in Asia. TrillerTV+ subscribers in the UK & Ireland can look forward to live matches and on-demand highlights, presented in a 'EURO' style group stage + knock-out stage format, with the crowning of Asia's best team emanating from Lusail Stadium on February 10, 2024.
"Witness Asia's world-renowned players and international star coaches competing for the most prestigious title in Asian football. Our exclusive rights deal for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ reinforces our dedication to bringing top-tier sports & entertainment content to our passionate audience," said TrillerTV Vice President of Subscriptions Adam Bigwood. The move continues TrillerTVs expansion beyond its roots in combat sports and follows the presentation of the AFC Champions League regular season as well as recent additions of Liga Portugal Betclic and Rugby League World Cup in major markets. TrillerTV+ presents a growing array of sports including football, boxing, MMA, wrestling and more and includes unlimited on-demand access to the entire TrillerTV+ library with over 4,000 hours from more than 100 organizations from around the world. The rights acquisition for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 was facilitated by sports marketing agency AFG, further highlighting TrillerTV+'s commitment to partnering with industry leaders to deliver top-tier sports events to its global audience.
AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ will showcase the best Asian national teams as they vie for the ultimate glory in an intense and highly competitive football environment in Qatar. Notable players from clubs across England's Premier League, including Mitoma Kaoru (Brighton), Endo Wataru (Liverpool), Tomiyasu Takehiro (Arsenal), Son Heung-min (Spurs), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolves), and across Europe; Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Lee Kang-in (PSG), Kubo Takefusa (Real Sociedad), and many more, will grace the tournament with their presence. In addition to the stellar player lineup, the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ will also feature renowned coaches including Jurgen Klinsmann managing Korea Republic, Paulo Bento leading United Arab Emirates, Philippe Troussier guiding Vietnam, and Roberto Mancini at the helm of Saudi Arabia. The tournament promises to be a showcase of football excellence at every level.
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ONE Championship Returns To The U.S. In 2024 With ONE Fight Night Events In Denver And Atlanta
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| (Image Source: ONE Championship) |
ONE Championship, the world’s largest martial arts organization, is return to the U.S. in 2024 with the announcement of live events at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado for ONE Fight Night 26 on September 6, 2024 and State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia for ONE Fight Night 28 on November 8, 2024. Coming off a successful U.S. debut last May 2023 with ONE Fight Night 10 at the sold-out 1stBank Center in Colorado, ONE will look to carry that momentum into 2024 with all monthly ONE Fight Night events continuing to air live on Prime Video in the U.S. and Canada.
ONE Championship Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong stated, “We’re thrilled to return to the U.S. to showcase the greatest World Champion martial arts in the country’s best cities and sports arenas. America remains a high-priority market for us as we continue our global expansion, and we can’t wait to get back on-ground to entertain our passionate fanbase in the region with quarterly U.S. events in September 2024 and beyond.” Details on the fight card and ticket on-sale will be announced at a later date, but you can register online at https://onefc-6876030.hs-sites.com/en/oneus-pre-sale-registration for the latest ticket pre-sale information for these events.
Stage Front VIP, the exclusive U.S. VIP experience partner of ONE Championship, will continue to provide fans with unrivaled access through immersive VIP experiences that include premier seating, premium hospitality offerings, athlete meet-and-greets, event collectibles, and more.
