Latest news with #bareknuckleboxing
News.com.au
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Outrage as bare knuckle fighter kisses opponent on stage
Fight fans were left stunned after a bareknuckle boxer kissed her opponent during their final face-off. Former UFC stars Mariya Agapova and Jessica Eye took part in a tense final staredown on Saturday (AEST) at the BKFC 76 ceremonial weigh-ins. Tensions between the former flyweight standouts were high before their faced off, The Sun reports. And Kazakh killer Agapova upped the ante by kissing Eye on the lips after she got right in her face. UFC 317 Topuria vs Oliveira | SUN 29 JUN 12PM AEST | One of the biggest fight cards of the year has arrived. Spain's Ilia Topuria looks to capture the vacant lightweight title against former champion, Charles Oliveira | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Eye, 38, didn't take kindly to Agapova's aggressive show of affection. The former UFC flyweight title challenger pushed her away and said: 'That's so weird. So f***ing weird.' Footage of the bizarre incident spread like wildfire on social media, with one fight fan commenting: 'That was weird.' Another said: 'I guess Eye dealt with it well…. That's just cringe, though.' And another said: ' It's gonna be an interesting match.' One remarked: 'It's mad that these two were once in the UFC.' Another chimed in: 'Looking forward to after the fight more.' Agapova gave a short and sweet answer when asked why she decided to plant one on Eye's lips. Agapova said of the incident: 'She just came too close.' An annoyed Eye took to Instagram to further vent her frustration, he said: 'You disrespected a warrior. 'Now you're just the fuel for the fire that's about to burn your name.' Both Agapova and Eye are in desperate need of a win having both lost their last SIX FIGHTS in a row, with the former's skid comprising of losses in boxing, grappling and MMA. Meanwhile, UFC thug Conor McGregor has been filmed striking a club reveller to the ground with two brutal punches in a packed Ibiza nightclub. Footage obtained by The Sun shows the ex-UFC star, 36, striking a man in the infamous Pacha nightclub on the Spanish party island while drinking on Tuesday morning.
The Sun
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘That was f***ing weird' – Moment female bare knuckle fighter KISSES opponent on lips in awkward face-off
FIGHT fans were left stunned after a bareknuckle boxer KISSED her opponent during their final face-off. Former UFC stars Mariya Agapova and Jessica Eye took part in a tense final staredown on Friday night at the BKFC 76 ceremonial weigh-ins. 3 3 Tensions between the former flyweight standouts were high before their faced off. And Kazakh killer Agapova upped the ante by KISSING Eye on the lips after she got right in her face. Eye, 38, didn't take kindly to Agapova's aggressive show of affection. The former UFC flyweight title challenger pushed her away and said: "That's so weird. So f***ing weird." Footage of the bizarre incident spread like wildfire on social media, with one fight fan commenting: " That was weird." Another said: "I guess Eye dealt with it well…. That's just cringe, though." And another said: " It's gonna be an interesting match." JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 3 Another chimed in: "Looking forward to after the fight more." Agapova gave a short and sweet answer when asked why she decided to plant one on Eye's lips. Agapova said of the incident: "She just came too close." An annoyed Eye took to Instagram to further vent her frustration, he said: "You disrespected a warrior. "Now you're just the fuel for the fire that's about to burn your name." Both Agapova and Eye are in desperate need of a win having both lost their last SIX FIGHTS in a row, with the former's skid comprising of losses in boxing, grappling and MMA.
CBS News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Inspired by daughters, UFC fighter John "Doomsday" Howard teaches women self-defense in Mass.
This weekend John "Doomsday" Howard will enter his 50th fight when he takes on Pat Casey in a bare-knuckle boxing bout at Mohegan Sun. The UFC mixed-martial arts legend, and Dorchester native, will be entering the ring at 42-years-old. In between training sessions, he teaches women self-defense at his dojo. Each class has become personal. "I feel more connection, honestly teaching women versus men," explains Howard, the father of a son and three daughters. "I have experienced violence with my kids and that still hurts me. You can see me right now I am trying not to cry." Family impacted by violence His son and daughter were the victims of gun violence. His daughter survived a gunshot to the head, while his son was shot in the foot. "The bullet is still lodged in her head, and because of complications, we can't remove it right now, so that comes with other complications," said an emotional Howard. "Even if you try to avoid violence sometimes violence happens." He sees a bit of his daughters in every person he trains in self-defense. John "Doomsday" Howard teaches a self-defense class in Easton, Massachusetts. CBS Boston Those women will soon be watching him compete in his bare-knuckle boxing match. As a UFC fighter he has a mixed martial arts record of 24-13-0. This will be a new experience just using his hands. "It's basically boxing with no gloves. I'm excited. It's my debut," said Howard. Autism is his "superpower" This fight comes more than a decade after Howard was diagnosed with autism. "It explained a lot of stuff that happened in my life, and why I reacted to certain stuff," said Howard. "I treat it like a superpower. There are certain things it enhances for me, and certain things I struggle upon. It's like being Superman. You have all of these superpowers, but there is kryptonite." Howard will try to channel those powers in the ring on June 14.
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Channel Seven star wants 'brutal' sport BANNED after joining Anthony Albanese in campaign against event championed by UFC bad boy Conor McGregor
Plans to bring bare-knuckle boxing to Perth have been dealt a serious blow - and now, former Channel Seven personality turned Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas is leading calls for the sport to be permanently banned. The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship [BKFC], co-owned by UFC icon Conor McGregor, was expected to stage its Australian debut in Perth this July. Instead, the WA Combat Sports Commission has declined the application, leaving organisers scrambling and critics relieved. Zempilas, once a mainstay of Seven's AFL and Olympic coverage, now serves as Leader of the Opposition and head of the WA Liberal Party. He's demanding the State Government take the next step and outlaw the sport altogether, arguing it has no place in Western Australia. 'It was very clear that a significant majority of Western Australians did not want this brutal sport to be coming to Perth,' Zempilas said. 'It should not have taken this long, and there are still lots of questions.' He urged the Combat Sports Commission, chaired by former Labor Minister Bob Kucera, to publicly explain why the permit was denied. 'We don't know what criteria was not met, or how the decision was reached,' he said. 'We don't know whether there were discussions between the Minister and the Commission, and it would appear the door is still open.' Zempilas said a full ban would be the only way to prevent future applications. 'That's what we want. Clearly that's what the people of Western Australia want.' 'It sets a bad example, there is very little demand.' 'And it took the long way and a confusing way to get there, but I'm pleased that the common sense decision was ultimately reached.' His stance has been echoed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who also voiced concerns earlier this week. Speaking to Triple M, Albanese said: 'A bit of common sense - you've got to look after people's health a bit and maybe save people from themselves.' He referred to the rising awareness of concussion and long-term brain damage in sport. 'I just think we've got to be much more conscious about health issues,' he said. Albanese mentioned a recent conversation with former rugby league great Mark Carroll about the long-term effects of concussion. 'It's a bit crazy,' the Prime Minister said, when asked directly about bare knuckle fighting. The Australian Medical Association WA has also taken aim at the proposed event. 'We have a domestic violence crisis,' said AMA WA President Michael Page. 'We have people sorting out their problems with their fists in Northbridge on Saturday night.' 'This is not the type of example our community needs. 'We don't need this type of race to the bottom with bloody violence.' The WA Government had faced pressure over the event's approval, particularly as Sports Minister Rita Saffioti had previously defended it. She argued it was difficult to justify banning bare-knuckle fighting while continuing to support UFC events for tourism purposes. 'I can't differentiate between this and UFC,' she said. 'Just because it's not my cup of tea, or the Premier's cup of tea, doesn't mean we have the right to say no.' Still, the application was ultimately rejected. A statement from the Combat Sports Commission confirmed the decision but offered no detailed explanation. 'After careful consideration, the Board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria,' it read. BKFC President David Feldman had previously insisted the show would go ahead, calling Australia 'perfect for showcasing BKFC.' Among the scheduled bouts was a heavyweight clash between former UFC fighter Ben Rothwell and Australian strongman Alex 'Godly Strong' Simon. Simon, who once tipped the scales at 181kg and has a background in powerlifting, has spoken openly about his time in prison. The co-main event would have featured Tasmania's 'Rowdy' Bec Rawlings, the competition's first-ever female champion. Rawlings was set to face off against Canadian fighter Jade Masson-Wong. The proposed matches were set to take place at RAC Arena on July 19. But with the permit denied and calls for a ban intensifying, the future of BKFC in Australia looks doubtful. Zempilas has called for a full explanation from the WA Government and a clear statement that the sport is unwelcome. 'The Premier and Sports Minister are still duty-bound to act,' he said.
ABC News
05-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Australian bare-knuckle fighting event denied for Perth
Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission has declined an application for a bare-knuckle boxing event in Perth. In a statement, a spokesperson for the commission said the board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria. The WA government has faced intense scrutiny over the proposed event by medical experts and the opposition in recent weeks. Australian Medical Association WA President Michael Page expressed concern about the lack of protective gear. "We know that any sport that involves repetitive knocks to the head — and this is quite clearly that — puts people at risk of not only acute concussion and acute brain injury, but also chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is where people, years after they've been involved in these sports, progressively develop personality changes, memory difficulties and dementia," he said. Last week, the head of the commission Bob Kucera said while many people regard the sport with distaste, banning it would simply drive it underground. The decision comes as the two main fights on the July 19 card were announced by the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship across social media on Wednesday with Perth Arena also advertising ticket sales for the event.
