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Karate Combat announces two-night, eight-man heavyweight tournament and four title fights

Karate Combat announces two-night, eight-man heavyweight tournament and four title fights

USA Today10-07-2025
Karate Combat is going big with a "Last Man Standing" tournament as a part of a two-night event.
Thursday, the promotion announced an eight-man heavyweight tournament featuring UFC veterans and champions from multiple organizations. The tournament takes place in Miami across two events on July 18-19. The back-to-back events will also host four title fights, including the return of Aline Pereira, the younger sister of former UFC champion Alex Pereira.
Competing in the heavyweight tournament will be UFC veterans Robelis Despaigne, Tim Johnson, Chase Sherman, Alan Belcher, Zac Pauga and Braxton Smith. Former Glory kickboxing champion Saulo Cavalari and Bellator veteran Daniel James round out the field. The winner of the tournament will become the No. 1 contender to face current champion, Sam Alvey.
In addition to the heavyweight tournament, the two-day event will see two title fights each night. On the July 18 card, bantamweight champion Arturo Vergara faces Adam Noi, and Sthefanie Oliveira puts her strawweight title on the line against Jade Jorand. On July 19, lightweight champion Shahzaib Rind takes on Luiz Rocha, and Pereira faces Fani Peloumpi for the women's flyweight title.
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