Latest news with #BKFCIceWars
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
'Balance is everything': UFC alum Ian Heinisch finds traction with Ice Wars, BKFC fights on ice
'Balance is everything': UFC alum Ian Heinisch finds traction with Ice Wars, BKFC fights on ice Finding the perfect balance in life is important. It might be even more important in BKFC Ice Wars. If not, you might be in trouble. Fighting an opponent is difficult enough? But fighting physics if you don't have the tools? That sounds like an equal challenge – and the coinciding struggles is all part of the fun, says its president and former UFC fighter Ian Heinisch. "Balance is everything in this sport, so hockey players do have the advantage there," Heinisch recently told MMA Junkie. "But the fighters have that grit, that clinch work. They probably have more power in the hands. But that's what makes it so interesting. You have to have that full package of balance, of being good on skates most importantly because I don't care how hard you can throw a punch. If you can't balance, you're just going to fall down. It's going to be interesting to see who has the advantage. So far, I've seen more seasoned vets on the ice, enforcers, have the advantage. But now we have some UFC vets who can skates, so it's going to be very interesting to see how they fair against some of these hockey players." The start-up ice fighting series of the world's leading bareknuckle boxing brand is set to debut Saturday. It'll feature combatants from across the combat sports world, but also ex-hockey enforcers. It'll stream live and free across various platforms including YouTube, in an effort to spread brand awareness. But Heinisch thinks it won't take long before fight fans become well-acquainted. Heinisch never envisioned getting into the promoting game, but the opportunity fell in his lap. He's happy it did. His competitive career was cut short due to brain injuries, though he's doing better now. Heinisch found success in the crypto world, and now adds Ice Wars to his diverse portfolio. "It's going to take off," Heinisch said, confidently. The concept was developed by a third party, which ran a pilot series months prior to its BKFC partnership. With much room to grow and the previous owner encountering health issues, BKFC president David Feldman got involved and soon Heinisch, who had commentated the fights held under the previous regime, was named Ice Wars president. "I was introduced through some friends," Heinisch said. "It was kind of like the beta testing for the Ice Wars concept. It was a lesser-production regional thing. They were kind of testing it out but I was one of the lead commentators then. I saw the fights and I had no idea what to expect, but it was special. These fights were incredible. There were so many techniques that I could've never imagined would be for hockey fighting. Some people were in the clinch. Some people had their hands down skating backward, slipping and ripping. I said, 'You know what? This is special. But the show is ran terribly.' It didn't have good backing but I stayed in touch with the owner. He had a life-threatening condition where he had to get heart surgery. We just stayed in touch and he eventually got this connection with Dave Feldman and BKFC and they basically said they were going to fully back it. They wanted to make in the sister company of BKFC. They loved the idea. Originally, I was just going to be the commentator but I was offered to step into a partial owner and be the president of the promotion, so I jumped all over it. I thought it was a great opportunity for me. I have the connections. I've seen poorly-ran promotions and I've see the highest of the high with the UFC, so I was all about it. I believe in what they're doing and I believe this is absolutely going to skyrocket." BKFC Ice Wars 1: "Battle at the Border" takes place at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. – on Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe reservation land. Heinisch said the company is working to get the sport sanctioned in ABC commission-regulated areas as well. The BKFC brass has recent experience, having led the charge in getting bareknuckle boxing, a sport long outlawed, sanctioned in dozens of states. "We're in uncharted territories but we have someone who has been through all of this before, Dave Feldman," Heinisch said. "Him getting bareknuckle sanctioned in all these states, and now them being one of the top fight promotions. So there are all these hoops to jump through. It's just such a new concept but we are being well-received in many states and I believe after they see these fights and they see this is an actual new sport, I think it's going to be opened up nationwide." Heinisch anticipates Saturday's launch will kick off an ambitious schedule of six-to-eight events in 2025, followed by 20-24 in 2026. Fighters are being signed to multifight deals. Two such examples are former UFC fighters Brian Kelleher and Charles Rosa, who have yet to have their debut matchups announced. "We have a lot of interest," Heinisch said. "People love this concept. But when you have the BKFC backing us, we have major interest with sponsors. We have an incredible team. We have an amazing startup guy from Tom Brady's portfolio. We have Dave Feldman guiding us, his production team, his marketing team, sponsors. Obviously now, I'm bringing in my fight knowledge. I'm having fighters in my DMs all the time. It's just proof of concept. Like, we don't even have an official fight. Yes, Ice Wars have been done before but that was with gloves. This is bareknuckle Ice Wars. Right now, we already have peaked the interest of the entire MMA community and boxing community and bareknuckle boxing community. I think after this first fight, the floodgates are going to open."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
LiveOne (Nasdaq: LVO) to Stream BKFC Ice Wars' 'Battle of the Border' USA vs. Canada Fight Night in Over 200 Countries
June 18, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT at ( LOS ANGELES, June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LiveOne (Nasdaq: LVO), an award-winning, creator-first music, entertainment, and technology platform, today announced a partnership with new combat discipline BKFC Ice Wars for their upcoming 'Battle of the Border' USA vs. Canada event. The 'Battle of the Border' is slated to showcase ten head-to-head bouts, featuring twenty elite fighters from the United States and Canada who will square off in 'The Ice Box,' a 900-square foot ice enclosure designed specifically for ice fighting. LiveOne will be hosting the livestream for this groundbreaking event on June 18, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT at ( Rob Ellin, CEO and Chairman of LiveOne, commented, 'As a livestream distribution partner, we're excited to partner with BKFC Ice Wars ahead of their first televised event under the new BKFC Ice Wars banner. LiveOne's first-class streaming platform reaches over 200 million viewers and generates more than 5 billion fan engagements across 220 countries—ensuring BKFC Ice Wars' unique brand of combat sports gets the global attention it deserves.' Charlie Nama, CEO of BKFC Ice Wars, added, 'As Ice Wars' reputation grows and demand for our events continues to soar, LiveOne's world-class streaming partnership empowers us to deliver our one-of-a-kind entertainment to an even broader audience. We're thrilled to bring our fans closer than ever to the action.' About LiveOneHeadquartered in Los Angeles, CA, LiveOne (Nasdaq: LVO) is an award-winning, creator-first, music, entertainment, and technology platform focused on delivering premium experiences and content worldwide through memberships and live and virtual events. LiveOne's subsidiaries include Slacker, PodcastOne (Nasdaq: PODC), PPVOne, CPS, LiveXLive, DayOne Music Publishing, Drumify and Splitmind. LiveOne is available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Spotify, Samsung, Amazon Fire, Android TV, and through STIRR's OTT applications. For more information, visit and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X at @liveone. For more investor information, please visit About BKFC Ice Wars BKFC Ice Wars is the first promotion to hold legal, sanctioned and regulated hockey fights. Based in Michigan, and headed by BKFC Executive Charlie Nama, Ice Wars is a brand-new combat sport consisting of elite hockey enforcers squaring off in 'The Ice Box,' a 900-square foot enclosure designed specifically for ice fighting. It's hockey fights, without the hockey. For more information, visit and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and X. Forward-Looking StatementsAll statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are 'forward-looking statements,' which may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words as 'may,' 'might,' 'will,' 'will likely result,' 'would,' 'should,' 'estimate,' 'plan,' 'project,' 'forecast,' 'intend,' 'expect,' 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'seek,' 'continue,' 'target' or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including: LiveOne's reliance on its largest OEM customer for a substantial percentage of its revenue; LiveOne's ability to consummate any proposed financing, acquisition, spin-out, special dividend, merger, distribution or transaction, the timing of the consummation of any such proposed event, including the risks that a condition to the consummation of any such event would not be satisfied within the expected timeframe or at all, or that the consummation of any proposed financing, acquisition, spin-out, merger, special dividend, distribution or transaction will not occur or whether any such event will enhance shareholder value; LiveOne's ability to continue as a going concern; LiveOne's ability to attract, maintain and increase the number of its users and paid members; LiveOne identifying, acquiring, securing and developing content; LiveOne's intent to repurchase shares of its and/or PodcastOne's common stock from time to time under LiveOne's announced stock repurchase program and the timing, price, and quantity of repurchases, if any, under the program; LiveOne's ability to maintain compliance with certain financial and other debt covenants; LiveOne successfully implementing its growth strategy, including relating to its technology platforms and applications; management's relationships with industry stakeholders; LiveOne's ability to repay its indebtedness when due; LiveOne's ability to satisfy the conditions for closing on its announced additional convertible debentures financing; uncertain and unfavorable outcomes in legal proceedings and/or LiveOne's ability to pay any amounts due in connection with any such legal proceedings; changes in economic conditions; competition; risks and uncertainties applicable to the businesses of LiveOne's subsidiaries; ; and other risks, uncertainties and factors including, but not limited to, those described in LiveOne's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') on July 1, 2024, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2024, filed with SEC on February 14, 2025, and in LiveOne's other filings and submissions with the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and LiveOne disclaims any obligation to update these statements, except as may be required by law. LiveOne intends that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. LiveOne Press Contact:press@ Follow LiveOne on social media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X at @ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BKFC unveils Ice Wars, new on-ice league for 'legal, sanctioned and regulated hockey fights'
BKFC is about to make hockey's favorite minigame its own league. (Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) (Boston Globe via Getty Images) BKFC is moving from the ring to the ice with its latest venture. The leader in bare-knuckle boxing announced Wednesday that it has acquired a stake in on-ice fight league Ice Wars, to create BKFC Ice Wars — touted Wednesday as a combat sports promotion specializing in "legal, sanctioned and regulated hockey fights." And yes, it's exactly how it sounds: Combat on ice, as you'll often see in the middle of a hockey game. Advertisement Ice Wars founder Charlie Nama is set to helm the project as CEO, with the first event titled "Battle of the Borders," pitting Americans vs. Canadians on June 14 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Both Nama and BKFC founder David Feldman released the following statements Wednesday via press release. Feldman: "We've been watching what the team at Ice Wars has been building, and it's been incredible to see the passionate response they've received from audiences. Their vision and energy align perfectly with what we do at BKFC — bringing raw, high-adrenaline combat sports to fans in a way they've never seen before. Partnering with them to create BKFC Ice Wars was an easy decision, and we're excited to take this to the next level together." Nama: "Partnering with BKFC is a game-changer for Ice Wars. BKFC's backing gives us the platform and resources to bring our sport to the world stage, creating a new frontier in combat sports. This isn't just a partnership — it's the fusion of two high-energy, no-holds-barred fight disciplines into one powerhouse league. Our first event is just the beginning, and we're building something that will redefine international prizefighting competition and entertainment." BKFC Ice Wars won't be as simple as, "Go out and fight on the ice." The new fight league will have its own set of rules, starting with bouts that consist of three or five 90-second rounds with one-minute breaks between them. Two referees will oversee the action with three rink-side judges scoring the fights as a whole, not round-by-round. Fighters will wear traditional hockey gear and four-ounce MMA gloves. Advertisement Weight classes and the official scoring criteria can be seen below. Scoring criteria - Judges shall evaluate the bout based on effective striking (Plan A), effective aggressiveness (Plan B), and control of the fighting area (Plan C). Plans B and C are only taken into consideration if Plan A is weighed as being even. Effective striking is judged by determining the impact/effect of legal strikes landed by a fighter solely based on the results of such legal strikes. Effective aggressiveness means aggressively making attempts to finish the fight. Fighting area control is assessed by determining who is dictating the pace, place and position of the bout. Weight Classes - Heavyweight (over 200 lbs.) Cruiserweight (175 to 200 lbs.) Middleweight (150 to 175 lbs.) Lightweight (under 150 lbs.) The first BKFC Ice Wars event is expected to be a 12-fight card. Instead of a traditional hockey ice rink, fights will occur in 'The Ice Box,' a 900-square-foot ice enclosure designed specifically for ice fighting. The sequel event is already planned for later the same month, on June 28, in Enoch, Alberta, Canada. BKFC Ice Wars is targeting at least four more events to finish out 2025 afterward.
USA Today
19-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
BKFC announces Ice Wars, an on-ice fight series without the hockey
BKFC Ice Wars is the latest addition to the combat sports rolodex. On Wednesday, BKFC announced it has purchased stake in Ice Wars, an on-ice league that has promoted hockey-esque fights since 2022. The promotions will combine for an inaugural BKFC Ice Wars event on June 14 at Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. The second event will take place north of the border at River Cree Casino & Resort in Enoch, Alberta, Canada. The events will be 'legal, sanctioned, and regulated' according to BKFC. Fights will take place in what the promotion is calling 'The Ice Box,' a 900-square foot ice enclosure designed specifically for ice fighting. Fighters will wear hockey equipment and four-ounce MMA gloves. Each bout will be between three and five rounds, of 90-seconds each with one-minute breaks in between. 'We've been watching what the team at Ice Wars has been building, and it's been incredible to see the passionate response they've received from audiences,' said David Feldman, Founder and President of BKFC said in a written statement Wednesday. 'Their vision and energy align perfectly with what we do at BKFC—bringing raw, high-adrenaline combat sports to fans in a way they've never seen before. Partnering with them to create BKFC Ice Wars was an easy decision, and we're excited to take this to the next level together.' There will be two linesman-esque referees on hand to officiate each fight with three judges scoring the contests. 'Judges shall evaluate the bout based on effective striking (Plan A), effective aggressiveness (Plan B), and control of the fighting area (Plan C),' according to the promotion. 'Plans B and C are only taken into consideration if Plan A is weighed as being even. Effective striking is judged by determining the impact/effect of legal strikes landed by a fighter solely based on the results of such legal strikes. Effective aggressiveness means aggressively making attempts to finish the fight. Fighting area control is assessed by determining who is dictating the pace, place and position of the bout.' The promotion says it is shooting for six events in 2025, then as many as 24 in 2026. Steaming info will be announced in the coming weeks. Four weight classes will exist for ice fighting. Heavyweight: Over 200 pounds Cruiserweight: 175 to 200 pounds Middleweight: 150 to 170 pounds Lightweight: Under 150 pounds 'Partnering with BKFC is a game-changer for Ice Wars,' said BKFC Ice Wars CEO Charlie Nama said in a written statement. 'BKFC's backing gives us the platform and resources to bring our sport to the world stage, creating a new frontier in combat sports. This isn't just a partnership – it's the fusion of two high-energy, no-holds-barred fight disciplines into one powerhouse league. Our first event is just the beginning, and we're building something that will redefine international prizefighting competition and entertainment.' Check out a clip of Ice Wars below, from before its partnership with BKFC.
