Latest news with #mixedmartialarts
National Post
2 days ago
- Business
- National Post
MMA fighters Phil Davis and Misha Cirkunov file antitrust lawsuits against UFC
LAS VEGAS — Two former UFC fighters have filed antitrust lawsuits against the mixed-martial arts behemoth, alleging it operates as a monopoly that restricts their ability to maximize earnings. Article content Article content Phil Davis and Mikhail Cirkunovs, who fought under the name Misha Cirkunov, filed their lawsuits in U.S. District Court in Nevada against the Las Vegas-based UFC. Cirkunovs' complaint was filed on May 23, and Davis' was filed six days later. Article content Philadelphia-based Berger Montague, which is represented locally by Las Vegas' Claggett and Sykes, is the law firm for both fighters. A message left with the Las Vegas firm on Monday was not immediately returned. Article content Cirkunovs is seeking $75,000 in damages. Davis didn't specify how much money he is suing for. Article content The UFC reached a $375 million settlement in September in a class-action antitrust lawsuit brought by Cung Le, who filed his claim in 2014. Article content The UFC has not reached an agreement with Kajan Johnson, who filed his lawsuit in 2021. Both recent complaints made references to the Johnson case, with the Cirkunovs' suit saying they were similar. Article content 'In previous hearings, Plaintiffs' own counsel expressed strong concerns to the Court about the weaknesses of the Johnson claims,' the UFC said in a statement. 'This new complaint (Cirkunovs) confirms that the plaintiffs in the Johnson case lack the standing to represent the proposed class. Article content 'In addition, it confirms that the majority of fighters signed class-action waivers and agreed to arbitrate their claims instead of resorting to court procedures. We are confident that the facts and the law are on our side in opposing approval of both of these proposed classes.' Article content Davis fought in the UFC from 2010-15 before signing with Bellator MMA, which became the Professional Fighters League this year. He argues that the UFC's presence prevents fighters who aren't even in the organization from receiving competitive wages. Article content
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Backyard battles take fighting off street, participant says
Hamilton man Cameron Harcourt (left), with an opponent at the King of the Street event on 24 May. Photo: Supplied A participant in a controversial street fighting competition is defending it, saying amateur tournaments remove violence from the streets. An unregulated tournament promoted by New Zealand mixed martial arts fighter Dan Hooker was held in a suburban Auckland backyard on Saturday 24 May , with 32 combatants competing for a $50,000 prize. Hooker said the only major injury was to a fighter's arm and signalled plans to host further events , despite criticism. New Zealand Boxing Coaches Association president Billy Meehan described the event as "thuggery, not sport", but Hamilton fighter Cameron Harcourt, who travelled up for the event, said the backlash was unfair. "We're going to fight anyway," he said. "There's fights on the streets. "The same way Streetbeefs in America started to get the fights off the streets. If you had beef, you apply for this and you jump in, and it gives us a place to do it in a controlled environment. "The thuggery is taken out and we've turned it into a sport." Streetbeefs is an unregulated American backyard fighting club and You Tube channel, hosting different combat codes. The founders said it was established as a response to more "dangerous forms of street and gun violence". Cameron Harcourt (right) says the Auckland backyard fighting event took violence off the street and put it in a controlled environment. Photo: Supplied Police are investigating one fighter from the Saturday event, who was seen wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet in social media footage of his fight. Harcourt said he wanted to prove that the fights were a fair playing field, and not all about "tattoos and gang affiliations". "Nothing changes what someone is - we're all humans. Doesn't matter about your colour, your size, your age, your background, we're all people and we all bleed. "I think it is a good sport and I love fighting for that." Up to nine different gangs were reportedly represented at the tournament. Fighters had to sign a waiver before taking part, stipulating that involvement was at their discretion. He said, unlike team sports like rugby, he enjoyed how he was the only person accountable, if the fight did not go his way. "You're stuck in a ring with contact and you just feel alive, and it's just sick," he said. "It's also art. "You can create your combos and perform them. It's just a wicked sport." Although billed as an amateur event, it is understood a professional fighter won the tournament. Harcourt hoped to contest a planned tournament in Christchurch later this year. The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) suggests participants of amateur street fighting events will be covered under the scheme, as it did not require details of how injuries occur. An agency spokesperson said the scheme operated on a no-fault basis. "All New Zealanders pay levies in different ways. The money we collect goes into one of our five accounts. "We use each account to cover specific types of injuries. For example, if someone is injured playing sports, the money used to support their recovery is dependent on their individual circumstances." Last year, the cost of active ACC claims for sport and recreation injuries exceeded $1 billion, while accidental injuries in the home and community, which covered injuries from assaults and also concussion, cost more than $2.3 billion. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Khaleej Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Arab and UAE-based warriors set to battle at 971 Fighting Championship 2 in Dubai
All eyes will be on Dubai this June as 971 Fighting Championship 2 explodes into the Coca-Cola Arena, bringing a high-octane night of mixed martial arts action to the heart of the UAE. Founded by UFC veteran Mounir Lazzez, 971FC is fast becoming a flagship platform for showcasing Arab talent and international prospects in the Middle East. The upcoming event on June 14 is no exception, with a stacked card headlined by undefeated phenom Muhammad Mokaev (14-0, 1 NC), and the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov's protégé Saygid Izagakhmaev (22-2). In the main event, Briton-based Russian athlete Mokaev faces Kazakhstan's Alisher Gabdullin (15-4) in a high-stakes flyweight clash while in the co-main, Izagakhmaev meets Congo's Pupanga Tresor (10-3) in a welterweight bout that's expected to deliver fireworks. But it's not just the main events drawing attention — the undercard is packed with Arab fighters and UAE-based contenders ready to leave their mark: Ahmed 'The Prince' Fares (21-8) of Egypt returns to the 971FC cage following a highlight-reel standing guillotine win against Finland's Jerry Kvarnstrom in the first round at 2:33 on May 4, 2024. A fan favourite across the region, Fares will battle Colombia's Eduardo Mora (9-6-2), who fights out of the Abu Dhabi Martial Arts Academy (ADMA) as a resident coach. Tough Test Elie 'The Wolverine' Mansour (2-0), a Dubai-based Lebanese lightweight, steps up for his toughest test yet against Georgia's Bondo Meskhi, who has demonstrated a strong foundation in wrestling and a physical, pressure-heavy fighting style. Mansour's sharp striking and cage control have earned him a strong local fan following — now he'll look to remain unbeaten on what he calls home soil. Yazan Jaber, representing Jordan, brings clean striking and a calm, composed style to his bout with England's Grant Ogborne who brings his trademark grit and boxing skills to the cage. This matchup is a showcase of rising Middle Eastern talent vs European grit. A brawl could be on the cards when Japhet Dequito, a promising fighter from Manila, Philippines faces UK's Max Flynn, who lives and trains in Dubai. Both lightweights are known for pressure and power. High-Octane Showdow In the featherweight ranks Tunisia's Maazri Ammar (2-1-1) enters a high-octane showdown with India's Suraj Singh Patel (1-0) in a matchup of pressure versus precision. Meanwhile, Egypt's Mohamed Salem (7-2-2), a former national champ with deep regional roots, clashes with Poland's Łukasz Szala — a wild, rangy welterweight with knockout power. From seasoned veterans to regional hopefuls, 971 Fighting Championship 2 is more than just a fight night — it's a celebration of the UAE's role as a growing epicentre for global MMA, blending local pride with an international flavour. Tickets are now on sale at the Coca-Cola Arena, Platinum List, and Virgin Megastore. At A Glance When: Saturday, June 14, 2025, Where: Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.
RNZ News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Hundreds gather in Kaikohe to welcome home mixed-martial arts champ
Homegrown heroes Dhcamad Armstrong with former world boxing champion Daniella Smith, both Kaikohe-born and bred. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf Hundreds of people have gathered in Kaikohe to welcome home local hero Dhcamad Armstrong after his latest international mixed-martial-arts title win. Tuesday's welcome was an acknowledgement of Armstrong's achievements, both in the fighting ring and in his hometown, where he uses martial arts to help young men back onto the straight and narrow. Former world boxing champion Daniella Smith, who helped organise the event, said it also aimed to boost pride in a town that punched well above its weight when it came to producing champions. "It's beautiful to see our town come together, it's beautiful to see our tamariki and our rangatahi here, to see that they too can achieve something great, just like Dhcamad," Smith said. "There's a lot of negative publicity about our town, but there's a lot of beautiful gems and a lot of really successful things that are occurring here. We wanted people to come and acknowledge that Kaikohe's more than a town with negative press. So that's what this was about, town pride." Dhcamad Armstrong is welcomed to Papa Hawaiki sports centre with his wife Izumi and children Yamato and Momoka. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf As many as 200 schoolchildren attended the welcome at the town's newly built Papa Hawaiki sports centre, which included waiata, passionate speeches, and rousing haka. Four schools from Kaikohe took part as well as Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Pukemiro all the way from Kaitāia. Armstrong, who was fighting back tears during some of the speeches, said the welcome was an emotional experience. "I actually didn't know how big it would be but walking into this complex I got quite emotional just to see the support from my town. It was massive." Dhcamad Armstrong performs a pukana with a few of his whānau. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf Armstrong said a lot of pride was on display during the event. "There's always pride in this town, but unless you come here and see what's going on, you won't know. What you'd know is what you see in the media, which is not always good things - but there's a lot of good that happens in Kaikohe." Community leader and reformed gang member Jay Hepi said Armstrong's contribution to the town was huge. "He does a lot of work with ex-gang members and ex-addicts, training at the gym, making transformational changes, and getting them on the right pathway. He contributes a lot. He's a positive person." Kaiwero Manga Puhi presents Dhcamad Armstrong with a gift of a taiaha. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf Armstrong said his Team Alpha used fitness and martial arts as vehicles to promote positivity. The team accepted anybody - all they had to do was meet the standards of "everything positive, nothing negative". That included the language they used and the way they conducted themselves, he said. Dhcamad Armstrong signs the hand of 10-year-old Skylah Rapihana from Kaitāia. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf Armstrong, 37, the youngest of eight siblings born and raised in Kaikohe, has many national and international titles in MMA and Muay Thai. His most recent win, and one of his biggest, was an Australasian heavyweight MMA title fight against Antz Nansen at Auckland's Trust Arena earlier this month. Kaikohe's many sporting champions include two-times World Rugby Player of the Year Portia Woodman, world welterweight boxing champion Daniella Smith, and world unicycling champion Chris Huriwai. An emotional Dhcamad Armstrong (Ngāpuhi) speaks during the welcome. Photo: RNZ/Peter de Graaf Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Washington Post
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Professional Fighters League launches an MMA division in Australia and New Zealand
SYDNEY — The Professional Fighters League has launched a new international division in Australia and New Zealand to showcase mixed martial arts competitors in the Oceania region. The PFL Pacific was launched in Sydney on Tuesday, expanding the league's reach into the southern hemisphere. 'It has been a priority of ours to bring the Professional Fighters League to Australia and the Pacific region,' PFL chief executive Peter Murray said in a statement. 'With the launch of PFL Pacific, we're also building a foundation for long-term growth and aiming to crown more Aussie champions than any other league over the next three years.'
