Breaking News: Exclusive to LowKickMMA, it has been revealed that Bokang Masunyane will face Mansur Malachiev on October 4…
Breaking News: Exclusive to LowKickMMA, it has been revealed that Bokang Masunyane will face Mansur Malachiev on October 4 live from Bangkok, Thailand part of ONE Fight Night 25. This is set to be a three-round strawweight contender fight in MMA.
Bokang Masunyane vs. Mansur Malachiev
South Africa’s “Little Giant” Bokang Masunyane has bounced back from his lone career loss to world champion Jarred Brooks with consecutive victories in the competitive strawweight division. The 10-1 pro fighter made an impact on MMA audiences when he earned a stunning head-kick knockout against former title contender Rene Catalan.
As a boy growing up in South Africa, he had a challenging childhood, including time spent at Kids Haven, a charity for vulnerable youth. Bokang Masunyane picked up wrestling at the age of seven which would eventually lead to a medal in the Commonwealth Games.
Russia’s Mansur Malachiev has had an impressive run in ONE Championship with wins over top-ranked athletes such as Yosuke Saruta and Jeremy Miado. His lone career loss was to former division king Joshua Pacio. Otherwise, he has had a spotless record in MMA.
Malachiev hails from the Dagestan region of Russia and grew up competing in its famed wrestling schools. Before making his debut in ONE, he held the division title in the Khabib Nurmagomedov-owned Eagle FC.
Both Bokang Masunyane and Mansur Malachiev are looking to take a step closer to a title shot in the competitive strawweight division. Their MMA fight on October 4 at ONE Fight Night 25 is a must-win match for both men to earn a potential title shot.
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira was just confirmed hours ago. It will be taking place on October 19 in…
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira was just confirmed hours ago. It will be taking place on October 19 in the Professional Fighters League. This fight event will feature the inaugural PFL Superfight Belts.
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira
Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou will meet the towering Brazilian Renan Ferreira later this year in the PFL. Problema’ Ferreira stands at an incredible 6’8″ and is coming off of a quick 22-second knockout of Ryan Bader, the Bellator heavyweight king. Throughout the Brazilian’s career, he has earned the 2023 PFL Heavyweight Championship in addition to the PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions Super Belt. Incredibly, he has a knockout win rate of eighty-five percent.
The lineal MMA world champion Francis Ngannou will finally make his long-awaited debut in the PFL. The Cameroonian-born athlete holds the lineal titles from the UFC Heavyweight Championship, PRIDE FC, UFC 1, Strikeforce, and plenty more. He is the former UFC heavyweight king who walked away from the organization and now works as a core member of the PFL. Ngannou is the Chairman of PFL Africa and will help launch the organization soon.
Ngannou and Saudi Arabia have become key partners of the PFL. The Cameroonian athlete has boxed world champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Renan Ferreira earned his stunning knockout of Bader in the nation’s capital.
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira on October 19 will be for the PFL Superfight Belt.
Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco
Also featured at the same event will be Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco. The PFL Superfight Belt will be on the line in this highly anticipated matchup. Brazil’s Larissa Pacheco is a two-time PFL world champion, who has notable wins over fighters such as Kayla Harrison, Julia Budd, and Marina Mokhnatkina, among others.
Having earned titles in Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC, Cris Cyborg is a trailblazer in the sport and one of the all-time greats. She will look to earn another title against the Brazilian Larissa Pacheco on October 19.
BREAKING
HE'S BACK! The Return of @francis_ngannou 4⃣????????? 2⃣????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ???? 1⃣Gigantic night of MMA
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira was just confirmed hours ago. It will be taking place on October 19 in…
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira was just confirmed hours ago. It will be taking place on October 19 in the Professional Fighters League. This fight event will feature the inaugural PFL Superfight Belts.
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira
Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou will meet the towering Brazilian Renan Ferreira later this year in the PFL. Problema’ Ferreira stands at an incredible 6’8″ and is coming off of a quick 22-second knockout of Ryan Bader, the Bellator heavyweight king. Throughout the Brazilian’s career, he has earned the 2023 PFL Heavyweight Championship in addition to the PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions Super Belt. Incredibly, he has a knockout win rate of eighty-five percent.
The lineal MMA world champion Francis Ngannou will finally make his long-awaited debut in the PFL. The Cameroonian-born athlete holds the lineal titles from the UFC Heavyweight Championship, PRIDE FC, UFC 1, Strikeforce, and plenty more. He is the former UFC heavyweight king who walked away from the organization and now works as a core member of the PFL. Ngannou is the Chairman of PFL Africa and will help launch the organization soon.
Ngannou and Saudi Arabia have become key partners of the PFL. The Cameroonian athlete has boxed world champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Renan Ferreira earned his stunning knockout of Bader in the nation’s capital.
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira on October 19 will be for the PFL Superfight Belt.
Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco
Also featured at the same event will be Cris Cyborg vs. Larissa Pacheco. The PFL Superfight Belt will be on the line in this highly anticipated matchup. Brazil’s Larissa Pacheco is a two-time PFL world champion, who has notable wins over fighters such as Kayla Harrison, Julia Budd, and Marina Mokhnatkina, among others.
Having earned titles in Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC, Cris Cyborg is a trailblazer in the sport and one of the all-time greats. She will look to earn another title against the Brazilian Larissa Pacheco on October 19.
BREAKING
HE'S BACK! The Return of @francis_ngannou 4⃣????????? 2⃣????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ???? 1⃣Gigantic night of MMA
Shannon Knapp provides optimistic outlook for Invicta FC’s future.
For months, there was fair reason to be concerned about Invicta FC’s future. The women’s MMA promotion, which had long been known for giving major stars in the sport a platform on their way up to the UFC, went more than half a year without announcing an event.
Many started to worry if the decade-long fixture on the U.S. regional scene had met its demise. However, the public recently learned that the idea of the promotion folding was far from the truth. The months of radio silence wasn’t Invicta FC slowly fading away, but instead their quiet behind-the-scenes pursuit of making a strong return. Work from recent weeks by the promotion will all come to a culmination very soon when they host an event in Kansas City.
The absence of Invicta FC will come to an end this Friday when the promotion kicks off a five-event tour which will take place in the second half of 2024. The series of events comes along with a new distribution deal, airing events live on American TV channel CBS Sports Network.
“It’s always hard when you know you’re working on something but you can’t say anything,” said Shannon Knapp, the President of Invicta FC. “You see the speculation, you know. Everybody wants to know what’s going on. So when you can make that announcement and let the world know what you’ve been working on, it’s a very exciting moment.”
Invicta FC Returning Amid A Women’s Sports ‘Evolution’
The deal is Invicta FC’s first major partnership since being acquired by Anthem Sports & Entertainment in 2021. It guarantees five events this year, with Knapp mentioning the possibility of further shows on the channel in 2025. After years on UFC’s online subscription service Fight Pass, the promotion briefly was hosted on Anthem-owned channel AXS TV. Knapp said that they were always in pursuit of a new media deal and that they are satisfied with the one which kicks off this week.
“I think it’s great for CBS Sports,” Knapp said. “They embrace more women’s sports, and I think it’s great for Invicta. We have the opportunity to possibly connect with maybe a potential fan base that didn’t have that opportunity before.”
Invicta FC’s return comes amid a big moment for women’s sports. The rise of popularity for college and pro-level women’s basketball—coined by some as “The Caitlin Clark Effect” due to a highly successful popular Iowa-born player leading the charge—has put women’s athletics under a big spotlight. Other rising leagues, like the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), have also received a rise in popularity as of late. Knapp sees the importance of making sure every sport is involved in the current rise of women’s sports, including MMA.
“I think it’s very exciting to see the evolution that’s happening right now for women’s sports,” she said. “But I think that everybody’s part of that movement. If you’re an all-female [league] you’re part of that movement. I think it’s really important that we embrace that, and we help lift it up, not only for Invicta or for combat sports, but for all sports.”
Talita Bernardo, Kay Hansen Among Spotlighted Talents
Friday’s card will include a mix of returning Invicta FC names, plus a wave of new talent who debut with a fair amount of buzz. The main event will see bantamweight champ Talita Bernardo hunt for her fourth consecutive win in the promotion, taking on rising ex-Bellator fighter Olga Rubin.
After having an unsuccessful UFC run that came to an end in 2022, Bernardo has found a second wind in her career through Invicta FC. After scoring back-to-back submission wins in 2022, she went five rounds against Taneisha Tennant to take a decision victory and capture the division’s 135-pound belt.
Earlier in the night, Kay Hansen will come back to Invicta for the first time since her two-year UFC run. At just 24 years old, Hansen will be looking to reboot her career by performing in the promotion that previously got her to a big stage in the sport.
“Having Kay [Hansen] back is amazing,” Knapp explained. “You know, this is where it all began for her, she was very young. If memory serves me right, I think she was like 18 when she came in, or somewhere in that vicinity. She was very young.”
Atomweight Division Continues To Receive Attention
Earlier in the night, an atomweight (105-pound) fight will see Japanese prospect Saori Oshima take on Andressa Romero. Oshima has put together a stellar record in Japan’s regional scene and has won four fights in notable promotion RIZIN.
Among the top MMA promotions (UFC, PFL & Bellator), none currently host fights at the atomweight limit. Knapp explained the importance of putting a spotlight on these divisions at Invicta, even if they aren’t exactly stepping-stone bouts to get into bigger promotions.
“It’s important that we embrace all the divisions,” she said. “Currently. we have five divisions. Could we expand on that at some point in time? There is a good potential. But yeah, I think it’s hugely important. I especially the lower weights for women. You find a lot of women that compete in those weight classes.”
Back up and running, Invicta FC is optimistic about what lies ahead. After months where fans might have felt worried about the promotion’s future, Knapp wants the public to know that they are working hard to provide the best product possible.
“We’re moving, and we’re super excited about the opportunity that’s in front of us,” she said. “I think that what fans can expect right now is I’m gonna do my best. My team’s gonna do their best to put on world-class matchups, entertaining matchups and to really fine-tune everything and give them the best that we can give them.”
In a massive move for the ever-growing sport of mixed martial arts — particularly in Asia, the sport has…
In a massive move for the ever-growing sport of mixed martial arts — particularly in Asia, the sport has officially been recognized in Thailand — with a fully certified and approved MMA Association also established under the Department of Provincial Administration.
Thailand, home to a rich and deep history of combat sports, has produced some of the biggest talents in the striking arts to ever compete on a global scale — and in recent years, has become a home to a vast array of the most recognizable figures in mixed martial arts, through its extensive facilities and gyms littered across the Southeast Asian region.
MMA officially recognized as a sport in Thailand
From the likes of Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket — which has hosted the likes of UFC stars, the trio of former championship holders, Alexander Volkanovski, Petr Yan, and former flyweight queen, Valentina Shevchenko — to Bangtao Muay Thai and mixed martial arts, which hosts strawweight best, Zhang Weili, and on occasion, ex-light heavyweight kingpin, Jiri Prochazka.
Developing a vast talent of fighters in the region who have gone on to achieve worldwide success in mixed martial arts and acclaim, the recognization of mixed martial arts as an official sport in Thailand — as well as the establishment of a fully certified mixed martial arts Association comes as a further feather in the cap for the historical combat sports history of the land.
Nick Chapman, who confirmed the establishment in a historic day for the sport in the region, and spoke of his delight to be appointed as advisory chairman for the association — following a “dedicated effort” to see the recognition of mixed martial arts as a sport in the country.
“After months of dedicated effort and collaboration with an incredible team of people, we have successfully achieved official recognition for Mixed Martial Arts as a sport in Thailand,” Advisory Chairman, and Head of International Relations, Nick Chapman said. “We have also established a new, fully certified and approved Mixed Martial Arts Association of Thailand under the Department of Provincial Administration.
“This is a significant milestone for combat sports in Thailand,” Chapman continued. “Our association, with the support of some very influential figures, aims to elevate the sport of mixed martial arts within the country to a world-class level.”
“I am deeply honored to have been appointed as the Advisory Chairman and Head of International Relations for the newly established Mixed Martial Arts Association of Thailand. Being entrusted with such a crucial role in developing the sport that I love at this level in a country that I hold so dear, is an immense privilege for me. Over the next few years you will see the sport of Mixed Martial Arts really start to take off. Our plans for the future of the sport are huge,” Chapman concluded.
MMA Association of Thailand
Mr. Vathanai Vathanakul President
Mr. Prathan Worramanin, Vice President and Secretary General
Mrs.Ummarapas Vathanakul Communication Committee and Accountant
Other committee members:
Mr. Oroschutiman Sangthong
Mrs. Aemon Chapman
Mr. Thanatas
Mr. Krittapas Chutiman
Mr. Suchet
Miss Natchanan Warmanin
Mr. Worathit Warmanin
Mr. Chin Wong Saeng
Miss Anyarat Pancharoen
Mrs. Amraphat Wattanakul
Speaking with John Hyon Ko for The AllStar publication in the aftermath of the formation of the Mixed Martial Arts Association of Thailand, Chapman detailed the journey that took place to see the sport’s recognition in the region — praising the country’s “progressive stance” — before laying out plans to bring a host of high-level coaches from a host of different disciplines to help develop the sport in the country.
“Mixed Martial Arts has been frowned upon in Thailand for a long time,” Chapman said. “There was even a point when the Sports Authority banned the use of a cage, Mixed Martial Arts cages were not allowed, but what I love about Thailand is their progressive stance on things, they are open to taking new things onboard. Mixed Martial Arts is going to explode in Thailand, we are in the process of setting up a Mixed Martial Arts association in Thailand.”
“I’ve been enlisted with heading the development team and what we are going to do is regulate Mixed Martial Arts in Thailand, we are going to bring in grassroots organizations from around the world, we are going to be running regular events, in a cage, in Sports Authority approved stadium. Mixed Martial Arts is going to become a massive part of the combat sports industry here.”
“IMMAF is a huge organization globally for mixed martial arts. We are going to work under their framework so everything is done as it should be. I’m going to make sure all the regulations are in place, everything is conducted professionally, fighters’ safety. I’ll be taking care of all of that.”
“A 5-10 year plan is to bring over the high-level wrestling coaches, the high level of jiu-jitsu coaches, the high level of MMA coaches and develop Thai nationals to either be ONE Championship’s level or UFC level. That’s my dream.”
Erin Blanchfield has backed Valentina Shevchenko to defend her Flyweight title against Alexa Grasso on account of her well-rounded skillset. At UFC 285, Valentina Shevchenko will once again defend her Flyweight title and attempt to continue her legendary winning streak at 125lbs. Standing across from her will be Alexa Grasso, who is riding a four-fight […]
At UFC 285, Valentina Shevchenko will once again defend her Flyweight title and attempt to continue her legendary winning streak at 125lbs. Standing across from her will be Alexa Grasso, who is riding a four-fight win streak of her own. The fight is coming on the heels of Shevchenko’s most competitive title fight to date, against Talia Santos, which had many believing that there was a chink in Shevchenko’s armor.
However, the number three ranked flyweight in the UFC, Erin Blanchfield doesn’t see her losing just yet. Blanchfield recently spoke with James Lynch in a Lowkick MMA exclusive and talked about many things including her official breakdown and prediction of the upcoming Flyweight title fight.
“I definitely see Valentina winning,” Erin Blanchfield said. “I think Alexa Grasso is a talented fighter in her own right and I think she could give Valentina a little bit of a run but I think Valentina is just a little more well-rounded overall like her striking game and her ground game and her wrestling. I think she’ll be able to impose her will onto Alexa.”
Erin Blanchfield is confident she can expose Valentina Shevchenko’s weaknesses if they match-up
Currently undefeated in the UFC, Erin Blanchfield has looked better and better with each consecutive fight. Most recently, she submitted the ever-dangerous, Jessica Andrade in the second round and earned herself a performance of the night bonus, along with getting her name in the title picture.
Her wrestling-heavy attack seems to match up well with Valentina Shevchenko, who struggled in the grappling department against Talia Santos. Blanchfield believes that her strengths happen to be Shevchenko’s weaknesses, and is confident in her own abilities if the two were to match up later this year.
“She’s a great muay thai fighter, I mean she’s well-rounded fighter in her own right but I know I’m well-rounded as well and I feel like the parts of her game that she’s weaker, I’m stronger and I know I’ll be able to expose that.”
But first, Alexa Grasso will get a shot at upsetting the Flyweight champion at UFC 285. After which, the division is wide open, which could allow Erin Blanchfield to get her hands on the UFC title.
Francis Ngannou vs. Renan Ferreira was just confirmed hours ago. It will be taking place on October 19 in…
BREAKING 
The Return of 
Shannon Knapp provides optimistic outlook for Invicta FC’s future.
In a massive move for the ever-growing sport of mixed martial arts — particularly in Asia, the sport has…
Erin Blanchfield has backed Valentina Shevchenko to defend her Flyweight title against Alexa Grasso on account of her well-rounded skillset. At UFC 285, Valentina Shevchenko will once again defend her Flyweight title and attempt to continue her legendary winning streak at 125lbs. Standing across from her will be Alexa Grasso, who is riding a four-fight […]