BYB Extreme Fighting Series

BYB Extreme Fighting Series

Industry	Bare-knuckle boxing
Founded	2015;10 years ago (2015)
Founder	Dada 5000 Mike Vazquez Jose Suarez
Headquarters	Miami, Florida , United States
Key people	Gregory Bloom (CEO) Mel Valenzuela (Matchmaker)
Website	bybextreme.com

BYB Extreme Fighting Series (BYB) is a bare knuckle fighting organization founded in 2015 by former MMA fighter Dhafir ("Dada 5000") Harris and Mike Vazquez, former owner of NASCAR team HRT Motorsports. ^[1] Harris rose to fame from his staging of backyard bare knuckle fights which went viral online and subsequently became the subject of the Billy Corben documentary, Dawg Fight . ^[2] BYB is an abbreviation of "Back Yard Brawl", a nod to the company's origins. ^[3] BYB's fights are held in its patented ^[4] Trigon ring or cage, which it touts as the smallest fighting surface in combat sports. ^[5]

In June 2023, beIN SPORTS announced it secured an exclusive media rights deal with BYB in North America to broadcast "Best of BYB" archive shows as well as five live events, making it the first bare knuckle fighting to air live on linear television. ^[6] In 2024, BYB announced expanded coverage to Fight Network and Fuse. ^[7]

History

BYB announced that its premiere event, Battleship I – originally scheduled to take place aboard the deck of the Resorts World Bimini Superfast – would air on June 5, 2015, shortly after Dawg Fight premiered on Netflix. ^[8] The event was scrapped from the cruise ship with the organization citing inclement weather, and subsequently held indoors at an undisclosed location in Miami. ^[9]

BYB went on hiatus following Dada 5000's return to the ring at Bellator 149. The promotion would host BYB 2: Brawl for it All in Cheyenne, Wyoming on April 5, 2019, at Cheyenne Ice & Event Center. ^[10] That event started the current run of numbered BYB events in states including Florida and Mississippi, as well as internationally in London.

First event in England

BYB Extreme held its first event in England, BYB 12: London Brawl, on October 26, 2022. Aside from being the promotion's first event in the United Kingdom, BYB 12 also featured the first-ever women's bare-knuckle fights, highlighted by a title fight between Jozette Cotton and Miranda Barber for the BYB Women's Super Welterweight Championship. ^[11]

First UAE event

BYB hosted the first-ever bare-knuckle fighting event in the Middle East with BYB 16: Desert Brawl on March 18, 2023. The event was held at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai, headlined by a Police Gazette Diamond Belt title fight between Jarome Hatch and Marko Martinjak. ^[12]

Events

Event	Date	Location	Notes
BYB Battleship I	June 5, 2015	Miami, Florida
BYB 2: Brawl for It All	April 5, 2019	Cheyenne, Wyoming, Cheyenne Ice & Event Center
BYB 3: Brawl at the Rock	March 7, 2020	Hollywood, Florida, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
BYB 4	December 3, 2020	Hollywood, Florida, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
BYB US vs. Russia	April 10, 2021	Miami, Florida, BYB Arena
BYB 5	May 15, 2021	Miami, Florida, Tamiami Park Fairgrounds
BYB 6	July 16, 2021	Hollywood, Florida, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
BYB 7: Brawl by the River	September 11, 2021	Miami, Florida, James L. Knight Center	Jomi Escoboza def. Rene Rodriguez (Cruiserweight)
BYB 8: Tis the Season to Brawl	December 18, 2021	Miami, Florida, James L. Knight Center
BYB 9: Tampa Brawl	March 22, 2022	Tampa, Florida, Florida State Fairgrounds	Jose Fernandez def. JD Burns (Super Middleweight)
BYB X: Biloxi Brawl	May 28, 2022	Biloxi, Mississippi, Mississippi Coast Coliseum	Tony Lopez def. Jordan Mitchell (BYB Heavyweight); Paty Juarez def. Monica Medina (PG Diamond)
BYB 11: Brawl in Doral	August 27, 2022	Doral, Florida, Trump National Doral Miami
BYB 12: London Brawl	October 16, 2022	London, England, Indigo at The O2	Seth Shaffer def. Carlos Guerra (BYB Welterweight, PG Diamond); Jozette Cotton def. Miranda Barber (BYB Super Welterweight, PG Diamond)
BYB 13: Tampa Brawl For It All	November 19, 2022	Tampa, Florida, Florida State Fairgrounds	Desmond Green def. Scott McHugh (BYB Middleweight, PG Diamond); DJ Linderman def. Tony Lopez (BYB Heavyweight)
BYB 14: Carolina Brawl	December 9, 2022	Rock Hill, South Carolina, Rock Hill Sports & Event Center	First BK fight in SC history; Sam Liera def. LT Nelson (BYB Interim Super Middleweight)
BYB 15: Broward Brawl	February 3, 2023	Miramar, Florida, Miramar National Guard Armory
BYB 16: Desert Brawl	March 18, 2023	Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium	First BK fight in UAE/Gulf Region history; Jarome Hatch def. BKB's Marko Martinjak (PG Diamond)
BYB Trigon Combat	April 27, 2023	Costa Mesa, California, The Hangar at OC Fair & Event Center	First gloved event in BYB history
BYB 17: Brawl at Rock Hill	May 13, 2023	Rock Hill, South Carolina, Rock Hill Sports & Event Center	Mark Irwin def. Joshua Oxendine (BYB Lightweight); Jozette Cotton (c) def. Jamie Driver (PG Diamond)
BYB 18: Police Gazette International Cup	Jun 25, 2023	London, England, Indigo at The O2	Team USA (BYB) def. Team UK (BKB) 6–3; Barrie Jones def. Tommy Turner (PG Diamond); Marko Martinjak (c) def. Jarome Hatch (PG Diamond)
BYB 19: Brawl in the Pines	August 10, 2023	Pembroke Pines, Florida, Charles F. Dodge Center	Brandon Birr def. Harold McQueen (BYB Featherweight); Carlos Alexandre def. Andre Ewell (BYB Welterweight); Sam Liera def. Jose Fernandez (BYB Super Middleweight); LT Nelson draw James Connelly (PG Diamond)
BYB 20: Brawl on the Bayou	September 16, 2023	Biloxi, Mississippi, Mississippi Coast Coliseum	Monica Medina def. (c) Paty Juarez (BYB Lightweight, PG Diamond)
BYB 21: Fall Brawl	October 21, 2023	Rock Hill, South Carolina, Rock Hill Sports & Event Center	DJ Linderman (C) def. Rashad Coulter (BYB Heavyweight)
BYB 22: Rocky Mountain Brawl	December 2, 2023	Denver, Colorado, Stockyard Event Center	LT Nelson vs. Robert Serna (BYB Super Middleweight); Julio Tanori def. Mark Irwin (c) (BYB Lightweight); Paty Juarez def. Monica Medina (c) (BYB Lightweight)
BYB 23: Brawl in the Pines II	January 18, 2024	Pembroke Pines, Florida, Charles F. Dodge Center	Marko Martinjak (c) def. Jarome Hatch (PG Diamond); Cub Hawkins def. Daniel Lerwell (PG Diamond 185)
BYB 24: Super Brawl Saturday	February 10, 2024	Biloxi, Mississippi, Mississippi Coast Coliseum	Ike Villanueva def. DJ Linderman (BYB Heavyweight); Harold McQueen def. Brandon Birr (BYB Featherweight)
BYB 25: Brawl on the Bay	April 4, 2024	Tampa, Florida, Florida State Fairgrounds	Cub Hawkins def. Ryan Jett (BYB Light Heavyweight); Agnesa Kirakosian def. Shelby Cannon (BYB Super Flyweight)
BYB 26: Mile High Brawl	May 10, 2024	Denver, Colorado, Stockyards Event Center	LT Nelson def. Tommy Turner (BYB Middleweight)
BYB 27: Brawl in Duval	June 14, 2024	Jacksonville, Florida, Prime Osborn Convention Center
BYB 28: Bourbon Street Brawl	June 14, 2024	New Orleans, Louisiana, Alario Center	Gustavo Trujillo def. Ike Villanueva (BYB Heavyweight and PG World Diamond); Helen Peralta def. Monica Medina (BYB Featherweight)
BYB 29: Brawl in the Pines III	August 10, 2024	Pembroke Pines, Florida, Charles F. Dodge Center	Gregoris Cisneros def. Cub Hawkins (BYB Light Heavyweight)
BYB 30: Cardiff Brawl	August 17, 2024	Cardiff, Wales, Vale Arena	LT Nelson def. Barrie Jones (PG World Diamond)
BYB 31: Stockyard Brawl	August 17, 2024	Denver, Colorado, Stockyards Event Center	Khortni Kamyron def. Paty Juarez (BYB Super Lightweight); Julio Tanori def. Mark Irwin (BYB Lightweight)
BYB 32: Leeds Brawl	October 12, 2024	Leeds, England, John Charles Centre for Sport	Harry Gigliotti def. Joe Fitzpatrick (BYB Super Lightweight); Liam Rees def. Scott McHugh (BYB Super Welterweight)
BYB 33: Wolverhampton Brawl	November 9, 2024	Wolverhampton, England, The Hangar	Marko Martinjak def. Brad Scott (BYB Super Cruiserweight); Dan Podmore def. Ryan Barrett (BYB Bridgerweight)
BYB 34: Brawl in the Pines IV	December 6, 2024	Pembroke Pines, Florida, Charles F. Dodge Center	Gustavo Trujillo def. Richie Leak (Unified BYB-BKB Heavyweight Title); Jamie Driver def. Sonya Dreiling (BYB Welterweight)
BYB 35: Albuquerque Brawl	January 11, 2025	Albuquerque, New Mexico, Revel ABQ	Javon Wright def. Walter Saravia (Vacant BYB Welterweight)

Weight classes

Division	Upper weight limit
Heavyweight	Unlimited
Cruiserweight	205 lb (93 kg)
Light heavyweight	175 lb (79 kg)
Super middleweight	165 lb (75 kg)
Middleweight	160 lb (73 kg)
Super welterweight	154 lb (70 kg)
Welterweight	147 lb (67 kg)
Lightweight	135 lb (61 kg)
Super featherweight	130 lb (59 kg)
Featherweight	125 lb (57 kg)

Current champions

Men's

As of 24 February 2025

Weight class	Champion	Date won
Featherweight	Harold McQueen	February 10, 2024
Lightweight	Julio Tanori	December 2, 2023
Super Lightweight	Harry Gigliotti	October 12, 2024
Welterweight	Javon Wright	January 11, 2025
Super Welterweight	Liam Rees	October 12, 2024
Middleweight	LT Nelson	May 10, 2024
Super Middleweight	LT Nelson	December 2, 2023
Light Heavyweight	Barrie Jones	February 1, 2025
Heavyweight	Gustavo Trujillo	July 13, 2024

Women's

As of 24 February 2025

Weight class	Champion	Date won
Super Flyweight	Agnesa Kirakosian	April 4, 2024
Featherweight	Helen Peralta	July 13, 2024
Lightweight	Paty Juarez	December 2, 2023
Super Lightweight	Khortni Kamyron	August 17, 2024
Welterweight	Jamie Driver	December 6, 2024

Police Gazette World Diamond Belt

As of 24 February 2025

Weight class	Champion	Date won
Women's Lightweight	Monica Medina	September 16, 2023
Women's Super Welterweight	Jozette Cotton	October 16, 2022
Middleweight	Desmond Green	November 19, 2022
Super Middleweight	LT Nelson	August 17, 2024
Light Heavyweight	Cub Hawkins	January 18, 2024
Heavyweight	Gustavo Trujillo	July 13, 2024

Partnership with BKB

In November 2021, BYB announced a talent exchange partnership with UK-based BKB in which each promotion sends fighters overseas to be featured on the other's cards. ^[13] The series kicked off at BYB 8 with BKB's Barrie Jones knocking out BYB's Luis Melo in the first round. Through 2022, the companies have hosted 15 trans-continental bare knuckle matchups. ^[14]

On October 16, 2022, the event featured a mix of BYB vs. BYB, BKB vs. BKB, and BYB vs. BKB fights. The show featured a number of firsts including the first sanctioned professional female bare knuckle fight in UK history (Jamie Driver def. Sonya Dreiling), ^[15] the first female title match in UK history (Jozette Cotton def. Miranda Barber for the BYB Super Welterweight and Police Gazette Diamond Belt), ^[16] and Seth Shaffer defeated Carlos Guerra to win the inaugural BYB Welterweight title as well as the Police Gazette Diamond Belt. ^[17] The event was broadcast live on Stadium.

Acquisition of BKB

On May 8, 2024, it was announced that BYB Extreme had acquired BKB. Founded in 2015 by Jim Freeman and Joe Smith-Brown, BKB had hosted 40 events prior to the acquisition, some which featured fighters from BYB Extreme. Despite BYB acquiring BKB, both Freeman and Smith-Brown will stay with BYB Extreme in an executive capacity and will oversee the continued expansion of BYB Extreme into Europe. ^[18]

Trigon

In 2015, BYB and its parent company Lights Out Productions filed for a patent on its triangular shaped ring and cage, which they note is the smallest in combat sports. The patent was granted on December 19, 2017.

In 2021, Triller announced that it would host Triad Combat in a triangular ring. ^[19] BYB in turn filed a lawsuit against alleging copyright infringement. ^[20]

Notable fighters on roster

• Juan Adams
• Josh Burns
• Rashad Coulter
• Andre Ewell
• Desmond Green
• Ike Villanueva
• Hamza Hamry
• Helen Peralta
• Joe Fitzpatrick
• Rolando Dy
• Jarod Grant
• Brad Scott
• Jack Marshman
• Ash Williams

Staff

BYB boasts and number of high-profile personalities on its broadcast team including former UFC commentator Mike Goldberg, 2-time boxing champion Paulie Malignaggi, Ring Announcer 'Big Mo' Kody Mommaerts, Benny Ricardo, Claudia Trejos, Al Bernstein and Dave Ryan. Former fighter Erin Toughill serves as a digital host. ^[21] Longtime WWE producer Nelson Sweglar is BYB's broadcast producer. ^[22] In September 2022, BYB announced the hiring of Gregory Bloom as CEO. ^[23]

• Ring announcer: Kody Mommaerts
• Interviewer: Danielle Moinet

Commentary team

• Mike Goldberg (Play-by-play)
• Paulie Malignaggi (Analyst)
• Claudia Trejos (Spanish play-by-play)
• Benny Ricardo (Spanish analyst)

Vazquez, Harris and matchmaker Mel Valenzuela were each inductees into the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame's class of 2022. BYB champions Tony Lopez and Paty Juarez were also honored during the 2022 celebration. ^[24] Malignaggi, Ricardo, Trejos, and Goldberg were inducted as part of the 2023 class. ^[25]

In February 2024, BYB announced that it added former WWE Diva Danielle "Summer Rae" Moinet to their broadcast team. ^[26]

See also

• Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship
• List of boxing organisations

References

1. Evans, Pat (April 5, 2019). "BYB Extreme Hopes to Usher Bare Knuckle Boxing Back to Prominence". Front Office Sports. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
2. Wolf, Colin. "Dawg Fight, the insane documentary about Florida backyard fighting, is now on Netflix". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
3. Simon, Zane (April 5, 2021). "Dada 5000 returns!? Former Bellator fighter heading to bare-knuckle boxing". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
4. Stumberg, Patrick L. (November 19, 2021). "BYB files suit against Triller over Triad Combat's triangular ring". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
5. "Former Bareknuckle Star Dada 5000 Returns To Combat Sports at BYB 13 in November". MiddleEasy. October 24, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
6. December 2023, Global sports channel beIN SPORTS to broadcast “Best of BYB” episodes in US and Canada, as well as live BYB events beginning with BYB 18 on June 25, 2023 live from London’s Indigo at the O2, and additional bare knuckle fighting events slated for August, September, October and. "BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series on beIN SPORTS". beIN SPORTS. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
7. "BYB to Expand Live Coverage and Air BYB 24 Super Brawl Saturday on Fuse and The Fight Network on February 10 AT 8PM ET". www.bybextreme.com. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
8. Series, BYB Extreme Fighting. "Back Yard Brawl (BYB) Extreme Fighting Series Presents Battleship 1 The First Ever Bareknuckle Fighting Event To Air Online". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
9. "BYB 1: Extreme Battleship 1 | Event". Tapology. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
10. Holland, Jesse (February 19, 2019). "DaDa 5000 back from the dead (literally) for 'Back Yard Brawls' inside triangle cage". MMAmania.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
11. "BYB TO MAKE HISTORY THIS SUNDAY AT THE INDIGO AT THE O2 IN LONDON". BYB Extreme. October 10, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
12. "BYB Extreme Fighting Series Announces BYB 16: Desert Brawl, The First-Ever Bare Knuckle Boxing Event In The Gulf-Region". BYB Extreme. January 24, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
13. KickboxingZ (November 8, 2021). "Bare Knuckle: BYB and BKB Announce New Partnership". KickboxingZ.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
14. "BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship Announces Full Card for BYB 11: Doral Brawl at Trump National in Miami". Doral Family Journal. August 9, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
15. "Pennington bare knuckle fighter to make history in the UK". Trentonian. October 14, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
16. "Miranda Barber vs. Jozette Cotton, BYB 12 | Boxing (Bare Knuckle) Bout". Tapology. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
17. "Carlos Guerra vs. Seth Shaffer, BYB 12 | Boxing (Bare Knuckle) Bout". Tapology. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
18. "BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series acquires UK-based BKB". MMA Mania. May 24, 2024. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
19. Holland, Jesse (October 18, 2021). "Triller steals 'Trigon' from Dada 5000, announces 'Triad Combat' for Nov. 27". MMAmania.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
20. Marrocco, Steven (November 19, 2021). "Triller reportedly sued by Dada 5000-fronted BYB Extreme for alleged Trigon ring ripoff". MMA Fighting. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
21. "Talk Tough with Erin Toughill". Spotify. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
22. Mike Vazquez, Nelson Sweglar talk BYB Bare Knuckle Fights, Dada 5000, Kimbo Slice, WWF, WrestleMania. jim varsallone (jimmyv3 channel). August 26, 2022. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022– via YouTube.
23. "On the Move". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
24. BKB Hall of Fame [@BKBHOF] (June 16, 2022). "Soooo EXCITED!!!! Please join us for the 14th Annual Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame Induction July 2 in Belfast, New York!!! https://t.co/VYxQRrSMXs" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022– via Twitter.
25. "Quite the honor and being inducted with my powerful partner @PaulMalignaggi my TV little sister @ClaudiaTrejos and the rest of our BYB Family makes it even better!". Twitter. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
26. "Danielle Moinet (Summer Rae) Joins BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series". Yahoo Entertainment. February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.

External links

• Official website