Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg, known professionally as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor. Born and raised in Brussels, his father enrolled him in a Shotokan karate school at the age of ten, which led Van Damme to hold the rank of 2nd-dan black belt in karate, and compete in several karate and kickboxing competitions. As a teenager, he won the middleweight championship of the European Professional Karate Association in 1979 and the Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title in 1978. With the desire of becoming an actor in Hollywood, he moved to the United States in 1982, where he worked on several films, until he got his break as the lead in the martial arts film Bloodsport (1988).
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling, incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
Cung Le is an American actor, retired professional mixed martial artist, Sanshou fighter and kickboxer. Le is perhaps best known in mixed martial arts for competing in Strikeforce, holding a record of 7–1 with the organization before its demise. He defeated Frank Shamrock to become the second Strikeforce Middleweight Champion before vacating the title to further pursue his acting career. He competed as a middleweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), holding a record of 2–2 with the organization. In kickboxing and sanshou, he is a former International Kickboxing Federation Light Heavyweight World Champion, having a professional kickboxing record of 17–0 before moving to mixed martial arts.
Robert Alexander McCullough IV is an American former Muay Thai kickboxer and professional mixed martial artist. A professional from 2001-2011 in MMA, McCullough has formerly competed for the WEC, Bellator, DREAM, the World Fighting Alliance, the Palace Fighting Championship, and King of the Cage. In professional kickboxing, McCullough has competed for K-1.
Nhat Nam Si Phan, better known as Nam Phan, is an American retired mixed martial artist and professional boxer. A professional in mixed martial arts since 2001, Phan has competed for the UFC, WEC, Strikeforce, World Victory Road, and was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck. He has competed in Japanese MMA organization Pancrase and won the title of King of Pancrase in the featherweight division in 2015.
Matt Arroyo is an American former professional mixed martial artist. He was featured on the Ultimate Fighting Championship reality television show The Ultimate Fighter: Team Hughes vs. Team Serra, fighting on Team Serra. He fights out of Tampa, Florida with Gracie Tampa, under Royce Gracie black belt Rob Kahn.
Kevin Ferguson, better known as Kimbo Slice, was a Bahamian-born American mixed martial artist, professional boxer, and actor. Originally a bare-knuckle boxer, he became noted for his role in mutual combat street fight videos which were spread online, leading Rolling Stone to call him "The King of the Web Brawlers".
Justin McCully is a retired American professional mixed martial artist and professional wrestler who most recently competed in the Heavyweight division of the RFA. A professional competitor since 1997, McCully has also formerly competed for the UFC, RINGS, Pancrase, It's Showtime and Jungle Fight.
Jody David VeDepo is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Middleweight division. A professional competitor since 2005, he has formerly competed for the UFC and Bellator.
Karen Darabedyan is an Armenian-American professional mixed martial artist and the founder of KD MMA Training Center in Glendale, CA. He is best known for fighting in WEC's lightweight division. Darabedyan is a training partner of Karo Parisyan and Manvel Gamburyan. He had a 12-0 amateur boxing record before he began MMA.
Fred van Doesburg is a Dutch mixed martial artist.
Dave van der Veen is a Dutch mixed martial artist. He competed in the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight divisions. He was a Dutch Power lifting champion and Shootfighter in RINGS.
Herman van Tol is a Dutch mixed martial artist. He competed in the Heavyweight division.
Piet van Gammeren is a Dutch mixed martial artist. He competed in the Heavyweight division.
Paige Michelle VanZant is an American mixed martial artist, bare knuckle boxer, professional wrestler, professional boxer, slap fighter, author, model, and OnlyFans content creator. VanZant was previously signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where she competed in the strawweight and flyweight divisions. Outside of mixed martial arts, VanZant has been involved in professional wrestling with All Elite Wrestling and in boxing with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Additionally, VanZant has appeared on the television shows Dancing with the Stars and Chopped.
Faith Van Duin is a New Zealand mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division. She most notably fought in Invicta Fighting Championships.
Jamie Aliss Moyle is an American mixed martial artist. She competes in the strawweight division.
'Danyelle Wolf, is an American boxer and mixed martial artist. She is a three-time USA Boxing National Champion in the women's welterweight division.
Events in the year 1989 in the Netherlands.
