BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Celebrates a Decade in Combat Sports

The first day of October marked the decade-old anniversary of BYB Extreme Fighting Series, the modern-day originators of bare-knuckle fighting in the United States and also the largest bare-knuckle fighting organization on the planet. 

The 2014-founded organization managed to successfully precede its competitors by four years.

With origins traced down in combat sports icon Dada’s West Perrine, Florida backyard brawls featured in Billy Corben’s 2015 Netflix documentary “Dawg Fight” that showcased the raw and unfiltered energy of bare-knuckle fighting, BYB managed to set the tone for growth and mainstream acceptance for the sport.

As the years went by, and BYB went from backyard fights to affording to acquire UK’s BKB, the largest and also the oldest bare knuckle company on the planet, the organization effectively introduced the sport to a global audience. 

200+ Pro Fighters and the Largest Distribution Network 

Today, the company proudly displays a roster consisting of more than 200 professional fighters, alongside the largest fight library accessible to fans who want to re-watch past fights, and the most complex broadcast distribution network in the history of bare-knuckle.

BYB’s broadcast team features combat sports icons such as Mike Goldberg, known for his work with the Ultimate Fighting Championship between 1997 and 2016, Italian-American former professional boxer Paulie Malignaggi, Claudia Trejos, known as the first woman to cover boxing at major events, former American football placekicker in the National Football League Benny Ricardo, American entertainer and combat sports ring announcer Kody “Big Mo” Mommaerts, and former WWE Diva Danielle “Summer Rae” Moinet.

Fans can catch the action live on bkbworld.tv and on major networks like Fuse TV, The Fight Network, and BeIN Sports. 

“Void in What Combat Sports Fans Really Wanted”

Reflecting on BYB’s journey, president and co-founder Mike Vazquez explained that meeting Dada and “witnessing the community and excitement that emanated from the fights in the backyard” had been crucial for getting the wheels to spin. 

Vasquez explained they decided to found BYB as a means of harnessing “the raw energy of bare knuckle fighting into a more structured product for a wider, more mainstream audience” in the context of box fading as a sport and fans of MMA looking for something fresh to enjoy. 

“There was a void in what combat sports fans wanted, which is non-stop action and knockouts, and we’ve certainly filled that void.”, he added while emphasizing their intention to build BYB Extreme “in a strategic way that focused on long-term sustainability.”

This translated to structuring a foundation featuring 100% ownership of their IP and obtaining the patent on their ring. The UFC is the only other combat sports company to hold a patent. 

The president also mentioned their three-sided Mighty Trigon, which is known as the smallest fighting surface in combat sports with the sharpest corners designed to force fighters into action, resulting in a 90% KO/finish rate. 

The healthy foundation has enabled the company to reach significant milestones, including the previously mentioned acquisition of BKB, and their success in obtaining the prestigious Police Gazette World Diamond Belt. 

The latter was the original belt that inspired all the other belts in combat sports championships.

Never a Doubt They Would Reach a Global Audience

Co-founder Dada 5000 also commented on their beginnings while celebrating their 10-year anniversary, explaining despite their idea seeming “far-fetched to some at the time, there was never a doubt” amongst their team regarding their ability to reach a global public. 

The Bahamian-American mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division of Bellator MMA also explained that “innovation, competent leadership, creative vision”, and passion from fighters and fans alike will keep paving the way for combat sports while ushering in the future. 

BYB’s chief executive officer, Greg Bloom, echoed this optimism, saying BYB has turned into a global entertainment powerhouse that reaches millions of fans monthly. 

“We have the best product, fight-to-fight, card-to-card of any fight league on the market, and we continue to move the ball forward.”, he added.

BYB’s “historic strides”, which included becoming the first live bare-knuckle promotion broadcast on linear TV, their attempts to legalize the sport on new markets, and the growing acceptance of wagering on bare-knuckle events, have all helped the company position itself for “even greater expansion.”

BYB’s next events include its debut in Leeds, England, scheduled for October 12, followed by a show in Wolverhampton on November 9, and a return to South Florida on December 6.

In 2021, Bally’s Corp. expressed its intention to make combat sports as popular as the NFL and NBA through a partnership with a seasoned boxing veteran. 

In February 2023, Betr confirmed the launch of a new combat-focused media arm.