Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA event Smith vs Sherman took place, featuring MMA competition on bare knuckles. Two Russian fighters competed: Nikolai Kovalenko (11-2), known from RCC and filming in Titans, and Denis Petrov (1-1). Kovalenko dominated early but gassed badly and lost by disqualification, while Petrov knocked out his opponent after nearly getting finished himself. The event also featured former UFC fighters Anthony Smith, Chase Sherman, Luis Peña, and Thiago Santos. Smith returned from retirement with a fully blacked-out arm tattoo and defeated Sherman, while Peña submitted his opponent after an accidental groin strike. Ray Cooper III delivered the event's only spectacular knockout. Overall, the reviewer found the event underwhelming, with mediocre production, mostly boring fights, and past-prime competitors.
Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA promotion returned with its Smith vs Sherman event, a card that mixed former UFC names with regional talent in a bare-knuckle MMA format that drew a mixed reception from viewers.
The main event saw Anthony Smith come out of retirement to face Chase Sherman. Smith, 37, carries a 38-22 record and holds the number 15 ranking in the light heavyweight division. The six-foot-four Lionheart, fighting out of Factory X, brought a 76-inch reach and a career striking accuracy of 49 percent into the contest. He defeated Sherman, making headlines as much for a fully blacked-out arm tattoo as for the result. Sherman, also six-foot-four and 36 years old, trains out of Jackson-Wink MMA and owns a 16-12 record. Known as The Vanilla Gorilla, Sherman has a 78-inch reach and has shown genuine striking volume throughout his career, averaging over six significant strikes landed per minute in his MMA history.
Also on the card, Brazilian veteran Thiago Santos, 42, who holds a 22-13 record, appeared among a group of former UFC fighters rounding out the lineup. Luis Peña secured a submission victory after an accidental groin strike disrupted the flow of his bout.
Among the Russian fighters featured, Nikolai Kovalenko entered with an 11-2 record and experience in RCC competition, but despite dominating early he faded badly and was eventually disqualified. Denis Petrov, who came in at 1-1, nearly suffered a finish before turning the fight around and knocking out his opponent. Ray Cooper III provided the card's lone standout moment with the event's only spectacular knockout.
Why it matters
- Smith's return from retirement at 37 raises questions about how long former UFC light heavyweights will continue competing outside the promotion
- The bare-knuckle MMA format continues to attract name fighters, though production quality and overall card depth remain points of criticism
- Petrov and Kovalenko's outings offer a glimpse of Russian regional talent on a wider platform, with mixed results
