Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA, promoted by Jorge Masvidal, featured two Russian fighters. Nikolai Kovalenko (11-2), known from RCC and Titans, dominated early but fatigued and lost by disqualification. Denis Petrov (1-1) knocked out his opponent after nearly being stopped himself. Former UFC fighters Anthony Smith, Chase Sherman, Luis Pena, and Thiago Santos also competed, with Smith returning from retirement and defeating Sherman. The event overall was considered underwhelming with lackluster production and unexciting fights.
Anthony Smith came out of retirement to compete at Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA, Jorge Masvidal's promotional venture, in an event that drew attention for a disqualification finish and a last-second knockout among its notable bouts on April 15, 2026.
Smith, known as "Lionheart," holds a 38-22 record and is ranked fifteenth in the light heavyweight division at 37 years old. The six-foot-four American, who trains out of Factory X and carries a 76-inch reach, returned from retirement to face Chase Sherman, defeating him on the night. Sherman, nicknamed "The Vanilla Gorilla," enters at 16-12 and is also six-foot-four with an even longer reach of 78 inches. The 36-year-old Jackson-Wink product lands an impressive 6.04 significant strikes per minute, though he was unable to secure a win against his returning opponent.
The event also featured two Russian fighters whose bouts generated talking points. Nikolai Kovalenko, a veteran of RCC and Titans with an 11-2 record, looked dominant early but visibly fatigued as the fight wore on and ultimately was disqualified, handing Denis Petrov the victory. Petrov, now 1-1, had a dramatic outing of his own — nearly being stopped before rallying to knock out his opponent.
Luis "Violent Bob Ross" Pena, the 32-year-old southpaw out of American Top Team Sunrise, also appeared on the card. Pena carries a 9-3 record and a well-rounded game, averaging 1.17 takedowns and 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside a 46 percent striking accuracy.
Why it matters
- Smith's return from retirement, even in a non-UFC setting, keeps him relevant in the light heavyweight landscape where he holds a ranked position
- Kovalenko's disqualification loss is a rare blemish on a fighter with notable regional pedigree, raising questions about his durability late in bouts
- The event itself was reported as underwhelming in production quality, which may affect Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA's standing as a destination for established fighters
