Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA promotion held an event featuring bare-knuckle MMA bouts that failed to deliver the expected violence. Two Russian fighters competed: Nikolai Kovalenko (11-2), known from RCC and Titans, dominated early but fatigued and lost by disqualification, while Denis Petrov (1-1) knocked out his opponent after nearly being finished himself. Former UFC fighters Anthony Smith, Chase Sherman, Luis Peña, and Thiago Santos also competed, with Smith returning from retirement with a heavily tattooed arm to defeat Sherman. The event featured underwhelming production values and largely boring fights despite the unusual bare-knuckle format, with Ray Cooper III being the only fighter to score an impressive knockout.
Jorge Masvidal's Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA promotion ran an event on April 15 showcasing a mix of former UFC names and international prospects in bare-knuckle MMA bouts, though the card largely failed to live up to the format's promise of heightened violence and drama.
Anthony "Lionheart" Smith, the 37-year-old American light heavyweight ranked 15th in his division with a professional record of 38-22, came out of retirement to face Chase Sherman. Smith made headlines arriving with a heavily tattooed arm and ultimately defeated Sherman by decision. The six-foot-four Factory X product carries a striking accuracy of 49 percent and brings a well-rounded game that includes submission attempts at a rate of 0.6 per 15 minutes. Sherman, also six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach and fighting out of Jackson-Wink MMA, holds a 16-12 record and lands an impressive 6.04 significant strikes per minute, though he was unable to impose that output on the night.
Brazilian veteran Thiago "Marreta" Santos, 42, also competed on the card. The former UFC title challenger carries a record of 22-13 and a striking accuracy of nearly 56 percent, though his output has been limited in recent years.
On the international side, Russian fighter Nikolai Kovalenko, known from RCC and Titans competition and holding an 11-2 record, appeared on course for a dominant performance before fatigue set in and he was eventually disqualified. Compatriot Denis Petrov, at 1-1 as a professional, survived a near-finish to score a knockout win of his own.
Ray Cooper III provided the card's lone standout moment, landing the only genuinely impressive knockout of the night.
Why it matters
- Smith's comeback under the Gamebred banner signals continued activity for aging UFC veterans outside the Octagon
- The bare-knuckle MMA format struggled to generate the anticipated action, raising questions about the promotion's product
- Kovalenko's disqualification loss and Petrov's survival win offer mixed results for Russian prospects seeking wider exposure
