Mahatch FC Events: Berinchyk vs Lobov and the Rise of Ukrainian Bare Knuckle
Mahatch Fighting Championship arrived in the bare knuckle fighting world in January 2020 with ambitions that matched the grandeur of its setting. Operating out of Ukraine and staging events at the Palace of Sports -- a major arena in the country's capital -- Mahatch FC was never content to be a small-time backyard operation. Co-founded by Andriy Limontov and sponsored by the betting giant Parimatch (through their PM Club initiative), Mahatch launched as a professionally produced, heavily marketed bare knuckle promotion that drew explicit inspiration from BKFC while carving out its own Eastern European identity.
Within 18 months of its founding, Mahatch FC staged the biggest fight in its history -- a superfight between Olympic silver medalist Denys Berinchyk and former UFC fighter Artem Lobov that drew over 2,000 fans and captured international attention. Within three years, the promotion's trajectory was violently disrupted by events far beyond the ring.
This is the story of Mahatch FC's events, its landmark fights, and the uncertain future of Ukrainian bare knuckle fighting.
The Launch: January 2020
Mahatch FC debuted in January 2020 with a format that blended elements of Eastern European street fighting culture with the structure of Western bare knuckle promotions. The format was distinctive:
- Bare knuckle striking in a ring surrounded by sandbags
- Mandatory jeans and sneakers -- fighters could not wear shorts or traditional fight gear
- No ground fighting -- the action remained standing at all times
- Elbows and clinch blows allowed -- a more permissive striking ruleset than many bare knuckle promotions
- 10-second knockdown count -- similar to boxing, providing a recovery window
The jeans-and-sneakers dress code was not merely aesthetic. It connected the fighting to its street origins, visually signaling that this was not a sanitized, gym-polished production. When a man fights in jeans, the message is clear: this is real, this is raw, and this is how it happens outside the arena.
The early events established Mahatch FC as a serious player in the Eastern European fighting scene, though the promotion's first year was complicated by the same force that disrupted everything in 2020: the global pandemic. COVID-19 restrictions limited crowd sizes and forced scheduling adjustments, but Mahatch continued to stage events and build its brand.
The Build to Berinchyk vs. Lobov
The fight that defined Mahatch FC did not come together overnight. Artem "The Russian Hammer" Lobov had already established himself as one of the most recognizable fighters in the bare knuckle world through his rivalry with Paulie Malignaggi at BKFC. His two decision victories over the former boxing world champion had generated mainstream coverage and proved that Lobov -- best known as Conor McGregor's sparring partner and a UFC fighter with a 2-5 record in the Octagon -- could be a genuine draw in the bare knuckle format.
Denys Berinchyk represented something entirely different. An Olympic silver medalist in boxing from the 2012 London Games, Berinchyk was one of Ukraine's most accomplished amateur boxers. He had transitioned to professional boxing and would go on to win the WBO lightweight world championship. His participation in Mahatch FC was a statement of intent by the promotion: this was not a fringe operation. It could attract world-class combat sports talent.
The clash of worlds -- a UFC veteran and bare knuckle star against an Olympic boxing medalist and future world champion -- was unlike anything the bare knuckle scene had ever produced. The hype was real, and it extended far beyond Ukraine's borders.
Berinchyk vs. Lobov -- July 2021: The Night That Changed Everything
The fight took place in July 2021 before a crowd of over 2,000 fans. The Palace of Sports provided a setting that matched the magnitude of the occasion -- a professional arena with professional production, a far cry from the backyards and warehouses where much of the world's bare knuckle fighting takes place.
Berinchyk's boxing pedigree proved decisive. The Olympic silver medalist's technical superiority was evident from the opening exchanges. His footwork, timing, and shot selection were levels above what Lobov had faced in his BKFC bouts against Malignaggi. Lobov brought his trademark toughness and forward pressure, but the skill gap was too wide.
Berinchyk defeated Lobov convincingly, prompting Lobov to announce his retirement from combat sports. "I've fought everywhere -- MMA, bare knuckle, everywhere," Lobov said afterward. "I'm done." It was a statement that carried the weight of a career that had spanned the UFC, BKFC, and now Mahatch FC -- a journey across every format that modern combat sports had to offer.
The Significance of the Fight
Berinchyk vs. Lobov was significant on multiple levels:
For Mahatch FC, it was a validation event. The promotion had attracted two internationally recognized fighters and staged a bout that generated coverage across MMA, boxing, and bare knuckle media. The production quality, the crowd size, and the caliber of talent demonstrated that Mahatch FC could compete for attention with any bare knuckle promotion in the world.
For bare knuckle fighting, it was a crossover moment. An Olympic medalist and future world boxing champion competing in a bare knuckle fight legitimized the format in ways that no amount of marketing could achieve. If a boxer of Berinchyk's caliber was willing to fight without gloves, the format clearly had merit.
For Artem Lobov, it was a fitting farewell. Lobov's career had been defined by his willingness to fight anyone, anywhere, in any format. Losing to an Olympic silver medalist in bare knuckle combat was no disgrace -- it was a testament to the level of opposition Lobov sought out throughout his career. His retirement announcement, though later complicated by a near-comeback in 2025, was a powerful moment.
Other Notable Mahatch FC Events
Beyond the Berinchyk-Lobov superfight, Mahatch FC staged several events that showcased the depth of Ukrainian fighting talent:
The early cards featured a mix of Ukrainian fighters from boxing, kickboxing, and street fighting backgrounds. The promotion's open registration policy -- similar in spirit, though not identical, to Strelka's approach -- meant that the cards included both trained fighters and willing amateurs.
The PM Club events -- co-branded with sponsor Parimatch -- elevated the production quality and provided a financial foundation that allowed Mahatch FC to pay fighters, rent major venues, and invest in marketing. The Parimatch sponsorship gave the promotion a legitimacy that most bare knuckle organizations, particularly those in Eastern Europe, lacked.
The street fighter showcases highlighted local talent from across Ukraine, giving fighters from outside the traditional gym system an opportunity to compete in a professional setting. These cards were Mahatch FC's equivalent of what Streetbeefs provides in the American context -- a bridge between the street and the arena.
The War: February 2022 and Its Aftermath
On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The war upended every aspect of Ukrainian life, and combat sports were no exception.
Mahatch FC's operations were severely disrupted. The Palace of Sports, which had hosted the Berinchyk-Lobov superfight and other major events, was in a city that became a focal point of the conflict. Staging bare knuckle fighting events in a country under military attack was, understandably, not a priority.
The war's impact on Mahatch FC mirrored its impact on every Ukrainian institution -- plans were suspended, personnel were displaced, and the future became impossible to predict. Several Mahatch FC fighters and staff members were directly affected by the conflict, with some joining the defense effort.
The promotion's pre-war status was promising. It had staged a legitimate superfight, built a brand with real commercial backing, and demonstrated that the Ukrainian market could support professional bare knuckle fighting. Whether that momentum can be recovered depends on factors that have nothing to do with combat sports.
Mahatch FC's Place in the Eastern European Fighting Landscape
Mahatch FC occupied a distinct niche in the Eastern European fighting ecosystem. While Strelka operated as a mass-participation sand-ring fight club and Top Dog FC positioned itself as the premier professional bare knuckle promotion in Russia, Mahatch FC blended Ukrainian national pride with professional bare knuckle production.
The Berinchyk-Lobov fight was proof that Mahatch FC could compete with any bare knuckle promotion in the world for headline talent. The promotion's challenge was never talent or ambition -- it was sustainability in a region where geopolitical instability could derail even the best-laid plans.
The Eastern European bare knuckle scene in 2026 is fractured by the war. Russian promotions like Strelka and Top Dog FC continue to operate, but the cross-border fighter exchanges and audience sharing that characterized the pre-war era have been disrupted. Mahatch FC's future is tied to the future of Ukraine itself.
Lobov's Post-Mahatch Career
Artem Lobov's retirement announcement after the Berinchyk loss proved to be less than final. Lobov stated publicly that he would return to fighting under two conditions: a seven-figure payday or a fight against Zubaira Tukhugov, a longtime rival from the UFC 229 backstage altercation.
In 2025, a bout against Tukhugov was booked for PFL Champions Series 3 on October 3, ending nearly seven years away from MMA. However, three days before the fight, the bout was scrapped due to a training injury Lobov sustained.
Lobov has also been embroiled in a legal battle with his former friend Conor McGregor over the Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey brand, claiming he was the original co-creator and is entitled to 5% of sale proceeds. He has launched a clothing brand called "Outcasts & Underdogs" and expressed interest in influencer boxing.
The Mahatch FC fight against Berinchyk remains the last completed bout of Lobov's career -- a career that began in the UFC, passed through BKFC, and ended in a Ukrainian arena. For more on Lobov's full story, see our profile in Underground Fighting Legends.
Berinchyk's Rise After Mahatch
If the Berinchyk-Lobov fight was the end of one career, it was a stepping stone in another. Denys Berinchyk continued his professional boxing career after the Mahatch FC bout and went on to capture the WBO lightweight world championship -- a remarkable achievement that retroactively elevated the significance of the Mahatch FC superfight.
The fact that a future boxing world champion competed in a bare knuckle fight under the Mahatch FC banner is one of the most remarkable footnotes in bare knuckle history. It validates the format, validates the promotion, and suggests that the line between bare knuckle fighting and elite boxing is far thinner than traditionalists would like to believe.
What Mahatch FC Proved
In its brief but impactful run, Mahatch FC proved several things:
- Eastern European bare knuckle fighting could attract world-class talent. Berinchyk's participation demolished the assumption that elite boxers would never fight without gloves.
- Professional production and sponsorship could coexist with raw bare knuckle combat. The Parimatch partnership showed that corporate sponsors would back bare knuckle events.
- The Ukrainian market was viable. Before the war, the crowds and engagement demonstrated real demand.
- Bare knuckle fighting could serve as a crossroads format. Mahatch FC brought together fighters from boxing, MMA, and street fighting -- a convergence that no other promotion achieved as explicitly.
Whether Mahatch FC returns to full operation depends on circumstances beyond anyone's control. But its events, particularly the Berinchyk-Lobov superfight, have already secured its place in the history of bare knuckle fighting.
For more on the Eastern European fighting scene, see Strelka Major Events and Top Dog FC Major Events. For Artem Lobov's full career arc, read our Underground Fighting Legends profile.