Backyard Squabbles: Everything You Need to Know
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) |
| Location | South Los Angeles, California; gym in Carson, CA |
| Founders | Damian "DGoot" Gutierrez and Joshua Brito |
| Format | Amateur boxing and MMA in a backyard ring |
| Motto | "Guns Down, Squabble Up" |
| @backyardsquabbles (30K+ followers) | |
| TikTok | @backyardsquabbles |
| Broadcast | TrillerTV |
| Website | backyardsquabbles.com |
| Gym Address | 20797 S Main St, Carson, CA |
| Gym Hours | Tuesday - Sunday, 5PM - 8PM |
Overview
Backyard Squabbles is a South Los Angeles-based amateur fighting organization that stages boxing and MMA bouts in backyard rings across the LA metro area. Founded in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic by two young promoters from the neighborhood, the organization has built a devoted following on Instagram, TikTok, and TrillerTV by offering something deceptively simple: a legitimate ring, real referees, and a code of conduct that puts controlled competition ahead of street violence.
The organization's motto -- "Guns Down, Squabble Up" -- is not a marketing slogan. It is the operational philosophy behind every fight card Backyard Squabbles puts on. In a region of the country where gun violence has claimed generations of young men, Backyard Squabbles exists to give people a different way to settle disputes, test themselves, and earn respect within their communities. If that mission sounds familiar, it should. It echoes the founding ethos of Streetbeefs, the Harrisonburg, Virginia-based organization whose "Fists Up, Guns Down" credo helped pioneer the modern backyard fighting movement. Backyard Squabbles is the West Coast answer to that call, adapted for the specific realities of life in South LA.
What separates Backyard Squabbles from most underground fight operations is its dual identity: it functions both as an event promoter and as a fighter development pipeline. For aspiring boxers and MMA competitors locked out of traditional amateur pathways like AAU boxing -- which trainers have described as a "closed society" hostile to newcomers -- Backyard Squabbles provides something invaluable: actual ring time in front of an actual crowd against an actual opponent. That experience is the currency that young fighters need, and it is remarkably hard to come by through conventional channels.
History and Origins
The story of Backyard Squabbles begins in the summer of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic had shut down gyms, shuttered entertainment venues, and left entire communities with nowhere to go and nothing to do. Damian Gutierrez, then just 20 years old and working as a security guard at a sushi restaurant in Gardena, was training in a garage with his cousin, Christian Padilla, a former mixed martial arts competitor. The two were watching clips of outdoor fights and backyard brawls on YouTube when Gutierrez had a thought: why not bring something like that to their own neighborhood, but do it right -- with a ring, rules, and a purpose?
That purpose was deeply personal. Gutierrez was named after an uncle who had been shot and killed at a doughnut shop near Imperial Highway and Normandie Avenue nearly two decades earlier. Growing up in South LA meant growing up around gun violence, and Gutierrez wanted to build something that offered an alternative. He teamed up with Joshua Brito, then 19 and barely a year out of high school, and the two began planning.
In June of 2020, Backyard Squabbles held its first event. The setup was bare-bones -- a ring in a backyard, a handful of fighters, friends and family in attendance -- but the energy was immediate. The fights were filmed and posted to Instagram, where they began generating the kind of grassroots buzz that no advertising budget can buy. By the time they had staged five events, their Instagram following had ballooned to 29,000. News outlets took notice. The LA Times ran a major feature. LA Taco published in-depth coverage. Yahoo News and Lookout Santa Cruz picked up the story nationally.
Brito and Gutierrez were openly ambitious. They dreamed of building Backyard Squabbles into something on the scale of the UFC or Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship -- major fight businesses that had started from humble origins. The path from a South LA backyard to pay-per-view television was long, but they were young, hungry, and building momentum.
Regulatory Challenges
That momentum hit a wall in 2021 when the California State Athletic Commission, the state's regulatory body for combat sports, took notice. In April, the organization's partners received a letter informing them that they were breaking the law by promoting and staging fights without a license. Then, in July, a representative from the commission showed up in person at a Backyard Squabbles mixer, serving a second cease-and-desist order.
The path to compliance was steep. The commission told them they would need a federal employee ID number and $50,000 in liquid assets -- resources that two young men from South LA simply did not have. This is a challenge unique to California, where the regulatory framework for combat sports is far more aggressive than in states like Virginia, where Streetbeefs has operated openly for over 15 years by structuring its events around consensual combat on private property with no fighter compensation.
Rather than fold, Backyard Squabbles adapted. The organization has continued to put on events, expanded to a permanent gym location in Carson, and eventually began staging sanctioned amateur MMA events through CamoMMA, an amateur MMA sanctioning body. Their December 2023 event, "Backyard Squabbles 1," was held at the Los Angeles Barber Club in Gardena, and their July 2024 event, "Backyard Squabbles 2," was held at their Carson facility -- both sanctioned amateur cards with legitimate fight records tracked on Tapology.
Mission: Guns Down, Squabble Up
The "Guns Down, Squabble Up" philosophy is the beating heart of Backyard Squabbles. It is not an afterthought or a public relations strategy. It is the reason the organization exists.
South Los Angeles has been one of the most violence-affected communities in the United States for decades. Gang activity, poverty, limited opportunity, and generational trauma have created an environment where disputes are too often resolved with firearms. Backyard Squabbles offers a direct intervention: if you have a problem with someone, settle it in the ring. Put the gloves on. Throw hands. Walk away with your pride and your life intact.
This principle extends beyond formal "beef fights" -- matches where two people with a genuine dispute agree to settle it through combat -- to the broader community-building function of the events. Backyard Squabbles cards feature music, food vendors, barbering services, and dance-offs alongside the fighting. The atmosphere is closer to a block party than a cage fight. Families attend. Children are present. The events are designed to bring people together, not apart.
As Josh Brito has stated plainly: "Our group offers an alternative to gun violence in our communities." The Guns Down Squabble Up movement has resonated far beyond South LA, attracting viewers from multiple continents who connect with the message that there are better ways to handle conflict than picking up a weapon.
The parallel with Streetbeefs and its "Fists Up, Guns Down" motto is obvious, and it is not a coincidence. The backyard fighting movement as a whole has been shaped by this idea -- that controlled, consensual combat in a structured setting is not just entertainment but a genuine form of community harm reduction.
Format and Rules
Backyard Squabbles operates with a level of structure that distinguishes it from the unregulated brawls that the "backyard fighting" label often implies.
Disciplines
Fighters compete in two primary formats:
- Boxing: Standard amateur boxing rules with gloves, typically in a full-sized ring
- Mixed Martial Arts (MMA): Amateur MMA rules allowing striking and grappling, with finishes by knockout, TKO, submission, and decision
Event Structure
A typical Backyard Squabbles event features approximately seven to eight bouts across the card. Events include:
- Official weigh-ins before the fights
- A full-sized boxing or MMA ring
- Licensed referees overseeing every bout
- Matchmaking based on weight and experience
Bout Format
Based on their sanctioned amateur MMA events, bouts typically follow a three-round format with two-minute rounds. Main event and featured fights may run longer -- some boxing bouts have been scheduled for five three-minute rounds.
Weight Classes
Backyard Squabbles enforces weight classes, matching fighters at agreed-upon weights. Their cards have featured bouts ranging from 145 pounds up to heavyweight (350+ pounds), demonstrating a commitment to competitive balance across the weight spectrum.
Special Features
- Mixer Events: Showcase cards designed for debut fighters to get their first ring experience in a lower-stakes environment
- Beef Fights: Matches between people with genuine personal disputes who agree to resolve their conflict through combat
- Main Events: Headline bouts featuring proven competitors on the Backyard Squabbles circuit
Notable Fighters
Albert "Black Blade" Marion
A 22-year-old from San Pedro who installs cable for Dish Network by day and fights at Backyard Squabbles by night. Marion is tall, wiry, and possesses an intensity that has made him one of the organization's most compelling figures. He describes fighting in almost spiritual terms: "When I get hit, it feels like a blessing. It's like God is telling me, 'You're here.'" Marion won his debut at a Backyard Squabbles mixer before suffering a knockout loss to Big Cheese in the third round of a bout on May 30, 2021 -- a fight that resulted in a concussion but only deepened his commitment to the sport. Marion represents the archetype of the Backyard Squabbles fighter: a working-class young man with raw talent and limited access to traditional fight pathways, using the organization as his proving ground.
Hector "Aztec Warrior" Herrera
Herrera occupies a dual role at Backyard Squabbles as both a fighter and a trainer. He works landscaping jobs during the day and trains as a boxer multiple times a week at a gym in Hawthorne, California. Herrera has been trying for years to break into professional boxing but has been continually sidetracked by the demands of supporting a growing family. Backyard Squabbles gives him both a platform to compete and a place to pass on his knowledge to younger fighters. He has been a vocal advocate for the organization's peaceful atmosphere outside the ring, embodying the "Guns Down, Squabble Up" philosophy in both word and action.
"Granddaddy"
An undefeated MMA fighter on the Backyard Squabbles circuit, Granddaddy has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous grapplers in the organization. His unbeaten streak has attracted attention from fans who see him as a potential breakout star, and he has openly expressed aspirations to advance into professional MMA competition. In an organization where most fighters are young and unpolished, Granddaddy stands out for the consistency and discipline of his performances.
Valinda Hernandez
The only female fighter on the Backyard Squabbles roster, Hernandez has been a pioneering figure in the organization despite facing persistent difficulty in finding opponents. She joined Backyard Squabbles after hearing about it from a friend, drawn by the opportunity to compete and the mental health benefits of training and fighting. On at least four occasions, women who were matched against Hernandez backed out before the fight. Despite this frustration, Hernandez has remained committed to the organization and has spoken openly about how boxing and fighting serve as critical outlets for people struggling with depression and isolation -- a message that resonated particularly during the pandemic lockdowns. Her presence at Backyard Squabbles events is a statement: this space is not exclusively for men, even if the rest of the world has not caught up yet.
Card Fighters
Beyond the marquee names, Backyard Squabbles has developed a roster of regular competitors who have built records through the organization's sanctioned events. Fighters like Ivan Barajas, Justin Padilla, Dunn Farrow, Gimaggio Funes, Gerardo Murrieta, and Jmar Zelaya have all earned victories on Backyard Squabbles cards, with their results recorded on Tapology and CamoMMA. Padilla and Avery Williams headlined the Backyard Squabbles 2 card, with Padilla earning a second-round TKO in the main event.
How to Watch
Backyard Squabbles distributes its content across multiple platforms:
- Instagram: The primary hub for fight clips, event announcements, and community engagement. @backyardsquabbles has amassed over 30,000 followers and serves as the organization's main social media presence.
- TikTok: @backyardsquabbles features fight highlights and promotional content optimized for short-form video.
- TrillerTV: Full event replays are available on TrillerTV, giving viewers access to complete fight cards with professional production.
- YouTube: Full fights are posted to YouTube, with links typically shared through the organization's Instagram bio.
- Website: backyardsquabbles.com serves as the organizational hub with merchandise, event information, and links to all content platforms.
The move to TrillerTV is significant. It represents a step toward the kind of professional broadcasting infrastructure that separates serious fight promotions from casual backyard operations. While organizations like Streetbeefs built their audience almost entirely on free YouTube content, Backyard Squabbles is pursuing a multi-platform distribution model that includes both free social media clips and full-length paid event broadcasts.
How to Join
As a Fighter
Backyard Squabbles accepts new fighters on a rolling basis. The process is straightforward:
- Follow the Instagram account: @backyardsquabbles is the primary point of contact for fighter inquiries.
- Send a DM: Reach out via Instagram direct message expressing your interest in competing. Include your weight, fighting experience (if any), and preferred discipline (boxing or MMA).
- Get Matched: The Backyard Squabbles matchmakers will pair you with an opponent of similar size and experience level.
- Show Up: Attend the event, weigh in, and fight.
There are no extensive experience requirements. Backyard Squabbles was built specifically to give fighters their first ring experience, so newcomers are welcome. Mixer events are designed as entry points for first-time competitors.
As a Gym Member
Backyard Squabbles operates a training facility at 20797 S Main St in Carson, California. The gym is open Tuesday through Sunday from 5PM to 8PM. This gym, branded as BYS Gym (@b.y.s.gym on Instagram), provides training for fighters looking to prepare for Backyard Squabbles events or simply develop their combat sports skills.
As a Spectator
Event announcements are posted on the Backyard Squabbles Instagram account. In-person events are held in the greater Los Angeles area, with locations announced ahead of each card. Past events have been held in Gardena and Carson. Tickets for events have been sold through Eventbrite.
Backyard Squabbles vs. Other Organizations
Backyard Squabbles occupies a specific niche within the broader backyard fighting landscape. Here is how it compares to other prominent organizations:
vs. Streetbeefs: The most direct comparison. Both organizations share a gun-violence-reduction mission and similar mottos. Streetbeefs is older, larger (4M+ YouTube subscribers vs. Backyard Squabbles' 30K+ Instagram followers), and based on the East Coast. Streetbeefs avoids regulatory issues by not paying fighters and not charging admission; Backyard Squabbles has navigated California's stricter regulatory environment by moving toward sanctioned amateur events.
vs. Rough N Rowdy: Rough N Rowdy is a commercial amateur boxing operation with pay-per-view broadcasts and a comedic entertainment angle backed by Barstool Sports. Backyard Squabbles is community-driven and rooted in social mission rather than entertainment profit.
vs. King of the Ring: King of the Ring operates in the UK with a more produced, event-driven model. Backyard Squabbles is grassroots and LA-specific, though its TrillerTV broadcasts represent a move toward more professional production.
FAQ
What is Backyard Squabbles?
Backyard Squabbles is an amateur boxing and MMA organization based in South Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2020, it hosts fight events in backyard settings and at its Carson, CA gym facility under the motto "Guns Down, Squabble Up."
Who founded Backyard Squabbles?
Backyard Squabbles was founded by Damian "DGoot" Gutierrez and Joshua Brito in June 2020. Both were in their late teens and early twenties at the time and were motivated by a desire to reduce gun violence in their South LA community.
Is Backyard Squabbles legal?
Backyard Squabbles has faced regulatory scrutiny from the California State Athletic Commission, which issued cease-and-desist orders in 2021. The organization has since evolved its operating model, partnering with CamoMMA to stage sanctioned amateur MMA events and operating out of a licensed gym facility in Carson. The legal landscape for backyard fighting in California is significantly more restrictive than in states like Virginia, where Streetbeefs operates freely under more permissive consent-combat laws.
Do fighters get paid at Backyard Squabbles?
No. Backyard Squabbles operates on an amateur model where fighters do not receive financial compensation for competing.
How do I sign up to fight at Backyard Squabbles?
The simplest route is to send a direct message to @backyardsquabbles on Instagram with your weight, experience level, and preferred discipline. The organization also accepts inquiries through its website at backyardsquabbles.com.
Where are Backyard Squabbles events held?
Events are held in the greater Los Angeles area, primarily in South LA, Gardena, and Carson, California. The organization also operates a gym at 20797 S Main St in Carson, CA, which hosts both training sessions and fight events.
How can I watch Backyard Squabbles fights?
Fight clips are posted for free on Instagram and TikTok. Full event replays are available on TrillerTV. Full fights are also uploaded to YouTube with links shared through the organization's social media accounts.
What is the "Guns Down, Squabble Up" movement?
"Guns Down, Squabble Up" is the founding philosophy of Backyard Squabbles. It advocates settling disputes with gloves and controlled combat rather than firearms. The movement has resonated far beyond Los Angeles, attracting supporters and viewers from across the United States and internationally.
Can women fight at Backyard Squabbles?
Yes. Valinda Hernandez has competed as the organization's first and most prominent female fighter. However, finding female opponents has been a persistent challenge, with multiple scheduled opponents withdrawing before their bouts.
Does Backyard Squabbles have a gym?
Yes. BYS Gym is located at 20797 S Main St in Carson, California, and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 5PM to 8PM. The gym provides training for fighters at all levels and serves as a base of operations for the organization.