Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA: Everything You Need to Know
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| Headquarters | Miami, Florida |
| Founder | Jorge "Gamebred" Masvidal |
| CEO / President | Dean Toole |
| Format | Bareknuckle MMA (Unified Rules of MMA without gloves) |
| Tournament Prize | $500,000 per tournament |
| Events Held | 8 (as of late 2024) |
| Notable Fighters | Junior dos Santos, Anthony Smith, Fabricio Werdum, Kevin Lee, Thiago Santos |
| Website | gamebredbareknuckle.com |
| Social Media | Instagram: @gamebredfc, X: @GamebredFC |
Overview
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA is the world's first professional bareknuckle mixed martial arts promotion. Founded in 2023 by former UFC welterweight title challenger Jorge "Gamebred" Masvidal and veteran combat sports promoter Dean Toole, the organization applies the Unified Rules of MMA -- striking, grappling, takedowns, submissions -- with one critical distinction: no gloves.
The concept is not a gimmick. It is a full-circle return to the roots of mixed martial arts for a man who built his fighting reputation in the backyards of Miami long before the UFC ever came calling. Masvidal has taken the rawness of his own origin story and turned it into a legitimate promotional vehicle, attracting a roster stacked with former UFC, Bellator, and PFL veterans willing to test themselves in the most unforgiving format in professional combat sports.
Through its first eight events, Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA has delivered a steady stream of violent finishes, crowned its first heavyweight champion, and built a cult following among fans who crave something closer to real fighting than mainstream MMA provides. After going dark for all of 2025, the promotion announced its most ambitious project yet: dual 16-fighter tournaments at heavyweight and lightweight, each carrying a $500,000 grand prize, launching in April 2026.
For anyone who follows bare-knuckle fighting or underground combat sports, Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA sits at a unique crossroads -- a professionally organized, legally sanctioned promotion that delivers the visceral intensity of a backyard fight.
Jorge Masvidal's Story
To understand Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA, you have to understand the man behind it.
The Backyards of Miami
Jorge Luis Masvidal was born on November 12, 1984, in Miami, Florida, to a Cuban father and Peruvian mother. He did not grow up in the combat sports system. He grew up fighting. As a teenager in the streets and backyards of Miami's rougher neighborhoods, Masvidal earned his reputation the old-fashioned way: fist by fist, in unsanctioned scraps that were filmed and uploaded to the early internet.
The most famous of those backyard videos shows a young Masvidal dismantling "Ray," a protege of the legendary Kimbo Slice, in a raw bareknuckle encounter. That footage spread like wildfire across forums and early YouTube, and it cemented a truth that would define Masvidal's entire career: this man was born to fight, and he was at his most dangerous without gloves.
Those backyard fights were not organized events. They were the real thing -- no rules, no referee, no safety net. They were also the proving ground that launched one of the most entertaining careers in MMA history.
The Professional Rise
Masvidal turned professional in 2003 at the age of 18 and spent the next two decades fighting across virtually every major promotion in the sport. He competed in Bellator, Strikeforce, Shark Fights, and World Victory Road before joining the UFC, where he compiled a 12-10 record against elite-level competition.
His professional record of 35-17 does not tell the full story. Masvidal was always a problem for anyone willing to stand and trade. He possessed legitimate knockout power (16 KO/TKO wins), slick boxing, and the kind of durability that comes from growing up in environments where quitting was not an option.
The UFC Peak
Masvidal's career reached its apex in 2019 with two performances that turned him from a respected veteran into a global superstar.
First, at UFC 239 on July 6, 2019, Masvidal knocked out Ben Askren with a flying knee in five seconds -- the fastest knockout in UFC history. It remains one of the most replayed moments in combat sports. One perfectly timed flying knee, delivered at the opening bell, ended the fight before it began. That single strike transformed Masvidal from a well-known fighter into a mainstream phenomenon.
Four months later, at UFC 244, Masvidal defeated Nate Diaz by TKO (doctor stoppage) to win the inaugural UFC "BMF" (Baddest Motherf***er) title. The symbolic belt was a perfect fit for a man who had spent his entire life proving exactly that.
Masvidal went on to challenge Kamaru Usman for the UFC welterweight championship twice (losing both times), cementing his status as a top-tier competitor if not a champion. He competed for the last time in the UFC in 2023 before turning his attention fully to the promotion side of the business.
From Fighter to Promoter
The transition from fighter to promoter was, in Masvidal's telling, a natural evolution. He had been thinking about bareknuckle MMA for years -- a format that combined the complete skillset of mixed martial arts with the raw honesty of fighting without gloves, the same conditions under which he had first made his name.
"I started bareknuckle," Masvidal has said in interviews, referencing his Miami backyard days. The promotion is not just a business venture. It is a return to where it all began, packaged for a professional audience.
History
2023: The Launch Year
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA held its inaugural event on May 5, 2023, at FLA Live Arena (now Amerant Bank Arena) in Sunrise, Florida. The debut card was headlined by Roy "Big Country" Nelson versus Dillon Cleckler, and it established the template for what the promotion would become: UFC veterans and experienced fighters competing under full MMA rules, minus the gloves.
The promotion ran an aggressive schedule in its first year, staging multiple events across the southeastern United States:
- Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 1 (May 5, 2023) -- Sunrise, Florida. Nelson vs. Cleckler headliner.
- Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 5 (September 8, 2023) -- VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida. Junior dos Santos defeated Fabricio Werdum by split decision in a rematch of their classic UFC heavyweight title fight, this time without gloves.
- Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 6 (November 10, 2023) -- Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, Mississippi. Alan Belcher defeated Roy Nelson by split decision. Chase Sherman scored a first-round knockout.
The JDS vs. Werdum rematch at Gamebred 5 was a landmark moment for the promotion. Two former UFC heavyweight champions, both well past their prime but still carrying name recognition and legitimate skills, went to war for three rounds without gloves. The split decision for dos Santos validated the format: these were real fights between real fighters, and the absence of gloves changed the dynamics in meaningful ways.
2024: Growth and Championship Gold
The promotion continued to build momentum in 2024:
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Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 7 (March 2, 2024) -- Kia Center, Orlando, Florida. Junior dos Santos defeated Alan Belcher by TKO in the second round to claim the inaugural Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA Heavyweight Championship. The coronation of "Cigano" as the promotion's first champion gave Gamebred a flagship titleholder and a centerpiece for its heavyweight division.
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Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 8 (November 15, 2024) -- Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, Mississippi. The main event between Randy Costa and Brandon Davis for the vacant Gamebred BK Bantamweight Championship ended in a no-contest after Davis landed an illegal knee and Costa was unable to continue. The co-main event saw Maurice Greene submit Chase Sherman with a standing guillotine choke, while Guto Inocente delivered a first-round knockout of Marcus Brigagao. Former UFC fighters Kevin Lee and Charles Rosa also appeared on the card.
By the end of 2024, Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA had run eight events, established two championship titles, and built a roster headlined by recognizable names from the UFC and other major promotions.
2025: The Quiet Year
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA did not hold any events in 2025. According to Masvidal, the hiatus was strategic rather than a sign of trouble. He spent the year fundraising and securing the financial backing needed to execute a far more ambitious plan for the promotion's future.
2026: The Tournament Era
In February 2026, Masvidal announced the promotion's return with its most significant undertaking to date: dual 16-fighter tournaments at heavyweight and lightweight, each with a $500,000 grand prize. All four rounds of both tournament brackets are scheduled to take place across 2026.
The first tournament event is set for April 10, 2026, in the Dominican Republic, marking the promotion's first event outside the United States. A second card follows on May 1 in Miami.
Confirmed opening-round heavyweight tournament matchups include:
- Anthony Smith vs. Chase Sherman -- Smith, a former UFC light heavyweight title challenger, is coming out of retirement specifically for this tournament.
- Thiago Santos vs. Guto Inocente -- Santos, another former UFC title challenger, replaced the originally announced Mohammed Usman.
- Alexandr Romanov vs. Nikolay Kovalenko -- Two heavyweights with deep combat sambo and MMA backgrounds.
- Todd Duffee vs. Bruno Cappelozza -- Duffee (former UFC) faces the former PFL champion on the May 1 card in Miami.
The tournament format, combined with the half-million-dollar prize and a roster filled with former UFC headliners, represents the most ambitious investment in bareknuckle MMA to date by any promotion worldwide.
Format and Rules
The Core Concept
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA operates under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts with one fundamental modification: fighters do not wear gloves. In place of the standard 4-ounce MMA gloves, competitors wear only wrist wraps for support.
Everything else remains intact. Striking, clinching, takedowns, ground-and-pound, and submissions are all legal. The standard fouls under the Unified Rules still apply: no groin strikes, no eye gouging, no kicks or knees to the head of a grounded opponent, no 12-6 elbows, and so on.
Round Structure
Standard bouts consist of three rounds of five minutes each. Championship and tournament fights may follow the same or an extended format depending on the specific event rules.
How No Gloves Changes the Fight
Removing gloves is not a cosmetic change. It fundamentally alters the dynamics of a fight in ways that affect both striking and grappling.
Striking: Without the padding of a glove, punches land with a sharper, more concentrated impact on a smaller surface area. Cuts open more easily. Knockouts come faster. Fighters tend to be more selective with their punches, because throwing reckless hooks at an opponent's skull with bare fists is a fast way to break your own hands. The result is fights that are paradoxically both more violent and more technically precise.
Grappling and Submissions: This is where the no-glove format really surprises people. Masvidal himself has pointed out that Gamebred events produce statistically more submissions per event than comparable gloved promotions, including the UFC. The reason is simple physics: without the bulk of a glove, hands slide into submission positions more easily. Chokes sink deeper. Wrist control is tighter. Grip is less compromised. The grappling game in bareknuckle MMA is fundamentally more dangerous for both fighters.
Defense: Blocking punches without gloves is a losing strategy. In gloved MMA, fighters can absorb punishment behind a high guard. In bareknuckle MMA, bare fists slide through guards and around blocks with far less resistance. This forces fighters to rely more on footwork, head movement, and distance management -- skills that separate truly technical fighters from brawlers.
Weight Classes
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA operates across multiple weight divisions, with the heavyweight and lightweight divisions receiving the most significant investment through the 2026 tournament series. The promotion has also featured bantamweight competition, as evidenced by the attempted bantamweight championship fight at Gamebred 8.
Sanctioning and Legality
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA operates as a sanctioned professional combat sports promotion. Events are held in venues with full athletic commission oversight, medical personnel, licensed referees, and judges. This distinguishes it from backyard fighting organizations like Streetbeefs or King of the Streets, which operate outside the traditional regulatory framework.
The legality of bareknuckle combat sports in the United States has evolved significantly in recent years, with organizations like BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) leading the way in securing state athletic commission approval for bare-knuckle boxing. Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA extends that same regulatory pathway to mixed martial arts.
Notable Fighters
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA has built its roster primarily around veterans of the UFC and other major MMA promotions. Here are the most significant fighters to compete under the Gamebred banner.
Junior dos Santos
The former UFC heavyweight champion and one of the greatest heavyweights in MMA history, dos Santos has been the face of Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA from its early events. "Cigano" defeated Fabricio Werdum by split decision at Gamebred 5, then knocked out Alan Belcher in the second round at Gamebred 7 to become the promotion's inaugural heavyweight champion. His boxing-heavy style translates naturally to the bareknuckle format, and his willingness to compete without gloves at the heavyweight level has given the promotion enormous credibility.
Anthony Smith
"Lionheart" is a former UFC light heavyweight title challenger with a 38-21 professional MMA record. Smith had retired from competition and was working as an analyst before Masvidal lured him back for the 2026 heavyweight tournament. His return from retirement -- specifically for bareknuckle MMA -- is one of the most talked-about storylines heading into the tournament series. He faces Chase Sherman in the opening round on April 10.
Fabricio Werdum
Another former UFC heavyweight champion, Werdum competed at Gamebred 5 in a rematch against dos Santos. While he lost the split decision, the presence of a fighter of Werdum's caliber on the card demonstrated the promotion's pulling power. Werdum is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend, and his willingness to grapple without gloves showcased the submission-heavy dynamic of bareknuckle MMA.
Thiago Santos
"Marreta" is a former UFC light heavyweight title challenger known for his devastating knockout power. Santos was brought into the 2026 heavyweight tournament as a replacement for Mohammed Usman and is set to face Guto Inocente in the opening round. His inclusion adds another layer of star power to the tournament bracket.
Roy Nelson
"Big Country" headlined the very first Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA event and returned for Gamebred 6, where he lost to Alan Belcher by split decision. Nelson, famous for his chin and his overhand right during his long UFC career, was a natural fit for a promotion built on the idea of raw, unpadded combat.
Kevin Lee
The former UFC lightweight contender and interim title challenger signed with Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA and appeared at Gamebred 8 in November 2024. Lee's grappling-heavy style and his willingness to compete at this level after his UFC departure made him one of the more intriguing additions to the roster.
Chase Sherman
A UFC heavyweight veteran, Sherman has become a regular on the Gamebred circuit. He scored a first-round knockout at Gamebred 6, was submitted by Maurice Greene at Gamebred 8, and is now set to face Anthony Smith in the opening round of the 2026 heavyweight tournament.
Guto Inocente
A Brazilian heavyweight with UFC and Bellator experience, Inocente delivered a devastating first-round knockout at Gamebred 8 and is entered in the 2026 heavyweight tournament, where he faces Thiago Santos.
Other Notable Fighters
The promotion has also featured Alan Belcher (longtime UFC middleweight), Randy Costa (former UFC bantamweight), Jason Knight (former UFC featherweight), Charles Rosa (former UFC featherweight), Maurice Greene (former UFC heavyweight), Todd Duffee (former UFC heavyweight), Bruno Cappelozza (former PFL champion), Alexandr Romanov (former UFC heavyweight), Jesse Ronson, and Curtis Millender.
Events
Complete Event History
| Event | Date | Location | Main Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gamebred BK MMA 1 | May 5, 2023 | FLA Live Arena, Sunrise, FL | Nelson vs. Cleckler |
| Gamebred BK MMA 5 | September 8, 2023 | VyStar Arena, Jacksonville, FL | dos Santos def. Werdum (SD) |
| Gamebred BK MMA 6 | November 10, 2023 | MS Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, MS | Belcher def. Nelson (SD) |
| Gamebred BK MMA 7 | March 2, 2024 | Kia Center, Orlando, FL | dos Santos def. Belcher (TKO R2) -- HW Title |
| Gamebred BK MMA 8 | November 15, 2024 | MS Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, MS | Costa vs. Davis (NC) -- BW Title |
Upcoming Events (2026)
| Event | Date | Location | Key Matchups |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gamebred BK MMA - Dominican Republic | April 10, 2026 | Dominican Republic | Smith vs. Sherman, Santos vs. Inocente, Romanov vs. Kovalenko |
| Gamebred BK MMA - Miami | May 1, 2026 | Miami, FL | Duffee vs. Cappelozza |
Additional events are expected throughout 2026 as both the heavyweight and lightweight tournament brackets progress through their quarterfinal, semifinal, and final rounds.
How to Watch
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA has made its content accessible through multiple platforms, with a strong emphasis on free streaming.
YouTube
The primary platform for Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA events. Cards have historically been streamed live and free on the promotion's official YouTube channel. Prelims typically begin at 8:00 PM ET, followed by the main card at 9:00 PM ET. Past events are also available as replays on the channel.
Kick
The promotion also streams on Kick, providing an additional free viewing option.
TrillerTV (formerly FITE)
Select Gamebred events have been available on TrillerTV (previously known as FITE), which offers both live and replay viewing options.
Official Website
The promotion's official website at gamebredbareknuckle.com publishes event schedules, news, and links to all streaming platforms.
Social Media
Follow the promotion on Instagram (@gamebredfc) and X (@GamebredFC) for fight announcements, highlights, behind-the-scenes content, and streaming links.
Live Events
Tickets for in-person attendance are available through Ticketmaster and through the promotion's official website. Events have been held at major venues across the southeastern United States, including arenas in Florida, Mississippi, and Orlando.
How to Join
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA is a professional promotion, which means the pathway to competing is different from amateur or unsanctioned organizations like Streetbeefs or King of the Ring.
Who Can Compete
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA recruits fighters with professional MMA experience. The roster is primarily composed of former UFC, Bellator, PFL, and other major-promotion veterans. This is not a walk-in, sign-a-waiver operation -- the promotion is looking for established fighters with verifiable professional records.
How to Get On the Radar
- Build a Professional Record: Compete in sanctioned professional MMA. The promotion draws from fighters who have competed at the regional, national, or international level.
- Contact the Promotion: Reach out through the official website at gamebredbareknuckle.com or through social media channels. The promotion's Instagram and X accounts are active and responsive.
- Work with Management: If you have a manager or agent in the combat sports space, they can facilitate introductions to Dean Toole, who serves as CEO, President, and Matchmaker for the promotion.
- Compete in Feeder Promotions: Masvidal and Toole also operate iKON FC and Gamebred Boxing. Performing well in these adjacent promotions can open doors to the bareknuckle MMA roster.
What to Expect
Fighters who compete in Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA are compensated professionals. Unlike amateur backyard fighting organizations, this is a paid gig with contracts, event purses, and the potential for tournament prize money up to $500,000. Events are held in regulated venues with full medical support, licensed officials, and athletic commission oversight.
If you are a professional MMA fighter looking for a new challenge, a platform that rewards finishing ability, or a shot at a life-changing payday through the tournament format, Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA is worth pursuing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA?
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA is a professional combat sports promotion founded by former UFC star Jorge Masvidal. It operates under the Unified Rules of MMA with one key difference: fighters compete without gloves, wearing only wrist wraps. It is the first and only professional bareknuckle MMA promotion in the United States.
Is Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA legal?
Yes. Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA operates as a sanctioned professional combat sports promotion with athletic commission oversight, licensed referees and judges, and on-site medical personnel. It follows the same regulatory pathway that allowed bare-knuckle boxing promotions like BKFC to gain state approval.
How is bareknuckle MMA different from bareknuckle boxing?
Bareknuckle boxing, as promoted by organizations like BKFC, is a striking-only sport. Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA uses the full Unified Rules of MMA -- meaning takedowns, ground fighting, clinching, and submissions are all legal in addition to striking. The only modification is the removal of gloves.
How is Gamebred different from the UFC?
Both promotions use the Unified Rules of MMA. The critical difference is gloves: UFC fighters wear 4-ounce padded gloves, while Gamebred fighters compete bare-fisted with wrist wraps only. This changes the striking dynamics (more cuts, sharper impact) and the grappling dynamics (easier to achieve submissions). Gamebred also runs a tournament format with large cash prizes, whereas the UFC uses a traditional matchmaking and ranking system.
Is Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA more dangerous than regular MMA?
The question is more nuanced than it appears. Without gloves, cuts are more common and knockouts can come faster. However, some research suggests that gloved fighting may actually cause more cumulative brain trauma because the padding allows fighters to throw harder head shots without breaking their hands. Bareknuckle fighters tend to be more measured with their striking, which can reduce the total volume of head trauma over the course of a fight. Either way, this is professional combat sports at its rawest, and the risk level is inherently high.
Who is Dean Toole?
Dean Toole is the CEO, President, and Matchmaker of Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA. A veteran combat sports promoter, Toole is also the founder of Island Fights and operates iKON FC and Gamebred Boxing alongside Masvidal. He handles the day-to-day operations and fighter recruitment for the promotion.
Has Jorge Masvidal fought in his own promotion?
As of early 2026, Masvidal has not competed as a fighter in Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA. He has focused entirely on his role as founder and promoter. However, given his history and the nature of the sport, the possibility of a promotional appearance in the cage has not been ruled out.
How much do Gamebred fighters get paid?
Specific fighter purses are not publicly disclosed. However, the promotion's tournament structure offers $500,000 grand prizes for the winners of its 16-fighter brackets. This represents one of the largest single paydays available in bareknuckle combat sports and is competitive with mid-tier UFC event payouts.
Where does Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA hold events?
Events have been held across the southeastern United States, including venues in Sunrise (Florida), Jacksonville (Florida), Orlando (Florida), Biloxi (Mississippi), and Miami (Florida). The promotion is expanding internationally with its April 2026 event in the Dominican Republic.
How can I watch Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA?
Events are streamed live and free on the promotion's official YouTube channel and on Kick. Select events are also available on TrillerTV. Check the official website at gamebredbareknuckle.com for the latest streaming information.
What happened in 2025? Why did the promotion go dark?
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA did not hold any events during 2025. According to Masvidal, the year was spent fundraising and securing the financial backing necessary to execute a full year's worth of events in 2026, including the dual $500,000 tournament series. The hiatus was strategic, not a sign of the promotion folding.
How does the tournament format work?
The 2026 tournaments feature 16 fighters in each weight class (heavyweight and lightweight). Fighters are seeded into brackets and compete in single-elimination format across four rounds: opening round (16 fighters), quarterfinals (8 fighters), semifinals (4 fighters), and the final (2 fighters). The winner of each tournament takes home $500,000. All four rounds are scheduled to take place across multiple events throughout 2026.
Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA represents the cutting edge of combat sports -- a professionally sanctioned promotion that strips away the last layer of protection between two fighters and asks the most fundamental question in the fight game: who is the better fighter when there is nothing between your fists and your opponent's face? For a sport that began in the backyards of Miami, it has come a remarkably long way. And with $1 million in tournament prizes on the line in 2026, the best may be yet to come.