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Karate Combat’s Wildest Weekend Yet: Two-Night Supercard Rocks Miami July 18–19

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Karate Combat’s Wildest Weekend Yet: Two-Night Supercard Rocks Miami July 18–19

By Will Esparza

Karate Combat is back in the spotlight, and this time, they’re going bigger, bolder, and more brutal than ever before. Taking place in Miami, Florida, on Friday, July 18 and Saturday, July 19, 2025, the promotion is hosting a two-night fight spectacle that redefines what martial arts events can be.

Night one features an all-out, same-night, single-elimination 8-man heavyweight tournament titled “Last Man Standing.” Night two showcases four world title fights, including some of the promotion’s most beloved champions, breakout stars, and UFC veterans crossing over into the Karate Combat pit.

This isn’t just a fight weekend—it’s a celebration of global martial arts, full-contact karate, and everything that makes this sport electric.


Friday, July 18: Last Man Standing Tournament Returns

Friday night will see the revival of an old-school concept many thought extinct: the same-night tournament. While modern promotions usually space out tournaments over months, Karate Combat is going full retro with its “Last Man Standing” format, putting eight heavyweight fighters in the pit for a gauntlet of battles.

The rules are simple—win three fights in one night and walk away with a title shot and the crown of the toughest man in the division.

Robelis Despaigne: The Man to Beat

Towering at 6’7", Robelis “The Big Boy” Despaigne has taken the combat sports world by storm. A 2008 Olympic bronze medalist in taekwondo, he has transitioned into full-contact striking with terrifying ease. Despaigne’s recent fights have ended in knockout fashion—several in under ten seconds.

His raw power, length, and athleticism make him the clear favorite heading into this tournament. But endurance and adaptability will be the key to survival in a format like this. He may breeze through one or two opponents, but three in one night is another story.

Stacked with Veterans and Wild Cards

The rest of the bracket features a who’s who of MMA veterans and dark horse strikers, including:

  • Chase Sherman – A former UFC heavyweight with a brawler’s mentality and experience in bare-knuckle boxing.

  • Alan Belcher – A UFC veteran and bare-knuckle standout, known for his technical hands and sneaky footwork.

  • Tim Johnson – Bellator contender who thrives in ugly, grind-heavy fights that wear down opponents.

  • Anderson “Braddock” Silva – A Brazilian heavyweight striker with big-fight experience and knockout potential.

Other names in the mix include Abdel Rahmane DrameKevin Szaflarski, and a few unannounced prospects looking to pull off major upsets.

The tournament format is unforgiving. Fighters can’t coast. They can’t game the scorecards. They must be ready to fight again just minutes after stepping out of the pit.

The winner of this gauntlet will earn a shot at current Karate Combat heavyweight champion Sam Alvey, adding real stakes to the chaos.


Saturday, July 19: World Title Night and Superstar Showdowns

If Friday is about attrition and grit, Saturday night at KC 56 is all about championship pedigree. Four world titles are on the line, and nearly every fight could headline a card on its own.


Lightweight Title: Shahzaib Rind vs Luiz Rocha

This main event features two of the top lightweights in the promotion.

Shahzaib Rind, the current champion and pride of Pakistan, has emerged as one of Karate Combat’s fastest-rising stars. He blends speed, striking creativity, and an undeniable charisma that has captivated fans worldwide. In January 2025, Rind captured the belt in historic fashion, becoming Pakistan’s first world champion in a global martial arts promotion.

His challenger, Luiz Rocha, is the former champion from Brazil and a technician in the pit. Rocha is precise, durable, and experienced under pressure. With high-level counter-fighting and a deep understanding of Karate Combat’s pace and flow, he represents Rind’s toughest test yet.

This is a fight that showcases not just international pride but also the evolution of karate into a legitimate modern combat sport.


Women’s Flyweight Title: Aline Pereira vs Fani Peloumpi

This bout is for the vacant Women’s Flyweight Championship and might be the breakout moment that launches a new era in Karate Combat’s women’s division.

Aline Pereira, the younger sister of UFC’s reigning light heavyweight champion Alex “Poatan” Pereira, comes in with enormous expectations. A product of Glory Kickboxing and MMA cross-training, she hits with bad intentions and has the family killer instinct. Her fight style is pressure-heavy, and she’s already proven she can handle the bright lights.

Facing her is Fani Peloumpi, a Greek fighter with deep roots in traditional karate and a tactical mind for modern full-contact rules. She’s quick, adaptive, and well-rounded—exactly the kind of fighter who can exploit mistakes and upset the favorites.

This matchup is more than a title bout—it’s a test of star power versus technical fundamentals. Whoever wins may become the face of the division.


Bantamweight Title: Arturo “Makako” Vergara vs Franck “El Doctor” Mbassi

In the co-main event, Arturo “Makako” Vergara, representing Central America, defends his Bantamweight title against Franck “El Doctor” Mbassi of Cameroon.

Makako’s fight style is defined by aggression and resilience. He moves forward, throws in volume, and thrives in brawls. His fights rarely go the distance, and he’s never afraid to take a shot to land two.

Mbassi, meanwhile, is nicknamed “El Doctor” for a reason. He’s methodical, precise, and cerebral—everything that contrasts Makako’s chaos. He will try to slow the fight down, pick his shots, and expose openings in Makako’s defense.

Styles make fights, and this one could steal the show.


Additional Highlighted Matchups

The undercard on Saturday is a blend of Karate Combat mainstays and crossover talent from the wider MMA world:

  • Lorenz Larkin vs Randall Wallace – Larkin, a veteran of the UFC and Bellator, brings elite-level striking into the pit against Wallace’s all-action style.

  • Ilyas Khamzin vs Alex “Cowboy” Oliveira – UFC vet Oliveira makes his KC debut against a fast-rising Karate Combat star.

  • Luan Santiago vs Zach Juusola – Two strikers with knockout power and chip-on-the-shoulder mentalities meet in a potential slugfest.

These fights round out a card that’s already packed with stakes, storylines, and potential breakout moments.


Why This Event Matters

This weekend is a defining moment not just for Karate Combat, but for martial arts as a whole.

The promotion continues to blend the visual style of video games and anime with real-world violence and authentic martial arts. The pit has become a place where tradition meets evolution, where ancient styles are reimagined for the streaming age.

More importantly, Karate Combat is building international stars from regions often overlooked by mainstream promotions—Pakistan, Cameroon, Greece, and Central America—all while welcoming back combat sports legends into a fresh format.

The two-day layout also shows innovation in storytelling. One night builds tension with tournament violence. The next night releases that energy with title glory and main-event drama.

It’s more than content—it’s narrative.


How to Watch

Both events are available via free global livestream:

  • KC 55 – Friday, July 18, 7 PM ET

  • KC 56 – Saturday, July 19, 5 PM ET

Watch on:


Final Word

Two nights. Eight heavyweight brutes battling to exhaustion. Four world titles on the line. Crossover fights that draw from UFC, Bellator, and the wild world of bare-knuckle striking.

Karate Combat’s two-night event is more than a fight card. It’s a tribute to the legacy of martial arts and a bold look into its future.

If you love chaos, storytelling, national pride, and real martial arts culture, then July 18–19 is appointment viewing.

Get ready. This weekend, the pit will be on fire!

Train Like A Dragon

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