Karate Combat (original) (raw)

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Full-contact karate league

Karate Combat

Current season, competition or edition: 2024 in Karate Combat
Sport	KarateSubmission grappling
Founder	Robert Bryan
CEO	Robert Bryan
President	Asim Zaidi
Headquarters	Dubai
TV partner(s)	beIN SPORTS
Official website	www.karate.com

Karate Combat (KC) is a brand which promotes the first professional full-contact karate league, hosting worldwide events since April 2018. The private company is headquartered in Dubai and was founded by Robert Bryan. The brand also encompasses sports equipment, a worldwide Dojo network and mobile apps for viewers. Karate Combat was founded in order to promote karate as a sport and martial art to the new generation of sports fans. Former UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten hosts Karate Combat venues alongside special guests.[1]

Contestants compete in a seasonal championship in which the winner is awarded a golden belt.[2] They consist of karateka from various styles of karate like Kyokushin, Shotokan, Shito Ryu, and Wado Ryu, Kempo Karate. Contestants from other martial arts disciplines like Taekwondo, Kung Fu, and Tang Soo Do have also participated.[3] The contestants are expected to abide by karate-do etiquette and specific tournament rules.[4]

The organization puts emphasis on innovation and technology with the use of video game-style analytics of fighter's biometrics, nutrition and DNA-based data in real-time. Fights regularly feature CGI environments created with the Unreal Engine as reported by NBC Sports. Marketing and promotion include appearances of Danny Trejo, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, former UFC two-division champion Georges St-Pierre, former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida and UFC top-contender Stephen Thompson.[6][7]

In 2020 rights to Karate Combat have been acquired by beIN SPORTS. The media group broadcasts the Karate Combat seasons in 37 countries.[1]

In May 2022, Karate Combat collaborated with Hedera, a brand of cryptocurrency, to create the blockchain $KARATE. Users receive a small complimentary amount to use for placing bets on fighters on match outcomes to win larger amounts. Users can cash out on compatible platforms.

Fighting takes place in a 6,5m x 6,5m (21'4" x 21'4") square combat pit surrounded by 45° angled walls. A match consists of 3 rounds each lasting 3 minutes with the possibility of 2 additional rounds for championship fights.

Scoring uses a 10-point must system and is based on aggression and effectiveness of attacks. Three judges evaluate each fight from a position around the combat pit. Scoring cards are omitted in case of a knock-out.

Equipment consists of 4oz gloves, mouthpieces, groin protectors for male contestants, karate belts and officially designed long karate trousers with national emblems or flags.

Wrestling, submissions, elbows are not permitted. A grounded opponent may use upkicks while the standing opponent may use ground punches. After 5 seconds any grounded opponent will be brought back to a standing position by the referee.[4]

Weight divisions and classifications

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Pit Submission Series

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In January 2024, Karate Combat announced that they would begin staging professional grappling matches in the pit prior to their karate fights, under the name of "Pit Submission Series."[8] The first fight under the Pit Submission Series took place on January 26, 2024.

Current championships

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Championship	Current Champion(s)	Date won	Previous Champion(s)	Defenses
Karate Combat Heavyweight Championship	Sam Alvey	15 December 2023	Inaugural	1
Karate Combat Middleweight Championship	vacated	30 may 2024	Ross Levine	0
Karate Combat Welterweight Championship	Rafael Aghayev	24 June 2023	Josh Quayhagen	0
Karate Combat Lightweight Championship	Luiz Victor Rocha	28 May 2022	Edgars Skrivers	1
Karate Combat Bantamweight Championship	Myrza-Bek Tebuev	16 September 2023	Eoghan Chelmiah	0
Karate Combat Women's Bantamweight Championship	Melinda Fabian	15 December 2023	Inaugural	0
Karate Combat Women's Straweight Championship	Sthefanie Oliveira	November 3, 2023	Inaugural	0

Championship history

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Heavyweight Championship

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Weight limit: None

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign	Defenses
1	Sam Alvey def. Ross Levine	Karate Combat 43Las Vegas, Nevada	December 15, 2023	287 days(incumbent)	NC. Antônio Arroyo at Karate Combat: Kickback 2 on March 23, 2024 1. Antônio Arroyo at Karate Combat 48 on July 25, 2024

Middleweight Championship

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Weight limit: 185lb

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign	Defenses
1	Shahin Atamov def. Franklin Mina	Karate Combat The Future Episode 10Orlando, Florida	September 2, 2021	296 days
2	Ross Levine def. Shahin Atamov	Karate combat Season 4 Event 2Orlando, Florida	June 25, 2022	705 days	1. def. Igor De Castañeda at Karate Combat 38 on December 1, 2022 2. def. Adrian Hadribeaj at Karate Combat 46 on May 30th, 2024
Levine retired from combat sports.

Welterweight Championship

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Weight limit: 165lb

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign	Defenses
1	Josh Quayhagen def. Jerome Brown	Karate Combat Neo Tokyo Episode 7Orlando, Florida	October 25, 2020	1001 days	1. def. Dionicio Gustavo at Karate Combat Okinawa 2 on July 11, 2021
—	Rafael Aghayev def. Raymond Daniels for interim title	Karate Combat 37Salamanca, New York	December 17, 2022	~
2	Rafael Aghayev def. Josh Quayhagen	Karate Combat 40Orlando, Florida	June 24, 2023	461 days(incumbent)

Lightweight Championship

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Weight limit: 150lb

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign	Defenses
1	Edgars Skrivers def. Luiz Victor Rocha	Karate Combat EvolutionOrlando, Florida	September, 2019	980 days	1. def. Myrza-bek Tebuev at Karate Combat Neo Tokyo episode 7 on November 8, 20212. def. Bruno Assis at Hollywood Hills Event 7 on August, 2021
2	Luiz Victor Rocha def. Edgars Skrivers	Karate combat Season 4 Event 2Orlando, Florida	May 28, 2022	853 days(incumbent)	1. def. Bruno Souza at KC 39 on May 20th, 2023 2. def. Edgars Skrivers at KC43 on November, 2023
—	Shahzaib Rind def. Bruno Assis for interim title	Karate Combat 47Singapore	September 18, 2024	~

Bantamweight Championship

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Weight limit: 135lb

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign	Defenses
1	Eoghan Chelmiah def. Illies Mardhi	Karate Combat Season 3 Episode 12 on September 16, 2021Orlando, Florida	October 25, 2020	1086 days	1. def. Illies Mardhi at Karate Combat Season 4 Episode 4 on June 25th, 20222. def. Jesus Paurcarcaja Lopez at Hollywood Hills Event 7 on December, 2022
2	Myrza-Bek Tebuev def. Eoghan Chelmiah	Karate Combat 41Dominican Republic	September 16, 2023	377 days(incumbent)	1. def. Luiz Victor Rocha at Karate Combat 45 on April 20th, 2024

Women's Bantamweight Championship

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Weight limit: 135lb

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign	Defenses
1	Melinda Fabiandef. Omaira	Karate Combat 43Las Vegas, Nevada	December 15, 2023	287 days(incumbent)

Women's Strawweight Championship

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Weight limit: 120lb

No.	Name	Event	Date	Reign	Defenses
1	Sthefanie Oliveiradef. Christina Kavakopoulou	Karate Combat 42Orlando, Florida	November 3, 2023	329 days(incumbent)

Karate Combat records

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Longest championship reign	Eoghan Chelmiah	1086 days
Most Wins	7
Oldest champion	Rafael Aghayev	39 years, 1 months
Youngest champion	Eoghan Chelmiah	24 years, 1 months
Most title fight wins	Edgars Skrivers and Eoghan Chelmiah and Luiz Victor Rocha and Ross Levine	3
Most consecutive title defenses	Edgars Skrivers and Eoghan Chelmiah and Luiz Victor Rocha and Ross Levine	2

Karate Combat events feature male and female karateka from a roster of over 100 professional fighters. The first five events were held in front of an invite-only audience. Later events incorporate CGI effects and original music in order to achieve a modern appearance and appeal to a younger demographic.[9] Event locations favor optimal camera angles and cinematic scenery over a big live-audience. Thus locations like the 102nd floor of the One World Trade Center were chosen hosting a selected audience with black-tie dress code.[10] The events attracted the notice of American television[11] and newspaper.[12] Recordings of all events can be accessed for free via the official website. Past events have also been streamed via UFC Fight Pass.[13][14]

• Karate at the Summer Olympics
• Karate World Championships

1. ^ a b "beIN SPORTS Acquires Second Season of Karate Combat Across 37 Countries". GlobeNewswire (Press release). September 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
2. ^ "Karate Combat: Evolution Coverage". www.themix.net. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
3. ^ "Karate Combat Fighters Roster". Retrieved 19 July 2020.
4. ^ a b "Karate Combat Rules & Regulations" (PDF). Retrieved 19 July 2020.
5. ^ "Bas Rutten and Danny Trejo bring you... Karate Combat!". MMA Fighting. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
6. ^ "Georges St-Pierre to work as 'Season Sensei'". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
7. ^ Rogers, Kian (21 January 2024). "Karate Combat Announces New Grappling Promotion With Matches In Famous Pit". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
8. ^ "Reuters Article about Karate Combat". reuters.com. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
9. ^ Nick, Laham (9 October 2018). "ESPN coverage of Karate Combat event on Oct 9, 2018". ESPN. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
10. ^ "Karate Combat coverage on CBS Miami". Youtube. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
11. ^ "USA Today's News Article on Karate Combat: Inception". USA Today. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
12. ^ "Karate Combat hits UFC Fight Pass". UFC. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
13. ^ "UFC Fight Pass: Karate Combat: One World". UFC. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2020.

• Official website

Fighting Games