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All year long, we’ve seen a lot of UFC veterans compete in different fight sports activities internationally.
Since MMA encompasses quite a lot of martial arts, it’s all the time fascinating when MMA fighters who’ve competed on the biggest stage strive their hand at a particular fight sports activities self-discipline.
From bareknuckle boxing, conventional gloved boxing, to combined guidelines contests, these UFC vets turned in spectacular performances exterior of MMA competitors.
Scroll under to see who acquired our consideration away from the cage in 2022 with spectacular wins.
Chad Mendes def. Joshuah Alvarez at BKFC: KnuckleMania 2 – Feb. 19
Former UFC featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes returned to competitors in February after his UFC exit in 2018. Bareknuckle boxing was his self-discipline of alternative, and standing throughout from him was Joshuah Alvarez aka “Famez.” Regardless of his time away from fight sports activities, Mendes confirmed up in nice form with the identical velocity and energy UFC followers are used to seeing from him. After settling into the battle, Mendes poured on the strain within the fourth spherical to record three knockdowns and earn the TKO stoppage.
Demetrious Johnson def. Rodtang at ONE Championship: One X – March 26
Former UFC flyweight king Demetrious Johnson took on a novel problem at ONE Championship: One X in March. “Mighty Mouse” confronted Rodtang Jitmuangnon in a mixed-rules bout that alternated rounds of Muay Thai and MMA in 4 oz. gloves. Whereas MMA was part of this contest, Johnson needed to climate Rodtang’s elite placing storm within the Muay Thai spherical, which is a tall order and due to this fact worthy of consideration on this listing. Johnson ended the contest in the second round with a rear-naked choke.
Alan Belcher def. Frank Tate at BKFC Combat Night time Jackson 2 – June 11
UFC middleweight veteran Alan Belcher had an extremely energetic yr in boxing and bareknuckle. In 2022, he picked up 5 complete wins (3 boxing, 2 bareknuckle), ending each opponent. Belcher’s days competing at 185 kilos are lengthy gone – he’s now a hulking heavyweight with devastating energy. His first-round end of Frank Tate on June 11 not solely produced a highlight for the finish, however the quantity of liquid he knocked out of his opponent’s mouth regarded unreal.
Mike Perry def. Michael Web page at BKFC 27 – Aug. 20
Mike Perry has appeared to seek out his house within the bareknuckle boxing world after exiting the UFC final yr. In 2022, “Platinum” picked up two wins in gloveless competitors. In February, he notched a unanimous resolution win towards “The Final Fighter” veteran Julian Lane. Six months later at BKFC 27, he stepped in to face former Bellator title challenger Michael “Venom” Web page in an incredible back-and-forth brawl that required a “sudden loss of life” spherical to find out the winner. Perry emerged victorious with a majority resolution nod in one of many wildest bareknuckle bouts of the yr.
John Dodson def. Ryan Benoit at BKFC 28 – Aug. 27
Bareknuckle Preventing Championship
Former UFC flyweight title challenger John Dodson examined his expertise within the bareknuckle boxing ring for the primary time in August. The 35-fight MMA veteran with 17 fights below the UFC banner took on Ryan Benoit at BKFC 28, and his trademark velocity and accuracy was on full show. Effectively, for so long as it lasted, at the least. Dodson solely wanted 40 seconds to complete the man UFC veteran, making for a particularly spectacular bareknuckle debut in August.
Ben Rothwell def. Bobo O’Bannon at BKFC 30 – Oct. 1
Former UFC heavyweight contender Ben Rothwell’s first battle after his exit from the promotion was within the bareknuckle ring. He took on Bobo O’Bannon, and wasted little time placing his measurement, velocity, and crushing punching energy to make use of. He just needed 19 seconds. O’Bannon was down and out after a flurry of sharp punches from Rothwell, who then acquired on the mic and delivered fairly the promo, leaving us all to surprise what’s forward:
.@RothwellFighter is as thrilling on the mic as he’s in fight.
He is placing the heavyweight division on discover.#BKFC30 is LIVE on #FITE: https://t.co/vmXMQist5T pic.twitter.com/zK8ceOtbtQ
— FITE (@FiteTV) October 2, 2022
Alistair Overeem def. Badr Hari at Glory Collision 4 – Oct. 8
Glory Collision 4 from the Gelredome on October 8, 2022 in Arnhem, Netherlands. (Matt Ferris / Glory)
Former UFC heavyweight title challenger Alistair Overeem returned to the kickboxing area to settle the rating with Badr Hari. The pair first met at Ok-1: Dynamite 2008, the place Overeem received by first-round knockout. Within the rematch a yr later, Hari returned the favor in the identical style. The third and maybe ultimate bout between the 2 fight sports activities legends noticed Overeem win a unanimous decision as each males are on nearing the top of their careers.
Mark Hunt def. Sonny Invoice Williams – Nov. 5
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – NOVEMBER 05: Mark Hunt seems on as Sonny Invoice Williams goes down in the course of the heavyweight battle between Sonny Invoice Williams and Mark Hunt in the course of the bout between at Conscious Tremendous Theatre on November 05, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Picture by Mark Evans/Getty Pictures)
Mark Hunt returned to competitors after practically two years away for a boxing match towards Sonny Invoice Williams. The previous UFC interim heavyweight title challenger had not received a bout since June 2017, however that every one modified in November. Within the fourth spherical, the 48-year-old Hunt despatched Williams, 11 years his junior, to the canvas with a combination of hooks to get the knockout win, in what’s to be the ultimate bout of his fight sports activities profession.
Houston Alexander def. Joey Beltran at BKFC 33 – Nov. 18
Former UFC gentle heavyweight Houston Alexander continues to be selecting up fight sports activities victories at age 50. In 2022, he fought in a pair of bareknuckle boxing bouts, and received each by stoppage. In Might, Alexander made fast work of Jay Fish with a first-round knockout, however his win over fellow UFC veteran and former BKFC champ Joey Beltran in November turned heads. Since returning to motion in 2021, Alexander is undefeated by means of three bareknuckle bouts, and informed MMA Junkie he will continue to fight so long as his physique permits him to compete at a excessive degree.
Cris Cyborg def. Simone da Silva – Dec. 10
Former UFC ladies’s featherweight champ, present Bellator ladies’s featherweight champ, and all-around MMA legend Cris Cyborg laced up the boxing gloves for the primary time in 2022, and picked up two wins. Her first battle towards Simone da Silva in September was presupposed to be her professional boxing debut, however was not formally acknowledged as such. Regardless, Cyborg won a unanimous decision at Fight Music Show 2. In December within the co-main occasion below Terence Crawford vs. David Avanesyan, Cyborg confronted Bellator veteran Gabrielle Holloway. This time, the competition can be acknowledged by the athletic fee as a real skilled bout. Cyborg turned in a performance that MMA fans recognize en route to her first pro boxing win by unanimous resolution: always-forward energy punching with sharp approach.
