Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA is roaring back to life with an ambitious double-tournament series offering $1 million in total prize money across two weight classes.
The promotion announced plans for simultaneous 16-fighter tournaments at heavyweight and lightweight, each carrying a $500,000 grand prize. The tournament series launches April 10 in the Dominican Republic, followed by a second event May 1 in Miami, with all four rounds of both brackets scheduled throughout 2026.
The announcement marks Gamebred’s return after a 17-month hiatus since its last event on November 15, 2024. Masvidal revealed the extended break was necessary to secure funding for a full year of competition.
Heavyweight Tournament Kickoff Confirmed
Four heavyweight matchups for the April 10 opener have been confirmed:
- Anthony Smith vs. Chase Sherman
- Guto Inocente vs. Mohammed Usman
- Alexandr Romanov vs. Nikolay Kovalenko
- Bruno Cappelozza vs. Todd Duffee
The remaining four heavyweight bouts and all eight lightweight tournament matchups will be announced in the coming days. Smith’s inclusion marks a surprising return to competition for the former UFC light heavyweight title challenger, who retired in April 2025 and has since worked as a UFC broadcast analyst.
Masvidal: Filling a Void in Combat Sports
Speaking to MMA Junkie Radio, Masvidal positioned Gamebred as addressing a gap in the current combat sports landscape while prioritizing fighter compensation.
“I don’t mind taking the loss (from a smaller gate) for making a huge statement online,” Masvidal explained. “We’re giving as much money as we can to the fighters. Really, who’s doing anything right now? It’s just worked out perfectly.”
