Here’s some BYB news and notes.
“Cuban Assassin Extends Contract”
BYB’s baddest man isn’t going anywhere.
BYB Heavyweight Champion Gustavo Trujillo has extended his contract with the promotion. The announcement came on social media.
👑 The Champ Is Here 👑
Ahead of his BYB Heavyweight Police Gazette Diamond Belt unification match on December 6 in South Florida at #byb34 when he looks to make it 7-0 with 7 first round knockouts, we are happy to announce that the @cubanassassin3 Gustavo Trujillo 🇨🇺will remain… pic.twitter.com/mJnoBDF8Zg
— BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series (@bybextreme) October 24, 2024
“The Cuban Assassin” is one of the most feared bare knuckle fighters in the world, and quite possibly the best heavyweight.
Since debuting in 2019, he’s run up an eye-catching record of 6-0 with 6 KOs. All wins have come in the first round.
His victims include former BYB champion and UFC veteran Ike Villanueva, former two-division BKFC champ Lorenzo Hunt, and MMA veteran Mike Kyle.
The July title win against Villanueva was Trujillo’s second fight with BYB. With the re-signing, BYB fans can expect to see more big knockouts from the Cuban crusher in the near future.
Trujillo’s next Trigon assignment is a unification showdown with BKB champ Richie Leak. The winner can make a claim as bare knuckle’s best heavyweight.
Unbeaten Champ Returns From Trigon Hiatus
Trujillo’s contract extension isn’t the only big BYB news.
Undefeated former BYB Super Middleweight Champion Sam Liera is returning to the organisation.
✅ Jose Fernandez
✅ LT Nelson
✅ Ryan Jett
✅ Leo PlaHe beat the best and retired on top as the unified undefeated 6-0 BYB Super Middleweight Champion. But The Caveman’s got that #bareknuckle itch again. Welcome back, Sam Liera, who we’ve signed to a multi-fight-deal to return… pic.twitter.com/8H4cAoDqM4
— BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series (@bybextreme) November 1, 2024
“The Caveman” walked away from the sport after defeating Jose Fernandez in August 2023. Liera’s return adds more spice to an already hot super middleweight division.
LT “Smash” Nelson, who Liera narrowly defeated by decision in December 2022, is the reigning BYB Police Gazette Diamond champion. Wales’ Barrie Jones, Britain’s James Connelly, and Ryan Jett and Robert Serna of the U.S. are just some of the talent on the BYB roster at super middleweight.
Nelson is rumoured to defend his title in a rematch against Connelly early next year. The two previously fought to a draw in 2022.
Whether Liera will get an immediate shot at the winner or takes an interim fight remains to be seen. Regardless, it’s great to see one of the promotion’s most talented fighters back inside the Mighty Trigon.
Jarod Grant to Face Returning Oxendine at BYB 34: Brawl in the Pines 4
Comebacking Jarod “Kid Gatti” Grant takes on former title challenger Joshua “Preacherman” Oxendine at BYB 34 on 6 December in Florida.
It’s Grant’s second fight since joining BYB. He debuted with a second-round stoppage over Lukas Jones in August.
Grant was one of bare knuckle’s hottest prospects after winning his first four bare knuckle fights in BKFC. He was matched with Reggie Barnett Jr for the promotion’s lightweight title, and lost by TKO after an eye injury.
Grant got blasted out in one round by UFC vet John Dodson in his next fight. He eventually parted ways with BKFC and signed on with BYB, the world’s largest bare knuckle league.
The Jones win was his first victory in over two years. Grant has kept busy since BYB 29, winning a couple of pro boxing matches by knockout.
A devout Christian, Oxendine is known as “The Preacherman”. He’s a former BYB title challenger and 17-fight MMA veteran. He’s also competed professionally in boxing and kickboxing.
Oxendine debuted for BYB in 2021, fighting to a no contest with Kobe Bowen after an accidental eye poke. He won his next two bare knuckle fights by stoppage, leading to a shot at the vacant BYB lightweight title against Mark Irwin in May 2023.
Oxendine outboxed Irwin for much of the bout but lost a decision after controversial point deductions. He returned to the Trigon earlier this year, stopping Ukraine’s Alexander Sitarchuk in the third round.
It’s an intriguing match up between two fighters who’ve shown world-class skills. The winner could be in line to face current BYB lightweight king Julio Tanori.
BYB Women’s Fight and Signings Announcements
Former title challengers Jamie “The Red Queen” Driver and Shelby Cannon are scheduled for action in separate bouts at BYB 34.
Driver, who last year lost a unanimous decision to Jozette Cotton for the promotion’s women’s super middleweight title, meets fellow BYB veteran Sonya Dreiling.
It’s a rematch of an October 2022 bout Driver won by split decision. Dreiling has won two in a row since the loss, including a unanimous points win over Miranda Barber at BYB 22 last December. In Driver’s last bout, she blasted out Adriana Vukovic in just 34 seconds.
Cannon unsuccessfully challenged for the BYB women’s belt at super flyweight, losing by unanimous decision to Agnesa Kirakosian in April. She returns at BYB 34 against Cuba’s Erisnelsy Torres-Castillo. Torres-Castillo, a Team Combat League boxing veteran, will make her BYB and bare knuckle debut.
Thre promotion also announced two new signings. Dutch-Turkish fighter Hatice Ozyurt and Brazil’s Bianca “Bibi” Daimoni signed promotional agreements with BYB.
The 37-year-old Ozyurt has competed in kickboxing, Muay Thai, and MMA. During her kickboxing career, she faced the likes of legends Jorina Baars, Julie Kitchen, and UFC veteran Germaine de Randamie. According to Ozyart’s Instagram account, she’s a veteran of over 100 professional fights.
She’ll write a new chapter in her combat sports career in BYB. Fighting without gloves in the Trigon, the smallest fighting surface in professional combat sports.
Daimoni is 8-4 in MMA, and has competed for Invicta, Shooto Brazil, and the Jungle Fight promotion.
She’s been out of the ring since 2020, and like Ozyurt, will be making her bare knuckle debut for BYB.
Next Up: BYB 33: Wolverhampton Brawl
The next BYB event takes place this Saturday, 9 November at the Hangar in Wolverhampton. For the fight card and streaming info, click here.
