“Nothing but heat”: Jorge Masvidal Launches $500,000 Bareknuckle MMA Tournament in 2026
Jorge Masvidal says he is betting big on bareknuckle MMA in 2026, unveiling a $500,000 heavyweight Grand Prix he believes can relaunch Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA for at least two years.
Speaking MMA Junkue, Masvidal explained that Gamebred Fighting Championship has been inactive while he raised money and rebuilt the team behind the scenes. “We’ve been out for a while… been fundraising, getting stuff together, getting team together, and we’re back,” he said, adding that he has secured enough funding for “two solid years of entertainment” before “rolling that dice again” in hopes of landing a network deal. He framed the project as a grind to “get these checks” and asked fans for extra support as he brings the promotion back.
Jorge Masvidal’s $500k Gamebred Grand Prix brings UFC vets to bareknuckle MMA
The relaunch centers on a heavyweight bareknuckle MMA tournament that will award $500,000 to the champion after four fights in 2026. Masvidal said the bracket will feature 10 UFC veterans, a former The Ultimate Fighter winner, two past PFL tournament winners, a bare‑knuckle champion and athletes from seven countries, all fighting without gloves for what he calls a world Grand Prix title. The series starts on April 10 in the Dominican Republic, with the remaining rounds scheduled through the year.
Current plans go beyond a single bracket. Masvidal and Gamebred officials have confirmed two 16‑man tournaments in 2026, one at heavyweight and one at lightweight, each carrying a $500,000 grand prize for a combined $1 million in payouts. The April 10 card in the Dominican Republic will open the heavyweight field, while a May 1 event in Miami is expected to stage the early rounds of the lightweight tournament. Early heavyweight matchups include the surprise return of former UFC title challenger and current analyst Anthony Smith, who is set to face fellow UFC veteran Chase Sherman. Other names reported for the bracket include Guto Inocente vs. Mohammed Usman, Alexandr Romanov vs. Nikolay Kovalenko, and Bruno Cappelozza vs. Todd Duffee.
Masvidal has positioned Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA as a rule‑set twist on familiar unified rules: full MMA with takedowns and submissions, but no gloves. In the recent video, he stressed that this is “Bare Knuckle MMA, not bare‑knuckle boxing” and argued that removing gloves actually boosts finishing potential on the ground. He said submissions “go through the roof” because locks feel stronger and defenders can no longer stall by grabbing gloves. With bare hands he compared hand control to chasing “oiled‑up pigs,” saying grips slip and positions are harder to freeze, which he believes will force fighters to attack and create more decisive endings.
Masvidal has called Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA “the most violent show on Earth” in past interviews and insists that, with the right funding and ex‑UFC names on board, this year‑long experiment can secure a broadcast home and a lasting spot in the combat sports calendar.
