Hard Knocks Fighting is a mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion in North America. Hard Knocks Fighting was founded in 2009 by Canadian Olympic wrestler Ari Taub. Hard Knocks Fighting is known for its local fighter support and ongoing charity efforts and where Ronda Rousey secured her second career MMA victory.
History
Founding In 2009, Canadian Olympic wrestler Ari Taub founded Hard Knocks Fighting. Ari Taub an Olympic wrestler and Calgary based lawyer overcomes local city bylaws to win legal challenges to get MMA sanctioned in Calgary. In December 2011, media giant ESPN began airing Hard Knocks Fighting in 40 countries and over 50 million homes. Hard Knocks Fighting produces 15 live events annually, as well as shoulder programming including feature fights, highlight shows, and documentaries.
Television Broadcasting December, 2011 - Hard Knocks Fighting begins broadcasting on ESPN. June, 2013 - Hard Knocks Fighting begins broadcasting on Popcornflix. January, 2015 - Hard Knocks Fighting and MoboVivo launch HKFC MMA App January, 2015 - Hard Knocks Fighting begins live broadcasts on Fight Network.
Past events Events name Date Venue LocationHK1 March 26, 2009 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK2 June 27, 2009 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK3 September 26, 2009 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK4 November 7, 2009 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK5 January 30, 2010 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK6 April 9, 2010 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK7 June 4, 2010 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK8 September 10, 2010 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK9 November 5, 2010 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK10 January 28, 2011 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK12 June 17, 2011 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK13 May 27, 2011 Cypress Centre Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Medicine Hat, AlbertaHK14 September 23, 2011 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK15 October 7, 2011 Turvey Centre Regina, MBHK16 October 22, 2011 Spectra Place Estevan, SKHK17 March 26, 2009 Cypress Centre Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Medicine Hat, AlbertaHK18 November 25, 2011 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK19 January 20, 2012 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK20 March 26, 2009 Cypress Centre Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Medicine Hat, AlbertaHK21 March 26, 2009 Spectra Place Estevan, SKHK22 March 16, 2012 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK23 March 26, 2009 Subway Soccer Centre Calgary, AlbertaHK24 March 26, 2009 Spectra Place Estevan, SKHK25 June 15, 2012 Cypress Centre Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Medicine Hat, AlbertaHK26 July 19, 2012 Art Hauser Centre Arena Calgary, AlbertaHK27 September 7, 2012 Subway Soccer Centre Calgary, AlbertaHK28 September 14, 2012 Spectra Place Estevan, SKHK29 October 26, 2012 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK30 February 8, 2013 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK31 March 26, 2009 Spectra Place Estevan, SKHK32 April 26, 2013 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK33 May 25, 2013 Spectra Place Estevan, SKHK34 January 17, 2014 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK35 April 25, 2014 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK36 March 26, 2009 North Peace Arena - Rumble in the North Fort St. John, BCHK37 June 13, 2014 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK38 October 3, 2014 Markin MacPhail Centre - WinSport Calgary, AlbertaHK39 November 14, 2014 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK40 December 12, 2014 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK41 January 30, 2015 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK42 March 20, 2015 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK43 May 22, 2015 Markin MacPhail Centre - WinSport Calgary, AlbertaHK44 June 26, 2015 Century Casinos Calgary, AlbertaHK45 September 25, 2015Markin MacPhail Centre - WinSportCalgary, AlbertaHK46October 23, 2015Markin MacPhail Centre - WinSportCalgary, AlbertaHK47November 13, 2015Century CasinosCalgary, AlbertaHK48January 29, 2016Markin MacPhail Centre - WinSportCalgary, AlbertaHK49April 22, 2016Markin MacPahil Centre - WinSportCalgary, AlbertaHK50June 17, 2016Century CasinoCalgary, AlbertaHK51October 14, 2016WinSportCalgary, Alberta
Broadcast partners ESPN - Hard Knocks Fighting airs live on ESPN. Fight Network Popcornflix OSN Claro Sports AT&T Time Warner Cable Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast Verizon Communications PlayStation Dish Network BandSports beIN Sports FightBox
Current champions Division Upper weight limit Champion Contestant type Light Heavyweight Rodney Wallace Professional Middleweight Brent Auger Amateur Welterweight Cody Wilson Professional Lightweight Jason Fischer Professional Lightweight Sean Michaels Amateur Featherweight Justin Basra Amateur Bantamweight Jesse Arnett Professional
Notable fighters Ronda Rousey the first UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion and first American woman to earn an Olympic medal in Judo at the Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008, where she faced kickboxing champion Charmaine Tweet in an MMA bout at Hard Knocks Fighting Championship: School of Hard Knocks 12 on June 17, 2011 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She submitted Tweet with an armbar in 49 seconds. Elias Theodorou is the winner of HKFC: School of Hard Knocks 14. Method- Submission (rear naked choke). Misha Cirkunov is an MMA fighter out of Ontario, Canada. Misha Cirkunov knocked out Rodney Wallace at Hard Knocks Fighting Championship.
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