GCW Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV takes place today in Las Vegas.
The show is set to start at 3 p.m. local time / 6 p.m. Eastern from the Horseshoe Las Vegas.
Ten matches are scheduled for the card, including Josh Barnett vs. Yuji Nagata and Nattie Neidhart vs. Shayna Baszler.
Also scheduled to compete are Pete Dunne, Miyu Yamashita, Janai Kai, Zack Sabre Jr., Erik Stevens, Royce Isaacs, Timothy Thatcher, Charlie Dempsey, and more. The show will air on Triller as part of The Collective.
The full lineup for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XV is below.
- Pete Dunne vs. Masashi Takeda
- Charlie Dempsey vs. Timothy Thatcher
- Ulka Sasaki vs. Joe Dashou
- Angel Verduzco vs. Matt Mako
- Royce Isaacs vs. Shane Mercer
- Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ray Jaz
- Nattie Neidhart vs. Shayna Baszler
- Erick Stevens vs. Fuminori Abe
- Josh Barnett vs. Yuji Nagata
- Miyu Yamashita vs. Janai Kai
Our live coverage begins at 6 p.m. Eastern.
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And 6pm it is! Welcome to Bloodsport! This will be my first event of this kind, so thanks for coming along to keep me safe. I’ve been told that JCVD will not be making an appearance or dancing, which is a shame, but the Nattie/Baszler match should more than make up the for the disappointment.
So, if you’re new here like me, Bloodsport is simple: No ropes, no ring, and matches can only end by knockout or submission. There is a ten count and fighters must allow their opponent to get back into the ring. Also, no low blows, no foreign objects and various time limits. The fights can also end in draws. t’s truly an unique combination of wrestling, ufc and shoot fighting and I’m excited to get into it!
The show began with an apropriate nu-metal assisted opening package showing highlights from tonight’s participants from previous Bloodsports and it was hardcore enough that my parental settings kicked in. That might not be true, but it was still pretty cool.
The room was the same one from last nights Mark Hitchcock Tribute Supershow, but with the ropes removed from the ring at the center of the ballroom. All of the fighters on the card were introduced and entered off the top, which was something I’ve never seen before and was really cool.
The man who’s name is on the show, Josh Barnett grabbed a mic and handed it to Charlie Dempsey. The mic was cutting in and out, but Dempsey played up the violent nature of the night while doing a little crowd work. Barnett jumped in and demanded Bloodsport start right now!
Matt Mako vs. Angel Verduczo
They felt each other out with some shin kicks and quick strikes with Verduzco getting the first take down with a northern lights style slam. Mako countered though with a triangle choke. Verduczo got out of it and they reset.
Mako threw some knees into Verduczo’s gut, allowing him to put an armbar on. Verduczo countered into an ankle lock, which Mako got out of. Mako went for some high kicks, working the body. Verduczo hit a slam, but Mako turned it into a kimura lock with a leg stretch. Verduczo pushed his way out of it and laid in a little ground n pound.
Verduczo caught a kick from Mako and turned it into a fisherman’s suplex. He put Mako in a half crab, trying to get Mako to submit. Verduczo bridged the hold, but that gave Mako an opening to put on a Muta lock. Verduczo got out of it and the two started throwing hands.
Mako took one on the chin, staggering him for a moment. He came back with a spin kick and suplex. He climbed on top of Verduczo and started punching, causing the ref to stop the match and award the win to Mako via TKO.
Match Result: Matt Mako defeated Angel Verduczo via TKO
Ulka Sasaki vs. Joe Dashou
London, Ontario’s Dashou lured Sasaki in with a promise of a handshake then suplexed him to start the match. Sasaki came back with some strikes, but Dashou took him down. They rolled through with Sasaki looking for a submission but couldn’t get it locked in.
They reset and Sasaki threw some kicks. Dashou hit another takedown, but Sasaki counterd with a brief triangle choke. Dashou got a front headlock on, trying to work it into a choke. Sasaki rolled him over though and threw some haeavy strikes.
Dashou wanted to keep things on the mat and the two rolled around trying to get headlocks on. Sasaki got up and threw a kick or two, followed by some knees. Dashou muscled him over though into another takedown. Sasaki went for a cross armbreaker, but Dashou worked it into a leg lock before they separated.
Dashou got an arm throw takedown off of some Sasaki strikes. Sasaki put a high knee right into Dashou’s face while he was on his knees and Dashou crumpled like he’d been hit by a mallet. The ref declared Sasaki the winner and they shook hands.
Match Result: Ulka Sasaki defeated Joe Dashou via TKO
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Ray Jaz
Sabre did a little taunting off the top, but when the bell rang it was Ja who got the first take down in a spinebuster type move. Sabre took him down with an armdrag, but Jaz got out of it. He threw Sabre to the mat and tried to get a choke on, but Sabre countered with a leg scissor.
Jaz took back momentum, trying to work in a banana split hold, but Sabre transitioned it into an armbar. Jaz countered with a knee and threw Sabre with a suplex into an armbar. He couldn’t quite lock it in and Sabre stacked him up and went for a leg torque.
They wrestled around trying to get a lock of some kind on one another. Eventually Sabre got up and backed away, taking a moment to reset. Jaz took him down and tried a leg lock, but Sabre transitioned out of it untl Jaz put on a cross armbreaker.
Sabre worked it into a knee bar, but Jaz wrapped his arms around his back with a wristlock. Jaz threw a belly to bell suplex to try and catch Sabre off guard, but Sabre was able to hold off all the subsequent hold attempts.
They reset again, with Sabre looking like he was starting to wear down. Jaz got him up for a flapjack, but Sabre managed to transition it into a leg choke and Jaz was forced to tap out.
Match Result: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Ray Jaz via submission
Miyu Yamashita vs. Janai Kai
Both of these wormen are known strikers, so opening the match with a flurry of kicks wasn’t a shock. Yamashita took the first fall off a punch from Kai. She got back up and managed to take Kai down, looking for a headlock.
Kai fought back and the two returned to trading shin and midsection kicks. Kai cought one from Ymashita and took her to the mat. They shoved each other off and reset, this time with Kai landing the majority of the body kicks. She missed one though and Yamashita was able to take her to the mat.
They rolled around until Kai snuck in a few arm strikes. Kai put on a front neck lock, trying to work it into a choke, and then put on a Dragon Sleeper. Yamashita was able to work out of it and start putting knees to Kai’s head. Kai grabbed a suplex and hit two thrust kicks, sending Yamashita off the mat. Yamashita made it back in at a 9 count and ate a big shot from Kai.
Yamashita threw a spin kick, but missed and Kai hit her with one of ther own. Yamashita landed a nasty kick to Kai’s head and Kai crumpled to the mat, forcing the ref to call the match for Yamashita.
Match Result: Miyu Yamashita defeated Janai Kai via TKO
Shane Mercer vs. Royce Isaacs
Isaacs has the most Bloodsport appearances of any fighter not named Josh Barnett. Mercer seems like the kind of guy who really likes Spawn comics, but I’ll let that slide. He did have the cooler of the two poses.
This was a bruiser affair from the start, with Isaacs getting the first takedown. He tried to get a leg lock on, but Mercer countered with a waist lock. They split up and Isaacs turned to strikes to try and wear Mercer down. Mercer got the takedown though and they struggled to get submission holds on each other.
Isaacs caught a Mercer kick off of a reset and took him down for some head strikes. They put on duelling ankle locks, with Isaacs giving his up first to throw a couple of knees into Mercer’s gut. Isaacs put on a rear choke, but Mercer rolled out of it and Isaacs laid some sharp elbows onto his dome.
Mercer threw some short forearms and Isaacs got on top, trying to deliver some ground and pound. Isaacs stepped out of the ring to take a breath and came back in, again looking for a waist lock. Mercer blocked it, but Isaacs hoisted him up in a suplex.
Isaacs put Mercer in a knee bar, but Mercer threw some kidney kicks to get out of it. Mercer went for a takedown and turned it into a suplex. He got a chinlock on Isaacs and then threw him backwards in a fallaway slam that seemed to hit his own head harder than Issacs.
Issacs took advantage and put a wistlock on before a cradle suplex. He rained down elbows and put on a reverse armbar. Mercer almost tapped and Isaacs cinched it down harder. Mercer worked out of it and threw Isaacs in a firemans carry slam, into a rear choke.
Isaacs stood up and hit a Death Valley Driver into a sleeper hold, forcing Mercer to tap out.
Match Result: Royce Isaacs defeated Shane Mercer via submission
Masashi Takeda vs. Pete Dunne
I’ve been a huge fan of Dunne for years, so watching him get back to his bruiserwieght ways is pretty exciting. Takeda has filed his teeth to look like that of a shark. Bloodsport is awesome.
Dunne threw his towel at Takeda to start the match which set the tone. Dunne continued the mind games after the bell, but it was Takeda who got the first takedown. He tried a rear choke, but settled for a waist scissor. Dunne worked through it and rolled Takeda into an armbreaker.
They locked up with Dunne getting a forearm takedown, driving his elbow into Takeda’s head. He popped back up though, throwing kicks at Dunne. Dunne tried to go low, but Takeda had it scouted and countered it into a choke. Dunne started throwing back elbows, but Takeda wouldn’t give up.
Dunne worked into a side control position, looking for a chance to break some fingers, but Takeda got a headscissor in instead. Dunne threw a stomp and put on a front quarter nelson hold. Takeda reversed it into a double wristlock.
The two traded strikes and got back on their feet, the match devolving into a brawl. Dunne fought back, but fell to his knees off an open strike from Takeda. Takeda put on an arm bar, but Dunne countered into a rear chinlock. Takeda threw him off with an exploder suplex.
They went back to brawling with Dunne getting some strikes in before Takeda absolutely belted him. Dunne responded with a vicious kick and Takeda took him down for some scrambling strikes and knees. Dunne started to fade, but managed to grab Takeda in a triangle choke with elbows on the side.
Dunne bent Takeda’s hand back and that was all he could take. Takeda tapped out and the match was over.
Match Result: Pete Dunne defeated Masashi Takeda via submission
Erick Stevens vs. Fuminori Abe
Stevens was aggressive off the top but Abe was able to avoid what he was throwing. Stevens eventually got a takedown, rolling through and looking for an opening. Stevens didn’t give him one though, until Abe put on a stepover toe hold into a face lock.
Stevens rolled out of it and transitioned into a cross armbreaker. Abe wasn’t able to step over and Stevens tightened his grip. Abe rolled through several times, but couldn’t shake the hold. Abe went for a leg lock, but Stevens just slapped him about it.
Stevens threw a head butt and Abe sent one right back, but he seemed to get the worst of it. Stevens started bleeding, but managed to get a heel hook and grapevine Abe’s leg. He locked in a cross face and pulled back.
Abe managed to counter into his own cross armbar, but Stevens was able to push him off and throw forearms into Abe’s face. He started to bleed profusely as Stevens put on a sleeper choke. Abe went for the eyes of Stevens and reversed the hold, but Stevens recovered quickly and got to his feet.
Abe wrapped Stevens up in an octopus, but Stevens threw him off and worked the arm. Abe was able to stand and stomp on Stevens’ head, but Stevens was able to counter it into a reverse sleeper hold. He dragged Abe to his feet and Abe tried another head butt.
Abe sent Stevens to the mat and crushed his face with a headbutt. The ref stopped the match and awarded the win to Abe.
Match Result: Fuminori Abe defeated Erick Stevens via referee stoppage
Timothy Thatcher vs. Charlie Dempsey
Thatcher and Dempsey tied up with Thatcher taking control. He wasn’t able to get ahold of Dempsey who worked him into an ankle lock. He bridged over, twisting Thatcher’s leg, but Thatcher rolled over and returned the favor by driving his knees in to Dempsey’s back.
Dempsey countered it and went for Thatcher’s arm but Thatcher was waiting and twisted Dempsey’s shoulders around, trying to get him to the mat. Dempsey kicked his way out of it and they took a second to reset.
Thatcher went back to the arm but left himself open for a side slam from Dempsey. They strugged to get the upper hand on one another until Thatcher worked Dempsey into an ankle lock. Dempsey countered with a crossface and Thatcher threw him off and drove his knee into Dempsey’s nose.
Dempsey managed to fight his way into an armbar/armbreaker on Thatcher, who managed to fight out of it and put ona half crab. Dempsey countered it into a leg lock, but Thatcher tried to pull himself out of it using the ring edge.
Dempsey didn’t let up though and twisted Thatcher into a surfboard position. They both transitioned into strikes and Dempsey hit a gut wrench suplex. Thatcher came back though with a twisting arm lock and pulled Dempsey’s leg backwards at the same time.
Dempsey rolled it over into a double wristlock, but couldn’t get it behind the back. Thatcher rolled them over and threw some hard forearms before twisting Dempsey back into the single leg crab. Dempsey managed to grab an ankle and get out of it, using a headlock takedown to bring Thatcher to the mat.
Thatcher hit a big uppercut, but Dempsey shook it off and hit a dragonscrew leg whip. Dempset put an ankle lock on Thatcher and trasitioned into a head lock. Thatcher dug down deep and flipped Dempsey off with a suplex. Dremsey threw a big forearm and Thatcher rolled out of the ring.
He made it back in before 10 and resumed throwing uppercuts. Dempsey hit a German suplex into a chicken wing, driving his elbow into Thatcher’s head. Dempsey put on a crossface and Thatcher was forced to tap.
Match Result: Charlie Dempsey defeated Timothy Thatcher via submission
Nattie Neidhart vs. Shayna Baszler
This is the match that I’ve been looking forward to all evening. Both of these women are undefeated in Bloodsport and this is going to be a f-i-g-h-t.
Neidhart got into Baszler’s face before the introductions even happened, which whipped the crowd into a frenzy. Nattie went around back, but Baszler wasble to take her down. They threw a few strikes and then reset.
Nattie got a headlock takedown but Baszler rolled through and shoved her off. Nattie went back to the neck, but Baszler worked her around. They reset with Baszler sitting down and inviting Nattie to come and get her. Nattie did and put her in an ankle lock.
The two traded strikes while trying to set in a lock. Nattie put on a lag lock, but Baszler poked her eye and feigned putting on the sharpshooter. That mad Nattie mad and she punched Baszler in the face. Baszler stepped on Nattie’s fingers and then threw a knee right into her head.
Nattie came back with a suplex and then a double leg takedown. Baszler stopped Nattie from putting on a figure four, but couldn’t break the toe hold. Nattie rolled it over and managed to put a sharpshooter on, draggin Baszler to the center of the ring. Baszler countered out of it into a rear clutch.
Nattie stepped over and put on a choke of her own. Baszler tried to throw her off, but Nattie transistioned to strikes to the back of her head. Baszler was busted the hell open as she stood up with Nattie still holding the sleeper.
Baszler threw herself and Nattie off the ring into the audience, kocking the first row apart. Baszler looked like her nose was broken as Nattie went to get back into the ring. Baszler grabbed her from behind though and Nattie kicked backwards, sending her into the steps.
Nattie scrambled back into the ring to beat the count, but Baszler wasn’t able to get there in time, costing her the match.
Match Result: Nattie Neidhart defeated Shayna Baszler by countout.
After the match, Nattie and Baszler brawled in the ring until both of their entourages broke up the melee.
Yuji Nagata vs. Josh Barnett
The Main Event of the night pitted two big strikers in Barnett and Nagata against each other with a hot crowd. These two have faced off before and it was apparent off the top as they traded counters and strikes.
Nagata got a leg lock on Barnett, but he transitioned it into a wasitlock. Nagata rolled through though, looking for an armbar. Barnett stopped him from locking it in and the two separated for a reset.
They tied up with Barnett getting a takedown into an armbar. Nagata got out of it and wrapped Barnett’s arm around his own, looking for an arm breaker. Barnett countered and went into a sitting crossface, causing Nagata to start bleeding early.
Nagata countered back into an arm hold, trying to lock in the breaker, but Barnett held him off. Barnett drove his knee into Nagata’s ankle, causing a hold break. They started trading kicks, Barnett going high and Nagata going low.
Nagata transitioned a crossface into a rear choke as the five minute mark passed. Barnett tried to get out, but Nagata went back to the arm breaker. Barnett rolled through and used the momentum to break the hold and put on his own body lock.
Barnett cinched down on the sleeper hold, but Nagata tucked his chin and got out of it. The separated and Barnett went for a hip throw, but faked Nagata out into a leg lock. He wrenched back as Nagata screamed and tried to roll out of it.
Barnett wouldn’t loosen up though and Nagata managed to roll out of the ring to catch his breath. The count started and Nagata used 9 seconds then got back in the ring. Barnett met him there with a single leg takedown, twisting Nagata’s achilles.
Nagata rolled out it though, throwing a few stomps for good measure. Nagata threw Barnett with an exploder and then clocked him with a spinning heel kick. Nagata threw another suplex, dropping Barnett on his head as ten minutes expired.
Nagata put on a crossface and twisted Barnett’s neck. Barnett kicked through and broke the hold, but not before turning beet red from lack of oxygen. Nagata went for a high kick but Barnett caught his foot and twisted him into an stf.
Nagata kicked him off and blocked a German suplex into an armbar and then a fujiwara. Nagata pulled back on Barnett’s arm, but Barnett countered it and they went back to trading strikes. Nagata went for a kick, but Barnett blocked it and sent him to the mat with a lariat.
Barnett threw Nagata with a front suplex, but Nagata got right back up and they started trading forearms. Barnett landed a perfect heel kick and knocked Nagata to the mat. The Ref called the match after checking Nagata, giving Barnett the win.
Match Result: Josh Barnett defeated Yuji Nagata via TKO
After the match, Barnett got on the mic and thanked Nagata. He thanked the audience and said that the fighters in Bloodsport want to be there and that means a lot. Barnett then shocked the audience and announced that this would be the last Bloodsport.
He thanked the team behind Bloodsport and said that he was ending Bloodsport while it still had it’s integrity. He wasn’t saying that it would never be back, but for now this is it. He thanked everyone again and left the ring.
