Triller Fight Club and Fite TV made history Saturday night with the inaugural Triad Combat event - a new hybrid format for Boxers and MMA fighters to compete on a "leveled playing field."
The revolutionary style of combat featured a brand new triangular ring that compresses the action, giving fighters no choice but to engage. The only strikes that were allowed were punches but, clinching was also allowed, and fighters competed in 8oz MMA gloves. (More on the rules)
Triad Combat also introduced a new team-style format for the card in which MMA fighters and Boxers earned points for their respective sports based on if - and how - they won their bouts. Team MMA was led by their team captain - former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion - Quinton " Rampage" Jackson and Team Boxing was led by their captain - former WBO Heavyweight Champion - Shannon "The Cannon" Briggs. In the end, MMA fighters edged out the victory, winning four fights in a row at one point in the card.
For Boxing, their top performer was certainly Former Heavyweight Champion Kubrat Pulev who scored a first-round knockout over Frank Mir in the main event.
Oh man who would have thought that Kubrat Pulev, the man who fought for the heavyweight belt in his last fight, would do this to Frank Mir. pic.twitter.com/F8Tm0VS2M7
— Blaine Henry | Fight Library (@BlaineHenryTFL) November 28, 2021
Team MMA's top performance came from Alexa Culp who scored a first-round knockout of her own.
Alexa Culp with the quick beatdown.
— jl ⚉ (@mma21plus) November 28, 2021
MMA 5 - Boxing 3 pic.twitter.com/TTTlGjKESK
Triad Combat's inaugural event was unquestionably a success. With the level of production that Triller is capable of putting together combined with good fights and fighters that are paid well, it will stick around for a very long time. "The UFC and Bellator should be very worried," Team MMA captain Rampage Jackson said.
Full Card Results
Kubrat Pulev def. Frank Mir via TKO RD 1
Heavyweights – Nine Rounds
Alexander Flores def. Matt Mitrione via unanimous decision
Heavyweights – Seven Rounds
Mike Perry def. Michael Seals via split decision
Middleweights – Seven Rounds
Derek Campos def. Brian Vera via majority decision
Welterweights – Seven Rounds
Albert Tumenov def. Scott Sigmon via unanimous decision
Middleweights – Seven Rounds
Alexa Culp def. Angelina Hoffschneider via TKO RD 1
Featherweights – Five Rounds
Harry Gigliotti def. Jacob Thrall via split decision
Featherweights – Five Rounds
*MMA fighters are highlighted in red
(header image: Sky Sports)
