Social media sensation KSI will add MMA fights to his Misfits Boxing promotion within this year, Bloody Elbow can confirm.
The British YouTube star has seen massive pay-per-view success as a boxer over the past six years after making his debut in 2018. He famously defeated Logan Paul in 2019, and many believe he did enough to defeat Tommy Fury last October although the decision went against him on the night.
And now KSI, who has topped the charts as a rapper and is one of the UK’s biggest celebrities, will turn his hand to MMA promoting within this year. The Brit launched Misfits Boxing in 2022, and last year inked a lengthy broadcast deal with DAZN for the promotion to air both pay-per-views and fight nights.
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Misfits Boxing to launch MMA fights later this year
In an exclusive chat with Bloody Elbow after last night’s X-Series 14 event in London, Misfits Boxing founder Mams Taylor teased an exciting few months for the promotion. While he remained coy on who would be fighting and when, he confirmed that there will be MMA fights under their banner in 2024.
Asked explicitly about Misfits MMA, Taylor said: “There are some surprises coming your way son.” Pressed on whether there will be MMA bouts within 2024, he replied: “Oh yeah, absolutely.”
The promotion has worked with a number of fighters from the cage before. Last year at their historic ‘Prime Card’ event, they infamously pitted controversial Bellator fighter Dillon Danis against Logan Paul in an outlandish fight that garnered international attention.
Misfits Boxing is owned by KSI and Mams Taylor in association with Wasserman Boxing boss Kalle Sauerland. They have staged 14 events including four pay-per-view shows with sales recorded well over 2 million altogether.
Later this month, they will debut their first ever female headliner in Houston, Texas, which will feature UFC veteran Paige VanZant. She faces British Tik Tok star Elle Brooke in a bout full of heat, and says that she has signed a multiple fight deal.
Misfits Boxing has history with MMA
After years of influencer and celebrity boxing, Taylor coined the term ‘crossover boxing’ with the launch of Misfits in the summer of 2022. He has pit a number of stars of the cage against celebrities and boxers during their 14 events to date, with varying results.
Their current light-heavyweight champion Anthony Taylor is a veteran of the Bellator cage. And he was on the road to the UFC before making the switch to boxing in 2022 after a chance meeting with Jake Paul led him to the ring.
They have also featured UFC veteran Chris Avila, who is 2-0 in the promotion with wins over Paul Bamba and Jake Bostwick. Greg Hardy has made an appearance, as have former regional MMA stars and influencers Josh Brueckner and Armadeusz Ferrari.
Other MMA personalities included have been Aaron Chalmers, a reality TV star who competed on BAMMA and Bellator and commentator Ben ‘The Bane’ Davis. However, they have all paled in comparison to the impact of Danis, whose controversial fight buildup made waves worldwide.
Paige VanZant set to headline next Misfits Boxing event
The MMA invasion on Misfits Boxing continues on May 25 when former UFC contender Paige VanZant finally makes her debut. The American fan favourite faces Elle Brooke for the promotion’s middleweight title.
It will be her debut in the boxing ring, but VanZant brings a wealth of knowledge from MMA and her brief stint as a headline attraction in bare knuckle boxing. Most recently, the fighter has been taking part in AEW professional wrestling.
VanZant is 8-5 as a professional MMA fighter and has faced the likes of two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas during her run. She didn’t get a win in her BKFC run, and is keen to continue competing after turning 30 this March.