I recently caught up with Relentless Pro Wrestling (PRW) Live Event Manager “The Orange County Hammer” Ben Raymond about the promotion’s upcoming charity event, “The Fight in the Dog.” Centered around helping dogs find forever homes, the event was inspired by AfterGLOW Wrestling’s successful “Wrestling is 4 the Dogs” charity show and will feature members of AfterGLOW Wrestling in attendance as the two promotions continue supporting a great cause.

Relentless Pro Wrestling is also partnering with Wahoo’s Fish Tacos and The Good Pawject to help make the event a community effort that shines a spotlight on dog adoption while delivering an exciting night of professional wrestling.

The card will be headlined by RPW So-Cal Cruiserweight Champion E.J. Sparks defending his championship against El Mexica. Fans will also see G.T. Maestro take on Alex Tomas, Angie Savage face Xochi Fatale, Angel Purehart battle Eli Emerson with Christian Rosenberg, Onyx Amagi square off against Raymond Bright and Lucas Lair meet “The Wretched One” Kasey.

During our conversation, Hammer also broke the news that Relentless Pro Wrestling has signed a pair of WOW – Women of Wrestling Superheroes. Fans attending “The Fight in the Dog” will have the opportunity to meet Goldie Collins, one half of the tag team Animal Instinct.

“The Fight in the Dog” takes place on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at the Elks Lodge in Garden Grove, CA.

To purchase tickets for, “The Fight in the Dog,” visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-fight-in-the-dog-tickets-1992118848101.

Follow Relentless Pro Wrestling in Instagram @relentless_pro_wrestling and on Facebook at Relentless Pro Wrestling. Catch previous matches on YouTube at Relentless Pro Wrestling.

PFL MMA came to San Diego, CA, for an exciting night of MMA action featuring the main event as the number two ranked Long Beach, CA, native AJ “Mercenary” McKee(24-2) faces undefeated number four ranked Salamat Isbulaev (10-0) in a featherweight showdown airing live on ESPN 2. Both fighters successfully made weight at 145.6 lbs and 145.8 lbs respectively ahead of their highly anticipated bout.

The co-main event is also locked in, featuring a women’s flyweight clash between two top contenders. The number two ranked Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche (25-8) and number eight ranked Viviane “Vivi” Araujo (14-7) both hit their marks on the scale at 126 lbs and 125.8 lbs respectively.

Full main card breakdown and results of PFL MMA: San Diego:

Light Heavyweight Main Card: #6 (HW) Abraham Bably (205.6 lbs) vs. #6 (LHW) “Razor” Rob Wilkinson (205.8 lbs)

Round One: The fighters touch gloves, with the fighter out of the Ivory Coast landing a combination on the Aussie. Wilkinson is dazed but not out, slowing the pace, circling the cage, getting knocked down by a right hand before popping to his feet , leaning on Bably against the cage, who reverse position. Bably lands a right left combination that’s answered by Wilkinson before regaining cage control.

The crowd is displeased with the pace of the fight forcing the African to move, landing a few overhand punches, pressuring Wilkinson against the cage before a hip throw, landing in full mount, but Wilkinson escapes, pressing Bably against the cage as the round comes to an end.

Round Two: The two men meet in the center of the cage, circling with Bably landing the first punch combination that’s answered by Wilkinson. Bably grabs the Aussie pushing him back against the cage, Wilkinson escapes the position while they still clinch, turning it around and back to the cage, reversing positions yet again.

Wilkinson lands several knees drops Bably, who is holding on for dear life eating elbows and hammer fists while still looking for a double leg, spinning out and right back against the cage. The men are exhausting, Wilkinson drags Bably to the ground, takes his back, unleashes several unanswered punched and this one is over.

Your winner by TKO at 3:23 of the second round: “Razor” Rob Wilkinson!

Lightweight Main Card: #4 Alexander Shabliy (155.8 lbs) vs. #2 “The Axe Man” Alfie Davis (156 lbs)

Round One: The fighters touch gloves and it’s England versus Russia! The first minute has been a lot of feeling each other out with no real blows landed. A whole lot of nothing is going on as a third of the round has passed. Finally at the halfway point Shabliy lands a big right hand and push kick before both men throw overhand rights. The Russian attempts a spinning hammer first to no avail.

Shabliy takes Davis down against the cage then gets pushed off via a butterfly guard, the first round ends with a double leg by the Russian.

Round Two: The crowd is displeased with the fighters still feeling each other out, which may lead to the first decision of the night. Shabliy landed an overhand right that had little effect with Davis throwing a push kick. The two attempt a kick each where Shabliy splits the uprights, rattling Davis’ family jewels.

Referee Mike Beltran warns Shabliy with the fight resuming to its steady pace. It is now Shabliy who needs a cup adjustment. Eacch swings and misses. If this was baseball, we’d be at the top of the fifth inning with all the strike outs.

Shabliy throws a couple of spinning heel kicks and a Superman punch. Davis attempts a single leg, eating an elbow for his troubles. Davis is behaving like a taekwondo fighter in the Olympics, all abound and no strikes. The first double leg of the fight is by Shabliy, the Englishman bounces around a few times, rocked by a straight right hand following a failed spinning heel kick with his hands down and the Russian drops him.

Round Three: Saved by the bell as we thought the fight was over after Referee Mike Beltran checked on the Englishman, resuming the fight.

Now the Russian is making it interesting picking his strikes from push kicks to punches. Davis is leading with taekwondo head kicks, being more annoying than devastating. The Axe Man needs to sharpen his blade.

Shabliy lands a left hook because the Englishman keeps dropping his hands. These psychological games don’t work on the Russians the way they do on Western Europeans and Americans. Shabliy lands an overhand right, this is his fight to lose. Shabliy lands in Davis’ butterfly guard, gets pressed out then on to the cage, takes the Englishman down, dropping elbows as the fight comes to an end.

Your winner by unanimous decision: Alexander Shabliy.

Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: #2 Liz Carmouche (126 lbs) vs. #8 Viviane Araújo (125.8 lbs)

Round One: It is time for the co-main event, Carmouche the current PFL tournament flyweight champion and hometown hero, faces off against former pancrase, Araújo as the only female fighters on the main card.

The chants of U-S-A being, the fighters touch gloves, gage their distance and the Marine leads with and overhand right followed by a low kick. Araújo presses Carmouche to the cage trying to tire out the American. Carmouche is scoring points, peppering strike against Araújo.

Carmouche takes down Araújo, pressing her shoulder into the Brazilian’s neck and chin. The two get band to their feet, hang and bang, before Carmouche closes out the round with a double leg.

Round Two: Araújo lands a big strike forcing the crowd to reacting with more U-S-A chants. Carmouche is chopping away at the Brazilian’s lead leg before eating a big jab. The Marine uses a jumping guillotine to finish Araújo with a choke in the second round!

Your winner by guillotine choke at 2:07 of the second round: Liz Carmouche!

Featherweight Main Event: #2 AJ McKee (145.6 lbs) vs. #4 Salamat Isbulaev (145.8 lbs)

Round One: Isbulaev comes in with a record of 10-0 with 9 finishes in the first round, with McKee coming in with a record of 24-2, with 14 finishes. On paper, this will be a contender for fight of the year.

The Kazakhstani is the first to land a punch combination. McKee leads with a head kick followed by a lower leg kick. Isbulaev is a big ball of pent up energy looking for another first round finish, but may tire himself out before getting there.

These fighters respect each other’s skills, but that does not diminish their desires to win. McKee takes Isbulaev with a double leg and his his back, looking for a submission off the cage. Isbulaev slips out into McKee’s guard, the two scramble, allowing Isbulaev to catch McKee in a front face lock, putting pressure on the American’s back trying to cut off his breathing. McKee escapes as the two stand in the middle of the decagon.

McKee throws Isbulaev down with a waist lock as the round comes to an end.

Round Two: This is only the second time Isbulaev has gone to the second round, speaking to the skill level of McKee. The two touch gloves at the start of the round.

The crowd is clearly behind McKee with chants of U-S-A, drowning out the six gentlemen seated in front of me chanting for Kazakhstan. The two exchange punches to the delight of the crown. McKee throws a spinning back kick but is quickly taken down by Isbulaev. Isbulaev turns McKee looking for a submission from his back, with the American slipping out.

McKee has Isbulaev’s back putting pressure on him against the cage before taking him down yet again. McKee has the cage pressure on Isbulaev, pulling him to the canvas every time he tries to stand up. This looks to be the toughest test of Isbulaev has McKee drops elbows on the Kazakhstani from side mount ending the round.

Round Three: Third and final round. Isbulaev has never been this deep in a fight in his professional career, we are eager to see if his stamina holds.

They hug in the center of the ring, a sign of great respect as the crowd is clearly behind McKee who after eating a back fist, sloppily shoots for a double leg before the two stand up.

The pace as slowed as a mouse is developing under McKee’s left eye. Both fighters are giving it their all, with a cut next to Isbulaev’s left eye. The two exchange hooks and kicks in the center of the cage to the crowds’ delight.

No one is willing to give an inch and the crowd as woken up following McKee’s double leg to side control, though his arm is trapped, allowing Isbulaev to look for a keylock. McKee takes side mount, looking for a head and arm chock, pulling out dropping elbows on the Kazakhstani from the full mount position. After 15 seconds of total bombs dropped on the face of Isbulaev, this one goes to the judges.

Your winner by unanimous decision and handing his Salamat Isbulaev first loss: AJ McKee!

Concluding tonight’s fight card visit PFL MMA’s YouTube Page for the post show scrum at: https://www.youtube.com/pflmma.

PFL MMA’s next card takes place on Saturday, July 18, 2026 with PFL Austin from the Moody Center in Austin, TX.

PFL MMA came to San Diego, CA, for an exciting night of MMA action featuring the main event as the number two ranked Long Beach, CA, native AJ “Mercenary” McKee(24-2) faces undefeated number four ranked Salamat Isbulaev (10-0) in a featherweight showdown. Both fighters successfully made weight at 145.6 lbs and 145.8 lbs respectively ahead of their highly anticipated bout.

The co-main event is also locked in, featuring a women’s flyweight clash between two top contenders. The number two ranked Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche (25-8) and number eight ranked Viviane “Vivi” Araujo (14-7) both hit their marks on the scale at 126 lbs and 125.8 lbs respectively.

The preliminary results for tonight’s card on the ESPN App are as follows:

Bantamweight Bout: Cobey Fehr (135.8 lbs) vs. Daniel Bzdigian (135.6 lbs)

Round One: Fehr shoots in for a double leg instantly on the debuting Bzdigian, gets pushed off, dropps a couple of right hands before dropping into side guard, putting Bzdigian in a half-nelson, while throwing elbows to the new fighter. Fehr ties up the young fight, with an in arm choke ending this one in the first round.

Your winner by tap out at 2:00 even of the very first round: Cobey Fehr!

Women’s Flyweight Bout: Shannon Clark(125.4 lbs) vs. Ilara Joanne (124.8 lbs)

Round One: The ladies are feeling each other out as Joane lands a overhead right followed by a low kick that is unanswered by Clark, who’s back is towards the cage landing a straight right as Joanne advances. She follows up with a headkick and a right hand, but Joanne answers by taking her down and landing in half-guard against the cage. Clark is on her back throwing elbows to Joanne’s ribs, who transitions into guard, pressing her head to Clark’s chest, while Clark is landing elbows to the top of her head. This is a points round as they are both landing strikes that are not quite devastating. Joanne standings, eats a couple of kicks and returns to the lower guard position eating elbows to the top of her head.

Joanne gets to side mount and transitions to north-south as the two scramble back to their feet. Clark takes her down looking for a guillotine as the round ends.

Round Two: The women square up on the center of the decagon, this time with Clark advancing, gaging her distance and only throwing single kicks that are being answer by an overhand right. Clarks takes cage control, pressing Joanne while throwing body shots, switching to a front face lock, kneeing her opponent in the head. Clark drags Joanne down, but Joanne reverse it, then Clark reverse again, the two continue to scramble as Clark slips out of an armbar and is now in closed guard. Clark stacks her, while dropping hammer fists. The referee stands them up with blood on Joanne’s face. Joanne double leg’s Clark and now the two are in a half butterfly guard against the cage, while Joanne tries to stack the Canadian. As round two ends with Clark kneeing the Brazilian in the face.

Round Three: Final round, Clark advances , pressuring Joanne to the cage, both are visibly tired, Joanne collapses against the cage with Clark trying to finish the Brazilian. A flurry of knees still cannot finish Joanne and the referee stops the fight after several right hands to Joanne who can no longer defend herself.

Your winner by TKO at 1:43 of the third round: Shannon Clark!

Catchweight Bout: Justin Wetzell (135.6 lbs) vs. #8 Sarvarjon Khamidov (137.6 lbs)* (Khamidov missed weight)

Round One: Khamidov drops Wetzell with a straight right hand, as the American pops back to his feet eating knees to his left thigh. The Tajik missed weight by two pounds, with those bad cuts often giving the fighter an advantage as they do right now.

Wetzell escapes cage control, eating a righthand for his troubles, misses a jumping knee and headkick only to be taken down again, closing his guard on Khamidov. The American is trying to work his way up the body of the Tajik but looking for either an armbar or triangle choke, unfortunately, Khamidov is the dominate wrestler. The round ends with the Tajik dropping elbows.

Round Two: Round two is underway as the two exchange low kicks in the center of the cage before Wetzell eats a right elbow. Khamidov presses the American to the cage, scoops him with a double leg, working to take the American’s back. Wetzel pushes the Tajik off, eats a right elbow for his troubles, with Khamidov taking him down in the corner. Khamidov sinks his legs in for a body triangle, looking for a rear naked choke that isn’t under the chin. Wetzell is standing facing the cage, falling back ending with the American being choked out. Wetzell argues that he was fully lucid, but it’s all over.

Your winner by rear naked choke at 4:11 in the second round: Sarvarjon Khamidov!

Women’s Flyweight Bout: #7 Ariane Lipski de Silva (126.0 lbs) vs. #5 Jena Bishop (125.0 lbs)

Round One: The crowd has popped for hometown local, Bishop before announcements were completed. The two are feeling each other out, gaging their distance as the American is a little apprehensive. Bishop tried for aa half-hearted double but is stopped, the two exchange blows in the clinch before Bishop finishes the double landing in half-guard. Bishop continues to press as the Brazilian pushes her off, but comes back in leading with her righthand, controlling the top position, from side mount, elbowing de Silva in the face.

Bishop has taken de Silva’s back locking in both hooks, throwing punches while looking for a rear naked choke, transitions to an armbar and this one is over!

Your winner by armbar at 4:08 in the very first round: Jena Bishop!

Featherweight Bout: Khasan Magomedshairpov (145.8 lbs) vs. Josh Weems (146.0 lbs)

Round One: Josh Weems, who I believe has no relation to comic book artist Joe Weems IV, eats a right hand by Magomedshairpov who stacks the American, but is now in closed guard, escaping a guillotine attempt. The Dagestani is bleeding, escapes to side control, finishing his opponent with an head and arm choke.

Your winner by head and arm at 2:10 in the very first round: Khasan Magomedshairpov!

At the conclusion of the preliminaries, PFL MMA: San Diego continues on ESPN 2 and in our next breakdown immediately following the card.

Legendary boxing coach John Brown has worked with more than 18,500 young fighters during his 60-plus years in the sport. Yet only two have reached the professional ranks under his guidance: former heavyweight world champion Tommy Morrison and unbeaten prospect Marco “El Tiburón” Romero.

Romero (14-0, 12 KOs), 20, built one of the most impressive amateur records in recent memory. He went 130-5 and won 23 national championships before turning pro.

He also hasn’t lost a fight in nearly seven years. Romero’s last defeat came on June 28, 2019, when he dropped a split decision at the National Junior Olympics.

Since turning pro, Romero has continued to dominate. He has won all 14 of his fights and every one of the 35 rounds on all three judges’ scorecards.

“Marco is my coaching Halley’s Comet,” Brown said. “That only comes around about every 85 years. He has the best mix of skills and talent I’ve ever seen. That’s why he turned pro. For me to train a professional fighter, he has to have the ability and mental toughness to become wealthy and stay healthy.”

Brown is one of the most respected coaches in American boxing history. He founded Ringside Boxing, served as president of USA Boxing and now owns and operates Turner Boxing Academy in Kansas City, Kansas, the largest boxing gym in the United States.

A native of St. Louis, Brown has always put fighter safety first.

That mindset is a big reason why Romero’s career has been handled differently.

The Olathe, Kansas, fighter has trained with Brown since he was 7 years old. Over the years, their relationship has grown beyond boxing.

Now a promotional free agent, Romero is drawing interest from several major promoters. Once he signs, Brown expects to focus entirely on training and managing him. Until now, Brown has also taken on many promotional responsibilities, paying the costs of developing a fighter he believes can become a world champion.

Brown often says Romero and Morrison could not be more different, both as fighters and as people.

For Romero, Brown’s impact extends well beyond the ring.

“Coach John has always taught his fighters to get hit less so they can stay in the sport longer,” Romero said. “Boxing is tough, but it’s also an art. Coach John always talks about taking as little punishment as possible, especially to the head.”

Brown’s goals for Romero are clear.

He wants to help him earn life-changing money, protect his health and retire before his 30th birthday.

The foundation of that plan is what Brown calls the “Triple E.”

“We all know boxing is dangerous,” Brown said. “I only wanted to work with a professional fighter I believed could become wealthy while staying healthy. Limiting damage will always be our goal and we’ve done a good job of that so far. I want Marco to be elusive, explosive and exciting.”

Brown also has a vision for the type of fighter Romero can become.

“I want Marco to have the toughness of Marvin Hagler but be more defensive like Bernard Hopkins and the younger Oscar De La Hoya,” Brown said. “I want him to be like Oleksandr Usyk and Dmitry Bivol, too. They’re great fighters who don’t take a lot of punishment.”

National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Worlds Heavyweight Champion Silas Mason successfully retained the legendary “Ten Pounds of Gold” on Wednesday, defeating Shotaro Ashino at All Japan Pro Wrestling’s (AJPW) Super Power Series 2026 at Korakuen Hall.

Continuing his international “Thrill ’Em All Tour,” Mason defeated one of All Japan Pro Wrestling’s fastest-rising stars in front of a packed crowd in one of Japan’s most historic wrestling venues.

A former two-time AJPW World Tag Team Champion, Ashino entered the title match with an impressive résumé that includes two reigns as Wrestle-1 Champion. The protégé of Keiji Mutoh, better known as The Great Muta, and Kaz Hayashi pushed the reigning NWA champion to the limit before ultimately falling victim to Mason’s patented “Thrillride” finishing maneuver.

“He’s a tough brother and we had one hell of a fight in front of the great fans of All Japan Pro Wrestling,” Mason said after the match.

“But when you challenge for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Title, you’re not just stepping into the ring for the Ten Pounds of Gold,” he continued. “You’re stepping in there with ‘The Biggest Man Who Ever Lived.’ You’re facing Silas Mason.”

The victory marked the first defense of the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship in Japan in more than two years and added another milestone to Mason’s growing championship reign.

Mason captured the title from Thom Latimer at NWA 77 in Long Island, New York, last August and has since compiled an impressive list of successful title defenses. During his reign, he became the first NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion of the Lightning One Era to defend the championship across all NWA-recognized territories.

To date, Mason has defended the title in 12 states and Japan, earning victories over former champion Latimer, Rich Swann, former NWA World Television Champion Bryan Idol and other top challengers.

Mason’s next televised title defense is scheduled for Saturday’s episode of NWA Powerrr, where he will face 6-foot-9, 376-pound challenger El Dragon Nihan. The matchup will air at 4 p.m. ET on Comet TV.

Looking ahead, Mason is also slated to compete at NWA 78 on July 25 at Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena. The event will celebrate the National Wrestling Alliance’s 78th anniversary and is expected to feature the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship in the main event.

For complete details about the National Wrestling Alliance, upcoming NWA Live Events, and more, visit: NationalWrestlingAlliance.com.

The Professional Fighters League’s inaugural event in Nigeria is officially set after fighters successfully made weight Friday for PFL Africa: Nigeria - First Round, which takes place Saturday at Eko Convention Center in Lagos.

The event marks a significant milestone for mixed martial arts on the continent as PFL Africa launches its first tournament competition, featuring athletes from across Africa and beyond competing in front of a Nigerian audience.

In the main event, Nigeria’s Wasi “The Nigerian Jaguar” Adeshina and Spain’s Ignacio Campos both made weight for their featherweight showcase bout. Adeshina weighed in at 144.8 pounds, while Campos tipped the scales at 145.8 pounds ahead of the headline matchup.

The co-main event also became official after Nigeria’s Patrick “Star Boi” Ocheme and Cameroon’s Octave “The Bantu Warrior” Ayinda successfully hit their marks for their lightweight tournament first-round contest. Ocheme weighed 153.6 pounds, while Ayinda came in at 156 pounds.

The card features several first-round tournament bouts in the lightweight and bantamweight divisions, along with showcase contests in the featherweight, middleweight, light heavyweight and women’s strawweight divisions.

Among the athletes advancing to Saturday’s competition are bantamweights Karim Henniene and Thimna Mhlauli, who weighed 135.8 and 134.6 pounds, respectively, and lightweights Cornel Thompson and Aureo Cruz, who both weighed 154.4 pounds.

Middleweight showcase competitors Yahaya Yahuza and Jordan Fongno also made weight at 184.2 and 185.4 pounds, respectively.

Additional tournament matchups include Raphael Uchegbu against Edson Machavane, Abderrahman Errachidy against Hussain Al Kurdi, Alain Majorique against Dwight Joseph, Jean Do Santos against Demba Seck, and Boule Godogo against Dauda Rajabu.

In women’s strawweight showcase action, Juliet Ukah weighed 115.6 pounds for her bout against Elisandra Ferreira, who came in at 115.8 pounds. Shelda Chipito and Haidy Ahmed also successfully made weight at 116 pounds each for their showcase matchup.

The event begins at 6 p.m. West Africa Time (1 p.m. ET) and will be broadcast on SuperSport in English-speaking African markets and Canal+ in French-speaking African territories.

With the weigh-ins complete and all featured fighters cleared to compete, PFL Africa is set to make its promotional debut in Nigeria with a card showcasing talent from across the continent and around the world.