$18 Million Funding Paves the Way for Innovative Karate Combat App

Today’s announcement brings together industry-leading names, including Delphi Digital, The Operating Group, Alpha Wave Global, Hashkey, Lattice, M13, Santiago R Santos, and RookieXBT, who join the league’s founders, Not Boring Capital and Keyboard Monkey, in backing the organization.

The investment is set to accelerate the league’s digital transformation by supporting the Karate Combat App’s launch, creating a new paradigm in fan engagement. The platform will offer free $KARATE tokens, which will empower token holders with control over the league’s direction, and unlock a new level of engagement.

Revolutionizing Fan Engagement with Blockchain

A departure from traditional models, Karate Combat’s new DAO structure and $KARATE token will empower fans to influence the league’s operations. Through the app, users can vote on fighters, earn additional tokens with no risk of loss, and even boost their favorite fighters’ potential prize pools.

Karate Combat Co-Founder, Robert Bryan, shared his enthusiasm for the league’s strategic direction, praising the organization’s unique approach to sport content and fan engagement. He also acknowledged the importance of having the BITKRAFT Ventures investment team on board.

Carlos Pereira, Partner at BITKRAFT Ventures, emphasized the league’s commitment to transforming fan engagement by enabling direct relationships, aligning incentives, and offering influence over the league’s operations.

Karate Combat’s Vision for the Future

Karate Combat launched in 2018, offering a unique blend of full-contact karate with immersive, computer-generated environments. Its latest innovation, the Up Only Gaming App and $KARATE token, will be launched on the Ethereum and Hedera networks on May 10.

Despite recent setbacks, Karate Combat remains committed to its innovative approach to full-contact sports. “We definitely wanted to complete the fundraising process… Despite the company doing well financially, we wanted to ensure that we wouldn’t need more funding in the future,” said Bryan.

Expanding the Reach: The Karate Combat App

Following the token and iOS app’s launch, an Android app is set to be introduced. Users worldwide will be able to allocate $KARATE tokens to their favorite fighters, boosting the fighters’ potential prize pools and earning more tokens if their chosen fighter wins.

Karate Combat’s transformation has already attracted audiences from over 100 countries, with 4.5 million followers and more than 10 million views per event. The sport’s resurgence is attributed to the mainstream return of karate via the popular Netflix series “Cobra Kai”.

Karate Combat: Pioneering the Future of DAO Sports Leagues

Karate Combat’s recent conversion to a DAO signifies a significant shift in sports league governance. With $KARATE token holders having a say in the league’s direction, including future fights and events, Karate Combat is set to pioneer a new era of fan-driven sports leagues.

“This is the first crypto league,” Bryan said. “The fans have input into absolutely every part of the league… There’s no outside equity and no other places league assets are located—this is it—and that was all extremely attractive to us.”

By leveraging Web3 tools, Karate Combat is creating a unique space in the sports industry where fans are not just spectators, but active participants in the league’s growth and direction. With this approach, Karate Combat is truly setting a new standard for sports fan engagement.

The post Revolutionizing Sports: Karate Combat’s $18M Funding Launches First-Ever Fan-Controlled DAO League and Crypto Token! appeared first on unleashed mma.

In the main event, reigning champion, Luiz Rocha, successfully defended his belt against Bruno “The Tiger” Souza. The all-Brazilian fight headlined the night, bringing Rocha’s impressive career record to 9-2. This was Rocha’s first title defense since winning the belt, despite having already competed as champion when he defeated welterweight champion Joshua Quayhagen in a Superfight at Karate Combat 35.

Souza, the protege of former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, put up an impressive fight. Despite his initial shift from MMA to Karate Combat, his performance showed grit and tenacity, continuing the legacy from his victory over Bruno Assis in the Battle of the Brunos at KC 38. Despite the unanimous decision in favor of Rocha, Souza demonstrated why he was a worthy contender for the title.

The co-main event featured striking legend Raymond Daniels against former UFC talent, Sasha Palatnikov. The bout promised an exciting clash, and it delivered. Daniels took the victory by unanimous decision, showcasing his wealth of experience against the younger Palatnikov.

Elsewhere on the card, Shahzaib Rindh clinched a unanimous decision victory over Tommy Azouz, while Antonio Arroyo triumphed over Cody Jerabek by TKO in round 2. Gabriel Stankunas, Alberto Ramirez, Elijah Everill, Ana Luiza Da Silva, Zakaria BenBouchta, and Will Esparza also registered wins in their respective bouts.

An MMA touch was added to the event, as legends Georges St. Pierre and Bas Rutten delivered commentary on the electrifying fights. Their professional insights and spirited narrations heightened the experience of the event.

Karate Combat 39 showcased the talent, skill, and diversity of the athletes, their dedication to the sport, and their relentless pursuit of victory. Fans worldwide enjoyed the event for free, thanks to streaming platforms like Bloody Elbow, and Karate Combat’s YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages.

The event illustrated the growth and popularity of Karate Combat, its unique appeal, and its potential to shape the future of combat sports. This Miami event has undoubtedly set a high bar for future Karate Combat events. The world eagerly awaits Karate Combat 40.

Results:

Luiz Rocha def. Bruno Souza by unanimous decision: Lightweight Title
Raymond Daniels def. Sasha Palatnikov by unanimous decision: Middleweight
Shahzaib Rindh def. Tommy Azouz by unanimous decision: Lightweight
Antonio Arroyo def. Cody Jerabek by TKO in round 2: Heavyweight.
Gabriel Stankunas def. Ignacio Capllonch by unanimous decision: Welterweight
Alberto Ramirez def. Maciej Tercjak by unanimous decision: Lightweight
Elijah Everill def. Rahul Bhowmick by KO at :49 in round 1: Lightweight
Ana Luiza Da Silva def. Nathalia Dinis by KO in round 1: (W) Flyweight
Zakaria BenBouchta def. Adam Rosa Ramos by unanimous decision: Heavyweight
Will Esparza def. Jonathan Broad by split decision: Welterweight

The post Unstoppable Rocha Defends Title in Miami Showdown: Karate Combat 39 Results Revealed – Don’t Miss Out! appeared first on unleashed mma.