Former world boxing champ Ishe Smith to make VBK:1 bare knuckle debut Sept. 21 on PPV vs. MMA fighter Estevan Payan
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 12 Sep 2019
KEN SHAMROCK ANNOUNCES FULL LINE-UP OF FIGHTS FOR VBK: 1
FORMER WORLD BOXING CHAMPION ISHE SMITH VS. FORMER UFC & BELLATOR FIGHTER ESTEVAN PAYAN IN CO-MAIN EVENT
Saturday, September 21 Live On Pay-Per-View
CHEYENNE, Wyoming (September 11, 2019) - Ken Shamrock, the World's Most Dangerous Man and founder of Valor Bare Knuckle Inc. (VBK?), today announced the complete line-up of fights for VBK: 1, the promotion's first-ever Pay-Per-View event taking place from 4 Bears Casino & Lodge in New Town, North Dakota.
Valor Bare Knuckle's inaugural event, VBK: 1 will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH, VUBIQUITY in the United States, as well as Bell TV, Shaw Communications, Rogers and SaskTel in Canada, and the FITE.TV digital platform for a suggested retail price of $29.95. Taxes and fees may apply.
Tickets for VBK: 1 can be purchased online at Ticketforce.com or by calling 4Bears Casino & Lodge at 800-294-5454 (ask for Players Club)
.
Also, as part of the live Pay-Per-View, former world champion boxer Ishe Smith (0-0), fighting out of Las Vegas, will make his bare-knuckle debut in a 160 lb. bout vs. Estevan Payan (1-0) and JC Llamas will square off against Mike Richman (1-0) in a 170 lb. match.
"I fell in love with bare knuckle in the early UFC days and have always wanted to bring it back," said Shamrock. "Now, with Valor, we are giving athletes today the opportunity to experience the sport of bare knuckle - a pure competition between two fighters using God given talent - nothing more and nothing less. It all starts Saturday, September 21 live on Pay-Per-View with VBK: 1."
In an unprecedented move, Shamrock turned to combat sports fans worldwide to select the initial matchups for the four-person, one-night heavyweight tournament (206 - 265 lbs.). Through an online Forbes.com poll, fans chose Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (0-0) vs. "Mighty Mo" Siliga (0-0) and Jack May vs. Mark Godbeer as the starting brackets; James McSweeney (0-0) and Brian Heden (0-0) are tournament alternates.
Four Dakotans will kick off VBK: 1 in the first two fights of the night. In a starting non-televised heavyweight preliminary, Chris Jensen (0-0), hailing from Waterford, North Dakota takes on John Carmona (0-0) from Fargo, North Dakota. Dane Sayers (0-0) also from Fargo, fights Brookings South Dakotan Joshua Dyer (0-0) in a 185 lb. preliminary bout.
Shamrock, Valor Bare Knuckle owner and founder, is a UFC? Hall of Famer and a four-time heavyweight world champion fighter and a WWE? Superstar and international wrestling legend. He is the UFC Superfight heavyweight champion, King of Pancrase champion, NWA/TNA champion, and the WWE IC champion.
The sport of bare knuckle fighting is regulated in Florida, Mississippi and Wyoming and is under consideration with several more states across America.
About 4 Bears Casino & Lodge
4 Bears Casino, just west of New Town, ND, is North Dakota's winning destination for gaming, live entertainment, dining, lodging, and conventions. Located on beautiful Lake Sakakawea, 4 Bears offers marina and lake access. Visit us at www.4BearsCasino.com.
For more information about Valor BK please visit www.valorbk.com
and
www.facebook.com/pg/valorbk
and follow at @ValorBK on Instagram and Twitter.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Andy Cruz vs Raymond Muratalla: Who Will Execute?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 24 Jan 2026Libranza to fight undefeated Tso for IBF Pan Pacific bantam
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 24 Jan 2026Filipino Cue Artist RJ Bautista Ready to Shine at the Las Vegas Open 2026
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 24 Jan 2026MURATALLA VS. CRUZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
Sat, 24 Jan 2026Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
Sat, 24 Jan 2026Ballesteros not yet ready against Ocum
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 24 Jan 2026Chocolatito Gonzalez to undergo shoulder surgery
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 24 Jan 2026NM Nika finishes Sixth in Czech Republic Blitz chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 24 Jan 2026The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
Sat, 24 Jan 2026Donaire back in Cebu
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 23 Jan 2026MURATALLA VS. CRUZ IN LAS VEGAS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 23 Jan 2026Four Pinoys in line for title shots
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 23 Jan 2026After the meeting in Mexico City, the WBC is ready for 2026
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 23 Jan 2026Former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes Returns to ring at home after nearly a decade in Retirement on January 31 in Texas
Fri, 23 Jan 2026SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNY ALVAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
Thu, 22 Jan 2026