Hard Knocks Fighting
# Hard Knocks Fighting

Hard Knocks Fighting is a mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion in North America. Hard Knocks Fighting was founded in 2009 by Canadian Olympic wrestler Ari Taub. Hard Knocks Fighting is known for its local fighter support and ongoing charity efforts and where Ronda Rousey secured her second career MMA victory.

## History

### Founding

In 2009, Canadian Olympic wrestler Ari Taub founded Hard Knocks Fighting. Ari Taub an Olympic wrestler and Calgary based lawyer overcomes local city bylaws to win legal challenges to get MMA sanctioned in Calgary. In December 2011, media giant ESPN began airing Hard Knocks Fighting in 40 countries and over 50 million homes. Hard Knocks Fighting produces 15 live events annually, as well as shoulder programming including feature fights, highlight shows, and documentaries.

### Television Broadcasting

* December, 2011 - Hard Knocks Fighting begins broadcasting on ESPN.
* June, 2013 - Hard Knocks Fighting begins broadcasting on Popcornflix.
* January, 2015 - Hard Knocks Fighting and MoboVivo launch HKFC MMA App
* January, 2015 - Hard Knocks Fighting begins live broadcasts on Fight Network.

## Past events

| Events name | Date | Venue | Location |
| - | - | - | - |
| HK1 | March 26, 2009 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK2 | June 27, 2009 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK3 | September 26, 2009 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK4 | November 7, 2009 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK5 | January 30, 2010 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK6 | April 9, 2010 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK7 | June 4, 2010 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK8 | September 10, 2010 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK9 | November 5, 2010 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK10 | January 28, 2011 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK12 | June 17, 2011 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK13 | May 27, 2011 | Cypress Centre Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede | Medicine Hat, Alberta |
| HK14 | September 23, 2011 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK15 | October 7, 2011 | Turvey Centre | Regina, MB |
| HK16 | October 22, 2011 | Spectra Place | Estevan, SK |
| HK17 | March 26, 2009 | Cypress Centre Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede | Medicine Hat, Alberta |
| HK18 | November 25, 2011 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK19 | January 20, 2012 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK20 | March 26, 2009 | Cypress Centre Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede | Medicine Hat, Alberta |
| HK21 | March 26, 2009 | Spectra Place | Estevan, SK |
| HK22 | March 16, 2012 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK23 | March 26, 2009 | Subway Soccer Centre | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK24 | March 26, 2009 | Spectra Place | Estevan, SK |
| HK25 | June 15, 2012 | Cypress Centre Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede | Medicine Hat, Alberta |
| HK26 | July 19, 2012 | Art Hauser Centre Arena | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK27 | September 7, 2012 | Subway Soccer Centre | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK28 | September 14, 2012 | Spectra Place | Estevan, SK |
| HK29 | October 26, 2012 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK30 | February 8, 2013 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK31 | March 26, 2009 | Spectra Place | Estevan, SK |
| HK32 | April 26, 2013 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK33 | May 25, 2013 | Spectra Place | Estevan, SK |
| HK34 | January 17, 2014 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK35 | April 25, 2014 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK36 | March 26, 2009 | North Peace Arena - Rumble in the North | Fort St. John, BC |
| HK37 | June 13, 2014 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK38 | October 3, 2014 | Markin MacPhail Centre - WinSport | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK39 | November 14, 2014 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK40 | December 12, 2014 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK41 | January 30, 2015 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK42 | March 20, 2015 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK43 | May 22, 2015 | Markin MacPhail Centre - WinSport | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK44 | June 26, 2015 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK45 | September 25, 2015 | Markin MacPhail Centre - WinSport | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK46 | October 23, 2015 | Markin MacPhail Centre - WinSport | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK47 | November 13, 2015 | Century Casinos | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK48 | January 29, 2016 | Markin MacPhail Centre - WinSport | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK49 | April 22, 2016 | Markin MacPahil Centre - WinSport | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK50 | June 17, 2016 | Century Casino | Calgary, Alberta |
| HK51 | October 14, 2016 | WinSport | Calgary, Alberta |

## Broadcast partners

* ESPN - Hard Knocks Fighting airs live on ESPN.
* Fight Network
* Popcornflix
* OSN
* Claro Sports
* AT&T
* Time Warner Cable
* Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast
* Verizon Communications
* PlayStation
* Dish Network
* BandSports
* beIN Sports
* FightBox

## Current champions

| Division | Upper weight limit | Champion | Contestant type |
| - | - | - | - |
| Light Heavyweight | 205 lb (93 kg) | Rodney Wallace | Professional |
| Middleweight | 185 lb (84 kg) | Brent Auger | Amateur |
| Welterweight | 170 lb (77 kg) | Cody Wilson | Professional |
| Lightweight | 155 lb (70 kg) | Jason Fischer | Professional |
| Lightweight | 155 lb (70 kg) | Sean Michaels | Amateur |
| Featherweight | 145 lb (66 kg) | Justin Basra | Amateur |
| Bantamweight | 135 lb (61 kg) | Jesse Arnett | Professional |

## Notable fighters

* Ronda Rousey the first UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion and first American woman to earn an Olympic medal in Judo at the Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008, where she faced kickboxing champion Charmaine Tweet in an MMA bout at Hard Knocks Fighting Championship: School of Hard Knocks 12 on June 17, 2011 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She submitted Tweet with an armbar in 49 seconds.
* Elias Theodorou is the winner of HKFC: School of Hard Knocks 14. Method- Submission (rear naked choke).
* Misha Cirkunov is an MMA fighter out of Ontario, Canada. Misha Cirkunov knocked out Rodney Wallace at Hard Knocks Fighting Championship.
