Tonight, Triller debuts its Triad Combat ring and ruleset for the world and many will be glued to the event thanks to the names they have on the card.
With the ruleset focusing on the standup, it is the new strikes that they allow with traditional boxing that allows for fans to be drawn into something new. Like in boxing, only punches will be allowed but adding the punches of hammerfists and spinning back fists as well. Obviously, no kicks or elbows are permitted but the new fighting style will allow clinching and striking from the clinch. Each matchup on the card pits an MMA fighter against a boxer to see which “team” will adjust to the new ruleset the best.
Headlining the card tonight will be a matchup between former UFC champion Frank Mir and former heavyweight boxing title challenger Kubrat Pulev.
Mir is a former UFC heavyweight champion and Bellator veteran with his last MMA fight coming in 2019, winning against Roy Nelson. In his last 11 MMA bouts, he is just 3-8, with five of those losses coming by way of knockout. Despite his chin being less than ideal, Mir made his boxing debut earlier this year in a losing effort to Steve Cunningham, albeit looking more impressive than most expected. Pulev’s most recent fight was a losing effort to Anthony Joshua for the heavyweight world title, and will surely provide a much stiffer test for Mir.
In the co-main event, Matt Mitrione takes on Alexander Flores in a matchup of one man making his boxing debut and the other coming in after losing to one of the best in the world in Luis Ortiz. This fight has a very slim chance of going the distance based on the history of knockout losses on both men’s chins.
Former UFC welterweight Mike Perry has wanted to get some action in lately and now he will be getting some with a very skilled opponent. He is matched up with former light heavyweight WBC Continental Americas and WBO Intercontinental title challenger Michael Seals. It is still an interesting matchup of refined boxing skill and organized chaos, so this will be a must-watch.
To round out the card, former Bellator fighter Derek Campos faces Brian Vera, who has boxed the likes of Andy Lee, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and Rocky Fielding. Russian former UFC welterweight Albert Tumenov will fight one of Roy Jones Jr.‘s retirement fight opponents in Scott Sigmon, while 2-1 FAC flyweight Alexa Culp will face the winless Angelina Hoffschneider.
Triller Triad Combat will begin at 8 PM EST/5 PM PST and can be viewed on FITE TV or Triller.
Triller Triad Combat Results
Kubrat Pulev def. Frank Mir via TKO at 1:59 of Round 1
Alexander Flores def. Matt Mitrione via Unanimous Decision (68-64, 67-65, 68-64)
Mike Perry def. Michael Seals via Split Decision (67-65, 65-67, 67-65)
Derek Campos def. Brian Vera via Majority Decision (65-65, 67-63, 66-64)
Albert Tumenov def. Scott Sigmon via Unanimous Decision (70-63, 70-63, 70-63)
Alexa Culp def. Angelina Hoffschneider via TKO at 0:46 of Round 1
Harry Gigliotti def. Jacob Thrall via Split Decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
