Karate Combat touches down for the first time in 2023 tonight, as Karate Combat 38 goes down live from the Mediapro Studios in Miami, Florida.
The main event puts the middleweight title on the line, as champion Ross Levine defends his belt for the first time against familiar foe Igor de Castaneda. “Turbo” Levine and “The Iberian Bull” de Castenda fought early last year, with Levine earning a second-round TKO stoppage in a title eliminator. Levine went on to defeat Shahin Atamov at Karate Combat Season 4 Episode 4 to earn the championship, while de Castaneda rebounded with a Knockout of the Year candidate over Franklin Mina at Karate Combat 36.
The co-main event was originally scheduled to be a bantamweight title rematch between Eoghan Chelmiah and Jesus Lopez, but Lopez was hospitalized yesterday and rendered unable to weigh in. The new co-main event is a battle of Brazilian Brunos, as Bruno Assis battles former LFA featherweight champion and UFC veteran Bruno Souza. “Tiger” Souza won his promotional debut last year at Karate Combat 35 over Maciej Tercjak, but was then defeated by former champion Edgars Skrivers in the Karate Combat 36 main event. “The White Dragon” Assis will also be looking to rebound after losing to Gabriel Varga at Karate Combat Season 4 Episode 4 to bring his promotional record to 5-2.
UFC veterans Sasha Palatnikov and James Vick are featured on the two other fights on the main card, battling Albanian LFA and Bellator veteran Adrian Hadribeaj and Italian “Toughest Animal” Gabriele Cera, who holds a 2-3 promotional record, respectively. TUF 26 and UFC veteran Melinda Fabian is also set to return to Karate Combat in the headliner of the prelims, taking on Pitbull Brothers product Erica Santos in both fighters’ second promotional fight.
MMA Sucka has fight fans covered with Karate Combat 38 results, with the event available live on YouTube starting at 7pm ET/4pm PT.
Karate Combat 38 Results
Main Card
Ross Levine def. Igor de Castaneda via KO (Left Hook) at 1:31 of Round 3, defends Karate Combat Middleweight Championship
Bruno Souza def. Bruno Assis via Unanimous Decision After Overtime Round
Adrian Hadribeaj def. Sasha Palatnikov via Split Decision
James Vick def. Gabriele Cera via Unanimous Decision
Preliminary Card
Melinda Fabian def. Erica Santos via Unanimous Decision
Shahzaib Rindh def. Gabo Diaz via Unanimous Decision
Kenji Grillon def. Jorge Perez via Unanimous Decision
Robbie Lavoie def. Damian Villa via Split Decision After Overtime Round
Dionicio Gustavo def. Davy Dona via Unanimous Decision
