Veteran global sports executive Loren Mack has joined BKB in a
landmark role. | 📷: Jonathan Wong/South China Morning
Post/Getty

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Bare Knuckle Boxing has made an important signing to its executive
team, inking veteran global sports executive Loren Mack as the
chief marketing officer and executive vice president of
strategy.

Founded by entrepreneur Mike Vasquez and former professional
fighter Dhafir “Dada
5000†Harris, Mack has joined BKB after his most recent run
with the
Professional Fighters League, where he served as senior vice
president of communications. BKB announced the hiring of Mack with
an official press release sent Wednesday morning ahead of its
upcoming show in Los Angeles on July 18. Per the release, Mack will
oversee global brand strategy and much more.

Loren Mack brings UFC, ONE Championship and PFL experience to
Bare Knuckle Boxing

“As chief marketing officer and executive vice president of
strategy, Mack will oversee BKB global brand strategy, audience and
content growth, broadcast and streaming marketing, live event
demand generation, and the marketing strategy supporting the
organization's sponsorship and partnership portfolio. As a member
of the senior leadership team, he will help shape BKB's enterprise
and corporate strategy while playing a key role in driving the
organization's long-term growth and value,†the press release
stated.

Mack has over two decades in combat sports, holding executive
leadership positions throughout his career with PFL, as well as
One
Championship and the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.

“BKB has achieved extraordinary growth over the past several years,
and we're assembling an executive team capable of taking the
organization to the next level,†BKB CEO David Tetreault said.
“Loren brings a rare combination of strategic vision, marketing
expertise, commercial leadership and deep industry relationships
developed over more than two decades in sports. His experience
building global brands and driving business growth will be
invaluable as we continue expanding our audience, strengthening our
partnerships, and continue to bring BKB to millions of fans around
the world.â€

Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer Khabib
Nurmagomedov believes Islam
Makhachev is in for a tricky outing against Ian
Garry.

Makhachev (28-1) is set to defend his welterweight title for the
first time against Garry (17-1) in the main event of UFC
330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Makhachev's friend and mentor, Nurmagomedov, notes that his protégé
has never faced an opponent as tall as Garry.

Why Khabib Nurmagomedov believes Ian Garry is a difficult
matchup for Islam Makhachev

Nurmagomedov admits that Garry's elusive style is a difficult
puzzle to crack. “The Eagle†further notes that Makhachev, nearing
35, is six years older than Garry. According to the former unbeaten
lightweight champion, the stylistic threat from Garry, combined
with the age difference, makes it a difficult matchup for
Makhachev.

“We've never faced an opponent this tall – 193 cm [6’4″],â€
Nurmagomedov said on the “Smol Talk” podcast. “We’ll have to chase
him, close the distance, grab him, and take him down. It will be a
difficult fight. And Islam is almost 35. The stylistic matchup and
the age together make this a difficult fight… I expect a hard
fight, assuming we don't get an early finish. Spending five rounds
with this opponent won't be easy. The training camp will be
difficult too, first because we have to find someone who can
imitate him.â€

American Kickboxing Academy founder and head coach of the
Dagestani team, Javier Mendez, recently revealed that
Professional Fighters League champion Usman
Nurmagomedov is helping Makhachev by mimicking Garry in
training.

Garry has racked up 10 UFC wins and suffered his lone professional
loss to Shavkat
Rakhmonov, who is sidelined due to an injury. Meanwhile,
Makhachev is undefeated in 16 straight Octagon outings, including
six title fights. The latter is tied with Anderson
Silva for consecutive UFC wins, and a victory at UFC 330 will
see the Dagestani set a new record.

A matchup pitting a former
Rizin Fighting Federation champion from Japan against a Chinese
135-pounder is confirmed for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship's upcoming visit to
Shanghai.

Kai Asakura seeks back-to-back UFC wins against Qileng Aori in
Shanghai

After a stellar run in Rizin, Kai Asakura
suffered back-to-back defeats at flyweight upon joining the UFC. He
then moved up to bantamweight and picked up his first win in the
promotion. Asakura will now look to compile a win streak when he
takes on Qileng Aori
at
UFC Shanghai on Aug. 29.

Aori enters the bout with a 4-5-1 UFC record. He has struggled for
consistency, with just two wins in his last six outings. The
33-year-old is coming off a TKO defeat to Cody Haddon
in May.

Meanwhile, Asakura will look to build momentum after recording his
maiden UFC win in May. He knocked out Cameron
Smotherman at
UFC Macau, marking his 17th finish in 22 career wins. Flyweight
is firmly in the rear-view mirror for the Japanese star after he
was submitted by former champion Alexandre
Pantoja and Tim Elliott
at 125 pounds.

This isn't the only bantamweight bout confirmed for UFC Shanghai,
as the Fight Night headliner features Umar
Nurmagomedov against Yadong
Song. Other Chinese fighters confirmed for the card include
former title challenger Xiaonan Yan,
veteran flyweight Su Mudaerji
and UFC newcomer Ce Liu.

Kai Asakura
has his next opponent 👀

He faces off against Aoriqileng at
#UFCShanghai on August 29th! Who wins this matchup?

[ LIVE on @ParamountPlus
] pic.twitter.com/g0IH69XInH

— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount)
July 14, 2026