Welcome to our live coverage of Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XII, broadcasting live from Jersey City. Known for its unique no-ropes ring and MMA-inspired matches, this event promises an intense night of action featuring a blend of technical wrestling and hard-hitting combat.
Our live coverage kicks off at 7 PM ET. Join us as we follow all the action and share your thoughts in the comments. Don’t forget to spread the excitement on social media!
The show opened with a thunderous “blood-sport!” chant from the crowd, setting the tone for an electric night. The ring announcer laid out the Bloodsport rules before introducing each wrestler on tonight’s card. As the competitors lined up in the ring, the audience erupted with one more passionate “blood-sport!” chant, building anticipation for the battles ahead.
The crowd erupted with “welcome back!” and “tankman!” chants for Calvin as he made his entrance. Tankman opened strong, blasting Lou with a massive avalanche that sent him tumbling out of the ropeless ring. Lou quickly returned, trading kicks and palm strikes with the powerhouse.
Calvin delivered a heavy slam, but Lou locked him in an ankle lock. Calvin powered out with punches, regaining momentum briefly. Lou sealed the win with a running elbow and a series of stomps, earning a TKO victory and his first-ever Bloodsport win.
Lou Nixon: 1–1 | Calvin Tankman: 2–4
Modzmanashvili made a commanding Bloodsport debut, walking out to the Georgian national anthem. The announcers highlighted his Olympic wrestling background for Uzbekistan, showcasing his massive presence.
The match kicked off with Modzmanashvili landing an explosive double-leg takedown, waking up the crowd. Makowski transitioned into a triangle choke attempt, but Modzmanashvili muscled out and countered an ankle hold. Makowski managed to land a few strikes to the head, but the tide quickly turned.
Modzmanashvili delivered a jaw-dropping German suplex, launching Makowski out of the ring, earning a “ho-ly sh**!” chant from the crowd and a replay on the broadcast.
Every time Makowski gained an edge, the crowd booed, fully siding with Modzmanashvili. The match ended in spectacular fashion with a Vader-like powerbomb, earning Modzmanashvili the TKO victory.
Winner: David Modzmanashvili
The fight began with both fighters feeling each other out, showing they were evenly matched. Sakai managed to take Petrovic to the mat, but Petrovic got back to her feet, landing a kick on Sakai and following it up with another.
Petrovic grounded Sakai, delivering some strikes, but Sakai transitioned and gained control, locking in a rear naked choke. Petrovic escaped the submission and rocked Sakai with another kick. Sakai responded by taking Petrovic to the mat again.
The turning point came when Petrovic landed a spinning kick that took Sakai down. She followed up with a barrage of strikes, forcing the referee to call for the bell.
Winner: Petrovic
These tag team partners, known as Violence Is Forever, squared off in a competitive match. This marked Ku’s Bloodsport debut, while Garrini returned after appearing in an earlier event.
Garrini opened aggressively, diving in with an X guard to take Ku’s back, but Ku resisted. Garrini transitioned to a straight ankle lock, taking Ku to the mat, and then shifted to a heel hook as both traded submission attempts. The action intensified as they exchanged slaps on the mat before returning to their feet. Garrini targeted Ku with sharp kicks, but Ku countered with a dragon screw legwhip.
In the final moments, Ku charged at Garrini in the corner, seemingly aiming to jump into his guard or attempt a shining wizard. Garrini countered with a powerful powerbomb, immediately locking Ku in a twister for the tap-out victory. The crowd erupted in approval for the finish.
Winner: Dominic Garrini
Charlie Dempsey and Tracy Williams delivered a technical showcase, taking the fight to the mat and engaging in a battle of grappling prowess. The match saw an array of submission holds, including a triangle, stretch muffler, toe hold, and more, as both wrestlers seamlessly transitioned between moves. In the end, Dempsey secured the victory with a decisive armbar, forcing Williams to submit.
Dempsey entered this bout with a 1-1 record, aiming to bounce back from his previous loss to Royce Isaacs at Bloodsport XI. Fans were fully engaged, chanting “NXT” during the match as both stars represented their home brand in a unique setting. It was another chance for these NXT talents to showcase their skills and gain valuable experience in a different environment.
Winner: Charlie Dempsey
Masha Slamovich brought intense energy to the ring, showcasing her trademark fire. Both she and Marina Shafir leaned on their combined backgrounds in MMA and pro wrestling, making this clash a unique blend of styles.
Shafir was accompanied to the ring by Jon Moxley, whose surprise appearance electrified the crowd, adding even more excitement to the bout.
The match began cautiously, with both competitors feeling each other out. Marina Shafir quickly asserted dominance with a stiff slam, setting the tone. Jody Threat showcased her agility, working to evade Shafir’s expert submission techniques.
A rare moment in Bloodsport came when Jody Threat executed a dive to the outside, landing on Shafir and drawing a “GCW” chant from the crowd. Despite her resilience, Threat eventually fell victim to Shafir’s mother’s milk submission choke hold, tapping out to give Shafir the win.
Jon Moxley accompanied Shafir to the ring, receiving a massive ovation from the crowd. Fresh off his AEW World Title defense against Orange Cassidy at Full Gear 2024, Moxley’s presence added star power to the event.
Jody Threat, representing TNA Wrestling and holding the Knockouts Tag Team Titles, used this opportunity to shine on the Bloodsport stage. Meanwhile, Shafir, a member of AEW’s Death Riders alongside Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, Claudio, and Pac, proved she’s as dangerous in a Bloodsport ring as she is on AEW programming.
Winner: Marina Shafir
Before the match, Slamovich grabbed the microphone and declared that as champion, she does whatever she wants, promptly putting her title on the line. This marked the first-ever title match in Bloodsport history, raising the stakes dramatically.
Lei Ying Lee started strong, dominating portions of the match and busting open Slamovich in the process. However, Slamovich’s resilience and fighting spirit shone through as she fought back against Lee’s aggressive strikes.
The match ended when Slamovich took guard on Lee and unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes to the back of her head, forcing the referee to stop the fight. With this victory, Slamovich retained her title and improved her Bloodsport record to 3–3.
Winner: Masha Slamovich (Title Retained)
Royce Isaacs vs. Myles Bourne
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XII featured a mix of seasoned fighters and rising stars, including NXT’s Charlie Dempsey and his No-Quarter Catch Crew partner, Myles Bourne.
In the 8th fight of the night, Royce Isaacs faced Myles Bourne in a technical bout that went to the mat early. Both competitors showcased their grappling skills, battling for control. Isaacs, a Bloodsport veteran with a 3-5 record, displayed his experience, wearing down Bourne with a series of submissions. The match concluded when Isaacs locked in a chokehold, forcing the NXT newcomer to tap out.
This was Bourne’s Bloodsport debut, and the commentary team highlighted his incredible story as WWE’s first-ever partially deaf Superstar. They praised his ability to adapt, using his other senses to tell a compelling story in the ring.
Winner: Royce Isaacs
The semi-main event between the two Canadians delivered an incredible back-and-forth contest. Both competitors began cautiously, neither landing significant offense until Josh Alexander caught one of Speedball’s kicks and slammed him hard to the mat. As the action moved to the edge of the ring, Bailey attempted a triangle choke from his guard, but Alexander shrugged him off and sent him out of the ring.
Alexander maintained control in Bailey’s guard, using his power to counter Bailey’s grappling attempts. Bailey fought back, locking Alexander in a headscissors, but Alexander quickly rolled out, transitioning seamlessly into a waistlock and back control. “SPEED-BALL!” chants echoed throughout the venue.
As the five-minute call sounded, the two remained evenly matched, with the crowd split between the competitors. Bailey launched a rolling savate kick to the stomach, followed by knees and a German suplex into a rear-naked choke. Alexander muscled out, standing up with Bailey still attached, and transitioned into peppering strikes before delivering a devastating German suplex that sent Bailey onto the floor.
Bailey returned with explosive tae kwon do kicks but was slammed onto the hardwood floor with another German suplex from Alexander. Back in the ring, Bailey unleashed a flurry of kicks, including a high roundhouse to Alexander’s head. In a dramatic moment, Alexander ripped off his headgear, and the two engaged in a furious exchange of strikes, electrifying the crowd.
Bailey attempted a triangle choke, but Alexander reversed it into a brutal powerbomb-backbreaker, following up with an ankle lock that forced Bailey to tap. The fans erupted into a “THAT WAS AWESOME!” chant as both competitors shook hands, showcasing mutual respect after a phenomenal match.
Winner: Josh Alexander
Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XII concluded with a compelling main event featuring Barnett against former WWE United States Champion MVP. With a twenty-minute time limit, the match opened with mat-based exchanges as both men carefully looked for an opening.
The contest showcased plenty of grappling, with each man trading holds and counters in a back-and-forth battle. The tide turned when Barnett locked in a chokehold that MVP couldn’t escape, forcing him to tap out. The finish added a layer of drama when MVP, disoriented, attempted to attack the referee, further amplifying the realism.
Winner: Josh Barnett
After the bell, MVP and Barnett hugged in the ring, showing mutual respect. MVP then cut a promo putting Barnett over, emphasizing Barnett’s skill and the spirit of Bloodsport. Barnett then issued a challenge for someone to step up to face him at the Hammerstein Ballroom before going off the air.