What We’ve All Been Waiting For...

Morning, and happy Monday! New week, and you know what that means – New newsletter! Today is all about the next step. With sport changing everyday, this is how your favourite organisations are keeping up. Enjoy!

Here's what we got for ya today:

  • Karate: Time to Break Through

  • Esports: The Future?

  • The NHL Are in The Game

  • Boxing: A Resurgence

Most valuable public market sports teams

Let's get into it!

The Takeover is Here…

When we think of Karate, we usually think about one of two things: a movie we watched years ago, or this guy ↓

You know who you are…

Well, Karate Combat is trying to change the stereotype. Backed by legends like GSP, Bas Rutten, and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, the karate-based combat league is taking the combat scene by storm.

With their innovative broadcasting and unique ring style, Karate Combat is changing the game.

And when we say innovative, we mean it. No one is doing it like them…

Combining their one-of-a-kind exciting fight style with immersive CGI environments, fans are left with an unforgettable viewing experience. Just look at this!

With all that, you may ask why we’re talking about them today… Well, the league has just raised $18 million. Yep, in a funding round led by Bitkraft Ventures, the combat league is looking to further enhance their tech-inspired vision.

Planning to create their very own Web3 experience, phone app, and crypto token, are planning to further engage with fans. In managing to capture the interests of a completely new set of fans, Karate Combat’s path to competing with the elite in MMA is clear.

“Having upside based on the outcome of a fight is the biggest driver of fanaticism in all sports, and you can't do that without Web3, you can't do that without the tools that DeFi has developed in these other areas. So we're utilising them, and we think it will give us an incredible advantage over our competitors.”

Robert Bryan, Karate Combat Co-Founder

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The Future is NOW

Look, let’s not beat around the bush… There is A LOT of uncertainty regarding the future of Football games…

With FIFA and EA going their separate ways, who knows what the next big game will be…

Creating a gap for other game developers to exploit, for the first time in over twenty years, there seems to be a free run at the title of best Football game.

Well, it looks like Stockholm-based company ‘Goals’ are looking to exploit it.

With investors including ballers like former Barca midfielder Riqui Puig and Spurs defender Clement Lenglet, this could be the next big thing.

Let’s just hope Lenglet doesn’t bring some of that Spursy energy with him 😅

With an aim to make ‘Goals’ the biggest game in the world, it looks like the company has some serious aspirations.

“There are over 3.5 billion football fans in the world, and our team is united in the belief that a football game done right should be the world’s biggest video game. We’re focused on making sure we have a game that meets the needs of every fan, whether they’re looking for casual or highly competitive play, what hardware they play on, no matter where they live.”

Andreas Thorstensson, Founder of ‘Goals’

Staving away from the recent craze of hyper-realism, ‘Goals’ is placing focus on fast-paced, fluid gameplay.

Offering both 11 and 5 a side modes, the game is looking to crack into the Esports scene. With that? A $20 million investment to use for further development. With former FIFA developers working on the game, who’s to say it ‘Goals’ won’t hit the same heights.

Aiming to incorporate elements of the game into Web3, being free to play, EVERYONE should be on notice.

Another One!

If we’re already on the topic of gaming, why not continue!? You know what they say, the more the merrier and all that…

Let’s get into it!

Over the weekend, the NHL announced a partnership that should heavily benefit us fans.

In striking a deal with London-based tech company, Low6, the National Hockey League are looking to bring fans a new free-to-play mobile game.

Signing on for two years, the two plan on bringing “highly innovative” games to the Hockey scene.

This is what we know so far:

  • Developers are planning to offer rewards within the game. These include cash, gift cards, and tickets

  • With the aim of increasing fan engagement, the two plan to deliver a variety of different content

Sharing similar ideologies, this partnership could drive an increase in fan support for the sport…

“We are thrilled that Low6 has been selected as the free-to-play games provider for the NHL. Over the next two years, we will be providing highly innovative games, actionable data, and a whole heap of fun for users.”

Jamie Mitchell, CEO and Co-Founder of Low6

The PERFECT Platform to Build Off

Yesterday, Boxing fans were treated.

With Gervonta Davis finishing Ryan Garcia in a toe-to-toe battle, we saw something that seems to happen less and less in the sport…

A fight that ACTUALLY makes sense 🙄

Being littered with heavy mismatches, now more than ever, Boxing feels more like a business rather than a competitive sport…

If you don’t think so, just look at Tyson Fury’s rumoured next opponent. Have a guess. It’s not Usyk, not AJ, and not even Deontay Wilder.

Andy Ruiz. It’s Andy Ruiz 🤦‍♂️

Not to discredit Ruiz as a boxer, but let’s be honest…

Does anyone really want to see that fight?

While Conor McGregor may say some loopy things now and then, he was right in letting Garcia know that him and Davis are the future.

Placing two of the divisions best against one another, fans finally got to see a seriously competitive fight with real future ramifications.

Hopefully promoters see that so the Sport can return to its former glory!

Quick bites

Meme of the day

😂 😂

Quote of the day

"I need my money."

Bobby Green on UFC no contest decision

Photo of the day

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Chat to ya on Wednesday! ☮️