Dana White Wins $10,000 as ‘Island Boys’ Star Kodiyakredd is KO’d in Cage Fight
In a bizarre and entertaining evening of combat sports, UFC President Dana White watched on as social media personality Kodiyakredd, one half of the infamous ‘Island Boys’, suffered a crushing first-round knockout defeat in a kickboxing bout. The event, which took place at Brand Risk Promotions in Miami, was streamed live and attracted a significant following, with over 390,000 fans tuning in to witness the action.
According to Bloody Elbow, Dana White was in attendance at the event, alongside a host of celebrities, including boxing champion Teofimo Lopez. The UFC boss was persuaded to participate in a $10,000 wager with Adin Ross, the organiser of the event, on the outcome of the fight between Kodiyakredd and streamer Oblivion. White, it seems, was confident in Oblivion’s abilities, and the pair’s bet was swiftly settled as Oblivion dominated the contest, scoring a standing eight and eventually securing a stoppage victory with seconds remaining in the first round.
The report from Bloody Elbow notes that Kodiyakredd, whose real name is Franky Venegas, was afforded the opportunity to compete against Oblivion due to his celebrity status, rather than any discernible fighting pedigree. The ‘Island Boys’ have built a reputation for their outlandish behaviour and antics on social media, and it appears that their foray into combat sports was more spectacle than substance.
During the live stream, Dana White offered his thoughts on the proliferation of influencer boxing and the involvement of social media personalities in combat sports. As quoted by Bloody Elbow, White remarked: "I think there’s always going to be interest in people fighting that people know. Ones that have some sort of fame, some people hate them, other people love them and people are always going to be interested." However, when asked if he viewed the trend as a ‘spit in the face’ to serious fighters, White dismissed the notion, suggesting that the issue lies with influencers who pretend to be contenders with legitimate athletes.
The event, which was marked by a series of stoppage finishes, also featured a comedic commentary from White and Hunter Campbell, who engaged in light-hearted banter with Adin Ross and Teofimo Lopez. According to Bloody Elbow, the evening’s entertainment was characterised by its informal and irreverent tone, with the boundaries between combat sports and social media further blurred.
In the aftermath of the event, Kodiyakredd insisted that he would have fared better with more training, while his brother, Flyy Soulja, called out Oblivion in a post-fight confrontation. As reported by Bloody Elbow, Dana White’s appearance at the event, and his willingness to engage with the world of influencer boxing, has sparked debate about the intersection of combat sports and social media. Love them or hate them, it seems that personalities like Kodiyakredd and his ilk will continue to attract attention and draw large audiences, even if their forays into combat sports are more spectacle than substance.
The rise of influencer boxing and the involvement of social media personalities in combat sports shows no signs of abating, and Dana White’s presence at this event suggests that the UFC is keenly aware of the trend. As the worlds of combat sports and social media continue to intersect, it will be interesting to see how this phenomenon evolves, and how organisations like the UFC navigate the complex and often fraught relationship between athletes, influencers, and fans.
Information sourced from Bloody Elbow.
