On August 22nd of 2024, 12 fighters from Latvia and Lithuania stepped into the cage to compete at the very first BAZARA 0 Fight Club event—bare-knuckle boxing with MMA gloves.
As expected under such raw rules, each fight delivered completely unique moments that had the crowd on the edge: from instant KOs to three full rounds of intense action and controversial draws.
Sadly, the 7th and final fight between Deniss Stepanovs and Augustas “Guga” Vladarskis was called off due to Deniss’ injuries. Anticipated as the main event of the evening, Stepanovs addressed it in the cage by hinting that the fight will take place when he fully recovers in the future. But with six other fights on the card, this event met expectations and shattered them. Let’s take a look back at how it went!
Mozolis vs Dirkstys
The fight between Maksims Mozolis and Dominykas Dirkstys was devastatingly brief. Within just moments, Mozolis was on the ground with a broken nose as the referee swiftly called an end to the fight. Considering Dirkstys’ win streak, his victory was almost to be expected.
Luckily, the round didn’t end there. As Dirkstys celebrated his fresh victory, Latvian boxer Francis Rozentāls stormed into the cage, challenging Dirkstys to a future fight. The Lithuanian fighter met Rozentāls’ challenge with a simple question of, “Who the f**k is this guy?”
To answer Dominykas’ question: a rising Latvian talent, raised amongst a family of boxers and athletes. Rozentāls started his career early on and quickly made a name for himself in the middleweight division; his skill was already evident when he secured a unanimous victory in his fight against Vladislavs Jaskuls and defeated fellow up-and-comer Aleksejs Āboliņš. His professional record is 8-0, with one draw.
Considering the hype this callout garnered in both Latvia and Lithuania, it looks like we’ve got our next headliners. Dirkstys has not lost in his professional career (10-0) and has a 59-3 record in the amateurs. Could Rozentāls break that streak?
Bukovskis vs Sadauskas
An intense and gritty fight that definitely went the distance, and one of the night’s best. Dans Bukovskis came out swinging with full power, clearly aiming for his specialty: the early knockout. However, Vytautas Sadauskas absorbed the attack like the shell of a tank and refused to back down.
As the round progressed, it became clear that both fighters were in it for the long haul. All three rounds, Bukovskis and Sadauskas wore blood on their faces, and neither backed down. The fight remained equal until the final bell. In the end, neither fighter could secure a decisive advantage, and the match concluded in a hard-fought draw. This outcome left viewers buzzing about the possibility of a future rematch.
Otajonov vs Macieka
When you put someone trained by the Latvian national boxing coach Aleksandrs Sotniks in a cage… Well, the winner became clear quite fast.
Though Ignas Macieka has fought Dominykas Dirkstys in the past, he’d never fought Hasanjon Otajonov; within 7 seconds, Ignas was on the ground. Otajonov was tactical from the jump—dodging Ignas’ punches by dodging, he managed to throw him down with a clean uppercut. Within 30 more seconds, Macieka was down again.
Rules are rules: three knockdowns in one round mean a sure win. Seeing that this was his opportunity to walk away with a victory, Otajonov came full-speed at Ignas for that third knockdown, landing one hard blow after another—and succeeded—thus marking Latvia’s first victory of the night.
Hauberts vs Kuzoma
The fight between Ričards Hauberts and Yaroslav Kuzoma was fascinating. At just 17 years old, Hauberts entered the cage with a surprising level of confidence, smiling throughout the weigh-ins and the fight itself, embracing the challenge with pride.
Both fighters had notable highlights, with Hauberts showing off his youthful energy and speed, and Kuzoma, at 25 years old, rather trying to leverage his experience. However, Kuzoma’s strategy leaned heavily on pulling Hauberts into clinches, slowing down the pace of the fight and forcing the referee to repeatedly separate them.
Despite the efforts from both sides, and despite Hauberts throwing Kuzoma down twice, neither fighter could gain a definitive edge, and the match concluded in a draw. This result left the crowd buzzing, with many eager to see how Hauberts will continue to develop in his promising career. He went into a Ghetto Games fight just two days after BAZARA 0 Fight Club, and landed a confident victory.
Zutis vs Valančius
A fight we all wished lasted longer. Kristaps Zutis came out of his corner with aggression and speed, immediately putting Laimonas Valančius on the back foot. Valančius, overwhelmed before he even stepped into the cage, found himself retreating quickly, barely able to mount a defense.
Zutis capitalized on this hesitation, landing a few well-placed punches with precision and power. The pressure from Zutis was too much for Valančius, who appeared to back out of the fight entirely just one minute into the first round. The referee had no choice but to declare Zutis the winner in what was one of the fastest finishes of the night.
This dominant performance by Zutis sent a clear message to the rest of the division: he’s here to win, and he’s not wasting any time doing it—but maybe with a braver opponent next time.
Ozols vs Jazevičius
Fantastic match to end the night, though a bit tough to watch. Jonas Jazevičius, titled as the best Lithuanian boxer of 2023, entered the cage with an impressive resume, including 36 amateur wins and a Top 80 ranking as a professional heavyweight. This was his bare-knuckle debut, and he faced off against Ričards Ozols, a professional in MMA, K1, and boxing, known for his aggressive striking style.
Ozols came in strong, but Jonas quickly demonstrated why he’s regarded as a top boxer. In both the first and second rounds, Jazevičius delivered a series of devastating punches that sent Ozols flying. Despite the heavy blows, the Latvian fighter showed incredible resilience, refusing to back down even by an inch.
Ultimately, Jonas’ experience and power triumphed, and the referee called the match in Jonas’ favor in the second round. It was an unforgettable performance from both, with Jazevičius proving that his skills translate seamlessly into the bare-knuckle arena, while Ozols earned massive respect for handling one of the toughest opponents of the night. It’s worth noting that the referee Elvis Mihailenko allowed for Jazevičius to still land blows after the round was signaled as over, which is generally seen as a large offense.
Ozols took it with a smile.
BAZARA 0 Fight Club made a stunning debut that neither the fighters, nor viewers will forget. The event set a higher bar for future matches—with some standout performances, and new rivalries sparked, the stage is now set for even bigger and better fights to come. If this event is anything to go by, it’s only going to get more intense from here. The countdown to the next fight night has already begun!
This event was supported by LEX Casino, SlotsFighter, Lucky Punch Energy Drink and NEXI ONE ASPIRE SALT.
