Now that the dust has settled on what was a wild weekend for freak show fights, fans were offered a wild double feature of combat sports entertainment, but didn’t just one of them deliver! On one side, we had the much-hyped Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul, a bout that promised Rocky-style drama but served an underwhelming action in front of a staggering 108 million viewers. On the other? Just a day later, came something far less polished but infinitely more entertaining. Fight Circus, an unabashedly chaotic event from Thailand, where creativity, absurdity, and carnage reigned supreme.

At EssentiallySports, we didn’t just watch the madness unfold—we lived it. I had the privilege of commentating on the Fight Circus action, and while I may occasionally indulge in hyperbole, this time, I assure you: it’s justified. I had the privilege of sitting down for Exclusive Interviews with UFC legends Mark Coleman and Matt Brown, along with the mastermind behind it all, Jon Nutt. Their unfiltered takes on the spectacle versus the farce reveal just how much fans crave matchups that entertain without pretense. Spoiler alert: The full interviews are dropping soon, giving you insider access to how Fight Circus served up the goods that Tyson vs. Paul couldn’t.

Fight Circus, a combat sports promotion, wholeheartedly embraces the absurd. Held in the heart of Phuket, Thailand—The Real Fight Island—it’s the antithesis of the slick, high-budget spectacle Tyson vs. Paul aimed to offer to the fans. While its counterpart sold a dream of a ‘legitimate’ boxing contest wrapped in multi-million-dollar production values, Fight Circus serves up pure, unadulterated chaos—a blend of creativity, comedy, and carnage that’s as unpredictable as it is entertaining.

As a reporter for EssentiallySports, I’ve witnessed firsthand the excitement events like these generate, particularly among casual fans who had clearly been captivated by the notion of Iron Mike (58) returning to the ring against a 27-year-old Paul. Meanwhile, after calling the action at Fight Circus, these exclusive post-fight insights underscored one undeniable truth: the appetite for matchups that deliver spectacle—whether through athleticism, absurdity, or both—is growing among fans and fighters alike.

Matt Brown and Mark Coleman – Cleveland’s Duo’s Epic Return to the Ring

Fight Circus brought out the big guns in Thailand—well, big shots, in the case of UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman. At 59 years old, “The Godfather of Ground and Pound” inexplicably returned to the ring for a crack at wheelchair boxing against the host of the show—Jon Nutt, the founder and ringmaster of Fight Circus himself. Meanwhile, Matt Brown, a man synonymous with highlight-reel knockouts, entered the fray to stand across from emerging cult hero Blobtang, the loveable fisherman-turned-fighting man-mountain in a contest that pitted Muay Thai against raw, unbridled masculinity.

Both from Cleveland, Brown and Coleman have been friends and training partner’s for years and the former encouraged the latter to come out to Thailand to experience the madness first hand following his own adventures at Fight Circus 11. Brown retired from the UFC last year after finishing Court McGee in a Performance of the Night showing. An insightful podcaster, the 43-year-old offers candid and well-informed takes on the sports as a whole and was outspoken in his opinion of Tyson vs Paul just a day before the much-maligned bout took place.

“I’m just going to put this out there to say it before you all are thinking it (tomorrow post fight)… This fight (Paul/Tyson) is a complete dog shit show and a travesty. Wish it never happened. Can we learn from this in the future and keep it from happening again? Doubt it,” Matt Brown wrote on X.

After a user suggested a degree of hypocrisy in Brown taking on Blobtang – the American was quick to point out the key difference in the two match-ups. “Ummm yeah we are openly telling you this is a shit show lol it’s fun and no one will be getting hurt (intentionally,)” Brown added his opinion on X before the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight. But things get even more interesting in the ES exclusive interview.

Matt Brown vs Blobtang – Immortal vs. The Immovable Delivers Fireworks

As one observer coined it, Matt Brown vs Blobtang was a meeting of The Immortal vs. The Immovable. Indeed, the entire Fight Circus lineup unapologetically conventional. The energy in the room was palpable, and the fights delivered exactly what the audience craved—unfiltered chaos and high-octane action.

“I had a blast, man. Blobtang worked well with me. The crowd was wild… I just had so much fun, man—it felt real. I mean, we (also) had little people kicking each other in the di**, so what’s not to love?,” Matt Brown tells EssentiallySports, reflecting on the show.

Brown’s candid remarks highlight Fight Circus’ appeal: “I think I delivered a better show than I’ve seen from anyone else,” he says, grinning. “I was having fun, but still respecting the sport, you know? I hope it looked real because it felt real.” It was a pointed jab at the polished spectacle of Tyson vs. Paul, suggesting that Fight Circus offered a more genuine and entertaining experience.

In Brown’s bout, there was a barrage of spinning back elbows, glorious teeps, and savage knees. Brown was clearly having the time of his life, showing off his skillset in a way that left Blobtang no room to breathe. Blobtang, however, showcased his own remarkable resilience, absorbing everything Brown could throw at him. The fight ended with a stunning finish: Brown dropped an elbow that left Blobtang with a bloody nose, and the crowd erupted in disbelief, not sure if it was scripted or a genuine display of martial prowess.

In contrast to the previous day’s festivities, Mike Tyson threw 97 punches in his clash with Paul and landed only 18. There have also been numerous clips flying around of the boxing legend appearing to pull some of his punches – leading to accusations that the whole thing was a work. Even Sylvester Stallone – a longtime friend of Tyson’s believes that the legend of the squared circle was paid to not hurt his opponent in what the Hollywood legend described as an ‘Oscar-worthy performance.’

With Jake Paul’s bout widely criticized as a joyless cash grab, this ridiculous promotion—born during the pandemic and known for unhinged rulesets like The Wheel of Violence and Inter-gender Grappling—just delivered a far more satisfying spectacle at a fraction of the cost.

Return of Mark ‘The Hammer’ Coleman

What a year Mark Coleman has had. From rescuing his parents from a fire and tragically losing his beloved dog, Hammer, in the same incident, many doubted whether the UFC pioneer would even survive. Having such a legend in the building created a palpable buzz, and while Coleman is undoubtedly a savage, he also showcased his sharp sense of humor. After cutting a slick pre-fight promo, the Pride veteran exited the shot with a cheeky flourish, giving viewers an unsolicited glimpse of his championship buttocks—echoing Tyson’s infamous antics from the previous day. And as for his performance? Pure gold.

The Coleman vs. Nutt bout was primarily billed as a fun exhibition, but let’s be honest: when a legend like Mark Coleman steps back into a combat arena, expectations of fireworks are inevitable. Coleman, sober for three years, delivered exactly that—and more. To see him back in the ring after the year he’s endured, facing Nutt, a man with his own share of outrageous antics, was a testament to Coleman’s resilience and enduring passion for the sport.

“I hit him hard, could’ve hit him a lot more, but I held back a little bit, out of respect,” Mark Coleman shares with EssentiallySports. “But I love violence, I can’t help it. It took me right back to when I did this 13, 14 years ago… I wanted to do it again. It was so damn fun.”

Fight Circus: Why It Hit The High Notes

Tyson vs. Paul left a bad taste in the mouths of many. By contrast, Fight Circus continues to grow its cult following because it promises entertainment—and delivers every time. Blurring the lines between what’s “real” and what’s “scripted,” this outrageous promotion remains steadfast in its commitment to being consistently outlandish and, crucially, always a good time. They don’t pretend to be anything they’re not, and the reception has been staggering.

With viral moments ranging from Jon Nutt fighting two men to Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent sharing clips of Blobtang smoking before his fight—clips that garnered tens of millions of views—Fight Circus may have stumbled upon a lightning-in-a-bottle formula for merging combat sports and entertainment. The key difference between this and Tyson vs. Paul? At Fight Circus, everyone—from the fighters to the fans—is having fun. And isn’t that why we watch sports in the first place?

Mark Coleman, MMA royalty, clearly gets it. Reflecting on the event’s unique vibe, he praised Nutt and Fight Circus for their unorthodox approach: “It’s been a blast. Jon Nutt is a brilliant, brilliant man, and I’m happy to be a part of this company. I had fun, man—just so much fun.”

Jon Nutt, the mastermind behind Fight Circus, also reflects on the night’s chaos with characteristic humor: “Mark Coleman, man—what an honor to be punched by him. He’s a legend among legends,” he said, visibly in awe of Coleman’s return. “And me? I’ve had my share of crazy moments—getting clocked by Rampage, pied by Tyson Fury—but tonight? This was something special.”

When asked about his role in the Fight Circus universe, Nutt smiles and says, “I could never be who I am without this madness. But I love it, man. One of a kind—Fight Circus is one of a kind. Everybody should tune in. This is world fame stuff.”

Fight Circus 12 was, without question, a one-of-a-kind experience—a whirlwind of absurdity, talent, and authentic combat sports spirit. Matt Brown puts it aptly, “It’s just so much fun. And we’re gonna keep doing this.” In a world increasingly obsessed with polished, overly sanitized spectacles, Fight Circus is proving that sometimes the best stories come from the most unexpected places. One day, it may very well be legendary.

This week, EssentiallySports will drop these exclusive interviews with Coleman, Brown, and Nutt, giving you an inside look at what made Fight Circus the weekend’s true winner. From Coleman’s journey back to the ring to Brown’s candid thoughts on Tyson vs. Paul, trust me, you wouldn’t want to miss these episodes.

So, whether you’re here for the chaos, the comebacks, or the candid truths, stick with us for the stories behind the spectacle!