The rules set that will be used is being called TK1. The modified rules allow fighters to grab and knee, but the knees must be strong knees through the middle, knees slapped into the sides will not score. The tournament fights are also expected to be three rounds, with three minutes of action in each round.
The most recognized fighters expected to compete in the tournament are Buakaw Banchamek, Andrei Kulebin, Armen Petrosyan, and Reece McAllister. You can read the list below with the 16 fighters expected to participate in the tournament below. The winner will take home a grand prize of $150,000.
Buakaw Banchamek (Thailand)
Andrei Kulebin (Belarus)
Enriko Kehl (Germany)
Armen Petrosyan (Italy)
Eisa Almda Nezam (Iran)
Warren Stevelmans (Netherlands)
Khayal Dzhaniev (Russia)
Zheng Chunyu (China)
Marat Grigorian (Almenia)
Reece McAllister (England)
Crice Boussoukou (France)
Hicham Chiabi (Morocco)
Vladmir Konsky (Slovakia)
Arman Hambaryan (Belgium)
Marcin Parcheta (Poland)