KSI’s latest YouTube video saw him award a $15,000 payday to at least one impressive fan, and a contract to fight on his future boxing events said to be price an additional $85,000.
The YouTube star heads up Misfits Boxing, whose next event takes place on August 30 in Manchester headlined by Darren Till vs Luke Rockhold. In his recent video, he invited fans to tackle increasing levels of opponents, with the winner surviving a round with the British cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley.
It seems the person that won the entire challenge actually has further ambitions within the MMA world than the boxing ring. And he comes from a powerful team, including hard-hitting UFC star Michael ‘Venom’ Page.
KSI’s $100,000 challenge winner is 18-year-old MMA prodigy
KSI’s recent YouTube video is entitled ‘Can You Survive 1 Round With a Pro Boxer for $100,000?’ 10 fans were challenged to go compete in 4 rounds of boxing sparring.
Throughout the 4 rounds of two minutes, levels continued increasing with the prize pot also going up, although if one were stopped, they would depart empty handed. It began with a normal influencer boxer, to a high-level Misfits boxer, on to journeyman Ty Mitchell after which British champion Viddal Riley.
Just one artificial it to Riley; 18-year-old London Shootfighters prodigy Kia Jami. The teenager is a grappling ace who has won countless tournaments, but in addition showed off impressive boxing to survive rounds with Mitchell and Riley who each outsized him by multiple weight categories.
On his Instagram, Jami expressed plans to fight on Misfits before transitioning back into MMA where it appears he has a solid base.
Michael ‘Venom’ Page played key part in KSI’s $100,000 challenge
One man who knows Jami well is UFC middleweight Michael ‘Venom’ Page, who acted as referee for the sparring challenge. He noted to KSI in a behind-the-scenes video that Jami is a renowned grappler who trains on the famous London Shootfighters gym.
KSI actually prepared for his previous couple of fights at London Shoot, but claimed in an interview with Fred Talks Fighting that he wasn’t aware Jami was entering the tournament. He and Page are the 2 most famous members of the gym, with the UFC star currently preparing to fight at UFC 319.
The Brit will tackle Jared Cannonier in a bout that might land him in the highest 15 at 185lb. He moved up earlier this 12 months to tackle Shara Magomedov, whom he dominated over three rounds in Riyadh.