California Athletic Commission hosts Napa Valley gala to fund retired fighters' pensions

The California State Athletic Commission will host a combat sports fundraiser called Napa Knockout on July 25 at Raymond Vineyards in Napa Valley, with every dollar raised going directly to the commission’s Fighter Pension Fund for retired athletes.

The event is billed as the first combat sports card held on the floor of a California vineyard, pairing a fine-dining gala atmosphere with ten scheduled bouts — two muay thai, four boxing and four MMA contests. General admission tickets are priced at $500, with ringside seats available for $1,000. A main event has not yet been announced.

A string of recognisable names from combat sports have been confirmed to attend. Strikeforce and Strike MMA founder Scott Coker and veteran referee “Big” John McCarthy will both be present, alongside fighters Ronda Rousey, Nate Diaz, Gina Carano, Gilbert Melendez, Josh Thomson, Chris Leben and Max Griffin. Boxing champions Vergil Ortiz and Arnold Barboza Jr. are also on the guest list.

Among the bouts already confirmed on the card are Antonio Vasquez vs. Tre Orlando at lightweight MMA, Philip “Scooby” Wright vs. Eddy Herrera in a light heavyweight amateur MMA contest, and a boxing exhibition featuring Marley McNealy.

CSAC Executive Officer Andy Foster framed the event as both a celebration and a community obligation. “Napa Knockout is about bringing people together for an incredible night while giving back to the combat sports community in a meaningful way,” Foster said. “We truly believe this will be a historic evening.”

The Fighter Pension Fund exists to provide financial support to retired combat sports athletes, and the commission has positioned Napa Knockout as an ongoing vehicle for growing that resource through the sport’s broader fanbase and alumni network.