Duel: Arena Event Marred by Chaos and Nazi Salutes

Combat sports promotion Duel: Arena held a mixed martial arts, boxing, and kickboxing event on August 29 at the Kia Center in Orlando, featuring a series of unusual and controversial incidents throughout the evening.

Rather than the previously announced Duel founder Ossi Ketola, a Ketola impersonator known as Golum, a character from the crypto casino's live blackjack streams, entered the ring instead. The fight was won by Thomas "Tiny Tom" Phillips, a person of short stature who replaced previously announced opponent Patrick Holden. In a separate bout, a man dressed as SpongeBob SquarePants defeated Duel live blackjack dealer Kinkky, with the fight officiated by influencer Clavicular, who had previously appeared during a live dealing session. During the event, a fight broke out among spectators in the stands, and a separate large-scale altercation occurred between arena staff and attendees in an area beneath the seating stands. A Andrew Tate impersonator served as a ring girl for the event, while a person of short stature dressed as rapper Kanye West escorted main event fighter Brandon Jenkins to the ring.

Blogger Gypsy Crusader repeatedly displayed Nazi salutes both during his fight against King Azoulay and after the bout concluded, and Nazi symbolism was visible among spectators in the stands. The event's combination of scripted spectacle, unscripted violence among attendees, and extremist displays raises significant questions about oversight and safety at the promotion's future events.