St. Petersburg, Florida

Founded in 1997 by Amir Ardebily and his brothers, Kambiz Ardebily and Saeed Ardebily, Battle of Tampa Bay has grown into one of Florida's longest-running and most respected kickboxing and MMA event series.

The vision behind Battle of Tampa Bay was born from years of dedicated training, international travel, studying elite competitions, and working alongside world-class champions. After analyzing fight promotions around the globe, the Ardebily brothers set out to create something that had never been done before in the region: an amateur kickboxing event produced with the professionalism, structure, and production value of a major professional show.

In 1998, that vision became reality. The first Battle of Tampa Bay event set a new standard by attracting more sponsors than many professional fight cards of its time—an unprecedented achievement for an amateur showcase. From day one, the mission was clear: give amateur fighters a true professional platform, complete with high-level organization, serious matchmaking, strong sponsorship backing, and a sold-out audience atmosphere.

Since then, Battle of Tampa Bay has hosted 29 successful events, consistently drawing packed crowds and maintaining a record of sold-out shows. The event series has welcomed fighters from across the United States and internationally, including competitors from Canada, Italy, Germany, France, England, and other countries, making it a respected name within the global combat sports community.

The promotion has provided a launchpad for countless fighters, many of whom have advanced to professional careers in kickboxing and MMA. Beyond competition, Battle of Tampa Bay has played a significant role in strengthening the Tampa Bay combat sports scene by uniting gyms, coaches, sponsors, and fans under one high-quality platform.

For more than two decades, the event's continued success has been powered by the dedication of the Ardebily family and their team. Kambiz and Saeed Ardebily have remained instrumental in its development, and for the past 23 years, Fariba Kiani has played a key leadership role in managing and organizing the event alongside Amir Ardebily.

With the next event scheduled for May 9, Battle of Tampa Bay continues its commitment to delivering elite-level amateur kickboxing, Muay Thai, and MMA in a professional setting—providing the Tampa Bay community with world-class combat sports entertainment.

Battle of Tampa Bay remains dedicated to excellence, integrity, and showcasing the next generation of champions.