Today, you can find grainy, third-generation VHS rips of DWW events on obscure fight forums. The sound is terrible, the Dutch commentary is incomprehensible to most, and the violence is shocking. But for those who search for that grainy footage is a time machine—back to an era when two men stepped into a ring, and absolutely anything could happen.
In the crowded history of combat sports, certain promotions become legends, some become cautionary tales, and a few achieve a strange, cult-like immortality. The DWW BSA Extreme Fighting promotion sits squarely in the last category. For the uninitiated, the acronyms may sound like a government agency or a technical specification, but for hardcore fans of no-holds-barred action, "DWW BSA Extreme Fighting" represents a pivotal, chaotic, and often brutal bridge between the bare-knuckle brawls of early UFC and the modern, regulated sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). dww bsa extreme fighting
What is undeniable is that DWW BSA Extreme Fighting left a DNA marker on the sport. It proved that European fighters were just as tough, if not tougher, than their American and Japanese counterparts. It proved that the guard position is fragile against kicks. And most importantly, it proved that without rules, violence is not a sport—it is a survival trial. Today, you can find grainy, third-generation VHS rips
Purists argue that by allowing soccer kicks, stomps, and headbutts, DWW represented the closest thing to a "real fight" without weapons—a true test of who is the better unarmed combatant. Pragmatists counter that such rules shorten careers, end lives prematurely, and do more to satisfy bloodlust than demonstrate skill. In the crowded history of combat sports, certain
The final events faded into obscurity as promotions like RINGS Holland and It's Showtime (kickboxing) took over. Chris Derksen moved on from promoting, and the BSA sanctioning body refocused on amateur combat.
Do you have a specific memory of watching DWW BSA events on VHS or early pay-per-view? Share your thoughts in the comments below. For more deep dives into forgotten combat promotions, subscribe to our newsletter.