Last Fighter Standing is a South African reality television series which follows professional fighters from various martial arts disciplines as they face battles around the country in their quest to be crowned the Last Fighter Standing and win their share of R1-million.
The series gives fighters from different disciplines - including Karate, Kickboxing, Muay-Thai, Muay Boran, MMA and Grappling - the opportunity to compete against each other for major prize money.
Elimination tournaments see one person in each division officially take the title of the best fighter in the country and finally, crown the Last Fighter Standing SA Champion 2016.
Last Fighter Standing, which is sanctioned by the Martial Arts South Africa Pro Commission, held qualifying tournaments in the largest cities in South Africa. There, top professional fighters from around the country competed in different divisions, in the city closest to their home.
Male fighters from three weight categories: Lightweight, Welterweight and Heavyweight; and one female division, Bantamweight competed in an eight-fighter elimination tournament. The winners who qualified at these Provincial elimination tournaments compete in the final at the TicketPro Dome Johannesburg in October 2016.
Fighters have a limit of 20 seconds on the ground. There are two minutes per round and three rounds per fight. This ensures more energetic fights and encourages fighters to bring their all to the table.
A variety of leg take downs, foot sweeps, hip throws and knock downs are allowed, to bring the opponents to the ground. With a 10-second "No Time Wasting Rule", shortened rounds and limited time on the ground, fighters will have to show more wit and grit to emerge victorious.
With the set of rules used at the Last Fighter Standing arena, more spectacular KO's and ground finishes are promised.
Last Fighter Standing culminates with the winners from the four qualifying events facing off against each other in their particular weight divisionsat the Final on 15 October, 2016. There, a winner in each division will be crowned the Last Fighter Standing South African Champion 2016.
The series is produced by Quinton van der Burgh Media, with executive producer Quinton van der Burgh. The showrunner is Ayrton Bender and the director is Johan Naude. Producers for Red Cherry were Wayne Pearce, Hugh Farrell and Robbyn Burger.