Tadej Znidarcic

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Knights - Fight in the City

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Luke "The Red Knight&a... in the backyard of The Ground.

1 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Luke "The Red Knight" Reich puts on his armor in the backyard of The Ground.

Jake "Hercules&quo...ady for fighting at The Ground.

2 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Jake "Hercules" Meddaugh (left) and Orion "Iron Orion" Goodman get ready for fighting at The Ground.

Luke Reich waits for the fighting to start at The Ground.

3 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Luke Reich waits for the fighting to start at The Ground.

Greg "King Fisher&...fight one-on-one at The Ground.

4 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Greg "King Fisher" Fisher (left) and Luke Reich fight one-on-one at The Ground.

Jake Meddaugh attacks Russel Ge...rson melee fight at The Ground.

5 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Jake Meddaugh attacks Russel Geler while Orion Goodman watches during a three-person melee fight at The Ground.

Orion Goodman rests between rou...ecords the sound at The Ground.

6 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Orion Goodman rests between rounds while audio journalist Graham Hartmann records the sound at The Ground.

Referee Zorikh Lequidre holds J...unds of fighting at The Ground.

7 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Referee Zorikh Lequidre holds Jake Meddaugh's weapon between rounds of fighting at The Ground.

Jake Meddaugh swings his axe at...ne-on-one fight at The Ground.

8 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Jake Meddaugh swings his axe at Abeid "Mando" Mitchell during a one-on-one fight at The Ground.

Final one-on-one match between ... concrete outdoor soccer field.

9 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Final one-on-one match between Greg Fisher (on the right) and Abeid Mitchell took place on The Ground's rooftop concrete outdoor soccer field.

Orlando "The Mystical ...one-on-one match at The Ground.

10 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Orlando "The Mystical Knight" Mendez rests in the backyard after a lost one-on-one match at The Ground.

Russel Geler talks to a skatebo...Glass Studios in West Village.

11 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Russel Geler talks to a skateboarder in Washington Square Park about the upcoming The Armored League tournament at Ideal Glass Studios in West Village.

Orion "Iron Orion&...ighting at Ideal Glass Studios.

12 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Orion "Iron Orion" Goodman prepares for fighting at Ideal Glass Studios.

Fighters wait for the start of ...Bronx Brawler" Mendez.

13 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Fighters wait for the start of the event at Ideal Glass Studios. From right: Abeid "Mando" Mitchell, Ronin Sato, and Orlando "The Bronx Brawler" Mendez.

Isaac "Knight Nurse&am...he ring at Ideal Glass Studios.

14 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Isaac "Knight Nurse" Ellis walks towards the ring at Ideal Glass Studios.

Zorikh Lequidre announces a fight at Ideal Glass Studios.

15 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Zorikh Lequidre announces a fight at Ideal Glass Studios.

Abeid Mitchell (left) tries to ...a fight at Ideal Glass Studios.

16 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Abeid Mitchell (left) tries to kick Isaac Ellis during a fight at Ideal Glass Studios.

Ronin Sato and Johnny &quot...a fight at Ideal Glass Studios.

17 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Ronin Sato and Johnny "The Vagabond" Porter fall to the ground during a fight at Ideal Glass Studios.

Isaac Ellis pounds Orlando Mend... and rule a technical knockout.

18 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Isaac Ellis pounds Orlando Mendez during a fight at Ideal Glass Studios. If a fighter on the ground doesn't defend himself effectively, the referee can stop the fight and rule a technical knockout.

Jake "Hercules&quo...et moved due to a strong punch.

19 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Jake "Hercules" Meddaugh (right) and Isaac Ellis joke after a fight at Ideal Glass Studios. During the fight Jake sustained injury to his nose when his helmet moved due to a strong punch.

Emil "Skrubol&quot...l match at Ideal Glass Studios.

20 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Emil "Skrubol" Guz, from Poland, gives advice to Johnny Porter during the final match at Ideal Glass Studios.

Johnny Porter pounds Isaac Elli...l match at Ideal Glass Studios.

21 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Johnny Porter pounds Isaac Ellis during the final match at Ideal Glass Studios.

Johnny Porter celebrates winnin...rnament at Ideal Glass Studios.

22 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Johnny Porter celebrates winning the tournament at Ideal Glass Studios.

Jake Meddaugh poses for a selfie with fans at Ideal Glass Studios.

23 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Jake Meddaugh poses for a selfie with fans at Ideal Glass Studios.

Orlando Mendez engages a boy at...e event at Ideal Glass Studios.

24 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Orlando Mendez engages a boy at the end of the event at Ideal Glass Studios.

An axe hangs in the locker room...am Mall in East Rutherford, NJ.

25 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

An axe hangs in the locker room before the start of The Armored League titan-weight tournament at American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, NJ.

Jason "Mayhem Miller&a...the commentators for the event.

26 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Jason "Mayhem Miller" Miller, retired MMA champion, checks out a sword before the start of the tournament. Mayhem Miller was one the commentators for the event.

Bohumil "Bohus&quo...ighting at American Dream Mall.

27 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Bohumil "Bohus" Masnicak, from Slovakia, warms up before the fighting at American Dream Mall.

Spencer "Simply Samura...s the notes about the fighters.

28 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Spencer "Simply Samurai" Waddell (center) and Christopher "Suge Knight" Gray wait to enter the ring while announcer Justin Manning checks the notes about the fighters.

Nick "Sir Gregor&q...e fight at American Dream Mall.

29 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Nick "Sir Gregor" Dahl (left) and Pete "Monster Moe" Moe fight at American Dream Mall.

Bohumil Masnicak (left) and Spe...l match at American Dream Mall.

30 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Bohumil Masnicak (left) and Spencer Waddell fight during the final match at American Dream Mall.

Bohumil Masnicak kicks Spencer ...l match at American Dream Mall.

31 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Bohumil Masnicak kicks Spencer Waddell during the final match at American Dream Mall.

Spencer Waddell sustained an in...l match by technical knock-out.

32 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Spencer Waddell sustained an injury to right eye during the final match. Due to the injury Spencer lost the final match by technical knock-out.

Bohumil Masnicak celebrates win...rnament at American Dream Mall.

33 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Bohumil Masnicak celebrates winning The Armored League titan-weight tournament at American Dream Mall.

Spencer Waddell (left) and Bohu...ch other after the final match.

34 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Spencer Waddell (left) and Bohumil Masnicak bow to each other after the final match.

Spencer Waddell plays with a kid after the fights.

35 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Spencer Waddell plays with a kid after the fights.

Pete Moe tries to lift Nick Dah...s and wears 80 pounds of armor.

36 of 36 © 2025 Tadej Znidarcic

Pete Moe tries to lift Nick Dahl after the fights. While Pete is over 6ft tall and weighs 330 pounds, Nick is 7ft tall, weighs 500 pounds and wears 80 pounds of armor.

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Thumbnail of Luke "The Red Knight&am_r in the backyard of The Ground.

Thumbnail of Jake "Hercules&quot_eady for fighting at The Ground.

Thumbnail of Luke Reich waits for the fighting to start at The Ground.

Thumbnail of Greg "King Fisher&q_ fight one-on-one at The Ground.

Thumbnail of Jake Meddaugh attacks Russel Gel_erson melee fight at The Ground.

Thumbnail of Orion Goodman rests between roun_records the sound at The Ground.

Thumbnail of Referee Zorikh Lequidre holds Ja_ounds of fighting at The Ground.

Thumbnail of Jake Meddaugh swings his axe at _one-on-one fight at The Ground.

Thumbnail of Final one-on-one match between G_p concrete outdoor soccer field.

Thumbnail of Orlando "The Mystical K_ one-on-one match at The Ground.

Thumbnail of Russel Geler talks to a skateboa_ Glass Studios in West Village.

Thumbnail of Orion "Iron Orion&q_fighting at Ideal Glass Studios.

Thumbnail of Fighters wait for the start of t_ Bronx Brawler" Mendez.

Thumbnail of Isaac "Knight Nurse&_the ring at Ideal Glass Studios.

Thumbnail of Zorikh Lequidre announces a fight at Ideal Glass Studios.

Thumbnail of Abeid Mitchell (left) tries to k_ a fight at Ideal Glass Studios.

Thumbnail of Ronin Sato and Johnny "_ a fight at Ideal Glass Studios.

Thumbnail of Isaac Ellis pounds Orlando Mende_t and rule a technical knockout.

Thumbnail of Jake "Hercules&quot_met moved due to a strong punch.

Thumbnail of Emil "Skrubol"_al match at Ideal Glass Studios.

Thumbnail of Johnny Porter pounds Isaac Ellis_al match at Ideal Glass Studios.

Thumbnail of Johnny Porter celebrates winning_urnament at Ideal Glass Studios.

Thumbnail of Jake Meddaugh poses for a selfie with fans at Ideal Glass Studios.

Thumbnail of Orlando Mendez engages a boy at _he event at Ideal Glass Studios.

Thumbnail of An axe hangs in the locker room _eam Mall in East Rutherford, NJ.

Thumbnail of Jason "Mayhem Miller&am_ the commentators for the event.

Thumbnail of Bohumil "Bohus&quot_fighting at American Dream Mall.

Thumbnail of Spencer "Simply Samurai_ks the notes about the fighters.

Thumbnail of Nick "Sir Gregor&qu_oe fight at American Dream Mall.

Thumbnail of Bohumil Masnicak (left) and Spen_al match at American Dream Mall.

Thumbnail of Bohumil Masnicak kicks Spencer W_al match at American Dream Mall.

Thumbnail of Spencer Waddell sustained an inj_al match by technical knock-out.

Thumbnail of Bohumil Masnicak celebrates winn_urnament at American Dream Mall.

Thumbnail of Spencer Waddell (left) and Bohum_ach other after the final match.

Thumbnail of Spencer Waddell plays with a kid after the fights.

Thumbnail of Pete Moe tries to lift Nick Dahl_ds and wears 80 pounds of armor.

Public Project

Knights - Fight in the City

Copyright Tadej Znidarcic 2025

Updated May 2025

Location New York City

Topics editorial [featured]

In medieval armored combat sport, fighters wear steel medieval armor, use real blunted medieval weapons and fight full-contact, full-force. The armor and weapons are historically correct and can weigh over 80 pounds. They either fight three one-on-one rounds, collecting points for strikes and take-downs, or fight in a melee, where last person standing wins. In addition to striking with a weapon, kicking, shoving, and punching are allowed.

In 2024, a new organization, The Armored League, started putting together medieval armored combat tournaments in New York metropolitan area. Fighters from across the USA and from abroad compete for cash prizes and so far three tournaments took place: the first at the Ground, usually an indoor soccer space, in Chinatown in NYC in November 2024, the second at Ideal Glass Studios in West Village in NYC in February 2025, and the third at American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, NJ, in May 2025.

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