No Quit, No Limits: Knyaz USA’s Path to the Top

Aleksandra Lebdowicz
3 hours ago
5 min read

Knyaz USA stands as a proud chapter of the Ukrainian Knyaz MFC, a club celebrating its 25-year anniversary this year. Built on brotherhood, grit, and a relentless drive to improve, the team has grown from a small group of fighters into a unified force fielding two competitive squads. Whether on the battlefield or off it, Knyaz USA carries forward a legacy where heart, honor, and hard work come first—and the job of excellence is never finished.

Team Origins & Formation

Knyaz USA is a chapter of the Knyaz MFC in Ukraine. We were granted the honor to don the name in January 2021. Before that, the core members of the club fought together for approx. 2 years under another team banner. Since those days, our ranks have swelled to fielding 2 competitive men’s teams; Knyaz USA & Knyaz Fire. Two teams, one club, and a whole lot of heart! Key Players & Team Contributors

Knyaz USA has key players, but to single them out is going to make this a huge article. We would like to first highlight our captain, Andrew McCabe. Without him and his wife, we would not have a backyard to hone our skills in as easily. Jimmy Shock for consistent shared training knowledge and bettering himself at BJJ to share with the club. Paul Weeks Jr. for his years of servitude as “Armor repair & oddities emporium®.” This does not end our list for what makes this chapter of Knyaz what it is today. The endless heart, guidance, and (k)nightly kisses for the homies.

Thank you, boys! Chad Nightingale, Blake Allen, Nick Huey, Jordan Quick, Sean Fabian, Mickey Gallus, Pete Moe, Ellis Williams, Dr. Nick Duchene, Dakota Miller, John McIntyre, Hayden Boggs, Jacob Robinson, Jared Grogg, Alex Goodin, Andrew Fera, Tim Rondeau, Dan Everett, Scott Turgeon, Tony Perenchio, Travis Wilding, Ray Paez & Jerrod Roberts.

And a super special thank you to our lovely support wherever we may roam, the OG Knyaz USA Queens, Haley McCabe and Khrystine Shock! Keepin’ us level and honest!

All the s/o’s on Knyaz, thank you—Colleen, Jordan, Andrea, Laine, Lanie, Lindsay, Kelsey, Daria, Amy, Krissy, Leanne, Jordan, Nicole, Brandy, Kei, Michelle, Olivia, Denise, & Tara.

Клуб Князь!

Name, Legacy & Inspiration

Knyaz MFC has been around for going on 25 years now. We have finally reached the age where Leo DiCaprio doesn’t want to date us for being “too old.”

That being said, the origination of the name and symbol is best conveyed by Ilias and Anton, but what we can say is our first interaction with Knyaz MFC was everlasting. Andrew McCabe, Scott Turgeon, and Sean Fabian all met Ilias Vyshutin in 2019 at Carolina Carnage. Watching him dominate in a mashed-up 5v5 was immediate inspiration, and then a friendship blossomed.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the club of Knyaz MFC was taken to new avenues, and through these avenues came the conversation of Knyaz USA. Ilias, keen to the idea, decided to take it to his co-captains, and then the deal was struck. Let’s start an American chapter. No one had any idea what was coming next, but we were all determined to make it the absolute best that we could. We are still working toward that goal today. The job of excellence is never finished.

Achievements & Defining Moments

Since Knyaz USA’s inclusion and creation, our mindsets have always been, “leave everything out there.” Even though we have quite the resume of medals, our defining moments are how we interact with others, friend or competition. Respect, honor, grit…leave it all out there, give it everything, then give more. The homies need you, and giving up isn’t an option.

• Representing in the first-ever Buhurt International Invitational July 2026

• Gold medal – Carolina Carnage Fest 2026, 5v5

• Silver medal – Buhurt International World Championships 2025, 5v5 and 12v12 (second time overseas as a club)

• 2025 Buhurt International North American Conference Champions, 5v5

• 2025 AMMA Heavyweight champion, Jimmy Shock

• 2025 AMMA Middleweight champion, Andrew McCabe

• Silver Medal – Carolina Carnage 2025, 5v5

• Gold medal – Tavola Rotunda 2024, 5v5 (first time overseas as a club)

• Gold Medal – Tavola Rotunda 2024, Light-heavyweight Outrance, Sean Fabian

• Gold Medal – Lords Mobile ACW 2023, 5v5 & 12v12

• Gold medal – Cincinnati Siege 2023, 5v5

• Gold Medal – Carolina Carnage 2022, 5v5

• Gold medal – National in Temecula, CA 2022

Challenges & Resilience

Every club has difficulties. Knyaz USA has experienced its share of it. We always handle our business together, though. Tough love, honesty, and trust. This is our foundation. Plus, it’s fun—and if it ain’t fun, don’t do it.

Training, Preparation & Rituals

We practice in the captain’s backyard. We train smart, we train hard. We are also a team of coaches, which is a good problem to have. We workshop everything and anything, even the outrageous ideas we like to refer to as “silly goose s*it.”

Note: Pay homage to Achilles, Prince of Doggos!

Team Identity & Core Strength

This might sound like what you’re supposed to say, but it is the truth. The team’s biggest strength is each other. No matter what roster you are on—USA or Fire—you are Knyaz USA. We are a club with two teams and a lot of amazing athletic individuals.

Motivation, Culture & Team Spirit

We do a lot together. Currently working on finding time for a team camping trip. Team Christmas parties, Halloween parties, camping at festivals after we perform at Enchanted Forest. This is our community motivation.

Motivation for our competitive spirits comes in many forms of martial arts. Our biggest motivator is to never know what it feels like to lose. Each loss makes us put in more effort and more grit to never feel that feeling again.

Future Goals & Vision

Goals for the upcoming season are to attend and outperform any other team that shows up. Our goals are always the same, every year. While we do have our personal goals to make that bigger picture a reality, our top goals remain the same: show up, win, no injuries, go home.

For growth, we are not looking to increase our deep ranks currently, but we are looking at hosting seminars more often and spreading knowledge to advance any and all buhurt competitors.

Fan Support & Community Engagement

Knyaz USA has quite a few fans. We are a heavily favored team in the US. The best way to help us is to encourage the warrior spirit and help yourself to some Knyaz USA merch.

Social media:

Knyaz USA Facebook Knyaz USA Instagram