THE KIDNEY
PUNCH LEAGUE
The World's Premier Renal Combat Organization
Est. 2019 · Reno, Nevada
OUR STORY
The Kidney Punch League was founded in 2019 by former bare-knuckle promoter and urologist's son Danny Tan in the back room of a CrossFit gym in Reno, Nevada.
What began as a $50 buy-in Saturday night tradition among off-duty roughnecks and oil field workers quickly became the fastest-growing unsanctioned combat sport in the American Southwest. By 2021, KPL events were drawing 300+ spectators to VFW halls, livestock auction buildings, and the occasional Applebee's parking lot.
In 2022, the Nevada State Athletic Commission granted the KPL provisional sanctioning under the newly created Targeted Organ Strike (TOS) category, making kidney punching the first organ-specific combat sport to receive state recognition. Arizona and Montana followed suit within the year.
"People said I was crazy," Tan said in a 2023 interview with Renal Combat Monthly. "They said, 'Danny, you can't build a sport around punching kidneys.' But here we are. Forty-seven fighters. Twelve countries. Three states. And not one fatality."
Today, the KPL features six weight divisions, a roster of 47 active fighters from 12 countries, and a broadcast deal with GRIT TV reaching 4.2 million households. Events are also streamed free on ToughTube, where KPL content has generated over 180 million views.
Our Mission: To elevate kidney striking from a bar-fight afterthought to a globally respected competitive discipline, while maintaining the highest standards of athlete safety and renal wellness.
THE SPORT
How It Works
Two fighters face each other in the KPL Ring (a 14-foot padded circle). After a coin toss, the designated striker has 30 seconds to deliver a single open-handed kidney strike to their opponent's exposed flank. The defender must stand with feet parallel, hands clasped behind their head, torso rotated to present the kidney zone.
Fighters alternate strikes for 5 rounds (championship bouts: 7 rounds). Judges score each round on the 10-point must system.
Methods of Victory
- Decision — Unanimous, Split, or Majority
- Hematuria Stoppage (HS) — Visible blood in a post-round urine sample
- Kidney Knockout (KKO) — Fighter drops to both knees, cannot rise within a 10-count
- Medical Stoppage — At the discretion of the ringside medical team
- Corner Stoppage — Corner throws in the towel (KPL-branded, kidney-shaped)
Weight Divisions
| Division | Weight Limit |
|---|---|
| Welterweight | Under 185 lbs |
| Middleweight | 185–205 lbs |
| Light Heavyweight | 205–225 lbs |
| Heavyweight | 225–250 lbs |
| Super Heavyweight | 250+ lbs |
| Open Weight | No limit (special events only) |
LEADERSHIP
DANNY TAN
Danny Tan grew up in Reno, Nevada, the son of a urologist and a women's self-defense instructor. After a brief career in supplement distribution and an even briefer stint as a bare-knuckle promoter in the Nevada desert, Tan founded the KPL at age 42 with a vision: "Make kidneys matter."
Known for his black t-shirts, bald head, and a speaking style that oscillates between motivational speaker and auctioneer, Tan has become the face of the kidney combat movement.
"Look, kidneys are meant to take a hit. That's literally what they do. They filter. They absorb. That's their whole thing."
"Show me one fatality. You can't. This is the safest organ-specific combat sport in the world."
"We're not trying to be the UFC. We're trying to be bigger than the UFC. In the kidney space."
DR. RICK STENNER
Dr. Rick Stenner brings over 20 years of chiropractic experience to his role as KPL Chief Medical Officer. A graduate of the Pacific West Online College of Chiropractic Sciences, Dr. Stenner joined the KPL in 2020 after meeting Danny Tan at a supplement expo in Las Vegas.
Dr. Stenner's pre-bout medical assessment protocol consists of:
- Asking the fighter "How's the kidney?"
- A brief palpation of the flank region
- Visual assessment of urine color (matched to the KPL Renal Wellness Color Chart™)
- Confirming the fighter has at least one functioning kidney
"Every fighter I've cleared has walked out on their own two feet. Most of them drove home."
"I'm not that kind of doctor, but I am a doctor."
ATHLETE WELLNESS PROGRAM
The KPL is committed to the long-term health and wellness of its athletes. Our comprehensive Athlete Wellness Program includes:
- Pre-bout renal assessment by Dr. Rick Stenner
- Post-bout urine color evaluation (Pantone-matched using the KPL Renal Wellness Color Chart™)
- Access to the KPL Hydration Station (water fountain located near the venue restrooms)
- Complimentary copy of Your Kidneys & You: A Fighter's Guide (16 pages, illustrated)
- Annual kidney function screening (available to active fighters; scheduling is the fighter's responsibility)
- 24-hour post-bout observation period (self-monitored; fighters are encouraged to "keep an eye on things")
- Creature Energy Renal Recovery samples (courtesy of our official hydration disruptor)
The KPL Athlete Wellness Program has not been reviewed or endorsed by any medical association, nephrology board, or regulatory body.