Articles tagged as bellator
Bellator 69 Video Highlights
Maiquel Falcao, Karl Amoussou, and Jessica Aguilar earned big victories on Friday night. Check out the Bellator 69 video highlights.
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Posted in: bellator, video, google, jessica aguilar, bull
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Bellator 69 Highlights
Bellator 69 took place this past Friday live from Lake Charles, Lousiana. Spike.com has released the highlight video of Friday’s MTV2 main card broadcast.
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Posted in: bellator, video, mtv, friday, mmafrenzycom
Read the full article at MMA Frenzy
Falcao wins Bellator middleweight tourney
Maiquel Falcao beat Andreas Spang by unanimous decision in the main event at Bellator 69 to win Bellator's latest middleweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, middleweight, falcao, spang, andreas spang
Read the full article at sportsnet.ca
Video: Bellator 69 highlights from 'Falcao vs Spang' last night (May 18) in Lake Charles
Ladies and gentlemen, a new Bellator middleweight title challenger has been crowned.
Last night (Fri., May 18, 2012), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Maiquel Falcao got on his grind and scored a unanimous decision victory over Andreas Spang. The pre-fight hype promised fireworks, and they delivered early with Spang nearly scoring a knockout, but after that it was Grapple City and Falcao was the mayor.
That was just the main event, though.
Bellator Fighting Championships has put out a highlight video from all four main card fights, including Mark Holata submitting Abe Wagner with an ankle lock, Jessica Aguilar's decision victory over Megumi Fujii, and Karl Amoussou's controversial split decision victory over David Rickels.
For complete Bellator 69 results, including blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action, click here. And to check out a complete recap of the mixed martial arts (MMA) event that aired on MTV2 click here.
Posted in: bellator, decision, mark holata, megumi fujii, spang
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Bellator 69 Results: Megumi Fujii falls to Jessica Aguilar in closely contested clash
Last night’s lineup for Bellator 69 featured a bout pitting two of the most talented females in MMA against each other and the result most certainly didn’t disappoint! In the end it was Jessica Aguilar who came away with a decision win over decorated veteran Megumi Fujii, only the second time “Mega Megu” had been beaten in her 30-fight career. Comparably, it was the fifth straight win for the 14-4 Aguilar who likely solidified a spot for herself at the top of the 115-pound division with the victory.
Other bouts delivering on the promise of action were tournament offerings from welterweights Karl Amoussou-David Rickels and middleweights Maiquel Falcao-Andreas Spang. Both fights went to decision and could have been scored for either competitor though ultimately Amoussou and Falcao emerged with a victory in tow.
The win for Falcao was particularly notable as it was a Season 6 final and earned him a title-fight against Alexander Shlemenko as well as solid chunk of cash.
Read below for a full list of Bellator 69 results followed by highlights from the show:
Josh Quayhagen def. Cliff Wright Jr. via Unanimous Decision
Emanuel Brooks def. Kalvin Hackney via Unanimous Decision
Richard Hale def. Josh Burns via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
Andrey Koreshkov def. Derrick Krantz via TKO Round 3 (Strikes)
Shanon Slack def. Booker Arthur via Unanimous Decision
Mark Holata def. Abe Wagner via Submission Round 1 (Ankle Lock)
Jessica Aguilar def. Megumi Fujii via Unanimous Decision
Karl Amoussou def. David Rickels via Split Decision
Maiquel Falcao def. Andreas Spang via Unanimous Decision
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Posted in: bellator, decision, jessica aguilar, aguilar, megu ”
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 69 results recap from last night (May 18): Maiquel Falcao scores unanimous decision victory over Andreas Spang to win middleweight tournament
Bellator Fighting Championships has wrapped up another Friday night fight card as Bellator 69: "Falcao vs. Spang" invaded the L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La., last night (May 18, 2012).
The event was headlined by a bout between Maiquel Falcao and Andreas Spang to determine the winner of the Season Six Middleweight tournament champion. Due to some recent Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) wheeling and dealing, the winner, luckily unfortunately, will not have to get to fight former Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard, but the tournament championship and gigantic winner's check will have to do for now.
Bellator 69 also featured an exciting Welterweight tournament semifinal match up between David Rickels and powerful French judo practitioner Karl Amoussou.
Add to that the fierce women's throwdown that occurred when Japanese submission ace Megumi Fujii took on American Top Team's Jessica Aguilar, and the result was quite an explosive affair.
Follow me after the jump, where we'll review all the highs and lows of Bellator 69: "Falcao vs. Spang:"
The main event between Maiquel Falcao and Andreas Spang did not disappoint, delivering a middleweight mash up with blistering exchanges and diverse positions.
After eating a big shot early on, Falcao recovered and came forward to put on a pretty dominant first round performance. Unfortunately, Falcao was deducted a point for an illegal knee, causing the round to, in all probability, result in a 9-9 tie.
From that point on, it was all Falcao, who made great work of the clinch and his ground game to apply pressure on Spang and never let off the accelerator.
For more than two rounds, Falcao was draped all over the back of Spang, who could not find a way to shake him, eating absorbing plenty of punishment to the sides of his head, his ribcage and quads via the short punches, hammerfists and knees of Falcao.
After three full rounds, it was an easy decision, as Falcao took down the victory and the right to take on Alexander Shlemenko for the Bellator Middleweight Championship.
The welterweight bout between David Rickels and Karl Amoussou featured two 170-pounders who did not like each other one bit. The prize, a slot in the final match opposite Bryan Baker, was a highly motivating factor for each fighter, and it was evident during each second of the highly anticipated match up.
The first round produced a bizarre scene, wherein Amoussou's jock strap rip after a low kick from Rickels. The next few minutes were spent trying to find Amoussou a back up jock strap, before they finally opted to tape his cup onto his groin with athletic tape.
I've never had to swear God I wasn't lying in an article before today. There's a first time for everything.
After the unpleasantries were finally dealt with, the fight got back into full swing, and it was a raucous first two rounds, to say the least.
"Psycho" appeared to clearly win the first round by making use of his striking, some good knees inside the clinch, a few nice judo throws and a dominant top game. At no point did it look like Rickels was in danger of being finished, but Amoussou did a good job of keeping him down and landing some decent ground and pound.
The second round was close. Razor thin, really. Amoussou appeared to have outstruck Rickels again, but near the end of the fight, Rickels was able to throw on an armbar attempt that was very close to securing a submission, before Amoussou escaped at the bell.
The third round saw Rickels score a takedown midway through, and he never relented, staying on top the entire time and landing some serious ground and pound.
For two-plus minutes, Rickels used hammerfists and Sakuraba-esque two-handed palm smashes to takedown a very one-sided third round.
Ultimately, the fight had to be decided by the judges, which was no easy task. The split decision went to Amoussou, which was met by the disapproval of the crowd, who seemed to believe Rickels was robbed of the win.
Amoussou will go on to fight Bryan Baker in the Bellator Welterweight tournament final, sometime later this summer.
Megumi Fujii vs. Jessica Aguilar pitted the top two 115-pound women's mixed martial artists in the world against each other in the Bellator cage.
The fight started off somewhat slowly, as each fighter showed a good deal of respect for the other in the opening minutes.
The early key to the fight that proved to be the overall difference in the bout was the stand up of Aguilar. "JAG" was able to use her movement and striking to get in and out and pepper Fujii with punches throughout the first and second rounds.
Fujii came forward, much more aggressively, in the third round, as it appeared she knew she was down on the scorecard. Though she did make a good push, scoring a takedown and staying on top for the majority of the final frame, it was too little, too late.
Aguilar earned the much deserved unanimous decision victory and was emotional in the cage afterwards. It was a nice moment to be sure.
For complete Bellator 69 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights as well as the main event click here.
Posted in: bellator, round, falcao, amoussou, rickel
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 69 Results: Falcao Earns Title Shot; Aguilar Scores Huge Victory Over Fujii
Maiquel Falcao earned a shot at the Bellator middleweight title, while Jessica Aguilar scored a victory over Megumi Fujii at Bellator 69 on Friday night.
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Posted in: bellator, shot, jessica aguilar, megumi fujii, bull
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Maiquel Falcao Tops Andreas Spang, Wins Bellator’s Season 6 Middleweight Tournament
Maiquel Falcao chose intelligence over bravado.
Posted in: bellator, season, falcao, maiquel, spang
Read the full article at Sherdog
Maiquel Falcao Crushes Andreas Spang at Bellator 69, Claims Season Six Tournament Title
Maiquel Falcao has a date with destiny.
The embattled Brazilian cruised to a unanimous decision victory over Andreas Spang (29-27, x3) in the main event of Bellator 69 on Friday night to claim the Bellator season six middleweight title. Falcao overcame an early point deduction from an illegal knee to the face of his grounded opponent, stifling Spang's attack from the clinch and pummeling the Swede with an endless barrage of strikes and knees to the body for the majority of fifteen minutes.
"I've got the best team in the world," an elated Falcao said afterward through a translator. "My coach is the best grappling coach in the world. There's no way I won't improve my grappling game. I want to dedicate this fight to all the Bellator staff that believed in me and supported me, especially to Bjorn (Rebney), my boss."
Falcao is now slated to meet season five tournament winner Alexander Shlemenko, with the winner earning Hector Lombard's vacated middleweight strap. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced the match-up after the judges' scorecards were final.
"I thought it was a spectacular performance," Rebney gushed. "Next up, my friend -- Alexander Shlemenko for the word title."
In the night's co-main event, Karl Amoussou edged David Rickels via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) in a wildly entertaining bout that saw both men exit the cage bloodied and bruised.
Action stalled early as a Rickels push-kick to the groin resulted in Amoussou's cup snapping, leading to an interesting exchange in which a cornerman was ordered to, "Go see if someone has a cup he can borrow." After a suitable replacement was found, Amoussou and Rickels picked back into the swing of things, engaging in a furious slugfest that saw Amoussou control the opening frame with a relentless blizzard of strikes from guard, and Rickels mightily return the favor in round three.
Round two was a bit more even, with both men trading fiery exchanges and Rickels nearly securing an armbar from the bottom. In the end, the judges favored Amoussou, though the Louisiana crowd booed lustily at the decision.
"I think that fight was really close," Amoussou admitted afterward. "My whole respect (goes) to David Rickels. I can understand how sad he can be. ... He really earned my respect in that fight. And David, man, I'm really sorry for you about that decision."
With the win, Amoussou advances to the Bellator season six welterweight finals, where he will meet Bryan Baker for a chance to challenge polarizing Bellator 170-pound champion Ben Askren.
"Bryan Baker, I have two months to be more than ready for you," the Frenchman boldly declared. "Man, I'm going to come, I'm going to destroy, I'm going to do my job. And then I'm going to take care of the lay-and-prayer."
Elsewhere, in a clash of top-ranked 115-pounders, Jessica Aguilar survived a torrent of submission attempts while working slick counterstriking to stun Megumi Fujii and claim a unanimous decision victory (29-28, x3).
A back-and-forth stand-up war highlighted much of the opening two rounds, with Aguilar getting the better of the exchanges, blooding the face of her 38-year-old opponent and opening up a large cut under the eye of Fujii. Sensing urgency, Fujii pushed the pace in the final five minutes, pulling Aguilar to the ground and uploading an attack of elbows and short punches to try and steal the victory. However it would prove to be too little, too late.
Afterward, a battered Fujii announced she would "take some time off" to figure out her next move. Rounding out the night, Mark Holata punched his ticket to Bellator's season seven heavyweight tournament by submitting UFC veteran Abe Wagner midway through the first round. Though, the fight probably won't win any awards for grace.
After nailing a single-leg early, Holata engaged in a methodical leglock battle with Wagner before coaxing a verbal tap. The awkward finish was officially read as a heel hook submission at 2:24 of round one.
Posted in: bellator, round, decision, amoussou, rickel
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 69 Results: Falcao vs. Spang
MMA Fighting has Bellator 69 results for Friday's Bellator action at L'Auberge Casino in Lake Charles, La.In the main event, Maiquel Falcao will square off against Andreas Spang in the middleweight tournament final. Also on the card, Megumi Fujii will battle Jessica Aguilar in a women's feature fight.Check out the Bellator 69 results below.
Main CardAndreas Spang vs. Maiquel FalcaoKarl Amoussou vs. David RickelsMegumi Fujii vs. Jessica AquilarMark Holata def. Abe Wagner via submission (ankle lock)UndercardAndrey Koreshkov def. Derrick Krantz via third-round TKOKalvin Hackney vs. Emanuel BrooksRichard Hale def. Josh Burns via first-round TKOJosh Quayhagen vs. Cliff WrightShanon Slack def. Booker Arthur via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Ron Sparks vs. Kevin Asplund fight was canceled.
Posted in: bellator, vs, abe wagner, jessica aguilar, middleweight tournament
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse
Bellator 69 Real Time Results
It may not be the main event but there’s no fight on the Bellator 69 card fans are looking forward to more than the scrap between strawweights Megumi Fujii and Jessica Aguilar. Both women are considered to be among the best in the division with Fujii holding a #1 spot for years.
Were there bout not good enough the show also boasts a Season 6 semifinal match-up between welterweights Karl Amoussou and David Rickels, as well as the final bout in the middleweight field featuring Maiquel Falcao-Andreas Spang. The two notoriously got into it inside the cage during a face-off after their showings in the semis with Falcao even throwing a knee to Spang’s midsection.
The show kicks off on Spike.com at 7:00 PM EST with MTV2/EPIX taking over an hour later with main card clashes. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be watching while relaying real time results back to readers who aren’t able to tune in.
A full list of Bellator 69 winners/losers can be found below:
Josh Quayhagen vs. Cliff Wright Jr.
Josh Burns vs. Richard Hale
Booker Arthur vs. Shanon Slack
Kalvin Hackney vs. Emanuel Brooks
Andrey Koreshkov vs. Derrick Krantz
Abe Wagner vs. Mark Holata
Ron Sparks vs. Kevin Asplund
Megumi Fujii vs. Jessica Aguilar
David Rickels vs. Karl Amoussou
Maiquel Falcao vs. Andreas Spang
Posted in: bellator, vs, time results, spang, middleweight field
Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain
Bellator 69 discussion thread
Welcome to our discussion thread for tonight's Bellator 69 event.
The event kicks off at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) from L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La.
Stay tuned for a full recap of the event, which includes an MTV2 main card with a season-six middleweight-tournament finale of Maiquel Falcao vs. Andreas Spang, as well as a welterweight-tourney semifinal of Karl Amoussou vs. David Rickels.
Posted in: bellator, event, lake charles, discussion thread, welterweighttourney semifinal
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 69 Live Results and Play-by-Play (7 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the L’Auberge du Lac Casino and Resort in
Lake Charles, La., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 69, which features the finals of the Season 6 middleweight tournament between Maiquel Falcao and Andreas Spang.
Posted in: bellator, result, pm, lake charles, maiquel falcao
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 69 Live Results and Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from the L’Auberge du Lac Casino and Resort in
Lake Charles, La., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 69, which features the finals of the Season 6 middleweight tournament between Maiquel Falcao and Andreas Spang.
Posted in: bellator, result, lake charles, playbyplay sherdogcom, maiquel falcao
Read the full article at SherdogFree Live Stream: Bellator 69 Prelims (7 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com is pleased to offer a free live feed of Friday night’s Bellator 69 prelims at 7 p.m. ET. The main card will air on MTV2 at 8 p.m. ET.
Posted in: night, bellator, pm, prelim, feed
Read the full article at SherdogFree Live Stream: Bellator 69 Prelims
Sherdog.com is pleased to offer a free live feed of Friday night’s Bellator 69 prelims at 7 p.m. ET. The main card will air on MTV2 at 8 p.m. ET.
Posted in: night, bellator, pm, prelim, feed
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 69 Live Twitter Reaction
Sherdog.com staff will be live tweeting their thoughts in real-time as Bellator 69 unfolds in Lake Charles, La.
Posted in: bellator, lake charles, reaction, tweeting, realtime
Read the full article at Sherdog
Friday Link Club: Chael P. Sonnen Appears On TMZ
Chael Sonnen makes his prescense known on TMZ Live. Strikeforce: Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier LowKick.com Staff Predictions | LowKick Breaking It Down: Bellator 69 | Five Ounces of Pain Text of Dana White’s bizarre attack on Dave Meltzer | Fight Opinion Fighting Entertainment Group (FEG) Declaring Bankruptcy | FightLine Moves like Jagger: Bellator 115 [...]
Posted in: bellator, sonnen, chael, tmz, pain text
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 69's Karl Amoussou plans to attack David Rickels' mind
It's the stark raving mad psychos who get all the press. The quiet ones always fly under the radar - until they snap.
Former cop and current Bellator welterweight Karl Amoussou isn't certifiable, of course, but he uses mind games with his opponents.
His next one, welterweight-tournament semifinalist David Rickels, better be ready to play.
Posted in: bellator, mind, karl, rickel, mind games
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBreaking It Down: Bellator 69
I love MMA, and I love Bellator, but can I just tell you how happy I am that this season is almost over? I don’t even remember what Fridays were like before this it got underway. With only one more event to follow this one, followed by a three event summer series and then a break until September, this effort is a little bittersweet how close we are to the end of this historic and fun season of fights. Anyway, enough seriousness, someone make some 69 jokes, and let’s breakdown tonight’s Bellator 69 card, shall we?
Mark Holata (11-3) vs. Abe Wagner (10-5)
In an heavyweight match up, heavy-handed Wagner looks to get back on track after a dismal 1-2 run over the last year. Perhaps best known for starching Tim Sylvia, he’s a tough guy to be put up against. He faces the tenacious Holata who managed to put together eight straight wins before he was put out by Ron Sparks. I am not really looking forward to this fight, but, it could be alright, I guess. All of Holata’s losses have come via TKO or KO, and given who has beaten him I expect he takes a nap.
Winner – Abe Wagner defeats Mark Holata via TKO Round 1
Richard Hale (18-4-1) vs. Josh Burns (6-5)
This feels to me like Bellator’s shot at building up Hale for another run in the light heavyweight tournament. He’s facing an ex-heavyweight in Burns and I’m expecting nothing short of a massacre.
Winner – Richard Hale defeats Josh Burns via Submission Round 2
Andrey Koreshkov (9-0) vs. Derrick Krantz (11-5)
Both these men are looking for their second straight Bellator win. Krantz is a well-rounded fighter that has shared cage time with notable fighters Rich Clementi and Dustin Poirier. While he tends to lack consistency, he is always dangerous, especially on the ground. I think “Spartan” is on another level though. The 21-year old Russian wisely avoided the M-1 Global route, and with a win tonight he could do big things in Bellator. He’ll get a TKO victory.
Winner – Andrey Koreshkov defeats Derrick Krantz via TKO Round 3
Booker Arthur (2-1) vs. Shanon Slack (3-0)
In a featured fight that is unlikely to be televised, the undefeated former Olympian Slack takes on the muscular Arthur. Arthur is more than capable of imposing his will on Slack, who has the advantage on the feet. Normally I’m not so high on regional MMA fights that appear on the Bellator undercards, but this is a damn good fight. I think at some point Arthur will put Slack on the ground, maybe even with strikes, and then make him tap. After all, Olympic wrestling is NOT MMA grappling.
Winner – Booker Arthur defeats Shanon Slack via Submission Round 2
Kalvin Hackney (11-2) vs. E.J. Brooks (6-0)
With half of his career wins coming under the Bellator banner, “The Pretty Boy” Brooks looks for his seventh straight win against “Hot Boy” Hackney. This is another very close fight on paper. If I had to pick, and I do, I’d say Hackney pulls it off in a bit of a lazy affair. I don’t see him winning a decision, so he’ll have to finish his foe.
Winner – Kalvin Hackney defeats E.J. Brooks via TKO Round 1
Josh Quayhagen (3-0) vs. Cliff Wright (6-2)
Bellator obviously sees something in Quayhagen, as he keeps coming back despite his less than exciting performances. He has tons of potential, and I’m happy they’re not handing him favorable match-ups. In Wright he faces a finisher. With all of his six victories coming by submission, the grappler most recently put Dakota Cochrane out cold in March. Quayhagen will understand adversity tonight, and I think it might be too much for him to overcome in this bout.
Winner – Cliff Wright defeats Josh Quayhagen via Submission Round 3
Ron Sparks (8-1) vs. Kevin Asplund (15-1)
In a heavyweight tournament eliminator, Bellator veteran Sparks looks to land some heavy leather as he faces fellow violence aficionado Asplund. This is one of those bouts that is just ridiculously hard to pick. Someone is going to sleep, likely quickly and likely violently. I’m going to call a knockout in the first round, and I’ll flip a coin for my selection.
Winner – Ron Sparks defeats Kevin Asplund via Knockout Round 1
Megumi Fujii (25-1) vs. Jessica Aguilar (13-4)
MEGA MEGU!!!! The best female fighter in the entire world, who should rightfully be 26-0, returns to the Bellator cage for the first time since her incredibly controversial loss to Zoila Gurgel. The grappling expert can and will tap anybody out, likely with little to no effort. She faces highly touted Aguilar who is currently riding a four fight winning streak. No slouch on the ground herself, more than half of her wins come by submission. I see Megu being too much for Aguilar to handle, but I see the submission games of both ladies being negated by one another so this will go the distance.
Winner – Megumi Fujii defeats Jessica Aguilar via Unanimous Decision
Karl Amoussou (14-4-2) vs. David Rickels (10-0)
“Psycho” Amoussou is out for blood. It would appear as if he just really dislikes Rickels, as he does anyone he faces, and that will once again serve as his motivation for looking to destroy his opponent. With crazy power in his hands and a pretty successful ground game, Amoussou is nearly in possession of all the pieces he needs to become a serious force in the fight game. In “The Caveman”, he faces one of the best welterweight prospects outside of the UFC. He hasn’t faced anyone of note, and thus it’s hard to tell where he stands in terms of skills, but…he has a beard. I am just not sold on Amoussou, he has trouble keeping it together, and composure might be the key to victory in this bout. As such, I’m going with the upset special.
Winner – David Rickels defeats Karl Amoussou via Unanimous Decision
Maiquel Falcao (30-4) vs. Andreas Spang (8-1)
Well, it’s about time these fellas finally got to fight. This time, Jimmy Smith will be safely outside of the cage. I expect nothing short of a war in this bout, and with two strikers as good as this someone is getting finished. I believe Spang is the better technical striker, but, with how much he gets hit and with Falcao being on the other end of those fists, I think it’s a short night for Spang.
Winner – Maiquel Falcao defeats Andreas Spang via Knockout Round 1
For the second last time this season, Bellator airs live on Spike.com at 7:00 PM EST with some preliminary bouts with the main card going live at 8:00 on MTV 2, TheScore.com in Canada, or on Spike.com.
Enjoy the fights!
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: fight, bellator, vs, winner, defeat
Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain
Bellator 69 Preview: Falcao Vs. Spang, Amossou Vs. Rickels, Aguilar Vs. Fuji
Later tonight, Bellator 69 will air on MTV2 and be streaming on Spike.com. We at Bloody Elbow will cover the event live - as well as The Ultimate Fighter - and we welcome you to the best place to hang out and talk MMA for the evening.
The main event fighters, Maiquel Falcao and Andreas Spang, are competing in the Bellator Middleweight tournament semi-finals. Karl Amoussou and David Rickels, the fight just prior, is the other semi-final.
We last saw Falcao in action at Bellator 66, where he took two rounds and a unanimous decision from Vyacheslav Vasilevsky. The bout was fitful in its pace and yielded in most memories to the amazing comeback of Andreas Spang over Brian "The Predator" Rogers in the very next fight.
Spang was in a back and forth first round with Rogers, but lost the round on most unofficial cards. In the second round, Rogers started lighting Spang up with huge punches and backed an obviously hurt Spang against the cage. Spang took the opportunity to launch a Hail Mary left hook and it connected - knocking Rogers down and opening him up for the finish.
After the fight, Falcao and Spang got into a shoving match, which saw Spang fined and warned by the athletic commission for instigating it. Tonight's bout should have an air of emotional intensity - although not nearly as much as the famous Falcao/Leandro Gordo match from Amazon Combat (ask in comments for the full story to that insanity).
Amoussou took out Chris Lozano at Bellator 63 in the first round with rear naked choke obtained after a very nice sweep to top position that made for a nice Judo Chop. Lozano was perhaps stunned by a head kick Amoussou landed just before the fight went to the ground, but "Psycho" Amoussou looked very impressive. His opponent, David "The Caveman" Rickels, made it to the semi-finals by punching out Jordan Smith in 22 seconds. Smith has had a tough time keeping opponents away from his tender chin in the past, but the demolition Rickels put on him was impressive. Amoussou should enjoy a considerable size advantage, but Rickels has powerful punches and could surprise Psycho at an inopportune moment.
Tonight, we also get to see Jessica Aguilar battle Megumi Fujii. Aguilar (13-4) last fought for this promotion at Bellator 58 in November of 2011, but picked up a win against Patricia Vidonic at Fight Time 8 in February of 2012. She is perhaps most notable for being the first victim of the Zoila Gurgel (nee Frausto) judging streak at Bellator 31. Her opponent, Fujii (25-1), is perhaps the single most complete mixed martial artist in the women's game. Her sole loss was to Zoila in October of 2010, a horrendously judged match, and since then, Fujii has won three fights with ease. This fight is being billed as the world's #1 strawweight versus the world's #2 strawweight - and it is exactly that.
If the world was a more just place, Fujii would be undefeated and Aguilar would have already battled her at Bellator 34. This is the bout that should have been and will feature some of the best talent in the world in that division. Fujii is known for her considerable grappling prowess, but has taken to striking for extended periods of time with her opponents. Aguilar will have her work cut out for her in fending off the punches and takedowns enough to implement her own offense.
Related Stories:
Bellator's Jessica Aguilar Comes Out As Bi-Sexual | Mini-Chop: Megumi Fujii's Japanese Mount Armbar | Megumi Fujii Goes 22-0, Best MMA Record Ever? | Judo Chop: Karl Amoussou and the Pendulum/Scissors Sweep | Andrey Koreshkov ranked as #1 Welterweight Prospect in 2012 Scouting Report
The rest of the card is after the jump and a note on a very promising prospect fighting tonight.
Main Card:
Maiquel Falcao (188, then 186 at re-weighing) vs. Andreas Spang (185.8) David Rickels 170.6) vs. Karl Amoussou (170) Megumi Fujii (116) vs. Jessica Aguilar (115.6) Ron Sparks (264.6) vs. Kevin Asplund (239)
Preliminary Card
Shanon Slack (146) vs. Booker Arthur (145.4) Josh Quayhagen (158.2) vs. Cliff Wright (155.6) Josh Burns (206) vs. Richard Hale (205.5) E.J. Brooks (156.6) vs. Kalvin Hackney (156) Andrey Koreshkov (170.8) vs. Derrick Krantz (170.8) Mark Holata (250.5) vs. Abe Wagner (248.8)
Why You Should Watch The Preliminary Card:
Andrey Koreshkov is probably the most exciting young gun in the entire sport of MMA right now.
The Bloody Elbow Scouting Report ranked Koreshkov (9-0) as the #1 prospect in the welterweight division back in January. The day after the article appeared, Bellator announced it had signed Koreshkov to a contract. We saw "Spartan" in action at Bellator 63 at the end of March, where he took one minute and twenty six seconds to finish Tiawan Howard (9-9) with a barrage of strikes.
Despite the unexceptional record of Koreshkov's opponents, he truly is special for his incredibly fluid striking. Undeserved hyperbole attached to a prospect can be damaging, but honestly, there are few fighters that throw smoother and more accurate strikes than Koreshkov right now and Anderson Silva is the most prominent of them.
Derrick Krantz is the best opponent Koreshkov has faced thus far and has submission grappling tendencies to boot. This is exactly the type of bout we need to see Koreshkov in to determine just how much hype he rightly deserves.
Posted in: bellator, vs, spang, fujii, koreshkov
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 69: Megumi Fujii - The Forgotten Queen Of MMA
Strikeforce Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey is the current 'It Girl' of Women's MMA, combining her ability to collect arms with that of a savvy social media and publicity presence. With Gina Carano missing in action, the attractive American Olympic Judo Bronze medalist has effortlessly taken the reigns and become the new face of her sport. Her domination of all opponents, including former champion Miesha Tate, will lead some to believe she's the current Pound For Pound Queen and the best in the world.
For many years previously though, a lighter-weight fighter had been competing and winning, amassing 22 wins in a row, with no losses over the course of 6 years. But because of the majority of her fights happening in small promotions, mostly in Japan, and the lack of attention Women's MMA typically gets, not many outside of an Internet literate hardcore knew anything about her.
Megumi Fujii is, as it stands, perhaps the best Women's MMA fighter of all time. The Judo / Sambo / Catch Wrestling Specialist is a submission magician and had a chance to make waves in America in 2010's Bellator 115lbs (Strawweight) Women's Tournament. Two submissions and a TKO got Fujii into the tournament final, but the championship bout with Zoila Frausto-Gurgel was to be her undoing.
Related Stories:
Bellator's Jessica Aguilar Comes Out As Bi-Sexual | Mini-Chop: Megumi Fujii's Japanese Mount Armbar | Roxanne Modafferi vs. Rosi Sexton, and the Continual Fight for WMMA Recognition | Megumi Fujii Ready to Cement Her Legacy at Bellator 34 | Megumi Fujii Goes 22-0, Best MMA Record Ever? | Gina Carano and the Power of Women's MMA
Perhaps wanting to prove she was multi-faceted and a true mixed martial artist, Fujii chose to keep the fight standing and attempt to out-strike her larger Muay Thai specialist opponent. What surprised many, was Fujii was seemingly able to, making it competitive and bloodying and bruising the face of Frausto. Unfortunately the perennial weed that is bad judging reared its ugly head, and many believe Fujii ended up on the bad side of a split-decision. More than the judging though, Fujii's choice of strategy came under the most scrutiny; her tactics even frustrating her coach Josh Barnett. Many questioned why she didn't take the fight to the ground when she had the clear advantage, and could well have finished.
continue reading after the jump.
SBN Bellator 69 Coverage
If Fujii had generated a small amount of buzz from her participation in the tournament, it was almost as quickly forgotten as she returned to compete in Japan. With that loss, Cristiane Santos was heralded as the women's pound for pound best, until at least her PED positive test scandal had her suspended for a year. Meanwhile, Fujii had rattled off another 3 wins making her career record to date 25-1.
Frausto-Gurgel was jubilant in her win over Fujii, but had made it clear she would likely not fight at 115lbs again, preferring to compete in her more natural weight class of 125lbs or higher. Due to time away from the sport as well since getting married, the 115lbs title had to be vacated, and is up for grabs tonight at Bellator 69 when Fujii takes on Jessica Aguilar, who had also suffered a split decision loss for Frausto-Gurgel.
At 38 years old, time could be running out for Fujii to make her mark on the American market. Unfortunately without the might of Zuffa behind her for promotional purposes, she may become ignored due to the historical revisionism that can occur when one super power in promotion dominates the landscape.
Between you and me, she'll always be the best.
Fantastic Megumi Fujii Highlight Video
Posted in: bellator, mma, women, megumi, fujii
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 69 results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Falcao vs Spang' TONIGHT (May 18) on MTV2
Bellator Fighting Championships returns TONIGHT (May 18, 2012) to L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with the continuation of the Welterweight tournament and a Middleweight tourney final fight.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 69 below, beginning with the MTV2 telecast at 8 p.m. ET. In addition, we'll deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the undercard action much earlier in the evening (beginning at 7 p.m.).
Headlining the main event will be a Bellator season six middleweight tournament final featuring a pair of hot-headed strikers in Brazilian Maiquel Falcao and Swede Andreas Spang. Both men practically came to blows in their last staredown so this should be very interesting.
Also on tap will be the second half of the Belaltor season six welterweight semifinals, which will pit undersized youngster David Rickels against powerful French judo practitioner Karl Amoussou.
In female mixed martial arts (MMA) action, the number one and two ranked 115 pounders in the world will duke it out as Japanese submission ace Megumi Fujii takes on American Top Team's Jessica Aguilar. Lastly, heavyweights Ron Sparks and Kevin Asplund are expected to throw down in a tournament eliminator bout.
Check out our complete Bellator 69 results after the jump (beginning at 7 p.m. ET).
Main Card
185 lbs.: Maiquel Falcão vs. Andreas Spang 170 lbs.: David Rickels vs. Karl Amoussou 115 lbs.: Megumi Fujii vs. Jessica Aguilar 265 lbs.: Ron Sparks vs. Kevin Asplund
Preliminary Card
145 lbs.: Shanon Slack vs. Booker Arthur 155 lbs.: Josh Quayhagen vs. Cliff Wright205 lbs.: Josh Burns vs. Richard Hale 155 lbs.: E.J. Brooks vs. Kalvin Hackney170 lbs.: Andrey Koreshkov vs. Derrick Krantz265 lbs.: Mark Holata vs. Abe Wagner
Kevin here!
185 lbs.: Maiquel Falcão vs. Andreas Spang
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Find Result:
-end-
170 lbs.: David Rickels vs. Karl Amoussou
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Find Result:
-end-
115 lbs.: Megumi Fujii vs. Jessica Aguilar
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Find Result:
-end-
265 lbs.: Ron Sparks vs. Kevin Asplund
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Find Result:
-end-
Posted in: bellator, result, round, vs, lb
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 69 Results & Recap
Bellator 69 takes place later tonight at the L’Auberge Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The event airs live on MTV2 at 8pm ET/7pm CT. The prelims will precede the MTV2 broadcast at 7pm ET and 10pm ET on Spike.com. In the main event, the season six middleweight tournament comes to a close as rivals Maiquel [...]
Posted in: bellator, pm, event, event airs, middleweight tournament
Read the full article at MMA Convert
A disrespected feeling Falcao wants to make Andreas Spang suffer
After being shoved during a face-off inside the cage following Andreas Spang's win over Brian Rogers, Maiquel Falcao will face off against him tonight at Bellator 69. We know that Falcao is a knockout artist who uses punches as brushstrokes and his opponent's consciousness as his canvas, but we haven't seen this from him in the big leagues yet. His UFC debut against Gerald Harris consisted of an explosive first round followed by two rounds of Falcao playing with his opponent, the same as his fight with Norman Paraisy at Bellator 61. Maybe he just wasn't motivated enough to go for the kill? If that's the case he should have no problem finding the motivation to knock out Spang. Falcao told Sherdog.com that he felt Spang had disrespected him, adding:
“I’m going in there to hurt him badly and to teach him how to behave. After this fight, he will never push anyone again. It’s time for someone to teach him some manners, and I will be the teacher. Andreas made this fight personal when he pushed me. That Bellator cage is my home, and nobody is going to push me in my home. Andreas better be ready to suffer.”
Spang not only shoved Falcao in the cage but also put his hands on Brian Rogers at their weigh in. The way Spang's arms come out every time someone gets inside his comfort circle is like some sort of compulsion. I don't know about you but I've not seen a propensity for shoving like that since elementary school. Back then, that's how all fights started. Why don't we see more street MMA starting with a shove? [source]
Posted in: fight, bellator, falcao, andrea, spang
Read the full article at Middle EasyJessica Aguilar vs. Megumi Fujii: Different Roads to the Same Goal
As the cage door shuts behind Jessica Aguilar and Megumi Fujii tonight at Bellator 69 it is the culmination of different roads traveled entwining to bring two of the sport’s greatest ambassadors together to battle.
For Fujii, the chance at retribution inside a Bellator cage. Fujii’s only career loss came at her last Bellator appearance in a split decision to Zoila Gurgel. Fujii returned to her native Japan, and. after looking unbeatable in three appearances since, returns to the United States to face Aguilar.
For Aguilar (or “Jag” as she is known otherwise,) the consensus #2 strawweight fighter in the world, a dream comes true on Friday - The opportunity to become recognized as the world’s best.
“My goal is to become #1, and that’s where I’m going. That’s my goal. That’s all I see.”
That was Aguilar speaking to Fighters.com prior to her November 2011 fight against Lisa Ellis. That night saw both fighters bloody and batter each other for 15 minutes straight. Ultimately, Aguilar, draped in the familiar flag of American Top Team, saw her hand raised victorious by unanimous decision. A similar unanimous decision followed against Patricia Vidonic, putting Bellator 69 and Fujii in her sights.
The fight was hinted at as early as the end of February. Fujii replied to fan on Twitter that her next fight would likely be “May 18th in the United States,” however, it went fairly noticed until rumors circulated in March and were confirmed later in the month.
Bringing to a close a whirlwind 75 day period for mainstream women’s MMA (starting with Ronda Rousey vs. Miesha Tate, carrying into Invicta FC‘s inaugural event, and now closing with this) Aguilar and Fujii haven’t built a rivalry based on heated exchanges, trash-talking and disdain. Rather, their rivalry is formed from mutual respect for each others’ talents, and cultivated by the same goal – being the best. At a time where fighters engage their fans for support and proverbial battle lines get drawn, Fujii and Aguilar regularly exchange pleasantries, even stopping to wish each other a Happy Birthday (both celebrate their birthdays within two weeks of each other which coincidentally fell during their training camps for this fight.)
It’s rare to see either fighter without a smile on their face, and both fighters work feverishly to acknowledge their fans and engage with them through social media, rarely leaving a fan without a response. This is one of the few things they both share in common.
Both fighters debuted in professional Mixed Martial Arts later than most. Fujii was 30 when she took her first fight, the first of 22 straight victories over a six-year span. At 38, she shows no signs of slowing down, having defeated Karla Benitez in under 90 seconds at her last outing on New Years Eve. The fight was a historic one, marking the first women’s fight in a DREAM ring.
Aguilar was nearly age 24 when she accepted short notice bout in 2006 against Ellis. Since then, Aguilar has won 13 of 16 including just a single loss in the last three years. She and Fujii both have never been stopped in her careers, losing only by decision.
Both Fujii and Aguilar are immensely skilled, high energy grapplers. Fujii’s ability to overwhelm an opponent with her skills are second to none, and Aguilar has proven in recent fights that her mix of methodical, yet relentless, grappling and wel-timed strikes are game to derail any game plan conjured up against her. Neither fighter is known for powerful striking, preferring to test their skills on the ground the majority of the time. Their combined 26 career submission victory are testament to that. In comparison, Aguilar only has one TKO win in her career, as does Fujii. This surely will not be a slugfest. Rather, a test of high level skills that go down as one of the greatest single bouts in women’s MMA history.
Whether you smile and believe with Aguilar, or are one of Fujii’s Mega Megu Cats, when that cage door closes and the introductions begin, make sure you are in front of your television or computer when they touch gloves and fight to prove who is #1 in the world.
Bellator 69 begins at 8:00 PM EST, 5:00 PM Pacific on MTV2 in the United States. Since Bellator no longer airs live in Canada, Canadians will have to catch the online feed at Spike.com.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: fight, bellator, fighter, aguilar, fujii
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 69 Weigh-in Results: Falcao vs. Spang & Fujii vs. Aguilar Get Green Light
The Bellator 69 weigh-ins are in the books, making Maiquel Falcao vs. Andreas Spang and Megumi Fujii vs. Jessica Aguilar official for Friday night.
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Posted in: bellator, vs, spang, fujii, bull
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 69 Prelims – LIVE on MMAWeekly.com!
Stay tuned to MMAWeekly.com for the Bellator 69 preliminary fight card, streaming live, beginning at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Friday, May 18.
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Posted in: bellator, fight card, pm, mmaweeklycom, bull
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyMoves like Jagger: Bellator 115 pound contender Jessica Aguilar interview exclusive with MMAmania.com (Part one)
Tomorrow night (May 18, 2012), Jessica Aguilar's dream has an opportunity to come true.
That's because "Jag" will be battling Megumi Fujii, a legend of women's MMA and the current top-ranked 115 pound female fighter on the planet.
No slouch herself, Aguilar sports a 14-3 record and is the consensus number two-ranked strawweight. She's been clamoring for a shot at the Japanese legend ever since before she was a participant in the Bellator season three women's 115 pound tournament alongside Fujii.
Both ladies lost extremely controversial decisions at the hands of Zoila Gurgel, but have been unstoppable since. Aguilar has gone on to defeat the likes of Lisa Ellis and Carla Esparza under the Bellator banner in 2011 and has more than earned her shot to potentially be the top ranked women at 115 pounds.
Before she steps into the cage tomorrow night on the Bellator 69 main card, Aguilar spoke with MMAmania.com during a special guest appearance on The Verbal Submission where she talked about her in-fight decision-making process, her dream fight finally coming to fruition and even Dana White's "business-like" opinion on women's MMA in part one of this two-part interview.
Check it out:
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Let's get right to business. It's fight week, you're a few days until you're stepping into the cage. What's going through your head right now? Do you kind of get more moody or are you just as outgoing and happy as you always are?
Jessica Aguilar: It depends on how the weight cut is going. When the weight's on track, it's easy to be in a good mood. (laughs) Right now, everything is really nice. My weight is fine and I feel good and I'm really looking forward to this fight. It's been a fight I've been wanting for a long time and I'm finally getting it so I couldn't be in any better spirits right now.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): This is a fight you were talking about wanting even back in 2010 before the Bellator season three women's 115 pound tournament. Now it's finally happening so what do you feel with it being this close to fruition?
Jessica Aguilar: Well it's all business. The mindset is that I've trained and I just feel like everything I've done in my whole career has been working up to this fight. It's been a long road with a lot of training and I'm just so honored to be here fighting against somebody who's really been an idol of mine so to have this opportunity now, I can't even express how grateful I am to Bellator for making this happen.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You mentioned how a bad weight cut can affect your mood heading into a fight. Now your last fight in Bellator against Lisa Ellis, I think I remember that was a bad weight cut. Did you have some issues then?
Jessica Aguilar: Yes, I hurt my foot in my previous fight so the training camp was tough. When you have a broken foot it's tough to do cardio. I wasn't having an ideal training camp for the Ellis-Ward fight so it was a tough cut. This time, it's business as usual. I've never come in heavy other than that fight. I usually come in underweight but that was just extenuating circumstances and that will certainly never ever happen again.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): It's been really nice to see the evolution of your striking game. I remember your first fight in Bellator, you took your opponent down and submitted her right away but since then, you've stood and traded with everybody. I know that you put in a lot of time working on it, but how far do you feel your striking has come and how confident are you on the feet now?
Jessica Aguilar: I feel like I've always had it in my back pocket and I really just never got a chance to use it because I always was so successful on the ground. I'm definitely very confident in my striking. This is the kind of sport when you have to be completely well-rounded and if you have any holes in your game, other people will capitalize on that. I spend a lot of time on the ground and a lot of time wrestling and doing all the things I need to do. You have to have the full package and my striking is something I'm proud of.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): With this fight being between the number one and number two 115-pounders, the winner will be the number one 115-pounder in the world but do you think the winner of this fight will have a claim to be best pound-for-pound female fighter?
Jessica Aguilar: That's a tricky one because the pound-for-pound rankings right now, there's a couple key players that aren't in the rankings at the moment. It depends what you're going by. Are you going by the quality of the victories or the records overall. If you look at Megumi's record, 25-1, that's ridiculous but they say if you beat number one, you should become number one. I think obviously for the 115 I'll have that claim but for pound-for-pound, I don't know. That's tough. There's a lot of really tough girls on there.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): In Megumi's last fight under the Bellator banner, she fought Zoila Gurgel and she stood. It was surprising. I thought she won, but still it was surprising that she stood and traded with Zoila throughout the five round fight. Would you be surprised if she stood with you for the full three rounds?
Jessica Aguilar: No, I don't think I'd be surprised. I think Megumi wanted to prove that she can stay there and trade and bang with someone that's known for their striking. She had a point to prove and I do too. Everyone thinks I'm a ground fighter and of course I am a ground fighter, but I wanted to show people what I can do and I think Megumi felt the same way. Honestly, I would not be surprised at all and it will be very interesting to see what happens in there. Wherever it goes, I'm prepared.
Ben Thapa: I wanted to ask you about the third round of the Ellis fight. You kind of came out and were throwing a bunch of overhands but then you seemed to "come to" and you started snapping jabs and that seemed to set off a great chain of events for you. What caused the shift from "overhand, overhand, overhand" to working the jab?
Jessica Aguilar: To tell the truth, in the heat of the battles, it's hard to remember what clicked in my head at the moment but I can tell you that I have a fantastic corner and my coaches a lot of times, if they see something that's missing or they see a hole or something that I need to capitalize on, I've got the benefit of American Top Team and the fantastic coaches that will tell me what to do. A lot of times, it's just listening to your corner.
Sometimes your corner will say, "Hey, throw some jabs!" and you'll start throwing jabs and turn it all around. It's that eye outside of the cage that's the big help and a lot times, it's instinctual. You see something isn't working and you try something else. I can't honestly say that something went off in my head where I went, "Oh, try this now." It's probably a combination of the coaches and the instincts.
Gerry Rodriguez: What do you think about Dana White's thoughts on women's MMA as a whole?
Jessica Aguilar: I think that his problem is he's a businessman. Obviously, he feels like, how's he gonna put together a division if there's no depth to it. "There's not enough females out there" has been his take but now when you look at these cards like with Invicta and he sees that there's depth out there with females and I really think that Ronda Rousey is sparking his interest. He sees something with her that he really likes and she's done some promotional things and she's gonna open up the doors for females to get into the UFC.
Again, I think Dana's gonna look at it and say, "Am I really gonna have enough females to put together competitive fights?" We'll see what happens but we're at such an infancy stage of MMA for the females and I think if we're having this conversation five years from now, we'll definitely be seeing females on the big stage for MMA. There's no doubt about it. The girls are coming out now and they're training and it's just a matter of time before there's a ton of competitors out there. I'm excited to be a part of it.
You can follow Jessica Aguilar on Twitter @JagATT.
Stay tuned tomorrow for part two of our interview with Jessica Aguilar where she talks about Megumi Fujii's legendary ground game, working with American Top Team coaches like Marcos Da Matta and punching people you like in the face as hard as you can.
To listen to our full interview with Jessica Aguilar, click here (audio starts at the 22:00 mark).
Posted in: fight, bellator, time, jessica, aguilar
Read the full article at MMA ManiaHeated words at Bellator 69 weigh-ins
There were some heated words exchanged between two pairs of fighters at the Bellator 69 weigh-ins Thursday.
Posted in: bellator, word, thursday, weighin, pair
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator's Jessica Aguilar Comes Out As Bi-Sexual: 'This Is Who I Am'
Jessica Aguilar faces the legendary Megumi Fujii at tomorrow night's Bellator 69. The two are pretty much universally acknowledged to be the #2 and #1 115 pound women's mixed martial artists in the world but there's no belt on the line.
Both fighters lost very debatable decisions to Zoila Gurgel in the Bellator season 3 women's 115lb tournament in 2010.
Aguilar spoke to Sports Illustrated's Loretta Hunt and the conversation focused more on Aguilar's personal life than the upcoming bout. Including this acknowledgement of her bi-sexuality:
"I don't put it in any titles," said Aguilar, "but I'd say when I've found the right person -- whether it's a man or a woman -- I'd be happy."..."It's always been something I had to be very conservative about and it's something I've had to get more comfortable talking about," she said. "If somebody doesn't agree with my choices, with all due respect, I just don't feed into it because that's negative energy. I'm sorry -- this is who I am."
Aguilar is not the first professional female MMA fighter to come out as gay or bisexual -- Tonya Evinger, Liz Carmouche and Michelle Ould immediately come to mind and I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting -- but it's interesting that there has yet to be an openly gay male professional fighter at the highest levels of the sport.
Posted in: bellator, fighter, aguilar, im, zoila gurgel
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 69 Weigh-In Results: Main Eventer Falcao Comes In Over
As seems to have started to become a trend with Bellator, a main event fighter failed to make weight Thursday. Bellator 69′s headliner between Maiquel Falcao and Andreas Spang ran into some issues, as the season six middleweight finalist Falcao tipped the scales at 188 pounds. He will have two hours to make weight, which [...]
Posted in: bellator, falcao, maiquel falcao, andreas spang, eventer falcao
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 69 Weigh-In Results; Falcao Overweight on First Attempt
Today at the L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana, all fighters competing on tomorrow night’s Bellator 69 fight card stepped on the scales for the event’s official weigh-ins.
Three fighters failed to make weight on their first attempts. Among them was Maiquel Falcao, who is scheduled to meet Andreas Spang in the main event of the evening for their middleweight tournament final bout. Preliminary card fighters E.J. Brooks and Josh Quayhagen also missed their marks. All three fighters will have an additional two hours to make the contracted weight, or forfeit a percentage of their purses to their opponents.
Bellator 69 takes place tomorrow at the L’Auberge du Lac and will air live on Spike.com and then MTV 2 (and EPIX in HD). In addition to the middleweight final between Falcao and Spang, the fight card will feature a welterweight semifinal between Karl Amoussou and David Rickels. Also on the main card, highly-ranked women’s strawweight Megumi Fujii makes her return to Bellator after suffering a controversial split decision defeat to Zoila Gurgel back in 2010.
Check out the weigh-in results below:
Main Card (MTV2)
Maiquel Falcão (188*) vs. Andreas Spang (185.8)
David Rickels (170.6) vs. Karl Amoussou (170)
Megumi Fujii (116) vs. Jessica Aguilar (115.6)
Ron Sparks (264.6) vs. Kevin Asplund (239)
Preliminary Card (Spike.com)
Josh Quayhagen (158.2)* vs. Cliff Wright, Jr. (155.6)
E.J. Brooks (156.6)* vs. Kalvin Hackney (156)
Shanon Slack (146) vs. Booker Arthur (145.4)
Andrey Koreshkov (170.8) vs. Derrick Krantz (170.8)
Richard Hale (205.5) vs. Josh Burns (206)
Abe Wagner (248.8) vs. Mark Holata (250.6)
*Falcao, Quayhagen and Brooks have two hours to make the weight.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: bellator, fighter, vs, card, falcao
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 69 weigh-in results: Falcao heavy, Amoussou vs. Rickels official
the first round of Bellator 69's official fighter weigh-ins are in the
books, and all but one of four co-headlining tournament fighters
successfully made weight.
Middleweight tournament finalist Maiquel Falcao weighed 188 pounds on
his first attempt and has been given additional time to lose two more
pounds.
Today's weigh-ins took place at L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La.
Posted in: bellator, pound, tournament, lake charles, weighin
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 166: Cole Konrad, Strikeforce HWGP Final, Bellator 69 Previews
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in MMA, including all the fallout from UFC on FUEL TV 3 and more.
We'll preview this weekend's MMA cards, including Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament Final, which features, as it states, the final of the company's heavyweight tournament between Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier, plus a Strikeforce lightweight championship fight between Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson. The card also features a critical light-heavyweight bout between Mike Kyle and Rafael Cavalcante.
We'll also preview Friday's Bellator 69 card, which features the middleweight tournament final between Maiquel Falcao and Andreas Spang and a welterweight tournament semifinal between Karl Amoussou and David Rickels.
We'll break down all the fights on those cards while taking your calls, emails, tweets and more.
We'll also welcome Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad to the show to preview his title fight with Eric Prindle next week at Bellator 70. We'll chat with him about the fight, the hoops they jumped through to get to this point and much more.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Alexander Gustafsson UFC on FUEL TV walk out T-shirt only from Bad Boy at BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Bellator 69
SBN coverage of Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier
Posted in: fight, bellator, strikeforce, preview, elbow
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow
Rivalries heat-up at Bellator weigh-ins, Karl Amoussou:I am going to destroy him!
Bellator 69 weigh-ins for Bellator’s Friday night event at L’Auberge Casino Resort, in Lake Charles, Louisiana. This card features the Bellator Season 6 Middleweight Tournament Finals between Maiquel Falcao and Andreas Spang. According to a Bellator Press Release, rivalry between the two heated up during the post weigh-in media interviews. Spang stepped off the scale and told the crowd that they could “expect fireworks,” to which Falcao responded: “I came to win. If I
Posted in: bellator, “ i, card features, weighin, andreas spang
Read the full article at Low KickBellator 69 weigh in results LIVE from Lake Charles for 'Falcao vs Spang'
The official weigh-in event for tomorrow night's (May 18, 2012) Bellator 69 fight card takes place today (May 17, 2012) at 5 p.m. ET from inside L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana.Headlining the main event will be a Bellator season six middleweight tournament final featuring a pair of hot-headed strikers in Brazilian Maiquel Falcao and Swede Andreas Spang. Both men practically came to blows in their last staredown so this should be very interesting.
Also on tap will be the second half of the Belaltor season six welterweight semifinals, which will pit undersized youngster David Rickels against powerful French judo practitioner Karl Amoussou.
In female mixed martial arts (MMA) action, the number one and two ranked 115 pounders in the world will duke it out as Japanese submission ace Megumi Fujii takes on American Top Team's Jessica Aguilar. Lastly, heavyweights Ron Sparks and Kevin Asplund are expected to throw down in a tournament eliminator bout.
Our complete Bellator 69 weigh-in results are posted after the jump:
Main Card
185 lbs.: Maiquel Falcão () vs. Andreas Spang ()170 lbs.: David Rickels () vs. Karl Amoussou ()125 lbs.: Megumi Fujii () vs. Jessica Aguilar ()265 lbs.: Ron Sparks () vs. Kevin Asplund ()
Preliminary Card
145 lbs.: Shanon Slack () vs. Booker Arthur () 155 lbs.: Josh Quayhagen () vs. Cliff Wright ()205 lbs.: Josh Burns () vs. Richard Hale () 155 lbs.: E.J. Brooks () vs. Kalvin Hackney ()170 lbs.: Andrey Koreshkov () vs. Derrick Krantz ()265 lbs.: Mark Holata () vs. Abe Wagner ()
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 69, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 8 p.m. ET tomorrow night (May 18).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: night, bellator, vs, lb, card
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWatch today's Bellator 69 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 2 p.m. ET
L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La., plays host to
today's official Bellator 69 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a
live video stream of the proceedings at 2 p.m. ET (1 p.m. CT local
time).
Bellator 69 takes place Friday and features Maiquel Falcao vs. Andreas
Spang (middleweight-tourney final) and Karl Amoussou vs. David Rickels
(welterweight-tourney semifinal).
In addition to the live weigh-ins, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, video stream, lake charles, place friday, text results
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 69 preview and predictions for 'Falcao vs Spang' on May 18 in Lake Charles
Bellator Fighting Championships will head to "The Bayou State" this Friday night (May 18, 2012) at the L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The main card will air live on MTV2 and Epix HD on fight night, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Headlining the main event will be a Bellator season six middleweight tournament final featuring a pair of hot-headed strikers in Brazilian Maiquel Falcao and Swede Andreas Spang. Both men practically came to blows in their last staredown so this should be very interesting.
Also on tap will be the second half of the Belaltor season six welterweight semifinals, which will pit undersized youngster David Rickels against powerful French judo practitioner Karl Amoussou.
In female mixed martial arts (MMA) action, the number one and two ranked 115 pounders in the world will duke it out as Japanese submission ace Megumi Fujii takes on American Top Team's Jessica Aguilar. Lastly, heavyweights Ron Sparks and Kevin Asplund are expected to throw down in a tournament eliminator bout.
Our complete Bellator 69 preview and predictions are posted after the jump:
185 lbs.: Maiquel Falcao (30-4 1 NC) vs. Andreas Spang (8-1)
Maiquel Falcao is one of the most volatile and unpredictable middleweights in the world. He cruised through his quarterfinal bout against Norman Paraisy like a cat playing with its food, but had a much sterner test against Russian "Slava" Vasilevsky in the semifinals, controversially eeking out a decision victory. Afterwards he almost came to blows in his tournament final staredown with Spang in Cleveland.
Andreas Spang was an alternate for the Bellator middleweight tournament. A veteran of MFC and Strikeforce, the "Sweet Swede" absorbed a ton of punishment against hometown favorite Brian Rogers in the semifinals before landing a huge left hand in the second round to score a huge come-from-behind knockout victory and secure a place in the tournament finals.
Spang should have a reach and technical edge in the striking department, but Falcao is very powerful and capable of closing the distance in a hurry. Falcao also should have a major advantage on the ground against the European striker. If he can close the distance, land with power on the inside and put Spang on his back, he should come away with a victory.
Final Prediction: Maiquel Falcao via submission in round one
170 lbs.: David Rickels (10-0) vs. Karl Amoussou (14-4-2)
David Rickels has really blossomed under the Bellator banner. "The Caveman" has gone 4-0 in the promotion with all four fights being stoppages but none were more impressive than his 22 second demolition of Jordan Smith in the quarterfinals of the season six welterweight tournament a month and a half ago. Rickels is hoping to keep the momentum rolling, but he's got a very stern test ahead of him.
Karl Amoussou originally signed with Bellator as a middleweight but after controversially coming up short against Sam Alvey, he made the cut to 170 pounds and he has looked incredible ever since. He crushed Jesus Martinez with a first round TKO and then brutalized Chris Lozano, dropping the Greg Jackson product and then finishing him with a rear naked choke on the ground after scoring a beautiful sweep.
Rickels is incredibly game both standing and on the feet, but I've a feeling that he's going to be physically overwhelmed by the bigger, stronger Amoussou, who just looked like a worldbeater ever since dropping down to 170 pounds.
Final Prediction: Karl Amoussou via TKO in round two
115 lbs.: Megumi Fujii (22-1) vs. Jessica Aguilar (13-4)
Megumi Fujii has widely been regarded as the greatest female mixed martial artist ever. She gained prominence in America after being offered a spot in the Bellator season three women's 115 pound tournament, where she submitted her way to the finals. In the championship match, she would lose an extremely controversial decision to Zoila Gurgel, which still currently stands as the sole blotch on her otherwise spotless record. Fujii has since won her last three fights including a first round submission at the New Year's Eve "Fight for Japan" event.
Jessica Aguilar has developed quickly into one of the world's best 115 pounders. "Jag" rode a four fight win streak into the Bellator season three tournament as well, submitting Lynn Alvarez in the quarterfinals before also dropping an extremely controversial decision to Zoila Gurgel in the semifinals, this one perhaps even more egregious than the Fujii decision. Aguilar has bounced back nicely, winning four straight including two under the Bellator banner over Carla Esparza and Lisa Ellis in 2011.
Fujii is a serious veteran of the sport and likely has the most aggressive ground game of any female below 135 pounds. Aguilar is an accomplished grappler herself but I don't see her doing anything other than playing defense if the fight goes to the canvas. Look for Aguilar to try to keep the fight standing against Fujii and work her seriously improved stand-up game, which has really come full circle in her last four fights. Aguilar doesn't have knockout power, but she can definitely outpoint the 38 year old for up to three rounds if she can keep it on the feet.
Final Predicition: Jessica Aguilar via decision
265 lbs.: Ron Sparks (8-1) vs. Kevin Asplund (15-1)
Ron Sparks is a big heavyweight powerhouse out of Kentucky. "The Monster" cruised to an 8-0 record which included a trio of first round stoppages under the Bellator banner, impressively knocking out Mark Holata in the Bellator season five heavyweight quarterfinals. Unfortunately, he ran into a big left hand counter from Eric Prindle which handed him his first professional defeat and he's eyeing another crack at a Bellator tournament.
Kevin Asplund lost his first career MMA bout in 2002 but hasn't looked back since. After a five year layoff, "Concrete" returned to action in 2009 and has been a one-man wrecking machine, winning all 13 bouts since his return which includes 11 stoppages. The Minnesota veteran fighter is hoping to get a crack at the next heavyweight tournament if he can get past Sparks.
Both Sparks and Asplund have knockout power, but in my opinion, it's going to be Asplund's ground game which will decide this fight. As long as he avoids getting cracked on the chin by Spark's power, I feel he can take "The Monster" down and work for submissions. Sparks is pretty limited on the canvas and if Asplund can put him there, he's got a terrific chance of winning this bout.
Final Prediction: Kevin Asplund via submission in round two
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, tournament, aguilar
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 70 Official For May 25; Cole Konrad To Defend Title Vs. Eric Prindle
Cole Konrad will finally defend his Bellator heavyweight title, as the former NCAA wrestling standout takes on Eric Prindle in the main event of Bellator 70. The card takes place May 25 from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The prelims will stream on Spike.com, while the main card airs on MTV2. [...]
Posted in: bellator, card airs, cole, eric prindle, prindle
Read the full article at MMA ConvertLineup for season-ending Bellator 70 event official, Konrad-Prindle headlines
The lineup is set for next week's Bellator 70, which concludes the organization's current sixth season.
As previously announced, the event features a championship main event between heavyweight titleholder Cole Konrad and recent tournament winner Eric Prindle.
Bellator 70 takes place next Saturday, May 25, at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans and features 10 bouts.
Posted in: bellator, event, lineup, feature, event features
Read the full article at MMA Junkie
Bellator 68: 169,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 68 ratings were up to an average of 169,000 viewers. The ratings show an uptick in the ratings for the season on MTV2.
The ratings up the season 6 average to 152,500 from 150,500.
Bellator 67: 165,000 viewers
Bellator 66: 109,000 viewers
Bellator 65: 163,000 viewers
Bellator 64: 175,00 viewers
Bellator 63: 140,000 viewers
Bellator 62: 175,000 viewers
Bellator 61: 108,000 viewers
Bellator 60: 169,000 viewers
Payout Perspective:
A nice two show streak of ratings for Bellator as 68 was the third highest for the season. It will be interesting to see if the ratings sustain for the final two weeks of the season as it features the semifinal and final rounds of its tournaments. A stream of 160K plus viewers to end the season should be seen as a sign of improvement although the overall season average may not be better than prior seasons.
Posted in: bellator, season, rating, viewer, show streak
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBellator 70 Official Lineup; Konrad to Defend Heavyweight Title
Bellator has released the finalized lineup for next Friday’s (May 25) Bellator 70 event, which is scheduled to take place at the New Orleans Convention Center inside the Harrah’s New Orleans Casino in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The fight card is set to feature a heavyweight title fight between champ Cole Konrad and Eric Prindle in the main event, as well as a final and semifinal match in the promotion’s sixth season lightweight and bantamweight tournaments, respectively.
Bellator 70′s main card will air on MTV@, with the preliminary card running via live stream on Spike.com. Tickets for the event are on sale now. Check out the lineup below:
Main Card:
Heavyweight Title Fight: Cole Konrad vs. Eric Prindle
Lightweight Final: Rick Hawn vs. Brent Weedman
Bantamweight Semifinal: Luis Nogueira vs. Hiroshi Nakamura
Rich Clementi vs. Derek Campos
Preliminary Card:
Josh Shockley vs. Keith Schneider
Charlie Rader vs. A.J. Matthews
Jonas Billstein vs. Mike Seal
Kyle Bradley vs. John Harris
Blake Dufour vs. Derek Arcement
Jeremiah Riggs vs. Kelvin Tiller
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, vs, card, spikecom tickets
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 68 ratings: Tied for third-best all season, top season average
Ratings held steady, and this past weekend's Bellator 68 event averaged 169,000 viewers on MTV2.
That's up from the 165,000 viewers who tuned in a week prior, and it bested the previous average of 150,500 viewers over the season's first eight events. It also tied for the third-best ratings of Bellator's sixth season.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the figures with an industry source.
Posted in: bellator, season, rating, viewer, thirdbest ratings
Read the full article at MMA JunkieClementi returns to cage at home at Bellator 70
Bellator 70 is set for May 25 at the New Orleans Convention Center and will feature the return to the cage of local fighter Rich Clementi.
Posted in: bellator, cage, return, clementi, clementi returns
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator: Season-six bantamweight and welterweight tourneys conclude in summer
It doesn't take much more than a calendar and an upcoming fight schedule to realize Bellator had a problem.
With two of its season-six tournaments yet to conclude their semifinal rounds, and with Bellator's current season wrapping next week, the eight-man tourneys now will concluded in the summer.
A Bellator official today confirmed the plans with MMAjunkie.com.
Posted in: bellator, semifinal rounds, fight schedule, welterweight tourneys, eightman tourneys
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 70 fight card and line up set for May 25 in New Orleans
Chicago, Ill. (May 15, 2012) - The Big Easy will be the host for Bellator 70 as heavyweights Cole Konrad and Eric Prindle face off for the Bellator World Championship and headline a loaded fight card presented by Harrah's New Orleans from the New Orleans Convention Center on Friday, May 25.
The night will also feature the Finals of Bellator's Lightweight Tournament, a Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal fight and a host of preliminary action featuring some of Louisiana's best talent, including New Orleans' own Rich Clementi.
Tickets for Bellator 70 are now on sale and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or by visiting the New Orleans Convention Center Box Office. Tickets are priced from $30-$125. The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 7 p.m. CST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CST, with the first fight scheduled for 6 p.m. CST.
The preliminary card, featuring the area's top talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE on Spike.com starting at 6 p.m. CST. The official weigh-ins for Bellator 70 will be held at 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 24 at Masquerade inside Harrah's Casino.
After a dominating run through the Season 6 Lightweight Tournament that included a vicious knockout over Ricardo Tirloni at Bellator 62. Rick Hawn is looking to secure his guaranteed title shot with a victory over Brent Weedman. For Weedman, the longtime Bellator veteran is eager for his title shot, and knows it's just a victory away.
"Winning this tournament is important to me because it will really cement who I am as a fighter," Weedman said. "With each round, the tougher guys are going to advance, and they will be able to get that exposure on TV again and again. The fans at home will be following their stories and following their fights. Whoever wins this tournament is going to be solidified."
Known as one of the better bantamweight prospects in MMA, Luis Nogueira is set to take on the incredibly skilled "Iron" Nakamura in the Season 6 Bantamweight Semifinals. Both secured dominating victories in their quarterfinal fights, and will look to keep the momentum going into the finals at Bellator 70.
The night will also feature Louisiana native Rich "No Love" Clementi returning to the Bellator cage after nearly two years against Derek Campos. A long time veteran of the sport, Clementi holds notable victories over Melvin Guillard, Anthony "Rumble" Johnson and Sam Stout, and is primed for a homecoming victory.
New Orleans native Charlie "Superstar" Rader will look to get back to his winning ways when he squares off against fellow welterweight A.J. Matthews in front of family and friends. The 30-year-old Rader has won both of his previous fights in Bellator, as "Superstar" delivered two TKO finishes to Josh Rafferty and Christian Fulgium.
An intriguing catchweight contest will take place as once-beaten prospect Josh Shockley faces local fighter Keith Schneider. Shockley is currently riding a three-fight winning streak that includes a Bellator 60 victory over Shamar Bailey.
The New Orleans Convention Center will play host to a middleweight bout as Cologne, Germany's Jonas Billstein takes on well-traveled MMA veteran Mike Seal. Billstein, who enjoyed a nine-fight winning streak to begin his career, is looking to make a statement when he enters the Bellator cage against New Orleans' Seal.
MMA veteran Kyle Bradley of nearby Denham Springs, Louisiana will step back in the cage when he meets John Harris in a lightweight fight. Bradley, who has scored a finish in 15 of his 16 wins, will try to secure his first win this year at Bellator 70.
Also, local bantamweights Blake Dufour and Derek Arcement will meet as the two young, hungry fighters looking to take their careers to the next level. Both men will be making their Bellator debuts when they meet in front of an electric New Orleans crowd.
Rounding out the card, Mississippi's own Jeremiah Riggs will meet fellow middleweight Kelvin Tiller in a 185-pound matchup. Tiller, who has posted three consecutive wins, will look to keep his momentum going against Riggs.
MAIN CARD:
Heavyweight Title Fight: Cole Konrad (8-0) vs. Eric Prindle (7-1)
Lightweight Tournament Final Fight: Rick Hawn (13-1) vs. Brent Weedman (20-7-1)
Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal Fight: Luis Nogueira (13-2) vs. Hiroshi Nakamura (15-5-4)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Rich Clementi (42-21-1) vs. Derek Campos (9-2)
PRELIMINARY CARD:
Catchweight Feature Fight: Josh Shockley (9-1) vs. Keith Schneider (6-6)
Welterweight Feature Fight: Charlie Rader (16-5) vs. A.J. Matthews (5-1)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Jonas Billstein (9-2) vs. Mike Seal (13-14-1)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Kyle Bradley (16-9) vs. John Harris (4-4)
Bantamweight Feature Fight: Blake Dufour (2-1) vs. Derek Arcement (1-2)
Middleweight Feature Fight: Jeremiah Riggs (7-6) vs. Kelvin Tiller (3-0)
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: fight, bellator, orlean, vs, tournament
Read the full article at MMA ManiaRebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce’s Ike Vallie-Flagg, Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen
The three main MMA organizations will come together this Sunday night when fighters from Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC grace the Rebellion MMA Radio airwaves!
Stopping by the show to join hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick will be UFC welterweight Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce lightweight Isaac Valle-Flagg, and Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen. The trio are all scheduled for fights this month and will no doubt be itching to dish on all of their respective match-ups as well as a number of other topics.
Ludwig faces Dan Hardy at UFC 146 in hopes of bouncing back from his stumble against Josh Neer. “Bang” is not only a hard-hitting fighter with more than 20 wins to his credit but also owns the distinction of notching the fastest knockout in UFC history.
Meanwhile, Valle-Flagg puts his ten-fight unbeaten streak on the line next weekend when he takes on Gesias Cavalcante at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final event, while Quayhagen is 3-0 thus far in his young career and looks to keep his perfect record intact on May 18 at Bellator 69.
Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com).
Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will offer their own unique takes on all-things MMA.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, strikeforce, rebellion
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainRebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce’s Ike Vallie-Flagg, Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen
The three main MMA organizations will come together this Sunday night when fighters from Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC grace the Rebellion MMA Radio airwaves!
Stopping by the show to join hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick will be UFC welterweight Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce lightweight Isaac Valle-Flagg, and Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen. The trio are all scheduled for fights this month and will no doubt be itching to dish on all of their respective match-ups as well as a number of other topics.
Ludwig faces Dan Hardy at UFC 146 in hopes of bouncing back from his stumble against Josh Neer. “Bang” is not only a hard-hitting fighter with more than 20 wins to his credit but also owns the distinction of notching the fastest knockout in UFC history.
Meanwhile, Valle-Flagg puts his ten-fight unbeaten streak on the line next weekend when he takes on Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final event, while Quayhagen is 3-0 thus far in his young career and looks to keep his perfect record intact on May 18 at Bellator 69.
Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com).
Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will offer their own unique takes on all-things MMA.
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Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, strikeforce, rebellion
Read the full article at Fighters.comRebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce’s Ike Vallie-Flagg, Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen
The three main MMA organizations will come together this Sunday night when fighters from Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC grace the Rebellion MMA Radio airwaves! Stopping by the show to join hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick will be UFC welterweight Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce lightweight Isaac Valle-Flagg, and Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen. The trio are all [...]
Posted in: ufc, bellator, strikeforce, ufc grace, bryan levick
Read the full article at MMA ConvertVideo: Bellator 68 highlights from 'Straus vs Sandro' last night
Ladies and gentlemen, a new Bellator featherweight title challenger has been crowned, and it's not the man that the rankings would have led you to believe.
Last night (May 11, 2012), Vision MMA's Daniel Straus pulled off the upset, scoring a unanimous decision against USA Today/SBNation consensus number five ranked featherweight on the planet, Marlon Sandro. Straus put the pressure on Sandro, who never seemed fully comfortable in the cage and couldn't get off his prolific punching attack.
Bellator Fighting Championships has put out a highlight video from all four main card fights, including the controversial doctor stoppage between Waachiim Spiritwolf and Marius Zaromskis, the heel hook by Marcin Held and Brazilian Marcos Galvao's redemption victory against Travis Marx in the bantamweight tournament semifinals.
For complete Bellator 68 play-by-play results click here. And to check out a complete results recap of the mixed martial arts (MMA) event that aired on MTV2 click here.
Posted in: bellator, heel hook, sandro, travis marx, attack bellator
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVideo highlights: Bellator 68 with Straus-Sandro, Galvao-Marx, Zaromskis-Spiritwolf
Bellator 68 is in the books, and the organization has released video highlights from Friday's event.
They include all four MTV2-televised main-card bouts.
Among them was the season-six featherweight-tournament finale of Daniel Straus vs. Marlon Sandro, as well as a bantamweight-tourney semifinal of Marcos Galvao vs. Travis Marx.
Posted in: bellator, video, vs, fridays event, bantamweighttourney semifinal
Read the full article at MMA JunkieRebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce’s Ike Vallie-Flagg, Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen
The three main MMA organizations will come together this Sunday night when fighters from Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC grace the Rebellion MMA Radio airwaves!
Stopping by the show to join hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick will be UFC welterweight Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce lightweight Isaac Valle-Flagg, and Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen. The trio are all scheduled for fights this month and will no doubt be itching to dish on all of their respective match-ups as well as a number of other topics.
Ludwig faces Dan Hardy at UFC 146 in hopes of bouncing back from his stumble against Josh Neer. “Bang” is not only a hard-hitting fighter with more than 20 wins to his credit but also owns the distinction of notching the fastest knockout in UFC history.
Meanwhile, Valle-Flagg puts his ten-fight unbeaten streak on the line next weekend when he takes on Gesias Cavalcante at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final event, while Quayhagen is 3-0 thus far in his young career and looks to keep his perfect record intact on May 18 at Bellator 69.
Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com).
Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will offer their own unique takes on all-things MMA.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, strikeforce, rebellion
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainRebellion MMA Radio: UFC’s Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce’s Ike Vallie-Flagg, Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen
The three main MMA organizations will come together this Sunday night when fighters from Bellator, Strikeforce, and the UFC grace the Rebellion MMA Radio airwaves!
Stopping by the show to join hosts Mitch Ciccarelli and Bryan Levick will be UFC welterweight Duane Ludwig, Strikeforce lightweight Isaac Valle-Flagg, and Bellator’s Josh Quayhagen. The trio are all scheduled for fights this month and will no doubt be itching to dish on all of their respective match-ups as well as a number of other topics.
Ludwig faces Dan Hardy at UFC 146 in hopes of bouncing back from his stumble against Josh Neer. “Bang” is not only a hard-hitting fighter with more than 20 wins to his credit but also owns the distinction of notching the fastest knockout in UFC history.
Meanwhile, Valle-Flagg puts his ten-fight unbeaten streak on the line next weekend when he takes on Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante at the Strikeforce Grand Prix Final event, while Quayhagen is 3-0 thus far in his young career and looks to keep his perfect record intact on May 18 at Bellator 69.
Interested listeners can also contribute to the show by submitting questions for guests via Twitter or email (RebellionMMARadio@yahoo.com).
Catch Rebellion MMA Radio live on Sunday at 6:30 PM EST where the guys will offer their own unique takes on all-things MMA.
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Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, strikeforce, rebellion
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 68 Results: Daniel Straus comes out with hand raised against Marlon Sandro
Bellator featherweight Marlon Sandro did his best to earn a shot at redemption against current champion Pat Curran but came up short in the effort thanks to talented wrestler Daniel Straus. Though a competitive clash, Straus’ constant pressure and takedowns were the difference in the 145-pound tournament final and earned him the decision win. As a result of his success Straus received the final payout on a $100,000 prize as well as a crack at Curran’s title later this year.
In other tournament action, BJJer Marcos Galvao again decided to stand and strike instead of rely on his grappling. Though a bit risky the approach paid off and earned him the judges’ nod, as well as a spot in the bantamweight field’s final.
Read below for a full list of Bellator 68 results followed by highlights from the event:
Fracois Ambang def. Gregory Milliard via Split Decision
Anthony Leone def. Claudio Ledesma via Split Decision
Aung La Nsang def. Jesus Martinez via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
Don Carlo-Clauss def. Jacob Kirwan via Split Decision
Marcin Held def. Derrick Kennington via Submission Round 1 (Heel Hook)
Marius Zaromskis def. Waachim Spiritwolf via TKO Round 2 (Doctor’s Stoppage)
Marcos Galvao def. Travis Marx via Unanimous Decision
Daniel Straus def. Marlon Sando via Unanimous Decision
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, result, round, decision, strau
Read the full article at Fighters.comStraus dominates Sandro for Bellator tourney title
Daniel Straus became the Bellator Season 6 featherweight tournament champ with a dominating win over Marlon Sandro Friday in Atlantic City.
Posted in: bellator, city, strau, sandro, marlon
Read the full article at sportsnet.caOpportunity to Work with Hulk Hogan a Factor in King Mo’s Decision to Sign with Bellator, TNA
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal talked with Sherdog.com’s Sam Genovese shortly after news of his signing with Bellator and TNA wrestling came to light.
Posted in: bellator, light, hulk hogan, tna, bellator tna
Read the full article at SherdogFree Live Stream: Bellator 68 Prelims
Sherdog.com is pleased to offer a free live feed of Friday night’s Bellator 68 prelims at 7 p.m. ET. The main card will air on MTV2 at 8 p.m. ET.
Posted in: bellator, pm, prelim, friday, feed
Read the full article at SherdogSeth Petruzelli Pulled by Doctors from Bellator 68 Main Draw Bout with Carmelo Morrero
Seth Petruzelli will not compete Friday night at Bellator 68 due to illness.
Posted in: bellator, friday night, seth, seth petruzelli, petruzelli
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 68 Results: Sandro vs. Strauss
MMA Fighting has Bellator 68 results for Friday's Bellator action at Ceasars in Atlantic City, N.J.In the main event, Marlon Sandro will square off against Daniel Straus in the featherweight tournament final. Also on the card, there will be a bantamweight tournament semifinal with Marcos Galvao vs. Travis Marx.Check out the Bellator 68 results below.Main CardMarlon Sandro vs. Daniel StrausMarcos Galvao vs. Travis MarxCarmelo Marrero vs. Seth PetruzelliWaachim Spiritwolf vs. Marius ZaromskisUndercardJeff Lentz vs. Eddie FyvieAung La Nsang def. Jesus Martinez via first-round TKOGregory Millard vs. Francois AmbangAnthony Leone def. Claudio Ledesma via split decisionMarcin Held vs. Derrick KenningtonDon Carlos-Clauss def. Jacob Kirwan by split decision
Posted in: bellator, result, vs, featherweight tournament, sandro
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseSeth Petruzelli Sick, Pulled from Bellator 68 Tonight
Seth Petruzelli, the infamous Kimbo Killer, did not receive medical clearance to compete in his planned 230lbs catchweight bout against Carmelo Marrero tonight at Bellator 68.
Just hours away from the fight, Petruzelli posted word of the unfortunate news to his Twitter account:
Guys, I have unbelievable news. The doc wouldn’t clear me to fight. I have been feeling sick for past week but haven’t told anyone. When the doc checked me he said he heard weezing and fluid in my lungs. Got a 2nd doc for another opinion and he said same thing. I am so sorry…I feel like I’m in a nightmare
Petruzelli (14-6) made his promotional debut with Bellator this past August, defeating former UFC champion Ricco Rodriguez by first-round knockout in another 230lbs catchweight bout. The Silverback has not competed since, but is on a two-fight winning streak since losing two in a row in the UFC.
Marrero (14-5-1, 1 NC) was set to make his debut with Bellator tonight, but has been pulled from the card since no replacement opponent could be found with such late notice.
Bellator 68 takes place from the Caesars Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Bellator officials have not announced who will replace Petruzelli vs. Marrero on the night’s main card.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: bellator, doc, replacement opponent, seth petruzelli, petruzelli
Read the full article at MMA FrenzySeth Petruzelli off Bellator 68 Due to Illness
Seth Petruzelli has been ruled out of tonight’s Bellator 68 card due to illness. Petruzelli was set to face Carmelo Marrero on tonight’s MTV2 aired card. Petruzelli reported the news via his verified twitter account.
Petruzelli tweets:
Guys, I have unbelievable news. The doc wouldn’t clear me to fight. I have been feeling sick for past week but haven’t told anyone. When the doc checked me he said he heard weezing [sic] and fluid in my lungs. Got a 2nd doc for another opinion and he said same thing. I am so sorry…I feel like I’m in a nightmare.
No official word yet from Bellator on the situation.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: bellator, doc, thing i, official word, petruzelli
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 68 Results & Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com reports from Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 68.
Posted in: caesars hotel, playbyplay, result, bellator, nj
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 68 Real Time Results
Bellator is back in New Jersey tonight with a number of fighters ready to do their own form of fist-pumping! Emanating from Atlantic City, Bellator 68 features a number of exciting affairs including two tournament bouts with one determining a top contender.
The show is headlined by a featherweight final between Marlon Sandro and Daniel Straus. The winner of their bout will earn the final chunk of a $100,000 payday with a victory as well as a shot at surging 145-pound champion Pat Curran.
Other bouts highlighting the card are a semifinal match-up between bantamweights Marcos Galvao-Travis Marx in addition to fights between familiar faces Seth Petruzelli-Carmelo Marrero and Marius Zaromskis-Waachim Spiritwolf.
As always, Five Ounce of Pain will be watching and reporting live results back to readers as they unfold in real time. Things kick off at 7:00 PM EST on Spike.com with main card clashes heading over to MTV 2 an hour later.
Read below for a full list of Bellator 68 winners/losers:
Fracois Ambang vs. Gregory Milliard
Don Carlo-Clauss vs. Jacob Kirwan
Marcin Held vs. Derrick Kennington
Anthony Leone vs. Claudio Ledesma
Aung La Nsang vs. Jesus Martinez
Marius Zaromskis vs. Waachim Spiritwolf
Seth Petruzelli vs. Carmelo Marrero
Marcos Galvao vs. Travis Marx
Marlon Sandro vs. Daniel Straus
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, bout, vs, marlon sandro, tournament bouts
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBreaking It Down: Bellator 68
You’re likely not in Atlantic City right now, but if you are, RUN, not walk, to the Caesars Hotel and Casino to score some tickets for tonight’s Bellator 68. You will not be disappointed… or maybe you will, I don’t know, I don’t even know you. Regardless, it’s time for another Bellator event, and with it comes another breakdown of the fights. I was noticeably absent, well, nearly absent, last week, but I’m back this week with a full preview of the card. Read the words below, and in case of a nuclear meltdown, print it out and take it into the bomb shelter with you.
Let’s get down to business, shall we?
Don Carlo-Clauss (8-6) vs. Jacob Kirwan (9-4)
The New York based bearded wonder, Carlo-Clauss looks for his second straight win in his Bellator debut. Unfortunately for him, he takes on “The Hunter”. Although he lost his last bout, Kirwan showed how tenacious he can be and his grappling-heavy attack will be too much for the New Yorker.
Winner – Jacob Kirwan defeats Don Carlo-Clauss via Submission Round 2
Marcin Held (12-2) vs. Derrick Kennington (6-2)
20-year old Polish fighter Held returns to the Bellator cage for the first time since a controversial November victory over Phillipe Nover. The well-rounded youngster has a lot of hype behind him. His opponent, the grappling-friendly Kennington, hasn’t been really tested yet in his career and this bout should be just that. However, I doubt he’ll be exiting the cage with an “A+” in tow.
Winner – Marcin Held defeats Derrick Kennington via TKO Round 1
Claudio Ledesma (6-2) vs. Anthony Leone (10-5)
Renzo Gracie-trained Ledesma looks for his second Bellator victory and third straight overall. The Ring of Combat veteran is a solid bantamweight and if he keeps up his string of victories, he could very well find himself in the next 135-pound tournament. He takes on former Strikeforce/WEC fighter Leone. While he hasn’t had much luck in his last few bouts, going 2-5 in his last seven, the Team Bombsquad fighter possesses some good ground skills, and of his ten victories half of them have come by submission. I see the bad luck continuing for Leone, as Ledesma will likely roll through him.
Winner – Claudio Ledesma defeats Anthony Leone via Unanimous Decision
Francois Ambang (1-3-1) vs. Gregory Milliard (2-2)
I’m just not going to even bother talking about this fight, simply because, it does not interest me in the slightest. Prelims, postlims, whatever, sometimes, I just don’t want to bother watching a fight and this is one of them. I kind of like Milliard though, as he beat up one-time Strikeforce fighter (and registered sex offender Brandon Saling), so there’s that.
Winner – Gregory Milliard defeats Francois Ambang via Unanimous Decision
Aung La Nsang (9-7) vs. Jesus Martinez (6-2)
Looking to rebound from two straight losses, Crazy 88 BJJ fighter Nsang makes his Bellator debut tonight. The skilled grappler may lack consistency, but he’s a hell of a fighter as shown in his five Ring of Combat appearances. He takes on “Chavo”, a Semper Fi MMA product, who may be best known for being destroyed by Karl Amoussou back in November. I suspect this bout is fairly exciting, but I don’t see any other likely result than a decision win, likely for Martinez.
Winner – Jesus Martinez defeats Aung La Nsang via Unanimous Decision
Marius Zaromskis (16-6 1 NC) vs. Waachim Spiritwolf (9-9-1 1 NC)
After a false start in their initial bout, former DREAM welterweight champ Zaromskis finally gets to go toe to toe with Spiritwolf. Spiritwolf is a scrapper who leaves it all in the cage whenever he fights. Zaromskis is a technically proficient striker, who has some nasty kicks, the kind of kicks that remove ears from heads.
I expect this to be an awesome opening to the televised card, with the more technically skilled fighter, Zaromiskis, taking home the TKO win.
Winner – Marius Zaromskis defeats Waachim Spiritwolf via TKO Round 3
Carmelo Marrero vs. Seth Petruzelli
In what will likely be my favorite fight of the night, the Kimbo Slice-slayer Petruzelli looks for his second straight Bellator victory after he murdered Ricco Rodriguez in August. Going up against him is the crafty grappler, Marrero. Marrero is a handful for anybody on the ground and is notoriously difficult to finish.
This bout is kind of a toss-up. Petruzelli has disgusting power and can end a fight quickly, but tends to slow down as the fight goes on. Marrero is generally able to throw down throughout the full fifteen minutes and is moving down in weight slightly, for this catch-weight bout, whereas Seth is moving up, so there will be a bit of a size difference. The smart money is on Marrero getting the submission and that’s where mine is as well.
Winner – Carmel Marrero defeats Seth Petruzelli via Submission Round 2
Travis Marx vs. Marcos Galvão
Galvão is a man on a mission after all the BS decision losses he’s suffered. He is very clearly out for blood as we saw when he took out Ed West in the quarterfinals. Marx shocked many when he defeated Masakatsu Ueda in his last bout. He has some serious wrestling chops and can easily grind out a decision.
Marx has a clear cut path to victory, and that is take Galvão down and lay on top of him. Having said that, Galvão is a Nova Uniao black belt who also possesses some serious striking ability. He will be too much for Marx to handle, and he’ll be booking his ticket to the finals.
Winner – Marcos Galvão defeats Travis Marx via Unanimous Decision
Marlon Sandro vs. Daniel Straus
Sandro is ready for revenge and the last thing standing in his way is Straus. Sandro, long considered one of the best featherweights in the world, enters his second tournament final bout, and hopes this time things go his way. after coming up short last season. Straus, the solid wrestler, has had a hard road to the finals in taking out Jeremy Spoon and Mike Corey, both via decision. Straus also enters his second tournament final, and much like Sandro he believes tonight is his night.
Only one man can take home the Bellator tournament crown and become the #2 contender in the division. That man will be Sandro. His loss to Pat Curran will not haunt him much longer, as he will use his technical striking, violent power, and excellent grappling abilities to stifle to the attacks of Straus en route to a late stoppage or decision victory.
Winner – Marlon Sandro defeats Daniel Straus via Unanimous Decision
You all know the drill by now. As always, Bellator airs live on Spike.com at 7:00 PM EST with some preliminary bouts with the main card going live at 8:00 on MTV 2, TheScore.com in Canada, or on Spike.com. Tune in early so Jimmy Smith and Sean Wheelock can call you hardcore fans.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, bout, decision, winner, defeat
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainThe Showdown: UFC 149, Bellator 67 & more
Hear about a busy week in MMA that included a UFC 149 press conference, an exciting Bellator 67 event and much more on The Showdown.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, week, conference, showdown
Read the full article at sportsnet.caOlympic wrestler Shanon Slack signs with Bellator
Bellator FC has added unbeaten featherweight Shanon Slack prospect to their roster, an alternate on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team who has won all three of his professional MMA fights. Bellator also announced he will make his debut with the fight promotion against Booker Arthur at Bellator 69 on May 18.
“The Bellator featherweight division is tough as hell, and it was a huge reason why I decided to join Bellator,” said Slack in an interview with MMAWeekly. “The tournament format is something that really stood out to me, as well. There aren’t any politics involved, and like any fighter, I want my title shot.”
Slack was a stand-out wrestler in college at Old Dominion. He will join Bellator champions such as Michael Chandler, Ben Askren, and Cole Konrad in the organization as fighters with accomplished wrestling backgrounds.
Posted in: bellator, cole konrad, standout wrestler, booker arthur, bellator champions
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 68 Prelims – LIVE on MMAWeekly.com!
Stay tuned to MMAWeekly.com for the Bellator 68 preliminary fight card, streaming live, beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT on Friday, May 11.
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Read the full article at MMA WeeklyKing Mo talks new deal with TNA/Bellator, insinuates UFC is slave labor and much more
By now, you've probably heard that former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Muhammed Lawal has signed not one, but two deals, inking contracts with TNA IMPACT! wrestling, as well as with Bellator Fighting Championships, yesterday (May 10, 2012).
Alongside TNA IMPACT! President Dixie Carter and Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, "King Mo" sat down with Spike TV's "MMA Uncensored Live" to discuss the deals, as well as the events of his much publicized last year.
"You know, it's been a dream. That's why. It's a great opportunity and, you know what? I'm doin' it. The thing is, one door closed, and two doors opened. So I just jumped in the two doors, you know what I'm sayin'?"
Lawal went on to make the comparison between his former employers, Zuffa, and his new relationship with Bellator. His analysis wasn't particularly complimentary:
"Zuffa's okay. They're alright if you like working long days ... in a hot field, asking, begging for water. But with Bellator, I'm in the A.C., sippin' cold lemonade, gettin' massages. It's a big difference. You know, I think Zuffa has a lot of people, and they just look at fighters as numbers. It's a business. They're trying to make money. But I feel like Bellator, we're a lot closer family, and the people are more personable."
Lawal's new bosses went on record with their take on how the deals went down. According to Carter, she's been trying to make something like this happen for a long time, she's just never had a willing partner:
"Well, I've been fairly vocal about this for the last couple of years, wanting to do something like this. I ran into resistance finding a company that saw the potential in it, quite honestly. So, when Bjorn joined the Spike team, Kevin Kay, the head of Spike, set us up in a meeting, and we clicked right away. I brought the idea to him. He loved it. So, hopefully the rest will be history."
Here, Rebney was asked if he believes mixed martial arts (MMA) fans will be receptive to the dual deal, and if he feels there will be any backlash over the professional wrestling connection. He's optimistic that the two things can work hand-in-hand:
"I don't think so. You know, I've been an MMA fan for years. MMA fans are very bright. They're very smart people. They hit a demo. They understand there's two different sports -- two different things going on here. There's mixed martial arts, there's Impact wrestling. They're two completely different things, and I think they can appreciate the fact that they're two different things, and I think they can appreciate the fact that Mo's a world class martial artist and will transition into becoming a world class wrestler. You look at 'em both. They're two great followings."
One of the biggest obstacles Lawal has had to overcome in the past year was a positive drug test for steroids, after his win versus Lorenz Larkin at Strikeforce: "Rockhold vs. Jardine" in "Sin City" on Jan. 7, 2012 (which was later overturned and changed to a "No Contest").
The positive test resulted in a suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission and some pretty negative public relations for "King Mo."
Carter is aware of Lawal's past troubles, but believes the future will be bright:
"I heard the story, and I completely support where he's at. We drug test as well. I'm the only head of a professional wrestling organization whose gone and testified in front of congress about illegal steroid use. I feel completely confident with our testing that he'll be the most tested person in both of our sports, and he's a hundred percent fine with that."
Lawal concurs:
"I'm very fine with that. I've been through the strictest testing you can go through. Actually, they used to test me from 2005 up to 2009. There's random urine tests. They'd show up at my house, seven in the morning, show up at my training spot, you know, I'm an open book."
Regarding his now infamous NSAC hearing and his contentious run-in with Commissioner Pat Lundvall, Lawal reiterated that he feels his comments on Twitter were a mistake, and that he feels he's closed the book on that painful chapter of his life:
"Here's the thing. I said I felt like she treated me like a racist b----. The b---- part was out of line, but I just felt like, as a black male, throughout history, it's been documented that it's a touchy subject. We get questioned. Our intelligence always gets questioned, like, we couldn't coach, we're not smart enough to fly planes, we can't play quarterback. We're not intelligent enough to control stuff or teach anything. So when she asked me that question, I was kind of offended, and an hour later, I went on twitter and said what I said about it. You know, I made mistake calling her a b----. I talked with her, and I apologized to her, and she accepted it. She told me that the questioning kinda got jumbled, and it was a misunderstanding. We're cool. She's a cool woman. She's just real intense about her work."
Fans may be curious as to the timeframe and schedule, regarding Lawal's two deals and the priority each will have. Carter answered those concerns, stating that "Mo" will see action with TNA IMPACT! first:
"It'll be TNA first. He won't join Bellator until they go on Spike in 2013. But the most important thing is his health. Once he's healthy, then we'll make a decision on when he debuts with us. Hopefully, it'll be sooner than later, but the key thing is to get him healthy. It's all about his health though. We want to introduce him the right way, and I think today's been a great start, tonight and everything else, we're really excited."
Rebney commented on what Lawal's place on the totem pole will be. According to the Bellator CEO, nothing will change and Lawal will get no preferential treatment:
"Of course. He's gotta go through three fights, he's gotta win the tournament and then he's gotta face our champion, Christian M'Pumbu. So, he'll have to go there like anyone else would have to go there."
Rebney went on to address the issue of Bellator signing a former Zuffa fighter, a move that could be viewed as a response to the recent Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) signing of former Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard, as well as its current courting of former Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez, who is currently still with the promotion.
According to Bjorn, the two things have nothing to do with each other. He just believes Lawal was a good fit:
"Not so much. You know, Mo was just the perfect fit for this alliance. You look at a guy that is a world class MMA fighter, and a guy who's got the personality, the love of wrestling, to be able to transition to the wrestling realm, this is the perfect guy. We never plant the flag in the ground and say, 'We're going to this. We're going to do that.' We develop some amazingly talented fighters under our banner. Mo's the perfect fit. When a guy like this at this level, with this kind of personality, with this kind of ability inside the cage becomes available, of course we're gonna make the move.'
As the interview winded down, Lawal prognosticated on what he thinks the future will hold for him at Bellator. First and foremost, he knows he needs to adapt to what Bellator is doing with their tournament format. He's good with that and looks forward to the challenge:
"I gotta work my way up. I'm new to this organization. You know, to prove that I'm the best man that's suited for the title shot, I gotta beat everybody else in the tournament, and that's what I'm gonna do."
Finally, "King Mo" was asked about the possibility of becoming a champion, both as a professional wrestler for TNA IMPACT! and an MMA fighter for Bellator. He believes both are within the realm of possibility, and he issued a special message for the Bellator Light Heavyweights:
"Whichever one I earn first is the most important one. I still have to pay my dues. I have to go out to Ohio Valley and work on my in-ring skills and the chain wrestling. You can't just throw somebody out there and say, 'Okay, perform. You get the belt.' You have to put in hours and days and years to perfect your craft. We'll see. I think it'll take a good year, year and a half before I get the title at Impact, but Bellator? The guys at 205? Those guys are in trouble."
Only time will tell how things will ultimately play out for Lawal, but for now, it's good to be "King."
Posted in: bellator, thing, lawal, he, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMorning Report: King Mo Double Dips For Spike, Sonnen Cooks Pizza on the Mean Streets of West Linn
It's pretty rare to see a fighter turn his back on the UFC in his prime. If anything, it's usually the other way around.
But that's exactly what Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal did yesterday, eschewing a likely contract from Zuffa in favor of a double-pronged deal with Spike TV, which will allow the affable light heavyweight to compete in both Bellator (starting in 2013) and TNA Impact Wrestling (starting this summer).
While news of the signing was somewhat surprising at first -- it's not often a world-class fighter flips the bird at the big leagues and signs a deal to fight in an organization whose world champion is Christian freakin' M'Pumbu -- it does offer an intriguing upside that could (eventually) make it the right call.
Ultimately, in the UFC, there's a very real chance Lawal would have just been another top-10 205-pounder. Good enough to stay relevant, but not quite at the level of a Jon Jones. But with Spike, King Mo can become something more. With his supreme combination of talent and charisma, Lawal has the potential to be the posterchild for a network that, like it or not, is still widely associated with mixed martial arts to the general public.
It's a bold move, but one that could pay dividends for both parties. By hitting the TNA circuit this summer, Lawal can become the star of Spike, and eventually serve as a transitional face to introduce a new audience to Bellator in 2013.
It's not quite UFC glory. In fact, I'm not exactly sure what it is. But regardless, it's something we have yet to see in the modern era of western MMA, so it'll probably be an fascinating experiment.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
"King Mo" signs with Bellator, TNA. Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal signed side-by-side deals to simultaneously fight and wrestle professionally. Lawal is set to begin competing for Bellator Fighting Championships in 2013, and will join TNA's Impact Wrestling as early as this summer.
The Ultimate Fighter: U.K. vs Australia. UFC President Dana White officially announced the next international season of The Ultimate Fighter, which will feature a country vs. country battle between the United Kingdom and Australia. Nicknamed "The Smashes," the show is set to open tryouts in Sydney on June 12, and London on June 15, for all fighters between the flyweight and welterweight classes.
Kazushi Sakuraba to fight retirement match against Shinya Aoki. Japanese MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba has agreed to fight top lightweight Shinya Aoki an at upcoming DREAM event. Sakuraba will reportedly retire following the match.
Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Kennedy. Luke Rockhold is slated to defend his Strikeforce middleweight belt against former Army special forces operator Tim Kennedy at a Strikeforce show in Portland, Oregon on July 14th, 2012.
Bellator 68 weigh-in results. All fighters met their required weight at Thursday's official Bellator 68 weigh-ins, included featherweight finalists Marlon Sandro and Daniel Straus.
MEDIA STEW
If you've ever had a strange fantasy about Chael Sonnen cooking you a personal pizza on the mean streets of West Linn, Orgeon -- well, you definitely need better fantasies, but you're also in luck. (HT: MiddleEasy)
We're setting the over/under of hurling your phone into the wall at roughly 3 minutes for Rampage Jackson's new iPhone app. (HT: Reddit)
To commemorate the end of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, Showtime has uploaded every single tournament fight for our viewing pleasure. And what better way to start off than with the one that broke all of our hearts.
If you're itching to get hyped for Saturday's Nick Diaz vs. Braulio Estima superfight, look no further than this official countdown film by Stuart Cooper.
IGNITING A RIVALRY
It's official!!! Ultimate Fighter is going to Australia. TUF Australia vs TUF UK "The Smaches" in Fall 2012 :)
— Dana White (@danawhite) May 11, 2012
HOLY CRAP LOOK AT HIGH-SCHOOL RASHAD
Senior yr 98'.. I thought I was the cats meow!Lol #throwbackthursday instagr.am/p/Kd2Ronk1PL/
— Rashad Evans (@SugaRashadEvans) May 11, 2012
CHECKING IN
Good to be home in Montreal for a few weeks. Almost 5 months since my surgery, rehab continues but I see light at the end of the tunnel!
— Georges St-Pierre(@GeorgesStPierre) May 9, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Thursday, May 10, 2012):
- UFC 148: John Alessio (34-15) vs. Shane Roller (10-6)
- Strikeforce: Luke Rockhold (9-1) vs. Tim Kennedy (14-3) announced for July 14
- Strikeforce: Lorenz Larkin (12-0, 1 NC) vs. Robbie Lawler (19-8, 1 NC) announced for July 14
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day comes from Sweet Scientist, who offers a encyclopedic videosplosion you could easily sink 45 minutes into: Traditional striking arts
KYOKUSHIN:
Kyokushin Karate was founded in 1964 by Masutatsu Oyama. It was the first Jissen style of Karate.
Rules: 1x2 minute round (3 minutes in the semifinals and finals of a tournament) with a possibility for 2 extra 2 minutes rounds in case of a draw. Full contact (KO allowed). Punches and elbows to the chest allowed, kicks and knees allowed on all striking levels. If a contestant is knocked down for more than three seconds, his opponent scores an Ippon and wins the fight. If a contestant is knocked down for less than 3 seconds, his opponent scores a Waza Ari (half point), if a contestant scores 2 Waza Ari, he wins the fight.
So, what does it look like?:
Notable fighters: Ryu Narushima (that lead high kick), Lechi Kurbanov (P4P best spinning shit thrower in the world), Andy Hug (RIP, incredible Kakato geri), Francisco Filho (one of the few to have completed the Hyakunin Kumite, 100 man kumite), Glaube Feitosa (popularized the Brazilian Kick), Kenji Midori, Ewerton Teixeira, Nicholas Pettas.
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in Monday's post.
Posted in: fight, bellator, strikeforce, fighter, vs
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseTONIGHT: Bellator 68 Sandro vs. Straus fight card in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Official Press Release:
Atlantic City, New Jersey. – The Bellator 68 weigh-ins have been completed from Atlantic City, New Jersey in preparation for Bellator’s Friday night event at Caesars Atlantic City, which features the Featherweight Tournament Finals between Daniel Straus and Marlon Sandro. Also, a Bellator Season Six Bantamweight Tournament semifinal fight will take place as Marcos Galvao meets Travis Marx. Additionally, Marius Zaromskis will square off against Waachiim Spiritwolf
Posted in: bellator, atlantic city, city, jersey, atlantic
Read the full article at Low KickBellator 68 Weigh-in Results: Featherweight Tournament Final Official
The Bellator 68 weigh-ins have been completed from Atlantic City, N.J., making the Season 6 Featherweight Final between Marlon Sandro and Daniel Straus official.
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Posted in: bellator, featherweight, official, marlon sandro, bull
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 68 weighins: Sandro-Straus finale set
Marlon Sandro and Daniel Straus made weight Thursday for their featherweight tournament finale at Bellator 68 in Atlantic City, N.J.
Posted in: bellator, finale, daniel straus, marlon sandro, weight thursday
Read the full article at sportsnet.ca
“King” Mo Lawal to Bellator and TNA Wrestling; Could he become the face of Bellator and Spike TV?
by Alex Mattis Today, news broke that Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal has inked deals with both Bellator Fighting Championships and TNA Wrestling. While Mo made these deals separate from Spike TV, the network surely has the most to leverage from this arrangement. Things have been quiet on the Lawal front since his March 27th hearing [...]
Posted in: bellator, spike tv, mo, lawal, lawal front
Read the full article at Fighthub TVMarlon Sandro, Daniel Straus Hit Marks Ahead of Bellator 68 Featherweight Tourney Final
Bellator Fighting Championships’ sixth-season featherweight tournament final will move forward as planned, as both Marlon Sandro and Daniel Straus checked in on-point at Thursday’s Bellator 68 weigh-ins.
Posted in: bellator, daniel straus, strau, marlon sandro, marlon
Read the full article at SherdogKing Mo Signs on With Bellator and TNA Wrestling
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal has signed with Bellator Fighting Championships, as well as with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
The 31-year-old elite wrestler will compete simultaneously as a mixed martial artist under the Bellator banner and a professional wrestler for TNA, a crossover that suits the expressive fighter well.
“This deal is a dream come true for me,” Lawal said. “Bjorn and Dixie have given me the opportunity to engage in my two great loves, mixed martial arts and professional wrestling, at the same time. And, to have it all on Spike TV is really Buttercream icing on a big ole cake – not that whipped cream stuff either!”
Lawal was suspended for nine months after testing positive for anabolic steroids this past January following his win over Lorenz Larkin at Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine. King Mo retained his spot in the promotion though, until he chose harsh words to criticize Nevada State Athletic Commission chair holder Pat Lundvall’s demeanor during his disciplinary hearing. The comments ended Lawal’s tenure with Zuffa, but opened the door to Bellator, where he’s a welcome addition to the 205lbs division.
“King Mo is an incredible athlete and a great addition to the Bellator family,” said Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney. “He immediately adds prominence and star-power to our light heavyweight division.”
A self-professed pro wrestling fan, Lawal is known almost as much for his showmanship as for his formidable athletic abilities – a quality that will see him get along well at TNA Wrestling.
“King Mo is the perfect athlete for this type of alliance,” TNA president Dixie Carter. “He is the real deal in MMA, and his bold personality and world class wrestling accomplishments are unparalleled. I’m confident he will have a major impact in both sports.”
Though Bellator currently airs on MTV2, the promotion is headed to SpikeTV – the home of TNA Wrestling – next year. Lawal’s suspension is over in September, but he’s not expected to compete until the promotion switches networks in January.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: bellator, tna, mo, king, lawal
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 68 Weigh-ins Live Video Today at 5 p.m. ET
Watch the Bellator 68 weigh-ins live on MMAWeekly.com Thursday at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.
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Posted in: bellator, pm, bull, video today, mmaweeklycom thursday
Read the full article at MMA Weekly'King Mo' Lawal on Contracts with Bellator and TNA: 'A Dream Come True'
Describing his next career move as a "dream come true," Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal on Thursday announced that he had signed side-by-side deals to simultaneously fight and wrestle professionally. Starting in 2013, his new MMA home will be Bellator, but before that -- as early as this summer -- he'll be seen in TNA's Impact Wrestling ring.Dismissing concerns that Lawal's crossover would blur the line between reality and fiction, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney likened the former Strikeforce champ to one of sports' all-time great two-sport athletes."First there was Bo [Jackson], now there's Mo," he said.
Rebney and Lawal were joined in the joint announcement by Spike TV president Kevin Kay, and TNA Entertainment president Dixie Carter, and Rebney acknowledged that it took a team effort to bring Lawal under the Viacom banner.Rebney said that he and Carter have spoken for over a year about the possibility of recruiting an athlete capable of crossing both worlds, and that when Lawal came free, they both knew he was the one."For concern for the credibility of what we do as a brand at Bellator and how it needed to work, we needed to find someone who was a very, very special fit," he said. "We needed to find someone who completely fit within this realm.""It just made so much sense," Kay added. "One of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters in the business and he has so much charm, charisma and personality. When Dixie and Bjorn brought it to me, I was like, 'Yes, go for it. Let's do it. Let's figure this out. Let's everybody get on the phone, get out there, do whatever we have to do and make a deal with Mo and get him with both organizations.'"The lengths of the respective deals were not disclosed, but Lawal said it was long enough that he'd "probably have some gray hairs by the time it's done."
According to sources, Zuffa -- which released Lawal on March 27 -- had matching rights, but either could not or would not exercise them.From Bellator's point of view, his appeal was simple. Lawal has a career record of 8-1 with 1 no contest, is a former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion and is still considered one of the sport's top 205-pounders. Lawal was released shortly after he was suspended for nine months following a hearing related to a failed drug test for PEDs. In recent weeks, though, UFC president Dana White had hinted the door might be open to a return.Lawal, though, said he wasn't about to wait and see what happened, not when he had a strong offer on the table that would allow him the flexibility to take part in two different fields.Phone calls from TNA stars Hulk Hogan and Sting, as well as executives from Spike and Bellator, helped convince him of the move."I want to go where I'm wanted," he said.Lawal is a lifelong wrestling fan, counting among his most cherished memories a 1988 Clash of the Champions match between Sting and Ric Flair that went to a draw."I was pretty crushed Sting didn't win the belt," he said.Lawal was seven years old at the time, but he's remained a fan of pro wrestling, and many have felt his "King Mo" character to be influenced by that. Several years ago, he had a tryout with wrestling powerhouse WWE and later spent a week in one of their developmental organizations. As far as timelines go, he'll make his pro wrestling debut first, at least partially because he's still a suspended fighter. Lawal, who is still rehabbing his surgically repaired left knee, says that when it's healed, is expected to start wrestling sometime during the summer."I love knocking people out, especially with the right hand, but I've never hit somebody with a chair before, so I'm looking forward to that," he said. "I feel sorry for who that victim is."A return to MMA won't come until after the New Year, and also until after Bellator moves to Spike from its current home on MTV2. Lawal was thrilled with the move, saying that it offers him more exposure than his former fighting home on Showtime.Rebney said he wasn't concerned about any confusion between the products."You can do two different things. Look, when Bo jackson played baseball he never tackled anybody. And nobody called that out as an oddity or something unusual. Nobody ever said, 'Why aren't you tackling anyone?' Because they're two different arenas. And that's what you're going to see with Mo. He's going to be participating at an elite, world-class level in two different arenas, and I have a lot of trust in our fan base."Lawal will stay at light-heavyweight, where Bellator's current champion is Christian M'Pumbu."I will enter the tournament, and I'll win the tournament, and I'm going to get that belt," he said.As for the physical grind he's about to put his body through while preparing for both fighting and wrestling, Lawal had to acknowledge the obvious, that's it will be challenging. He's certainly going into it with energy, saying that he's been so excited thinking about it, he has barely been able to sleep, and he can't rub the smile off of his face. "It's going to be hard, but I'm going to try my best to make it easy," he said.
Posted in: bellator, tna, mo, lawal, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseKing Mo Signs Unprecented Deal With Spike TV’s Bellator & TNA Wrestling
Former Strikeforce Light Heavy Weight Champion Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal announced today that he has signed a first-of-its-kind deal to simultaneously compete for Spike TV properties Bellator Fighting Championship (MMA) & TNA (Professioinal Wrestling).
In an unprecedented move, one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts, “King Mo” Lawal, has signed a deal to compete in Spike TV’s two major sports properties, Bellator Fighting Championships and TNA’s IMPACT Wrestling. “King Mo” will join the stars of TNA this summer and resume his mixed martial arts career next year when Bellator Fighting Championships moves to Spike TV from its current television home, MTV2. The deal was jointly announced today by Kevin Kay, President, Spike TV along with Bjorn Rebney, Chairman & CEO, Bellator Fighting Championships and Dixie Carter, President, TNA Entertainment.
“‘King Mo’ is an incredible athlete and a great addition to the Bellator family. He immediately adds prominence and star-power to our light heavyweight division,” said Rebney.
“‘King Mo’ is the perfect athlete for this type of alliance. He is the real deal in MMA, and his bold personality and world class wrestling accomplishments are unparalleled. I’m confident he will have a major impact in both sports,” stated Carter.
Lawal (10-1-1) launched his mixed martial arts career in 2008, and after four straight wins, he faced off against his toughest challenge, renowned fighter Mark Kerr. “King Mo” knocked out Kerr in the first round, and eight months later he defeated Gegard Mousasi in a Light Heavyweight world title fight. Lawal also holds an impressive KO victory against multiple Brazilian jiu-jitsu world championship winner Roger Gracie in September 2011.
“This deal is a dream come true for me,” Lawal said. “Bjorn and Dixie have given me the opportunity to engage in my two great loves, mixed martial arts and professional wrestling, at the same time. And, to have it all on Spike TV is really buttercream icing on a big ol’ cake – not that whipped cream stuff either!”
Lawal rose to grappling acclaim as a NCAA Division I All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State University in 2003 and a three-time U.S. National Champion (2005, 2006, and 2008) in the 84 kilogram division. In 2007, as a member of the US National team, he brought home a gold medal at the Pan American Games and a silver medal at the World Cup.
A native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Lawal lives in San Jose, Calif. and trains with the prominent American Kickboxing Academy.
Payout Perspective:
There aren’t too many options for MMA fighters nowadays since Zuffa purchased Strikeforce last year. King Mo was one of those fighters that benefited from Strikeforce’s existence back when he was fighting for Sengoku and signed a flexible and favorable contract as many promotions courted his services.
This time around, King Mo – who has had previous interest and actually tried out for Professional Wrestling before – signs a simultaneous deal to compete for both Bellator and TNA. This is Spike TV’s pocket Aces, giving professional fighters another option in making a living within MMA. Some who are purist within MMA, may cringe at the idea of MMA fighters also dabbling in Pro Wrestling, but this has been a constant in MMA for quite some time. From Dan Severn, to many Japanese fighters, to Josh Barnett, Pro Wrestling and MMA have a history of going hand-in-hand for quite some time. Plus, let’s not forget the UFC’s biggest PPV draw Brock Lesnar – who is now back with WWE – and Ken Shamrock who spiked up everyone’s interest in MMA when he signed with the UFC after competing in WWE.
The history has always been there and it has been a black eye to many that want to legitimize the sport to the mainstream, but we are seeing something different here. Something innovative, if you want to call it. Spike TV is using both of their properties to not only cross-promote, but to expand on their audience base to grow not only grow Bellator and TNA, but to anchor a M18-34 flag on the network. It’s innovative, it’s contraversial, and its getting people’s attention. Its exactly what Spike TV want’s to do as it continues preparations for the transfer of Bellator from MTV to Spike TV in 2013.
Posted in: bellator, mma, tv, spike, mo
Read the full article at MMA Payout
Ex-Strikeforce Champ Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal Signs With Bellator, TNA Impact Wrestling
Cast off from Strikeforce earlier this year, Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal has signed a deal that will have him splitting time between Bellator and TNA Impact Wrestling.
Posted in: bellator, impact, lawal, tna impact, splitting time
Read the full article at Heavy MMAAfter upsetting Ueda, Bellator 68's Marx gets next another test with Galvao
Apparently, bantamweight Travis Marx pissed off somebody at the Bellator offices.
How else could you explain getting a ranked opponent in your first tournament bout?
"I don't know who I pissed off, if I said something wrong, or I just had that look about me," Marx recently joked while on MMAjunkie.com Radio.
Posted in: bellator, pissed, marx, i pissed, bellator offices
Read the full article at MMA JunkieIt's official, King Mo will be fighting in Bellator AND competing in TNA wrestling
So remember yesterday when we were all like 'King Mo wants to get that paper' and then you were all like 'Well, he will have to wait for arts and crafts class later this month to build a construction paper collage' but then we were all like 'No, paper is another term for money' and then you were all like 'You have to forgive me, I grew up in a sheltered community and I never truly learned how to act cool in social situations that are unlike what I'm used to.'
The reality is, we knew about King Mo signing with Bellator and TNA wrestling weeks ago. Even if we didn't, we would still front and say that we did.
For weeks, King Mo has been in talks with a multitude of both professional wrestling and MMA organizations and it appears the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion chose to go with the best of both worlds: Bellator Fighting Championship and TNA Impact wrestling -- essentially making him the poster boy of Spike TV. The details on the deal have not been formally announced, but we can confirm that King Mo will be fighting and wrestling simultaneously, and don't be surprised if we see the return of 'King Mo's queens' and the extravagant outfits they like to wear. Props to King Mo on an astounding signing, and good luck on his pursuit of obtaining whatever paper he desires.
Posted in: bellator, king mo, mo, king, paper
Read the full article at Middle Easy‘KIng Mo’ Lawal Headed To Bellator, TNA Wrestling
Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal has signed to keep himself active while waiting for his suspension to end, as the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion is now a Bellator and TNA Wrestling competitor. MMA Weekly’s Ken Pishna reported that Lawal has signed with Bellator, and will also be allowed to compete for TNA. Both Bellator and [...]
Posted in: bellator, tna, lawal, bellator tna, competitor mma
Read the full article at MMA ConvertKing Mo signs with Bellator and TNA Impact! Wrestling for Spike TV
That was fast.
We told you earlier today that former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Muhammed Lawal was "chasing that paper," and it's apparently landed him in not one, but two different organizations under the Spike TV broadcasting umbrella.
So much for mixed martial arts (MMA) and professional wrestling being mutually exclusive.
That's right, "King Mo" is going to split his time between TNA IMPACT! wrestling and Bellator Fighting Championships -- just as soon as he gets all healed up from recent knee surgery, according to Sherdog.com.
His medical time-out should also be long enough to satisfy his current suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC). Lawal was benched for nine months and fined $39,000 for testing positive for steroids earlier this year in Strikeforce.
An official announcement is expected later today on a conference call featuring executives from all three companies (Spike TV, TNA and Bellator). Until then, we have the opportunity to discuss Lawal's transition back into real (and fake) fighting.
What say you?
Posted in: bellator, tv, knee surgery, arts mma, tna impact
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 68 weigh in results LIVE from Atlantic City for 'Straus vs Sandro'
The official weigh-in event for tomorrow night's (May 11, 2012) Bellator 68 fight card takes place today (May 10, 2012) at 5 p.m. ET from inside Caesar's Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Headlining the main event will be a season six featherweight tournament final bout between season four finalist Daniel Straus and "Summer Series" finalist Marlon Sandro. One will win their first tournament while the other will come up short in the finals for the second time.
Also on the card is a Bellator season six bantamweight tournament semifinal fight between former tournament semifinalist Marcos Galvao and upset-minded veteran Travis Marx.
There are also two potential tournament qualifier bouts on the main card as UFC veterans Carmelo Marrero and Seth Petruzelli will clash at a 230 pound catchweight while welterweight strikers Marius Zaromskis and Waachiim Spiritwolf try to settle some unfinished business from their six second 2010 no contest in Strikeforce.
Check out our complete Bellator 68 weigh-in results posted after the jump (beginning at 5 p.m. ET).
Main Card145 lbs.: Marlon Sandro () vs. Daniel Straus () 125 lbs.: Travis Marx () vs. Marcos Galvão () 230 lbs.: Carmelo Marrero () vs. Seth Petruzelli () 170 lbs.: Marius Zaromskis () vs. Waachim Spiritwolf ()
Preliminary Card
145 lbs.: Eddie Fyvie () vs. Jeff Lentz () 175 lbs.: Aung La Nsang () vs. Jesus Martinez () 185 lbs.: Francois Ambang () vs. Gregory Milliard () 135 lbs.: Claudio Ledesma () vs. Anthony Leone () 155 lbs.: Marcin Held () vs. Derrick Kennington () 155 lbs.: Don Carlo-Clauss () vs. Jacob Kirwan ()
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 68, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 8 p.m. ET tomorrow night (May 11).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: bellator, vs, tournament, lb, card
Read the full article at MMA Mania'King' Mo Lawal Signs With Bellator, TNA Wrestling
"King" Muhammed Lawal has had a rough go of it lately. First came word that he failed a drug test after beating Lorenz Larkin in his last Strikeforce event, then Mo went through a major health scare. Still dealing with the aftereffects of the staph infection that left him weakened and forced to deal with multiple medical procedures, Mo went to his Nevada State Athletic Commission hearing and picked up a nine month suspension. Following the suspension, Mo went on Twitter and called one of the commission representatives a "racist bitch" for asking if he read and understood English after it was established that he just signed his forms (which did not list the supplement Mo's camp claim caused him to fail his drug test) after his manager filled them out.
Following that whole situation, Zuffa released Mo from his contract. At the time my theory was that they'd allow him to serve his suspension and then re-sign him. But now it looks like Bellator will be the light heavyweight's home and he'll add a pro-wrestling career to the mix also. Via Sherdog:
Sherdog.com confirmed with sources close to the situation on Wednesday that "King Mo" is expected to sign with both Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and the Bellator Fighting Championships in the near future. According to Sherdog's sources, the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion will likely perform simultaneously for the professional wrestling organization and the Chicago-based MMA promoter. Details surrounding the deals were not revealed.
Of course, Mo is going to have to finish recovering from his health situation before he can fight or wrestle. Once he recovers and his suspension is up, he'll still have to get re-licensed. Given that he did issue an apology for the "racist bitch" comment and was up front about the situation during his hearing, there's no reason he won't be granted his license without much trouble.
Every time I've ever tried to watch TNA Impact Wrestling I've found it flat out horrible. Between the awful crowd and the terrible storylines, it's just awful. At the same time, Mo could make some decent money between the two careers, so best of luck to him with his future.
It's just a little unfortunate that we won't get to see him tested very much in professional MMA with as bad as the Bellator light heavyweight division is.
Posted in: bellator, suspension, drug test, mo, situation
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMuhammed Lawal reportedly headed to Bellator, professional wrestling
It looks like former Strikeforce champion Muhammed Lawal won’t be fighting inside the Octagon anytime soon, if ever, after entering discussions with Bellator to join the organization.
Interestingly enough, Lawal is also apparently on the cusp of joining TNA Wrestling to test his skills as a professional wrestler. The 31-year old has never shied away from his love of the sports-entertainment industry, paying homage in the past by walking down to fights while wearing a crown, holding an umbrella, and being accompanied by a group of dancing girls.
Sherdog was first to report the ongoing negotiations, citing sources “close to the situation” and also mentioning he is expected to compete in both companies simultaneously. TNA is currently broadcast on Spike TV while, as chance would have it, Bellator will move to the network next year.
“King Mo” found himself a free agent a few months ago was released from his Strikeforce contract after labeling a NSAC official as a “racist bitch” in the wake of his nine-month suspension for steroid use. His punishment runs out in September although it remains unknown how healthy he’ll be after recently dealing with a life threatening infection.
If Lawal does indeed sign with Bellator he will add some much-needed credibility/depth to their light heavyweight division.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Posted in: bellator, strikeforce, muhammed lawal, strikeforce contract, lawal
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator and TNA Wrestling to announce 'King Mo' signing today
Former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal has a new home.
Bellator and TNA Wrestling executives have set a conference call for 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. PT) today to announce a "major talent deal."
It's the signing of Lawal, who will split his time between MMA (Bellator) and pro wrestling (TNA) once healed from a knee injury.
Posted in: bellator, tna, king mo, mma bellator, home bellator
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 68's Marius Zaromskis: Bellator didn't sign me 'to put people to sleep'
Lithuanian welterweight Marius Zaromskis isn't once to mince words.
The big-show veteran and knockout artist has a shot at redemption when he rematches Waachiim Spiritwolf at Friday's Bellator 68 event, and he's made a promise.
"I see myself knocking Waachim Spiritwolf out in this fight," he told MMAjunkie.com. "Fans can expect nothing but action from me. Bellator did not bring me here to put people to sleep. I will deliver."
Posted in: bellator, knockout artist, waachim spiritwolf, promise i, mmajunkiecom fans
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWatch today's Bellator 68 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 5 p.m. ET
The Palladium Ballroom in Caesars Atlantic City in New Jersey plays host to today's official Bellator 68 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a live video stream of the proceedings at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT).
Bellator 68 takes place Friday and features Marlon Sandro vs. Daniel Straus (featherweight-tourney final) and Marcos Galvao vs. Travis Marx (bantamweight-tourney semifinal).
In addition to the live weigh-ins, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, pm, video stream, text results, weighin
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 68 preview and predictions for 'Straus vs Sandro' on May 11 in Atlantic City
Bellator Fighting Championships will head to "The Garden State" this Friday night (May 11, 2012) at Caesar's Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The main card will air live on MTV2 and Epix HD on fight night, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Headlining the main event will be a season six featherweight tournament final bout between season four finalist Daniel Straus and "Summer Series" finalist Marlon Sandro. One will win their first tournament while the other will come up short in the finals for the second time.
Also on the card is a Bellator season six bantamweight tournament semifinal fight between former tournament semifinalist Marcos Galvao and upset-minded veteran Travis Marx.
There are also two potential tournament qualifier bouts on the main card as UFC veterans Carmelo Marrero and Seth Patruzelli will clash at a 230 pound catchweight while welterweight strikers Marius Zaromskis and Waachiim Spiritwolf try to settle some unfinished business from their six second 2010 no contest in Strikeforce.
Our Bellator 68 preview and predictions are after the jump.
145 lbs.: Daniel Straus (19-4) vs. Marlon Sandro (22-3)
Straus has showcased his skills considerably in the Bellator cage. The Vision MMA fighter currently sports a 5-1 Bellator record and this is his second tournament finals. He had to work a little harder to get there this season, handing Jeremy Spoon his first career loss and then halting the momentum of Mike Corey, both via decision.
Marlon Sandro came out with a vengeance this season. He's very motivated to get back his last loss to current featherweight champion Pat Curran, which occurred in the last Bellator 145 pound "Summer Series" finals via second round knockout. He crushed Roberto Vargas in the quarterfinals this season and then squeaked by Alexandre Bezerra in a lackluster affair via split decision to get here.
Straus has some seriously improved boxing and a nice quick lead left hand, but he would be much better off to either work for takedowns or enter the clinch. He's got to be the aggressor and really put some pressure on Sandro in this fight. I'd expect Sandro to want to enter the pocket and work his technical striking, head movement and his very powerful uppercuts. If he can tag Straus with those heavy hands of his, they can end a fight in a hurry. It will all be about who can impose their will in this fight. I'm expecting a very fun battle.
Final Prediction: Marlon Sandro via decision
135 lbs.: Marcos Galvao (11-5-1) vs. Travis Marx (19-3)
Marcos Galvao, after suffering two very controversial decision losses in 2011, came out a man possessed in his last Bellator season six quarterfinal fight against Ed West. He stepped up his aggression significantly, throwing big haymakers and constantly keeping the pressure on him with forward movement and even some takedowns. The judges weren't going to take it from him that time and he easily won a unanimous decision in a very entertaining scrap.
Travis Marx also pulled out all the stops, pulling off a huge upset against then-top 10 ranked Masakatsu Ueda in the tournament quarterfinals. The American utilized his powerful wrestling attack to repeatedly put the Japanese grappler on his back and he defended submissions and sweeps just enough to earn the nod from the judges.
Marx is going to have some serious issues hanging with Galvao on the feet as Galvao has some nice power standing, possesses a more diverse attack and is much more technical. If Marx wins this fight, he needs to secure takedowns and then survive being on the ground with the Nova Uniao black belt. I love Marx's Cinderella story thus far, but I feel the clock will strike midnight for him here.
Final Prediction: Marcos Galvao via decision
230 lbs.: Carmelo Marrero (14-5 1 NC) vs. Seth Petruzelli (14-6)
Carmelo Marrero is a UFC veteran, having four times competed in the promotion. He's fought at heavyweight and light heavyweight throughout his career and is coming off a decision victory over former Bellator heavyweight tournament fighter Scott Barrett last October.
Seth Petruzelli's biggest claim to fame was ending the Kimbo Slice hype with a 14 second knockout on less than 24 hours' notice but he's also a UFC veteran, having unsuccessfully fought four times there. "The Silverback" most recently crushed former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez with a first round knockout last August at Bellator 48 and is hoping to potentially earn a tournament invite with a win.
Both men have their faults, but Marrero is a pretty solid grappler who is very difficult to finish. He's never been knocked out and I have a feeling Petruzelli is going to have some issues especially if he can't score an early finish with his very powerful fists and feet. I feel Marrero will wear him down and tap him out once he slows down.
Final Prediction: Carmelo Marrero via submission in round two
170 lbs.: Marius Zaromskis (16-6 1 NC) vs. Waachiim Spiritwolf (9-9-1 1 NC)
This fight initially took place under the Strikeforce banner in 2010 but ended controversially after an inadvertent eyepoke just six seconds into the bout forced a no contest.
Zaromskis is the former Dream welterweight champion who has legitimate knockout power in his head kicks while mixing in some solid punching technique as well. Spiritwolf is a true scrapper, always willing to take on any opponent at any time. He had a very violent and bloody battle against Jaime Jara last year under the Bellator banner and it was so entertaining that the promotion made sure to televise it on the following week's programming.
This will be a battle of technician vs. brawler. If Spiritwolf can get in Zaromskis' face and take him off his game (without getting poked in the eye again), then he can win, but I doubt he can sustain that pace for three rounds without leaving a big opening to get knocked out.
Final Prediction: Marius Zaromskis via TKO in round two
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Who do you believe will earn a title shot at 145 pounds? Will Marcos Galvao get his comeuppance by earning a spot in the tournament finals? What fight are you looking forward to most?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, decision, tournament, galvao
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFans invited to Thursday's free Bellator seminar with Eddie Alvarez, Kurt Pellegrino
Prior to tomorrow's official Bellator 68 weigh-ins, the organization hosts a free seminar with Bellator fighters Eddie Alvarez and Kurt Pellegrino.
The Thursday event is free and open to fans, and it includes Q&A, autograph and photograph sessions.
The seminar and weigh-ins take place at Caesars Atlantic City (across from the Caesars Box Office) in New Jersey.
Posted in: bellator, seminar, bellator seminar, qampa autograph, organization hosts
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator signs wrestling phenom Shanon Slack for May 18 fight against Booker Arthur
CHICAGO, Ill. (May 9, 2012) - Bellator Fighting Championships continues to add to its impressive roster, this time adding dynamic featherweight Shanon Slack to its growing list of talent. Slack joins a stacked talent pool that includes reigning Bellator Featherweight Champion Pat Curran, future title challenger Patricio Pitbull, and a collection of some of the top featherweights in the world including Daniel Straus, Marlon Sandro, and "Popo" Bezerra.
"The Bellator featherweight division is tough as hell, and it was a huge reason why I decided to join Bellator," Slack said. "The tournament format is something that really stood out to me as well. There aren't any politics involved, and like any fighter, I want my title shot. Any fighter can say they want to take things one fight at a time, but if you aren't in this to become a champion, then you're in the wrong sport."
Armed with a wrestling base that earned him a spot as a U.S. Olympic alternate in 2008, Slack has trained with some of the biggest names in the sport and currently is a member of the world renowned Blackhouse fight team. Slack already boasts a spotless record of 3-0, but knows the sky is the limit with Bellator.
"I've been around for a while, and now I feel like I'm on a stage where I can showcase my skillset, and everything I bring to the table," Slack said. "After talking to everyone with Bellator, the organization really seemed like the best fit for me, and I can't wait to get into the cage."
Slack won't have to wait long, as the former Old Dominion standout is currently slated to take on Booker Arthur at Bellator 69 on May 18 from L'Auberge Casino Resort on Spike.com.
"When you look at the roster, you've seen former wrestlers have an incredible amount of success with Bellator," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Michael Chandler, Ben Askren, and Cole Konrad have all earned titles with a core wrestling base, and Shanon brings that same pedigree into the organization."
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.
Posted in: bellator, featherweight, fighter i, shanon, phenom shanon
Read the full article at MMA ManiaShanon Slack Signs with Bellator, to Face Booker Arthur Next Week
Undefeated featherweight fighter Shanon Slack has signed on with Bellator Fighting Championships and will make his debut with the promotion next Friday at Bellator 69.
Slack (3-0) is a former Olympic alternate for the U.S. wrestling team, having cultivated his grappling skills as a collegiate wrestler at Old Dominion University. The 28-year-old is currently serving as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter for Team Cruz.
For Slack, an opportunity to fight in Bellator brings him one step closer to his ultimate goal: winning a belt in a major promotion.
“The Bellator featherweight division is tough as hell, and it was a huge reason why I decided to join Bellator,” Slack said (props to MMAWeekly for the quotes). “The tournament format is something that really stood out to me as well. There aren’t any politics involved, and like any fighter, I want my title shot. Any fighter can say they want to take things one fight at a time, but if you aren’t in this to become a champion, then you’re in the wrong sport.”
Pointing to the standout wrestlers that currently hold titles in the promotion, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney predicts that Slack has the ability to enjoy similar success.
“When you look at the roster, you’ve seen former wrestlers have an incredible amount of success with Bellator,” said Rebney. “Michael Chandler, Ben Askren, and Cole Konrad have all earned titles with a core wrestling base, and Shanon brings that same pedigree into the organization.”
Slack will take his first step next Friday at the L’Auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he’ll meet 2-1 Booker Arthur.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: bellator, fighter, aren ’t, wrestler, bellator ”
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator Signs Olympic Alternate Shannon Slack
Bellator Fighting Championships on Wednesday announced the addition of former U.S. Olympic wrestling alternate and featherweight fighter Shannon Slack.
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Posted in: bellator, google, olympic, bull, shannon
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyOlympic alternate Shanon Slack joins Bellator 69, meets Booker Arthur
Undefeated MMA prospect Shanon Slack has signed with Bellator, MMAjunkie.com today confirmed.
The 2008 U.S. Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling team alternate will compete in the organization's featherweight division, where he'll meet fellow promotional newcomer Booker Arthur next week at Bellator 69.
A Black House team member, Slack also currently can be seen as one of Dominick Cruz's assistant coaches on the current season of "The Ultimate Fighter: Live."
Posted in: bellator, olympic, arthur, booker arthur, booker
Read the full article at MMA JunkieLefko on Bellator: Ford's real devotion
Bellator's Ryan (The Real Deal) Ford credits his family, a belief in God and MMA for helping to turn his life around after a troubled past.
Posted in: bellator, deal, family, lefko, bellator fords
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator 67: 165,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 67 ratings scored an average of 165,000 viewers. The ratings reflect a 51 percent increase from Bellator 66’s dismal 109,000 viewer average.
Bellator 66: 109,000 viewers
Bellator 65: 163,000 viewers
Bellator 64: 175,00 viewers
Bellator 63: 140,000 viewers
Bellator 62: 175,000 viewers
Bellator 61: 108,000 viewers
Bellator 60: 169,000 viewers
Payout Perspective:
The Season 6 ratings average is at about 150,000 viewers which is down from this past summer’s ratings on MTV2 which averaged 186,000 viewers. Like TUF Live, Bellator is experiencing growing pains with its move to Friday nights. It appears as though Bellator is grooming its product for a big 2013 on Spike TV. One thing that it must work with is the swings in its viewership. TUF Live has remained steady (albeit disappointing) in its viewers. Yet, Bellator’s ratings are unpredictable which can be a concern as it continues on.
Posted in: bellator, rating, viewer, spike tv , viewership tuf
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBellator 67 ratings: Viewership up 51 percent with 165,000 MTV2 viewers
With Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler leading the charge in a non-title fight with Akihiro Gono, ratings for this past weekend's Bellator 67 event were up sharply.
The event averaged 165,000 MTV2 viewers - up 51 percent from Bellator 66, which averaged 109,000 viewers a week prior.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the figures with an industry source.
Posted in: bellator, rating, viewer, mmajunkiecom today, nontitle fight
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNext week's Bellator 69 card finalized with tourney fights, Fujii vs. Aguilar
The lineup for next week's Bellator 69 event is set with nine fights.
The event takes place May 18 at L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La.
Two tournament fights, including the season-six middleweight-tournament finale between rivals Maiquel Falcao and Andreas Spang, co-headline Bellator 69.
Posted in: fight, bellator, event, lake charles, tournament fights
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 69 fight card and line-up finalized for May 18 in Lake Charles
CHICAGO, Ill. (May 8, 2012) - All eyes will be on Bellator as the promotion returns to Lake Charles, Louisiana for Bellator 69 from L'Auberge Casino Resort on Friday, May 18. The night will feature the long-awaited battle between No. 1 ranked women's 115-pound fighter Megumi Fujii and No. 2 ranked Jessica Aguilar, as well as the semifinals and finals of the $100,000 welterweight and middleweight tournaments respectively, along as a Heavyweight Tournament qualifier as knockout specialist Ron Sparks takes on rising star Kevin Asplund, who is currently riding a 15-fight win streak.
Tickets for the event are on sale and are available through Ticketmaster.com or at the L'Auberge Casino Resort Box Office. Tickets are priced from $40-$65.
The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 7 p.m. CST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. CST, with the first fight scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CST. The preliminary card, featuring the area's top talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 6 p.m. CST. Fans must be 21 years or older to enter the Event Center.
Maiquel "Big Rig" Falcao will bring his explosive knockout power to the Bellator Middleweight Tournament Finals as he battles Swedish born Andreas Spang as both fierce competitors look to lock up a guaranteed title shot later this year. Spang delivered a vicious knockout to Brian Rogers in the semifinals and will look to continue his impressive run with another dominating victory.
After Brian "The Beast" Baker punched his ticket to the Bellator Welterweight Finals at Bellator 67, David "The Caveman" Rickels and Karl "Psycho" Amoussou will look to do the same at Bellator 69. Both fighters can end a fight in the blink of an eye, and are sure to provide fireworks on May 18 from L'Auberge.
Lake Charles native Josh Quayhagen will have the hometown support in the Bellator cage when he takes on fellow lightweight Cliff Wright Jr. in a 155lb affair. Quayhagen gained popularity when he defeated Brazilian Muay Thai Kickboxing Champion Cosmo Alexander at Bellator 52 last year and is looking to keep the momentum going when he fights in front of family and friends from L'Auberge Casino Resort.
Bellator 69 will feature the return of unbeaten Russian import, Andrey "Spartan" Koreshkov as he faces Shreveport's Derrick Krantz in a welterweight matchup. Koreshkov put on a phenomenal display when he made his promotional debut at Bellator 63, knocking out Tiawan Howard, and will try to build off the win when he faces Krantz in enemy territory.
Also, a pair of light heavyweights step into the cage as Bellator Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament fighter Josh Burns makes the drop to 205lbs to take on Richard "Rare Breed" Hale. Hale, a well-rounded mixed martial artist that has posted 15 stoppages in 18 wins is most known for his Bellator 38 inverted triangle choke submission over Nik Fekete that had the MMA world abuzz.
The heavyweights return to L'Auberge as Mark Holata is eyeing victory when he takes on Abe Wagner. No stranger to the Bellator cage, both competitors bring incredible knockout power anytime they step into the cage, and are prepared for a slugfest on May 18.
The card will be rounded out as fast-rising prospect Emanuel "E.J." Brooks will put his undefeated record on the line when he squares off against Kalvin Hackney in a lightweight contest. Brooks is looking to earn his fourth consecutive victory under the Bellator banner while Hackney, fighting out of nearby Alexandria, Louisiana, will attempt to rebound from a Bellator 45 submission loss.
MAIN CARD:
Middleweight Tournament Final Fight: Maiquel Falcao (30-4) vs. Andreas Spang (8-1)
Welterweight Tournament Semifinal Fight: David Rickels (10-0) vs. Karl Amoussou (14-4-2)
Women's Feature Fight: Megumi Fujii (25-1) vs. Jessica Aguilar (13-4)
Heavyweight Feature Fight: Ron Sparks (8-1) vs. Kevin Asplund (15-1)
PRELIMINARY CARD:
Heavyweight Feature Fight: Abe Wagner (10-5) vs. Mark Holata (11-3)
Welterweight Feature Fight: Andrey Koreshkov (9-0) vs. Derrick Krantz (11-5)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Kalvin Hackney (11-2) vs. Emanuel Brooks (6-0)
Light Heavyweight Feature Fight: Josh Burns (6-5) vs. Richard Hale (18-4)
Lightweight Feature Fight: Josh Quayhagen (3-0) vs. Cliff Wright Jr. (6-2)
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.
Posted in: fight, bellator, heavyweight, vs, feature
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWhy should Jade Bryce have all the fun? Bellator girl Mercedes Terrell proves she can strut her...
Why should Jade Bryce have all the fun? Bellator girl Mercedes Terrell proves she can strut her stuff with the best of them at a recent pool party at Wet Republic in the confines of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. See how she stacks up to her fellow Bellator babe right here.
Props: It's Fighting, Stupid
Posted in: bellator, las vegas, girl, mercede, pool party
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 163: Mark Pavelich, Daniel Straus, Nathan Coy, MMA Discussion
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts, including the abysmal ratings for UFC on FOX, last Friday's Bellator 67, plus we'll get Brian's review of his trip to Milwaukee to see NAFC and much more.
We've got another loaded lineup of guests on the show. Joining us will be...
MFC president Mark Pavelich, fresh off Friday's MFC 33. We'll chat about that event, sticking to the ring, what's next for MFC and more.
Bellator Season 6 featherweight tournament finalist Daniel Straus will join us to talk about his fight Friday with Marlon Sandro at Bellator 68. We'll chat with him about fighting Sandro, how he's finally so close to his goals, his run through this tournament and more.
We'll also welcome newly-crowned MFC welterweight champion Nathan Coy back to the show following his decimation of Ryan McGillivray at MFC 33. We'll talk with him about that fight, whether it went as he thought it would, what plans he has for the belt and much more.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Alexander Gustafsson UFC on FUEL TV walk out T-shirt only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Bellator 67
SBN coverage of MFC 33: Collision Course
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 3
Posted in: bellator, radio, elbow radio, mfc, boy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowLefko on MMA: Bellator's touching stories
It was quite an emotional scene at Casino Rama at the post-fight press conference for Bellator 67 over the weekend.
Posted in: bellator, conference, story, casino rama, mma bellators
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator 67 Highlights
Bellator 67 took place Friday night live from Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario. In the main event, Bellator lightwweight champion Michael Chandler beat Akihiro Gono into retirement from MMA in under a minute. Bellator has released the video highlights of the MTV2 televised card.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: bellator, casino rama, rama ontario, akihiro gono, minute bellator
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyPhoto: Former Bellator Champ, Eddie Alvarez was Dana White's guest tonight at UFC on FOX. He sat...
Photo: Former Bellator Champ, Eddie Alvarez was Dana White's guest tonight at UFC on FOX. He sat ringside beside the UFC president, who also gave a shout out to the top ranked lightweight contender during the post-fight press conference.
Eddie's Bellator contract will be expiring in a few months.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, eddie, ufc president, photo
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowJohnston on MMA: Chandler's epic evolution
Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler is the best 155-pound fighter in mixed martial arts that no one seems to talk about.
Posted in: bellator, chandler, michael, evolution, art
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator 67 Results: Michael Chandler cruises to victory with first-round finish of Akihiro Gono
Bellator lightweight champ Michael Chandler maintained his perfect record last night with a dominating performance against Akihiro Gono in the main event at Bellator 67. The non-title “superfight” lasted less than a minute with the 10-0 Chandler clipping Gono’s chin to drop him, pounding out the TKO victory shortly thereafter.
After the event the 37-year old Gono announced he was retiring from MMA as the result of suffering his third consecutive loss.
In other Bellator 67 action, Bryan Baker’s run at welterweight continued with a solid showing against UFC veteran Ben Saunders. Baker came away with a decision win over Saunders after weathering an early storm full of near-submissions and a few stiff strikes. With the success Baker advanced to the Season 6 Welterweight Tournament final where he’ll face the eventual winner of David Rickels-Karl Amoussou.
Check out highlights from the show below followed by a full list of results:
Will Romero def. Matt Veal via TKO Round 2 (Strikes)
David Harris def. Nick Kirt via Unanimous Decision
Dom O’Grady def. Nathan Gunn via Submission Round 2 (Armbar)
Nordine Taleb def. Matt McGrath via TKO Round 2 (Strikes)
Cosmo Alexandre def. Lowrant-T Nelson via Unanimous Decision
Ryan Ford def. Luis Santos via Knockout Round 2 (Knee)
Damian Grabowski def. Dave Huckaba via Unanimous Decision
Bryan Baker def. Ben Saunders via Unanimous Decision
Michael Chandler def. Akihiro Gono via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, round, decision, gono, akihiro gono
Read the full article at Fighters.comVideo: Bellator 67 highlights, including Michael Chandler's quick TKO
Michael Chandler did what top-10 fighters are supposed to do.
In a non-title fight at Friday's Bellator 67 event, the lightweight champion made quick work of his underdog opponent: 18-year MMA vet Akihiro Gono.
Bellator has now released highlights from the fight and other main-card bouts from the event.
Posted in: bellator, event, nontitle fight, maincard bouts, michael chandlers
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 67 Recap and Results: Michael Chandler knocks out Akihiro Gono
This Friday night Bellator 67 took place in Rama, Ontario, Canada. The fight card featured surging Bellator Lightweight champion Michael Chandler, but his belt was not on the line. He faced longtime Japanese veteran Akihiro Gono in a catchweight bout. From the beginning, Chandler employed his treademark aggression to push the pace, overcoming Gono's standup to land two hard ounches. A massive straight right hand found its home, and Gono hit the cage floor. The fight was over soon wih some ground-and-pound,
Posted in: bellator, chandler, gono, akihiro gono, catchweight bout
Read the full article at Low KickVideo: Michael Chandler smashes Akihiro Gono in less than 60 seconds at Bellator 67
It wouldn't be a typical Saturday without a "Bellator Moment" to share from the mixed martial arts (MMA) event that took place last night (May 4, 2012) at the Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
And this one didn't take very long, either.
Undefeated Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler met mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran Akihiro Gono in the main event of the evening. Chandler's 155-pound belt, which he nearly got killed trying to pry away from Eddie Alvarez, who he damn near had to kill to ultimately win the strap last year, was not on the line last night.
It didn't matter because he fought like it was, storming out of his corner and connecting with a huge overhand right that sent Gono crashing to the canvas. Sensing that the Japanese fighter was terribly stunned, the Xtreme Couture-trained fighter poured it on think to force a referee stoppage.
Chandler didn't get much work in, finishing Gono in just 56 seconds, but perhaps that freshness will ensure a quick turnaround. And maybe even a rematch against Alvarez, who at this point appears to be the stiffest competition in the promotion. And there's no telling how long he'll be around for if he opts to switch sweaters at the expiration of his Bellator contract and test the deep Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) waters.
For a detailed play-by-play results of the fight between Michael Chandler vs. Akihiro Gono be sure to check out our complete Bellator 67 results post right here. And to check out our complete recap of the main card action on MTV2 click here.
Posted in: bellator, chandler, didnt, gono, akihiro
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAkihiro Gono announces MMA retirement following Bellator 67 loss
One of MMA's longest and most colorful careers has come to an end.
Following his loss to Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler at Friday's Bellator 67 event, Akihiro Gono announced his retirement from the sport.
The Japanese veteran made the announcement in a post-event press conference following the MTV2-televised event.
Posted in: bellator, japanese veteran, mma retirement, akihiro, akihiro gono
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 67 results recap from last night for ‘Chandler vs. Gono' in Rama, Ontario, Canada
Bellator Fighting Championships was at it again last night (May 4, 2012) with Bellator 67 from Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada, with the continuation of the welterweight tournament and a big non-title fight between reigning 155-pound champion Michael Chandler taking on Akihiro Gono.
Fighting for the first time since defeating former Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez back on Nov., 19, 2011, Chandler was eager to step back into the cage.
And it showed.
Chandler stormed out of the gates and connected with a huge right hand that floored the Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran and followed up with some fast and accurate ground-and-pound that finished the Gono in less than one minute of the opening frame.
Gono looked very calm as the fight started, but the stalking Chandler wanted to put in his work and get the win as fast as possible ... and he did just that.
The win marked the tenth in a row for the former NCAA Division-1 All American wrestler, keeping his perfect record intact (10-0). Gono, meanwhile, has now suffered three consecutive losses dating back to 2010.
Though the main event didn't last very long, there was plenty of main card action that kept fans entertained, for the most part.
Check it out:
In the co-main event, Bryan Baker and Ben Saunders went toe-to-toe to see who would take on the promotion's Welterweight champion, Ben Askren.
In a back-and-forth bout, Saunders and Baker entertained fans with an fast paced first round that saw "Killa B" attempt submission after submission with a flying triangle transitioned into an armbar, of which Baker defended well.
Saunders found some success in the clinch game, delivering some well-placed knees to Baker's midsection, but Baker's takedowns were too much for Saunders to deal with.
In the end, Baker proved too much for Saunders as he controlled the majority of the fight on the ground and got the better of the exchanges on the feet to earn a unanimous decision over the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran and earn his chance at capturing Bellator gold.
In Heavyweight action, Damian Grabowski took on the heavy-handed Dave Huckaba in a very intriguing contest that had the makings of an all-out standing affair with the promise of an early finish.
The bout was anything but.
Grabowski looked for the takedowns early and often, taking Huckaba down repeatedly, much to the crowd's disapproval. After spending the majority of the opening round on the floor, Grabowski looked to do more of the same in the second round, but was successful in only one if his takedown attempts.
On the feet, Huckaba was very tentative and hesitant and he failed to mount hardly any offense with his strikes, spending the majority of the bout defending the shoots for takedowns from Grabowski.
In the third round, Huckaba was yet again too preoccupied with the take down attempts as he showed no urgency after obviously needing a finish to steal the fight. In the end, "The Polish Pitbull" had done enough in the eyes of the judges to earn the unanimous decision victory, but the performance was anything but stellar.
In Welterweight action, hometown favorite Ryan Ford looked to send the locals home happy as he looked to get passed the very tough and season veteran Luis Santos.
Both came out ready to exchange as they traded kicks to begin the fight. Ford was clearly looking for an early finish as everything he threw was with full force, but failed to connect with anything solid.
After exchanging on the feet, Santos caught Ford with a flush uppercut that rocked "The Beast." After defending well from his back, Ford eventually got back to the feet and shook off the cob webs.
In round number two, Ford came out the aggressor after regaining his senses. After Ford missed with a superman punch, "Real Deal" pressed Santos up against the cage looking to wear him down. Out of nowhere, Ford connected with a huge knee to the midsection of the Brazilian that hurt him bad and sent him crashing to the canvas.
Ford wasted no time in looking for the finish as he pounced on Santos with some vicious ground-and-pound that forced the referee to put a halt to the bout.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
After Chandler made quick work of Gono last night, much like Eddie Alvarez did with Shinya Aoki at Bellator 66 a few weeks ago, is a rematch between the two scrappy 155-pound fighters in order? Or will Eddie make the jump to the UFC, ending all hopes of part deux? How will Bryan Baker fair against wrestling stalwart Ben Askren when the two meet later this year for Aksren's 170-pound strap?
Sound off!
For complete Bellator 67 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights as well as the main event click here.
Posted in: fight, bellator, ford, chandler, baker
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChandler tops Gono early at Bellator 67
Michael Chandler quickly dropped Akihiro Gono with a straight right hand in the first round on Friday in the main event of Bellator 67.
Posted in: bellator, chandler, right hand, gono, akihiro gono
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator 67 results: Chandler blasts Gono, Baker decisions Saunders
Akihiro Gono never had a chance.
Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler steamrolled the Japanese
veteran in a non-title bout to cap off a night of action at Bellator 57,
which took place at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada, and aired
live on MTV2.
Additionally, Bryan Baker advanced to the finals of the season-six
welterweight tournament with an impressive win over Ben Saunders.
Posted in: bellator, casino rama, japanese veteran, nontitle bout, chance bellator
Read the full article at MMA JunkieEdmonton's Ford wins big at Bellator 67
Edmonton's Ryan (The Real Deal) Ford was successful in his Bellator Fighting Championships debut, beating Luis Santos by TKO at Bellator 67.
Posted in: bellator, edmonton, championships debut, deal ford, edmontons ford
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator 67 Results And Live Play-By-Play Coverage
Join us for LIVE play-by-play from Bellator 67 occuring at the Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario. The event will air live on MTV2, EPIX and the Armed Forces Network with the prelims airing on Spike.com
The headliner features Bellator Lightweight champion Michael Chandler in a non-title fight with UFC and Pride veteran Akihiro Gono. The co-main event of the night is a Welterweight season six tournament semi-final between Bloody Elbow's own Ben Saunders and Bryan Baker.
The main card is rounded out with non-tournament bouts between Heavyweights Damian Grabowski and Dave Huckaba and Welterweights Ryan Ford vs. Luis Santos.
Join us at 8 p.m. ET when I'll be live blogging the main card fights. Full fight card is after the jump.
SBN coverage of Bellator 67
Main CardLightweight (Non-title): Michael Chandler vs. Akihiro GonoSeason Six TournamentsWelterweight Tournament Semifinal: Ben Saunders vs. Bryan BakerOther Main CardHeavyweight: Damian Grabowski vs. Dave HuckabaWelterweight: Ryan Ford vs. Luis SantosPreliminary CardWelterweight: Nathan Gunn vs. Dom O'GradyFeatherweight: William Romero vs. Matt VealBantamweight: Nick Kirk vs. Bo HarrisLightweight: Cosmo Alexander vs. Lorawnt-T Nelson
Posted in: bellator, vs, casino rama, forces network, dave huckaba
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 67 Results: Chandler vs. Gono
MMA Fighting has Bellator 67 results from Friday night's Bellator action at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario. In the main event, Michael Chandler will square off against Akihiro Gono. Also on the card, Bryan Baker will face Ben Saunders in a welterweight semifinal fight.Check out Bellator 67 results below.
Main CardMichael Chandler vs. Akihiro GonoBryan Baker vs. Ben saundersLuis Santos vs. Ryan FordDamian Grabowski vs. Dave HuckabaUndercardNathan Gunn vs. Dominic O'GradyNordine Taleb vs. Matt MacGrathWilliam Romero vs. Matt VealNick Kirk vs. Bo HarrisCosmo Alexander vs. Lorawnt Nelson
Posted in: bellator, vs, casino rama, ben saunders, rama ontario
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 67 Live Reaction
Sherdog.com's Freddie DeFreitas will be live tweeting his thoughts in real-time from cageside as Bellator 67 unfolds.
Posted in: bellator, reaction, cageside, sherdogcom, tweeting
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 67 Prelims – LIVE on MMAWeekly.com!
Stay tuned to MMAWeekly.com for the Bellator 67 preliminary fight card, streaming live, beginning at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Friday, May 4.
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Posted in: bellator, fight card, pm, mmaweeklycom, bull
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 67 Results & Recap
Bellator 67 takes place later tonight at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario. The event airs live on MTV2 at 8pm ET/7pm CT. The prelims will precede the MTV2 broadcast at 7pm ET and 10pm ET on Spike.com. In the main event, Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler takes on MMA legend Akihiro Gono in a Bellator [...]
Posted in: bellator, pm, casino rama, event airs, event bellator
Read the full article at MMA ConvertFree Live Stream: Bellator 67 Prelims
Sherdog.com is pleased to offer a free live feed of Friday night’s Bellator 67 prelims at 7 p.m. ET. The main card will air on MTV2 at 8 p.m. ET.
Posted in: night, bellator, pm, prelim, feed
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 67 Predictions
After a week off, Bellator returns to action and Canada with a moderately significant main card tonight. The bright spots? Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler returns to action albeit in a non-title super fight. In addition, the Bellator season six welterweight tournament rolls on as Ben Saunders and Bryan Baker look to secure a spot in the finals. And Polish heavyweight Damian Grabowski returns to action against ShoXC veteran David Huckaba as well.
What: Bellator 67
When: Friday, the MTV2-televised card begins at 8 p.m. Eastern on Friday. However, Spike.com will carry the entire fight card beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern.
Where: Casino Rama, Rama, Ontario, Canada
Predictions below for the lightweight non-title main event, a welterweight tournament semi-final and two additional main card bouts.
Michael Chandler vs. Akihiro Gono
This is a non-title bout, but it wouldn't matter. It is extremely improbable (though not impossible) Gono will do anything to Chandler except get dummied. Gono was once a good middleweight, a decent welterweight, but is now only a barely servicable lightweight. It's MMA, so it's impossible to rule anything out. Gono, if nothing else, has tremendous experience both in volume and character. But he's lost his last two (in two different weight classes), is 37 years of age and is incontestably shopworn.
Pick: Chandler
Ben Saunders vs. Bryan Baker
Saunders is a talented welterweight and has the sort of style to give Baker problems. He isn't as athletic or strong as Baker, but has crisper technique and is offensively aggressive. Even when pushed into defensive maneuvering, Saunders typically does enough to avoid serious damage while posing threats of his own. Baker has a ton of potential, but often lacks focus and can be sloppy. Against Saunders, he's likely to pay for it.
Pick: Saunders
Ryan Ford vs. Luis Santos
Odds makers have Ford as the slight underdog, but it's hard for me to have a ton of faith in Santos. Yes, he's vastly more experienced. Yes, he's got more offensive tools than Ford. But I do wonder if Ford's wrestling could trip Santos up, figuratively and literally. I'll go with Santos here very reluctantly. Neither fighter is going to set the world on fire with a win here, but the odds on this one are close for a reason.
Pick: Santos
Damian Grabowski vs. Dave Huckaba
Not the most amazing fight ever. It's also one Grabowski should never lose. Huckaba is a journeyman who has spent a considerable amount of time on the Gladiator Challenge circuit. He's 37 and his last relevant win (if such a thing can be said) came over Ruben Villareal. Grabowski has more than enough submission skills to put Huckaba away early.
Pick: Grabowski
Posted in: bellator, saunder, baker, he, grabowski
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 67 results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Chandler vs Gono' TONIGHT (May 4) on MTV2
Bellator Fighting Championships returns TONIGHT (May 4, 2012) to Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada with the continuation of the welterweight tournament and a big non-title fight.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 67 below, beginning with the MTV2 telecast at 8 p.m. ET. In addition, we'll deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the undercard action much earlier in the evening (beginning at 7:00 p.m.).
Headlining the main event will be a lightweight non-title bout as undefeated (9-0) Bellator 155-pound champion Michael Chandler takes on Japanese Pride, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and DREAM veteran Akihiro Gono.
Also on the card is a Bellator season six welterweight tournament semifinal fight between former tournament finalists Bryan Baker and Ben Saunders in a fight that expects to bring some serious violence.
There are also two potential tournament qualifier fights on the main card as heavyweights Damian Grabowski and Dave Huckaba will duke it out while welterweights Ryan Ford and Luis Santos will battle.
Check out complete Bellator 67 live results after the jump (beginning at 5 p.m. ET):
Main card
155 lbs.: Michael Chandler vs. Akihiro Gono 170 lbs.: Ben Saunders vs. Bryan Baker265 lbs.: Damian Grabowski vs. Dave Huckaba 170 lbs.: Ryan Ford vs. Luis Santos
Preliminary card (Spike.com)
180 lbs.: Nordine Taleb vs. Matt MacGrath 145 lbs.: Will Romero vs. Matt Veal 135 lbs.: Nick Kirk vs. David Harris 155 lbs.: Cosmo Alexandre vs. Lorawnt Nelson170 lbs.: Nathan Gunn vs. Dom O'Grady
Adam here!
155 lbs.: Michael Chandler vs. Akihiro Gono
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
170 lbs.: Ben Saunders vs. Bryan Baker
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
265 lbs.: Damian Grabowski vs. Dave Huckaba
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
170 lbs.: Ryan Ford vs. Luis Santos
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
Posted in: bellator, result, round, vs, lb
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBryan Baker Motivated by Family’s Future Ahead of Bellator 67 Clash with Ben Saunders
When Bryan Baker steps into the cage against Ben Saunders at Bellator 67 on Friday night, he will be vying for more than just a spot in the Season 6 welterweight tournament finals.
Posted in: bryan baker, bellator, friday night, ben saunders, saunder
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 67 Weigh-In Results; Main Event Cleared
All of the fighters competing on tomorrow night’s Bellator 67 fight card tipped the scales today at the Rama Casino in Ontario, Canada, with all but one hitting their mark.
Preliminary card competitor Will Romero weighed in at 148.8lbs for his featherweight bout with Matt Veal, almost three pounds too heavy; Romero has two hours to shed the extra weight.
Bellator lightweight champ Michael Chandler and his opponent in the main event Akihiro Gono both weighed within the lightweight limit to make their fight official. Chandler’s title will not be on the line.
Bellator 67 goes down tomorrow night at the Rama Casino, and will also feature the season six welterweight tournament semifinal match between Ben Saunders and Brian Baker. You can check out the full weigh-in results below.
Main Card (MTV2)
Champ Michael Chandler (156) vs. Akihiro Gono (155.6)
Bryan Baker (171) vs. Ben Saunders (171)
Damian Grabowski (241.4) vs. Dave Huckaba (255.4)
Ryan Ford (169.8) vs. Luis Santos (170)
Preliminary Card (Spike.com)
Will Romero (148.8)* vs. Matt Veal (145)
David Harris (134.8) vs. Nick Kirk (135.6)
Cosmo Alexander (155) vs. Lorawnt-T Nelson (155)
Matt MacGrath (179.6) vs. Nordine Taleb (179.4)**
Nathan Gunn (–) vs. Dom O’Grady (–)
* Romero has two hours to make weight. The featherweight limit is 146lbs.
**Originally scheduled a welterweight contest, now to be fought at an agreed-upon 180lbs catchweight.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: bellator, card, romero, rama casino, card spikecom
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 67 Weigh-In Results; Main Eventers Chandler, Gono Make Mark
Michael Chandler, the current Bellator 155-pound champion, and Akihiro Gono each made weight for their non-title main event fight at Bellator 67 Saturday night. The weigh-ins took place Friday. The card will be held inside the Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada, with the main card airing live on MTV2. Chandler (9-0) won the title [...]
Posted in: bellator, chandler, place friday, casino rama, akihiro gono
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 67 weigh-in results: Champ Chandler (156), Gono (155.6) cleared
All Bellator 67 main-card competitors made weight for the show at today official fighter weigh-ins.
Today's festivities took place at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada. The same venue hosts Friday's Bellator 67 event, which includes a main card on MTV2 and prelims on Spike.com.
Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler (156 pounds) and opponent Akihiro Gona (155.6) both easily made weight for their non-title headliner.
Posted in: bellator, chandler, weight, casino rama, spikecom bellator
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWatch today's Bellator 67 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 5 p.m. ET
Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada, plays host to today's official Bellator 67 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a live video stream of the proceedings at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT).
Bellator 67 takes place Friday and features a non-title headliner between lightweight champion Michael Chandler and Akihiro Gono, as well as a welterweight-tournament semifinal of Ben Saunders vs. Bryan Baker.
In addition to the live weigh-ins, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, pm, weighin, akihiro gono, nontitle headliner
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 67 Weigh-Ins Stream Live at 5pm ET
The Bellator 67 weigh-ins will stream live from Ontario, Canada in the video player above at 5pm ET. The results will follow on a separate post.
Posted in: bellator, pm, video player, weighin, ontario canada
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 67 Weigh-ins Live Video Today at 5 p.m. ET
Watch the Bellator 67 weigh-ins live on MMAWeekly.com Thursday at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT.
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Posted in: bellator, pm, bull, video today, mmaweeklycom thursday
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBest of Bellator Video: Michael Chandler vs. Marcin Held at Bellator 36
Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler returns this week for a Bellator 67 headliner with veteran Akihiro Gono.
But before Chandler won the belt in a "Fight of the Year" performance against Eddie Alvarez and got booked for the Gono non-title fight, he navigated his way through Bellator's season-four lightweight tournament.
In our latest Best of Bellator Video installment, we take a look at Chandler's opening-round tournament fight with Marcin Held at Bellator 36 - one that nearly derailed his championship hopes.
Posted in: fight, bellator, chandler, year performance, bellators seasonfour
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 67 weigh in results LIVE from Ontario for 'Chandler vs Gono'
The official weigh-in event for tomorrow night's Bellator 67 fight card will take place today (May 3, 2012) at 5 p.m. ET from inside Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
Headlining the main event will be a lightweight non-title bout as Bellator 155-pound champion Michael Chandler takes on Japanese Pride, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and DREAM veteran Akihiro Gono.
Also on the card is a Bellator season six welterweight tournament semifinal fight between former tournament finalists Bryan Baker and Ben Saunders in a fight that expects to bring some serious violence.
There are also two potential tournament qualifier fights on the main card as heavyweights Damian Grabowski and Dave Huckaba will duke it out while welterweights Ryan Ford and Luis Santos will battle.
Check out complete Bellator 67 weight-in results are after the jump (beginning at 5 p.m. ET):
Main card
155 lbs.: Michael Chandler () vs. Akihiro Gono ()170 lbs.: Ben Saunders () vs. Bryan Baker ()265 lbs.: Damian Grabowski () vs. Dave Huckaba ()170 lbs.: Ryan Ford () vs. Luis Santos ()
Preliminary card
170 lbs.: Nathan Gunn () vs. Dom O'Grady () 170 lbs.: Nordine Taleb () vs. TBA ()145 lbs.: Will Romero () vs. Matt Veal ()135 lbs.: Nick Kirk () vs. David Harris ()155 lbs.: Cosmo Alexandre () vs. Lorawnt Nelson ()
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 67, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 8 p.m. ET tomorrow night (May 4).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: fight, bellator, vs, lb, card
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator signs M-1 vet Shahbulat Shamhalaev
Once-beaten prospect Shahbulat Shamhalaev is Bellator Fighting Championships' latest addition.
MMAjunkie.com today learned of the new deal from sources close to the fighter. Shamhalaev will compete as a featherweight for Bellator.
It's currently unknown when Shamhalaev will make his Bellator debut, but he could potentially fight as soon as the promotion's upcoming "Summer Series" of monthly events.
Posted in: bellator, bellator debut, summer series, shamhalaev, fighter shamhalaev
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 67 preview and predictions for 'Chandler vs Gono' on May 4 in Rama
Bellator Fighting Championships will head to the great north this Friday night (May 4, 2012) at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada
The main card will air live on MTV2 and Epix HD on fight night, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Headlining the main event will be a lightweight non-title bout as Bellator 155 pound champion Michael Chandler takes on Japanese Pride, UFC and Dream veteran Akihiro Gono.
Also on the card is a Bellator season six welterweight tournament semifinal fight between former tournament finalists Bryan Baker and Ben Saunders in a fight that expects to bring some serious violence.
There are also two non-tournament fights on the main card as heavyweights Damian Grabowski and Dave Huckaba will duke it out while welterweights Ryan Ford and Luis Santos plan on scrapping.Our Bellator 67 preview and predictions are after the jump.
155 lbs.: Michael Chandler (9-0) vs. Akihiro Gono (32-17-7)
Michael Chandler had a tremendous run in 2011. He blitzed through a very tough season four tournament field of Marcin Held, Lloyd Woodard and Patricky Freire before pulling off a coupe de grace by stopping Eddie Alvarez to win the Bellator lightweight title in one of the year's finest fights. He's been in the gym ever since and is very excited to showcase everything he's been working on.
Akhiro Gono is a longtime veteran of the fight scene, even holding victories over the likes of Hector Lombard and Gegard Mousasi back in 2006 but his career has trailed off since then. He had a tough run in the UFC at welterweight and enters this bout having lost his last two fights including his lightweight debut at Sengoku 14.
If Chandler is intent on showcases his skills, I expect to see him keep this fight standing and try to knock Gono out with his improving boxing. He treats his striking like a new toy, something vastly different and fresh from his wrestling background at Missouri. If things don't go as expected, he has his powerful takedowns and ground and pound to fall back on. Gono may put up a fight with his experience but at 37 years old, I don't expect much resistance.
Final Prediction: Chandler via TKO in round two
170 lbs.: Ben Saunders (13-4-2) vs. Bryan Baker (17-3)
Ben Saunders has looked terrific in his Bellator career thus far. "Killa B" has gone 4-1 in his 13 month career with the promotion thus far, showcasing his terrific muay thai skills and his very dangerous ground game as well. Saunders is always looking to bring the violence, at times to a fault as he can get overeager to go for submissions or other attacks, but he's still very capable of winning this thing.
Bryan Baker made it to the finals in the Bellator season two middleweight tournament despite battling cancer and he made it to the semifinals last year but TKO losses convinced him to drop down to welterweight. He trained at Greg Jackson's before this tournament and, while patient, he was able to eek out a win in his 170 pound debut against Brazilian Carlos Alexandre Pereira in the quarterfinals.
Both Saunders and Baker have knockout power and are proficient on the ground with submissions. Baker has better wrestling skills, but his ability to take a big punch may be lacking. He said he had a horrible weight cut in his quarterfinal fight, accidentally cutting way too much and that could have affected his performance. If he cuts correctly, this should be a very close fight, but I see Saunders' superior technique paying off for him on the feet. If he puts Baker in the clinch, "The Beast" is getting slain.
Final Prediction: Saunders via knockout in round three
265 lbs.: Damian Grabowski (15-1) vs. Dave Huckaba (17-4)
Damian Grabowski entered the Bellator season three heavyweight tournament with a wave of hype behind him. "The Polish Pit Bull" barely edged out a decision in his promotional debut and then was smothered by current champion Cole Konrad for three rounds to be handed his only career loss. He's looked to improve his ground game since, scoring two straight submissions including an impressive Kimura against Eddie Sanchez just four days ago.
Dave Huckaba is a finishing machine. Of his 17 career victories, 14 have come by way of knockout with two submissions as well. He hasn't been able to score a signature win yet, losing to Lavar Johnson and Jon Murphy in his most high profile fights.
Huckaba will be trying to knock Grabowski's block off with his power, but he lives by the sword and dies by it. He's been finished in all four of his losses. Grabowski should hold a technique edge on the feet and he definitely is more well versed in submissions. If this fight goes to the ground, I don't think it will last long there.
Final Prediction: Damian Grabowki via submission in round one
170 lbs.: Ryan Ford (17-4) vs. Luis Santos (50-7-1)
Ryan Ford is one of Canada's best welterweights. "The Real Deal" had some mixed success in the MFC but he scored a huge victory over Karo Parisyan last year. Ford has a solid grappling game and loves to take his opponents down and beat on them on the ground. His stand-up still has a ways to go, but he's a pretty solid fighter.
Santos has been fighting for 12 years now. He looked terrific on the Brazilian circuit, incredibly compiling 49 wins in the southern hemisphere. He earned an invite to the Bellator season five welterweight tournament and made a good first impression, beating Dan Hornbuckle soundly in the quarterfinals but he had major issues with Ben Saunders' rubber guard in the semis and would be bounced out of the field. He's hoping to earn another shot if he can beat Ford.
Santos should have a major striking edge and is almost certainly the better submission fighter, but Ford will have a wrestling advantage and is better with ground strikes. This should be an interesting battle as both men try to impose their wills and while wrestling can be the great equalizer, I feel Santos has too much experience and overall weapons for Ford here.
Final Prediction: Santos via decision
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Will Chandler walk right through Gono? Who's your pick to make it to the welterweight tournament finals? Are you expecting any surprises on this fight card?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, submission, tournament, saunder
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFighting artist Ben Saunders wants to 'see someone get [expletive] up' at Bellator 67
To put it simply, Bellator Fighting Championships welterweight tourney semifinalist Ben Saunders is out for blood.
As he prepares to face Bryan Baker at Friday's
Bellator 67 event, Saunders knows his job as a professional fighter is
to bring a little violence to the cage.
"I am a fan of this sport, and when I go to a fight, I want to see violence," Saunders told MMAjunkie.com. "I want to see blood, and I want to see someone
get [expletive] up."
Posted in: bellator, saunder, cage i, mmajunkiecom i, violence saunders
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator champ Michael Chandler discusses Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller and his catchweight bout with Akihiro Gono
Bellator Lightweight champ Michael Chandler discusses some of his views about fight gameplans, saying that he focuses mainly on his strengths. He talks a small amount about Nate Diaz and his upcoming bout this weekend, stating that he will not be fighting either combatant anytime soon. Chandler closes up with a discussion about his upcoming non-title fight with Akihiro Gono that he is staying busy with, and that he will defend his title this fall against the next Bellator Lightweight Tournament
Posted in: bellator, chandler, akihiro gono, catchweight bout, fight gameplans
Read the full article at Low KickRyan Ford on Bellator 67 Bout with ‘Sapo’ Santos: It’s the Most Important Fight of My Career
Ryan Ford’s path to Bellator has not been an easy one.
Posted in: fight, bellator, ford, ryan, ryan ford
Read the full article at SherdogBellator signs British heavyweight prospect Mark Godbeer
Bellator Fighting Championships latest foreign import is coming from England.
Mark "The Hand of" Godbeer has inked a multi-fight
deal with Bellator and is expected to debut sometime during the
promotion's upcoming "Summer Series" event.
The signing was first reported by several British news outlets, and
MMAjunkie.com has since confirmed the deal with
sources close to the promotion.
Posted in: bellator, mark, deal, multifight deal, england mark
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator’s Season Six ‘Road To The Championship’ Video Preview Special
Bellator’s season six “Road to the Championship” via Spike TV.
Posted in: bellator, season, championship, road, ‘ road
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator Season 6 'Road To The Championship' full video
With Bellator 67 just around the corner, Spike TV is taking a look back at the sixth season of Bellator, as well as what to expect in the championship month of May.
"Road To The Championship" is hosted by Bellator commentators Sean Wheelock, Jimmy Smith and Manny Rodriguez with special guests Rick Hawn and "MMA Uncensored Live" co-host Nate Quarry.
Parts 2-4 after the jump.
For more on Bellator season six click here.
Posted in: bellator, championship, bellator season, manny rodriguez, championship month
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVideo: Sixth-season 'Bellator Road to the Championship'
Bellator Fighting Championships took its traditional in-season one-week break this past Friday.
Prior to the final events of its 12-week seasons, the organization airs "Bellator Road to the Championship" specials to highlight the season's action.
Spike.com now has made the latest half-hour special available for online viewing. Bellator commentators Sean Wheelock, Jimmy Smith and Manny Rodriguez serve as hosts.
Posted in: bellator, championship, manny rodriguez, inseason oneweek, championship specials
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Champ Eduardo Dantas Confirms Promotion Is Coming To Brazil In 2013
It appears that rumors of Bellator Fighting Championships branching out to Brazil are true, according to Bellator bantamweight champion Eduardo Dantas. Dantas, who claimed the title recently with a submission victory over Zach Makovsky, told Marcelo Barone of Tatame that he believes Bellator will be in his native country next year. Yeah, (Bellator CEO) Bjorn [...]
Posted in: bellator, danta, submission victory, zach makovsky, marcelo barone
Read the full article at MMA ConvertPay-Per-View Could Be in Bellator's Future
When Bellator lost its middleweight champion Hector Lombard to the UFC last week, it was at least partially because in the UFC's offer, they monetized the deal through pay-per-view. That avenue isn't available to Bellator right now, but within two years, it might be.As Bellator grows internationally through its major deal with distribution giant Fremantle Enterprises, and makes its move domestically to Spike, new opportunities will arise. And that could mean that at some point, Bellator will try out the pay-per-view format.
Organization CEO Bjorn Rebney told MMA Fighting that the promotion is considering all of its options when it comes to producing live content, but that Bellator would only make the move to pay-per-view under the right circumstances."I think what you’ll see is as this is monetized and that sector plays out, it’ll play out with the big fights on that platform," he said in a recent interview. "You need that kind of platform for what they’re doing. We may get there. I never wanted to make a firm commitment to it as far as when and if we’ll get there, though. It’s really something that we might do, but it needs the right fights and the right talent to get you there."To date, it's been a slow and steady rise for Bellator, which was founded in 2008. Its first season aired nationally only on Spanish-language ESPN Deportes. The next season, they moved to FOX Sports Net, in a deal that saw its events air at different times around the country. A lack of consistency in scheduling from one week to the next often made it hard to follow for viewers. By season four, they moved to MTV2 after inking a deal with media giant Viacom. At the start of 2013, Bellator will move to Spike, where they will essentially be replacing the UFC on the cable channel.That means that the next eight months will be pivotal as the promotion builds momentum towards its new home. As the timing worked out, two of its best fighters, Lombard and Eddie Alvarez, moved or will move into free agency during that transition.Given the UFC's business model, their offer to Lombard was unmatchable for Bellator. With Alvarez soon to take his talents on the free agent market, that not always be the case."Would this have been a potentially different decision two years from now, or one-and-a-half years from now? Conceivably," Rebney said.The difference then could be pay-per-view. If Bellator can offer its stars the same incentive that the UFC's top stars receive, the promotion will find itself in a much stronger negotiating position. But that's all in due time, and with due analysis. Rebney noted that the company's strong growth has not come by accident; Bellator's leadership team has always worked to examine all available data and make business moves based on logic rather than emotion. Even with new partner Viacom behind them, that won't change. So if that means pay-per-view projects are a profitable venture, they'll try it out; and if it doesn't, they won't. "Even as we reach different plateaus and become a billion-dollar enterprise, we’ll still be based on sound business decisions," Rebney said.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, right, deal, payperview
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseRickels vs. Amoussou tourney semifinal moves to Bellator 69
Karl Amoussou and David Rickels will still meet in a season-six welterweight-tournament-semifinal fight.
They'll just do so on a different date.
While initially targeted for Friday's Bellator 67 event, a source close to the fighters told MMAjunkie.com the tourney fight instead takes place next month at Bellator 69.
Posted in: fight, bellator, david rickels, rickel, tourney fight
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBrian Stann to Welcome Bellator Middleweight Champ Hector Lombard to UFC
Last week, the UFC acquired the services of Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard, and the question began circulating: Who will he fight first? Today, there is an answer.
Posted in: ufc, lombard, hector, bellator, brian stann
Read the full article at SherdogHector Lombard To Make UFC Debut Against Brian Stann
UFC president Dana White was in a giving mood today. Just minutes after confirming a bout between Mauricio Rua and Thiago Silva, Dana confirmed another huge bout, this time in the middleweight division. Former Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard will make his UFC debut against The All-American, Brian Stann. Here's the tweet:
scottyp0806 Scotty P
@ufc @danawhite Brian Stann vs Hector Lombard?
Apr 29 Favorite Retweet Reply
in reply to @scottyp0806↑
@danawhiteDana White @scottyp0806 yup Apr 29 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
Lombard (31-2-1, 1 NC) defeated Jared Hess for the inaugural Bellator middleweight title in mid-2009 and successfully defended it once. He also picked up wins in four other Bellator non-title fights. The Cuban-Australian fighter is on a 24-fight unbeaten streak and was one of the faces of the Bellator organization, but couldn't come to terms with the promotion and moved over to the UFC. Stann (12-4) is coming off a first-round knockout of Alessio Sakara at UFC on Fuel 2 earlier this month.
No date or location has been set for the bout, but you can probably expect it sometime in July or August.
Posted in: ufc, lombard, bellator, ufc debut, stann
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowHector Lombard: “I want to be the UFC middleweight champion”
Hector Lombard didn’t give up his Bellator FC middleweight title to be just another member of the UFC‘s roster. No, Lombard has his sights set on facing Anderson Silva, securing the belt, and going down in history as one of the best 185ers of all time.
Recently, the Cuban Olympian signed a contract with the UFC, exiting Bellator as the champion after an extended run in the organization. However, his deal expired, no contractual issues kept him from leaving, and though Bellator had a chance to match Zuffa’s offer they opted not to.
“I’ve wanted to fight in the UFC all my career,” said Lombard recently. “I want to be the UFC middleweight champion and I wan to fight Anderson Silva to do it. I have such respect for him as a fighter, it would be an honor and a dream come true to test my skills against his. I wouldn’t be in the UFC if I didn’t think I could win the UFC world title.”
Lombard had previously signed to fight inside the Octagon in 2007 but visa issues kept him from making an appearance. His first foe inside the Octagon is still unknown, but with as much publicity as his signing received fans can expect a pretty strong contender in the division to test Lombard’s skills right off the bat.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: ufc, lombard, bellator, anderson silva, middleweight
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainIn Wake of Financial Struggles, Eddie Alvarez Thinking Family First
Former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez has two good reasons be happy. Last week he rebounded from the loss to Michael Chandler with a sensational and swift revenge victory over Shinya Aoki at Bellator 66. Additionally, UFC President Dana White has flat out stated he 'likes' Alvarez, which is code for wanting to sign him once the lightweight's services become available for negotiation.
While the Philadelphia-native is certainly encouraged by the aforementioned, not all has necessarily been well. Alvarez recently went through a 'rough patch' that had nothing to do with his loss to Chandler. While he's on the other side of that trouble and change now, those tough times have forced the lightweight to prioritize what's most important in his career.
"The last couple of months for me have been rough,"Alvarez told Ariel Helwani on Monday's The MMA Hour. "I have three kids and a wife at home and financially I've been struggling a little bit, to be honest with you. I had to make so many changes since the Chandler fight. They were necessary changes, but they were a lot to deal with. I left my home, I left my kids, I left my wife to move to south Florida and sleep on my friend's couch just so I can train properly and focus properly and make sure I win this fight."
"I'm a fighter, but I'm also a father and a husband," Alvarez said after reflecting about his actual identity. "That's a really big, important part of my life. I'm not willing to sacrifice that for fighting. I need to adjust and find a balance and I'll do that. I've done it in the past and I'll do it again."
So, how did Alvarez get to a point where he was barely holding on to pay the bills?
He's adamant it wasn't frivolous spending, but rather, putting up too much capital in too many investment at once. "I'm not one to blow money," said Alvarez. "I'm very smart with my money, but I made too many investments at one time and i didn't really think too far ahead, thinking 'I'm just going to keep fighting' and got ahead of myself and paid for it."
Alvarez also pointed to his inconsistent competition schedule as a contributing factor.
"They keep having me fight and then don't have me fight for six and eight months and stuff. The well dries up. Little by little, I just run out of funds." Ultimately, Alvarez was able to hang on through the storm and credits his management for stepping in and scrounging up sponsor money to keep him afloat between fights.
Now on the other side of a bad spot and with the wind at his back, Alvarez is at a crossroads. He has several attractive options. One of the better ones? A future in the UFC lightweight division and it's one he'd admittedly love to have. "I'd be lying if I said, 'nah, I'm not interested in fighting for the UFC'. I'd be crazy. That's the Mecca of all fighting and that's what we all sort of strive for: to get in there and win that belt."
For now, Alvarez is tied up with a Bellator contract. He can take one more fight or wait out four months. However, if he accepts a bout between now and the end of the four month period - something he told Helwani he isn't opposed to doing - he'd be able to offer start negotiating with other promoters.
That isn't to say he's unhappy at Bellator. He's been with them for years and doesn't blame Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney for his own financial mismanagement. In light of recent events, however, securing a strong financial future has never been more important. And if precedent is any key indicator, Alvarez believes he's due for a raise. "I'm not trying to be a bad guy," he said. "I'm not trying to do anything, but like an employee if you're at a company for four years - I think everyone who's at Bellator so far who's been there for four years has got a raise."
"I'm an employee of Bellator. I feel like I have that right after four years," Alvarez said candidly.
It's probably safe to say Alvarez isn't unconcerned with UFC championship glory. Everyone fighting at Alvarez's level probably cares to some degree. And Alvarez isn't suggesting he hasn't been taken care of well by Bellator. Looking ahead, though, the top priority in his career is the top priority in his life: taking care of his family.
"I just feel like my only loyalty is to my family," Alvarez said. "It's not to Bellator, it's not to UFC, it's not to anyone. It's to make the right decision for me, my wife and kids that's going to benefit us the most."
Does he want great opponents? Sure. Would he like to fight in the world's biggest stage? Absolutely. Does he want to test himself against the UFC elite? There's no question. But in Alvarez's mind, any deal he signs isn't about him as a fighter. It's about him as a husband and father.
"To be honest with you, I don't feel like I have any loyalties to any one promotion. My loyalties are my family and to make the right decision for our future. That's it."
Posted in: ufc, fight, bellator, alvarez, im
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 68 fight card and line-up finalized for May 11 in Atlantic City
CHICAGO, Ill. (April 26, 2012) - Bellator Fighting Championships makes its return to the Garden State on Friday, May 11 with a talent-filled fight card from Caesars Atlantic City.
The night will feature a Bellator Featherweight Tournament Final fight between Marlon Sandro and Daniel Straus, with the winner earning a guaranteed title shot for the Bellator Featherweight World Championship.
The next finalist in the Season 6 Bantamweight Tournament will be decided as Marcos Galvao and Travis Marx square off in a semifinal bout. Additionally, Caesars Atlantic City will host the return of Seth "the Kimbo Killer" Petruzelli as he takes on MMA veteran Carmelo Marrero. Plus, it's the long-awaited rematch between Marius "The Whitemare" Zaromski vs. Waachiim Spiritwolf.
Bellator 68 will also feature a stacked undercard full of the area's top talent. Tickets for the Bellator 68 are on sale and are available through Ticketmaster.com or at the Caesars Box Office. Tickets are priced from $45-$125.
The event will broadcast LIVE starting at 8 p.m. EST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. EST, with the first fight scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST. The preliminary card, featuring some of the area's top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. EST.
Bellator veteran Marcin Held will look for his fifth win in his last six bouts as he takes on New Jersey product Derrick Kennington. Held, a lightweight submission specialist, is coming off a razor thin split decision victory over Phillipe Nover at Bellator 59 and is looking to improve to 13-2.
Philadelphia's Jesus Martinez squares off against "The Burmese Python" Aung La Nsang in a catchweight bout of 175 pounds. Martinez, who last competed in a losing effort to Bellator Season 6 Tournament competitor Karl Amoussou, will meet Nsang who is making his promotional debut and brings an impressive submission arsenal with him into the cage.
Also on the card, New Jersey featherweight Jeff Lentz will take on submission fighter Eddie Fyvie in a 145-pound rematch that will surely have the Atlantic City faithful on their feet. Nearly three years ago, Lentz scored a devastating knockout in their first encounter and now Fyvie is looking to exact revenge when they battle at Caesars Atlantic City.
Bellator 68 will feature an exciting lightweight matchup as Bellator veteran Jacob Kirwan battles newcomer Don Carlos-Clauss. Kirwan will look to return to the form that saw him defeat Bellator Season 6 Lightweight Tournament competitor Rene Nazare last year while Carlos-Clauss will look to make a strong first impression.
A pair of Bellator veterans will clash as local favorite Claudio Ledesma challenges fellow bantamweight Anthony Leone in a 135-pound bout. Ledesma, who defeated Brian Kelleher at Bellator 54 last October, is looking to earn his second win with the promotion when he battles the New York native.
Rounding out the card will be Gregory Milliard taking on Francois Ambang. Coming off an impressive win at Bellator 59, Milliard returns to Atlantic City and will try and keep the momentum going against a tough Ambang.
MAIN CARD:
Featherweight Tournament Finals Fight: Marlon Sandro vs. Daniel Straus
Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal Fight: Marcos Galvao vs. Travis Marx
Catchweight (230 lbs.) Feature Fight: Seth Petruzelli vs. Carmelo Marrero
Welterweight Feature Fight: Marius Zaromskis vs. Waachiim Spiritwolf
PRELIMINARY CARD:
Lightweight Feature Fight: Jacob Kirwan vs. Don Carlos-Clauss
Lightweight Feature Fight: Marcin Held vs. Derrick Kennington
Bantamweight Feature Fight: Claudio Ledesma vs. Anthony Leone
Middleweight Feature Fight: Gregory Milliard vs. Francois Ambang
Catchweight (175 lbs.) Feature Fight: Jesus Martinez vs. Aung La Nsang
Featherweight Feature Fight: Jeff Lentz vs. Eddie Fyvie
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: fight, bellator, vs, card, feature
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMorning Report: Nick Diaz Sues the NSAC, Says He Would Fight Carlos Condit 'Immediately'
Last night Nick Diaz became the first mixed martial arts fighter in history to sue the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Now, on a scale of 1-to-10, my guess is that sentence wasn't nearly as surprising as it probably should've been. One of Bill Simmons' most popular sportswriting memes is the ‘Tyson Zone,' which signifies an athlete whose behavior becomes so outrageous, an individual would believe any story about the athlete, regardless of how odd it may seem. Well, if Diaz hadn't reached the Tyson Zone before yesterday, he certainly has now. (Say I told you Diaz went out, bought an elephant, got it high just 'cause, then pawned it at a thrift store. You'd believe me, ergo, Tyson Zone.)
Besides its audaciousness, this lawsuit is fascinating for three reasons:
1.) Diaz may actually have a very real, very legitimate case here. Under Nevada law, the commission is required to "determine the outcome through proceedings related to the order of a summary suspension within 45 days of the date of the suspension." Despite protests from Deputy Attorney General Chris Eccles that Diaz would not be heard until his medical marijuana card was produced, the lawsuit maintains that "Diaz and his lawyers made repeated attempts to reach the NSAC to obtain a formal hearing to finally adjudicate the NSAC's complaint without any response from Executive Director of the NSAC Keith Kizer." If that is indeed true, Diaz's case immediately becomes a very sharp thorn in the side of the NSAC.
2.) The precedent this could set has the potential to be resounding. While Diaz's case is an extremely centralized one, a victory would go a long way to shattering any remaining sense of invincibility that exists behind the commission. Diaz fought the law and Diaz won. That message cannot be overstated.
3.) On the same day his brother says Diaz just isn't that interested in fighting right now, Nick states in a sworn affidavit that he "would be prepared to compete against Mr. Condit or against any other opponent deemed suitable immediately." Now, even if the idea of Diaz referring to Carlos as Mr. Condit is laughable, the significance behind his words is clear. Diaz is still angry at how UFC 143 went down. He's far from retired. And he wants revenge.
When it comes down to it, as someone who personally loves watching the violence Diaz brings with him to the cage, isn't that really the most important part of all this?
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Nick Diaz sues Nevada State Athletic Commission. UFC welterweight contender Nick Diaz filed a lawsuit against the Nevada State Athletic Commission for alleged violations of statutory law and his Constitutional rights to Due Process. Within the sworn affidavit, Diaz states he is prepared to fight Carlos Condit "immediately" if the suspension is lifted.
The hurt business: epilogue. In the final installment of 'The Hurt Business,' Ben Fowlkes looks back on a tumultuous year inside the Grudge Training Center, and tries to make sense out of lessons learned in and out of the cage.
UFC 145 garners 700,000 PPV buys. Early estimates have UFC 145 collecting approximately 700,000 pay-per-views buys, by far the largest of Jon Jones' career.
Invicta FC preview and predictions. Take an early look at the promotional debut of Invicta Fighting Championships, an all-female mixed martial arts organization slated for broadcast this Saturday night.
UFC notebook with Dana White. UFC President Dana White discusses Rampage Jackson's wasted potential, Chael Sonnen's encounters in hostile territory, and his personal disdain for a proposed half-point judging system.
MEDIA STEW
This feels appropriate given the circumstances.
It's unbelievable, but this seems to be a video of Alistair Overeem visiting his testosterone-happy doctor, Hector Oscar Molina. Even Tra Telligman, the former fighter who Overeem says hooked him up with Molina, makes an appearance. (HT: MMA Mania)
Since his Overeem-dos Santos promo quickly became outdated, NickTheFace stepped up his game to pump out this Tarantino inspired Mir-dos Santos trailer.
Regardless of political affiliation, we can all appreciate this Chris Lytle campaign ad for his run to the Indiana State Senate. (HT: MiddleEasy)
That has to be the most boss warzone watch ever. Seriously, look at the size of that thing. Click for larger size. (HT: MiddleEasy)
BIG NIGHT FOR THE JONES'
Draft party at the semi-finished Bone Caveyfrog.us/65911z
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) April 27, 2012
Congratulations to the new New England Patriot @ChanJones99
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) April 27, 2012
Chandler Jones, Jon Jones' brother, went 1st round to the @Patriots. Im so pumped!!! Congrats Jones family!!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) April 27, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Thursday, April 26, 2012):
- Bellator 68: Marcos Galvao (11-5-1) vs. Travis Marx (19-3)
- Bellator 68: Carmelo Marrero (14-5) vs. Seth Petruzelli (14-6)
- Bellator 68: Jacob Kirwan (9-4) vs. Don Carlo-Clauss (8-6)
- Bellator 68: Marcin Held (12-2) vs. Derrick Kennington (6-2)
- Bellator 68: Claudio Ledesma (6-2) vs. Anthony Leone (10-5)
- Bellator 68: Francois Ambang (1-3-1) vs. Gregory Milliard (2-2)
- Bellator 68: Jesus Martinez (6-2) vs. Aung La Nsang (9-7)
- Bellator 68: Eddie Fyvie (9-5) vs. Jeff Lentz (9-2-1)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day is a heartfelt open letter from BE's benten20: Thank You MMA for everything: A letter of thanks
Most of the time we all joke around on here but every once in a while, someone posts a serious fanpost about themselves or some other serious matter. This fanpost is about what the sport of Mixed Martial Arts means to me and what is has done for me. For most of my school life in both elementary school and high school, I was bullied. Physical, verbal, and mental abuse which only got worse as the years progressed. It got so bad I felt i had to go a high school that was out of Brooklyn just to make sure no one from my old school would be there.
Turns out that being the short chunky kid who is not good at sports and is a nerd isn't the best combination for making friends. 9th and 10th grade were two of the worst years of my life as i was constantly picked on a belittled. I had my head slammed into a concrete wall, was thrown out of a moving van, pushed down a staircase and I'm leaving out the mental and verbal abuse. By 11th grade I hit my growth spurt and starting pumping iron. Towards the end of the year, people seemed to curiously stop picking on me. I began to think maybe things would change.
Turns out that didn't happen as there is always someone who's bigger and stronger. By 12th grade i was probably one of the bigger guys but this one guy made my life a living hell. He abused me and made me his rag doll nearly breaking my neck. He broke my phone and told me it was my fault for being in his way. Just for good measure he stole the only girl that i was ever close with. I figured it was just him but turns out lots of people had to join however they can as someone made a poll with the title: should Ben kill himself. By the time high school finished i had no confidence in anything I did. I was an empty shell who didn't care about life.
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in Monday's post.
Posted in: bellator, diaz, jone, vs, school
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseJay Hieron had to pay back signing bonus to part ways with Bellator
Jay Hieron has not competed since a loss to Ben Askren in October with the Bellator welterweight title on the line. The defeat, snapping a ten-fight winning streak for Hieron, was also apparently his last match under the Bellator banner after recently announcing the organization accepted his release…though not without a price.
“Just got my release from BELLATOR..Time to work my way up too the top,” an excited Hieron posted on Twitter.
However, when pressed for details by NBC Sports, Hieron broke the situation down in more detail, saying, “I asked for a rematch with Askren and they said no…to go back through the tournament. That just didn’t make sense to me cause I thought I beat him already.”
“I had to pay them back my signing bonus, but at this point in my career, I would rather do that than sit on the shelf,” Hieron revealed.
Now, Hieron will look to get back inside the Octagonstarting with a fight at Legacy FC 12 on July 13 against an opponent who has yet to be named.
The New York native holds an overall record of 22-5 with wins over Brent Weedman, Rick Hawn, Pat Healy, Jason High, and Jake Ellenberger.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, ben askren, hieron, part ways, cause i
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator announces stacked return to N.J.
Bellator Fighting Championships officially announced the full card for its return to the New Jersey on May 11 and it has a stacked main card
Posted in: bellator, card, return, nj bellator, nj
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator 68 Lineup Complete With Galvao-Marx, Marrero-Petruzelli
A bantamweight match up between Marcos Galvao and Travis Marx, as well as a heavyweight tilt between Carmelo Marrero and Seth Petruzelli have completed the Bellator 68 fight card.
Those two fights combine with a welterweight rematch between Waachim Spiritwolf and Marius Zaromskis and a featherweight finals fight featuring Marlon Sandro and Daniel Straus to form the Bellator 68 main card.
Galvao (11-5-1) and Marx (19-3) will be competing in one of the bantamweight tournament semifinals matches. The other semifinal bout, between Luis Nogueira and Hiroshi Nakamura, has not been assigned to an event yet.
Bellator 68 is expected to take place on May 11 at the Palladium Ballroom in Caesar’s Atlantic City in New Jersey. Check out the full lineup below.
Main Card
Marlon Sandro vs. Daniel Straus
Marcos Galvao vs. Travis Marx
Carmelo Marrero vs. Seth Petruzelli
Waachiim Spiritwolf vs. Marius Zaromskis
Preliminary Card
Don Carlo-Clauss vs. Jacob Kirwan
Marcin Held vs. Derrick Kennington
Claudio Ledesma vs. Anthony Leone
Francois Ambang vs. Gregory Millard
Aung La Nsang vs. Jesus Martinez
Eddie Fyvie vs. Jeff Lentz
Posted in: bellator, vs, card, seth petruzelli, carmelo marrero
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 68's 10-bout lineup complete, includes Galvao vs. Marx, Marrero vs. Patruzelli
Bellator execs are staying busy through the promotion's off-week, and
the 10-bout lineup is now complete for May's Bellator 68 event.
In addition to previously reported fights of Marlon Sandro vs. Daniel
Straus in a featherweight tourney final contest and a welterweight bout
between Waachiim Spiritwolf and Marius Zaromskis, Bellator 68's main
card also sees Marcos Galvao vs. Travis Marx and Carmelo Marrero vs. Seth
Patruzelli.
Bellator 68 takes place May 11 at Palladium Ballroom in Caesars Atlantic
City in New Jersey.
Posted in: bellator, bout, vs, palladium ballroom, featherweight tourney
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 68's 10-bout lineup complete, includes Galvao vs. Marx, Marrero vs. Petruzelli
Bellator execs are staying busy through the promotion's off-week, and
the 10-bout lineup is now complete for May's Bellator 68 event.
In addition to previously reported fights of Marlon Sandro vs. Daniel
Straus in a featherweight tourney final contest and a welterweight bout
between Waachiim Spiritwolf and Marius Zaromskis, Bellator 68's main
card also sees Marcos Galvao vs. Travis Marx and Carmelo Marrero vs. Seth
Petruzelli.
Bellator 68 takes place May 11 at Palladium Ballroom in Caesars Atlantic
City in New Jersey.
Posted in: bellator, bout, vs, featherweight tourney, waachiim spiritwolf
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 68 Gets Galvao-Marx Bantamweight Semifinal, Zaromskis-Spiritwolf 2, Petruzelli
Bellator’s first Season 6 bantamweight semifinal is now set, as promotion officials announced Thursday that Travis Marx will square off with Marcos Galvao at Bellator 68.
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, marcos galvao, promotion officials, travis marx
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 68 Gets Galvao-Marx Bantamweight Semifinal, Zaromskis-Spiritwolf 2, Petruzelli-Marrero
Bellator’s first Season 6 bantamweight semifinal is now set, as promotion officials announced Thursday that Travis Marx will square off with Marcos Galvao at Bellator 68.
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, marcos galvao, promotion officials, travis marx
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 67 prelims include Nordine Taleb, Cosmo Alexander vs. Lowran-T Nelson
Bellator Fighting Championships is in the middle of a week off from live events, but the company returns to action next Friday, May 4, with Bellator 67.
While the evening's MTV2-broadcast main card has been official for several weeks, the Spike.com-streamed preliminary card is still coming together.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed current plans include an appearance by Canadian prospect Nordine Taleb, who meets an opponent yet to be named, as well as the return of kickboxing star Cosmo Alexander against undefeated lightweight Lowrant-T Nelson.
Posted in: bellator, week, mmajunkiecom today, nordine, company returns
Read the full article at MMA Junkie
Junkie Interview with Andreas Spang about the incident on Bellator this weekend.
submitted by daveox [link] [comment]
Posted in: bellator, spang, daveox link, andreas spang, junkie interview
Read the full article at RedditBellator moves quickly to fill void left by Hector Lombard’s departure with announcement of middleweight title-fight
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney didn’t want long to address the recent vacancy at the top of the organization’s middleweight division, confirming the title will be awarded in an eventual fight between the winner of Season 6 finalists Maiquel Falcao-Andreas Spang and Alexander Shlemenko.
The title became available when Hector Lombard – the lone fighter to wear the belt in Bellator’s history – signed a contract with the UFC.
Rebney confirmed the news via his Twitter account.
Falcao and Spang will meet next month and then move on to face Shlemenko later this year. In addition to determining a top contender the bout will also be a grudge match of sorts after the two came to blows during a face off last Friday night. No date has been announced for their match-up.
Shlemenko is currently working his way back from injuries suffered in a recent car accident though none are considered to be career-threatening. He earned his right to fight for the belt after winning the Season 5 middleweight tourney and was awaiting a return shot at Lombard after losing a five-round decision in their first encounter.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: alexander shlemenko, bellator, shlemenko, middleweight, fiveround decision
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainJay Hieron Joins Legacy FC, to Compete at July Event
Jay Hieron (22-5) tweeted the news of his long sought-after Bellator release today, but that doesn’t mean that The Thoroughbred is a free agent.
The seasoned 35-year-old has joined fellow former UFC competitors Jamie Varner and Junior Assuncao in signing with Legacy Fighting Championships. MMAJunkie first reported the signings.
Hieron and Assuncao will compete (but not against one another) at a July 13 Legacy FC event which is to be held at the Arena Theater in Houston, Texas, and headlined by expert grappler Robert Drysdale. Neither man has been assigned an opponent for their promotional debuts.
Hieron exits Bellator after winning the promotion’s fourth season welterweight tournament, albeit controversially. In his first tourney bout, against Anthony Lapsley, the referee prematurely halted the bout when he thought Lapsley had been put to sleep by a rear naked choke – he had not. The Thoroughbred would go on to edge out Brent Weedman and Rick Hawn (who are, coincidentally, the Bellator season six lightweight tournament finalists) in questionable decisions to win the tournament.
When he took on Bellator welterweight champ Ben Askren and lost by controversial decision himself, Hieron requested an immediate rematch. When he was not granted that rematch, he began looking for a way out.
Hieron last competed against Askren, at Bellator 56 last October.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, hieron, legacy, brent weedman
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyFull card set for Rama return at Bellator 67
The full card has been set for Bellator's return to Casino Rama on May 4.
Posted in: bellator, return, casino rama, rama return, bellators return
Read the full article at sportsnet.caJay Hieron granted Bellator release, debuting in Legacy Fighting Championships this July
It looks like "The Thoroughbred" is ready to get back in the race.
Former IFL standout and season four Bellator welterweight tournament winner Jay Hieron was not happy with the Chicago-based promotion. After earning his title shot against Ben Askren and coming up just short in a hard-fought split decision at Bellator 56 this past fall, the Xtreme Couture fighter wanted an immediate rematch as he believed he'd won the fight.
When the rematch wasn't granted, Hieron obviously wasn't pleased. That would explain why he wasn't a participant in this season's current welterweight tournament.
After some speculation that he was going to be fighting elsewhere, Hieron took to Twitter yesterday to announce he had finally been released from his Bellator contract.
Early reports suggest that the former junior college national champion wrestler has already verbally agreed to fight for Texas-based promotion Legacy Fighting Championship.
Hieron is expected to make his debut at Legacy FC 12 on July 13 against an opponent that is yet to be determined.
The 35 year old had a controversial run in Bellator, earning a technical submission over Anthony Lapsley when the referee mistakenly thought the former King of the Cage champion was choked unconscious and Hieron then followed it up with back-to-back hotly disputed decision victories over the likes of Brent Weedman and Rick Hawn to win the season four tournament.
He actually forced Bellator welterweight champion and former Olympic wrestler Ben Askren to stand with him for a significant portion of their fight, but was unable to capitalize.
Hieron is hoping a fresh start with a new promotion (his fifth promotion in the past four years) will be just what the doctor ordered.
Do you feel "The Thoroughbred" can still make a run?
Posted in: bellator, promotion, welterweight, hieron, legacy
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 66: 103,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 66 ratings received an average of 106,000 viewers last Friday. The ratings are disappointing considering it was headlined by Eddie Alvarez versus Shinya Aoki.
The 106,000 viewers is a sharp decrease from last week’s 163,000 viewer average. It is also the third worst average in Bellator/MTV2 history. MMA Junkie suggested that its site as well as others aired the prelims and main event fights online which could have detracted from the television average.
Bellator 65: 163,000 viewers
Bellator 64: 175,00 viewers
Bellator 63: 140,000 viewers
Bellator 62: 175,000 viewers
Bellator 61: 108,000 viewers
Bellator 60: 169,000 viewers
Payout Perspective:
The roller coaster continues with the Bellator ratings. Even with it being a UFC PPV weekend, Bellator had a solid main event that was not worthy of a 103,000 viewer average. With Hector Lombard leaving for the UFC, Bellator is down one of its top stars. Bellator will need to ensure that it keeps and cultivates its top fighters so that the company can have a face.
Posted in: bellator, shinya aoki, viewer, roller coaster, bellator ratings
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBellator champ Lombard signs with UFC
Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard is on his way to the UFC, according to his Twitter account.
Posted in: ufc, lombard, bellator, champion, account
Read the full article at sportsnet.caUFC inks Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney knew he could lose Hector Lombard once the middleweight’s four-year contract expired. Now, those fears have come true, as Lombard has signed his contract with the UFC meaning Bellator was unable to match Zuffa’s offer (or chose not to).
The current Bellator middleweight champion will compete inside the Octagon for the first time in his career, bringing a 31-2-1 record with him to the promotion.
“I am in the UFC it is official,” a happy Lombard posted on his Twitter account earlier today.
The former Olympic Judoka has not lost since 2006 in a match against Gegard Mousasi. At 34 years old, Lombard seems to still be in his prime, having stopped Trevor Prangley in his last fight with Bellator and generally destroying all opponents he’s faced over the past few years.
Lombard has competed at both light heavyweight and middleweight during his MMA caree, and owns the fastest recorded knockout in Bellator history at eight seconds. He has also won eight consecutive fights in Bellator, a record for the promotion.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR/UFC
Posted in: ufc, lombard, bellator, middleweight, bellator history
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC Signs Bellator Middleweight Champ Hector Lombard
Reigning Bellator Fighting Championships middleweight titleholder Hector Lombard announced Tuesday afternoon that he has officially signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Posted in: lombard, hector, bellator, championship, tuesday afternoon
Read the full article at SherdogBellator Champ Hector Lombard Heading To The UFC
We posted last week that the UFC had offered Bellator Middleweight champ Hector Lombard a contract and that Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney would decide whether or not to match the offer this week. Well the suspense is over. MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta is reporting that Bellator is letting Lombard move on up to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Lombard was one of the first fighters Rebney signed when he launched Bellator in 2008. Lombard went 8-0 with 7 KO's in Bellator, winning the MW title in the promotion's inaugural tournament in 2009. Lombard defended the title once against Alexander Shlemenko in 2010 and had four non-title fights while holding the title.
During his time in Bellator, Lombard defended the Cage Fighting Championship MW title twice and won the Australian Fighting Championship title in 2011. His overall MMA record is 31-2-1 with 1 NC. He is 34-years-old and was a Judo Olympian with Cuba in 2000. He has since become an Australian citizen.
Lombard's tenure with Bellator has to be regarded as a mixed success for the fighter who drew several good paydays while remaining free to fight in his home of Australia. Lombard also raised his profile somewhat with American fans. On the negative side, he did little to test himself while with America's #2 MMA promotion and will likely be thrown into the deep end by the UFC.
Rebney's reasoning for not matching the UFC's contract offer is after the jump...
"We have a business model where we make decisions based on analyzing data. Since the first day we came into being, we made decisions based on real models, not hypotheticals. The UFC model is largely based on pay-per-view, and the offer they made to Hector is going to be monetized via pay-per-view. While pay-per-view could play a role in our future, today it doesn't. So, we did our due diligence to review the UFC contract, analyze it in terms of charging our audience to see Hector vs. putting him on free TV, and we decided to allow the UFC to sign Hector, where I am extremely confident he will win the UFC middleweight title on pay-per-view," Rebney told Chiappetta.
"He was a great fighter here, and there's no doubt in my mind he'll be a great fighter when he goes to the UFC," Rebney said. "I've said for a long time he's the best middleweight in the world, and I think he'll win the UFC title in short order."
Posted in: ufc, lombard, hector, bellator, title
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator champ Hector Lombard signs with UFC
Longtime Bellator champion Hector Lombard has officially signed with the UFC.
The 185-pound standout today announced the news via Twitter.
UFC president Dana White had expressed interest in the Cuban-Australian fighter, who recently fulfilled the terms of his Bellator contract after an 8-0 stint in the organization that's part of an overall 24-0-1 run in his past 25 outings.
Posted in: ufc, hector, bellator, bellator contract, cubanaustralian fighter
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Titleholder Hector Lombard Headed to UFC
It has been widely speculated that Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard (31-2-1, 1 NC) would be signing with the UFC now that he’s reached free agency. That speculation can now come to an end, as MMAFighting’s Mike Chiapetta reports that the Cuban judoka will in fact be joining the UFC’s 185lbs ranks.
Per Lombard’s contract (which, along with Eddie Alvarez’s, was one of the first inked by the promotion), Bellator had the option of matching any offers made to Lombard by other promotions. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney told MMAFighting that the UFC’s offer included a cut of the pay-per-view profits, which is something that his promotion couldn’t match.
Lombard himself confirmed the news shortly after the publishing of MMAFighting’s report. Via Twitter: “I am in the UFC it is official :)”
The 34-year-old Cuban expatriate and former Olympic judo player won the inaugural Bellator middleweight championship in 2009 with a TKO of Jared Hess; he has defended the belt once, over Alexander Shlemenko.
Lombard is currently riding a twenty-fight winning streak; his only two losses have come via unanimous decision against Akihiro Gono and Gegard Mousasi. He last appeared in action at Bellator 58 in November, where he defeated Trevor Prangley via second-round TKO.
Posted in: ufc, lombard, bellator, promotion, mmafighting
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator Boss Bjorn Rebney Confirms Hector Lombard Is UFC-Bound
World-ranked middleweight Hector Lombard will leave his longtime home at Bellator and sign with the UFC.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney confirmed the move to MMA Fighting on Tuesday afternoon.
Lombard currently has one of the longest unbeaten streaks in MMA. He hasn't lost a fight since December 2006. Since then, he's gone 25 straight fights without a defeat.
Bellator had a right to match the UFC's offer to the man who was their reigning middleweight champion, but Rebney cited differences between the two organizational models as the obstacle that could not be overcome when it came to matching the UFC's deal.
"We have a business model where we make decisions based on analyzing data," he said. "Since the first day we came into being, we made decisions based on real models, not hypotheticals. The UFC model is largely based on pay-per-view, and the offer they made to Hector is going to be monetized via pay-per-view. While pay-per-view could play a role in our future, today it doesn't. So, we did our due diligence to review the UFC contract, analyze it in terms of charging our audience to see Hector vs. putting him on free TV, and we decided to allow the UFC to sign Hector, where I am extremely confident he will win the UFC middleweight title on pay-per-view."
Lombard, along with former lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez, were the first two fighters Rebney signed when he began the promotion in 2008.
He went 8-0 with seven knockouts during his run in Bellator, capturing his championship in June 2009 with a fourth-round TKO of Jared Hess. He also successfully defended the belt in a unanimous decision win over Alexander Shlemenko, the only time in his last eight fights his opponent made it to the judges' scorecards.
"He was a great fighter here, and there's no doubt in my mind he'll be a great fighter when he goes to the UFC," Rebney said. "I've said for a long time he's the best middleweight in the world, and I think he'll win the UFC title in short order."
Over the weekend, UFC president Dana White confirmed his interest in Lombard, saying, "I like him. I like him a lot."
It appears he has his man.
Posted in: ufc, lombard, hector, bellator, rebney
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 66 TV Ratings Nose Dive; Move to Spike TV Can’t Come Soon Enough
Bellator's Season 6 has suffered a rough roller coaster ride on MTV2, with Friday's Bellator 66 dipping down towards the season low.
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Posted in: bellator, spike tv, tv, roller coaster, bull
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 66 ratings: Viewership plunges to just 109,000 MTV2 viewers
Despite what was arguably Bellator's biggest fight and biggest show of its sixth season, this past weekend's Bellator 66 event saw a ratings plunge.
The April 20 broadcast averaged just 109,000 MTV2 viewers, MMAjunkie.com today confirmed with industry sources. That's down 33 percent from the 163,000 viewers who tuned in for Bellator 65 a week prior.
It's also the third-worst figure in Bellator and MTV2's 32-event history.
Posted in: bellator, viewer, mtv, thirdworst figure, ratings plunge
Read the full article at MMA JunkieLet Eddie Alvarez explain how he feels about leaving Bellator to fight in the UFC
The first time I saw Eddie Alvarez fighting, he was 8-0 and fighting on Bodog Fight's Costa Rica Combat. Totally bizarre set-up but I also managed to catch Roy Nelson, Rosi Sexton, Jake Ellenberger, Chael Sonnen, Jake Shields and Brad Pickett on Bodog Fights so totally worth it and if you can catch any of these events online I wholly endorse blowing off work today to watch them. This was the first time I has seen any of these fighters but it was Eddie Alvarez who blew me away and I immediately loved the guy. I started watching Bellator because he was fighting, same with DREAM. I'm not going to pretend I've been following MMA since the NHB days like a lot of guys do. I started following MMA because of Eddie Alvarez.
You can only imagine how I felt when Shinya Aoki heel hooked his way to victory over my boy Eddie on that fateful New Years Eve. 92 seconds of intense emotions kicked my ass that night. I can now relate directly to how Gary LaPlante felt when Shogun lost to Jon Jones. Eddie has since avenged that loss but if things go well, he could be fighting in the UFC by the end of the year. He appeared on The MMA Hour to talk with Ariel Helwani about a number of things but most prominently about his contractual obligation with Bellator and how he feels about interest from the UFC. After informing us that his Bellator contract has either one fight or four months left, he had this to say on the interest from UFC.
“Yeah man, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested in fighting for the UFC. You have to be crazy, that's every fighters, that is the Mecca of all fighting and we all sort of strive for, to get in there and get that belt. I'm still obligated to a contract and I'm going to fulfill my obligations for the contract. I don't even know what I can say or anything. I'm going to fulfill my obligations, and then we will figure out and maybe take bids from other companies. I made an agreement with Bjorn four years ago and I want to fulfill that agreement. I'm not trying to be a bad guy or anything, but like any employer, if you are with a company for four years, I think everybody that has been with Bellator so far, who have been there for four years have got a raise, you know? They have got their contracts renegotiated and got raises. I'm an employee of Bellator and I feel I have that right, after these four years they can assess my performance and what I have helped the company with and they can say if I deserve a raise or if I don't, and at that point, maybe another company can step in and say what they are offering.”
I can’t say Eddie’s habit of getting rocked early and coming back to win would work out in the UFC, all I know is that I’ll most certainly be watching if it happens. [source]
Posted in: bellator, year, eddie alvarez, eddie, im
Read the full article at Middle EasyAndreas Spang penalized for his post-fight actions this past weekend
Andreas Spang went home last weekend with lighter pockets than expected and will have to try to make up for lost wages when he competes for the Bellator Seaseon 6 Middleweight Tournament title next month. Spang, who defeated Brian Rogers this past Friday night at Bellator 66, was docked a percentage of his purse for a post-fight scuffle he started with fellow finalist Maiquel Falcao.
When the 185ers did the customary square-off after claiming victories at the event the “Sweet Swede” decided to shove Falcao, sparking a bit of a dust-up including Falcao throwing a knee to Spang’s midsection. Spang also pushed Rogers at the Bellator 66 weigh-ins, a factor possibly coming into play in terms of his punishment.
For his actions, Spang was fined 20% of the $30,000 purse (i.e. $6,000) his received for defeating Rogers.
MMAJunkie first reported the Ohio Athletic Commission’s decision to dock Spang’s takehome.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, roger, falcao, spang, rogers mmajunkie
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainWhat’s Next for Eddie Alvarez, Bellator or the UFC?
Following his victory over Shinya Aoki at Friday night’s Bellator 66, it sounds as if former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez could find himself in the middle of a battle for his services.
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Posted in: bellator, shinya aoki, eddie, bull, services retweet
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyEddie Alvarez interested in UFC once Bellator contract expires
Free agency and mixed martial arts (MMA) aren't often used in the same sentence, seeing as how there really isn't a market to test the waters because Zuffa -- parent company to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) -- has a stranglehold on the sport, owning the top two organizations in the world (the aforementioned UFC and Strikeforce).
The next best promotion is arguably Bellator and its tournament-style formats, which have proven to be very successful. One of its biggest, if not the biggest star on the roster, is former Bellator Lightweight champion, Eddie Alvarez, who is about to become one of the most sought after free agents in the coming months.
One of the top 155-pound fighters in the world, regardless of promotion, Alvarez proved to the MMA world that he is indeed one of the division's elite, taking out another top contender, Shinya Aoki, in a little more than two minutes of the opening round at this past weekend's Bellator 66 in Cleveland, Ohio.
With the victory, not only did Alvarez get back to his winning ways after losing his title to Michael Chandler at Bellator 58, but he also got his long-desired revenge on the Japanese submission specialist who defeated him at Dynamite!! back in 2008.
Sporting an overall 23-3 record with wins over the likes of Roger Huerta, Pat Curran, Tatsuya Kawajiri and Joachim Hansen, Alvarez is all but ready to take his talents to the world's best MMA proving grounds grounds:
The Octagon.
Of course, there is still a matter of fulfilling his contract with Bellator, which Alvarez cleared up today (April 23, 2012) on "The MMA Hour:"
"It's not based on one fight. (contract expiration) It's based on either a fight or four months, then we would be going into negotiations and can start taking offers with any company. I'm thinking now, and I told my wife today, I am completely injury free, I wouldn't mind taking a fight in a month and getting the negotiation periods on with. I feel perfectly fine. I don't know how my management feels about that, but there are very few fights where I leave but I am injury-free and I'm in great shape right now."
Alvarez is more than ready to take his game to the UFC and face the cream of the crop when it comes to a very stacked and talented Lightweight division:
"Yeah man, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested in fighting for the UFC. You have to be crazy, that's every fighters , that is the mecca of all fighting and we all sort of strive for, to get in there and get that belt. I'm still obligated to a contract and I'm going to fulfill my obligations for the contract. I don't even know what I can say or anything. I'm going to fulfill my obligations, and then we will figure out and maybe take bids from other companies. I made an agreement with Bjorn four years ago and I want to fulfill that agreement. I'm not trying to be a bad guy or anything, but like any employer, if you are with a company for four years, I think everybody that has been with Bellator so far, who have been there for four years have got a raise, you know? They have got their contracts renegotiated and got raises. I'm an employee of Bellator and I feel I have that right, after these four years they can asses my performance and what I have helped the company with and they can say if I deserve a raise or if I don't, and at that point, maybe another company can step in and say what they are offering"
Ultimately, Alvarez says the decision will be based on the people who he is most loyal to, his family:
"To be honest with you, I don't feel like I have any loyalties to any one promotion. My loyalties are to my family and to make the right decision for our future and that's it. As well as my management team, in the last couple of months they have become an extension of my family. My loyalties are to a small circle of people. Promoters want me for the same reason that I want them and it is all based upon, you know, the dollar. My only loyalty is to my family. It's not to Bellator, not to UFC, not to anyone, it's to make the right decision for my wife and kids what is going to benefit us the most. When offers do come in, when things are assessed, that's how I will base my decision, on what goes on next."
When asked when he would be fighting this time next year, Alvarez had this to say:
"This question is better asked to Dana White and Bjorn Rebney, them two can battle it out. Or Dana White, Bjorn Rebney and Lorenzo , I don't know who makes the decisions, Dana or Lorenzo, I'm not sure, but we are going to let the two, you know I am just a fighter, I'm not, I don't have a ton of money and I can't make that decision. It is going to be up to them to duke it out."
Get your check books ready Dana and Bjorn, it's time see who has deeper pockets.
The UFC has already offered a contract to another one of Bellator's top stars, Hector Lombard. Bellator, of course, has the chance to match the offer or choose to pass. Perhaps by passing on Lombard and using the funds to keep Alvarez, who made $100,000 for his beat down of Aoki, could be a strategic move on Rebney's end in the the hopes of retaining at least one of the two.
Then again, Zuffa's pockets might be more than deep enough to steer the two stars away from its biggest competition.
Anyone care to guess where Alvarez will by swinging leather once the negotiation period begins?
Posted in: ufc, bellator, alvarez, contract, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFinal thoughts from Bellator 66: Brawls, fines, Eddie Alvarez and more
Last Friday's (April 20, 2012) Bellator 66 event is in the books and with the bye week this week, I wanted to dish out my final thoughts on the event while they're still fresh.
I was fortunate enough to be cageside for the show, which took place a just about 90 minutes from me at The IX Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Overall, I felt the event was pretty solid. There were upsets, a few lackluster fights and some wild and crazy finishes. It was a well-balanced night of action
Posted after the jump, I've got some assorted newsworthy tidbits taken from the press conference, talks with fighters and much, much more:
Middleweight Andreas Spang was fined $6000 for initiating the post-fight scuffle with Maiquel Falcao
It may have looked like Falcao started it because the cameras cut to the near-brawl late, but it all began during the staredown between the tournament finalists. Just like he did against Brian Rogers at the weigh-ins, Spang shoved Falcao first. Obviously, Falcao wasn't gonna take that lying down and he nearly threw a punch, instead throwing a knee in short quarters as Spang tried to throw a kick before they were separated. Ohio State Athletic Commissioner Bernie Profato got in Spang's face and gave him a piece of his mind. Later, alongside Matt Bishop, Profato told us that he offered Spang a deal. He could be fined $50 and get a six month suspension (thus missing the tournament finals), or he could be fined 20 percent of his fight purse (which was $15,000 to show and $15,000 to win) and promise no more shenanigans. Spang obviously took the latter.
Eddie Alvarez has one fight left on his contract, but it's on a time limit which expires this year
The way Alvarez's contract works is he has one more fight on it under Bellator, but there's also a date as well. If he has that fight, the contract is over. If that date passes, the contract is over even if he doesn't have his last fight. My assumption is that Alvarez will sit out until his contract expires, similar to what Hector Lombard did earlier this year. He wasn't making chump change with Bellator either, the commission reported he was paid $50,000 to show and $50,000 to win for his fight against Aoki this past Friday night. If he signs with the UFC, will have to be willing to pay him more than that, probably a lot more otherwise he'll stick around in Bellator.
Shinya Aoki said he'd like to fight again in Bellator
When asked during the post-fight press conference about his thoughts on the fight, he was very succinct, replying that Alvarez fought well and he'd like to be back. I asked him if that meant he'd be willing to compete in the next Bellator lightweight tournament, but Aoki just smiled and said he doesn't know about that yet. Take that however you like.
Brent Weedman's eye will be fine and lightweight tournament final will go as planned
If you watched Weedman's fight against Thiago Michel, you may have noticed he had some major swelling directly under his right eye. I spoke with him after the post-fight press conference and he said it was just a soft tissue injury and he didn't have a broken orbital or cheek bone thankfully. Once the swelling goes down, he'll be good to go for the finals although he'll be sporting quite a big black eye for the foreseeable future.
Bjorn Rebney was not impressed at all with the light heavyweights
There were two light heavyweight fights on the preliminary card for Bellator 66 which featured two men (Attilah Vegh and Marcus Vanttinen) who had already been previously announced as members of the next Bellator Summer series 205 pound tournament. Vegh squeaked by with a ho-hum split decision and Vantinnen lost a ho-hum split decision and neither looked impressive at all. There's a possibility that Rebney was so disappointed by their debuts in the promotion that he won't be bringing them back for the tournament.
Rick Hawn looks untouchable at lightweight
The former judo Olympian was good at welterweight, advancing to the finals of the season four tournament, but at lightweight, he's been a wrecking machine. He's now faced two men in Ricardo Tirloni and Lloyd Woodard who were some of the sleepers to win this whole tournament and he's knocked them out clean. Hawn's power has translated incredibly well to the new weight class and if Brent Weedman isn't careful, he's going to be another victim. I hate to look ahead, but I'm already fantasizing about how awesome of a fight he could give Michael Chandler for the title.
For complete Bellator 60 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights as well as a recap of the main card and main event click here, here and here.
That's all the key points I had for the event.
Was there anything else that stood out to you, Maniacs? I didn't see the live broadcast on MTV 2 so maybe you guys have a unique perspective on this.
Speak up if so!
Posted in: fight, bellator, tournament, contract, spang
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAndreas Spang Fined Following Bellator 66 Altercation
An in-cage altercation between the Bellator season six middleweight tournament finalists at Bellator 66 last week has resulted in the Ohio State Athletic Commission levying disciplinary action against one of the fighters.
Maiquel Falcao and Andreas Spang made it through the field of middleweight tournament competitors to secure a match up against one another in the finals. At last Friday’s Bellator 66 event, where both men advanced in the tourney, the two were brought into the cage for a face off. Falcao’s mean mug prompted the shove-happy Spang to push the Brazilian, leading to a mini-altercation in the cage.
Speaking with MMAJunkie, OSAC executive director Bernie Profato revealed that Spang has been fined twenty percent of his fight purse for instigating the altercation. Having taken home $30,000 ($15,000 to show up and another $15,000 to win) that night for his win over Brian Rogers, Spang was fined a total of $6,000.
Profato intended to suspend Spang for up to six months, but Bellator officials asked for a different course of action since it would prevent Spang from competing against Falcao in the finals. Falcao received no punishment, as it was deemed he was only acting in self defense.
Bellator 66 went down at the I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Spang and Falcao have not been assigned a date yet for their middleweight tournament final.
Posted in: bellator, falcao, spang, altercation, andreas spang
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyDana White confirms Bellator fighters Eddie Alvarez, Hector Lombard on UFC’s radar
The UFC is always looking to add the best talent in the world regardless of their current place of employment. In that vein, two fighters who call Bellator home are among those on the UFC’s radar, as Eddie Alvarez and Hector Lombard are on the cusp of free agency.
Past reports confirmed middleweight champ Lombard was already offered a contract by the UFC with Bellator being given the option to match the deal or let him walk. A decision on the matter is expected in the near future.
Meanwhile, Alvarez avenged a previous submission loss to Shinya Aoki by defeating the Japanese icon this past Friday at Bellator 66 and certainly impressed in doing so.
“I think Eddie Alvarez is a great fighter. You know us, man. We’re always looking to get the best fighters in the world in the UFC and he’s one of them,” said UFC President Dana White in a recent interview with MMAJunkie. “I (also) like (Lombard). I like him a lot. So we’ll see what happens.”
Neither Alvarez or Lombard have fought in the UFC though Lombard was set to before visa issues in 2007 kept him from making an appearance. The middleweight has went 24-0-1 over his last 25 fights while Alvarez holds a career mark of 23-3.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: ufc, lombard, bellator, alvarez, eddie alvarez
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 66 salaries: Alvarez ($100K), Aoki ($60K) earn top fighter paydays
Headliners Eddie Alvarez ($100,000) and Shinya Aoki ($60,000) were the top earners at this past weekend's Bellator 66 event.
MMAjunkie.com today requested and received the list of disclosed paydays from the Ohio Athletic Commission.
While Bellator's salaries usually are consistent due to the structured pay of its tournaments, Alvarez and Aoki provided a rare, non-title super fight between two of the sport's top-ranked lightweights.
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, aoki, tournaments alvarez, bellators salaries
Read the full article at MMA JunkieAfter Bellator 66 scuffle, Andreas Spang fined 20 percent of purse but not suspended
Andreas Spang will still fight in Bellator's season-six middleweight-tournament finale, but he'll do so with fewer bucks in his pocket.
Ohio Athletic Commission Executive Director Bernie Profato today told MMAjunkie.com that Spang has been fined 20 percent of his $30,000 fight purse ($6,000) for instigating a post-fight scuffle at Bellator 66 with .
Spang also shoved opponent Brian Rogers at Bellator 66's weigh-ins.
Posted in: bellator, spang, andreas spang, postfight scuffle, pocket ohio
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 66: Alvarez vs. Aoki II Fight Highlights
Check out a highlight recap of Friday night's Bellator 66: Alvarez vs. Aoki from Cleveland, Ohio.
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Posted in: bellator, vs, alvarez, aoki, bull
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC Has Bellator’s Eddie Alvarez, Hector Lombard In Their Sights
Bellator Fighting Championships has been the home for two of the best non-UFC fighters in the world. Current Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard and former Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez, however, are each nearing – or have reached – the end of their contracts with the fight promotion. During a recent interview with MMA Junkie’s [...]
Posted in: bellator, fight promotion, eddie, sights bellator, nonufc fighters
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator Quick Quote: Eddie Alvarez open to trilogy fight with Shinya Aoki on neutral ground
"[Aoki] got me when I went over to Japan three years ago and I got him here tonight. Maybe we can meet somewhere halfway like in Hawaii or something and fight somewhere nice or whatever. This is like one of those fights, man, where I'm a striker, he's a devastating grappler and it could go either way. I had a good night tonight, it's no more than that."
-- Former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez avenged one of his two career losses at 155 pounds against top Japanese talent Shinya Aoki this past Friday night (April 20, 2012) in the main event of Bellator 66 in Cleveland, Ohio, with a first round technical knockout. He now holds a 1-1 career record against Aoki with both men defeating each other in their respective home countries. This victory was huge for Alvarez, who dropped his title to Xtreme Couture's Michael Chandler last year in one of 2011's finest fights. The Philadelphia native chose to forgo an opportunity to enter this season's lightweight tournament and instead focus on avenging the Aoki loss. His Bellator contract is set to expire later this year, but has he priced himself out of getting another Bellator contract by scoring this high profile win?
Posted in: fight, bellator, year, aoki, bellator contract
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 66 - Andreas Spang vs. Brian Rogers
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Posted in: bellator, vs, brian, spang, locoyandel
Read the full article at RedditRebellion MMA Radio: Bellator beauty Jade Bryce, TUF winner Tony Ferguson, and UFC writer E. Spencer Kyte
After kicking in the MMA radio community’s proverbial door last weekend with a debut episode highlighted by Johny Hendricks’ thoughts on Josh Koscheck and a visit from Ultimate Fighter 8 champion Efrain Escudero, Rebellion MMA Radio is back this Sunday with another stacked show!
Joining hosts Bryan Levick and Mitch Ciccarelli to talk all-things Mixed Martial Arts will be UFC lightweight Tony Ferguson, Bellator’s bubbly, blonde ring-girl Jade Bryce, and UFC writer E. Spencer Kyte.
Ferguson, who has been on fire since winning TUF 13, is currently in the midst of training for a fight against Michael Johnson on May 5 at UFC on FOX 3. The 13-2 striker has finished eleven of his opponents and is currently on a six-fight winning streak.
Meanwhile, Bryce can be seen every Friday night on MTV 2 as part of the Bellator crew (as well as in Playboy for those of you who “read the articles”), and Kyte’s work can be frequently found on UFC.com as well as in the organization’s magazine, Fight! Magazine, and The Province in Vancouver.
Fans can catch Rebellion MMA Radio live at 6:30 PM EST this Sunday night where the show will break down the action from Bellator 66, UFC 145, and much more!
Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, radio, debut episode
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 66 Highlights (Video)
Bellator 66 took place Friday night in Cleveland, Ohio. The card delivered with explosive action through out the night. Bellator has released a video of the night’s highlights including the main event between Shinya Aoki and Eddie Alvarez, along with the middleweight and lightweight semifinals.
Posted in: night, bellator, shinya aoki, cleveland ohio, night bellator
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 66 Alvarez vs Aoki Recap and Highlight Video
Bellator 66 took place in Cleveland, Ohio this Friday and was considered Bellator Fighting Championships most anticipated card of the year. It matched two of the best Lightweights in the world, Eddie Alvarez and Shinya Aoki, against each other in a super fight as well as featured the semifinals of both the Lightweight and Middleweight tournaments.
For full results and play-by-play click here.
Alvarez saved his relevancy with that win. He continues to be one of the best, if not the best, Lightweight outside of the Zuffa employ. His defensive striking is still a concern and there is the loss to Michael Chandler, but after last night Alvarez is still a Top 10 Lightweight.
Aoki had a tough night. I think he was still rocked when Alavrez jumped in and then overwhelmed him with strikes from the half guard. Much has been made of Aoki working on his kickboxing at Evolve MMA and he seemed more comfortable on the feet and that was the problem.
The conventional wisdom in MMA right now is that grapplers like Aoki need to develop their striking in order to make that next big jump. But Aoki's grappling and his focus on it is what makes him so dangerous and to focus so much time and energy on become mediocre at striking takes away from that. Aoki's attempted standing elbow showed that he was comfortable enough on the feet to get cute, but not experienced enough to safely execute the techniques. I believe a saying a coach of mine best sums up what happened with Aoki's striking Friday night, "he knew just enough to get his ass kicked".
Video after the jump...
SBN coverage of Bellator 66
I think Aoki will remain a tough out for fighters and will is a wild card to win against any Lightweight on the planet with his outstanding submission offense, but consistent success is nothing something he will ever enjoy at the top levels of the sport.
Thiago Michel showed weak wrestling and bottom game against Brent Weedman. Michel's stand up likely was enough to take the match, but ended up loosing a split decision in the first a few questionable call by the Ohio Athletic Commission judges.
Maqieul Falcao looked equally weak attempting to defend the judo trip assault Vyacheslav Vasilevsky put on him. And Falcao despite, remaining active on his back, achieved very little from the ground until the end of the second round, when he put the Russian on his back. One of the biggest weaknesses of Sambo and Russian Judo based fighters is often they have very little to offer off their back, and Vasilevsky appears to not be an exception. It was an uninspiring match that Vasilevsky likely should have won but the judges gave to Falcao.
Rick Hawn put on a clinic on how to deal with a hyper-aggressive brawler. He kept Lloyd Woodard from ever being able to set his feet, never stood in the pocket, either disengaging or clinching. And when Woodard became visibly frustrated and bull rushed Hawn, a quick right hand put the fight in the win column for Hawn.
Andreas Spang took a beating at the hands of Brian Rogers, much to the pride of the home-crowd. That is until a sassy counter left hook by Spang put Brian on Queer Street. It was a fantastically entertaining fight and continued a very good week for Swedish MMA.
The scuffle after the fight between Spang and Falcao was unfortunate. Spang shoved Falcao, but Falcao responded by faking a punch and then kneeing Spang to the body. We'll see if suspensions are handed out and how that will affect the Bellator Middleweight tournament final.
Bellator 66 HighLights (via BellatorMMA)
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, aoki, falcao, spang
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDana White expresses interest in Bellator's Eddie Alvarez and Hector Lombard
ATLANTA - When you're as big and influential as the UFC, simple desire often is the only thing needed to get what you want.
So, take note Bellator fans; the UFC clearly wants two of its rival organization's biggest stars: ex-lightweight champ Eddie Alavarez and current middleweight titleholder Hector Lombard.
UFC president Dana White suggested the UFC soon will make a play to sign both Bellator veterans.
Posted in: ufc, lombard, hector, bellator, eddie
Read the full article at MMA JunkieAlvarez stops Aoki with strikes at Bellator 66
Eddie Alvarez defeated Shinya Aoki in a battle of two of the top lightweights in mixed martial arts Friday in the main event at Bellator 66.
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, shinya aoki, aoki, arts friday
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator 66 Results: Eddie Alvarez avenges loss to Shinya Aoki with first round finish
Bellator lightweight Eddie Alvarez made a statement last night in his much-anticipated rematch with Japanese submission-specialist Shinya Aoki by putting the polished grappler away early with some brutal ground-and-pound. The finish came a little over two minutes into their headlining fight at Bellator 66, improving Alvarez’s overall record to 23-3 and snapping a seven-fight winning streak for Aoki.
After the fight Alvarez made it clear he is ready to get paid, asking Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney to “show” him “the money”. Alvarez only has four months remaining on his current contract and is expected to test free agency by year’s end.
Alvarez Talks Changes Since Joining the Blackzilians, Future Beyond Bellator
In other Bellator 66 action, Brent Weedman and Rick Hawn both moved on to the Season 6 Lightweight Tournament final with impressive performance, while Maiquel Falcao and Andreas Spang accomplished the same albeit in the middleweight field. Things got particularly heated between the 185-pound finalists during an in-ring face-off where Spang shoved Falcao, prompting the Brazilian to rush him and even throw a knee to his midsection before the two sides were pulled apart.
Here is a highlights video from Bellator 66 followed by complete results below:
Jessica Eye def. Anita Rodriguez via Unanimous Decision
Julian Lane def. Joe Heiland via Submission Round 1 (Guillotine Choke)
Donny Walkerdef. Frank Caraballo via Knockout Round 3 (Flying Knee)
Attila Vegh def. Dan Spohn via Split Decision
John Hawk def. Marcus Vanttinen via Split Decision
Brent Weedman def. Thiago Michel via Split Decision
Rick Hawn def. Lloyd Woodard via Knockout Round 1 (Strikes)
Maiquel Falcao def. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky via Unanimous Decision
Andreas Spang def. Brian Rogers via Knockout Round 2 (Strikes)
Eddie Alvarez def. Shinya Aoki via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
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Posted in: bellator, round, decision, alvarez, aoki
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 66: Eddie Alvarez brutalizes Shinya Aoki in Cleveland
CHICAGO, Ill. (April 20, 2012) — The rematch more than three years in the making finally culminated as former Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez and current DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki met in one of the most anticipated fights of the year. The finals of the Bellator Season 6 Middleweight and Lightweight Tournaments are now set as Andreas Spang, Maiquel Falcao, Rick Hawn and Brent Weedman all moved on to their respective finals with impressive wins at Bellator 66 from the I-X
Posted in: bellator, year, eddie, brent weedman, cleveland chicago
Read the full article at Low KickThe pro wrestling post: WWE stock, Lesnar’s sponsors and TNA-Bellator working together?
Before we all sit down to watch one of the biggest hyped UFC fights of 2012, MMA Payout gives you the weekly pro wrestling post.
WWE stock plummets to 52 week low Thursday
Despite breaking records with its PPV buys for Wrestlemania 28, the WWE’s stock hit a 52 week low on Thursday. The depression in stock comes a couple weeks before it announces its first quarter results. WWE reports first quarter results May 3rd. The company is spending a lot of money right now as it attempts to build its WWE Network.
Payout Take: The 52 week low may be attributed to the high aspirations for its PPV buys. The WWE Network and its Film Division are the two culprits in the WWE empire that are losing money for the company. While the WWE is addressing the issues with its film unit, it is the expenses for the WWE Network that may be a ray of hope for the company in the future. Although it missed its original target date for its debut, if it can find distribution deals and a fan base and advertisers that will be willing to pay, the WWE may be onto something. But, that’s a big “if”.
Lesnar allowed to wear his sponsors in the WWE
Despite jumping to the WWE, Brock Lesnar is keeping his sponsors. According to Wrestling-Online.com, one of the clauses in his contract was that he could still wear his sponsors while in the WWE. Currently, the WWE characters are sponsorless. Jimmy Johns is one of the bigger sponsors Lesnar will be wearing to the ring. I don’t believe the WWE has an official sandwich maker for the company so there were no conflicts. It will be odd to see Lesnar in the ring wearing gear that he wore in the Octagon.
Payout Take: Not only does Lesnar get a $5 million contract from the WWE, he will still be paid by his UFC sponsors for wearing the gear. This is a bonus for his sponsors considering that he will be in front of a much bigger audience.
TNA to work with Bellator when it heads to SpikeTV
Despite renewing its contract with Spike TV, TNA wrestling is still retooling its product. News has surfaced that TNA heads Dixie Carter and Eric Bischoff have met with Spike TV execs to discuss the direction of the product. TNA has contacted Bellator about ways that each company can help one another once Bellator comes aboard to Spike in 2013.
Payout Take: This can benefit both companies…or, it could hurt each company. While both cater to the network’s target demographics, involving Bellator in TNA angles may disturb the Bellator product and blur the lines of real and sports entertainment. Spike execs, TNA and Bellator will have to be creative in collaborating on cross-promotion.
Posted in: bellator, wwe, sponsor, company, tna
Read the full article at MMA PayoutVideo: Andreas Spang come-from-behind knockout of Brian Rogers at Bellator 66
It wouldn't be a typical Saturday without a "Bellator Moment" to share from the mixed martial arts (MMA) event that took place last night (April 20, 2012) at the IX Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Andreas Spang, who was making his promotional debut on short notice after Bruno Santos was forced out of the season six Middleweight tournament because of an injury, had the daunting task of upending hard-hitting hometown favorite Brian Rogers. "The Predator" has a proven history of ending his fights early and violently; however, Spang demonstrated early that he was not an easy out.
It was a back-and-forth battle for 1.5 rounds with both men uncorking "a barrage of wild punches, flying knees and kicks that had the crowd at the I-X Center on their feet." Rogers appeared to be getting the better of the exchanges, but then perhaps his confidence got the best of him and Spang drilled him with a short left hook that instantly turned out his lights. Just for good measure, "Sweet Swede" followed up with a Dan Henderson-esque flying hammer fist, which forced the referee to intervene and stop the fight.
With the knockout victory, Spang will move to the finals of the Bellator Season 6 Middleweight Tournament to take on Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) castoff Maiquel Falcao at a later date. Falcao actually came inside the cage after Spang's win and a brawl nearly erupted when Spang pushed the aggressive Brazilian.
For a detailed play-by-play results of the fight between Andreas Spang vs. Brian Rogers be sure to check out our complete Bellator 66 results post right here. And to check out our complete recap of the main card action on MTV2 click here.
Posted in: bellator, roger, brian rogers, spang, ix center
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 66 results recap from last night for 'Alvarez vs Aoki' in Cleveland, Ohio
Bellator 66 continued the Bellator Fighting Championship's sixth season last night (April 20, 2012) from the IX Center in Cleveland, Ohio. It was a night full of violence, comebacks and upsets.
And former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez may have had the showstopper. The Philadelphia, Pa., slugger battled Japanese grappling ace Shinya Aoki in a rematch that dated back to New Year's Eve 2008 in Saitama, Japan.
Aoki was victorious way back then, but not this time. Not even close.
After deciding to stand and trade over the first two minutes, Aoki failed to connect with anything particularly powerful. But, after a pair of short inside uppercuts landed and dropped the tapout artist, it was the beginning of the end.
Alvarez cautiously threw some nice strikes from a distance once the fight went to the ground, but quickly followed up and swarmed Aoki the second he realized he was hurt, forcing both the referee and Aoki's corner to intervene. To check out a full fight recap of Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki click here. And to see the .gif of the the first round finish click here.
There was a ton of other great mixed martial arts (MMA) action from the main card posted after the jump:
Cleveland fan-favorite Brian Rogers nearly brought the house down during his introduction and came within inches of finishing his Bellator Middleweight fight against Andreas Spang on a variety of occasions, but his failure to score the stoppage came back to bite him in the second round.
Rogers was putting a beating on Spang in round two, but his hands were dropping over and over and Spang's counter left hook was finding a home nearly every time it was thrown in retaliation to the Rogers flurries.
Eventually, Spang caught Rogers with a beautiful left hand again, which dropped "The Predator" and a follow-up strike on the canvas put him down for the count.
In other middleweight action, Russian "Slava" Vasilevsky took on the combustible Brazilian Maiquel Falcao in a very intriguing contest.
Vasilvesky came out strong, taking Falcao down repeatedly after a stalemate in the stand-up and really forcing the Brazilian to play defense. He did more of the same early in the second round, but Falcao responded with a takedown of his own followed by some actual ground and pound, something Vasilevsky didn't do much at all.In the third round, Falcao came out with a sense of urgency and nearly knocked Vasilevsky's head off with a huge flurry of strikes which put the Russian on queer street. Vasilvsky wisely used his grappling skills to survive, but they only kept him going, they didn't actually win the bout for him.
In the end, the second round was the swing round, and the judges decided unanimously with Falcao.
In lightweight action, former Bellator season four welterweight finalist Rick Hawn put down the hyped-up Lloyd Woodard after frustrating him greatly in the first round.
Woodard came out looking to slug his big power strikes, but Hawn stifled him, frustrating the Montanan with some strong clinch attacks, some stalling and even a few brief takedowns.
When the second round began, Woodard came forward way too aggressively and walked right into a huge counter right hand from Hawn which dropped the mustached mauler. Some quick ground and pound from the now former-Olympian was enough to punch "Genghis'" ticket to the finals.
Lastly, soon-to-be-father Brent Weedman took on Brazil's Thiago Michel in a hotly contest bout which featured some impressive ground work on Weedman's behalf.
Weedman held his own in the first two rounds of striking, but it was his grappling which saved the day for the Kentucky native. He took down Michel on myriad occasions and was able to repeatedly land in side control, which just so happens to be his strongest position.
Michel fought back in the third two win the round, but he was too little too late to make a difference after dropping two rounds earlier on in the night and Weedman was awarded a split decision victory to advance to the finals.
The finals match ups are: Andreas Spang vs. Maiquel Falcao at middleweight and Brent Weedman vs. Rick Hawn at lightweight. Spang and Falcao got into it in the announcement staredown, although Weedman and Hawn were much better behaved.
For complete Bellator 66 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights as well as the main event click here and here.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
How much did Alvarez raise his stock with his victory last night over Shinya Aoki? Should Aoki's corner have thrown in the towel so quickly? Who do you believe will win each tournament when it is all said and done?
Sound off!
Posted in: bellator, round, aoki, falcao, spang
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 66 Results: Eddie Alvarez Exacts His Revenge on Shiny Aoki
The rematch more than three years in the making finally culminated as former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and current Dream lightweight champion Shinya Aoki met at Bellator 66.
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Posted in: bellator, alvarez, aoki, eddie, bull
Read the full article at MMA Weekly
Aoki’s Bellator experience pretty much goes the way you thought it would
How the fight cards for Bellator this month are shaping up.
Posted in: bellator, month, aoki, experience, fight cards
Read the full article at Fight OpinionBellator 66 Prelims
Sherdog.com is pleased to offer a free live feed of Friday night’s Bellator 66 prelims at 7 p.m. ET. The main card will air on MTV2 at 8 p.m. ET.
Posted in: bellator, pm, prelim, friday, feed
Read the full article at Sherdog
Bellator 66 results- Eddie Alvarez shuts down Shinya Aoki, middleweight and lightweight bracket update
Bellator 66 resultsCleveland, OHEddie Alvarez def. Shinya Aoki via TKO (strikes) 2:14 R1Andreas Spang def. Brian Rogers via knockout (punches) 3:34 R2 Maiquel Falcao def. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-29)Rick Hawn def. Lloyd Woodard via KO (punch) 0:10 R2Brent Weedman def. Thiago Michel via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) Jessica Eye def. Anita Rodriguez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)John Hawk def. Marcus Vanttinen via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)Attila Vegh def. Dan Spohn via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)Frank Carabello def. Donny Walker via knockout (flying knee) 2:25 R4Julian Lane def. Joe Heiland via submission guillotine choke 2:49 R1Middleweight and welterweight bracket update plus fighter rankings after the jump All tournament rankings are done by ULTMMA.com prior to the opening round of the Bellator eight man bracket. These rankings are unofficial. Former MMA prospects ranked and graded by ULTMMA.com who are making their Bellator tournament debuts include: Mike Corey, Ricardo Tirloni, Karl Amoussou, Raul Amaya and Bruno Santos.Bantamweight spring 2012 tourneyApril 6, Ontario, CanadaTravis Marx (#6) def. Masakatsu Ueda (#1) by unanimous decisionHiroshi Nakamura (#8) def. Rodigo Lima (#5) by unanimous decisionApril 13, Atlantic City, New JerseyMarcos Galvao (#3) def. Ed West (#4) by unanimous decisionLuis Nogueira (#7) def. Alexis Vila (#2) by unanimous decisionFeatherweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 9, Hammond, IndianaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Roberto Vargas (#6) by Submission RNC R1Mike Corey (#7) def. Ronnie Mann (#2) by Unanimous DecisionAlexandre Bezerra (#3) def. Kenny Foster (#8) by Submission RNC R2Daniel Straus (#4) def. Jeremy Spoon (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 6, Ontario, CanadaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Alexandre Bezerra (#3) by split decisionApril 13, Atlantic City, New JerseyDaniel Straus (#4) def. Mike Corey (#7) by unanimous DecisionMay 11, Atlantic City, NJMarlon Sandro (#1) vs. Daniel Straus (#4)Lightweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 23, Laredo, TexasLloyd Woodard (#4) def. Patricky Freire (#1) by Submission Kimura R1Rick Hawn (#2) def. Ricardo Tirloni (#3) by TKO R1Brent Weedman (#8) def. J.J. Ambrose (#6) by Submission Von Flue Choke R2Thiago Michel (#5) def. Rene Nazare (#7) by Split DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioRick Hawn (#2) def. Lloyd Woodard (#4) by KO R2Brent Weedman (#8) def. Thiago Michel (#5) by split decision TBDRick Hawn (#2) vs. Brent Weedman (#8)Welterweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 30, Uncasville, ConnecticutKarl Amoussou (#3) def. Chris Lozano (#4) by Unanimous DecisionBen Saunders (#1) def. Raul Amaya (#5) by Submission Rear Naked Choke R1David Rickels (#8) def. Jordan Smith (#6) by KO R1Bryan Baker (#2) def. Carlos Pereira (#7) by Split DecisionMay 4, Ontario, CanadaBen Saunders (#1) vs. Bryan Baker (#2)Karl Amoussou (#3) vs. David Rickels (#8)Middleweight spring 2012 tourney-* Andreas Spang replaced injured Bruno Santos in semifinals March 16, Bossier City, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Norman Paraisy (#7) by Unanimous DecisionBrian Rogers (#6) def. Vitor Vianna (#1) by KO R1Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) def. Victor O'Donnell (#8) by Unanimous DecisionBruno Santos (#4) def. Giva Santana (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) by unanimous decision *Andreas Spang (#8) def. Brian Rogers (#6) by KO R2TBDMaiquel Falcao (#2) vs. *Andreas Spang (#8)Bellator 65 results
Posted in: bellator, decision, submission, vs, split
Read the full article at UltMMABellator 66 results: Eddie Alvarez smashes Shinya Aoki in round one
It was a rematch Eddie Alvarez had been begging Bjorn Rebney for ever since he signed with Bellator back in 2009.
Shinya Aoki embarrassed him at Dynamite!! 2008 in Saitama, Japan, with a 92-second heel hook, but tonight (April 20, 2012), Alvarez would get his revenge.
After a very cautious opening two minutes, the Japanese submission wizard Aoki started to get a little too comfortable with his newfound striking abilities that he's been developing, which led to a huge Alvarez right hand that sent him crashing to the canvas.
Alvarez cautiously dropped some big right hands from above and when he hurt Aoki again, he dove into his opponent's dangerous guard and began unloading on him with a huge flurry of ground and pound strikes.
It only got worse for Aoki there.
Aoki's corner, seeing its fighter in tremendous danger, threw in the towel, but the referee either ignored it or didn't see it and the onslaught continued. Alvarez pummeled with more unanswered blows and when Aoki turned away from the power, the referee finally intervened.
The Philadelphia native leaped out of the cage to kiss his wife and then celebrated on the Bellator television camera stands on the outside of the cage before doing his patented victory backflip.
In his post-fight speech, Alvarez asked Bellator CEO to "pay him his money" before thanking everyone that helped him earn his emphatic victory.
What happens next in regards to Alvarez's future with Bellator is up in the air as his contract is quickly coming to an end. He certainly raised his stock with this high profile win.
Needless to say, revenge was very sweet for "The Silent Assassin" tonight.
For complete Bellator 66 results and play-by-play coverage of the main card action on MTV2 click here. And to check out a .gif of the Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki first round stoppage click here.
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, aoki, eddie, shinya
Read the full article at MMA ManiaEddie Alvarez Flattens Shinya Aoki at Bellator 66
Eddie Alvarez finally got his revenge, and it was violent. Nearly four years after losing to DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki, Alvarez dropped Aoki with a short right hand early in the first round at Bellator 66 on Friday night. Wary of Aoki's formidable guard game, Alvarez hesitated before leaping in and unloading an avalanche of unanswered shots that repeatedly bounced his opponent's head off the mat.
Sensing their fighter was out, Aoki's corner quickly threw in the towel but referee Jerry Krzys failed to see it. Alvarez's barrage continued for a few more brutal seconds before Krzys jumped in to end the contest.
Afterward, Alvarez, who is currently in tenuous contract negotiations with Bellator officials, was blunt when asked what the win meant to him.
"It means Bjorn Rebney, show me the money," he elatedly declared. "Bjorn Rebney where you at? Show me the money."
In the night's co-main event, Andreas Spang stormed back from early trouble to flatten Brian Rogers with a spectacular highlight reel finish. A late replacement for Bruno Santos, Spang found himself in danger from the opening bell, eating a salvo of shots before turning his back and running to the fence. In hot pursuit, an over-eager Rogers slipped while throwing a high kick and Spang leaped in to lock-up a tight rear-naked choke.
A desperate Rogers fought off the submission attempt and recovered to land another volley of punches and flying knees on Spang, hunting for his second-straight sensational finish. Spang managed to survive the round, however he soon found himself back in trouble, as Rogers unloaded with lefts and rights from the opening bell of the second frame.
But it was Spang who ultimately found his mark, hurling a gigantic counter left hook out of nowhere that floored Rogers. Evoking the sprit of Dan Henderson, Spang landed one more flying shot to cap off the stunning comeback at 3:34 of round two, and pave his road to the Bellator season six middleweight tournament finals.
There he will meet former UFC veteran Maiquel Falcao, who snuck his way into the middleweight finals with a razor-thin decision victory over Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (29-28, x3). Falcao appeared to be overmatched early, falling victim to Vasilevsky's slick judo takedowns repeatedly throughout the first two rounds. However "Big Rig" ended the second frame on top, and used that momentum to climb back in the final five minutes, punctuating his win with a huge jab-cross combination that put Vasilevsky back on his heels.
Nonetheless, in a bizarre turn of events, Falcao's post-fight faceoff with Spang erupted into a melee inside the cage. Falcao, taking exception to a push from Spang, feigned a punch before winging a wild knee from inside the clinch. Bellator ringside commentator Jimmy Smith promptly jumped in and grabbed Falcao, separating him from Spang before any more extra-circular activity could take place.
Rounding out the night, Brent Weedman edged Thiago Michel via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) to slip into the season six lightweight finals. A former welterweight, Weedman controlled the pace of a majority of the opening two rounds, working for takedowns and staying busy inside. Michel finally found his range in the third frame, opening a large mouse under Weedman's right eye, however it would be too little, too late.
Meeting Weedman in the tournament championship will be season four welterweight finalist Rick Hawn. Following a slow first round, the 35-year-old Hawn made a resounding statement against Lloyd Woodard, dropping "Cupcake" ten seconds into the second frame with a lunging right hook from inside the pocket. A few more unanswered shots from Hawn and referee Jerry Krzys called a stop to the contest.
Posted in: bellator, round, alvarez, roger, spang
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseAlvarez Batters Aoki at Bellator 66; Weedman, Hawn, Goncalves, Spang Advance
It took former Bellator Fighting Championships lightweight titleholder Eddie Alvarez a little more than two minutes to erase the memories of his December 2008 encounter with Shinya Aoki.
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, aoki, december, spang
Read the full article at Sherdog.gif: Eddie Alvarez technical knockout (TKO) win over Shinya Aoki in Bellator 66 main event. To get...
.gif: Eddie Alvarez technical knockout (TKO) win over Shinya Aoki in Bellator 66 main event. To get a blow-by-blow account of the first round finish be sure to check out our complete Bellator 66 results thread right here. Props: ZombieProphet.
Posted in: bellator, shinya aoki, knockout, knockout tko, blowbyblow account
Read the full article at MMA ManiaEddie Alvarez executed some first round stoppage directly to Shinya Aoki's face at Bellator 66
I guess the real surprise during the main event of Bellator 66 was the discovery that Eddie Alvarez officially qualifies as a 'Blackzillian.' We're not sure how that's scientifically possible, but above all else we don't think that anyone out there has informed Eddie Alvarez's fade of his new pseudo-nationality. Apparently once you've given your life over to the path of the 'Blaczkillian' you are automatically granted the ability to release a blitzkrieg of fists on your opponent, forcing their corner to throw in the towel in the first round.
That's relatively the same sequence of events that occurred tonight at Bellator 66: Aoki vs. Alvarez, unfortunately for our bud Shinya Aoki, the referee was simply unable to notice the towel being thrown from his corner after Eddie Alvarez dropped him with an uppercut and finished the job with an array of mixed ground-and-pound.
On paper, Aoki's loss tonight just denotes a need for a third Aoki vs. Alvarez III rubber-match since both fighters have a win (and a loss) against each other. We're sure our buds at Evolve MMA will bounce back from this loss, but for tonight Eddie Alvarez and his illustrious fade reign supreme in the lightweight division. Now what does it mean that Alvarez finished Aoki in the first round, something that not even Gilbert Melendez could even accomplish? Egh, don't drown in MMA math -- you may unintentionally hurt yourself and others.
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, aoki, eddie alvarez, eddie
Read the full article at Middle Easy.gif: Andreas Spang come-from-behind knockout of Brian Rogers at Bellator 66. For detailed...
.gif: Andreas Spang come-from-behind knockout of Brian Rogers at Bellator 66. For detailed blow-by-blow action of the middleweight slugfest click here. Props: ZombieProphet.
Posted in: bellator, brian, brian rogers, spang, blowbyblow action
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 66 results: Alvarez stops Aoki; Spang, Falcao book final, nearly complete it
Is Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney still rooting for Eddie Alvarez?
"Show me the money," were among the first words out of the former
Bellator lightweight champ's mouth as he avenged a previous loss to
Shinya Aoki with a first-round knockout at Bellator 66, which took place
Friday at I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
The headliner managed to distract from a near-brawl between season-six middleweight finalists Andreas Spang and Maiquel Falcao.
Posted in: bellator, shinya aoki, place friday, ix center, cleveland ohio
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 66 Results: Alvarez vs. Aoki
MMA Fighting has Bellator 66 results for Friday night's Bellator event at the I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
In the main event, former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez will try to avenge an earlier loss to Shinya Aoki. The middleweight and lightweight semifinals will also be on the televised card.
Check out the Bellator 66 results below.
Main Card:Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya AokiAndreas Spang vs. Brian RogersVyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Maiquel FalcoLloyd Woodard vs. Rick HawnThiago Michel Pereira Silva vs. Brent Weedman
Posted in: bellator, result, vs, alvarez, card check
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 66 Real Time Results
One of the most exciting Bellator lineups in recent history has arrived, kicking off this weekend’s MMA action off on the right note with a few solid tournament scraps and a main event featuring highly-touted lightweights Eddie Alvarez (22-3) and Shinya Aoki (30-5). The two tussled once before with Aoki coming out with his hand raised due to an early submission though years have passed since their initial pairing.
In addition to the headlining bout, Bellator 66 also features 155-pounders going at it for a spot in the Season 6 final with fights between Brent Weedman-Thiago Michel and Lloyd Woodard-Rick Hawn, as well as middleweight semis between Maiquel Falcao-Vyacheslav Vasilevsky and Brian Rogers-Andreas Spang.
Preliminary action starts at 7:00 PM EST with fights streaming through Spike.com before the main card kicks in an hour later on MTV2/EPIX. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in and relaying real time results back to readers as they unfold from the arena.
Read below for a full list of Bellator 66 outcomes:
Julian Lane vs. Joe Heiland
John Hawk vs. Marcus Vanttinen
Dan Spohn vs. Attila Vegh
Frank Caraballo vs. Donny Walker
Jessica Eye vs. Anita Rodriguez
Thiago Michel vs. Brent Weedman
Lloyd Woodard vs. Rick Hawn
Maiquel Falcao vs. Vyacheslav Casilevsky
Brian Rogers vs. Andreas Spang
Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki
Posted in: bellator, vs, aoki, time results, middleweight semis
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 66 Results & Recap
Bellator 66 takes place later tonight at the IX Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The event airs live on MTV2 at 8pm ET/7pm CT. The prelims will precede the MTV2 broadcast at 7pm ET and 10pm ET on Spike.com. In the main event, former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez takes on Japanese grappling sensation Shinya Aoki [...]
Posted in: bellator, pm, event airs, cleveland ohio, ix arena
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 66: "Alvarez vs Aoki 2" Live Streaming Play-By-Play and Results
Tonight the Bellator Fighting Championships will offer up its finest card so far this year. Bellator 66 will be going down tonight at 8pm ET in Cleveland, Ohio. Sadly it is largely being buried in the build up to UFC 145: Jon Jones vs Rashad Evans.
This card headline will feature a rematch between two of the best lightweights outside of the UFC. Dream Lightweight champion Shinya Aoki squares off with former Bellator Lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez. Aoki defeated Alavrez with an impressive heel hook the first time the two met and Alavrez has spent years lobbying for a rematch.
The rest of the main card will feature Lightweight and Middleweight tournament semifinals. Thiago Michel will face Brent Weedman in the opening bout of the evening. Olympic Judkoa Rick Hawn will take on the man who upset tournament favorite Patricky Freire, Llyod Woodard in the other Lightweight match.
At Middleweight the hyper-violent Maiquel Falcao will be matched with combat Sambo stand out Vyacheslav Vasilevsky. And in the other Middleweight match native Ohioan and knockout artist Brain Rogers will look to put his heavy hands on Andreas Spang.
Here is the full card for the evening:
Main Card
Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya AokiAndreas Spang vs. Brian RogersVyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Maiquel FalcaoLloyd Woodard vs. Rick Hawn Brent Weedman vs. Thiago Michel
Preliminary Card
Julian Lane vs. Joe Heiland John Hawk vs. Marcus Vanttinen Dan Spohn vs. Attila Vegh Donny Walker vs. Frank Caraballo Jessica Eye vs. Anita Rodriguez
Not we will not be doing live results for the preliminary card, but join us here at Bloody Elbow for main card action and discussion.
Lightweight Semifinal: Thiago Michel vs. Brent Weedman
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Lightweight Semifinal: Rick Hawn vs. Lloyd Woodard
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Middleweight Semifinal: Maiquel Falcao vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Middleweight Semifinal: Brian Rogers vs. Andreas Spang
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Super-fight: Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Posted in: bellator, round, vs, card, middleweight
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 66 Live Twitter Reaction
Sherdog.com’s TJ De Santis (@TJDeSantis) and Mike Fridley (@mikefridley) will be tweeting live from the IX Center in Cleveland, host of Bellator 66 “Aoki vs. Alvarez.” The first bout kicks off shortly after 6 p.m. ET.
Posted in: bellator, ix center, ix, santis tjdesantis, cleveland host
Read the full article at SherdogAhead of tourney semis, Bellator 66's Maiquel Falcao thankful for new MMA home
Now that Maiquel Falcao is in Bellator, he can't imagine going elsewhere.
After a successful debut delayed by a health scare, Falcao advanced to the semifinals of Bellator's season-six middleweight tournament, where he's scheduled to face Vyacheslav Vasilevsky tonight at Bellator 66.
"Bellator shows a lot of care for their athletes," Falcao told MMAjunkie.com. "Anyone who participates in a Bellator event probably wouldn't want to work elsewhere.
Posted in: bellator, falcao, maiquel falcao, mmajunkiecom anyone, athletes falcao
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 66: Alvarez vs. Aoki II Weigh-In Results and Video
Cleveland, Ohio. – The Bellator 66 weigh-ins have been completed from Cleveland, Ohio in preparation for Bellator’s Friday night event at the I-X Center, which features the rematch between Former Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez and opponent Shinya Aoki. Also, the Bellator Season Six Middleweight and Lightweight Tournament semifinal fights will take place as Brian Rogers meets Andreas Spang, Maiquel Falcao faces Vyacheslav Vasilevsky, Lloyd Woodard takes on Rick Hawn and Brent
Posted in: bellator, brian rogers, rick hawn, ix center, cleveland ohio
Read the full article at Low KickBellator 66 headliner Alvarez sees revenge, leverage in Aoki bout
Eddie Alvarez can raise his future value in mixed martial arts by getting payback for the past.
He'll have vengeance on his mind today when he takes on Japanese superstar Shinya Aoki at Bellator Fighting Championships' show in Cleveland.
Their main-event bout at Bellator 66 matches two of the top-three lightweights outside the UFC and Strikeforce in the sequel to a New Year's Eve 2008 show that saw Aoki win quickly via submission.
Posted in: bellator, aoki, mainevent bout, topthree lightweights, revenge leverage
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBreaking It Down: Bellator 66
I heard a rumor somewhere that Cleveland rocks. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I’ll stop myself before I make some shameless Drew Carey jokes. Bellator 66 takes place tonight from the IX Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Featuring the semifinals of both the lightweight and middleweight tournaments, all eyes will be on the main event as Shinya Aoki takes on Eddie Alvarez in a rematch of their 2008 fight which saw Aoki get the win just 92 seconds in. Grab an ice cold Buzz Beer, chill out with your Lewises and Oswalds, and tell your Mimis to go away – it’s time for some fights!
Julian Lane (3-0) vs. Joe Heiland (6-1-1)
“Nitrane” Lane makes his Bellator debut in his home state of Ohio. The undefeated fighter has never gone the distance in his three career fights and has a nasty Guillotine Choke. “Smokin” Joe is a solid striker. With six wins in eight fights, Heiland has three decisions so he has shown he can go the distance if need be. With not much information on this two fighters, I’ll have to make a relatively uneducated guess but that’s never stopped me before. Ultimately, I think Joe decisions Julian.
Winner – Joe Heiland defeats Julian Lane via Unanimous Decision
John Hawk (6-4) vs. Marcus Vanttinen (21-3)
Strong Style Fight Team product Hawk makes his third Bellator appearance tonight. The well-rounded light heavyweight looks to rebound from a hotly-contested split decision loss to Roger Hollett. Finnish fighter Vanttinen looks for his 22nd career win. The Fight Festival veteran, who specializes in submissions, will look to impose his well and score yet another tap-out. And he will succeed. Hawk will fight vigilantly, without a doubt, but he will get clipped and likely find himself on the wrong end of a Rear-Naked Choke.
Winner – Marcus Vanttinen defeats John Hawk via Submission Round 3
Dan Spohn (6-1) vs. Attila Vegh (24-4-2)
In another contest that could have light heavyweight tournament implications, “Dragon” Spohn looks for his second Bellator victory. The NAAFS veteran has half of his wins by decision. His opponent, multiple title-winner Vegh, hails from Slovakia. The Octagon Fighting Academy fighter has 19 stoppages in his 24 wins. Needless to say, he’s a barbarian in the cage. I expect Attila continues his beastly run in the MMA world and stops Spohn in the first or second round with strikes.
Winner – Attila Vegh defeats Dan Spohn via TKO Round 1
Donny Walker (15-8) vs. Frank Caraballo (8-4)
“Eagle Eye” Walker makes his return to the cage after two unsuccessful UFC fights. Experience is experience though, and the Cleveland based fighter’s losses to Jeff Hougland and Ken Stone shouldn’t bring his stock down too far. Well-rounded featherweight Frank “The Tank” makes his return to Bellator following a successful bout against Dustin Kempf back in September. While Frank has the momentum, you have to imagine that Walker is hungry. I think his determination is the key, and he’ll score a key victory in this bout.
Winner – Donny Walker defeats Frank Caraballo via Unanimous Decision
Jessica Eye (6-1) vs. Anita Rodriguez (5-2)
In the evening’s only WMMA bout, “Evil” Eye looks to pick up her fourth straight win and second in Bellator. The decision-friendly striker is undoubtedly looking for a spot in the company’s upcoming 125-pound tournament. Her foe tonight, “El Tigre” Rodriguez, has fought much of her career in the XFL. The submission-savvy fighter is 1-0 this year already and will try to build on that momentum with a win here. The size edge undoubtedly goes to Anita as does the grappling ability. Should she be able to weather an early storm, I can see her taking “Evil” the distance and scoring the decision victory.
Winner – Anita Rodriguez defeats Jessica Eye via Unanimous Decision
Thiago Michel Pereira Silva (10-2) vs. Brent Weedman (19-7-1)
In the first of two lightweight tournament semifinals on the card, Michel takes on Weedman. Thiago largely underwhelmed me in his last appearance despite his promising performances in Brazil. The vicious striker had a long boring fight to get to the semifinals and clearly hopes for a better performance tonight. Across the cage is Weedman who confused the hell out of announcers Jimmy Smith and Sean Wheelock with that Von Flue choke in the quarterfinals. The cut to 155 has served Weedman well, and I suspect he uses his ever-expanding skillset to hand Michel his third submission loss.
Winner – Brent Weedman defeats Thiago Michel Pereira Silva via Submission Round 1
Rick Hawn (12-1) vs. Lloyd Woodard (12-1)
My God, this Hawn! The former welterweight made a huge statement when he turned out the lights on Ricardo Tirloni in the quarterfinals. With heavy hands and fantastic defense, Hawn is not someone you want to find yourself in a firefight with. Woodard ripped the arm off the tournament favorite in his last bout, shocking the hardcore MMA fanbase by taking out Patricky Freire. Can “Cupcake” do the same against Hawn? Yes and no. This is a closely contested fight, and the edge absolutely goes to Hawn, but I have faith in Woodard. He’s likely going to get hurt and lose, but damnit, I want him to win.
Winner – Lloyd Woodard defeats Rick Hawn via Miracle.. err.. Split Decision
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (16-1) vs. Maiquel Jose Falcao Goncalves (29-4 1 NC)
Former M-1 light heavyweight champ Vasilevsky looks for his sixteenth straight win and a shot at $100,000 in the Bellator middleweight tournament final with a win tonight. One of the most well-rounded fighters in the tournament, the Russian has the skills to win the whole thing. However, Falcao is a crazy, scary man. The Brazilian striker is so frightening in fact that opponents don’t know how to handle him and either get knocked out or are too afraid to engage. I definitely think the Russian is a more-skilled fighter, but his takedown defense sucks. As such, Falcao will take him down, beat him up, beat him up some more, and ultimately hand him his second decision loss.
Winner – Maiquel Jose Falcao Goncalves defeats Vyacheslav Vasilevsky via Unanimous Decision
Brian Rogers (9-3) vs. Andreas Spang (7-1)
DO YOU REALIZE WE ARE SO CLOSE TO MAIQUEL FALCAO VS BRIAN ROGERS?! I can taste the violence! This fight is pretty cut and dry to me. Rogers is a hard-hitting, violent dude. Spang, a late replacement, is a striker himself and his style definitely leads me to believe that we’re looking at the best fight of the night here. Too bad for him he’s going to get hurt in the process.
Winner – Brian Rogers defeats Andreas Spang via Knockout Round 1
Shinya Aoki (30-5 1 NC) vs. Eddie Alvarez (22-3)
The man with the crazy pants, and one of Japan’s biggest MMA stars, Aoki, comes to Bellator to teach Alvarez a lesson. Having defeated him before, the confidence and cockiness that we have come to expect from “Tobikan Judan” will undoubtedly be on full display. Eddie won’t say it outright, I’m sure, but it’s pretty clear that he wants in the UFC. With his Bellator contract nearing its close, it makes perfect sense for the former lightweight champ to seek revenge against the man who defeated him in 2008. Here is what’s going to happen; Alvarez is going to outstrike Aoki and not go to the ground to him. Aoki is going to butt scoot and try to drag Eddie into his guard. Neither are going to have any luck imposing their will, and both will frustratingly and even boringly stick to their gameplans. This fight is majorly hyped up, but honestly, I’m not expecting much. Eddie takes home a lackluster decision following 15 minutes of disappointment.
Winner – Eddie Alvarez defeats Shinya Aoki via Unanimous Decision
I used up all my humor in the first bit. Just watch the fights and (shhh) smoke ‘em if you got ‘em since it’s 4/20. As always, you can catch the prelims at 7:00 PM EST on Spike.com and an hour later on MTV2 or Spike.com (or TheScore.ca in Canada). Enjoy the fights!
PHOTO CREDIT – FEG/BELLATOR
Posted in: fight, bellator, decision, vs, defeat
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 66's Brian Rogers seeking another KO candidate for World MMA Awards
Already holding a possible "Knockout of the Year" award in hand, Brian Rogers is looking to create another YouTube highlight tonight against Andreas Spang at Bellator 66.
"With my fighting ability, if I'm a 100-percent on, on any given night I'm going put you out in under five minutes," Rogers recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio.
Tonight, he has a semifinal bout in Bellator's season-six middleweight tourney.
Posted in: bellator, roger, mmajunkiecom radio, semifinal bout, night im
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Quick Quote: 'Experienced' Eddie Alvarez feels 'blessed' to get a second crack at Shinya Aoki
"Yeah it works out perfect for me. You rarely get to see two of the top lightweights fight each other. Everybody's signed in different promotions, so it's a rare occasion that it happens. I feel like I'm the one with the opportunity here. I'm blessed enough that Aoki and his management gave me a rematch. I didn't think they'd ever do that, and I'm glad that Bjorn Rebney was able to make it happen. I'm the one who's lucky enough to get this opportunity. I'm happy, and I did everything in my power to take advantage of it. I'm looking to win. I'm gonna be patient and take my time. I try not to push finishes too much, because when you do that, you make mistakes, and I have in the past. I try to push a finish, and I get clipped or get dropped. When I look back, I get angry at myself. I'm a much more experienced fighter now than I was three years ago. I think a lot more, and I pick my spots. I think that's gonna be the difference in the outcome of this fight, versus the outcome that we had three years ago."
-- Three years ago, former Bellator Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez was submitted by a heel hook when he took on Shinya Aoki in Japan. Now, "The Silent Assassin" will get a chance to settle the score, due to the some wheeling and dealing from his boss, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney. The bout will go down at Bellator 66 in Cleveland, Ohio, tomorrow night (Apr. 20, 2012). Alvarez will not only be seeking redemption for his last loss to Aoki, but he will also be seeking to wash the sour taste out of his mouth from his most recent loss to Michael Chandler at Bellator 58 in Hollywood, Florida, back on Nov. 19, 2011. Many believe that this next fight will be Alvarez's last fight under the Bellator banner, particularly if he emerges victorious. Any of you Maniacs think (or hope) we'll be seeing him in the Octagon soon?
Posted in: fight, bellator, alvarez, aoki, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaLloyd 'Cupcake' Woodard actually passed out cupcakes during his Bellator 66 weigh-in
I'm so against unnecessary carbohydrates and sugars, but I'm a huge advocate of coming to a weigh-in with props and entertainment so Lloyd Woodard rocking cupcakes at his Bellator 66 weigh-in sort of balances everything out. I guess in Montana people have yet to be informed that cupcakes will raise glucose levels and generally cause one's body to do some rather nasty things. Silly me for expecting Montana to know anything about nutrition. Those guys just discovered electricity like four years ago. Nevertheless, the Montana native looks to advance in the Bellator lightweight tournament by facing Rick Hawn tonight in a semi-final bout at Bellator 66.
You guys know Lloyd Woodard from his exquisite exhibition of Montana-Jitsu against Patricky Pitbull during the opening round of the lightweight tournament at Bellator 62. Now, Woodard will be forever known as that dude that tossed a cupcake on the floor during his weigh-in, only to scrape off the top and eat the frosting moments later. [Source]
Posted in: bellator, weighin, lloyd woodard, woodard, cupcake
Read the full article at Middle EasyBellator 66 Preview: The Significance Of Eddie Alvarez Vs. Shinya Aoki II
Stop if you've heard this one before: Bellator puts on a big fight during a major UFC weekend and it gets totally lost in the mix.
The latest rendition is Friday night as former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez rematches Shinya Aoki in one of the most high-profile bouts they've ever had, but one that isn't getting a lot of chatter amidst the Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans buzz.
The History
Alvarez and Aoki first fought in the co-main event of DREAM/K-1's New Year's Eve show in 2008. At the time, Alvarez was 15-1, compiled in promotions like Bodog and DREAM. Coming off wins over Joachim Hansen and Tatsuya Kawajiri, Alvarez was prepared to win the...ahem...WAMMA lightweight title in a very notable fight.
Then 18-3-0-1, Aoki had established himself as one of the best non-UFC lightweights in the world. A fixture in Japanese MMA organizations, Aoki's submission game was well-known, even if he wasn't known to mainstream MMA fans. A winner in four of his last five going into the battle, he had the hometown advantage and used it, submitting Alvarez in under two minutes.
Alvarez was aggressive, controlling the center of the ring early. He would secure a takedown, but it ended up spelling his doom. As the two scrambled, Aoki got Alvarez's leg and began to torque it just right until he got the heel hook for the tap in just 92 seconds.
For what brought them to Friday's Bellator 66 and what the outcome means, join us after the jump.
Since Then
Alvarez (22-3) went to Bellator, won seven in a row and took the promotion's 155-pound title in the process. While the competition at times wasn't the best, he earned the rep as one of the top lightweight fighters in the world. That run ended at the hands of Michael Chandler last November as he lost his belt via fourth round submission in one of 2011's best fights.
Aoki (30-5-0-1) has continued to mainly compete in Japan, winning the DREAM 155-pound title in October 2009 -- a belt he still holds today. He has ventured to the U.S. a handful of times, notably fighting Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez in a lackluster bout. Since that defeat, he's won seven straight and five by submission.
What The Fight Means
The most interesting storyline here is Alvarez, who may be making his last Bellator appearance Friday as his contract is coming to a close. A win here puts him in a great position to ride into the UFC, both financially and stature-wise. There's an outside chance he could remain in Bellator, but he'd need to go through the tournament again to get a shot at Chandler, which is frustrating but the situation at hand.
For Aoki, this bout has been a long time coming and is likely just a one-off fight for some decent pay. Sure, he could be considered by Zuffa but if he hasn't been brought in yet, is there a reason to think that will change now?
Stats
Alvarez: 28 | 5'9" | 69" reach | 154.5 weigh-inAoki: 28 | 5'11 | 72" reach | 154.5 weigh-in
The fight is live on MTV2 with the lightweight tourney kicking things off at 8 PM EST.
SBN coverage of Bellator 66
Posted in: fight, bellator, time, alvarez, aoki
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowLive Video Feed: Bellator 66 Prelims (7 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com is pleased to offer a free live feed of Friday night’s Bellator 66 prelims at 7 p.m. ET. The main card will air on MTV2 at 8 p.m. ET.
Posted in: bellator, pm, prelim, friday, feed
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 66 Live Twitter Reaction
Sherdog.com’s TJ De Santis (@TJDeSantis) and Mike Fridley (@mikefridley) will be tweeting live from the IX Center in Cleveland, host of Bellator 66 “Aoki vs. Alvarez.” The first bout kicks off shortly after 6 p.m. ET.
Posted in: bellator, ix center, ix, santis tjdesantis, cleveland host
Read the full article at Sherdog
Shinya Aoki Rematch at Bellator 66 is Eddie Alvarez's Last Chance to Maintain Relevance
Eddie Alvarez has always been one of the fighters on the outside of the UFC, but has never really looked in the window to see what he might be missing. The title is actually misleading to some extent, because should he decide to go into the UFC and if he manages a couple of wins, he'll be right back in the top 15 or so. He's only 28 after all, and won't be shunned into retirement or grade-z level shows if Aoki defeats him again. Should he lose back to back fights, he'll be knocked so far down the proverbial ladder that Sisyphus would sympathize with him.
But does Eddie even care? There's a really good chance that I don't think he does.
SBN coverage of Bellator 66
This is somewhat anathema to a lot of sports fans (myself included), in that if you aren't trying to be the best at what you do, in some ways, what's the point? Yes, people realize their limitations and can sometimes conclude that they'll never get that top shot, so why not just have fun and try and maybe win Fights of the Night, Chris Lytle style. I get that. What frustrates me more, is that Eddie seemed to back off without having hit his limits. I completely understand his rationale for doing so, which I'll get into in a bit, but I've got the feeling that one day when people talk about Eddie Alvarez, there'll be a lot of "what ifs" and "might have beens", and that's got to dig into him even if it's just a little.
For those that don't know, Eddie made the conscious decision long ago to stick with the better paying Bellator company rather than jump ship to the UFC, eschewing his shot at the big time in return for much better pay at much lower risk. Citing his family's financial security, Eddie became the biggest fish in a much smaller pond, fighting the Josh Neers and Roger Huertas of the world rather than the BJ Penns and Ben Hendersons. And in reality, can you blame him? He was getting paid a hundred thousand from Bellator, so aside from ego and outside pressure (much like this article), why should he?
"It would be great to fight them guys but at what cost, you know what I mean? At what cost to me? Do I have to, what measures do I have to take in order to fight them guys? Do I have to take an $80,000 pay cut? Do I have give up all my, every single ancillary right I can dream of? Do I have to, you know, now I can’t get certain sponsors that I want to get certain sponsors that I want to get because I have to pay the UFC before they pay me? There’s a lot of issues involved and I don’t know if people understand that. And if I was 20 years old and I was single and I had no kids, I would jump to the UFC tomorrow. But the reality is (that) I have three kids and I have a family to take care of and everything has to line up. Yeah, I want to be #1 in the world but I also want to be able to maintain a home for my family so I can’t tell my wife and kids, ‘hey, Daddy’s going to take a huge risk and this may not work and hopefully we do well.’ Like, I can’t tell my kids that. I got to tell them that I’m going to work hard and I’m going to get compensated correctly for my hard work and that’s all I really ask for."
However, the long and short of this is, if Eddie loses to Shinya again, then pretty much no one will ever think of him as one of the best 155'ers in the world again. I credit him for checking his ego for his family's sake, but that's got to dig at him just a little. It will have been a hell of a 6-month fall for the man that numerous people kept in the top-5 and even top-3 in the world in some eyes.
The lightweight division is one of the few ones left that are still fragmented throughout the world. With a few scant exceptions, Zuffa and more specifically the UFC owns just about every single welterweight, middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight in the world today. However at 155 and under, there are lots of talents still residing elsewhere. Consensus #2 Gil Melendez is in Zuffa, but obviously not the UFC, and who knows if and when we'll get some sort of title unification going on. I realize this is coming from a selfish fan standpoint who wants the gratification, but I'll feel some sense of sadness towards anyone's career that ends without even answering the question "how would he have done against ____?"
Aside: I understand there are always fights and fighters who's ships never went bump in the night. Fedor isn't really analogous, because he WAS the widely recognized best heavyweight of his era and you can't really be upset at the opponents he didn't face - I mean are we really not willing to consider him the best of the PRIDE (and immediate post-PRIDE) eras because he didn't fight Frank Mir, Randy Couture and Ricco Rodriguez? But imagine if Nick Diaz never came back to the UFC and dominated BJ Penn into retirement? Imagine if Shinya Aoki had stayed in Japan and never fought Gil Melendez?
So tonight, when Alvarez takes on Aoki in their rematch, Eddie has two results to look forward to: a win brings him a decent payday, either with the UFC or more likely Strikeforce or a re-up with Bellator. Should he lose however, it is entirely probable that his bargaining power will be at the lowest point in his career since his time fighting for Bodog and the New Jersey regional circuit. It took him five years to build it up to the point where he was earning a hundred large per win, and it will probably take him another three or four to build it back up to that point should he lose. With a loss, Eddie will drop out of many peoples' rankings all together, he might get cut from Bellator unless he takes that huge pay cut he wasn't happy with and he might find himself spending a year back on the regional circuit can-crushing for a pittance hoping for that shot again.
Eddie Alvarez has a lot to lose tonight at Bellator 66. He's fighting a battle not only against Aoki, but for the next few years of financial security and how he'll be perceived by followers of MMA (whatever that's worth) for nearly as long.
Posted in: ufc, fight, bellator, world, eddie
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendEddie Alvarez vs Shinya Aoki staredown pic from Bellator 66 weigh-ins on April 19 plus gallery
Bellator Fighting Championships today (April 19, 2012) held its weigh-in event for tomorrow night's (April 20) Bellator 66 event from the IX Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Bellator 66 will be headlined by a much-anticipated lightweight fight that features former Bellator 155-pound champion Eddie Alvarez and current DREAM 155-pound champion Shinya Aoki. Aoki has the bragging rights after tapping Alvarez via kneebar in just 92 seconds at Dynamite!! back in 2008
If you missed today's weigh in results be sure to check our our Bellator 66 weigh-ins post right here.
This weekend's festivities also feature a quartet of Bellator tournament bouts, including two semifinals match ups in the Middleweight division, as well as two semifinal bouts at Lightweight.
The middleweights seemed particularly testy, most notably tournament alternate Andreas Spang, who gave knockout artist Brian Rogers a good shove during their staredown.
We've got that video and more pics after the jump:
Andreas Spang decided he didn't want to stare down Brian Rogers for long (via cagefanatic)
Ohio fan-favorite Jessica Eye (left) looms over Anita Rodriguez (right)
Bellator lightweight Lloyd Woodard gives his best scary face (while holding a cupcake) for the cameras.
Former welterweight finalist Rick Hawn looking absolutely murderous now at 155 pounds.
You can find the rest of the Belaltor 66 weigh-in photo gallery here.
What fight are you most looking forward to tomorrow, Maniacs?
Posted in: bellator, right, aoki, weighin, weighin event
Read the full article at MMA ManiaImpending Fatherhood Gives Brent Weedman Extra Motivation Prior to Bellator 66
Brent Weedman wants what everyone competing in Bellator’s Season 6 lightweight tournament wants: $100,000 and a crack at champion Michael Chandler.
Posted in: bellator, brent, motivation, weedman, brent weedman
Read the full article at SherdogRebellion MMA Radio: Bellator beauty Jade Bryce, TUF winner Tony Ferguson, and UFC writer E. Spencer Kyte
After kicking in the MMA radio community’s proverbial door last weekend with a debut episode highlighted by Johny Hendricks’ thoughts on Josh Koscheck and a visit from Ultimate Fighter 8 champion Efrain Escudero, Rebellion MMA Radio is back this Sunday with another stacked show!
Joining hosts Bryan Levick and Mitch Ciccarelli to talk all-things Mixed Martial Arts will be UFC lightweight Tony Ferguson, Bellator’s bubbly, blonde ring-girl Jade Bryce, and UFC writer E. Spencer Kyte.
Ferguson, who has been on fire since winning TUF 13, is currently in the midst of training for a fight against Michael Johnson on May 5 at UFC on FOX 3. The 13-2 striker has finished eleven of his opponents and is currently on a six-fight winning streak.
Meanwhile, Bryce can be seen every Friday night on MTV 2 as part of the Bellator crew (as well as in Playboy for those of you who “read the articles”), and Kyte’s work can be frequently found on UFC.com as well as in the organization’s magazine, Fight! Magazine, and The Province in Vancouver.
Fans can catch Rebellion MMA Radio live at 6:30 PM EST this Sunday night where the show will break down the action from Bellator 66, UFC 145, and much more!
Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, radio, debut episode
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 66 weigh-in results: Eddie Alvarez (154.5), Shinya Aoki (154.5) on weight
Official Bellator 66 fighter weigh-ins took place today, and all fighters easily made weight.
Today's festivities took place at Great Lakes Ballroom at Cleveland's I-X Center.
Both Eddie Alvarez and Shinya Aoki were on weight for their highly anticipated rematch in Bellator 66's headliner. Both fighters weighed 154.5 pounds.
Posted in: bellator, fighter, shinya aoki, place today, lakes ballroom
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 66 weigh in results LIVE from Ohio for 'Alvarez vs Aoki 2'
The official weigh-in event for tomorrow night's Bellator 66 fight card took place today (April 19, 2012) at 5 p.m. ET from The Great Lakes Ballroom at the I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
Headlining the main event will be a much-anticipated lightweight rematch between top 10 fighters Eddie Alvarez and Shinya Aoki. The Japanese submission wizard, Aoki, defeated Alvarez at Dynamite!! 2008 in Saitama, Japan and Alvarez has been begging for a rematch ever since.
Also on the card, the Bellator season six middleweight tournament semifinals will be taking place as Maiquel Falcao battles Vyacheslav Vasilevsky and Ohio's own Brian Rogers takes on tournament alternate Andreas Spang.
Lastly, the Bellator season six lightweight tournament will also be holding its semifinals as former welterweight finalist Rick Hawn battles underdog fan-favorite Lloyd Woodard and Kentucky's Brent Weedman takes on Brazilian kickboxer Thiago Michel.
Complete Bellator 66 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
155 lbs.: Eddie Alvarez () vs. Shinya Aoki ()185 lbs.: Andreas Spang () vs. Brian Rogers ()185 lbs.: Vyacheslav Vasilevsky () vs. Maiquel Falcao ()155 lbs.: Lloyd Woodard () vs. Rick Hawn () 155 lbs.: Brent Weedman vs. Thiago Michel ()
Preliminary Card
155 lbs.: Julien Lane () vs. Joe Heiland () 105 lbs.: John Hawk () vs. Marcus Vanttinen () 205 lbs.: Dan Spohn () vs. Attila Vegh () 135 lbs.: Donny Walker () vs. Frank Caraballo () 131 lbs.: Jessica Eye () vs. Anita Rodriguez ()
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 66, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 8 p.m. ET tomorrow night (April 20).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: bellator, vs, alvarez, lb, card
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 66 Prelims – LIVE on MMAWeekly.com!
Lock yourself in at MMAWeekly.com for the Bellator 66 preliminary fight card, streaming live, beginning at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Friday.
Posted in: bellator, fight card, pm, pt, mmaweeklycom
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 66 Weigh-Ins Stream Live at 5pm ET
Check back at 5pm ET for the live stream of Bellator 66′s weigh-ins from The Great Lakes Ballroom at Cleveland’s I-X Center. Friday’s event features the the long awaited rematch between former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and Japanese grappling superstar Shinya Aoki, as well as the semifinal round of the season-six middleweight tournament. The [...]
Posted in: bellator, pm, stream, semifinal round, lakes ballroom
Read the full article at MMA ConvertLong Time Coming: Shinya Aoki Out to Prove First Eddie Alvarez Victory Wasn’t Luck
It's strangely appropriate that Las Vegas is the capital of the fight world. Few places are ruled by the clenched fist of Lady Luck quite like the Strip; a neon paradise where fortunes are won and lost deep into the night, and the line between opportunity and disaster swallows all who stumble upon it.
The parallels between that desert cocoon and the insulated world of combat sports are many, but the shadow of the Lady is chief among them. Really, it all goes back to the old phrase. The puncher's chance. The great equalizer. The reason Matt Serra can knockout Georges St. Pierre in three-and-a-half minutes, and Fabricio Werdum can end a dynasty in 69 seconds.
But at what point does luck become a convenient excuse for surprise? St. Pierre was absolved after avenging his failure, so it seems repetition is really the deciding factor. Excuses are easy to come by after one loss, but much scarcer when they arrive in pairs.
It is this reality Shinya Aoki now faces. Nearly four years ago, Aoki, the current DREAM lightweight champion, dispatched one of the toughest tests of his career in a mere 92 seconds. Staring eye-to-eye with highly-regarded American bruiser Eddie Alvarez, Aoki snaked his limbs into a heel hook and cranked on Alvarez's knee, drawing an immediate tap. The Japanese crowd went wild, and Alvarez went back home to seethe about what went wrong.
Shinya Aoki vs. Eddie Alvarez at Dynamite!! 2008
Now Aoki and Alvarez are slated to meet again at the main event of Bellator 66 this Friday, in a rematch that could prove to be one of Alvarez's career-defining moments. But for Aoki, piece of mind is it's own reward, and one that cannot be overstated. "One could say that I got lucky in that fight," Aoki remarks. "I train every day. It's my life. I am a martial artist.
"Maybe our first fight was just luck? This fight is the real one."
******
Much has changed since the two men first met. From 2009 to 2011, Alvarez looked nearly unstoppable, seizing the Bellator lightweight strap on the wings of a seven-fight win streak, and driving his name to the top of the 155-pound rankings. However, amid rumors of a rematch with Aoki, the American's crash back to earth would be spectacular.
Set to defend his title against a little-known prospect by the name of Michael Chandler, Alvarez quickly found himself locked in the fight of his life, eventually succumbing to a fourth-round rear-naked choke in one of the year's most electrifying brawls. Over a span of 18 minutes, Alvarez had lost his title, his ranking, and potentially, his rematch with Aoki. Nonetheless, halfway across the world, he had gained the respect of his rival.
"It was an incredible fight. You could really see their big hearts and fighting spirits. I learned a lot about the warrior mentality from watching that fight," Aoki exclaims, playfully adding, "However, it is not my style. I prefer to win a fight without receiving any damage."
Meanwhile, as Alvarez staked his talents in Bellator, Aoki continued to blaze his own trail across Japan, ripping through a 11-2 record while defending his DREAM lightweight title twice.
The evolution of a fighter is often drawn upon a linear path, however, for Aoki, that path changed in one defining moment. After joining Singapore's burgeoning powerhouse camp, Evolve MMA, last year, one of mixed martial art's most feared grapplers began experiencing growth he never thought possible. "Evolve MMA is the best thing that has ever happened to me in my career," Aoki earnestly says. "It is also the first time that I truly feel part of a family. I'm a totally different fighter today."
Though Aoki's words ring cliché, they should not be taken lightly. Universally panned for his striking for much of his career, the 28-year-old champion surprised many by showcasing a renewed sense of confidence on the feet in his last fight, brutalizing Satoru Kitaoka over five rounds to maintain his championship belt and send a warning to all challengers.
While it was merely a first step towards becoming the complete fighter he wishes to be, the performance marked a long-awaited development that his critics had been itching to see. "It will take a long time," Aoki readily admits.
Shinya Aoki's Evolve MMA training blog
"I am still not good at striking yet. But I have improved a lot. I am blessed to train under Muay Thai legends like Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn, Attachai Fairtex, and the rest of the many world champions at Evolve."
******
Not too long ago it looked like Aoki vs. Alvarez II would never happen. After falling to Chandler back in November, Alvarez was caught in an uncomfortable limbo. With no title and a soon-to-be expired Bellator contract hanging over his head, the American asked for an immediate rematch against Chandler, hoping to reclaim what once was his. But Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney balked at the idea, refusing to budge from the tournament format, and thus Alvarez was left with a difficult decision. Renegotiate a new deal and reenter the next lightweight tourney, or roll the dice for a rematch four years in the making, against the man he couldn't get out of his head.
Soured by contract negotiations he believed to be miles apart, Alvarez chose the latter option, and Rebney promised he would deliver. Now, Aoki, the white whale that eluded both Alvarez and Rebney for so long, is set to make his third professional appearance in North America, in a meeting that many consider to be the biggest non-title fight in Bellator history. It is an unquestionably proud moment for the promotion, and one that Aoki, who split his previous two stateside appearances, is happy to be experiencing now, rather than earlier in his career. "I just understand the American style of fighting a little bit better," he explains.
"The cage is just fun. There is also a specialized skill in learning how to use the cage. I love it."
Of course, what comes next isn't so certain. Aoki has yet to receive another offer from Strikeforce, but if he did, he "would gladly take it." In the meantime, he expects to debut for Asia's fastest rising promotion, ONE FC, on October 6, 2012 in Singapore, though he opened the door to potentially fight on their June 23 card as well, depending on DREAM's upcoming schedule.
But all of that means nothing right now. Somewhere out there, in the shadow of a Cleveland hotel room, Eddie Alvarez is waiting, his focus smoldering with revenge.
Aoki defeated this man once, whether Lady Luck played a part no longer matters. He knows the second time will not be so easy, and really, he wouldn't have it any other way.
"I fight a lot because I love it," Aoki vows. "I have a lot of confidence in myself."
"I am ready."
Posted in: fight, bellator, alvarez, aoki, luck
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseWatch today's Bellator 66 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 5 p.m. ET
The Great Lakes Ballroom at Cleveland's I-X Center plays host to today's official Bellator 66 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a live video stream of the proceedings at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT).
Bellator 66 takes place Friday and features a lightweight headliner between Eddie Alvarez and Shinya Aoki, as well as the semifinal round of the season-six middleweight tournament.
In addition to the live weigh-ins, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, pm, shinya aoki, weighin, lakes ballroom
Read the full article at MMA JunkieVideo: Flawless Bellator ring girl Jade Bryce works out on the beach in short shorts -- a shameless...
Video: Flawless Bellator ring girl Jade Bryce works out on the beach in short shorts -- a shameless 1:36 seconds worth of awesome. Check out 360-degree coverage of our favorite Bellator girl, including videos and a very extensive gallery, right here. To check out her recent Playboy pictorial spread click here. Arianny who?
Posted in: bellator, video, bellator girl, gallery right, spread click
Read the full article at MMA ManiaHector Lombard’s Future – Bellator Or UFC – Will Be Decided Rather Quickly
Bellator Fighting Championships CEO Bjorn Rebney has received the contract proposal from the UFC for his current middleweight champion, Hector Lombard. In a recent interview with Sherdog, Rebney confirmed that Lombard’s attorney has sent the UFC contract to Bellator. Now, Bellator will decide if they want to match, or allow Lombard to sign with the [...]
Posted in: ufc, lombard, bellator, ufc –, contract proposal
Read the full article at MMA ConvertHector Lombard offered deal to sign with the UFC
Hector Lombard is a wanted man.
The current Bellator middleweight champ has not lost since 2006 and is the only fighter to ever wear the divisional belt in Bellator. However, his contract has expired, and it appears the UFC is interested in bringing Lombard’s fan-friendly style aboard.
In a recent interview with Sherdog, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney confirmed he has received a copy of the UFC contract given to Lombard. Rebney will work with his partners this coming weekend to decide if they will attempt to resign the Cuban jodka or allow him to test his skills inside the Octagon.
“Right now, we are in the process of reviewing it to determine whether we’re going to match the agreement,” Rebney said. “The reality is that Hector is going to do extremely well whether he is fighting in the Octagon or the Bellator circle, and I think everybody knew that.”
Rebney added that he will focus on the Lombard contract after this Friday night’s Bellator 66 card, making a decision quickly for the best interest of Lombard. If he heads to the UFC, expect Lombard to receive a strong push and a top-level contender right away.
Lombard is a former Olympian with a 31-2 record and 24 finishes.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: ufc, lombard, bellator, rebney, ufc contract
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 66 preview and predictions for 'Alvarez vs Aoki' on April 20 in Cleveland
Bellator Fighting Championships will head to "The Buckeye State" this Friday night (April 20, 2012) at the IX Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
The main card will air live on MTV2 and Epix HD on fight night, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Headlining the main event will be a much-anticipated lightweight rematch between top 10 fighters Eddie Alvarez and Shinya Aoki. The Japanese submission wizard, Aoki, defeated Alvarez at Dynamite!! 2008 in Saitama, Japan and Alvarez has been begging for a rematch ever since.
Also on the card, the Bellator season six middleweight tournament semifinals will be taking place as Maiquel Falcao battles Vyacheslav Vasilevsky and Ohio's own Brian Rogers takes on tournament alternate Andreas Spang.
Lastly, the Bellator season six lightweight tournament will also be holding its semifinals as former welterweight finalist Rick Hawn battles underdog fan-favorite Lloyd Woodard and Kentucky's Brent Weedman takes on Brazilian kickboxer Thiago Michel. Check out our complete Bellator 66 preview and predictions after the jump:
155 lbs.: Eddie Alvarez (22-3) vs. Shinya Aoki (39-5) 1 no contest
Eddie Alvarez rose to the top inside the Bellator cage. Immediately after his last submission loss to Aoki, he would win the inaugural Bellator lightweight tournament. He followed up with two "superfight" victories and a title defense against now-current featherweight champion Pat Curran. Late last year, Alvarez would lose his title in one of 2011's finest matches against Xtreme Couture's Michael Chandler. He decided against competing in the season six lightweight tournament and instead waited for another big rematch against Aoki.
Shinya Aoki has some of the best submissions in MMA and he's been on an incredible roll as of late. He came up short in a Strikeforce lightweight title shot against Gilbert Melendez but has gone undefeated since then with five submissions and two decision victories in that time, even coming to America and submitting Lyle Beerbohm in Strikeforce. He signed a one fight deal with Bellator for an opportunity to prove his dominance over Alvarez.
Eddie Alvarez has to have one thing on his mind, and that's to avoid going to the ground with Aoki. It won't be easy because the Japanese submission master is so crafty. Alvarez needs to utilize his wrestling defensively and then blast Aoki with his powerful punching attack. He can't get too close or stay inside for too long as Aoki is unpredictable and can drop for a leglock or takedown from anywhere. He might even show off his patented butt scoot. The one thing going against Aoki is the fact that he had to travel to America, and that has simply not boded well for most Japanese fighters. I think the jetlag may be the difference in helping Alvarez be victorious this time around.
Final Prediction: Eddie Alvarez via TKO in round two
185 lbs.: Brian Rogers 9-3) vs. Andreas Spang (7-1)
Brian Rogers is a monster. He was on a tenacious first round knockout streak before running into the freight train that is Alexander Shlemenko in the Bellator season five middleweight tournament. Undeterred, he came out in the quarterfinals of this tournament against last year's middleweight finalist Vitor Vianna and he turned the Wand Fight Team Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach into a highlight reel with one of the most insanely clean flying knee knockouts you'll ever see. He's pumped and ready to go.
Andreas Spang wasn't even in this tournament, but when Bruno Santos went down with an elbow injury nearly a week ago, he stepped up on short notice. The "Sweet Swude" is a very powerful and technical striker and has serious knockout power on the feet. He's not entirely lost on the ground either but I have a feeling he's going to want to try and finish this fight quickly. He was a standout in MFC and recently scored a first round knockout at the final Strikeforce Challengers show.
Rogers might have met his match on the feet as long as Spang is healthy and in shape. "The Predator" is a monster in terms of his knockout power in combination with those vicious knees but I wouldn't be surprised if he works his terrific throws for a takedown in this fight and works some ground and pound against Spang, who has had his issues on the canvas before. Rogers is used to quick knockouts, but with Spang stepping up on short notice, conditioning should be in his favor. I see Rogers getting a quick TKO here.
Final Prediction: Brian Rogers via TKO in round one
185 lbs.: Maiquel Falcao (29-4) 1 no contest vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (16-1)
Maiquel Falcao is crazy. He fought in the UFC once in a very strange bout, winning a decision but was released when his history with the law came back to haunt him. The Brazilian went 2-1 before earning an invite to the Bellator season six tournament where he dominated Frenchman Norman Paraisy with both his ground fighting and on the feet, although his strategy and taunting were confusing at times. Now he's primed to try to advance to the tournament finals.
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky is a very dangerous Russian striker who's got some respectable submission skills as well. He was a former M-1 light heavyweight champion despite being very undersized and despite M-1's protests, he made his Bellator debut last month, destroying Victor O'Donnell with a dominant display of stand-up and ground and pound in the final two rounds of their fight. He's definitely capable of winning this whole thing.
The biggest difference in both men's skillsets are Falcao's smaller compact stature for a middleweight and his strong takedown game. Falcao took Paraisy down at will and defensive wrestling is the one part of Vasilevsky's game which he is still lacking. On the feet, both men are powerful and dangerous but Vasilevsky should be more technical and have a better reach. What will be the deciding factor in this fight will be Falvao's takedowns and ground game from top control, which I feel Vasilevsky will have some serious trouble with.
Final Prediction: Maiquel Falcao via decision
155 lbs.: Lloyd Woodard (12-1) vs. Rick Hawn (12-1)
Lloyd Woodard is a tremendous story. Training out of Montana, he continues to step up and put a hurting on bigger and more notable names in the division. He was a semifinalist in the season four lightweight tournament before losing to current champion Michael Chandler and he went out and put on a Fight of the Year candidate in his season six tournament quarterfinal bout with Patricky Freire, eventually forcing the Brazilian to give in to his Kimura attack in the second round.
Rick Hawn was a welterweight tournament finalist and arguably should have won the season four 170 pound tourney. Instead, he dropped a decision and then decided to drop a weight class. In his lightweight debut, he remained composed and then proceeded to knock very tough Brazilian Ricardo Tirloni clean out in the first round, showcasing some incredible short range power in the process.
Hawn has Olympic judo wrestling credentials but he primarily uses them defensively to remain standing and work his striking. Woodard is a jack-of-all-trades and is capable of anything and everything. I wouldn't be surprised to see him throw haymakers, leg kicks, takedown attempts and potentially a submission all in the first minute just to keep Hawn guessing. This has all the makings of an incredible fight as Hawn never moves backwards, which should force a ton of action from the super-scrappy Woodard. I feel Hawn's power might be too much for "Cupcake" but he won't go down without a fight.
Final Prediction: Rick Hawn via TKO in round two
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Will Alvarez be able to avenge his 2008 loss to Aoki? If so, how? Who are your picks to advance to the Bellator seaosn six lightweight and middleweight finals?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, alvarez, tournament, aoki
Read the full article at MMA ManiaShinya Aoki willing to break bones in Bellator 66 bout to prove point against Eddie Alvarez
It could be argued that the second-best bout taking place this weekend is not on the UFC 145 card but rather at Bellator 66 where Japanese submission-specialist Shinya Aoki takes on former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez. The fight marks Aoki’s return to the United States after a year away, picking up a trio of dominating victories in the interim, while the 22-3 Alvarez is looking to bounce back from hard-fought defeat while also avenging a 2008 loss to Aoki.
Aoki recently opened up on the bout with Alvarez where he envisioned a different scenario unfolding than when they originally met where he submitted the Bellator staple in 92 seconds by way of Heel Hook.
“I believe Eddie Alvarez and I have both evolved as different fighters,” said Aoki in an interview with MMAJunkie. “I’m more confident in my standup skills with the hard training with Muay Thai champions at Evolve MMA gym in Singapore. And what makes Eddie dangerous is the power in his hands and his wrestling skill. He mixes these skills well and executes the game plan effectively.”
While Aoki and his adversary have changed in time since first facing off, so has the submission-savvy 28-year old’s motivation given the change in MMA’s landscape over the past few years.
“My main goal in this fight with Eddie Alvarez is to prove myself and Japanese MMA are still at the top level,” explained Aoki, making it clear he’ll do whatever it takes to achieve his objective. “It doesn’t bother me when I feel my opponents’ bones break. But I’m not aiming to break the bones. I’m just looking for a win.”
Alvarez Gives His Take on Tilt with Aoki
Fans can catch Aoki-Alvarez on MTV 2 this Friday with the broadcast starting at 8:00 PM EST. Other bouts on the card include tournament pairings such as Lloyd Woodard-Rick Hawn and Vyacheslav Vasilevsky-Maiquel Falcao.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, alvarez, aoki, eddie alvarez, eddie
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC Offers Hector Lombard A Contract, Bellator May Counter
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has told Sherdog that his Middleweight champion Hector Lombard (31-2-1, 1 NC) has been offered a contract by the UFC. Rebney has the option to match the contract and will make that decision next week.
"We've received the final proposed UFC agreement from Hector's attorney, and right now we are in the process of reviewing it to determine whether we're going to match the agreement. We've got the 60 pages of UFC contract that were forwarded to us by Hector's counsel. We've been waiting on the actual contract itself to see all of the specifics and every conceivable detail and know exactly what is being offered. Now we have something really specific to look at," Rebney told Sherdog.
As part of his Bellator contract, Lombard had to wait a couple of months after his current contract expired before he could talk to competing promotions. Now he is in a period where Bellator has the option of matching any contract offer he receives.
I assume Lombard does not have to accept any such counter-offer but he might be forced to wait an additional time period if Bellator matches the UFC and he doesn't want to re-sign with Bellator. For the 34-year-old Lombard time is of the essence.
More from Rebney after the jump...
"The reality is that Hector is going to do extremely well whether he is fighting in the Octagon or the Bellator circle, and I think everybody knew that. He's one of the best middleweights on the face of the earth," Rebney said. "He hasn't fought in a long time, and he had to wait through these periods contractually to get to a point where he could go out and seek an offer from a competing organization.
"Out of respect for Hector, I think we will turn [the UFC contract] around very quickly," said Rebney. "Obviously, we have a huge event coming up Friday [Bellator 66]. As soon as that is over, we will sit down with our partners and go through the UFC contract line-for-line and make a strategic decision whether we're going to match it or pass. [If we pass, we will] wish him the best and let him go knock out everybody in the UFC."
Let's hope Rebney is true to his word and expedites the process. It's a hard spot for the promotion. Lombard is easily one of their most high-profile fighters along with former Lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez and Welterweight champ Ben Askren.
Alvarez is also nearing the end of his contract and has indicated some interest in signing with the UFC.
According to Bellator's tournament system Lombard should fight Alexander Shlemenko, the most recent MW tournament winner, for the title but Lombard is sitting out his contract and Shlemenko suffered serious injuries in a car wreck, including a broken collar bone.
Regardless it's clear that Lombard has outgrown MMA's #2 organization and is at a now-or-never point with the UFC.
Posted in: ufc, lombard, bellator, contract, rebney
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowHector Lombard offered UFC contract; Bellator to make 'strategic decision' on whether to match or pass
For the second time in his career, Hector Lombard is poised to make his Octagon debut.
Flashback to late 2007, when "Shango" was scheduled to face off against fellow Judoka Karo Parisyan at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 78 pay-per-view (PPV) event in Newark, NJ, until Visa issues kept him from entering the country and he was forced to withdraw from the "Garden State" fight card.
Let's try it again.
In a division that's been depleted of fresh title contenders (Sorry, "Count"), Lombard can enter the fray and make an immediate impact -- assuming his 31-2 record is not a sham built on lesser names from the International circuit (Sorry, Fedor) and he can actually replicate his previous success as a ZUFFA employee.
But it's not a done deal just yet.
That's because Bellator Fighting Championships has the right to match his most recent offer, and promotion CEO Bjorn Rebney tells Sherdog.com his team needs to make a "strategic decision" about the 185-pound champion's future after this weekend's Bellator 66 event.
Those comments, after the jump.
"We've received the final proposed UFC agreement from Hector's attorney, and right now we are in the process of reviewing it to determine whether we're going to match the agreement. Obviously, we have a huge event coming up Friday. As soon as that is over, we will sit down with our partners and go through the UFC contract line-for-line and make a strategic decision whether we're going to match it or pass. [If we pass, we will] wish him the best and let him go knock out everybody in the UFC."
Lombard's only two losses have come by unanimous decision to Gegard Mousasi and Akihiro Gono in fights that took place nearly six years ago. He has 24 finishes, including 17 (T)KO stoppages in 31 wins.
He's been called everything from professional can-crusher to top five middleweight in the world.
Is it time for him to sign with the UFC and prove which label suits him best? Or has he done enough in Bellator (and beyond) to already convince you? Let's get some feedback on Lombard, including where you think he'll end up, in the comments section below.
Sound off!
Posted in: ufc, lombard, bellator, decision, newark nj
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFollowing Bellator release, Alexis Vila plans move to UFC's flyweight division
Unbeaten in his first 11 professional fights, Alexis Vila is now a free agent after back-to-back losses.
The 41-year-old Vila told MMAjunkie.com Radio that he has been released by Bellator following a loss to Luis Nogueira in the opening round of the promotion's season-six bantamweight tournament, which took place this past Friday at Bellator 65.
Now, the former Olympian plans a move to flyweight, and hopefully, to the UFC.
Posted in: bellator, backtoback losses, mmajunkiecom radio, olympian plans, luis nogueira
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 65: 163,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 65 ratings grabbed 163,000 viewers on MTV2. This week’s average is less than 64 but above the season’s average.
Bellator 64: 175,00 viewers
Bellator 63: 140,000 viewers
Bellator 62: 175,000 viewers
Bellator 61: 108,000 viewers
Bellator 60: 169,000 viewers
Payout Perspective:
Although down from the week prior, the hope is that the numbers remain consistent and boost the season’s average. The fluctuating ratings are a concern so hopefully we see a positive trend here. As MMA Junkie points out, none of the sixth season ratings have matched the averages of the first three seasons the organization has had on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, season, viewer, season ’s, week ’s
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBellator 65 ratings: Event scores 163,000 MTV2 viewers, tops season average
This past weekend's Bellator 65 event, which featured a title fight and three tourney bouts, drew 163,000 MTV2 viewers - which topped the season-six average of 153,400 viewers.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the figures with industry sources.
The April 13 broadcast followed Bellator 64, which matched a season high with 175,000 viewers a week prior.
Posted in: bellator, title fight, viewer, industry sources, tourney bouts
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 71 'Summer Series' debut booked for West Virginia on June 22
CHICAGO, Ill. (April 16, 2011) - Bellator Fighting Championships will make their 2012 Summer Series debut from The Mountain State when the promotion brings Bellator 71 to The Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort in Chester, West Virginia on June 22.
Bellator 71 will feature the quarterfinals of the Bellator Summer Series Light Heavyweight Tournament, along with a host of preliminary fights.
Tickets for the event are now on sale and can be purchased online at Etix.com or by visiting The Mountaineer Casino Players Club. Tickets are priced from $25-$200. The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 8 p.m. EST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 6 p.m. EST, and the preliminary card, featuring some of the area's top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. EST.
"We've been in discussions with the team at Mountaineer Resort for quite some time, looking to bring a major nationally and internationally televised event to this spectacular Casino Resort" Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "When the chance came to host the opener of our Summer Series, we jumped at the chance."
Canadian native Roger "The Hulk" Hollett will get his first taste of tournament action when he locks horns with explosive Slovakian finisher Attila Vegh. A 14-time Hungarian Kempo karate champion, Vegh brings an impressive resume into the tournament and should be a force to be reckoned with.
"I came here to Bellator with one goal, and that's to be the next Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion," said Vegh. "Becoming a Bellator champion is my main mission in my career. I want to be recognized as the best light heavyweight in the world, and after that my mission will be complete."
Former Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Finalist Rich Hale is back for another run and will be looking to top his incredible inverted triangle finish that earned headlines when he takes on Beau Tribolet in opening-round action.
After compiling a 2-0 record within the Bellator cage, longtime MMA veteran Travis "Diesel" Wiuff will get his shot in the Light Heavyweight Tournament in this tournament debut. Wiuff has amassed an incredible 66 wins during his incredible MMA run, and has his sights set on a Bellator Tournament Championship.
Finnish submission ace Marcus Vanttinen is looking to lock up a semifinal appearance when he battles promising Brazilian striker Philipe Lins. Both 205-pound fighters are regarded as two of the top light heavyweight prospects in the world, and will have their talent on display at Bellator 71.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, tournament, light, summer
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator Notebook: Summer Series Returns, Uncertain Future Of Middleweight Division
Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Christian M'Pumbu will finally get an opponent to defend his title against as the promotion announced Monday they will once again run a Summer Series, this time featuring a 205-pound tourney that kicks off on June 22 in Chester, West Virginia.
In the quarterfinals, Travis Wiuff (66-14-0-1) is booked but doesn't have an opponent, while Marcus Vanttinen (21-3) vs. Philipe Lins (5-0), Roger Hollett (13-3) vs. Attila Vegh (24-4-2) and Richard Hale (18-4-1) vs. Beau Tribolet (7-1) round out the main card. Wiuff took on M'Pumbu last October in a three round "superfight" and became the first opponent to beat a reigning champion with his unanimous decision win.
Shlemenko Shelved, Interesting Predicament For Middleweight Division
Sherdog first reported the news over the weekend that No. 1 middleweight contender Alexander Shlemenko was in a car accident last week, breaking his collarbone and dislocating his thumb in the process. He was in the passenger seat and the car was hit by a drunk driver. He is expected to be cleared for rehab after a month, putting his timetable at training for a return at several months away.
For why this could put Bellator's middleweight division on ice for a while, keep reading after the jump.
Where this puts Bellator's 185-pound division is an interesting question. There are rumors that current champ Hector Lombard has been negotiating with the UFC as the promotion doesn't have a champion's clause. Shlemenko won the most recent tournament and was expecting to fight Lombard, but if the champion doesn't want to wait around, that rematch might never happen.
An option if Lombard leaves: hold another 185-pound tournament during this summer and have Shlemenko fight the winner for the title.
When Fighting Gets You Arrested
Raphael Davis was just looking to increase his stature in Bellator when competed on last October's Bellator 53 undercard, knocking out Myron Dennis in the second round. When he knocked out Berin Balijagic in the second round of a regional show this past March, he wanted to earn a couple bucks and keep his dream alive at 12-2.
Those fights weren't the issue, but the seven during a stretch from December 2008 to May 2011 that were. Davis wasn't supposed to be fighting as he was making worker's compensation claims for injuries suffered during his full-time job as a Los Angeles firefighter. He was arrested and charged with four felony counts of fraud last week and faces up to five years in jail.
Posted in: bellator, round, shlemenko, champion, division
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 71 Kicks Off 2012 Summer Series in Chester, West Virginia
Bellator Fighting Championships will make its 2012 Summer Series debut from The Mountain State when the promotion brings Bellator 71 to The Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort in Chester, West Virginia on June 22. Bellator 71 will feature the quarterfinals of the Bellator Summer Series Light Heavyweight Tournament, along with a host of preliminary fights.
Tickets for the event are now on sale and can be purchased online at Etix.com or by visiting The Mountaineer Casino Players Club. Tickets are priced from $25-$200. The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 8 p.m. EST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 6 p.m. EST, and the preliminary card, featuring some of the area’s top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. EST.
“We’ve been in discussions with the team at Mountaineer Resort for quite some time, looking to bring a major nationally and internationally televised event to this spectacular Casino Resort” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “When the chance came to host the opener of our Summer Series, we jumped at the chance.”
Canadian native Roger “The Hulk” Hollett will get his first taste of tournament action when he locks horns with explosive Slovakian finisher Attila Vegh. A 14-time Hungarian Kempo karate champion, Vegh brings an impressive resume into the tournament and should be a force to be reckoned with.
“I came here to Bellator with one goal, and that’s to be the next Bellator light heavyweight champion,” said Vegh. “Becoming a Bellator champion is my main mission in my career. I want to be recognized as the best light heavyweight in the world, and after that my mission will be complete.”
Former Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament Finalist Rich Hale is back for another run and will be looking to top his incredible inverted triangle finish that earned headlines when he takes on Beau Tribolet in opening-round action.
After compiling a 2-0 record within the Bellator cage, longtime MMA veteran Travis “Diesel” Wiuff will get his shot in the Light Heavyweight Tournament in this tournament debut. Wiuff has amassed an incredible 66 wins during his incredible MMA run, and has his sights set on a Bellator Tournament Championship.
Finnish submission ace Marcus Vanttinen is looking to lock up a semifinal appearance when he battles promising Brazilian striker Philipe Lins. Both 205-pound fighters are regarded as two of the top light heavyweight prospects in the world, and will have their talent on display at Bellator 71.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, tournament, light, summer
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 71 official, light-heavyweight tournament kicks off in West Virginia
As expected Bellator's next "Summer Series" of events kicks off June 22 with Bellator 71.
As MMAjunkie.com first reported on Monday, the event takes place at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort in Chester, W.V.
Bellator officials since have confirmed the event and the start of an eight-man light-heavyweight tournament. The announced participants have a combined record of 154-29-1.
Posted in: bellator, event, tournament, west virginia, summer series
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator cuts Alexis Vila and Masakatsu Ueda after Season 6 tournament losses
Alexis Vila and Masakatsu Ueda were both defeated in the Bellator Season 6 bantamweight tournament and now both are looking for new work, as the fight promotion released them on Monday.
Vila (11-2) is a former Olympian who was ousted from the tourney by Luis Nogueira. The 41-year-old Cuban lost in the finals of the Season 5 tournament to newly-crowned champion Eduardo Dantas, never recapturing the same lightning he unleashed on Joe Warren in one of last year’s most brutal knockouts.
Meanwhile, Ueda (15-2-2) was stopped by Travis Marx. He entered Bellator on a fight-fight winning streak and is considered to be a top-flight bantamweight.
Sherdog was the first to report the releases by Bellator. No specific reason was offered for either cut.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, season, ueda, masakatsu ueda, travis marx
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator’s 2012 Summer Series Begins in West Virginia with Light Heavyweight Quarterfinals
The first event of Bellator Fighting Championships’ 2012 Summer Series has a date, a venue and a host of light heavyweight contenders to occupy its next 205-pound bracket.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, series, summer, west virginia
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 71 First in Promotion’s Summer Series
Bellator Fighting Championships kicks off its 2012 Summer Series with Bellator 71 in West Virginia.
Posted in: bellator, championship, series, summer, virginia
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyPatricky Freire expected to return to the ring this summer
After suffering a nasty submission loss to Lloyd Woodard last month in the quarterfinal round of Bellator’s ongoing Season 6 lightweight tournament it was feared Patricky Freire could be out for an extended period time based on the nature of the finish. Fortunately it appears that will not be the case, as Freire avoided any severe damage from Woodward’s Kimura and should be back in the cage sooner than later.
“Patricky might fight again in June,” said manager Matheus Aquino in a conversation with TATAME, adding Freire had no broken bones and was already doing minor rehabilitation to get back up to full steam.
Freire, who had never been stopped in a fight prior to facing Woodard, is 10-3 in his career including wins inside the Bellator cage against Rob McCullough, Toby Imada, and Kurt Pellegrino.
The only Bellator event currently linked to June is Bellator 71, the first event in the organization’s Summer Series of shows.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, quarterfinal round, freire, patricky freire, patricky
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator Releases Bantamweights Masakatsu Ueda, Alexis Vila Following Tourney Losses
Bellator Fighting Championships has severed ties with two highly regarded 135-pound competitors on the heels of losses in the company’s Season 6 bantamweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, pound, loss, bantamweight, vila
Read the full article at SherdogBruno Santos Out of Bellator MW Tourney; Andreas Spang Faces Brian Rogers at Bellator 66
Unbeaten Brazilian Bruno “Carioca” Santos has been forced from Bellator Fighting Championships’ sixth-season middleweight tournament due to a shoulder injury.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, brian rogers, spang, bruno
Read the full article at SherdogAndreas Spang replaces injured Bruno Santos in Bellator 66 tournament semifinals
Brian Rogers has a new opponent for Friday's Bellator 66 event and his middleweight-tournament-semifinal bout.
Bellator officials today told MMAjunkie.com that original opponent Bruno Santos has suffered a "major shoulder injury" and has scratched from the card.
Stepping in his place is Andreas Spang, a Swedish striker who's recently competed with bigger organizations such as Strikeforce and MFC.
Posted in: bellator, shoulder injury, spang, andreas spang, opponent bruno
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 65 Results Recap: The Eduardo Dantas Bantamweight Era Begins
A week after a somewhat ill-received title fight between Ben Askren and Douglas Lima, another Brazilian got an opportunity at a Bellator championship Saturday but took full advantage.
At just 23 years old, Eduardo Dantas now sits as Bellator Bantamweight Champion after a dominant second round submission win over Zach Makovsky at Bellator 65. Based on his performance, it might be a while before he loses his new piece of hardware.
Aggressive early, Dantas used his right leg to tenderize Makovsky's side and even when the now ex-champ took him down, Dantas worked for his own submissions and used his physical advantages to control him. He went into the fight with a six inch reach advantage and used it, setting up a head/arm triangle that put Makovsky to sleep.
With the win, Dantas (14-2) extends a seven fight win streak and in winning last year's tournament, has essentially already defeated most of the top 135'ers Bellator has to offer. There are some interesting possibilities (Marcos Galvao stands out), but if Dantas continues to improve at this pace, his next challenger will have all they can handle.
For more on the rest of the card, Makovsky's future and video from the show, join us after the jump.
For Makovsky, the defeat snapped an eight fight win streak compiled over a busy two years. The fight against Dantas was the first defense of the strap he won in October 2010, exposing a flaw in the tournament system that the promotion has looked to rectify this year. At just 5'4", he's ideally built for 125 pounds and depending on his contract status, he could be worth a longshot look for a certain large promotion looking to build up their flyweight division.
Speaking of the bantamweights...
On Saturday's undercard, Galvao (11-5-1) picked up a unanimous decision win over tourney veteran Ed West, while Luis Nogueira (13-2) defeated last year's finalist Alexis Vila by unanimous decision to advance into the 135-pound semifinals. The two join Travis Marx and Hiroshi Nakamura in the final four with the next bouts expected for mid-May.
Featherweight finale is set
Daniel Straus (19-4) beat up Mike Corey over three rounds to earn a unanimous decision win and advance to the featherweight tournament finals against Marlon Sandro. This will be his second straight final, losing last May to Patricio Freire by unanimous decision. Sandro (22-3) is also a former finalist, losing to eventual winner and current champion Pat Curran last summer. With the back stories of both men and what's at stake, this has the promise to be a rather fun fight.
The next welterweight tourney
While this year's welterweight tournament presses on, next season's tournament is already coming together. On Saturday, former champion Lyman Good needed just 13 seconds to knock out LeVon Maynard, while former TUF finalist Kris McCray earned his way in with a split decision win over Ailton Barbosa. McCray (8-3) was cut after three straight UFC losses, but has won his last three.
SBN coverage of Bellator 65
Posted in: fight, bellator, decision, year, danta
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator heads to West Virginia in June to kick off 2012 Summer Series
Bellator Fighting Championships will enter the state of West Virginia to begin the 2012 Summer Series, becoming the first major MMA promotion to hold a card in the State since MMA became legal. West Virginia passed a bill giving MMA a greenlight in early 2011, and Bellator 71 will begin the push to see the sport grow in the region when things fire up on June 22.
There have been no individual fights or tournament bouts announced for the event, set to take place from the Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort in Chester, West Virginia. This will mark the second Summer Series in Bellator history with the first taking place last year and seeing Pat Curran emerge with a title-shot after winning a featherweight tournament.
News of the fight card was MMAJunkie through Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney.
The card will go head-to-head with UFC on FX 4 that same night where Clay Guida and Gray Maynard meet in the main event in a key lightweight showdown.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, west, clay guida, virginia, west virginia
Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain'Summer Series' kicks off June 22 with Bellator 71 in West Virginia | MMAjunkie.com
submitted by swampskater [link] [comment]
Posted in: bellator, series, summer, swampskater link, summer series
Read the full article at RedditVideo: Bellator 65 highlights, including Eduardo Dantas' title win
Bellator 65 took place this past weekend and saw the crowning of a new champion.
Young bantamweight Eduardo Dantas choked out Zach Makovsky to become Bellator's new 135-pound titleholder.
Check out highlights of that main event, as well as three season-six
tournament bouts that took place on the night's MTV2-televised main
card.
Posted in: bellator, place, danta, eduardo, zach makovsky
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMorning Report: Alexander Gustafsson's Coming Out Party and the Curse of Comparison
In case you hadn't heard, Alexander Gustafsson looked good on Saturday night. Like, really good. Maybe even Jon Jones good, if you were to believe our good friend Mike Goldberg, who made roughly 3 billion references to the champ in a span of 15 minutes.
Except, not only is that a lie, it's not even fair to the lanky Swede. Like our own Ben Fowlkes so eloquently said over the weekend, it's a personal disservice to Gustafsson to continually measure his growth and style against Jones'. Bestowing him that burden is a knee-jerk reaction that borders on spiteful.
But, of course, all these comparisons are inevitable. That's just what we do in sports. Everyone is the new Ali or the new Jordan. So if we really have to compare "The Mauler" to someone, why not shoot for someone that makes sense. And maybe I'm just crazy, but on Saturday night Gustafsson looked just like a 6'5" Swedish Dominick Cruz.
Think about it. Jumping in and out of range with crisp, high-pressure striking and loose, elusive footwork; frustrating his opponent with a fluidity that at times seems awkward and at others seems gorgeous. To me, that certainly sounds more "Dominator" and less "Bones." But like I said, maybe I'm just crazy.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Weekend MMA results. Catch up on another busy mixed martial arts weekend with fight results for UFC on FUEL 2, Bellator 56, TUF Live and TUF Brazil.
UFC on FUEL 2 post-fight coverage. Even after the lights in Stockholm dimmed, our UFC on FUEL 2 coverage kept on rolling with Alexander Gustafsson vs. Thiago Silva video highlights, fight night bonuses, fighter reactions, post-fight press conference video and the final installment of Ben Fowlkes' Postcards from Stockholm series.
Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen rematch date could change. The UFC's June 23 booking for Silva vs. Sonnen II could be in jeopardy because Rio is set to host a United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development during the same week.
Dana White talks Overeem, shuts down #RallyForMarkHunt. UFC President Dana White brushed off questions about Alistair Overeem's ongoing situation by insisting he was too upset to talk about it and will instead wait for due process, but he understands the drug testing status quo isn't cutting it. Meanwhile, White effectively crushed the hopes of the internet, saying of Mark Hunt replacing Alistair Overeem at UFC 146: "It ain't going to happen."
BJ Penn: I have no plans to fight at the moment. Former lightweight champ BJ Penn unconvincingly reaffirmed his retirement from MMA, stating he had nothing currently scheduled, but no one knows what the future could hold.
MEDIA STEW
If you didn't know who Siyar Bahadurzada was before Saturday, chances are you probably do now. While Siyar's 42-second face rearranging of Paulo Thiago stunned many a fight fan, now that this top secret training video has leaked out, it all makes sense.
The split-second when Brian Stann stops punching Alessio Sakara's brains out and plays referee during his own fight may be the most honorable moment in UFC history.
Our friends over at MiddleEasy have been shadowing Nick Diaz to see how retirement is treating the former champ, but after watching this footage it's pretty clear Diaz needs to step-up his Tony Hawk's Pro Skater skills. (Back in the day, we could clear out the Warehouse in one run. Just saying.)
Our biggest takeaway from Bellator 65: Eduardo Dantas is a scary, scary dude. If you missed it the first time around, check out the 23-year-old mega-prospect destroying Zach Makovsky to seize the Bellator bantamweight strap.
THE PLOT THICKENS
Alistair Overeem seems to know something the rest of us don't. Is Kizer a man or a mouse? Another techincal flaw like the Braun case?
— Victor Conte (@VictorConte) April 14, 2012
BECAUSE YOU WEIGH THE SAME
Lots of people think I'm Thiago Silva. Lol
— Thiago Alves. (@ThiagoAlvesATT) April 14, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced over the weekend (Friday, April 13, 2012 - Sunday, April 15, 2012):
- UFC on FUEL 4: James Te Huna (14-5) vs. Brandon Vera (12-5)
- Bellator 66: Jessica Eye (6-1) vs. Anita Rodriguez (5-2)
- Bellator 66: Dan Spohn (6-1) vs. Attila Vegh (24-4)
- Bellator 66: John Hawk (6-4) vs. Marcus Vanttinen (21-3)
- Bellator 66: Frank Carabello (8-4) vs. Donny Walker (15-6)
- Bellator 66: Tyler Combs (13-9) vs. Jason Dent (21-12)
- Bellator 66: Joe Heiland (6-1) vs. Julian Lane (3-0)
- Bellator 68: Daniel Straus (19-4) vs. Marlon Sandro (22-3)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day sees BE's dropkick101 don his Joe Silva hat: Shogun vs. Gustafsson Is The Fight To Book
Alexander Gustafsson just picked up his fifth consecutive win in the UFC. The young fighter is 6-1 overall in the organization with five stoppages. Along with Ryan Bader and Phil Davis, he is inarguably one of the top prospects in the division. Unlike those men, he has not suffered a recent loss.
With all of this in mind, and in light of the current state of the division, the Swedish fighter is within a single win of earning a title shot. No one else in the division, with the exception of the champion, is on a win streak like him. Most importantly, unlike many of the top names, Gustafsson has yet to lose to the champ. With Rashad Evans receiving his shot next weekend and Dan Henderson being next in line, Gustaffson could easily secure his shot with one more victory.
The big question for Gustafsson is who he will meet in his next bout. With a potential title shot on the line, the next logical step for Gustafsson is a former champion ranked in the top five of the division. In other words, an opponent who will instantly cause the Swede to be considered a title contender with a win. In light of the current state of the division, the best possible opponent is Shogun Rua.
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: ufc, fight, bellator, vs, gustafsson
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse'Summer Series' kicks off June 22 with Bellator 71 in West Virginia
Bellator's three-event "Summer Series" kicks off June 22 with Bellator 71.
The event marks the organization's debut in West Virginia and takes place at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort in Chester, which is located near the Ohio and Pennsylvania borders.
Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney confirmed the event with MMAjunkie.com over the weekend.
Posted in: bellator, organizations debut, west virginia, summer series, event marks
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 65 Video Highlights
Check out the video recap from Friday night's Bellator 65 in Atlantic City, N.J., where Eduardo Dantas took the Bellator bantamweight belt from Zach Makovsky.
Posted in: bellator, video, check, eduardo dantas, video recap
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 65 Moment – Dantas Puts Makovsky To Sleep
In this week’s Bellator moment, Eduardo Dantas uses a Nova Uniao speciality, the arm triangle choke, to put bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky out cold, claiming the Bellator 135 pound title.
Posted in: bellator, arm triangle, danta, makovsky, moment
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 65 Highlights – Makovsky vs. Dantas, Bantamweight and Featherweight Tournaments
Highlights from Friday’s Bellator 65 fight card, featuring Daniel Straus, Marcos Galvao, Luis Nogueira, and a bantamweight title bout between Zach Makovsky and Eduardo Dantas.
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, makovsky, zach makovsky, featherweight tournaments
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 68 adds Marlon Sandro vs. Daniel Straus featherweight-tourney finale
The next Bellator featherweight-tournament winner will be determined at Bellator 68.
Following Daniel Straus' emotional win over Mike Corey at Friday's Bellator 65 event, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney confirmed Straus will meet fellow finalist Marlon Sandro at Bellator 68.
The event takes place May 11 at Palladium Ballroom in Caesars Atlantic City in New Jersey.
Posted in: bellator, daniel straus, strau, mike corey, palladium ballroom
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 65 Highlights (Video)
Bellator 65 took place tonight in Atlantic City, NJ. The event was headlined by a bantamweight title fight between champion Zach Makovsky and Eduardo Dantas. The card also featured the second featherweight semifinal and the opening round of the bantamweight tournament. Bellator has released a highlight video of the MTV2 televised card.
Pictured: New Bantweight Champion Eduardo Dantas via Bellator
Posted in: bellator, video, opening round, eduardo dantas, featherweight semifinal
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 65 Results: Eduardo Dantas crowned bantamweight champion with submission win
23-year old Brazilian Eduardo Dantas became the newest Bellator champion on Friday night with a career-defining performance, choking former title-holder Zach Makovsky unconscious in the second round of their headlining tilt at Bellator 65. The performance improved Dantas’ overall record to 14-2 and snapped Makovsky’s an eight-fight winning streak.
Also on tap pat the event, 135-pounders Marcos Galvao and Luis Nogueira advanced to the semifinal round of the organization’s ongoing bantamweight tournament with decision victories over Ed West and Alexis Vila respectively. Daniel Straus also moved on to the Season 6 featherweight final by outpointing Mike Corey. As a result he will face Marlon Sandro later this season for an opportunity to win Pat Curran’s divisional strap.
Here is a complete rundown of Bellator 65 winners/losers:
Duane Bastress def. Plinio Cruz via TKO Round 2 (Strikes)
Will Martinez Jr. def. Terrell Hobbs via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke)
Kenny Foster def. Jay Haas Submission Round 1 (Guillotine Choke)
E.J. Brooks def. Mikhail Malyutin via Unanimous Decision
Lyman Good def. LeVon Maynard via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
Scott Heckman def. Lester Caslow via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke)
Kris McCray def. Ailton Barbosa via Split Decision
Marcos Galvao def. Ed West via Unanimous Decision
Luis Alberto Nogueiradef. Alexis Vila via Unanimous Decision
Daniel Straus def. Mike Corey via Unanimous Decision
Eduardo Dantas def. Zach Makovsky via Technical Submission Round 2 (Arm-Triangle Choke)
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Posted in: bellator, round, decision, submission, danta
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 65 Moment – Eduardo Dantas Captures Belt (Fight Video)
Check out the Bellator 65 video of Brazilian phenom Eduardo Dantas toppling Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky on Friday night.
Posted in: fight, bellator, video, danta, eduardo
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyVideo: Eduardo Dantas submits Zach Makovsky at Bellator 65
It wouldn't be a typical Saturday without a "Bellator Moment" to share from the mixed martial arts (MMA) event that took place last night (April 13, 2012) at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
And that moment was the crowning of a new bantamweight champion.
Eduardo Dantas, a 23-year-old who is still relatively unknown, snagged the 135-pound strap from Zach Makovsky's waist via stunning arm-triangle submission in the second round.
The Brazilian was insanely impressive in his championship winning performance, which came as somewhat of a surprise after he needed the help of the judges in his two previous bouts against Ed West and Alexis Vila, respectively.
Nevertheless, Dantas is the new bantamweight king and it looks like Bellator will have a hell of a time finding a challenger capable of dethroning him. The winner of the upcoming Marcos Galvao vs. Luis Nogueira fight will get the first crack at it.
For a detailed play-by-play results of the fight between Eduardo Dantas vs. Zach Makovsky be sure to check out our complete Bellator 63 results post right here. And to check out our complete recap of the main card action on MTV2 click here.
Posted in: bellator, danta, ed west, makovsky, zach
Read the full article at MMA ManiaIf champ Lombard leaves, Shlemenko fights for Bellator title - when healed from car crash
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard's days may be numbered, but the organization has a backup plan in the event of his departure.
In a few weeks, Bellator's matching period for the free-agent-to-be will end, and Lombard essentially can sign with any organization with Bellator unable to match an offer.
If that's the case - and it sounds like it will be - recent tournament winner Alexander Shlemenko will fight for the vacant title. But not until he heals from a variety of injuries that resulted from a recent car crash.
Posted in: lombard, bellator, backup plan, weeks bellators, shlemenko fights
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 65 results recap from last night for 'Makovsky vs Dantas' in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Bellator 65 continued the Bellator Fighting Championship's sixth season last night (April 13, 2012) from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It was a thrilling night of bouts and none were more impressive than the main event, a bantamweight title fight between champion Zach Makovsky and challenger Eduardo Dantas.
In a back and forth first round, Dantas kept Makovsky on his toes with a pair of brutal body kicks which knocked the champion off his feet. "Fun Size" immediately decided to take the fight to the ground, but once he put Dantas on his back, he was still not out of danger as the Nova Uniao fighter threatened with a pair of omaplatas off of his back.
In the second round, Makovsky quickly attempted to take the fight to the ground but this time, Dantas was ready for it and hit a "switch" which reversed the attempt and put the former Drexel wrestler somewhere he's never been in the Bellator cage, on his back.
Dantas frustrated Makkovsky from top position, twice passing to mount and dropping some occasional elbows while threatening with a rear naked choke whenever Makovsky attempted to scramble out of danger. The second time he passed to mount, he transitioned to an arm triangle choke and immediately passed to side control to tighten the hold.
Makovsky tried to hold out by creating space and grabbing his own knee but the choke was too tight and he was rendered unconscious.
We have a new Bellator bantamweight champion. And at just 23 years old, this talented Brazilian looks completely unstoppable.
The rest of the main card featured some very interesting bouts including one of Bellator's finest 2012 fights:
in featherweight semifinal action, Vision MMA fighter Daniel Straus took on Team Curran's Mike Corey for the right to advance to the finals and take on top Brazilian Marlon Sandro.
Straus, fighting with a heavy heart due to the recent death of his teammate, Chris Smith, started incredibly strongly by dropping Corey with his first combination and beating Corey soundly in the stand-up department in the first round. By the time the round was over, Corey's face was a bloody mess.
In typical Mike Corey fashion, he bounced back by turning up the pressure in the stand-up, initiating clinches and even scoring a couple takedowns against Straus in the second round. He was especially effective along the fence, repeatedly gaining inside position and throwing some strong knees to the body while mixing in dirty boxing.
Straus would take control in a tough third round, going back to his boxing where he was able to land the more effective strikes while mixing up his own clinch and takedown attempts to keep Corey guessing. Corey's face was tenderized by this point with his eye nearly swollen shut but he continued to battle back, even landing some solid strikes in a flurry with 30 seconds left but it wasn't enough as the judges sided with Straus unanimously to advance the Cincinnati-based fighter to the featherweight finals.
In bantamweight quarterfinal action, season five finalist Alexis Vila got all he could handle from a very game Luis Nogueira in what was a rather lackluster bout. Nogueira used his size and speed to fluster Vila throughout the bout and was able to outstrike the former Cuban Olympic wrestler in both the first and third rounds, even taking Vila down at the end of the first.
Vila used his wrestling a little more effectively in the second round but was unable to do much damage and in the end, the strong first and third rounds for Nogueira were enough for the Brazilian to pull off the upset, earning him a unanimous decision much to the dismay of the 41 year old Vila.
In the opening bout of the main card, bantamweight quarterfinalists Marcos Galvao and Ed West put on a hell of a battle. Galvao, who'd been robbed in both of his Bellator losses against Joe Warren and Alexis Vila, vowed to finish this fight and boy did he ever try.
The Brazilian opened with some extremely aggressive punching, closing the distance on West and landing effectively with heavy haymakers while mixing in strong takedowns and working his top control and jiu-jitsu. West attacked from bottom and repeatedly got back to his feet but Galvao was all over him in the stand-up, walking through many of his attacks to land power strikes.
There was one beautiful exchange where West attempted a flying knee but was knocked out of the air by a vicious Galvao looping right hook and sent crashing to the canvas.
The pace slowed down slightly in the second and third rounds, but Galvao continued to mount a strong offense in the stand-up while mixing in takedowns and the judges finally decided in his favor as he was awarded a unanimous decision victory with a clean sweep of 30-27 by all three judges which didn't tell the full story of how awesome this fight was.
In undercard action, former Bellator welterweight champion Lyman Good starched LeVon Maynard with 13 second knockout. Good pushed forward extremely aggressively in the opening seconds and after landing some short punches, appeared to drop Maynard with an accidental headbutt. Once on the ground, he blasted Maynard with heavy ground and pound until the referee intervened.
With the victory, he punched his ticket to the next Bellator welterweight tournament, which is likely taking place this fall.
For complete Bellator 65 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights click here.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Were you as impressed as I was by how dominant Eduardo Dantas looked against such a strong fighter like Makovsky? After finally seeing the full bantamweight quarterfinals and featherweight semifinals, who are your picks to win each tournament?
Sound off!
Posted in: bellator, round, danta, makovsky, corey
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 65 Results: Dantas Puts Makovsky to Sleep to Claim Bantamweight Title
Eduardo Dantas put away Zack Makovsky to become the new Bellator bantamweight champion, while Daniel Straus moves on to face Marlon Sandro in the featherweight tournament finals...
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, danta, makovsky, zack makovsky
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 65 Results & Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from the Boardwalk Hall Ballroom in Atlantic City, N.J., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 65, headlined by the Bellator bantamweight title bout between champion Zach Makovsky and challenger Eduardo Dantas.
Posted in: bellator, result, challenger, playbyplay, boardwalk
Read the full article at SherdogMarlon Sandro, Daniel Straus Collide in Season 6 Featherweight Final at Bellator 68
Bellator’s sixth-season featherweight finals are now set, as Marlon Sandro will meet Daniel Straus at Bellator 68 on May 11.
Posted in: bellator, daniel straus, strau, marlon sandro, marlon
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 65 results: Dantas submits Makovsky, becomes new bantamweight champ
Eduardo Dantas took the Bellator bantamweight belt from Zach Makovsky in dominant fashion, putting the champ to sleep in the second round of Bellator 65's headliner.
The finish capped off a night of tournament action that saw Daniel Straus advance to the finals of the season-six featherweight tournament in addition to Luis Nogueira and Marcos Galvao's advance to the bantamweight semis.
Bellator 65 took place Friday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, place friday, zach makovsky, tournament action
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 65 Results: Makovsky vs. Dantas
MMA Fighting has Bellator 65 results for Friday's Bellator event from the Caesars Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.In the main event, Zach Makovsky will defend his Bellator bantamweight title against Eduardo Dantas. Also on the main card, there will be two bantamweight tournament quarterfinals and a featherweight tournament semifinal (Brian Straus vs. Mike Corey).Check out the Bellator 65 results below.
Main Card:Zach Makovsky vs. Eduardo DantasDaniel Straus vs. Mike CoreyEd West vs. Marcos GalvaoAlexis Vila vs. Luis NogueiraUndercard:Mikhail Malyutin vs. E.J. BrooksLyman Good def. LeVon Maynard via first-round KOKris McCray def. Ailton Barbosa via split decisionTerrell Hobbs vs. Will MartinezScott Heckman def. Lester Caslow via submission (rear-naked choke)Plinio Cruz vs. Duane BastressKenny Foster vs. Jay Haas
Posted in: bellator, result, vs, makovsky, ailton barbosa
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator featherweight Mike Richman talks knockout victory against Chris Horodecki and more
Featherweight Mike Richman could have had it easy in Bellator.
But that's not the type of fighter he is. He was offered two easier undercard fights which would showcase his talents at 145 pounds before his inevitable invite into the Bellator season seven featherweight tournament later this fall.
Instead, he stepped up and volunteered to be IFL veteran Chris Horodecki's first opponent at 145 pounds, stepping into hostile territory to take on the fan favorite "Polish Hammer" in Windsor, Ontario, Canada last Friday night (April 6, 2012) on the Bellator 64 preliminary card.
The result? One of the most dominant and one-sided striking displays of the year. The former marine absolutely blistered Horodecki with a vicious stand-up assault, showcasing incredible hand speed and knocking the hometown favorite out cold in just 83 seconds.
With the victory, Richman punched his ticket emphatically into the next Bellator featherweight tournament and he spoke about his victory and his history during a recent guest appearance on Bloody Elbow Radio.
Check out below to see what "The Marine" had to say.
For Richman, the good vibes from his incredible performance still haven't worn off yet.
"It hasn't worn off yet. I'm still pretty excited about it, still stoked. I knew before the fight that this was my opportunity to really make a name for myself and to make a big splash in the MMA world. I didn't want to go in there and get a decision, I wanted to really put it on him. I'm pretty excited to say the least."
A proud trainee at The Academy in Minnesota, Richman broke down exactly how he was able to finish Horodecki. He believes he caught the veteran completely off guard with his fighting style.
"I think he didn't know what to expect really when he saw my hand speed. I caught him off guard. I could see it in his eyes after I landed that first solid cross an I just continued to stick with my straight punches, my head movement and my footwork and boxing abilities to really throw him off. I was actually surprised he didn't adjust, maybe try to shoot or maybe his pride kicked in and he wanted to stay standing because he didn't want to get outgunned by me. He kinda has that really kickboxing, high volume, wide hooks, lot of punches which really plays into my style. I don't think he threw one straight cross. I definitely caught him off guard and just kept in his face to finish him off."
Richman has had his share of easier fights working his way up to the current position he's in. He felt that he'd have enough of them and that's why he was so quick to accept a bout with Horodecki in the first place. He had a lot on the line in case he came up short.
"I didn't take the easy route. I initially signed the tournament contract. I was supposed to go into the fall tournament, was supposed to have two undercard fights before that and I didn't want to go fight local cans. I've done that enough. I wanted to prove to all the haters that I have that I could compete. Once they said Chris Horodecki, I said I wanted that fight. I understood that my tournament spot was there to lose, but I wanted that fight and they made that happen."
Richman earned his nickname "The Marine" because he was once enlisted. He got out of the corps to purse and career in mixed martial arts and described his path where he currently stands today.
"When I was coming towards the end of my marine career before I got out in 2008, I was a huge fan of MMA. As a kid, I was a huge boxing fan so I always felt like I had this 'born fighter" mentality and I just knew inside I had what it took to compete in mixed martial arts and be successful at it and that's kind of one of the reasons I got out of the marine corps was to pursue fighting. I remember my platoon sergeant at the time, gunnery sergeant Blanco told me, "Really? You're gonna get out and start fighting?" He didn't think I was serious. I just kept on grinding. I knew if I kept going out there, kept grinding and winning and taking advantage of that opportunity, it would come."
If the name Mike Richman rings a bell, it's because this wasn't his first opportunity at the big time. He tried out for season 12 of The Ultimate Fighter as a lightweight but failed to win his bout to get into the house. He knew that was a tremendous opportunity that he had blown, but it didn't deter him from working his way back to securing another shot.
"A lot of people don't know that I was on TUF 12 for the short seconds I was on there. I lost a decision to Aaron Wilkinson. It was out of my weight class and I didn't perform to my capabilities. I wasn't ready then. I wasn't with the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy then training with high level guys. I missed out on that opportunity and my biggest concern was I wanted that second chance. My biggest worry was, you never hear from those guys again. People that don't make it into the house, you never hear about them again. I didn't want to be that guy to never be heard from again. I wanted to make it. That was another motivation to get out there and dominate."
Richman closed the interview by explaining exactly what you should be looking out for whenever you see him step into the cage in the upcoming months.
"I think fans should be on the look out for me for exactly what I did on Friday. I'm gonna bring that in every fight. I'm gonna have exciting fights. I'm gonna have those "Bellator moments" and I'm gonna give them the flash. I'm gonna give them the knockouts, the TKOs and I'm gonna give them what they want and what they pay to come see for the people that are in the live audience and I'm gonna give people what they want to see on TV on Friday nights. I'm trying to make a name for myself. I love this sport and I want to do this for a while."
You call follow Mike Richman on Twitter @MikeUSMCRichman.
So what do you think, Maniacs?
How impressed were you with Richman's first round destruction of Horodecki last weekend? Did he show enough for you to think he has a shot at winning the next Bellator featherweight tournament?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, im, didnt, richman
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 65 Live Results And Play By Play
All the cool kids will be talking shop here on Bloody Elbow tonight for live results and play-by-play of Bellator 65. The show is headlined by bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky defending the strap against last year's tournament overlord Eduardo Dantas and starts at 8 p.m. ET on MTV2 and EPIX in HD.
Rounding out the card is a pair of bantamweight quarterfinals for the 2012 tournament, both featuring world-ranked talent. Alexis Vila, who knocked out Joe Warren but lost to Dantas in the last year's finals, draws Ed West, whom Dantas also defeated in the semis. Marcos Galvao of Nova Uniao, who dropped a razor-thin split decision to Vila last year, draws Renovacao Fight Team's Luis Nogueira. "Betao" was knocked out early by West in the 2011 tournament, but the match was another closely contested split decision.
In the lone featherweight semifinal bout on the main card, it's Daniel Straus vs. Mike Corey. Festivities begin at 8 p.m. ET -- do it.
SBN coverage of Bellator 65
Posted in: bellator, split decision, sbn coverage, danta, years finals
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowReport: Alexander Shlemenko suffers broken collarbone and dislocated thumb in car accident
Fresh off his first round knockout victory at Super Fight League (SFL) 2 against Ikuhisa Minowa in Chandigarh, India, Bellator season two and five middleweight tournament winner, Alexander Shlemenko, was involved in a car accident on Wed., April 11, 2012 in his home country of Russia.
Sherdog.com confirmed the news with "Storm's" manager, Alexei Zhernakov.
The report states that the vehicle Schlemenko was riding in was struck by a drunk driver. Alexander was immediately taken to the hospital where it was discovered he suffered a broken collarbone and a dislocated thumb. A winner of eight straight fights, the 185-pound fighter will now be forced to sit on the sidelines for several months to heal from his injuries.
It's a tough break for the Russian, who was on quite the hot streak, winning 14 out of his last 15 bouts with his only loss coming at the hands of Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard.
Shlemenko won his first 185-pound Bellator tournament in 2010 by defeating Bryan Baker in the finals, but fell short in a valiant effort against the aforementioned Lombard in the championship fight. He went on to defeat Vitor Vianna in season five's tournament to earn another shot at the title, but hasn't returned to action with Bellator since, instead competing outside of the organization twice, winning both contests.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com as more details surface.
Posted in: fight, bellator, car accident, report states, vehicle schlemenko
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 65 Real Time Results
Bellator Season 6 keeps on trucking tonight with Bellator 65, an event headlined by bantamweight champ Zach Makovsky making his first title-defense with 23-year old Brazilian Eduardo Dantas standing in his way of retaining the belt. The show also features tournament action from 135ers Alexis Vila-Luis Alberto Nogeuira and Marcos Galvao-Ed West, as well as a semifinal scrap between featherweights Daniel Straus-Mike Corey.
Undercard action starts at 7:00 PM EST on Spike.com with the main card heading over to MTV2 an hour later. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in from the beginning and relaying live results back to readers as they unfold from the cage.
Read below for a full list of Bellator 65 winners/losers:
Plinio Cruz vs. Duane Bastress*
Terrell Hobbs vs. Will Martinez Jr.*
Mikhail Malyutin vs. E.J. Brooks
Jay Haas vs. Kenny Foster
Lyman Good vs. LeVon Maynard
Ailton Barbosa vs. Kris McCray
Lester Caslow vs. Scott Heckman
Marcos Galvao vs. Ed West
Alexis Vila vs. Luis Alberto Nogueira
Daniel Straus vs. Mike Corey
Zach Makovsky vs. Eduardo Dantas
* – Taking place after main card
Posted in: bellator, vs, marco, semifinal scrap, alberto
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 65 Results & Recap
Bellator 65 takes place later tonight at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.. The event airs live on MTV2 at 8pm ET/7pm CT. The prelims will precede the MTV2 broadcast at 7pm ET and 10pm ET on Spike.com. In the main event, Bellator bantamweight champion Zach “Fun Size” Makovsky defends his title against season [...]
Posted in: bellator, pm, event, boardwalk hall, event airs
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 65 Predictions
We're almost halfway through Bellator's sixth season, if you can believe it. Tonight's fighters don't quite have the name value of a Ben Askren or Rick Hawn, but they're still very respectable talents. Bellator's bantamweight tournament continues tonight and the bantamweight title itself is up for grabs. There's also a featherweight tournament semifinal. In addition, UFC veteran Kris McCray and Bellator standout Lyman Good look to secure their spots tonight (although, not against one another) in the season seven welterweight tournament on tonight's preliminary card.
What: Bellator 65
When: Friday, the MTV2-televised card begins at 8 p.m. Eastern on Friday. However, Spike.com will carry the entire fight card.
Where: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Predictions below for the bantamweight title fight, a featherweight tournament semi-final and two bantamweight quarterfinals.
Alexis Vila vs Luis Nogueira (bantamweight tournament quarterfinal bout)
I actually think Nogueira is a talented upstart with a respectable upside. I'm not sure he'll carry championship gold from a major organization during his MMA career, but he's got a lot of tools to be competitive with upper echelon fighters. And it's a shame Vila is as old as he even if he's still very competitive. Despite Nogueira's potential and Vila's age, though, I still believe Vila has more than enough tools to move on into the semis of this tournament. Nogueira won't necessarily go easy, but Vila is a different class of fighter.
Pick: Vila
Ed West vs Marcos Galvao (bantamweight tournament quarterfinal bout)
Oddsmakers have Galvao as the slight favorite heading into this bout and that's understandable, but West is flying under the radar. His only Bellator losses - both highly competitive affairs - came to current champion Makovsky and top challenger Dantas. I don't know if West will be able to lord over Galvao any submission prowess, but he should be able to avoid trouble by maintaining dominant top position. Either way, should be a highly competitive affair.
Pick: West
Mike Corey vs Daniel Straus (featherweight tournament semifinal bout)
Pick: I like Mike Corey quite a bit, if for no other reason than I am also a former United States Marine. But Straus is going to be handful for him. Corey's obviously more comfortable on the ground and while he does have the edge there, Straus' takedown defense should be sufficient to keep him upright long enough to do damage. On the feet, Ronnie Mann was able to light Corey on fire. I see Straus having similar ease.
Pick: Straus
Zach Makovsky vs Eduardo Dantas (bantamweight championship)
I've gone back and forth on this one. Honestly, it's so close that a pick for either guy is justified. Without going into detail about skills - both guys are capable of hurting and scoring on one another virtually anywhere - I ultimately think Makovsky's base and ability to win the scrambles will be the difference. It won't be easy and it wouldn't shock me at all if he lost. But over the course of a five-round fight, Makovsky's wrestling and submission grappling transitions are going to be the difference maker.
Pick: Makovsky
From the preliminary card:
Lyman Good vs. LeVon Maynard (season 7 welterweight tournament qualifier)
Maynard is a staple of the Mid-Atlantic MMA regional circuit. I've actually commentated a few of his fights. I know and respect him enormously. He's a very good athlete and has meaningful experience, but Good is probably just too much for him. He's as good if not better of an athlete, but more importantly, is a more powerful and technical striker. I wouldn't say Maynard is chiny, but I wouldn't say he's Nogueira either. This is Good's fight to lose.
Pick: Good
Ailton Barbosa vs. Kris McCray (season 7 welterweight tournament qualifier)
Not much to add here. I'd be surprised if Barbosa won. His strengths are McCray's strengths, which is to say McCray's got the better strengths of the two. McCray didn't have the UFC career he'd hoped for, but he is a strong, physical wrestler with respectable submission skills. That should be enough to get the win.
Pick: McCray
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, tournament, vila, mccray
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBreaking It Down – Bellator 65
It’s Friday, Friday, gotta watch fights on Friday. Everybody’s punches faces on the weekend, weekend. Sitting in my bedroom, sitting in my bathroom, gotta make my mind up, which seat will I take? That’s right, it’s Friday, and as you’ve come to expect, I am back with another quality Bellator breakdown. At this point, I’ve been in more Fridays than Ice Cube. An accomplishment, I suppose? Bellator 65 goes down tonight on MTV2 and, aside from one of the best bantamweight fights we’ll have the pleasure of seeing with Zach Makovsky defending his title against Eduardo Dantas, we are also treated to three tournament bouts in two weight classes. Who will face Marlon Sandro? Who will do other relevant things in Bellator?
It’s time to find out…
Will Martinez Jr. (3-2-1) vs. Andy Main (5-1)
This featherweight bout pits relative newcomers Martinez and Main against one another to determine who will move up the ladder in the division. Both men are solid competitors with six fights to their credit. Martinez is a balls-to-the-wall fighter and is definitely a finisher. Most notably, he went to a draw with TUF 15 competitor Al Iaquinta. Main loves to make people tap. While he is proficient on the feet, the ground is where he really shines and where he undoubtedly will be looking to take this fight. I expect a scrappy brawl between these two and some seriously fast-paced action, but ultimately I give the edge to Main.
Winner – Andy Main defeats Will Martinez Jr. via Submission Round 2
Mikhail Malyutin (21-9) vs. E.J. Brooks (5-0)
Longtime M-1 Global veteran Malyutin brings his impressive record stateside and looks to score a signature victory in his Bellator debut. Undefeated Brooks is a solid fighter who is just starting to come into his own inside the cage. It’s going to be experience vs. potential in this bout. I suspect Brooks comes out strong, but as he fades,the decision-friendly Malyutin takes him into his realm and takes the final two frames.
Winner – Mikhail Malyutin defeats E.J. Brooks via Split Decision
Plinio Cruz (5-4) vs. Duane Bastress (4-1)
Just barely breaking the .500 threshold, Cruz enters the bout looking to score his first win in over two years tonight. Bastress looks to follow up on his strong Bellator debut where he defeated Daniel Gracie via Doctor Stoppage. Bastress is a solid striker, and as such I expect that unfortunately for Cruz the losing streak continues and he reaches the dreaded .500 mark 10 fights into his career.
Winner – Duane Bastress defeats Plinio Cruz via TKO Round 3
Lester Caslow (7-6 1 NC) vs. Scott Heckman (9-3)
A featherweight who also approaches the .500 mark, Caslow looks to get back on track after a submission loss to Duane van Helvoirt at Ring of Combat 39. A well-rounded fighter, what he lacks in skill he makes up for with his tenacity. “The Animal” Dave Batista…I mean…Heckman, is a hell of a grappler. With only one loss in his last five, coming at the hands of Alexandre “PoPo” Bezerra, he has shown he can handle mid-tier competition with relative ease. I expect poor Lester to join the .500 club tonight as well. Heckman will take him down and will make him tap.
Winner – Scott Heckman defeats Lester Caslow via Submission Round 1
Kenny Foster (9-6) vs. Jay Haas (10-8 1 NC)
Oh Foster, you were kicking some serious ass, and then all of a sudden you dropped four straight? Get it together man! “The Tooth Fairy” needs a win here, badly, if he wants to remain with the promotion. You can’t just drop five straight and expect people to be clamoring to see you in the cage. Haas may not be the best or most consistent fighter around but he is very much a finisher. I can tell you right now this fight is ending with a submission, no matter what. If it’s a matter of which of these submission prone guys will get caught first, I’m going to say it’ll be Foster.
Winner – Jay Haas defeats Kenny Foster via Submission Round 1
Ailton Barbosa (10-3) vs. Kris McCray (7-3)
With eight of his ten victories coming by submission, American Top Team prospect Barbosa looks to earn his shot at the next Bellator welterweight tournament as he takes on Ultimate Fighter 11 finalist McCray. McCray, a well-rounded fighter who didn’t fair well inside the Octagon, looks for his third straight victory. The Iron Army welterweight also has a shot to make a statement to Bellator matchmakers with a win tonight. I wouldn’t be expecting fireworks in this bout, as neither of these gentleman are proficient strikers by any means, so a ground battle is all but certain. While Barbosa has some great ground skills, I feel as if McCray will pick up his third decision victory in this bout.
Winner – Kris McCray defeats Ailton Barbosa via Unanimous Decision
Lyman Good (11-2) vs. LeVon Maynard (12-8)
Good returns to the cage after a year hiatus. Having only suffered losses to Ben Askren and Rick Hawn, the Team Tiger Schulmann fighter holds wins over Mike Dolce and Chris Lozano and is looking to get back on track and back on the radar in Bellator. Plainly put, “Da Maynman” Maynard is a big dude. The 28-year old steps into the Bellator cage for fourth time and is seeking his second win inside the organization. Both of these guys are well-rounded, explosive, and athletic, but only one can be victorious, right? Good is a few steps ahead of Maynard whose chin has been tested plenty of times before. Good often wins by decision, but I think he’s getting the stoppage in this one.
Winner – Lyman Good defeats Levon Maynard via TKO Round 2
Alexis Vila (11-1) vs. Luis Alberto Nogueira (12-2)
Last season’s bantamweight tournament finalist, Vila is back! You may know him best from that time he sent Joe Warren astral traveling with his plutonium laced fist. The 41-year old has heavy hands and is ready to take this bantamweight tournament field by storm.
Three-time Bellator fighter Nogueira returns to the promotion in anticipation of picking up his third win in four fights. While he has good striking and a sufficient enough BJJ game, Nogueira tends to go the distance and does very well when he does. Perhaps that’s his key to victory here?
This is a tough one to call. Nogueira has the skills to get him by in this bout, but Vila is a serious threat on the feet, and can easily win a decision of his own. Having said that, Vila is no spring chicken and doesn’t necessarily fair well in later rounds. I think he might be able to land the big shot he needs to finish the fight, but the younger, quicker fighter should be able to get the nod after a solid but slow fifteen minutes.
Winner – Luis Alberto Nogueira defeats Alexis Vila via Unanimous Decision
Marcos Galvao (10-5-1) vs. Ed West (17-6)
In the final bantamweight tournament quarterfinal bout, former WEC fight Galvao takes on West. Galvao is a grinder if there ever was one. With all but one of his victories coming be decision, the Nova Uniao fighter knows what it takes to win, and isn’t afraid to bore a crowd to get the win.
A finalist in the inaugural Bellator bantamweight tournament, West has been in there with both tournament winners and proven that he can hang with the best of them. The Apex MMA product is a flashy striker, although his strikes are not often very effective.
I expect this bout to go the distance. While Galvao has the tools to win a decision, his backwards movement and lack of action can often be to his detriment, and he has lost decisions based on that before. West should be able to make this a very competitive fight, and in the end I believe his flashy striking and effective grappling will give him a hard earned decision victory.
Winner – Ed West defeats Marcos Galvao via Split Decision
Daniel Straus (18-4) vs. Mike Corey (12-2-1)
The semifinal round of the featherweight tournament wraps up as Bellator veteran Straus takes on Corey. Straus, a powerful wrestler with eleven decisions in eighteen wins, hopes to pick up his fifteenth victory in sixteen fights and get his shot at $100,000.
His opponent, the tournament dark horse Corey, is a solid wrestler who brings an undefeated record under the Bellator banner into this bout. While grappling is his bread and butter, he has good submission skills and his Arm-Triangle Choke is something to stay away from at all costs.
While Corey caught me off guard against Ronnie Mann, I don’t feel as if lightning will strike twice for the Team Curran featherweight. While there is some mystery surrounding where Daniel’s head is at following the untimely death of his training partner and friend Chris Smith this past week, I think Strauss can hang in their mentally and should be able to take home the W with a fitting tribute to his fallen comrade following his victory.
Winner – Daniel Straus defeats Mike Corey via Unanimous Decision
Zach Makovsky (14-2) vs. Eduardo Dantas (13-2)
In the main event of the evening, bantamweight champion “Fun Size” defends his belt against season five tournament winner Dantas. Makovsky used his wrestling to get to the top of the 135-pound pool, but he has come into his own as of late. I personally have Makovsky in my Top 10 in the division and I feel a great performance here will put him up another notch or two.
Dantas is a beast. With six wins in his last seven bouts, “Dudu” tore his way through all opposition en route to the season five tournament finals, where we derailed the Vila hype train and handed him his first loss. The 23-year old Nova Uniao fighter looks to add his name to the ever growing list of championship caliber fighters involved with the camp.
In what should be the best fight of the evening, look for Makovsky to time his shots well, change levels quickly, and take the Brazilian to the mat as often and as hard as possible. While on the ground, Dantas should be able to come close to, if not be able to complete some solid submission attempts, but in the end I think Makovsky survives and starts to pull away on the judges scorecards as the bout wears on. I expect a decision, but not an Askren-style outpointing because you will be entertained!
Winner – Zach Makovsky defeats Eduardo Dantas via Unanimous Decision.
Friday, Friday.. oh you get it. Let’s get on with the damn show which fans can catch at 7:00 PM EST on Spike.com and an hour later on MTV2 (or TheScore.ca in Canada). Enjoy the fights!
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: fight, bellator, bout, decision, winner
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 65's Marcos Galvao enters season-six tourney with chip on shoulder
Marcos Galvao is 1-2 in Bellator. He said he should be 3-0.
That's why he's entering tonight's Bellator 65 event and the opening round of the season-six bantamweight tournament with a sizable chip on his shoulder.
Judges be damned; he's not going to let them take away another victory from him when he meets Ed West.
Posted in: bellator, opening round, marcos galvao, shoulder judges, seasonsix tourney
Read the full article at MMA Junkie‘Fun Size’ Feeling No Added Pressure Ahead of Bellator 65 Title Tilt with Eduardo Dantas
Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky is not one to mince words.
Posted in: bellator, champion, bantamweight, word, zach
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 65 results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Makovsky vs Dantas' TONIGHT (April 13) on MTV2
Bellator Fighting Championships returns TONIGHT (April 13, 2012) to the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, with the continuation of two tournaments and a title fight.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 65 below, beginning with the MTV2 telecast at 8 p.m. ET. In addition, we'll deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the undercard action much earlier in the evening.
Headlining Bellator 65 will be a bantamweight title fight between champion Zach Makovsky and challenger Eduardo Dantas. Makovsky has dominated two non-title "superfights" in the interim while waiting for Dantas to win the Bellator season five bantamweight tournament. This bout should produce some fireworks.
Also on the card, the Bellator season six featherweight tournament continues with a pair of strong wrestlers as Ohio's Daniel Straus battles Mike Corey in a semifinal match-up.
The main card will be opened with a pair of solid season six bantamweight quarterfinal fights featuring former tournament participants. Season five finalist Alexis Vila will take on tough Brazilian Luis Nogueira and former title challenger Ed West battles the always-unlucky Marcos Galvao.
Complete Bellator 65 results and play-by-play are after the jump:
Main Card
135 lb. title: Zach Makovsky vs. Eduardo Dantas 145 lbs.: Daniel Straus vs. Mike Corey 135 lbs.: Ed West vs. Marcos Galvao135 lbs.: Alexis Vila vs. Luis NogueiraPreliminary Card (Spike.com)
155 lbs.: Mikhail Malyutin vs. E.J. Brooks 170 lbs.: Lyman Good vs. LeVon Maynard 170 lbs.: Kris McCray vs. Ailton Barbosa 155 lbs.: Terrell Hobbs vs. Will Martinez 145 lbs.: Scott Heckman vs. Lester Caslow 185 lbs.: Plinio Cruz vs. Duane Bastress 145 lbs.: Kenny Foster vs. Jay Haas
Hemmi here. I'll be recapping all the action on the main card tonight.
135 lb. title: Zach Makovsky vs. Eduardo Dantas
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Round four:
Round five:
Final Result:
-end-
145 lbs.: Daniel Straus vs. Mike Corey
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
135 lbs.: Ed West vs. Marcos Galvao
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
135 lbs.: Alexis Vila vs. Luis Nogueira
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
Posted in: bellator, result, round, vs, lb
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 66 prelims complete, feature Eye vs. Rodriguez, Spohn vs. Vegh
The lineup for next week's Bellator 66 event is complete, including a newly announced six-bout preliminary card lineup.
The new fights include Jessica Eye vs. Anita Rodriguez, Dan Spohn vs.
Attila Vegh, John Hawk vs. Marcus Vanttinen, Frank Carabello vs. Donny
Walker, Tyler Combs vs. Jason Dent, Joe Heiland vs. Julian Lane.
Bellator 66 takes place April 20 at the I-X Center in Cleveland. The
event's main card airs on MTV2 (and in high-definition on EPIX) while
preliminary-card fights stream on Spike.com. Eddie Alvarez meets Shinya
Aoki in the headliner.
Posted in: bellator, vs, shinya aoki, card lineup, ix center
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 66 Card Complete With 11 Bouts, Including Eddie Alvarez-Shinya Aoki Rematch
Bellator Fighting Championship officials have released the 11-fight lineup for Bellator 66. The card will take place April 20 from the I-X Center in Cleveland. The main card boasts a rematch years in the making, as Eddie Alvarez takes on Shinya Aoki. The middleweight and lightweight tournament semifinals will also be contested on the card. [...]
Posted in: bellator, shinya aoki, card, championship officials, tournament semifinals
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 65 Weigh-In Results
Here are the full weigh in results for Bellator 65 headed up by bantamweight champion Zack Makovsky taking on Eduardo Dantas in the main event.
Posted in: bellator, result, champion, eduardo dantas, zack
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyZach Makovsky-Eduardo Dantas Hit Mark For Title Fight At Bellator 65
Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky and No. 1 contender Eduardo Dantas each came in on the mark for Friday night’s Bellator 65 main event. Makovsky weighed in at 134.4 pounds, while Dantas hit the scale at 135. The two will meet on MTV2 from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The second half [...]
Posted in: bellator, atlantic city, danta, boardwalk hall, event makovsky
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 65 weigh-in results: Headliners, tourney fighters on weight
A bantamweight title bout between champ Zach Makovsky and challenger Eduardo Dantas is official for Bellator 65, as are the semifinals of the promotion's season-six featherweight tournament.
Official weigh-ins for Bellator 65 took place today at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
The venue also hosts Friday's event, which hosts main-card fights on MTV2 and preliminary-card fights on Spike.com.
Posted in: fight, bellator, place today, boardwalk hall, preliminarycard fights
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 65 weigh in results LIVE from New Jersey for 'Makovsky vs Dantas'
The official weigh-in event for tomorrow night's Bellator 65 fight card takes place today (April 12, 2012) at 5 p.m. ET from the lobby of Caesar's Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Headlining Bellator 65 will be a bantamweight title fight between champion Zach Makovsky and challenger Eduardo Dantas. Makovsky has dominated two non-title "superfights" in the interim while waiting for Dantas to win the Bellator season five bantamweight tournament. This bout should produce some fireworks.
Also on the card, the Bellator season six featherweight tournament continues with a pair of strong wrestlers as Ohio's Daniel Straus battles Mike Corey in a semifinal match-up.
The main card will be opened with a pair of solid season six bantamweight quarterfinal fights featuring former tournament participants. Season five finalist Alexis Vila will take on tough Brazilian Luis Nogueira and former title challenger Ed West battles the always-unlucky Marcos Galvao.
Complete Bellator 65 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
135 lb. title: Zach Makovsky () vs. Eduardo Dantas ()145 lbs.: Daniel Straus () vs. Mike Corey ()135 lbs.: Ed West () vs. Marcos Galvao ()135 lbs.: Alexis Vila () vs. Luis Nogueira ()Preliminary Card (Spike.com)
155 lbs.: Mikhail Malyutin () vs. E.J. Brooks ()170 lbs.: Lyman Good () vs. LeVon Maynard () 170 lbs.: Kris McCray () vs. Ailton Barbosa ()145 lbs.: Scott Heckman () vs. Lester Caslow ()185 lbs.: Plinio Cruz () vs. Duane Bastress ()145 lbs.: Kenny Foster () vs. Jay Haas ()
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 65, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 8 p.m. ET tomorrow night (April 13).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: bellator, vs, lb, card, bellator season
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 65 Weigh-ins Live Video Today at 5 p.m. ET
The weigh-in and pre-fight press conference for Bellator 65 will take place Thursday at 5:00 P.M. EST, streaming live on MMAWeekly.com.
Posted in: bellator, pm, weighin, place thursday, video today
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 65 Weigh-Ins Stream Live at 5pm ET
Check back at 5pm ET for the live stream of Bellator 65′s weigh-ins from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Friday’s event features the final two opening round bouts of the season six bantamweight tournament, the final semi-final bout of the featherweight tournament, and is headlined by Bellator bantamweight champion Zach “Fun Size” Makovsky [...]
Posted in: bellator, featherweight tournament, boardwalk hall, bantamweight tournament, semifinal bout
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator, M-1 Veteran Raphael Davis Arrested on Charges of Insurance Fraud in California
Former Bellator Fighting Championships and M-1 Global talent Raphael Davis was arrested Tuesday on charges of filing false workers’ compensation insurance claims, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office recently announced.
Posted in: bellator, davi, charge, insurance, insurance fraud
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 66 poster for 'Alvarez vs Aoki II' on April 20 in Cleveland
Believe it or not, this epic rematch is just over a week away.
It's easy to see how Bellator 66, featuring Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki II on April 20, 2012 from the I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio, may have gotten lost in the shuffle. Aside from the weekly Bellator events to keep us busy, it's also sandwiched between UFC on FUEL TV 2: "Gustafsson vs. Silva" on April 14 and UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" on April 21.
But you won't want to miss their second go-round next Friday night on MTV2.
Alvarez first met Aoki while battling for the WAMMA lightweight title back at Dynamite!! 2008, the special New Year's Eve supershow from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
The bout featured 92 seconds of blistering action which included some classic Aoki butt-scooting, Alvarez loading up with a big right hand, a huge takedown into mount by Alvarez during a scramble and then "The Tobikan Judan" somehow reversing the position into a heel hook -- which eventually forced the tap after some strong resistance from the Philadelphia native.
It's payback time.
It appears Alvarez has chosen an opportunity for instant revenge over having to win three consecutive fights in the lightweight tournament first, meaning Bellator's 155-pound division -- and Michael Chandler -- will be moving on without him.
In fact, the newly-crowned champ takes on Akihiro Gono on May 4 in Ontario.
After dropping a lackluster unanimous decision to Gilbert Melendez at the Strikeforce: "Nashville" event back in early 2010, Aoki has won seven straight fights with five nasty submissions. But can he keep the streak going against Alvarez, who is probably still smarting from his upset loss to Chandler?
Time will tell.
Posted in: bellator, vs, alvarez, aoki, april
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 153: Brent Weedman, UFC On FUEL TV 2 Preview
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they preview Saturday's UFC on FUEL TV 2, which is headlined by a light-heavyweight bout between Alexander Gustafsson and Thiago Silva and a middleweight bout between Brian Stann and Alessio Sakara. We'll preview the main card of the show while taking your calls, emails, tweets and comments.
We'll also preview this weekend's Bellator 65, which is headlined by a Bellator bantamweight championship bout between Zach Makovsky and Eduardo Dantas.
We'll be joined by Bellator lightweight Brent Weedman as he prepares for his lightweight tournament semifinal bout with Thiago Michel next week at Bellator 66. We'll talk with him about that fight, his quarterfinal bout, the drop to 155 pounds and much more.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your brand new Alexander Gustafsson UFC on FUEL TV walk out T-shirt only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
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SBN coverage of Bellator 65
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SBN coverage of Bellator 66
Posted in: bellator, bout, preview, elbow radio, elbow
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowWatch today's Bellator 65 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 6 p.m. ET
Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., plays host to today's official Bellator 65 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a live video stream of the proceedings at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT).
Bellator 65 takes place Friday and features a bantamweight title fight between champ Zach Makovsky and challenger Eduardo Dantas, as well as three tournament bouts.
In addition to the live weigh-ins, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, pm, video stream, text results, weighin
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 65 preview and predictions for 'Makovsky vs Dantas' on April 13 in Atlantic City
Bellator Fighting Championships will head to "The Garden State" this Friday night (April 13, 2012) at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The main card will air live on MTV2 and Epix HD on fight night, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Headlining Bellator 65 will be a bantamweight title fight between champion Zach Makovsky and challenger Eduardo Dantas. Makovsky has dominated two non-title "superfights" in the interim while waiting for Dantas to win the Bellator season five bantamweight tournament. This bout should produce some fireworks.
Also on the card, the Bellator season six featherweight tournament continues with a pair of strong wrestlers as Ohio's Daniel Straus battles Mike Corey in a semifinal match-up.
The main card will be opened with a pair of solid season six bantamweight quarterfinal fights featuring former tournament participants. Season five finalist Alexis Vila will take on tough Brazilian Luis Nogueira and former title challenger Ed West battles the always-unlucky Marcos Galvao.Check out our complete Bellator 65 preview and predictions after the jump:
135 lb. title: Zach Makovsky (14-2) vs. Eduardo Dantas (13-2)
Zach Makovsky has been on fire lately. He decisioned his way to winning the Bellator bantamweight title but he really has put it all together while waiting for the first title challenger to emerge. "Fun Size" handed Chad Robichaux his first career loss and then wiped the floor with Ryan Roberts via north/south choke last October. Makovsky is a ground-focused fighter but has been adding more and more weapons to his arsenal.
Eduardo Dantas is one of the brightest young prospects in the bantamweight division today. He was the top-ranked 135-pounder in Leland Roling's scouting report and lived up to the hype by crushing Wilson Reis and then decisioning both Ed West and Marcos Galvao to win the Bellator season five bantamweight tournament. Dantas trains out of Nova Uniao alongside UFC champion Jose Aldo so he's got some amazing sparring partners to help him progress.
They key for this fight is all about Makovsky's timing on his takedowns. He's got to get deep whenever Dantas tries to throw anything significant and then slam the Brazilian to the canvas to the point where Dantas has no more faith in his own striking anymore. Dantas will likely be working to get up or throw submissions off his back on the ground and in the stand-up, he's likely going to be trying to work timing of his own with that vicious knee of his which could put "Fun Size's" lights out if thrown during a takedown. I think Makovsky can stifle and wear down Dantas over the course of five rounds.
Final Prediction: Zach Makovsky via decision
145 lbs.: Daniel Straus (18-4) vs. Mike Corey (12-2-1)
Daniel Straus advanced all the way to the finals of the season four featherweight tournament before coming up short against Patricio Freire. After defending his NAAFS title during his downtime, he went out and handed Jeremy Spoon his first career loss in a strong quarterfinal performance at Bellator 60 in which he showcased some of his improving striking.
Mike Corey entered this tournament as an alternate for Wagnney Fabiano and then proceeded to make the absolute best out of his opportunity. Corey came back from getting rocked early against Ronnie Mann to go out and completely dominate the Brit with his wrestling and ground and pound, being more than active enough to keep the fight grounded and grind out a unanimous decision victory.
Both featherweights have great wrestling and can likely get up off their backs in a scramble if taken down, so I think that their ground games may neutralize each other. If that happens, Straus is the one who's been really putting in the time and focusing on his striking more lately and he could win that stand-up exchanges. A wildcard, unfortunately, may be the death of Straus' teammate Chris Smith, who passed away from a car accident just last week. Straus should win this fight if his head is in the right place, but he could definitely be distracted.
Final Prediction: Daniel Straus via decision
135 lbs.: Alexis Vila (11-1) vs. Luis Nogueira (12-2)
Alexis Vila made about as emphatic of an impact in Bellator as you can, knocking out the then-featherweight champion Joe Warren in the first round during the season five bantamweight tournament quarterfinals in one of the best clean punching KOs of 2011. He had some trouble against Marcos Galvao but won the decision and then he came up short against Eduardo Dantas in the finals. The former Cuban Olympic wrestler will be hoping to go all the way this time around.
Luis Nogueira is one of the top young Brazilians in Bellator. He has put away everyone in front of him outside of the tournament format but he was unable to defeat Ed West in the quarterfinals last year in a close battle. He bounced back by trouncing Zak Laird inside a minute at Bellator 53 to qualify for this next tournament and he's very motivated to perform better.
Nogueira will be 14 years younger than Vila heading into this bout and he absolutely has to use that youthful speed and dexterity to his advantage. Vila is not a large bantamweight by any means so Nogueira has to try to outwork him in the stand-up and force tough scrambles on the ground. Vila tends to slow down as a fight goes on and Nogueira needs to tire him out if he wants to be successful. I think he's got a realistic shot of upsetting the Cuban here.
Final Prediction: Luis Nogueira via decision
135 lbs.: Ed West (17-6) vs. Marcos Galvao (10-5-1)
Ed West is one of the most confident bantamweights out there. He's got a very aggressive and flashy style which helps him earn favor with the judges. He made it to the finals of the inaugural Bellator bantamweight tournament but couldn't handle Makovsky's wrestling in the finals. In season five, he advanced to the semifinals and had a spirited fight with eventual tournament winner Eduardo Dantas, even rocking the Brazilian but would lose a decision much to his dismay.
Marcos Galvao is highly talented but he's also one of the unluckiest fighters under the Bellator banner. He should have defeated Joe Warren in a "superfight" a year ago, but the judges decided otherwise. After winning his quarterfinal tournament bout against Chase Beebe, Galvao again found himself on the receiving end of a very rough decision against Alexis Vila in the semifinals. He's hoping the MMA gods will be in his favor this time around.
This is a very intriguing match-up and likely the toughest to decide on the entire card. West has several flashy kicks which don't do much damage, but they do impress the fans and judges while Galvao is more of a methodical fighter, working for timing and occasionally moving backwards. I just feel that even if Galvao outstrikes West, he might dig himself into a hole by moving backwards or not being aggressive enough and the judges will nail him again.
Final Prediction: Ed West via decision
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Will there be a changing of the guard with the bantamweight title on the line or will Makovsky reign supreme? Who do you see advancing in the tournament bouts? Do you predict any finishes on this main card?
Sound off!
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, tournament, danta, makovsky
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Chris Horodecki's comeback isn't going so well
Unless you're one of the few folks who actually watch the Bellator prelims on Spike.com, you probably missed Chris Horodecki's fight at last weekend's Bellator 64.
When "The Polish Hammer" was cut from Zuffa after tapping out to Cowboy Cerrone at the final WEC event in December 2010, folks thought he'd probably be back after picking up a few wins in the minors. He did score a first round RNC in the Canuck bushleagues, but then his Bellator debut was a snoozer decision win over Some Guy that impressed no one. For that he was demoted to the prelims at Bellator 57, where he fought to a draw with Mike Corey. Considering that was his first fight after the sudden death of longtime coach and friend Shawn Tompkins, not to mention that Corey has since upset Ronnie Mann in the current featherweight tournament, I guess that's nothing to be ashamed of.
And so Horodecki finally wised up and made the drop to 145 lbs himself, where he faced an 11-1 dude named Mike Richman. Spoiler alert: Horodecki's fortunes did not improve, and Richman needed only 83 seconds to knock him cold. Richman probably punched his ticket into the next tourney, but I'm not sure if Bellator will give Horodecki another shot. Hopefully this doesn't deter him from staying at 145 though, because that's definitely where he belongs.
Posted in: bellator, horodecki, snoozer decision, horodeckis fortunes, wec event
Read the full article at FightlinkerBellator 70 Set to Take Place in New Orleans, Konrad vs. Prindle to Headline
The day after announcing that Bellator 70 will be the event that the heavyweight title fight between champion Cole Konrad and Eric Prindle was postponed to, Bellator officials have announced the city and venue. Bellator 70, the sixth season’s finale, will take place at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana on May 25th.
This will be the second consecutive event to be held in Louisiana, as Bellator 69 will take place in Lake Charles the week prior. It will be the 10th event to take place in “The Bayou State”, and second in New Orleans (Bellator 28) overall.
The main event will be for the Bellator heavyweight championship, as champion Cole Konrad (8-0) is set to take on challenger Eric Prindle (7-1). The matchup was originally scheduled for Bellator 65, which takes place this Friday, but Bellator had to postpone the bout due to a hand injury suffered by Prindle.
Also taking place at the event will be the middleweight tournament final. The semi-finals will take place at Bellator 66, with the winners of the two matchups between Brian Rogers and Bruno Santos, along with Vyacheslav Vasilevsky and Maiquel Falcao, advancing to the finals.
Former UFC fighter Rich Clementi, who hails from Louisiana, is also expected to be featured at the event. He fought at the last Bellator event to take place in New Orleans, losing a lightweight tournament qualifier match at Bellator 28 to Carey Vanier. His opponent for Bellator 70 has yet to be announced.
For complete coverage of the sixth season of Bellator, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: bellator, orlean, event, place, prindle
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 65 title challenger Eduardo Dantas hopes to send housemate into retirement
Eduardo Dantas is a victory away from winning a Bellator title. He's also a win short of sending his housemate into retirement.
Following a breakout campaign in 2011 and a season-five tournament championship, Dantas now headlines Friday's Bellator 65 event in a title fight with bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky.
But life remains rather simple for Dantas, who still lives with his mom back in Brazil.
Posted in: bellator, title, title fight, danta, breakout campaign
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Veteran Raphael Davis Arrested for Insurance Fraud
Raphael Davis isn't the first public service employee to moonlight as a professional fighter, but if news reports out of Los Angeles are to be believed, he certainly went about his second career in a unique way.
According to multiple news outlets, the pro mixed martial artist was arrested on Tuesday and charged with four felony counts of insurance fraud. Why? Prosecutors say that he filed for worker's compensation insurance between December 2008 and May 2011. So while he apparently claimed he was not healthy enough to work at his L.A. fire department job, his fight career was inexplicably reaching its peak with multiple appearances for Bellator and M-1 Global.
Davis, who was arrested at his home and being held on bail, could face up to five years in prison.
The 35-year-old has a 12-2 all-time record, with notable wins over Vinny Magalhaes, Emanuel Newton and Tony Lopez.
Even if prosecutors prove the charges and Davis is found guilty, the state comes off looking bad to some degree. That would mean that somehow, Davis managed to continue his MMA career undetected for 2 1/2 years while appearing multiple times on television during that span. He fought seven times during that period, going 6-1.
Davis wasn't exactly trying to hide his fight career either. He has a Twitter page in which he describes himself as "Currently one of Bellator's Light Heavyweight fighters," and he's done multiple interviews during that time.
District attorney's office spokeswoman Jane Robinson declined to offer LA Weekly any added details on the case, including what condition necessitated his worker's compensation claim.
Davis had not been scheduled to fight during Bellator's current sixth season, but was still under contract to the promotion leading into it, taking part in a January trip to Universal Studios in Florida to shoot promotional photos and videos.
Posted in: bellator, time, career, davi, fight career
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 70 heads to Louisiana with heavyweight title fight, middleweight-tourney finale
As expected a title fight between heavyweight champion Cole Konrad and de facto tournament winner Eric Prindle will be part of Bellator 70 on May 25.
MMAjunkie.com passed along news of the bout, which initially was slated for Friday's Bellator 65 show, on Tuesday.
Bellator officials today announced the fight and Bellator 70's location: the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.
Posted in: fight, bellator, title, heavyweight, title fight
Read the full article at MMA JunkieHeavyweight Title Heads Bellator 70 in New Orleans
One more time! Bellator will close its sixth season with one final attempt at putting on a major heavyweight bout between Cole Konrad and Eric Prindle.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, heavyweight bout, cole konrad, time bellator
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 70 Season 6 Finale finalized for the New Orleans Convention Center on May 25
CHICAGO, Ill. (April 11, 2012) - The final chapter of Bellator Fighting Championships' memorable sixth season, which is presented by Harrah's New Orleans, will take place at the New Orleans Convention Center on May 25. Bellator 70 will feature the long-awaited Bellator Heavyweight World Title fight between explosive knockout artist Eric Prindle and reigning Bellator Heavyweight Champion Cole Konrad.
Plus, it's the Finals of Bellator's best Middleweight Tournament to date as four fighters remain in this Season 6 race for the title with only one walking away with the $100,000 prize.
Tickets for Bellator 70 are now on sale and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or by visiting New Orleans Convention Center Box Office. Tickets are priced from $30-$125. The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 7 p.m. CST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CST, with the first fight scheduled for 6 p.m. CST.
The preliminary card, featuring the area's top talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 6 p.m. CST. The official weigh-ins for Bellator 70 will be held at 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 24 at Masquerade inside Harrah's Casino.
The road to Konrad-Prindle has been a bumpy one, as injuries and weight issues have delayed the highly-anticipated matchup. With both fighters healthy and ready to fight, Prindle, the longtime Army Boxing Champion, is ready to battle the two-time NCAA National Wrestling Champion in Konrad.
"I'm really excited to get back into the cage," Konrad said. "This fight has been a long time coming. Eric is a really good standup fighter, and I have a lot of respect for him. I know what he can do standing up, so I'm not going to deviate from anything that has made me successful in the past."
"I'm just ready to get into the cage and end this," Prindle said. "I want to become a champion, and this is my time to do that."
The night will also feature Louisiana native Rich "No Love" Clementi returning to the Bellator cage after nearly two years. A long time veteran of the sport, Clementi holds notable victories over Melvin Guillard, Anthony "Rumble" Johnson and Sam Stout, and will be looking for another dominating win at Bellator 70. The remaining fight card, which will be announced shortly, will consist of a bevy of local talent featured in the preliminary fights, streaming LIVE and FREE on Spike.com.
"The state of Louisiana has been a tremendous host, so bringing Bellator back to New Orleans to close out what has already been an incredible season was an easy decision," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "We're excited to be working with the New Orleans Convention Center and to be hosting a great night of fights for these passionate and loyal Bellator fans."
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: fight, bellator, orlean, pm, convention
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBest of Bellator Video: Eduardo Dantas vs. Wilson Reis at Bellator 51
After cutting his teeth on the regional fight circuit in his native
Brazil, Eduardo Dantas headed to the U.S. for a breakout 2011 campaign.
It began with Bellator Fighting Championships, where he joined the organization's eight-man season-five bantamweight tournament.
In our latest Best of Bellator Video installment, we take a look back at
Dantas' opening-round matchup with former EliteXC champ Wilson Reis.
Posted in: bellator, video, wilson, danta, fight circuit
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator CEO Bjorn Rebney: “There’s no way to survive and be successful in this type of business if you’re anything less than on.”
Despite differences in demeanor, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney works in much the same manner as UFC President Dana White. As the key figurehead in the promotion, Rebney is someone MMA fans and media look to for insight and news on Bellator. However, he isn’t quite cut from the same mold as White, who tends to be a little more outspoken.
Rebney and Bellator will replace the UFC on Spike TV in 2013 when their live fights head over to the network. Spike and Bellator are also planning a reality show, a move only helping push the Bellator brand to the masses. While his organization will go head to head, Rebney was recently asked how he’d fare against White in an in-ring confrontation.
“My understanding is he’s got a great standup game. My standup game isn’t that great. I’d probably go right back into a pre-production meeting and try to compete where the competition is ripe, which is putting on live events and putting on great TV shows,” joked Rebney in a recent interview with SportsNet.ca.
“There’s no way to survive and be successful in this type of business if you’re anything less than on,” Rebney continued. “We have no off-season. It never stops. Need five days off to do this or that, this isn’t the place for you.”
Rebney also admitted he enjoys watching the UFC though does so in a different manner now than was the case when he was simply a MMA enthusiast.
“I’m a fan and I watch some of the UFC shows because there’s great fighters I want to see fight,” Rebney said. “Then part of it is to track what the competition is doing in terms of their numbers and how people are responding and what they’re doing live-wise and internationally.”
Bellator has announced they will expand to three-hour cards when they move to Spike TV next year. The next Bellator show is set for this Friday night with bantamweight champion Zack Makovsky defending his title against Eduardo Dantas.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: ufc, bellator, reality show, spike tv, rebney
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainHeeelloooo Bellator ring girl!
Bellator ring girl Jade Bryce has been popping up all over the place lately. It's like Bellator has suddenly figured out that dudes like hot chicks tangentally involved in MMA. Especially when they're nekkid. Here's a bunch of classy non-nudes from a recent Playboy shoot. The nudes are out there, should yout give enough of a crap to google them. Sadly, rumors of Jade in a lesbian film are apparently untrue. But when it comes to pornographic dopplegangers, does it really matter so long as the girls look identical?
Posted in: bellator, girl, jade, chicks tangentally, lesbian film
Read the full article at FightlinkerBellator 65 Fight Card Complete with 12 Bouts
Bellator Fighting Championships on Tuesday made official its first trip of the season to Atlantic City, N.J. The Bellator 65 fight card includes a bantamweight title bout.
Posted in: fight, bellator, bout, card, city
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator champ Ben Askren not changing his style to suit fans’ demands
Unbeaten welterweight Ben Askren has a message for his critics – if you don’t like the way he fights, change the channel or get used to it.
Askren is one of MMA’s most effective grapplers, honing his uncanny ability to take opponents down and control them from above as an Olympic-level wrestler. However, though he’s typically quite active in all positions, Askren’s style hasn’t lead to a ton of finishes in his ten-fight career including his current run of six straight decisions.
“Funky” addressed concern for his approach in a recent interview with MMAWeekly where he referred to his recent title-defense against Douglas Lima, a bout he was showered with boos in.
“My striking has improved tremendously, but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to stand around for 25 minutes and slug it out with someone that has one-punch knockout power. That’s ridiculous. If I wanted to do that I’d go to the sport of kickboxing,” Askren explained. “People neglect the fact that I have a brown belt in jiu-jitsu. I feel like I landed ten times as many punches as I ever have and a lot of them were really, really hard. A lot of lesser men would have rolled over and gave up a Rear-Naked Choke like most of the sissies in MMA.”
A Closer Look at Askren
The 10-0 Askren only has one stoppage under the Bellator banner though a controversial one in nature, as opponent Ryan Thomas denied ever verbally tapping out as the referee had implied was the case.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, ’t, askren, douglas lima, mma ”
Read the full article at Fighters.comBroken Hand Postpones Eric Prindle vs. Cole Konrad Title Fight to Bellator 70
Eric Prindle can't seem to catch a break.
Prindle, the Bellator Season 5 heavyweight tournament winner, has been forced out of this Friday's championship match-up against Cole Konrad at Bellator 65, due to a broken right hand suffered during a "freak accident" in a recent sparring session.
"Basically I was trying something new and it didn't work out, so now I got to rest and train as much as I can because I've got a big test in front of me," Prindle explained to MMAFighting.com.
The title tilt has been rescheduled to headline Bellator 70 on May 25, 2012 .
For Prindle (7-1), the announcement marks yet another setback in a inexplicably tumultuous six-month period that started last November, after the 35-year-old incurred a soccer kick to the testicles from fellow heavyweight finalist Thiago Santos in a bout that would eventually be ruled a ‘no contest.'
Following a painful recovery period, Prindle's rematch with Santos was delayed once again when he was found to have "flu-like symptoms" in the days prior to Bellator 61. Simultaneously, Santos was struggling through a difficult weight cut, thus promotional officials felt it best to postpone the fight.
However just a week later, plans would once again fall apart when Santos weighed in 12 pounds overweight and the bout was ultimately called off, with Prindle being declared the winner.
Yet even after having four fights rescheduled in a very short timespan, the former soldier refuses to get down on himself.
"I try to always look at everything in a good way," Prindle resolutely said.
"I think it was a blessing in disguise. This way the big guys can fight for the last fight of the season. Just another reason why we've got to make it the best fight possible."
Posted in: fight, bellator, prindle, lsquono contest, sixmonth period
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator CEO Bjorn Rebney Has The Focus To Lead His Promotion To New Heights
Bjorn Rebney continues to make a name for himself in the world of MMA, helping push Bellator Fighting Championships into the mainstream media.
As CEO for Bellator, Rebney has been the guiding light behind a surge in production value, fights and everything else concerning Bellator.
While he knows competing against the UFC is a giant leap, Rebney, in a recent interview with Perry Lefko of SportsNet.ca, doesn’t feel like being in charge of just another fight promotion – he wants more.
I’ve got a lot of respect for what the UFC has done. They’ve accomplished some great things. My anticipation of where we go is pretty large. When I was envisioning this, I never did get into it thinking, ‘I hope we’re No. 2.’ I don’t think anybody that’s hugely driven gets into any business and says, ‘I just hope we can be No. 2.’ Your vision is that you’re going to put all these pieces together and over a period of time you’re going to be competitive with the best that there is, regardless of what you’re doing, and my vision is no different than that.
Currently, Bellator is shown on MTV2. However, beginning next year, they will head to Spike TV – the former home of the UFC – and expand from two-hour shows to three hours. There are also plans for a reality-based series for Bellator fighters.
All in all, Rebney seems to have the right idea. He has played nice with the UFC, and UFC president Dana White has made it known that he respects what Bellator is doing. That should help them survive any thought of an attack by the UFC or White.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, rebney, bellator rebney, right idea
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 64: 175,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports Bellator 64 scored an average of 175,000 viewers last Friday night. The viewership was tied for the current season’s best rating.
This week featured one of Bellator’s most well-known fighters, welterweight Ben Askren defending his title. The rating was a 25 percent increase over last week’s performance.
Bellator 63: 140,000 viewers
Bellator 62: 175,000 viewers
Bellator 61: 108,000 viewers
Bellator 60: 169,000 viewers
Payout Perspective:
And here we go again with Bellator’s fluctuating ratings. Should we think that the numbers are a sign of improvement considering the poor showing by TUF Live and UFC Primetime? It’s too early to consider whether Bellator has gained ground on Friday nights. One would have to believe that Bellator would have to have consistent ratings (which it has not) for them to think that its gaining traction on fans. Askren is outspoken and should be one of the faces of Bellator that can help the promotion as it grows.
Posted in: bellator, rating, viewer, season ’s, bellator ’s
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBellator 65 'Prelims' finalized for April 13 in Atlantic City
CHICAGO, Ill. (April 10, 2012) - When Bellator Fighting Championships makes its first trip of the season to Atlantic City, it brings with it a loaded fight card including a Bantamweight Title Fight headlined by Bellator Bantamweight World Champion Zach Makovsky and challenger Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas, as well as a Season 6 Featherweight Tournament semifinal bout and the last two quarterfinal fights in the Season 6 Bantamweight Tournament. Also, a stacked preliminary card is official and is loaded with the best talent from the East Coast and Midwest. Tickets for the event are on sale and are available through Ticketmaster.com or at the Boardwalk Hall Box Office. Tickets are priced from $50-$150.
The event will broadcast LIVE starting at 8 p.m. EST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 6 p.m. EST, with the first fight scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The preliminary card, featuring some of the area's top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. EST.
The night will feature the return of former Bellator Welterweight Champion Lyman Good as he takes on the always dangerous LeVon Maynard in a welterweight matchup. Good returns for the first time since dropping a decision to Season 6 Bellator Tournament semifinalist Rick Hawn and is looking to get back to the form that saw him win 10 consecutive fights to start his career. Maynard, a three-time Bellator veteran, is looking to score the biggest win of his career when he meets "Cyborg" on April 13.
The hits keep coming as Philadelphia's Will Martinez takes on Andy Main in a featherweight contest. Main, a New Jersey hometown favorite, is coming off a huge win over Bellator veteran Bobby Reardanz, while Martinez will be looking to extend his winning streak to three.
Bellator open tryout winner Ailton Barbosa will look to get back in the winning column when he faces off against MMA veteran Kris McCray in a welterweight contest that is sure to produce fireworks at Boardwalk Hall. Barbosa, a submission specialist, will be fighting for the third time under the Bellator banner while McCray, who owns a two-fight winning streak, will be fighting for the first time since a decision win last November.
Undefeated two-time Bellator veteran E.J. Brooks returns to action to face the experienced Mikhail Malyutin in a lightweight bout. Brooks, who defeated Greg Scott and William DeSouza at Bellator 53 and 56 respectively, looks to keep his momentum going against Malyutin, who is one of the most respected fighters to come out of Russia.
Newark native Plinio Cruz steps into the Bellator cage for the first time as he battles Bellator veteran Duane Bastress in middleweight action. Bastress fights for the first time since an impressive stoppage of Daniel Gracie at Boardwalk Hall in October of last year.
Also, two-time Bellator fighter Lester Caslow from nearby Point Pleasant will be back in the cage as he takes on Scott "The Animal" Heckman in a featherweight contest in front of an electric New Jersey crowd.
The card rounds out as Fan-favorite Bellator veteran Kenny Foster will face off against Jay Haas in a featherweight match up. Coming off a hard fought loss to Alexandre "Popo" Bezerra in March, Foster will look to get back on the winning track when he faces Haas in front of the New Jersey faithful.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: fight, bellator, time, card, veteran
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFujii vs. Aguilar set for Bellator 69 on May 18
A long-awaited battle between Bellator's top two ranked female flyweights will take place on May 18 in the Bayou.
Posted in: bellator, aguilar, fujii, longawaited battle, bayou
Read the full article at sportsnet.caInjured Eric Prindle withdraws from Bellator 65 title-fight against Cole Konrad
The circus surrounding Bellator’s heavyweight division got a new act today when top contender Eric Prindle announced via Twitter a hand injury had forced him to pull out of this weekend’s scheduled title-fight with champion Cole Konrad. The situation marks the third time this season Prindle has seen a significant scrap laid to waste in the days leading up to it with the first two instances involving a rescheduled Season 5 tournament-final with Thiago Santos.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Prindle-Konrad will now face off on May 25 at Bellator 70.
Prindle is currently on a seven-fight winning streak including five finishes. Comparably, Konrad is a decorated wrestler who has remained unbeaten eight fights into his career. However, he hasn’t fought in more than six months and only competed a single time in 2011.
While Prindle-Konard may no longer be part of Friday night’s Bellator 65 lineup, the card still features a championship clash between 135-pound ace Zach Makovsky against rising youngster Eduardo Dantas as well as appearances from familiar faces such as Lyman Good and Kris McCray in addition to tournament action from the featherweight and bantamweight divisions.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, konrad, prindle, championship clash, circumstances prindlekonrad
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 65 Update: Cole Konrad-Eric Prindle Title Fight Postponed, Undercard Announced
Bellator Fighting Championships heavyweight titleholder Cole Konrad will not square off with Eric Prindle as expected this Friday at Bellator 65.
Posted in: bellator, cole, friday, eric prindle, prindle
Read the full article at SherdogBellator heavyweight title fight between Cole Konrad vs Eric Prindle delayed until May 25
Guess whose fight is delayed again?If you automatically assumed Eric Prindle's upcoming Bellator heavyweight title shot against champion Cole Konrad, you guessed right.
After announcing that he would be out of the title fight late last week, Prindle tweeted today that his title fight had been rescheduled for May 25, which is planned to be Bellator 70, although the location and venue have yet to be announced.
The reasoning for the delay hasn't officially been announced, but Prindle informed the Cagejunkies podcast that it was "all his own fault."
This delay just further continues the horrible string of bad luck which has affected Prindle ever since he made it to the finals of the Bellator season five heavyweight tournament late last year.
It all started when Prindle was kicked squarely in the groin at Bellator 59 in the main event against Thiago Santos. He was unable to continue and the bout was ruled a no contest. With no official winner of the season five heavyweight tournament, the rematch was scheduled for Bellator 61 last month.
Unfortunately, the rematch between Santos and Prindle was delayed by a combination of Prindle coming down with the flu and Santos being unable to make the 265 pound weight limit.
After getting one week to recuperate, the rematch was set for Bellator 62, although when Santos reportedly missed weight by 11 pounds, the bout was cancelled completely and Prindle was crowned the season five tournament victor.
The title fight between Prindle and champion Cole Konrad was immediately scheduled for Bellator 65 this week, although now it has once again been delayed, this time by injury.
Hopefully, the planned Bellator 70 bout goes off as planned, although with the track record of these high profile heavyweight fights in Bellator, the odds are not in its favor.
Posted in: fight, bellator, heavyweight, title fight, prindle
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 64 ratings: Event scores season-best 175,000 MTV2 viewers
This past weekend's Bellator 64 event drew 175,000 MTV2 viewers, which matches the biggest audience of the current sixth season.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the figures with industry sources.
The April 6 broadcast matched Bellator 62, which also scored 175,000 viewers. Bellator 64 also gave the organization a 25 percent ratings increase from Bellator 63, which drew 140,000 viewers a week earlier.
Posted in: bellator, event, rating, viewer, industry sources
Read the full article at MMA JunkieCole Konrad vs. Eric Prindle Off Bellator 65
Eric Prindle can't catch a break. His latest setback is a hand injury pushing his challenge of Bellator heavyweight champ Cole Konrad off of this weekend's Bellator 65.
Posted in: bellator, hand injury, cole, konrad, prindle
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyEric Prindle Suffers Injury, Championship Fight with Cole Konrad Postponed to Bellator 70
Yes, they are big. But despite their size, Bellator heavyweights just can’t get out of Bjorn Rebney’s way. After postponing the Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos rematch from Bellator 61 to a week later at Bellator 62, the rematch was canceled after Santos failed to make weight. Prindle was named winner of the tournament, earning a title shot this Friday against champion Cole Konrad at Bellator 65. Now Rebney is again forced to postpone a heavyweight matchup, as Prindle has suffered a hand injury. The matchup will now take place at Bellator 70.
Prindle posted the news on his twitter account, stating “my fight is may 25″, which is the date for the yet-to-be announced Bellator 70 event.
Konrad has not fought since August 2011, defeating Paul Buentello in a non-title bout. Since winning the Bellator title over Neil Grove in October 2010, Konrad has yet to defend his belt. The Team DeathClutch member showed off much improved striking in his matchup with the former UFC fighter in Buentello, as he dominated him on the feet to win the three round decision.
Bellator 65 will be headlined by a bantamweight title matchup between champion Zach “Fun Size” Makovsky and challenger Eduardo Dantas. The event takes place this Friday at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Posted in: bellator, konrad, eric prindle, prindle, matchup
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator Books Jessica Aguilar Vs. Megumi Fujii For May
Bellator will return to the business of booking women's MMA in late-May, announcing Megumi Fujii vs. Jessica Aguilar for the May 18th Bellator 69 event in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
This will be the fourth Bellator appearance for Fujii (25-1), the promotion where she earned his first career defeat in a five round split decision loss to Zoila Gurgel for the Bellator 115-pound title. Since that October 2010 loss, the 37-year-old Fujii has won three fights in a row in her native Japan.
Since her own fall 2010 defeat to Gurgel, the 29-year-old Aguilar (13-4) has won four straight including two in the Bellator cage. She is 3-1 in the promotion and competed in one of the few female fights they had in 2011.
While it wasn't announced, it should be assumed the winner will get a title shot at Gurgel, who has been recovering from a serious knee injury she suffered last October. Gurgel has never defended the title she won by defeating Fujii.
Bellator 69 will also feature the finals of the season six lightweight tournament and a heavyweight tournament qualifier between Ron Sparks and Kevin Asplund.
Posted in: bellator, title, gurgel, aguilar, fujii
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChamp Cole Konrad vs. Eric Prindle off Bellator 65, moved to Bellator 70
This week's Bellator 65 event has lost a title fight.
A fight between heavyweight champion Cole Konrad and de facto tournament winner Eric Prindle has been moved to Bellator 70 on May 25.
Prindle, who suffered a hand injury, today tweeted news of the change, which pushes back the title fight six weeks.
Posted in: fight, bellator, title fight, konrad, prindle
Read the full article at MMA JunkieLefko on Bellator: Rebney not satisfied at No. 2
While Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney respects the UFC and its president Dana White, he isn't satisfied playing second fiddle to them.
Posted in: bellator, rebney, president, president dana, bellator rebney
Read the full article at sportsnet.caLefko on MMA: Bellator driven by Rebney
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney sat down to an exclusive interview last Friday to discuss the competition with UFC and Dana White.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, rebney, lefko, mma bellator
Read the full article at sportsnet.caJessica Aguilar vs. Megumi Fujii confirmed for Bellator 69
A meeting between top-ranked fighters Megumi Fujii and Jessica Aguilar is now official.
Bellator officials today confirmed the 115-pound women's bout for the
MTV2-televised main card of Bellator 59, which takes place May 18 at
L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La. Prelims stream on
Spike.com.
The event also features the finals of Bellator's season-six lightweight
tournament and a heavyweight tournament qualifier pitting vet Ron Sparks against Kevin Asplund.
Posted in: bellator, lake charles, prelims stream, bellators seasonsix, vet ron
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMegumi Fujii vs. Jessica Aguilar Confirmed for Bellator 69
A previously rumored match-up between top-ranked 115-pound women's fighters Jessica Aguilar and Megumi Fujii has been officially added to the fight card of Bellator 69, slated to take place May 18, 2012 at the L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
"Jessica vs. Megumi is a fight between the two best female fighters in the world," stated Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "And we wanted to schedule it for quite some time."
Both women have tasted defeated just once in recent years, with each emerging on the wrong side of a split decision against reigning Bellator Women's Champion Zoila Gurgel.
Since that loss, Aguilar (13-4) has rebounded to win four straight contests, including a pair of decision victories over Lisa Ellis-Ward and Carla Esparza under the Bellator banner.
"I am completely focused on becoming the best 115-pound female fighter in the world, and this fight with Fujii is going to go a long way in proving that," Aguilar said. "I can't fully put into words how excited I am to get into the cage with Fujii, and show everyone that I am one of the best female fighters in the sport."
Likewise, Fujii (25-1) has rolled through a trio of victories, capped by a 75-second armbar win over Karla Benitez at DREAM's year-end mega-event. The 37-year-old "Mega Megu" now carries 19 submission finishes to her credit.
In addition, Bellator 69 will host the Bellator Season 6 lightweight tournament finals, as the two winners of Rick Hawn (12-1) vs. Lloyd Woodard (12-1) and Brent Weedman (19-7-1) vs. Thiago Michel Pireira Silva (10-2) will vie for the right to fight lightweight champion Michael Chandler.
A lightweight match-up between Josh Quayhagen (3-0) and Cliff Wright, Jr. (6-2), and a heavyweight tournament qualifier slotting Ron Sparks (8-1) against Kevin Asplund (15-1) has also been confirmed for the card.
Posted in: fight, bellator, vs, aguilar, fujii
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 69 Gets Lightweight Tournament Semifinals, Fujii-Aguilar, Heavyweight Qualifier
Bellator Fighting Championships has shifted the date for its Season 6 lightweight tournament semifinals.
Posted in: bellator, season, tournament, semifinals, date
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 69 Gets Lightweight Tournament Final, Fujii-Aguilar, Heavyweight Qualifier
While the competitors are still unknown, the final round of Bellator Fighting Championships’ Season 6 lightweight tournament now has a confirmed date and venue.
Posted in: bellator, season, championship, tournament, competitor
Read the full article at SherdogMegumi Fujii vs. Jessica Aguilar Heads Bellator 69
Bellator Fighting Championships on Monday made one of the premier women’s MMA match-ups official, announcing that Megumi Fujii and Jessica Aguilar will square off at Bellator 69
Posted in: bellator, jessica aguilar, jessica, megumi fujii, megumi
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator Quick Quote: Ben Askren is not a sissy like most MMA fighters
"His stand-up isn’t something you want to mess with. If the Canadian fans want to stand on their feet for 25 minutes with Douglas, well, they wouldn’t last that long because he’d probably finish them earlier. My striking has improved tremendously, but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to stand around for 25 minutes and slug it out with someone that has one-punch knockout power. That’s ridiculous. If I wanted to do that I’d go to the sport of kickboxing. People neglect the fact that I have a brown belt in jiu-jitsu. I feel like I landed ten times as many punches as I ever have and a lot of them were really, really hard. A lot of lesser men would have rolled over and gave up a rear-naked choke like most of the sissies in MMA."
Sorry haters, but your criticism of Ben Askren's performance at Bellator 64 last Friday night (April 6, 2012) in Ontario is falling on deaf ears. The undefeated welterweight champion tells MMA Weekly he makes no apologies for his wrestling-based offense against Douglas Lima, who "Funky" maintains could have ended their weekend title fight with one punch. So how about it Maniacs, is there any difference (besides attitude) between Askren and UFC welterweight kingpin Georges St. Pierre when it comes to gameplanning? And more importantly, is there anyone in Bellator's 170-pound weight class that can defeat him?
Posted in: bellator, mma, mma fighters, askren, isnrsquot something
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 65's Zach Makovsky happy to face title challenger at last
Zach Makovsky finally has a chance to defend his crown in Bellator Fighting Championships.
The bantamweight titleholder's first official defense of his belt takes place Friday in Atlantic City at Bellator 65 (8 p.m. ET, MTV2) against Eduardo Dantas, winner of last fall's Season 5 135-pound tournament.
Makovsky won two non-title bouts this past year, but he'd rather have everything at stake.
Posted in: bellator, makovsky, zach makovsky, nontitle bouts, bantamweight titleholders
Read the full article at MMA Junkie
Is Pat Curran the No. 2 Featherweight in the World Behind Jose Aldo? (MMAWeekly.com)
The rise of Pat Curran has been something just about everybody has been able to watch ever since the young fighter made his first appearance on the TapouT reality show a few years back. Since that time, Curran pulled off probably the biggest upset, at the time, in Bellator Fighting Championships history when he defeated former UFC contender Roger Huerta. He then made it all the way to a shot against then Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, and despite going into the fight as an over inflated featherweight still managed to go five rounds with one of...
Posted in: bellator, featherweight, curran, time curran, championships history
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBellator 64 Highlights (Video)
Bellator 64 took place this past Friday in Windsor, Ontario. The main event of the evening featured Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren retaining his title by dominating Season 5 tournament winner Douglas Lima. Elsewhere on the card Marlon Sandro, Travis Marx, and Hiroshi Nakamura all picked up victories in their respective tournaments. Bellator has released the video highlights from Friday’s card.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, hiroshi nakamura, windsor ontario, tournaments bellator
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 64 Results: Askren Stifles Lima, Main Card Video Highlights
Bellator 64 went off last night from the Caesers Windsor in Ontario, Canada. The centerpiece was Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren defending his title against Douglas Lima, and the card was anchored by two bantamweight quarterfinal matches (Masakatsu Ueda vs. Travis Marx, Rodrigo Lima vs. Hiroshi Nakamura) and one featherweight semifinal bout pitting Marlon Sandro vs. Alexandre Bezerra. Each of the main card fights were decided on the score cards, which is uncharacteristic for the action-packed fight league.
Askren, an Olympic wrestler and unbeaten mixed martial artist, spent 95% of their 25-minute encounter fully adhered to Lima. From bell-to-bell, Askren gave Lima no breathing room: he swallowed the open space and attacked Lima's hips with double-leg takedowns, switched to low singles if he couldn't complete the double and easily neutralized Lima's guard with smothering top control for all 5 rounds.
Though the performance was unnervingly methodical and exhibited what might be the best combination of wrestling and submission defense in MMA, the spectators were unhappy with the monotonous dominance. Boos echoed throughout the audience as early as the first frame and persisted intermittently throughout. In his post-fight speech, Askren was not only unapologetic, but took a shot at the Bellator audience. "If you don't like the ground work, there's a sport called boxing," Askren jeered with an uncontainable grin, "It's not as fun, so I suggest you keep on coming here and watching my ass whoopings." Askren extends his record to 7-0 in Bellator, 10-0 overall and has won his last 6 by decision.
Beforehand, many pegged the featherweight semifinal collision between explosive Brazilians Marlon Sandro and Alexandre Bezerra as the guaranteed barn-burner of the night. In what was likely a mutual display of respect, the normally assertive pair did not look to steam-roll one another, but played it a bit more strategic with tactical jousting on the feet.
Sandro assailed Bezerra's lower half with arcing rear-leg Thai kicks in the first, chopping Bezerra's legs out from underneath him on two separate occasions. "Popo" was fixated on countering the onslaught with a left hook that continually sailed through a beat late. In the second, Sandro changed it up and flicked out relentless lead-leg low kicks that consistently found the inner thigh of Bezerra's front leg. The first two rounds were competitive but Sandro seemed to have a slight edge in the significance and volume of his strikes.
The Nova Uniao juggernaut may have coasted in the third knowing he was up two, and ate a big punch early that sapped his aggression and output. Despite surrendering the final stanza, Sandro earned a unanimous decision and took another step toward rematching Pat Curran by securing a spot in the finals of the 2012 featherweight tournament.
Video highlights of Bellator 64 are posted beyond the jump along with the remaining main card results.
SBN coverage of Bellator 64
A legion of fresh 135-pound talent was on display in the two bantamweight quarterfinal scraps. Former Shooto champ and top-tenner Masakatsu Ueda made his Bellator and stateside debut against Travis Marx, a game Jackson's MMA rep. Marx jumped all over Ueda right out of the gate with a series of mid-range kicks and grounded Ueda with a nice throw. Marx swarmed Ueda frenetically with ground-and-pound from the top and refused to let Ueda settle in.
Ueda made it a closer fight in the last two rounds, snapping off unending left kicks to the body and better resisting Marx's lightning-fast takedown attempts, but to no avail. Marx received 29-28 marks across the board to pull off an impressive upset and advance to the semis.
The broadcast opened with a rousing back-and-forth battle between Team Nogueira's Rodrigo Lima and Hiroshi Nakamura, who was also making his promotional and stateside debut. "Ratinho" came out with cannons blazing on the feet but couldn't ward off the Judoka's staunch takedown prowess. However, even though Nakamura hit consistent takedowns, Lima forced him into nonstop defense-mode with a labyrinth of submission attempts.
Lima's guard was effervescent and effective, and he smoothly chained his sub-attempts together while answering Nakamura's sparse top-side striking with right hands from the bottom. After landing his second knee to the groin in the second, Lima was docked a point for the unintentional infractions. Most of the round played out just like the first with Nakamura getting takedowns and defending constantly, while Lima demonstrated better everything on my card: striking, grappling, control and aggression. Nakamura did have a demonstrative third round and took the unanimous decision with 29-27 scores from each judge.
Canadian and former WEC fighter Chris Horodecki captained the Bellator 64 preliminary card, and was blasted out by Minnesota Fight Factory's Mike Richman in the opening round. Richman beat Horodecki to the punch from the onset and clocked him with a stiff hook early before uncorking a charging, maniacal combination that sent Horodecki to the canvas.
Posted in: bellator, card, lima, askren, ueda
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 64 Video Highlights; Askren Wins Again
Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren held onto his title at Bellator 64 on Friday. Check out video highlights from the main event and more.
Posted in: bellator, video, event, askren, friday check
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBen Askren smothers Douglas Lima’s Bellator title aspirations
How the fight cards for Bellator this month are shaping up.
Posted in: bellator, title, ben, fight cards, aspiration
Read the full article at Fight OpinionBellator 64 results recap from last night for 'Askren vs Lima' in Windsor, Ontario
Bellator 64 continued the Bellator Fighting Championship's sixth season last night (April 6, 2012) from the Caesar's Windsor in Windsor, Ontario. After such a strong start to the season, the upstart promotion was due for a dud. That just so happened to be last night's event.
On a night filled with razor close decisions on the main card, none were more dominant than the headlining bout, a welterweight title fight between champion Ben Askren and season five tournament winner Douglas Lima.
Lima had advanced through last year's tournament on the strength of his striking and jiu-jitsu, but Askren never gave him an opening to unload his power, quickly closing the distance in each round and dumping the young Brazilian on his back. It was a clinic on how to neutralize someone's powerful striking.
For five straight rounds, Askren dominated from top control, occasionally fending off sweep and submission attempts from an increasingly exhausted Lima. He was clearly getting into Lima's head because by the third round, Lima wasn't even circling in the stand-up, just moving straight backwards until he was pinned against the fence and dumped onto the canvas.
In the end, the judges scored unanimously with a 50-45 sweep across the boards in favor of the "Funky" champion Askren, which allowed him to retain his title for the second time.
The rest of the main card featured some of the closest decisions in Bellator history.
In featherweight semifinal action, a pair of talented Brazilians squared off as 35 year old Marlon Sandro battled the 24 year old Alexandre Bezerra.
Both man had a considerable amount of respect for each other, perhaps too much as neither was able to put forth a consistent amount of offense over the course of the three round fight. Bezerra was looking to counter in the first round and gave way to Sandro's aggression. The second round was much closer as both men battered each other with leg kicks and neither really took the initiative.
In the third round, Bezerra finally turned it on, pushing for takedowns and landing his best strike of the fight, a powerful right hand which briefly dropped Sandro although the Nova Uniao fighter was able to quickly recover. The bout was up in the air and hinged on the extremely close second round, but in the end the judges sided with Sandro, awarding him a split decision victory, much to the dismay of the clearly dejected and emotional Bezerra.
Sandro will now await the winner of the Daniel Straus vs Mike Corey fight next week at Bellator 65.
The Bellator bantamweight tournament also kicked off on this card, with two quarterfinal bouts. The most surprising of the evening was a match between current top 10 ranked 135-er Masakatsu Ueda and regional superstar Travis Marx.
Marx was the prohibitive underdog in this fight, but he didn't act like it one bit, lifting Ueda up over his hand and slamming him to the canvas in the first round and attacking the Japanese veteran with his wrestling and grappling skills.
Neither fighter was exceptionally gifted in the striking department and the closest either man ever was to landing any real damage were some occasional body kicks from Ueda.
Almost all of the interesting action took place on the ground as both fighter worked for sweeps, submissions and occasional strikes on the canvas. Ueda came out with more of a sense of urgency in the third round, but it was not enough to offset Marx's strong start to the fight as Marx came away with the decision.
Lastly, opening up the night was another bantamweight quarterfinal between Japanese veteran Hiroshi Nakamura and 20 year old undefeated Brazilian Rodrigo Lima. Lima held a striking edge, but his constant forward aggression created openings for easy takedowns from the Japanese judoka in the clinch.
Lima was put on his back repeatedly, and was extremely active on the ground, constantly throwing up chain submissions attempt after submission attempt. It was a whirling tornado of armbars, Kimuras, omaplatas, triangles and leg locks from the Brazilian, but he was never able to actually threaten the finish as Nakamura remained very composed from above, working his way out of danger and then dropping occasional punches.
Another factor in the bout was the fact that Lima had a point deducted in the second round after landing his second low blow of the fight. When his pace slowed down in the third and Nakamura was finally able to put forth some decent offense from top position.
The fight could have been scored anywhere from 29-27 Lima to 30-26 Nakamura, but the judges unanimously decided 29-27 in Nakamura's favor as the Japanese veteran judoka advanced to the semifinals.
The biggest highlight of the night actually took place on the undercard as hotshot prospect Mike Richman absolutely starched IFL veteran and Team Tompkins product Chris Horodecki with a brutal first round knockout after a nearly perfect combination of strikes.
For complete Bellator 64 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights click here.
So what do you think, Maniacs?
With all the decisions on the card, was this event a major letdown for you? Did you find a diamond in the rough during the evening?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, night, bellator, round, lima
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVideo: Bellator 64 highlights
After a series of highlight-reel finishes, Bellator fighters put the judges to work on Friday.
All of Bellator 64's MTV2-televised main-card bouts ended in decisions,
including welterweight champion Ben Askren's successful title defense
over Douglas Lima in the night's headliner.
Check out video highlights of all four televised bouts.
Posted in: bellator, bout, title defense, douglas lima, bellator fighters
Read the full article at MMA JunkieAskren keeps Bellator belt; Horodecki KO'd
Ben Askren retained his welterweight title by defeating Douglas Lima via unanimous decision in the main event of Bellator 64 on Friday.
Posted in: bellator, lima, askren, douglas lima, welterweight title
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator 64 Results: Askren Holds Onto His Title, Sandro Moves On
Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren once again showed off his wrestling credentials winning an unanimous decision over top contender Douglas Lima to cap off Bellator 64.
Posted in: bellator, ben, contender, askren, credential
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 64 Recap and Results: Fan’s Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
Bellator 64 featured the second title defense of the season, with Ben Askren defending the Bellator welterweight title against Douglas Lima. Also on the card was a featherweight tournament semifinal fight between two tough Brazilians and the first two fights in the season six...
Posted in: bellator, title, title defense, ben askren, douglas lima
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsLefko on MMA: Bellator bust bad for business
Bellator's first event in Windsor on Good Friday didn't live up to its hype.
Posted in: bellator, business, lefko, friday didnt, business bellators
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator 64 results: Askren keeps belt; Sandro, Marx, Nakamura advance
In a vintage performance, Ben Askren pitched a shutout against Douglas Lima and retained his welterweight belt.
Additionally, Marlon Sandro advanced to the finals of Bellator's
season-six featherweight tournament with a split decision over Alexandre
Bezerra, and featherweights Travis Marx and Hiroshi Nakamura headed to
the semifinals of the bantamweight competition.
The action took place Friday at Bellator 64, which took place at The
Colosseum at Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Preliminary-card fights streamed on Spike.com in advance of the main
card on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, split decision, marlon sandro, welterweight belt, caesars windsor
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 64 Live Results & Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from Caesars Windsor Hotel and Casino in Windsor, Ontario at approximately 7 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 64, headlined by Ben Askren defending the Bellator welterweight championship against Season 5 tournament winner Douglas Lima.
Posted in: bellator, result, ben askren, windsor, windsor ontario
Read the full article at Sherdog.gif: Chris Horodecki knockout courtesy of Mike Richman at Bellator 64, which took place tonight...
.gif: Chris Horodecki knockout courtesy of Mike Richman at Bellator 64, which took place tonight (April 6, 2012) at Caesar's Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The fall from grace for the former International Fight League (IFL) standout continues. For complete Bellator 64 results and coverage click here.
Posted in: bellator, knockout, coverage click, caesars windsor, mike richman
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChandler vs. Gono Tops Bellator 67 Fight Card (MMAWeekly.com)
Chandler winning the belt Bellator on Friday officially announced lightweight champion Michael Chandler’s first title defense. He will defend against Akihiro Gono at Bellator 67 on May 4 at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada. After Chandler’s amazing fourth-round submission victory against then champion Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 58, the undefeated champion knows that he’s now the one with the target on his back. “I’m just excited to get back into the cage,” Chandler said.
Posted in: bellator, champion, chandler, akihiro gono, chandler ’s
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsChandler vs. Gono Tops Bellator 67 Fight Card
Bellator on Friday officially announced lightweight champion Michael Chandler’s first title defense. He will defend against Akihiro Gono at Bellator 67 on May 4.
Posted in: bellator, chandler, title defense, gono, akihiro gono
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 64 Real Time Results
The second title-fight of Bellator Season 6 is upon us with welterweight champion Ben Askren hoping to stymie surging star Douglas Lima in the main event at Bellator 64. A former Olympic wrestler, Askren is 9-0 thus far in his MMA career due in large part to his aggressive ground-attack and ability to smother adversaries from above. The style is certainly a far cry from the 21-4 Lima’s who has finished eighteen of his opponents with a solid blend of striking and submissions.
Joining Askren-Lima on the main card, Season 6 featherweight semifinalists Marlon Sandro and Alexandre Bezzara face off in hopes of moving a win away from earning a title-shot, while a quartet of 135ers battle in the opening round of the bantamweight field.
Things kick off at 7:00 PM EST on Spike.com before heading over to MTV2 an hour later with featured action. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in and relaying live results back to readers as they unfold from the arena.
Read below for a full list of Bellator 64 winners/losers:
Taylor Solomon vs. Jason Fischer
Josh Taveirne vs. Chad Laprise
Kyle Prepolec vs. Lance Snow
Elias Theodorou vs. Rich Lictawa
Matt Secor vs. Nordine Taleb
Mike Richman vs. Chris Horodecki
Rodrigo Lima vs. Hiroshi Nakamura
Travis Marx vs. Masakatsu Ueda
Alexandre Bezerra vs. Marlon Sandro
Ben Asken vs. Douglas Lima
Posted in: bellator, vs, opening round, lima, mma career
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 64: Askren Vs. Lima Live Results And Play By Play
Join us live on Bloody Elbow tonight at 8 p.m. ET to ramble aimlessly about the stacked Bellator 64 event from Ontario, Canada. The show is headlined by undefeated Olympic wrestler Ben Askren defending the welterweight strap against Douglas Lima, who is soaring after back-to-back wins by knockout.
A plethora of fresh bantamweight talent will be on display in two 135-pound quarterfinal fights: flawless Team Nogueira finisher Rodrigo "Ratinho" Lima takes on robust grappler Hiroshi Nakamura and longtime top-tenner Masakatsu Ueda makes his stateside debut against Greg Jackson product Travis "T-Train" Marx. Egregious bodily harm is virtually guaranteed in the lone featherweight semifinal bout, which pits high-octane slugger Marlon Sandro versus the once-beaten brawler Alexandre Bezerra.
The preliminary card will be streamed live and free on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET and is captained by former WEC fighter Chris Horodecki, who hails from Canada, against Minnesota Fight Factory's Mike Richman. The following is the entire Bellator 64 lineup:
Televised Broadcast Ben Askren vs. Douglas Lima (welterweight championship)
Alexandre Bezerra vs. Marlon Sandro (featherweight semifinal) Travis Marx vs. Masakatsu Ueda (bantamweight quarterfinal) Rodrigo Lima vs. Hiroshi Nakamura (bantamweight quarterfinal)
Preliminary Card Chris Horodecki vs Mike Richman Matt Secor vs Nordine Taleb Rich Lictawa vs Elias Theodorou Kyle Prepolec vs Lance Snow Chad Laprise vs Josh Taveirne Jason Fischer vs Taylor Solomon
Bellator 64 Dissection
Judo Chop: Ben Askren's Funky Wrestling Prowess
SBN coverage of Bellator 64
Posted in: bellator, vs, quarterfinal, lima, askren
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator confirms May 4 at Rama, Ford debut
As Bellator holds its first show in Windsor Friday night, the Chicago-based MMA organization confirmed details for its fourth trip to Canada
Posted in: bellator, show, canada, friday, trip
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator 64: Ben Askren And Douglas Lima Talk Welterweight Title Fight
Bellator Welterweight champion Ben Askren will defend his title against season five tournament winner Douglas Lima tonight at Bellator 64 at Caesar's Windsor in Windsor, Ontario. Askren, a former U.S. Olympic wrestler, has been the Bellator champion since winning the second season tournament and taking the title from first season winner Lyman Good in 2010. Lima beat Ben Saunders in the season five finals to earn the right to challenge Askren for the title.
Despite Lima's formidable skill-set, Askren is confident going into the bout. He spoke to Sherdog about Lima:
"I really think dangerous or not dangerous, the best thing I can do is put somebody on his back and beat him up. The thing I've been getting better at is actually beating people up. I've obviously been good at taking people down in MMA, but it's taken me quite a while until I was able to start really doing a lot of damage with my punches. I think I've got to that point in my career, and so I will be able to take him down and I will be able to do a lot of damage once I'm on top of him.
"Number two, cardio. I've seen him in fights. I don't think he pushed the pace. I've also heard that his training is kind of lazy. Toughness and cardio's something you can't teach. You've got to have that inside you, and that's something I've got. I think I can really push the pace on him. Number three, my striking is vastly underrated. I think it's got so much better from my last fight. I think he's going to be very surprised by that. Number four, we're both brown belts in jiu-jitsu, but I would venture to guess once I get on top, I'll be able to stay there and do a lot of damage. I think there's a lot of reasons I have an advantage."
Lima spoke to MMA Junkie about Askren and how he's studied Askren's last title defense against Jay Hieron at Bellator 56 to prepare:
"But as soon as I got back to the U.S., I went straight back into training," he said. "I've been working on a lot of wrestling and counter-wrestling since that's his (Askren's) game - plus my usual muay Thai and such.
"I got to learn a lot watching (Askren vs Hieron). I keep watching it and studying it. It's definitely going to help my game.
"He's a good fighter. He's learning his striking. He trains with good people, good coaches (and is a) fantastic wrestler. (I've got) nothing against the guy, but I'm going to go in there and try to rip his head off."
This is a huge test for Askren who struggled against Hieron and barely got a split decision. Lima has shown exceptional striking but it remains to be seen if he can stay on his feet long enough to put his striking to work against Askren.
SBN coverage of Bellator 64
Posted in: bellator, lot, lima, askren, ive
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 64 Predictions
Bellator's sixth season rolls on tonight with the return of their welterweight champion Ben Askren. In the main event this evening, he'll defend his title against Douglas Lima, the winner of the season five Bellator welterweight tournament. Also on tonight's card, Brazilians Marlon Sandro and Alexandre Bezarra fight for a spot in the featherweight. Longtime bantamweight standout Masakatsu Ueda makes his Bellator debut in one of two bantamweight tournament quarterfinal bouts.
Last, but certainly not least, former WEC and IFL featherweight Chris Horodecki returns to the Bellator cage on the preliminary portion of the card.
What: Bellator 64
When: Friday, the MTV2-televised card begins at 8 p.m. Eastern on Friday. However, Spike.com will carry the entire fight card.
Where: Caesars Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Predictions below for the welterweight title fight, a featherweight tournament semi-final and two bantamweight quarterfinals.
Ben Askren vs. Douglas Lima (for the welterweight title)
I expect an early start for Askren and to have not a ton of difficulty taking Lima down. But Askren's had real difficulty finishing anyone at this level. He's also a little too hittable for my tastes, which is in part a function of how long his fights against higher-end competition go. Lima's had problems in the past and will have to work around Askren's relentless takedown attempts, but over time I believe he can tag and hurt the champion both coming in and standing flat-footed at range (which Askren sometimes does).
Pick: Lima
Marlon Sandro vs. Alexandre Bezerra (featherweight semi-final bout)
I really think highly of Bezerra. He's a great athlete with effective offensive wrestling and a well-rounded skill set. He's only been to the third round once in his career (a fight he won) and his lone loss came in 2009 to now UFC featherweight Charles Oliveira. I suspect he can give Sandro, the prohibitive favorite, a much tougher time than most imagine. He is a touch sloppy with his striking and needs seasoning, so Sandro should walk away victorious. But I am betting this will be much closer than most imagine.
Pick: Sandro
Travis Marx vs. Masakatsu Ueda (bantamweight tournament quarterfinal)
This is frankly Ueda's fight to lose. Marx, a bantamweight product out of Greg Jackson's camp, is no slouch and brings a lot of in-cage experience to the fight. Ueda is also long in the tooth and has probably already seen his best days. I'll grant Marx has done well fighting above his natural weight class. Still, the level of competition Ueda has faced and defeated is categorically better than even Marx's best win.
Pick: Ueda
Rodrigo Lima vs. Hiroshi Nakamura (bantamweight tournament quarterfinal)
This one has fireworks written all over it. Lima is a ferocious prospect out of Brazil who's only gone to the third round once, a fight which was his pro debut (a victorious one at that). He's got good athleticism, excellent power and surprisingly quick submissions. I worry a bit about his inexperience, which is why his opponent in Nakamura is such a good test for him. A veteran of DEEP, Nakamura is a much more patient fighter with a reliable double leg he times nicely off of counter strikes. This will be a tightly contested fight.
Pick: Lima
From the preliminary card:
Chris Horodecki vs. Mike Richman
Not much to say about this one except that Horodecki should have his way here. It's true the USMC-veteran in Richman has done well for himself on the regional circuit and Horodecki's stock value has certainly come back to earth. Even still, there's a pretty clear gap in ability.
Pick: Horodecki
Posted in: fight, bellator, bantamweight, lima, ueda
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 64′s Ben Askren: “Doug Lima is the toughest guy I’ve ever faced”
For a guy nicknamed “Funky”, Ben Askren is rather straight-forward when it comes to discussing his opponent at Bellator 64 on Friday, Douglas Lima.
“Doug is the toughest guy I’ve ever faced,” said Askren. “I am really excited for the matchup with him, though. He has a few weaknesses which I will look to exploit, specifically his wrestling. He doesn’t have any wrestling experience, something I obviously do have.”
That wrestling experience, specifically winning two NCAA championships (along with finishing runner-up twice) and qualifying for the 2008 Olympics, has gotten Askren to where he is now. After becoming a professional mixed martial artist in 2009, Askren won the Bellator welterweight title the following year. He has defended that belt since, in a split decision win over Jay Hieron last October.
But now Askren wants to show off other aspects of his game aside from wrestling. He has trained with striking aficionado Duke Roufus in Wisconsin over the last few years. That training, along with facing top strikers inside the Bellator cage, has changed Askren’s striking from what he describes as “night and day”.
“I really have the best striking coaches on the planet,” explained Askren. “I love my coaches and teammates. Duke has been awesome, and has helped my striking so much. I’ve improved a lot even from my last fight in October.”
That fight, a split decision win over former UFC welterweight Jay Hieron, was Askren’s first title defense since winning the title in October 2010. In that fight, Hieron had success on his feet against Askren, and even defended some of the All-American’s takedowns. With that, some fans even felt Hieron had done enough to win the decision. But two of the judges disagreed, and awarded Askren the victory.
Since then, Hieron has continued to voice his displeasure with that decision, and declared that he would not be entering this season’s welterweight tournament. Askren could not disagree with the decision more.
“Jay Hieron is delusional,” Askren exclaimed. “He’s delusional both that he feels that he won that fight and that he is passing up the opportunity for $100,000. What kind of person, that fights for a living, passes up fighting in a tournament and a chance at $100,000?”
Another fighter that Askren has had his moments with is War Machine, aka Jon Koppenhaver. War Machine, who signed with Bellator in December, was set to join this season’s tournament. He immediately went after Askren, calling him a “horrible champion” and that he is “a black eye for Bellator”. Since those comments, War Machine has returned to jail, thus eliminating any chance of him fighting this year.
When responding to War Machine and his status, Askren was rather blunt. “War Machine is not even worth the discussion.”
What is worth discussion for Askren is his hope to continue his reign as welterweight champion. In addition to that, Askren is hopeful that he will be able to enter the cage more than twice a year.
“I’d like to fight more often,” said Askren. “But for now, that doesn’t look likely due to the current format. I like the tournaments, but it does keep me out of action for a bit. We’ll see what happens. For now, I’m just focused on Doug Lima and continuing as champion.”
Posted in: fight, bellator, decision, askren, hieron
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator's Lima wants to be world's best WW
Douglas Lima has a plan to become the world's best welterweight, starting with Friday's Bellator title bout in Windsor against Ben Askren.
Posted in: bellator, world, ben, lima, bellators lima
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBen Askren hopes to finish Douglas Lima at tonight's Bellator 64
Undefeated Bellator Welterweight champion Ben Askren spoke about his return to the cage, tonight against Bellator 5 170lbs Tournament winner Douglas Lima. Askren last seen defeating Jay Hieron back in October, 2011, while Lima made his way to the title fight by impressive victories over Steve Carl (Decision), Chris Lozano (KO) and Ben Saunders (KO).
Bellator 64 takes place tonight at Caesar’s Windsor in Windsor, Ontario. The event also features Bantamweight Quarter-Finals and the Featherweight
Posted in: bellator, ben askren, jay hieron, douglas lima, windsor ontario
Read the full article at Low KickBen Askren Believes He’s Tougher, Better Prepared Than Douglas Lima
Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren defends his title Friday at Bellator 64 against Douglas Lima.
Posted in: bellator, ben, ben askren, askren, title friday
Read the full article at SherdogDouglas Lima Intends to Finish the Fight and Take Ben Askren’s Title (Bellator 64 Video)
Douglas Lima plans to finish off Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren, laying claim to his second world title.
Posted in: bellator, title, ben, askren, douglas lima
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyHorodecki ready for a run at new weight
London, Ont's Chris Horodecki is feeling as comfortable as he has felt in a while ahead of his Bellator fight Friday in Windsor.
Posted in: fight, bellator, weight, friday, horodecki
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator 64 Weigh-Ins Go Off Without Any Problems; Main Event Features Ben Askren-Douglas Lima
Ben Askren will defend his Bellator welterweight championship Friday night at Bellator 64 from Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Askren, and his opponent Douglas Lima, both weighed in successfully Thursday. Along with Askren and Lima, all fighters for the main and prelim cards made weight.
The other three bouts that will be televised live by MTV2 are tournament fights. In the featherweight division, Marlon Sandro will take on Alexandre Bezerra in a semifinal, while bantamweight quarterfinals include Travis Marx vs. Masakatsu Ueda, and Rodrigo Lima vs. Hiroshi Nakamura.
BELLATOR 64 WEIGH-IN RESULTS
Main Card
• 170: Ben Askren (169.6) vs. Douglas Lima (170) for Askren’s welterweight title
• 145: Marlon Sandro (146) vs. Alexandre Bezerra (146) in featherweight semifinal
• 135: Travis Marx (135.2) vs. Masakatsu Ueda (135.8) in bantamweight quarterfinal
• 135: Rodrigo Lima (136) vs. Hiroshi Nakamura (135.8) in bantamweight quarterfinal
Prelim Card (Spike.com)
• 160: Kyle Prepolec (158.6) vs. Lance Snow (159)
• 170: Chad Laprise (169.8) vs. Josh Taveirne (170.6)
• 145: Chris Horodecki (145.8) vs. Mike Richman (145)
• 170: Nordine Taleb (171) vs. Matt Secor (170)
• 155: Taylor Solomon (155.6) vs. Jason Fischer (155.6)
Posted in: bellator, vs, quarterfinal, lima, askren
Read the full article at MMA ConvertPhotos: Bellator's Jade Bryce In Playboy
It's not just UFC Octagon girls who make the jump from mixed martial arts to Playboy. Bellator's Jade Bryce has officially broken the bunny barrier. She is featured in a nude pictorial featured this month at Playboy.com.
She joins Octagon girls Arianny Celeste, Brittney Palmer, and Rachelle Leah as featured Playmates.
You can see Jade carrying the round cards on Bellator on MTV2 on Friday nights.
More photos after the jump.
See the complete gallery at Playboy.com right here.
Bellator airs on MTV2 on Fridays and is known for its strict adherence to a tournament format to determine title shots. This has the odd side-effect of necessitating a large number of non-title fights to keep the champions busy and has immensely complicated the process of giving fans the rematches they want.
It might even be a factor in the likely defection of MW champion Hector Lombard and ex-LW champion Eddie Alvarez from the organization
Posted in: bellator, nontitle fights, rachelle leah, bunny barrier, playboycom right
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator is gonna TUF it up
We're four months into 2012 and already big tings be plannin for 2013 (provided we survive the Mayan apocalypse, of course). The UFC's remnant library deal with Spike ends, freeing the network up to finally move their new MMA girlfriend Bellator over onto the network. And of course no MMA promotion with dreams of grandeur can hit this point without trying to create their own TUF:
Bertran van Munster, who has won eight Emmy Awards and co-created The Amazing Race, will produce the hour-long show for Spike TV.
“We are thrilled to partner with an industry legend such as van Munster, whose creativity and ingenuity will expose Bellator to an expanded new audience next year on Spike,” Rebney said.
Van Munster had strong words for the fighters in Bellator, saying, “Some of the most physically-gifted and fascinating athletes in the world fight in Bellator, and I believe they make ideal subjects for an innovative new non-scripted series.”
It will be interesting to see if Mr van Munster will try to revolutionize the MMA reality format or if the show will be yet another tired retread of the Ultimate Fighter's tournament / frat house setup. Considering the only other reality show we've seen from this guy is the quickly cancelled Take the Money & Run ("everyday people against real life law enforcement"), we could end up with something completely different and insane.
I imagine a training center on the Jersey shore where fighters train hard and hit da club hard. Half men, half women, all meathead. Bjorn Rebney occassionally shows up and screams "SO YOU WANNA BE A F*CKING BELLATOR CHAMPION?", resulting in downcast gazes and that awkward moment where you realize no, no they do not.
Posted in: bellator, van, fighter, van munster, munster
Read the full article at FightlinkerBellator 64 weigh-in results: Champ Askren (169.6), Lima (170) on weight for title fight
Official Bellator 64 weigh-ins took place today, and all of the event's main-card competitors successfully made weight.
Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, played host to the festivities. The same venue hosts Friday's event, which includes a main card on MTV2 and prelims on Spike.com.
Bellator welterweight champ Ben Askren (169.6) and Douglas Lima (170), who headline Bellator 64, both were on weight for their five-round title fight.
Posted in: bellator, champ, place today, weight, askren
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 64: Askren Vs. Lima Weigh-ins (Video)
Bellator 64 kicks off tomorrow night in Windsor, Ontario. The event will be headlined by a welterweight championship fight between champion Ben Askren and Season Five tournament champion Douglas Lima. Be sure to stay tuned to MMAFrenzy for our coverage of Bellator 64.
Posted in: bellator, champion, tomorrow night, lima, askren
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 64: Askren Vs. Lima Weigh-ins
Bellator 64 kicks off tomorrow night in Windsor, Ontario. The event will be headlined by a welterweight championship fight between champion Ben Askren and Season Five tournament champion Douglas Lima. Be sure to stay tuned to MMAFrenzy for our coverage of Bellator 64.
Main Card
Welterweight Championship: Ben Askren (c) (169.6) vs. Douglas Lima (170)
Featherweight Semifinal: Marlon Sandro (145) vs. Alexandre Bezerra (146)
Bantamweight Quarterfinal: Travis Marx (135.2) vs. Masakatsu Ueda (135.8)
Bantamweight Quarterfinal: Rodrigo Lima (136) vs. Hiroshi Nakamura (135.8)
Preliminary Card
Chris Horodecki (145.8) vs. Mike Richman (145)
Chad Laprise (169.8) vs. Josh Taveirne (170.6)
Kyle Prepolec (158.6) vs. Lance Snow (159)
Elias Theodorou (185.6) vs. Rich Lictawa (192.2)
Nordine Taleb (171) vs. Matt Secor (170)
Taylor Solomon (155.6) vs. Jason Fischer (155.6)
Posted in: bellator, vs, tomorrow night, lima, askren
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyWatch today's Bellator 64 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 5 p.m. ET
Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, plays host to today's official Bellator 64 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a live video stream of the proceedings at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT).
Bellator 64 takes place Friday and features three tournament bouts, as well as a welterweight title between champ Ben Askren and challenger Douglas Lima.
In addition to the live weigh-ins, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, pm, text results, weighin, caesars windsor
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWatch the Bellator 64 Weigh-ins Streaming Live at 5 p.m. ET on MMAWeekly.com
Tune in to MMAWeekly.com at 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT on Thursday for a live video stream of the Bellator 64 weigh-ins.
Posted in: bellator, pm, video stream, mmaweeklycom, mmaweeklycom tune
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 64 Results: Askren vs. Lima
MMA Fighting has Bellator 64 reesults for the Askren vs. Lima event on Friday night from the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario.
In the main event, Ben Askren will defend his Bellator welterweight title against Douglas Lima. There will also be fights for the bantamweight and featherweight tournaments on the main card.
Check out the Bellator 64 results below.
Main CardBen Askren vs Douglas LimaAlexandre Bezerra vs Marlon SandroRodrigo Lima vs Hiroshi NakamuraTravis Marx vs Masakatsu UedaUndercardChris Horodecki vs Mike RichmanMatt Secor vs Nordine TalebRich Lictawa vs Elias TheodorouKyle Prepolec vs Lance SnowChad Laprise vs Josh TaveirneJason Fischer vs Taylor Solomon
Posted in: bellator, vs, lima, askren, card check
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 64 weigh in results LIVE from Ontario for 'Askren vs Lima'
The official weigh-in event for tomorrow night's Bellator 64 fight card takes place today (April 5, 2012) at 5 p.m. ET from Caesar's Windsor in Windsor, Ontario.
Bellator 64 will be headlined by a welterweight title fight as champion Ben Askren looks to defend his title against season five welterweight tournament winner Douglas Lima. Askren is coming off a close title defense against Jay Hieron and he's hoping to continue his undefeated streak against the top prospect Lima.
Also on the card will be the first Bellator season six semifinal tournament fight as top Brazilian featherweights Marlon Sandro and Alexandre Bezerra square off.
Lastly, a pair of Bellator season six bantamweight tournament quarterfinals will take place as American Travis Marx battles top Japanese grappler Masakatsu Ueda and undefeated Brazilian prospect Rodrigo Lima takes on veteran Japanese scrapper Hiroshi Nakamura.
Complete Bellator 64 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
170 lb. title: Ben Askren () vs. Douglas Lima ()145 lbs.: Marlon Sandro () vs. Alexandre Bezerra ()135 lbs.: Travis Marx () vs. Masakatsu Ueda ()135 lbs.: Rodrigo Lima () vs. Hiroshi Nakamura ()
Local Feature Fights (Spike.com)
160 lbs.: Kyle Prepolec () vs. Lance Snow ()170 lbs.: Chad Laprise () vs. Josh Taveirne ()145 lbs.: Chris Horodecki () vs. Mike Richman ()170 lbs.: Nordine Taleb () vs. Matt Secor ()155 lbs.: Taylor Solomon () vs. Jason Fischer ()
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 64, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 8 p.m. ET tomorrow night (April 6).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: fight, bellator, vs, lb, lima
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 151: Ben Askren, Douglas Lima, Bjorn Rebney, Chris Horodecki, Marlon Sandro, Bellator 64 Preview
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they preview Friday night's Bellator 64 show with coverage from the site of the event, Caesars Windsor Hotel & Casino in Windsor, Ontario.
At Wednesday's open workouts, we spoke with the following people for today's show:
Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren about his title defense, the state of college wrestling, what makes a good wrestler and more.
We talked to his opponent, No. 1 contender and Season 5 tournament winner Douglas Lima about the fight, as well, and what he did in camp to prepare for Askren.
We'll also chat with Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney about Bellator 64 plus a host of other Bellator issues, including the Cole Konrad/Eric Prindle fight, the move to Friday nights, how he'd evaluate this season so far, what type of crowd they expect Friday and the company's upcoming reality show.
We'll also bring you interviews from the open workouts with featherweights Chris Horodecki and Marlon Sandro, both of whom will be competing on Friday's card. Horodecki talked about his move to featherweight, moving on without Shawn Tompkins, fighting in front of his local fans and more. With Sandro, we talked about his featherweight tournament fight with Alexandre Bezerra, wanting another fight with Pat Curran and more.
In addition to talking to many of the competitors on Friday's show, we'll also preview the event with our world-famous "Bellator Brian Breakdown," while also taking your calls, emails, tweets and comments.
We'll also discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts, including Alistair Overeem's failed drug test.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your brand new Alexander Gustafsson UFC on FUEL TV walk out T-shirt only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Bellator 64
Posted in: bellator, show, radio, friday, boy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBen Askren talks Bellator welterweight title fight: “I will retain my title against Douglas Lima”
By Dustin De La Torre Bellator Fighting Championships will be venturing outside of the United States for the first time in the promotion’s history as they visit Canada for Bellator 64, this Saturday night at The Caesars in Windsor, Canada. Welterweight champion Ben Askren will be defending his title in a much anticipated fight versus [...]
Posted in: bellator, saturday night, title, torre bellator, visit canada
Read the full article at Fighthub TVBellator’s Bjorn Rebney: Spike TV Wrote the Book on Televised MMA (MMAWeekly.com)
Bellator Fighting Championships may not be officially moving to Spike TV until 2013, but the plans and preparations are already in motion for the MMA promotion to land on the network. Spike TV officials, as well as the marketing department and the public relations staff, have been hard at work getting Bellator branded before they debut there in eight months. The relationship has already started to flourish and according to Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, they couldn’t be happier to be involved with the godfathers of televised MMA.
Posted in: bellator, mma, tv, spike, marketing department
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBellator 64 preview and predictions for 'Askren vs Lima' on April 4 in Windsor
Bellator Fighting Championships will head to The Great North this Friday night (April 6, 2012) at Caesar's Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
The main card will air live on MTV2 on fight night, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Headlining Bellator 64 will be a Bellator welterweight title fight as champion Ben Askren looks to defend his championship against season five welterweight tournament winner Douglas Lima. Askren is coming off a close title defense against Jay Hieron and he's hoping to continue his undefeated streak against the top prospect Lima.
Also on the card will be the first Bellator season six semifinal tournament fight as top Brazilian featherweights Marlon Sandro and Alexandre "Popo" Bezerra square off.
Lastly, a pair of Bellator season six bantamweight tournament quarterfinals will take place as American Travis Marx battles top Japanese grappler Masakatsu Ueda and undefeated Brazilian prospect Rodrigo Lima takes on veteran Japanese scrapper Hiroshi Nakamura.
Check out our complete Bellator 64 preview and predictions after the jump:
170 lb. title: Ben Askren (9-0) vs. Douglas Lima (21-4)
Ben Askren is one of the best American wrestlers to ever transition to mixed martial arts. A former multiple time national champion and Olympian, Askren's skills quickly translated to success in MMA and he was able to dominate his competition en route to a Bellator tournament victory. He dethroned the previously unbeaten Lyman Good and has won two bouts since becoming champion including his first title defense, a hard-fought decision victory against Jay Hieron last fall.
Douglas Lima has widely been regarded as one of the best prospects in the welterweight division. He was the MFC 170 pound champion before vacating his title to sign with Bellator. He proved his "Phenom" nickname correct by coasting through the season five welterweight tournament and scoring a pair of brutal knockouts to win the $100,00 and earn his title shot.
The biggest difference maker in this fight is Ben Askren's elite wrestling. He's got a unique "Funky" style which really frustrates his opponents once he gets his hands on them and he can dominate just about anyone as long as he's in top position. Lima has much more power and technique on the feet and he's more active and aggressive with submissions on the ground, but Askren is developing nicely and he's more than powerful enough to stifle all of Lima's many offensive weapons.
Final Prediction: Ben Askren via decision
145 lbs.: Marlon Sandro (21-3) vs. Alexandre Bezerra (13-1)
Marlon Sandro has been a man possessed. The Brazilian has a reputation for his ferocious uppercuts and his dynamite in both hands and he was able to advance to the Summer Series finals last year before a stunning knockout loss at the hands of Pat Curran. He's rededicated himself since that loss and has followed it up with consecutive stoppage victories including a destruction of Roberto Vargas last month.
Alexandre Bezerra has looked extremely impressive in his stint with Bellator. The young Brazilian has stopped everyone in his path under the Bellator banner with no one making it past the second round in any of his five fights with the promotion. Bezerra finally made his tournament debut last month and looked terrific against late replacement Kenny Foster en route to a second round submission victory.
Bezerra is an extremely sharp young talent to keep an eye on for the future, but I think this is a horrible stylistic match-up for him. Sandro outclasses him badly on the feet and he's got more than enough submission and takedown defense skill to defend whatever Bezerra throws at him. The only thing I think Bezerra has going for him in this fight is his speed and youth and I just don't think it will be enough.
Final Prediction: Marlon Sandro via decision
135 lbs.: Travis Marx (18-3) 1 NC vs. Masakatsu Ueda (15-1-2)
Travis Marx was a top prospect at featherweight before finally running into some trouble against men who were a bit too big and strong for him. He started his career 15-1 before consecutive losses at the end of 2010. The Greg Jackson trained fighter dropped down to bantamweight and has seen instant results, going 2-0 with two first minute stoppages which earned him a tournament invite.
Masakatsu Ueda has long been one of the best non-Zuffa-contracted bantamweights on the planet. He's frustrated and stifled many of an opponent in his day, most notably handing Bellator season five bantamweight tournament winner Eduardo Dantas his lone career loss. Ueda has only ever tasted defeat once in his six and a half year professional career and while he's now 34 years old, he's still a force to be reckoned with in this tournament.
Marx has had issues with powerful featherweights, but he's looked really solid since dropping down. Marx's submission skills are excellent, but I doubt he is able to throw his weight around with Ueda like he's done in his recent victories. Part of me thinks Marx has what it takes to pull off a huge upset, but I can't help but side with Ueda here to grind out a decision victory.
Final Prediction: Masakatsu Ueda via decision
135 lbs.: Rodrigo Lima (10-0) vs. Hiroshi Nakamura (14-5-4)
Rodrigo Lima is one of the best young bantamweight prospects in the world. Just 20 years old, he's already compiled a 10-0 record while competing in Brazil and Bellator wisely snatched him up. Most of his victories are can crushings, but he's got some serious potential and he is always pushing for the finish throughout the fight.
His opponent, Hiroshi Nakamura, is one of the best Japanese bantamweights in the world. Don't let the 14-5 record deceive you, he's only gotten better and better with time and has only lost two of his last 17 fights over the course of the past five and a half years.
Nakamura's strength of competition, having battled top Japanese bantamweights in both Deep and Shooto over the last six years will be his biggest advantage in this fight although his lack of finishing ability could present problems. Rodrigo Lima is one of the most violent and aggressive young fighters in the world and I doubt he slows it down a notch just because he's competing on a bigger stage. While Nakamura has the experience, I can't help but be mystified by Lima's youthful exuberance and potential.
Final Prediction: Rodrigo Lima via TKO in round one
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Are you excited for this main event title fight? What's your pick for the most exciting main card bout of the evening? Will the season six tournament winner be coming out of this half of the bracket?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, tournament, lima, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAskren looks for 10th MMA win in Windsor
Askren looks to defend his Bellator welterweight title when he takes on Douglas Lima on Friday at Bellator 64 in Windsor, Ont.
Posted in: bellator, askren, douglas lima, windsor askren, windsor
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator planning second women's tournament, but launch date undecided
Bellator Fighting Championships will host another women's tournament.
Bellator CEO and Chairman Bjorn Rebney just hasn't decided when.
However, Rebney recently told MMAjunkie.com the eight-woman field likely will compete at 125 pounds, and if healthy, 115-pound champ and inaugural tournament winner Zoila Gurgel will be part of the field.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, womens tournament, eightwoman field, bellator planning
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Notebook: Ben Askren Vs. Douglas Lima Friday, Spike Reality Show, Ratings
In his first appearance since winning a close split decision over Jay Hieron last October, Welterweight Champion Ben Askren returns to the cage Friday against last year's tournament winner Douglas Lima at Bellator 64.
The undefeated Askren (9-0) will have his hands full with Lima (21-4), who rides into the bout on a nine fight win streak armed with TKO finishes in three of his last four.
At just 24, he is three years Askren's junior but has nearly three times the experience. Askren has gone the distance in five straight and will look for the second successful defense of his gold.
On the main card, the bantamweight tournament kicks off with Travis Marx vs. Masakatsu Ueda and Rodrigo Lima vs. Hiroshi Nakamura -- all making their Bellator debut in a pair of interesting tangles.
Marx (18-3) has won three in a row, but has a tough draw on his hands with Ueda (15-1-2), a winner in five straight. The undefeated Lima (10-0) faces Nakamura (14-5-4), a DEEP veteran with victories in five of his last six.
In addition, the first featherweight semifinal is scheduled with Marlon Sandro (21-3) vs. Alexandre Bezerra (13-1). Bezerra submitted Kenny Foster in the second round on the March 9th season debut, while Sandro submitted Roberto Vargas in the first round on the same show.
Bellator's Reality Show?
The promotion released news Tuesday that The Amazing Race producer and eight-time Emmy winner Bertram van Munster will put together a one-hour MMA reality series to debut on Spike in 2013. There will be no details released until later this year. It's safe to assume that Spike won't look for a redux of The Ultimate Fighter, but this has to be viewed as a positive for Bellator. Hey, it can't be any worse than Repo Games, right?
Viewership Down
Numbers for Bellator's fourth event of the season came out Tuesday with 140,000 tuning in on MTV2 to watch the opening fights of the welterweight tournament. That was down from the season high of 175,000 the week before, but above the paltry 108,000 that watched the season's second event.
With both Bellator and UFC struggling with Friday night ratings, here's hoping both figure out that Friday nights aren't great for televised MMA.
SBN coverage of Bellator 64
Posted in: bellator, vs, friday, lima, askren
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator Plans To Join Reality TV In 2013 With Move To Spike TV
Bellator Fighting Championships CEO Bjorn Rebney continues to push his company as hard as he can.
Next year, Bellator will move from MTV2 to Spike TV, and the fight promotion will also add in a reality television series, according to a recent press release by Bellator.
Bertran van Munster, who has won eight Emmy Awards and co-created The Amazing Race, will produce the hour-long show for Spike TV.
“We are thrilled to partner with an industry legend such as van Munster, whose creativity and ingenuity will expose Bellator to an expanded new audience next year on Spike,” Rebney said.
Van Munster had strong words for the fighters in Bellator, saying, “Some of the most physically-gifted and fascinating athletes in the world fight in Bellator, and I believe they make ideal subjects for an innovative new non-scripted series.”
Bellator plans to release further information in the coming months. With this addition, it seems Spike TV is planning to push Bellator as hard as they pushed the UFC, which can only create more interest in the sport.
Posted in: bellator, spike tv, tv, spike, van munster
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 63: 140,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 63 drew an average viewership of 140,000 viewers last Friday on MTV2. The ratings are down from last week’s 175,000 viewer showing and the season average of 151,000.
Bellator 63 brings down season 6’s average to 148,000 viewers.
Bellator 62: 175,000 viewers
Bellator 61: 108,000 viewers
Bellator 60: 169,000 viewers
Payout Perspective:
And the roller coaster ride for Bellator ratings continues. After a strong showing for Bellator 62, this past Friday’s showing declined by 35,000 viewers. Bellator ratings are truly hard to decipher considering last Friday it had to compete with March Madness and this week without NCAA basketball, viewership declined. In addition, TUF Live ratings were down as well this week.
Posted in: bellator, rating, viewer, friday ’s, bellator ratings
Read the full article at MMA PayoutNo trash-talk? No problem for Bellator 64 headliner Ben Askren
Before his most recent win - and his first-ever Bellator title defense - welterweight champion Ben Askren engaged in a sustained and very public trash-talking campaign with opponent Jay Hieron.
But ahead of Friday's Bellator 64 headliner with challenger Douglas Lima, cooler heads have prevailed.
Askren told MMAjunkie.com Radio he loves trash-talking as much as the next guy, but he's not going to be the instigator.
Posted in: bellator, headliner, askren, mmajunkiecom radio, trashtalking campaign
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator reality show headed to Spike TV in 2013
Get ready to move over TUF, because there’s about to be a new MMA-based reality show in town!
According to an official announcement from Spike TV, the network will begin broadcasting a series focused on Bellator starting in 2013. To assist with production Emmy-winning reality show creator/executive Bertram van Munster will helm the effort. Spike TV will also feature live Bellator events next year making for a perfect marriage of programming.
“Some of the most physically-gifted and fascinating athletes in the world fight in Bellator, and I believe they make ideal subjects for an innovative new non-scripted series,” said Van Munster in a press release promoting the upcoming series.
No name or concept have been revealed yet though it’s likely the format will be similar to that of the Ultimate Fighter. TUF ran on Spike TV for fourteen seasons before the UFC’s contract with the network expired, allowing them to sign with FOX and take the groundbreaking brand to FX.
Posted in: bellator, spike tv, tv, spike, fighter tuf
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator semifinalist Rickels: Amoussou-Saunders tourney finale 'not going to happen'
Apparently, a 22-second knockout wasn't good enough to secure favorite status for Bellator's David Rickels.
Rickels made short work of last-minute replacement Jordan Smith this past Friday in the opening-round of the Bellator season-six welterweight tournament, which took place at Bellator 63.
Nevertheless, he feels that fans are already banking on a meeting between Karl Amoussou and Ben Saunders in the finals.
Posted in: bellator, karl amoussou, ben saunders, rickel, knockout wasnt
Read the full article at MMA Junkie‘TUF 15’ Episode 4 Nets 1.1 Million Viewers on FX; Bellator 63 Attracts 140,000 on MTV2
Both the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Bellator Fighting Championships suffered a decline in viewership for their respective Friday night offerings last week.
Posted in: bellator, championship, viewer, decline, net
Read the full article at SherdogSpike TV and Bellator Developing Reality Show for 2013
Bellator Fighting Championships and Spike TV are developing a reality show for the promotion’s 2013 debut on the network. According to a press release from the network, the show will be developed by 8-time Emmy Award winning producer Bertram Van Munster.
Van Munster is the co-creator and executive producer of The Amazing Race on CBS. There are no additional details on the program at this time.
Bellator will move to the former home of the UFC in 2013. Bellator currently airs on MTV2 and EPIX2 HD. Spike and MTV2 are owned by the same parent company, Viacom.
The promotion has already started a gradual move to the network, with the preliminary cards of their fights airing on Spike.com and greater coverage being given to the promotion on Spike TV’s MMA Uncensored.
Posted in: bellator, promotion, reality show, spike tv, spike
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 63 ratings: Event draws 140,000 MTV2 viewers, close to season average
Ratings for the latest Bellator event were largely in tune with the seasons-six average.
This past weekend's Bellator 63 event averaged 140,000 viewers on MTV2, which is down slightly from the season's average of 151,000 viewers for the year's first three shows.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the figures with industry sources.
Posted in: bellator, event, viewer, bellator event, mmajunkiecom today
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMegumi Fujii vs. Jessica Aguilar added to Bellator 69 lineup
An exciting affair featuring two of MMA’s most talented females has been booked for Bellator 69. Set for May 18, pound-for-pound queen Megumi Fujii will return to the Bellator ring after eighteen months away and face American Top Team stand-out Jessica Aguilar. Both women will enter the bout on significant winning streaks, upping the stakes even more when the rumble rolls around next month.
MMARising was first to report the match-up, confirming the clash with Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney.
The 25-1 Fujii’s only career loss came in Bellator by way of Split Decision to Zoila Gurgel in the final of the organization’s 2010 tournament to crown a 115-pound champion. She has since won three straight, most recently beating Karla Benitez with an opening round Armbar on New Year’s Eve in Japan. Seventeen of her total victories have involved some form of submission-based stoppage.
Aguilar has shown in the past her heart is as big as her trademark smile, battling through adversity on numerous occasions to pull out a win. She holds an overall record of 13-4 and won eight of her last nine with the only exception also involving Gurgel. “Jag” is currently on a four-fight run including a pair of triumphs under the Bellator banner.
Also mentioned was the possibility of Fujii and/or Aguilar competing in a 125-pound tournament being targeted for next season or in early 2013.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, career loss, aguilar, fujii, month mmarising
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainStrikeforce and Bellator bouts the latest matches to be matched for May (Cagewriter)
Yente, yente, yente! The matchmakers from Strikeforce and Bellator have a few new bouts for you to enjoy this spring.
-- On May 19, Josh Thomson will challenge Gilbert Melendez for the Strikeforce lightweight belt. This fight will be their third meeting; Each man has one decision win. The fight will happen the same night Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier meet for the final of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix. Also on that card, former light heavyweight champ Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante will meet Mike Kyle.
-- Bellator announced the bout between Megumi Fujii and Jessica Aguilar will take place on May 18. Both women have losses to Zoila Gurgel. Fujii has three wins in Japan since the close decision loss to Gurgel, while Aguilar won her last four. The bout will take place at 115 lbs.
Posted in: bellator, strikeforce, bout, strikeforce heavyweight, yente
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsSpike TV to air Bellator reality show in 2013
Spike TV announced today that it is collaborating with the co-creator of “The Amazing Race” to develop a reality show for Bellator Fighting Championships. The one hour unscripted show is set to debut in 2013 and feature Bellator fighters.
The network will work with Bertram van Munster, an eight-time Emmy Award winner most famously known for co-creating the widely popular “The Amazing Race.” The concept of the show is being withheld at this time.
Payout Perspective:
This should be very helpful for Bellator when it comes to Spike TV in 2013 when introducing its fighters to a broader audience. The concept of the reality series is a smart move because not only does it appeal to MMA fans, it could attract some crossover appeal. The partnership with van Munster does not mean that the Bellator fighters will be racing around the world (although that would be fun to watch), but it means that Spike is making sure that the show is done well and produced by a veteran with a good track record.
Posted in: bellator, show, spike tv, tv, spike
Read the full article at MMA PayoutMegumi Fujii vs Jessica Aguilar planned for Bellator 69 on May 18 in Louisiana
Two of the top (and tiniest) female fighters under the Bellator banner will collide when Megumi Fujii vs. Jessica Aguilar hook 'em up at the upcoming Bellator 69 event on May 18, 2012 at the L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
MMA Rising brought word of the pending match-up earlier today.
After suffering her first career defeat in a razor-thin split decision loss to Zoila Gurgel in late 2010, Fujii (25-1) rebounded by stringing together three straight wins, including an armbar submission victory over Karla Benitez at the DREAM New Year's Eve supershow back on Dec. 31, 2011.
"Mega Megu" has 20 finishes in 25 career wins.
Also making some noise in her division is Aguilar (13-4), who like Fuji, lost a split decision to Gurgel before rebounding with consecutive wins. She most recently outpointed Patricia Vidonic at Fight Time 8 last month in Ft. Lauderdale.
Which one of these lovely ladies gets back into a title fight?
Bellator 69 is expected to air on Spike.com and MTV2. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for future updates to this still-developing fight card.
Posted in: bellator, career defeat, aguilar, bellator banner, ft lauderdale
Read the full article at MMA ManiaSpike TV Partners with ‘Amazing Race’ Co-Creator for 2013 Bellator Reality Show
Bellator Fighting Championships’ rumored reality show now has a heavy hitter on board.
Posted in: bellator, show, reality show, reality, championships ’
Read the full article at SherdogBellator Fighting Championship MMA reality show coming to Spike TV in 2013
New York, NY, April 3, 2012 - Spike TV and Bellator Fighting Championships are partnering with one of television’s most acclaimed producers, eight-time Emmy® Award winner Bertram van Munster, the visionary behind "The Amazing Race," to create a cutting-edge new unscripted reality show.
The one-hour original Spike series will premiere in 2013 and will showcase the fighters from the emerging mixed martial arts league, Bellator Fighting Championships. Details of the show will be kept closely under wraps until later this year.
"Some of the most physically-gifted and fascinating athletes in the world fight in Bellator, and I believe they make ideal subjects for an innovative new non-scripted series," noted van Munster.
"We are thrilled to partner with an industry legend such as van Munster, whose creativity and ingenuity will help expose Bellator to an expanded new audience next year on Spike," said Bjorn Rebney, CEO and Founder of Bellator.
"The concept of this ground-breaking new series will broadly appeal to not only mixed martial arts fans, but to reality show enthusiasts as well," said Sharon Levy, Spike TV’s Executive Vice President of Original Programming.
van Munster and Elise Doganieri will serve as Executive Producers for the new series. Levy and Tim Duffy, Senior Vice President, Original Programming, Spike TV, will oversee the project for the network.
Posted in: bellator, show, series, spike, van munster
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator Developing Reality Show for Spike TV Debut in 2013
Bellator Fighting Championships will soon be in the reality TV business, and they've hired an 8-time Emmy award winner to lead the charge.
Posted in: bellator, reality show, tv, debut, reality
Read the full article at MMA WeeklySpike TV: Bellator reality show debuts in 2013, 'Amazing Race' co-creator on board
Spike TV is gearing up for next year's arrival of Bellator Fighting Championships.
Officials today announced a new unscripted reality show that will feature Bellator fighters, though details of the series are under wraps for now.
"The Amazing Race" co-creator and Emmy winner Bertram van Munster will be involved in the one-hour show, which debuts in 2013 on Spike TV.
Posted in: bellator, reality show, spike, race cocreator, onehour show
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 64 Goes Down This Friday Night From Canada
Bellator Fighting Championships will head north to Canada this Friday night, as Ben Askren defends his welterweight title against Douglas Lima in the main event.
The card, which takes place from the Caesars Windsor in Ontario, will also feature the the bantamweight tournament quarterfinals and one semifinal in the featherweight tourney.
Askren will put his undefeated 9-0 record on the line against Lima, who sports a mark of 21-4.
The bantamweight bouts will pit Travis Marx (18-3) against Masakatsu Ueda (15-1-2) and Rodrigo Lima (10-0) vs. Hiroshi Nakamura (14-5-4). Alexandre Bezerra (13-1) and Marlon Sandro (21-3) meet in the featherweight semi.
Action begins at 7 p.m. ET with the prelims, while the main card starts at 8 p.m. ET on MTV2.
BELLATOR 64
Main Card
• Ben Askren (9-0) vs. Douglas Lima (21-4) for Bellator welterweight championship
• Alexandre Bezerra (13-1) vs. Marlon Sandro (21-3) in featherweight semifinal
• Travis Marx (18-3) vs. Masakatsu Ueda (15-1-2) in bantamweight quarterfinal
• Rodrigo Lima (10-0) vs. Hiroshi Nakamura (14-5-4) in bantamweight quarterfinal
Prelim Card
• Kyle Prepolec (21-1) vs. Lance Snow (11-2)
• Josh Taverine (2-2) vs. Chad Laprise (4-0)
• Mike Richman (11-1) vs. Chris Horodecki (18-3)
• Matt Secor (3-0) vs. Nordine Taleb (6-1)
• Taylor Solomon (3-3) vs. Jason Fischer (2-0)
Posted in: bellator, vs, bantamweight, card, lima
Read the full article at MMA ConvertAll-Access: Fight Day with Bellator Boss Bjorn Rebney
Four hours of sleep is enough. Even if it's not, it will have to do. That's all he can spare now with another long day ahead, which will stretch to almost 18 hours by the time it’s done. That's all he needs. Anyway, sleep isn't necessary when you run on coffee and adrenaline.It's 7 am in Uncasville, Connecticut, and Bjorn Rebney is ready to start his day, just four hours after the last one ended. So if you want to be technical about it, he truly started his day in a town car, on a long ride which started in Manhattan's urban sprawl and ended up in… Where exactly is this, anyway? If you were simply looking at a map, it seems an unlikely place for a sporting event. As one of Rebney's crew members will later point out, they're 40 miles from anywhere. As you near Mohegan Sun, the destination rises up to meet you. The three-winged main structure is 34 stories high and from a distance, looks as though it was carved out of quartz crystal. It is the second largest casino in the world, just behind its Foxwoods neighbor, 10 miles east. The state of Connecticut doesn't regulate mixed martial arts or allow gambling, but on sovereign Native American land within a tiny village in this tiny state, both are thriving. The simple rural setting is deceptive. It fits as a perfect metaphor for the promotion, which like the tucked-away casino, is bigger than almost anyone realizes. Bellator recently sold a majority stake to media giant Viacom, but for now, it remains hidden away on MTV2 before its move to Spike in 2013. That's a game-changer that will provide the promotion its densest exposure. But that's all in the future.
*******Rebney has never been afraid of a little competition, a little contact. He was a good enough football player in his youth to attend Ohio University on an athletic scholarship. There, he won two varsity letters while playing fullback. In a team that was heavy on I-formation offense, that meant Rebney -- who is 6-foot-3 and then weighed 240 pounds -- spent a lot of time smashing into other people."I liked the fact that I was right in the middle of all of the impact of the game," he said. "It was fun."Aside from the sport he's involved with, it's not much different today. Nearly every decision to do with television or arena production runs through him. From the time he walks into the Mohegan Sun Arena at 11 am until the time he leaves the front door almost 14 hours later, that's a handful. By 1 pm, he's moving through various seating sections, listening to the sound on the fighter promos as though he was a paying fan. Is the music drowning out the voices? Is Karl Amoussou understandable through his French accent? Suddenly, something catches his eye. "Why does Zoila have a line across her face?" he suddenly asks, confounding the audio engineer standing in front of him. Everyone glances up to where Rebney's looking. Every Bellator champion is represented with a banner hanging from a truss, and sure enough, there is a crease crossing the banner of women's champion Zoila Gurgel, moving diagonally across her face. It's something you would probably look right at without seeing, but to Rebney, it's plain as day.One of his crew members volunteers to address it, saying that he eventually needs to buy a steam iron to tote from town to town.By now, the arena crew has been hard at work for hours, since just before Rebney was waking up. The cage is set, the lighting is being tested, and a DJ is setting up equipment. Bellator's grinding weekly schedule has made it all fairly routine.For Rebney, event week starts on Monday, when he flies out from Chicago. Unlike UFC boss Dana White, Rebney flies commercial, making his schedule susceptible to the same random delays faced by any traveler. Each week during the season, he spends roughly 48-hour stretches at home before taking off for Bellator's next destination. Back Saturday afternoon, gone on Monday, like clockwork.That means a lot of time away from his wife, Huma Gruaz, a high-powered executive in the marketing and public relations world, as well as their two children Jonathan, 17, and Celine, 15. Some weekends when his wife is traveling, they won't see each other at all. If they're both in town, Saturday night is date night, with the two sparring over genre. While Huma prefers art house fare, Bjorn likes comedies and action-thrillers. On a good night, their interests intersect, like the time they both laughed all night watching "Superbad."******On fight day, Rebney wears a path between the arena's floor and its bowels, which house a series of semi-trucks, five of which are decorated with Bellator imagery. Part of the traveling road show of 65-70 production and operations employees along with the many other local workers enlisted as support staff are milling around or inside the trucks in a kind of organized chaos that ensues before every event.
[Bjorn Rebney makes one of his frequent visits to the production truck. Photo by Mike Chiappetta, MMA Fighting]This is all a recent upgrade for Bellator, which three years ago, basically just carted around its cage and one production truck, or as Rebney refers to it, "silly putty, paper-mache, and some balsa wood."The improvements are part of the Viacom deal, a move that vindicated Rebney's long-held vision for Bellator. He had in the past worked in the boxing industry and had watched the first stages of the UFC's growth with interest. Pouring most of his own money into the startup and going in without a safety net, Rebney moved forward with creating a business plan.By then, organizations like the IFL and EliteXC had already sprung up, and because they were public companies, Rebney was able to look over their numbers and see the mistakes they had made. That was good and bad. On one hand, he could learn from their errors; on the other, their failures were spectacular enough to make investors gun-shy.Over a 16-month span, Rebney flew all over the U.S., pitching 61 investment groups in an effort to raise capital. It was no small commitment, as he was looking for an eight-figure number. Time after time, the answer he heard was not the one he was looking for. The 62nd try came in a phone meeting. The firm, Plainfield Asset Management, had previously been approached by both the IFL and EliteXC to save their sinking ships, and partly because of their familiarity with MMA, they connected with Rebney's plan. He was cut him off midway through his pitch and asked how quickly he could get to New York. He was on a red-eye that night, and a deal soon followed."One of the coolest things about my job now is I would say something like 15 percent of those people who rejected my pitch have gotten back in touch with me and said, 'I blew it,'" he said.******Just after 3 pm, announcers Jimmy Smith and Sean Wheelock rehearse the show's opening while Rebney watches from the production truck. After so many shows, you might guess everything would flow perfectly, but Smith begins breaking down the wrong fighter, thrown off by the placement on a graphic. "We always highlight the guy on the left first," he says. Then, when he's told it will be fixed, he pretends he's a diva, adding, "I'll be in the trailer with my bowl of green M&M's."The line draws a laugh from the crew. Generally, the mood is energetic, like they realize they are still building towards something bigger. It's not exactly a dress rehearsal for the move to Spike, but it's something like it. Neither is there any real rivalry with the UFC, but you can't deny a bit of tension boiling under the surface, like when Spike executive producer Scott Fishman reminds a graphics designer that "MMA Uncensored Live" co-host Nate Quarry, who will help with color commentary during the broadcast, should be referred to as "former MMA fighter," not "former UFC fighter."
[Rebney takes a breather from pre-production to conduct a phone interview. Photo by Mike Chiappetta, MMA Fighting]
By the time 4:30 rolls around, rehearsal has been completed, the arena audio sound has been approved, and Zoila Frausto's banner has been lowered, ironed and re-lifted to hang over the cage alongside her male counterparts. For the next hour, Rebney takes his only break before showtime to take care of other matters. He returns to his hotel room to call his wife and say hello, he makes a few business calls, and he changes into his trademark black suit and black dress shirt, a look he says that is borne out of simplifying the packing process."I go on the road for six days, I got six black suits, six black shirts. It's so simple." Then, as if he just thought of it, he mentions that "there's some blood in our game, so light colors don't work so well."Rebney watches the first two undercard fights cageside, then goes to the production truck, electing to keep an eye on the time. The next undercard bout get finished in a blink, as top welterweight prospect Andrey Koreshkov needs just 86 seconds to KO Tiawan Howard. That ensures another swing bout will air before the main card begins, much to the delight of those in the truck worried about the show’s timing."It’s not good for the guy fighting Koreshkov, but it’s good for us," Rebney says.Later, the unbeaten 21-year-old Russian visits the production truck to take a photo with Rebney, looking awed by the expensive equipment. Rebney explains that he is from a small, poor city. Someone else suggests he was suffering a case of nerves prior to the fight. He shows Koreshkov and his interpreter some of the setup, but five minutes later, he's on the move again, back at cageside. But that only lasts for minutes. He wants to watch the TV opening, so two minutes before Bellator 63 goes on the MTV2 airwaves, he's back in the truck, wishing his crew a good show.This time, the photo on the graphic is correct, Smith nails the opening, and a satisfied Rebney returns to his seat in front of the cage to watch the main card opener with Ben Saunders against Raul Amaya. Saunders is a huge favorite, but try as he might, he can't put Amaya away. By the time it's over, Amaya's left eye is almost completely swollen shut, and he's escaped from countless submissions. Despite losing, the effort is courageous.In the next fight, David Rickels makes his promotional debut with a 22-second knockout of Jordan Smith. Afterward, Rebney is told that Koreshkov's taped fight will air, so he takes advantage of a nine-minute break to visit Amaya. He wants to pat him on the back and commend him on the gutsy performance, but when he enters the locker room, Amaya's corner tells Rebney he's in the shower. Rebney shrugs. Instead, he finds Rickels, who happens to be sharing the same locker room with Amaya. Rebney congratulates him and shakes his hand."Do more of that," he says. Rickels smiles and nods, as if 22-second knockouts are just that simple.Rebney will have the exact opposite reaction at the next match between Bryan Baker and Carlos Alexandre Pereira, which is marked by periods of inactivity and smatters of boos from the 4,000 in attendance. Between the second and third rounds, Rebney, sitting next to Bellator president Tim Danaher at cageside, shakes his head."Somebody needs to do something," he says to no one in particular. But the third begins the same way as the previous two, and with less than two minutes left, Rebney gets up from his seat to attend to other business.Rebney wants a big finish from the main event, and he gets it. Amoussou, who has recently given up his full-time police work to concentrate on fighting, slices Chris Lozano open with a head kick and then submits him with a rear naked choke in just 2:05. Still noticing the small details, Rebney sees Amoussou limping on his way out of the cage.On a yellow legal pad, he writes in the welterweight semifinal matchups: "Amoussou-Rickels, Saunders-Baker." Then he gets up to head to the back, where Amoussou is getting a quick look-over from a commission physician."I feel great," Amoussou says to both the doctor and Rebney, before anyone can even ask."Thank you for closing out the show," Rebney says back. He asks about the limp, and Amoussou laughs it off, saying he twisted his leg celebrating, but is fine.Standing nearby, matchmaker Sam Caplan breathes a sigh of relief. On the way out of the locker room, Caplan and Rebney shake their heads at Amoussou's domination."That's what he did to me in sparring, but I didn't think he'd do it to another pro fighter," Caplan says. Bellator produces two more matches after the televised main event, but at this point, the real pressure is off. At 10:27 pm, Rebney yawns for the first time all day. The press conference is still to come, and a series of one-on-one interviews are to follow. By the time he leaves the arena, it's 12:45 am.Just a few steps out the door, he runs into color commentator Smith and undercard fighter Dan Cramer, who is still hanging around despite fighting and winning five hours ago. They briefly chat before parting ways. Before he heads back to his hotel room, he'll meet up with his TV partners to talk about the night. Then, he'll go to his room, put on CNN and see what the rest of the world has been doing for the last 17 hours."You do get closed in," he says. "I can tell you anything you want to know about arena lighting and fighters and licensing music, but I don't know what's going on in Syria."Fight day is over, and he'll be home soon enough. If he's lucky, he'll see his wife, spend some time with his kids, and begin the cycle all over again. If it's a kind of Groundhog Day, it's the best kind."I'm living the dream," he says. "To live in this world that once only existed as a concept in your head… How many people get to do that?"Everyone else around the casino is thinking about winning big, but the man in black doesn't gamble. He doesn't need to. Instead, he walks off, swallowed up by the lights and noise and dreamers. The adrenaline may have worn off, but sleep isn't yet in his near future. Who needs sleep anyway? Not him. Not with so much to do. Not with so much ahead. Forty miles from anywhere, Bjorn Rebney has Bellator right where it's supposed to be.
Posted in: bellator, time, day, rebney, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMegumi Fujii vs Jessica Aguilar slated for Bellator 69 in Louisiana
Two fighters left in Zoila Gurgel's championship wake will meet at Bellator 69.
For the first time in a year and a half, top Japanese fighter Megumi Fujii will return to Bellator to meet Jessica Aguilar in a 115-pound fight at Bellator 69.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney confirmed the bout with Rob Sargent of MMARising.com, who also pens MMAjunkie.com's biweekly "Women's MMA Report" column.
Posted in: bellator, jessica aguilar, megumi, fujii, pens mmajunkiecoms
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 64 fight card headed to Caesars Windsor in Canada on April 6
CHICAGO, Ill. (April 2, 2012) -- As Bellator Fighting Championships makes its long awaited return to Canada, it brings with it a stacked fight card headlined by a Bellator Welterweight Title Fight between World Champion Ben Askren and Season 5 Tournament Winner Douglas Lima, a Season 6 Featherweight Tournament semifinal featuring dangerous Brazilian Marlon Sandro and Alexandre "Popo" Bezerra and the first two fights in the Season 6 Bantamweight Tournament.
The night will also feature a loaded preliminary card filled with some of the best talent across Canada.
The event will broadcast LIVE starting at 8 p.m. EST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. EST, with the first fight scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The preliminary card, featuring the area's top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. EST.
The night will feature the return of Bellator veteran and London, Ontario native Chris Horodecki as he battles Minnesota's Mike Richman in a Lightweight fight. Horodecki brings with him an impressive 18-3-1 record while the 11-1 Richman is looking to impress the Bellator brass in his debut with the promotion.
Top welterweight prospect Nordine Taleb looks to add to his current five-fight win streak when he faces off against undefeated Matt Secor in a middleweight contest that is sure to please the Canadian crowd. Taleb, who will be making his Bellator debut, will be fighting for the first time since stopping UFC veteran Pete Sell back in November of last year while Secor will be looking to make a name for himself in enemy territory.
Elias Theodorou steps into the Bellator cage for the first time as he battles Michigan native Rich Lictawa in middleweight action; and a pair of local feature fights will also be on the card as Windsor natives Kyle Prepolec and Lance Snow will square off in a catchweight bout while Josh Taverine will take on undefeated Chad Laprise in a welterweight contest.
The card will be rounded out as local fighter Taylor Solomon takes on Jason Fischer in lightweight action. Fischer, who has yet to go to a decision, will look to keep his undefeated record intact when he enters the Bellator cage in Windsor, while Solomon looks to ride the momentum of his 70-second KO victory against Mike Sledzion in November.
Posted in: fight, bellator, pm, card, bellator cage
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator signs Brazil's Phelipe Lins
Once again Bellator Fighting Championships turns to foreign talent to
fill its ranks, and undefeated prospect Phelipe Lins
is the latest recipient of a contract.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed that verbal agreements are in place with the fighter,
and a contract should be finalized shortly.
Lins could potentially appear in season-six non-tournament fight.
Posted in: bellator, contract, brazil, lin, phelipe
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMegumi Fujii-Jessica Aguilar Slated for May 18 at Bellator 69 in Louisiana
Two of MMA’s top female competitors are set to square off when Bellator Fighting Championships rolls into Louisiana next month.
Posted in: bellator, mma ’s, megumi, louisiana, championships rolls
Read the full article at SherdogEddie Alvarez: “I need to go in there and I need to perform the way I usually do, then we can talk about other things.”
After coming up short against Michael Chandler this past November, losing his title in the process, former Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez wanted nothing more than an immediate shot at winning his belt back. Not only was the match-up extremely entertaining but also competitive in nature with Alvarez nearly finishing Chandler off at one point.
Unfortunately for Alvarez, the only way to get a crack at a champion in Bellator is to win a tournament, and despite his contributions to the organization since their inaugural season the policy is one CEO Bjorn Rebney is not willing to waver on. However, as disappointing as it might be to Alvarez personally, the 27-year old both understands and appreciates the company’s structure from a professional standpoint.
“The way it’s ran, it keeps the integrity of the sport. It is a sport where a guy who works hard, who is basically an unknown can come out and be a champion. It is that,” explained Alvarez on The MMA Hour. “I think that a lot of promoters and promotions and even boxing does a good job in disguising that, making the champion look like someone who is immortal, someone who can’t be beaten. Bellator, more than anyone, keeps the integrity of the sport by facing guys who are unknown and could be very dangerous. In normal circumstances, some promotions may keep their champion away from a guy like that. Bellator doesn’t do that. That’s what makes it honest and true and keeps the integrity of MMA.”
With another tournament run unlikely for Alvarez based on his diminishing contractual obligations, he still has an opportunity to solidify himself as a top contender in Bellator or any other organization by beating Shinya Aoki later this month at Bellator 66.
“I need to go in there and I need to perform the way I usually do, then we can talk about other things. Because, right now, I can go in there and if something doesn’t go my way that night, I don’t have much to stand on. I need to go in there and show my value,” admitted Alvarez on the matter.
The 22-3 Alvarez had seven-fight winning streak snapped by Chandler. As chance would have it, the last person he fell to prior to Chandler was Aoki after being submitted by a Heel Hook less than two minutes into their meeting.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, way, alvarez, i need, need
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainEddie Alvarez: “I need to go in there and show my value."
Former Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez is in a precarious position at the moment. Poised to test free agency for the first time in years, the 27-year old is coming off a loss to Michael Chandler and facing a man in his next outing who finished him in about 90 seconds the first time they met, Shinya Aoki.
As much as Alvarez is looking forward to avenging the loss, he’d originally hoped he would receive an immediate rematch with Chandler based on how close their November meeting was. Chandler submitted Alvarez a little over halfway through the fourth frame of their title-bout despite appearing to be on fumes based on an all-out war in the previous rounds.
“Before I even left the ring that night I went to Bjorn (Rebney) and I said, ‘I know this isn’t your protocol or what you do, but I would like a rematch. I think I earned it and I think the fans would enjoy it. Let’s try to do that,’” said Alvarez last week while calling in to the MMA Hour.
However, Alvarez understands the same tournament structure giving Chandler a shot at his belt or even earning him one during the organization’s inaugural season is one Bellator isn’t interested in messing with. And, as much as he’d like a shot at winning his belt back, Alvarez is fine with CEO Rebney’s firm stance on the matter.
“The way it’s ran, it keeps the integrity of the sport. It is a sport where a guy who works hard, who is basically an unknown can come out and be a champion. It is that. I think that a lot of promoters and promotions and even boxing does a good job in disguising that, making the champion look like someone who is immortal, someone who can’t be beaten. Bellator, more than anyone, keeps the integrity of the sport by facing guys who are unknown and could be very dangerous,” explained Alvarez. “In normal circumstances, some promotions may keep their champion away from a guy like that. Bellator doesn’t do that. That’s what makes it honest and true and keeps the integrity of MMA.”
Without a title-shot on the horizon Alvarez’s focus is instead on Aoki who he’ll see at Bellator 66 on April 20. If he stumbles again as he did to the Japanese submission specialist in 2008 any thoughts of another title-run or salacious salary will quickly float out of the cage door.
Bellator 66 Ready to Wow Fans with Five Fights on Main Card
“I need to go in there and I need to perform the way I usually do, then we can talk about other things. Because, right now, I can go in there and if something doesn’t go my way that night, I don’t have much to stand on. I need to go in there and show my value.”
Alvarez is 22-3 in his career and had won seven straight prior to the Chandler loss. Nineteen of his victories have involved some form of stoppage.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, ’t, chandler, alvarez, night i
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 64 main card set with Bezerra vs. Sandro, two bantamweight tourney fights
Bellator Fighting Championships executives recently announced the main
card for this week's Bellator 64 event, and in addition to a welterweight title fight, the card also features a
featherweight semifinal bout and two bantamweight quarterfinal fights.
Alexandre Bezerra vs. Marlon Sandro fills the 145-pound slot, while
Travis Marx vs. Masakatsu Ueda and Rodrigo Lima vs. Hiroshi Nakamura
take the 135-pound roles.
Featuring a welterweight bout between current champ Ben Askren and top
contender Douglas Lima, Bellator 64 takes place April 6 at The Colosseum
at Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Posted in: bellator, vs, card, welterweight bout, caesars windsor
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWeekend warriors: Amoussou, Rickels stand out at Bellator and Iaquinta wins on TUF (Cagewriter)
Join Cagewriter for a look around the MMA world's weekend happenings.
Amoussou, Rickels shine at Bellator
Karl Amoussou moved on to the Bellator welterweight semifinals with a rear naked choke just two minutes into his bout with Chris Lozano. David Rickels wasted no time, knocking out Jordan Smith in just 22 seconds. Ben Saunders tried every submission in the book, but couldn't finish Raul Amaya on the way to a unanimous decision win. Bryan Baker, who was once a finalist in the Bellator middleweight tournament, won a less-than-thrilling split decision over Carlos Pereira.
Posted in: bryan baker, bellator, amoussou, rickel, tuf cagewriter
Read the full article at Yahoo! Sports‘King Mo’ Lawal Would Be Welcomed By Bellator, Super Fight League
Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal may be suspended for nine months due to a positive drug test, but that doesn’t mean other promotions can’t try and obtain his services.
Last week, after a Twitter outburst directed towards the Nevada State Athletic Commission results in his release from Strikeforce, Lawal was left pondering what would be in store for him going forward.
Well, if Bellator Fighting Championship or the Super Fight League out of India have anything to say about it, Lawal will not be unemployed for very long, as both promotion CEO’s recently informed MMA Fighting’s Mike Chiappetta.
“He’s too talented of a fighter,” said Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Look at him and what he was able to accomplish in a series of fights. So yeah, I’d absolutely talk to him, and I anticipate I will be talking to him.”
Ken Pavia, the CEO of the SFL, said, “It goes without saying that the SFL would love to have ‘King Mo’ fight in our organization. We’ll use best efforts to make it happen.”
Lawal is a former Strikeforce champion. He tested positive for a steroid following a fight with Lorenz Larkin – that he won, but had changed to a no-contest due to the positive test. Lawal has also expressed interest in a possible appearance or two in professional wrestling, so it seems he could be the hottest free agent on the market right now.
Posted in: fight, bellator, strikeforce champion, nevada state, lawal
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator heavyweight title fight between Cole Konrad and Eric Prindle scheduled for April 13
Are you ready for some title fights?
Hopefully you said "yes" because Bellator is going to be bringing them in bunches in the next few weeks.
On top of the two planned championship fights taking place this week and next week with the welterweight and bantamweight divisions, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced during MMA Uncensored Live that the heavyweight title was going to be defended on April 13th at Bellator 65 in Atlantic City.
The bout, which will feature Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad and the season five tournament winner Eric Prindle, will be the second title fight that evening as the Bellator bantamweight championship will be fought for with Zach Makovsky and Eduardo Dantas.
There will be a remarkably short amount of preparation time for both men, but that doesn't seem to bother them.
Prindle was just crowned the Bellator season five tournament winner last week when his original opponent Thiago Santos failed to make the 265 weight limit despite having three months and even an extra week to prepare.
Konrad was raring to go and expecting a short tournament finale so Bjorn Rebney announced that the fight would likely happen in the next four weeks. Crazy as that sounded, it was even wilder to hear that the fight would happen this soon.
Cole Konrad doesn't want to wait. He's spent enough time waiting. He only fought once in 2011 after the first seven fights of his career all took place in 2010. "The Polar Bear" likes to fight often and he's getting his wish.
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Will Prindle be able to become the Bellator heavyweight champion with only two weeks to prepare for the bout? Do you think Konrad's gamble will pay off?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, week, heavyweight, konrad
Read the full article at MMA ManiaEddie Alvarez Praises Integrity of Bellator's Tournament Structure, Even When It Frustrates Him
For a fighter in Eddie Alvarez’s position, the Bellator model is a system with the virtues of its faults. On the plus side, the tournament structure allowed him to fight his way to a lightweight title without pleading or begging for the shot, he explained to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. That system, Alvarez said, helps to maintain "the integrity of the sport" better than any other.As for the downside? Alvarez found out about that after he came out on the losing end of one of 2011’s best fights, dropping his belt to current Bellator lightweight champ Michael Chandler via fourth-round submission back in November."Before I even left the ring that night I went to [Bellator CEO] Bjorn [Rebney] and I said, ‘I know this isn’t your protocol or what you do, but I would like a rematch. I think I earned it and I think the fans would enjoy it. Let’s try to do that,’" Alvarez told Helwani.
He didn’t get an answer right away, but shortly thereafter he found out via internet reports that he wouldn’t be getting his rematch against Chandler. Not unless he signed a new, lengthy contract with Bellator, which he said he "wasn’t super comfortable with" at the time.The news "disheartened" Alvarez at first, he said, and after the show he and Chandler had put on, he felt the fans would have loved to see an instant rematch."At the end of the day, the fans create this sport," Alvarez said. "It’s important to give the fans what they want. If you don’t do that, you’re basically dying."But at the same time, Alvarez said he still respects Bellator’s tournament system, even if it kept him from getting what he wanted most after the loss to Chandler."The way it’s ran, it keeps the integrity of the sport," he said. "It is a sport where a guy who works hard, who is basically an unknown can come out and be a champion. It is that. I think that a lot of promoters and promotions and even boxing does a good job in disguising that, making the champion look like someone who is immortal, someone who can’t be beaten. Bellator, more than anyone, keeps the integrity of the sport by facing guys who are unknown and could be very dangerous. In normal circumstances, some promotions may keep their champion away from a guy like that. Bellator doesn’t do that. That’s what makes it honest and true and keeps the integrity of MMA."It’s also what kept Alvarez out of a rematch with Chandler, and thrust him into a bit of a gray area. Alvarez has two fights left on his current Bellator contract, the first of which will come against Shinya Aoki at Bellator 66 on April 20. It’s a rematch Alvarez has been trying to get for over three years, he said -- ever since Aoki submitted him with a heel hook at the Dynamite!! 2008 New Year’s Eve show in Tokyo. But with his contract so close to completion, revenge isn’t the only thing on Alvarez’s mind headed into the rematch with Aoki, he said."I need to go in there and I need to perform the way I usually do, then we can talk about other things. Because, right now, I can go in there and if something doesn’t go my way that night, I don’t have much to stand on. I need to go in there and show my value."The first time he lost to Aoki, Alvarez said, he was unsure of himself. There was a huge gap between his ground game and Aoki’s, and a part of him wasn’t even sure he was ready for that level of competition."I was sort of thrown to the wolves right when I first went to 155 [pounds]. I was still battling with my own confidence and my own issues with competing with top ten guys and top five guys. Now, I don’t have those issues anymore. Even with the Aoki fight, I let it define me for a little bit. I even [told] myself that maybe I’m not as good as I thought I was."But after getting back into action and racking up a seven-fight win streak that was only recently snapped by the loss to Chandler, Alvarez got his confidence back and evolved as a fighter, he said. The latter is something he doesn’t think Aoki has managed to do, as evidenced by his loss to Gilbert Melendez in Strikeforce."I still don’t think he has the ability to adjust. He’s very good at what he does, and he’s tricky. He’s able to get people where he wants to get them, given the skill sets he has. But I don’t think he’s evolved enough."He’ll get his chance to prove it soon, and after so many years of asking for another shot at Aoki he expects to be "smiling the night of the fight," Alvarez said. As for Chandler, Alvarez still thinks he’d beat him on most nights, and still hopes to get another shot at him."It’s one of those things, if you fight ten guys in MMA, no matter how good you are, you’re going to lose to maybe one of them, no matter how good you are. I got in there with a dangerous opponent and it wasn’t my night," he said. For now, he has to focus on avenging a different loss. If he’s successful in that effort, maybe he won’t have to wait quite so long for a chance to avenge another.
Posted in: fight, bellator, guy, alvarez, aoki
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 63 Video Highlights
Check out the Bellator 63 video highlights from Friday night's event in Connecticut, where the welterweight quarterfinals took place.
Posted in: bellator, video, quarterfinal, friday, welterweight quarterfinals
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 67 adds Welterweight Semis with Saunders vs. Baker, Amoussou vs. Rickels
Bellator 67 has added two welterweight bouts to its main card with the addition of the welterweight semifinals. After earning hard fought victories Friday night welterweights Ben Saunders and Bryan Baker will face off in the first semifinal with Karl Amoussou facing David Rickels in the second semi. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced the pairings in the Bellator 63 post-fight conference.
Belltor 67 will be headlined by a non-title bout between Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler and UFC-vet Akihiro Gono. The card will take place May 4 at the Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario. As always, the event will air on MTV2 with the preliminary bouts being aired on Spike.com.
Pictured: Ben Saunders
Posted in: bellator, bout, welterweight, karl amoussou, saunder
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyVideo: David Rickels Flattens Jordan Smith at Bellator 63
Bellator's season-six welterweight tournament opened with a bang on Friday at Bellator 63, but the night's quickest finish belonged to undefeated 23-year-old David Rickels.
Facing off against late replacement Jordan Smith, "The Caveman" needed just 22 seconds to find his mark with a blistering left hook that sent Smith reeling back to the fence. Rickels swarmed, uncorking a series of rights and lefts before sealing the victory with a vicious trio of uppercuts.
"I clipped him, and I saw he was hurt," Rickels declared in his post-fight interview. "He buckled down, and I always look to finish. A couple of good uppercuts after that, and it was goodnight."
Rickels (10-0) has now finished eight of his ten professional wins and is 4-0 under the Bellator umbrella. He is slated to fight Karl Amoussou (14-4-2) on May 4, 2012 at Bellator 67's welterweight semifinals.
Check out video of Rickels' TKO finish below.
Posted in: bellator, smith, postfight interview, jordan smith, rickel
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 63 Highlights (Video)
Bellator 63 took place Friday night at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. The card featured the opening round of the welterweight tournament and aired live on MTV2 and EPIX2 HD, with the prelims airing live on Spike.com. Bellator released a video recap of the event with the highlights of Bellator 63 and preview of Bellator 64.
Posted in: bellator, welterweight tournament, mohegan sun, spikecom bellator, uncasville ct
Read the full article at MMA FrenzySaunders-Baker, Amoussou-Rickels Welterweight Semis Slated for Bellator 67 in Ontario
Bellator’s welterweight tournament semifinals now have a destination, as promotion officials announced Friday night that Bellator 67 will host matchups pitting Ben Saunders against Bryan Baker and Karl Amoussou against David Rickels.
Posted in: bellator, friday night, promotion officials, karl amoussou, ben saunders
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 63 Results: Ben Saunders advances to welterweight semifinal with solid performance
Bellator welterweight Ben Saunders did a fine job washing the taste of defeat out of his mouth last night at Bellator 63 after having previously fallen in the Season 5 Welterweight Tournament final. “Killa B” implemented his unique combination of Muay Thai striking and aggressive BJJ in fine fashion, taking out tougher-than-expected Raul Amaya by way of a clear-cut decision.
Three other welterweights joined Saunders in advancing to the semifinal round of the Season 6 tourney including Frenchman Karl Amoussou who turned in an excellent 170-pound debut, sweeping opponent Chris Lozano from the bottom to end up in mount and eventually take his back for the first frame submission finish. David Rickels and Bryan Baker also moved on to round out the final four.
Here is a complete list of Bellator 63 results:
Ryan Quinn def. Marc Stevens via Unanimous Decision
Matt Bessette def. Saul Almeida via Unanimous Decision
Brandon Flemming def. Pete Rogers via Submission Round 1 (Peruvian Necktie)
Munah Hollanddef. Marianna Kheyfets via TKO Round 2 (Strikes)
Andrey Koreshkov def. Tiawan Howard via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
Dan Cramer def. Jeff Nader via Split Decision
Ben Saunders def. Raul Amaya via Unanimous Decision
David Rickels def. Jordan Smith via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
Bryan Baker def. Carlos Alexandre Pereira via Split Decision
Karl Amoussou def. Chris Lozano via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke)
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, round, decision, welterweight, saunder
Read the full article at Fighters.comVideo: David Rickels finishes Jordan Smith in 22 seconds at Bellator 63
It wouldn't be a typical Saturday without a "Bellator Moment" to share from the mixed martial arts (MMA) event that took place last night (March 30, 2012) at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Undefeated Welterweight prospect David Rickels was eager to keep his perfect record in tact when he stepped inside the cage at Bellator 63 to take on Jordan Smith in the quarterfinals of the promotion's season six 170-pound tournament.
And that's exactly what "The Caveman" did, needing only 22 seconds to mash "Mate Ele" -- who took the fight when Brian Foster was forced off the card -- into the fence and compel referee Dan Miragliotta to dive in for the rescue.
"I clipped him, and I saw he was hurt. He buckled down, and I always look to finish," said Rickels in his post-fight interview. "A couple of good uppercuts after that, and it was goodnight."
Not quite exactly, but an impressive finish nonetheless.
Rickels is now set to take on Karl Amoussou in the semifinals at Bellator 67 on May 4, 2012, while Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Ben Saunders battles Bryan Baker on the other side of the bracket.
For a detailed play-by-play results of the fight between David Rickels vs. Jordan Smith be sure to check out our complete Bellator 63 results post right here. And to check out our complete recap of the main card action on MTV2 click here.
Posted in: bellator, jordan smith, rickel, playbyplay results, rescue i
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDespite hiccups, Bellator CEO still committed to tournament format
Bellator had already seen one fighter miss weight during its sixth season and lose out on a tournament opportunity.
But the promotion had never seen a tournament fail to reach its logical end because a fighter lost a fight with the scale, as Thiago Santos did when he came in 10 pounds over for the rescheduled finals of the season-five heavyweight competition.
Despite the gaffe, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said he's not abandoning the format that distinguishes his promotion from others.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, format, ceo, tournament opportunity
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator, Super Fight League Both Voice Interest in New Free Agent 'King' Mo Lawal
When Muhammed Lawal was cut by Strikeforce this week following a nine-month suspension, his future was thrown into disarray. For now, Lawal is still on the mend from recent knee surgery, but he may not have to wait long to find a new home.At least two promotions have stated their interest in the former Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion. In separate interviews with MMA Fighting, both Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney and Super Fight League CEO Ken Pavia confirmed that they would likely reach out to Lawal in the near future to assess the possibility of pursuing him as a free agent for their respective organizations.
While Bellator has only signed a few fighters on the way out of Zuffa-owned promotions, Rebney said that Lawal would be the type they may target because of his upside potential and relative youth in the game (Lawal turned pro in 2008). Rebney hasn't so much as sent out a feeler yet, but said he's always heard great things about Lawal from mutual acquaintances to go along with his athletic talent. Because of those reasons, Rebney said he owed it to his company to explore the possibility.
"He's too talented of a fighter. He has too much athletic ability to ignore," he told MMA Fighting. "There were obviously pieces from his game that were missing that got exploited, but he's an incredible athlete, a talented fighter, a charismatic personality. Look at him and what he was able to accomplish in a series of fights. So yeah, I'd absolutely talk to him, and I anticipate I will be talking to him."
Meanwhile, the India-based Super Fight League recently hosted its its inaugural event in Mumbai, and a sophomore effort is just days away, with a full 2012 schedule already set. That means the promotion is on the lookout for talent, and according to Pavia, Lawal is on their radar.
"I have the utmost respect for King Mo," Pavia said. "He's a true student of the game and is exceedingly intelligent. Most importantly, he understands that we are entertainers and this is entertainment. He just gets it. It goes without saying that the SFL would love to have King Mo fight in our organization. We'll use best efforts to make that happen."Its next event, set for April 7, will be headlined by a heavyweight bout pitting Neil Grove against Todd Duffee.
Interestingly, Bellator and Super Fight League have a working relationship, with Bellator allowing contracted fighters Grove and Alexander Shlemenko to compete at the aforementioned April event.The 31-year-old Lawal is 8-1 with 1 no contest in his career. A former collegiate wrestling All-American and international amateur wrestler, he won his first seven pro bouts, becoming the Strikeforce light-heavyweight champ with a unanimous win over Gegard Mousasi in April 2010. In his next fight, he lost the belt in a TKO loss to Rafael Cavalcante, but rebounded with a knockout of Roger Gracie. In his most recent fight, Lawal beat Lorenz Larkin by knockout, but the decision was eventually changed to a no contest after he tested positive for the steroid Drostanolone. He appealed the decision, saying it was due to an over-the-counter supplement called S-Mass Lean Gainer that was later removed from store shelves. In addition to the suspension and change to the fight result, the Nevada state athletic commission also fined him $39,000. Hours after his penalties were set, he was cut by Strikeforce.All of this came on the heels of a recurring staph infection that ravaged his body, causing him to lose about 30 pounds. For now, he remains on crutches and isn't likely to fight anytime soon. At least with the first revelation of interested promoters, Lawal might begin to look forward to something positive.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight league, league, lawal
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 63 video highlights: David Rickels' KO, Karl Amoussou's quick choke
Bellator's season-six welterweight-tournament fighters took center stage at Friday's Bellator 63 event.
Bellator has now released video highlights of the four opening-round matchups.
They include David Rickels' swift knockout of Jordam Smith, as well as
Karl Amoussou's dominant rear-naked-choke victory over Chris Lozano.
Posted in: bellator, center stage, david rickels, karl amoussous, jordam smith
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 63 Highlights – The Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinals
Highlights from last night’s Bellator season 6 welterweight tournament opening round, featuring highlights from Ben “Killa B” Saunders, Karl Amoussou, Bryan Baker, and David Rickels.
Posted in: bellator, welterweight, tournament, saunder, karl
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 63 results recap from last night for 'Amoussou vs Lozano' in Uncasville, Connecticut
Bellator 63 continued the Bellator Fighting Championship's sixth season last night (March 30, 2012) from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Fans in attendance and viewers watching on MTV2 were once again treated to a solid show that featured some great fights and very exciting finishes.
The main event was a terrific capper on the evening, closing the night with some spectacular violence and technical skill on the canvas. Headlining fighters, Karl Amoussou and Chris Lozano had been jawing at each other all week and it all boiled over once Amoussou caught up to "The Cleveland Assassin."
Lozano stayed on his bicycle early, but after finally engaging, he was on the receiving end of a powerful head kick (pictured above). The new Greg Jackson-trained fighter responded wisely with a takedown, but Amoussou beautifully swept him into full mount and after a flurry of powerful punches, Lozano surrendered his back.
In the frenzy, Amoussou was able to take Lozano's back and sink in a rear naked choke, which forced the tap at just 2:05 of the first round.
The rest of the Bellator season six welterweight quarterfinals also featured some interesting action, too:
Former Bellator middleweight tournament finalist Bryan Baker made the cut down to 170 pounds for the first time and had his hands full with Brazilian veteran Carlos Alexandre Pereira. Baker, widely known for his aggressive fighting style almost to a fault, was considerably more reserved against the dangerous and powerful Nova Uniao striker.
Neither man took the initiative, however and even though Baker spent the majority of the fight working from the outside, he was able to score more takedowns as well as mix in a relatively even amount of strikes, primarily his kicks to match Pereira and eek out a split decision in the least entertaining bout of the evening.
A fight which definitely had the viewers' jaws dropping was the welterweight quarterfinal between prospects Jordan Smith and David Rickels. After landing a few leg kicks, Rickels swarmed Smith and blasted him with a flurry of punches which broke through his defenses and sent the former middleweight reeling to the canvas. When he was unable to defend himself, the referee stepped in and put a halt to the action just 22 seconds into the first round.
Opening up the main card was an entertaining scrap between Bellator season five welterweight finalist Ben Saunders and undefeated and untested scrapper Raul Amaya. Amaya gave Saunders everything he had for two rounds, working for takedowns and adding some pressure in the stand-up, but he was unable to seriously threaten "KIlla B" albeit a brief instance where he was landing some aggressive punches from top position in the second round.
Saunders remained composed whether he was fending off takedowns, on his back or pressed against the fence and constantly was on the attack with knees, punches, submission attempts and sweeps. Eventually, he overwhelmed Amaya in the third round and dominated from top position, threatening with a series of submissions but perhaps became too excited to score the finish and left openings for Amaya to escape danger.
In the end, however, Saunders was easily awarded a unanimous decision, winning all three rounds on all three judges' scorecards.
While his bout wasn't an official part of the tournament, Russian prospect and teammate of Alexander Shlemenko, Andrey Koreshkov showcased his tremendous potential by absolutely demolishing Taiwon Howard with a first round knockout which featured a spectacular combination of precision strikes.
After initially stunning Howard, the Russian landed a beautiful uppercut and then put Howard away with follow-up strikes and some aggressive ground and pound. He cemented himself as a serious contender in a future welterweight tournament with his performance.
For complete Bellator 63 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights click here.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
After last night, who's your favorite to win the whole thing? Did Karl Amoussou become the man to beat or was it the 23 year old Rickels and his 22 second knockout? Are you still on team "Killa B?"
Sound off!
Posted in: bellator, round, lozano, bellator season, amoussou
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator Heavyweight Title To Be Defended At Bellator 65
Finally, Bellator Fighting Championship will send heavyweight champion Cole Konrad out for a title defense. Konrad will meet Eric Prindle at Bellator 65 on April 13.
The card takes place from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The main card, which will also feature Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky defending his title against Eduardo Dantas, will be televised by MTV2.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney made the announcement of the fight on Spike TV’s MMA Uncensored Live this past Thursday.
Konrad (8-0) has not competed since last August when he defeated Paul Buentello in a non-title fight. The former NCAA Div. I wrestling champion has been waiting for the Bellator heavyweight tourney to determine a No. 1 contender.
Prindle (7-1) became that contender after Thiago Santos failed to make weight for their finale fight. The two first in a match that ended in a no-contest after Santos connected with a low blow.
Konrad should be able to use his vast wrestling to control Prindle and wear him out, as Prindle’s cardio has come into play in his previous Bellator fights.
Photo Credit: Sherdog
Posted in: fight, bellator, title, konrad, prindle
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 67 adds Saunders-Baker, Amoussou-Rickels welterweight-tourney semifinals
Bellator's season-six welterweight-tournament semifinals are headed to Canada.
Following their opening-round victories at Friday's Bellator 63 event, officials announced the semifinal pairings include Ben Saunders vs. Bryan Baker and Karl Amoussou vs. David Rickels.
They take place at Bellator 67, which is slated for May 4 at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
Posted in: bellator, casino rama, semifinals, semifinal pairings, openinground victories
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator March action review & a preview of April’s coming attractions
How the fight cards for Bellator this month are shaping up.
Posted in: bellator, preview, march, fight cards, april ’s
Read the full article at Fight OpinionBellator 63 Recap and Results: Fan’s Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
On March 30, Bellator Fighting Championships presented Bellator 63 from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The event saw the quarterfinals of the season six welterweight tournament. Raul Amaya vs. Ben Saunders The opening fight on the MTV2 telecast saw the undefeated Amaya...
Posted in: bellator, welterweight, uncasville conn, opening fight, amaya
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBellator 63 results- Karl Amoussou chokes out Chris Lozano and welterweight bracket update
Bellator 63 resultsUncasville, CTKarl Amoussou def. Chris Lozano via submission rear naked choke 2:05 R1Bryan Baker def. Carlos Pereira via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)David Rickels def. Jordan Smith via knockout (punches) 0:22 R1Ben Saunders def. Raul Amaya via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-38, 29-28)Matt Bessette def. Saul Almeida via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)Dan Cramer def. Jeff Nader via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)Andrey Koreshkov def. Taiwan Howard via knockout (punch) 1:26 R1Munah Holland def. Marianna Kheyfets via knockout (punches) 4:45 R2Brandon Fleming def. Pete Rogers via submission Peruvian necktie 3:39 R1Welterweight bracket update and fighter rankings after the jumpAll tournament rankings are done by ULTMMA.com prior to the opening round of the Bellator eight man bracket. These rankings are unofficial. Former MMA prospects ranked and graded by ULTMMA.com who are making their Bellator tournament debuts include: Mike Corey, Ricardo Tirloni, Karl Amoussou, Raul Amaya and Bruno Santos.Featherweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 9, Hammond, IndianaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Roberto Vargas (#6) by Submission RNC R1Mike Corey (#7) def. Ronnie Mann (#2) by Unanimous DecisionAlexandre Bezerra (#3) def. Kenny Foster (#8) by Submission RNC R2Daniel Straus (#4) def. Jeremy Spoon (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 6, Ontario, CanadaMarlon Sandro (#1) vs. Alexandre Bezerra (#3)Mike Corey (#7) vs. Daniel Straus (#4)Lightweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 23, Laredo, TexasLloyd Woodard (#4) def. Patricky Freire (#1) by Submission Kimura R1Rick Hawn (#2) def. Ricardo Tirloni (#3) by TKO R1Brent Weedman (#8) def. J.J. Ambrose (#6) by Submission Von Flue Choke R2Thiago Michel (#5) def. Rene Nazare (#7) by Split DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, OhioRick Hawn (#2) vs. Lloyd Woodard (#4)Thiago Michel (#5) vs. Brent Weedman (#8)Welterweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 30, Uncasville, ConnecticutKarl Amoussou (#3) def. Chris Lozano (#4) by Unanimous DecisionBen Saunders (#1) def. Raul Amaya (#5) by Submission Rear Naked Choke R1David Rickels (#8) def. Jordan Smith (#6) by KO R1Bryan Baker (#2) def. Carlos Pereira (#7) by Split DecisionMay 4, Ontario, Canada Ben Saunders (#1) vs. Bryan Baker (#2) Karl Amoussou (#3) vs. David Rickels (#8) Middleweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 16, Bossier City, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Norman Paraisy (#7) by Unanimous DecisionBrian Rogers (#6) def. Vitor Vianna (#1) by KO R1Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) def. Victor O'Donnell (#8) by Unanimous DecisionBruno Santos (#4) def. Giva Santana (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 20, Cleveland, Ohio Maiquel Falcao (#2) vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3)Bruno Santos (#4) vs. Brian Rogers (#6)Bellator 62 results
Posted in: bellator, submission, vs, chris lozano, amoussou
Read the full article at UltMMAAlright, here are some Bellator 63 highlights
Bellator 63 just wrapped up the opening round of the Bellator season six welterweight tournament at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut with Gary LaPlante in attendance and supposedly wearing a perfectly nice sweater/collared shirt combo. This marks the first MMA event in years in which Gary didn't don Bad Boy clothing, that alone is worth acknowledging in an article.
Ben Saunders advanced to the quarterfinals in a hard fought match over Raul Amaya that went to a decision, even after a nasty armbar in the second that was scarily close to a Ronda Rousey moment.
In the next fight David Rickels took 22 seconds out of his life and TKO'd Jordan Smith.
Bryan Baker eeked out the split decision over Carlos Alexandre Pereira to advance, then Karl Amoussou declared his need to not just defeat his opponents, but destroy them in his new weight class. When he stepped into the cage against Chris Lozano, that's exactly what he did. Click below for the gifs from Zombie Prophet.
Posted in: bellator, weight class, welterweight tournament, karl amoussou, gary laplante
Read the full article at Middle EasyBellator 63 results: Amoussou, Baker, Rickels, Saunders advance to welterweight semis
Karl Amoussou wanted to make a statement, and did just that in the
opening-round of Bellator's season-six welterweight tournament.
The Frenchman sliced through tournament season-five vet Chris Lozano,
cinching a first-round submission to advance to the semifinals.
Amoussou joined Bryan Baker, David Rickels and Ben Saunders in the
winner's circle on Friday at Bellator 62, which took place at Mohegan
Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, and aired live on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, ben saunders, amoussou, winners circle, semifinals amoussou
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 63 Results: Welterweight Semifinals Set
The Bellator welterweight tournament kicked off on Friday with four participants moving onto the next round including a blistering performance from main event fighter Karl Amoussou.
Posted in: bellator, event, welterweight, semifinals, participant
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 63: Amassou vs Lozano Live Blog And Play By Play
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for Bellator 63. Our live coverage will start with MTV 2 broadcast (8 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event. We will not be doing play-by-play of the undercard, but you can discuss those fights in the comments as well.
The Welterweights get into action tonight with the opening of the Bellator 170 lb tournament. The card is headlined by the quarterfinal match featuring Chris Lozano (9-2), an Ohio based fighter who lost to last year's winner of the Welterweight tourney. In his way is the French Judoka "Psycho" Karl Amoussou (13-4-2).
Just before the main event Bloody Elbow community member and UFC veteran Ben Saunders (12-4) will faced off against the undefeated Raul Amaya (9-0). Another undefeated prospect David Rickels (9-0) will take on short notice replacement Jordan Smith (17-2), who got the call when UFC veteran Brian Foster failed him medical exam.
The first match of the night will be between Brazilian Carlos Alexandre Pereira (33-9) and Bellator veteran Bryan Baker (16-3), who is dropping down from Middleweight to take part in the welterweight tournament.
Join me here in the comments and let's have a rollicking good time tonight.
Carlos Alexandre Pereira vs Bryan Baker
Season 6 Welterweight Quarterfinal
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
David Rickels vs Jordan Smith
Season 6 Welterweight Quarterfinal
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Ben Saunders vs Raul Amaya
Season 6 Welterweight Quarterfinal
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Chris Lozano vs "Psycho" Karl Amoussou
Season 6 Welterweight Quarterfinal
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Posted in: bellator, round, vs, welterweight, quarterfinal
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 63 Real Time Results
One of the most anticipated groupings of the Bellator Season 6 tournaments is set for action tonight as the welterweights take center stage at Bellator 63. Among the eight talented individuals looking to advance to the semifinal round are popular UFC veteran Ben Saunders, hard-hitting Frenchman Karl Amoussou, much-hyped newcomer Jordan Smith, and Bellator alums Chris Lozano/Bryan Baker.
Things almost got started early during weigh-ins yesterday when Amoussou and Lozano went nose-to-nose and had to be separated by CEO Bjorn Rebney, continuing to shout at each other even after being split up.
The show kicks off tonight at 7:00 PM EST on Spike.com before heading over to MTV2 an hour later. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be watching and relaying live results back as they unfold in real time.
Read below for a full list of Bellator 63 outcomes:
Pete Rogers vs. Brandon Flemming
Ryan Quinn vs. Marc Stevens
Parker Porter vs. Randy Smith
Saul Almeida vs. Matt Bessette
Andrey Koreshkov vs. Tiawan Howard
Dan Cramer vs. Jeff Nader
Marianna Kheyfets vs. Munah Holland
Carlos Alexandre Pereira vs. Bryan Maker
David Rickels vs. Jordan Smith
Ben Saunders vs. Raul Amaya
Chris Lozano vs. Karl Amoussou
Posted in: bellator, vs, center stage, amoussou, weighins yesterday
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 63 discussion thread
Welcome to our discussion thread for tonight's Bellator 63 event.
The event kicks off at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT) with prelims on Spike.com before the main card airs on MTV2 from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., at 8 p.m. ET.
Stay tuned for a full recap of the event, which includes the opening round of Bellator's season-six welterweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, card airs, pm, discussion thread, uncasville conn
Read the full article at MMA JunkieLet's pretend the Bellator Season 6 welterweight quarterfinals are an epic mythological fantasy
You may not know this but the whole fantasy genre owes its existence to Norse mythology. To people following Germanic or Norse Paganism, the gods may have super powers but they are also predestined to die and the stories of how they meet their end have influenced A Song of Ice and Fire, The Lord of The Rings, Warhammer, Magic: The Gathering and almost every other fantasy series not set in the future. With each Bellator tournament we may not have the final battle of the gods on live television but nonetheless, the shadow of Ragnarok is upon us. In the cage, the fighters represent characters in a fantasy epic, each carving their own mythology as they strive for symbolic immortality. As you read this primer on the Bellator season six welterweight quarterfinals, remember that Tyr shines down upon your battle hungry souls with his blessings.
Karl Amoussou - Bragi
Bragi, the god of poetry, eloquence and song actually gave birth to the term ‘bragging’. Men would drink to Bragi on special occasions and toast to the acts they wished to complete within a year but after a few toasts, men started to talk as if they could teach themselves to fly and thus ‘brag’. A fighter can really only brag with his past accomplishments however, not those they expect to accomplish. Apparently, Karl Amoussou's 'bragging' on twitter has gotten under the skin of his opponent Chris Lozano in ways that would make Bragi proud. Amoussou has stated he plans to knock Chris Lozano out tonight.
Chris Lozano- Sutr
Have you seen Troll Hunter? If so, then imagine the final troll, but wielding a giant flaming sword. If you haven’t seen Troll Hunter then you probably should, just so you get that reference and can picture Surtr, the jötunn who is destined to beat Freyr on the battlefield of Ragnarok and set the world of men aflame. Now, I’m not saying that Chris Lozano is a bad guy by any stretch of the imagination but he is a monsterous welterweight. Ok, so he doesn’t have a giant flaming sword but he does have an 9-2 record and a red belt in Tae Kwon Do and NCAA division level wrestling experience. This probably isn’t enough to topple the gods but will it be enough for the welterweight tournament? He will have to destroy the beast Karl Amoussou first.
Carlos Periera- Hermod
Of his 33 fights, 22 have come by way of KO or TKO. If you were going to pick any of the welterweights in this tournament to take a trip to the underworld and rescue a kidnapped god then you’d send down Periera due to his speed, methodical strategy and already having fought in a place refered to as 'FATALITY ARENA'. This is why he is most like Hermod, the messenger god bestowed with the gift of speep who also happens to revel in batle. In fact, he loved battle so much that he sometimes escorted the Valkyrie on their ride to earth and the fallen warriors to Valhalla. Talking about Valhalla, thats no doubt where the fists of Periera will be aiming to guide Bryan Baker when the two face off tonight.
David Rickels- Njord
Njord, the god of the sea only really came into his own when he moved from the Vanir (the old, wise gods) to the Aesir (the dominating gods) as part of a peace treaty. Yep, the Norse gods actually had to arrange a peace treaty because they were at war with each other. This is really where the stories about Njord start. Similarly, David Rickels has already been a legitimate ass-kicker in Kansas but it his signing with Bellator that will be the start of his career. He has a 9-0 record and will look to drag Jordan Smith into deep waters and drown him.
Raul Amaya- Fenris
Is there really any other character from Norse mythology that Raul Amaya could be compared to? Fenris, the heel to end all heels has no motive in his story. He’s just a giant wolf who wants to tear the gods apart. He was so badass that when the gods learned of the trouble he was prophesied to cause they tried to bind him and he took Tyr’s hand clean off. Fenris is destined to kill the Allfather, Odin at the final battle, Ragnarok. Now, Raul Amaya may not be destined to kill Odin but he no doubt he believes that he is destined to pick up a Bellator belt. His nickanmae is smashmode and just like Fenris, Amaya is looking to ravage the world of men, or at least those men who face him in a cage, starting with Ben Saunders.
Jordan Smith- Víðarr
Víðarr was so upset at the death of Odin that he ran into the mouth of Fenrir the giant wolf and stabbed him in the heart. Yes, he stabbed him directly in the heart through his mouth. This is the kind of ridiculous courage you can only get from mythological stories yet mere mortals attempt to emulate the spirit of the gods here on Earth and in this season’s welterweight tournament, Jordan Smith is that man. Here is a fighter who most fans will have never heard of despite his stint on TUF and 20 total MMA fights against familiar names such as Karo Parisyan and Josh Burkman. He has only gone to decision three times and will face David Rickels tonight, personifying the courage of Víðarr. Hopefully he doesn't win via heart-stab though, that would just be messy.
Brian Baker - Freyr
In the world we live in, you can kill thousands of people with the touch of a button. For example, I took out a ridiculous amount of NOD troops in Command & Conquer the other day. In such a world, it takes a real man to enter a battle with nothing but your sword. It takes a god to give away his sword in the name of true love and then enter a battle armed with nothing but an antler. The ability to keep fighting, no matter the odds stacked against you is a necessary requisite for a Norse god but also for a fighter. No fighter in this tournament personifies this perseverance more than Brian Baker, a man who now enters this Bellator tournament aftwer fighting a battle with Leukemia that many mortals could not withstand.
Ben Saunders- Loki
Everyone sees Loki as a kind-of trickster, a bit of a prank puller and in Norse mythology Loki is the Josh Koscheck of gods, instigating others into attacking the gods. Don’t get my wrong, I’m not saying Josh is evil personified, but he is a prank puller who goes too far sometimes, exactly like Loki. What does this have to do with Ben Saunders? Well, Ben Saunders has tricky legs. He can kick you from another dimension if he wants to and will wear a jokeresque grin as he KOs his opponent into obilivion.
Bellator 63 goes down tonight featuring the welterweight quarterfinals. Fights start live on SpikeTV at 8pm EST /7PM CT.
Posted in: bellator, welterweight, battle, god, norse
Read the full article at Middle EasyBen Saunders: 'The Saunders/Lima Rematch Is A Very High Possibility'
This is a guest post by Stephie "Crooklyn" Daniels. Follow Stephie on Twitter @CrooklynMMA.
With Bellator 63 just a few more hours away, the quarterfinals of the welterweight tourney will be kicked off with some great matches. Of particular interest is the one between Raul Amaya and crowd favorite, Ben Saunders. With his last fight but a distant memory, Saunders hopes to get back on track in impressive fashion. I recently got a quick interview with Ben, and was able to get his thoughts going into this season's tournament.
SD: What do you know about your opponent?
BS: I don't really know too much about him. He seems like a brawling wrestler, so I'm going to be watching out for overhand rights and the takedown, for the most part.
SD: With this being Amaya's first fight on a big stage, how big a factor do you think cage jitters or stage fright will be for him?
BS: There's no doubt in my mind that this is going to be the fight of his life, and the fight of his career. Not only that it's the biggest stage for him, but I'm definitely going to be the biggest name and most experienced fighter he's ever gone against. Hopefully his training camp went well and prepared for me so we can get out there and put on a show for the fans.
SD: What do you like best about Bellator?
BS: I love Bellator. They're 100% top notch, and they treat me well. To be honest, I love their cage. I think their cage, and above all, their canvas and flooring is the best there is. The grip that I get on it...I just feel that their cage is the best that I've ever fought in.
SD: With most MMA fighters, their ultimate goal is to get into the UFC or get back into it's fold, but you seem to have found a really comfortable groove with Bellator. Is it not so much a priority as it once was for you to find your way back to the UFC?
BS: When i first started with Bellator, I wasn't sure what direction I was going to be going in or how I felt. Now, I've been with them for so long, and they've treated me so well, that at this point, I'm 100% down to work and stay with Bellator. I'm only getting older, so when I look at it, and ask myself what's really relevant, and what's really important, and that's being able to make a living. Being able to pay my bills. I'm able to do that with Bellator, and I'm down to build and grow with them.
You just never know. I can't be stupid enough or naive enough to not look at the what ifs of potential career ending injuries that could plague me down the road. I'm living in the now, and just doing the best I can to create a financial plan for myself for when my career starts to go a little downhill, or when I start losing my prime.
SD: How do you think you'd do in rematches against the guys you lost to, and is it important to you to avenge your losses?
BS: As far as the Lima fight goes, I felt I won the first round, and the second round, we both threw for the fences, and his landed. It is what it is. But hell, I'm always down to defend any of my losses. I expect him to win the title, and I'm expecting myself to win the tournament, so the Saunders/Lima rematch is a very high possibility. That fight doesn't get to me as much as the others, because it was a competitive match that I felt I was winning. We both put it all on the line, and it's something that I believe anybody can look at and say, 'Hey, on any given day, either one of those guys could have won that fight, in any kind of fashion.'
As far as the other three rematches, without a doubt, I know, for sure, that I could win. I felt that I wasn't able to showcase my skill and my talent, the way I was able to with Lima. With these fights, there's no doubt in my mind that I didn't perform to my abilities, and I think a rematch with those guys would be 100% different.
Everybody that I've ever lost to has had more experience and more fights than me. I think that has been a big factor that worked out well for them, because they put the time into their career and their skills to get to where they are. At this point in time, in my career, I've done the exact same thing. I feel I'm kind of breaking into my prime now, and I believe that I have the confidence and skills to finish anybody in a rematch.
Follow Ben via his Twitter account, @BenSaundersMMA
Posted in: fight, bellator, rematch, im, sd
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator Fighting Championships signs Brazilian heavyweight Vinicius Queiroz
Brazilian giant Vinicius Queiroz is the latest addition to the Bellator Fighting Championships roster.
MMAjunkie.com has confirmed with sources close to
the promotion that "Spartan" has agreed to a deal with the promotion and
could make his Bellator debut in an upcoming season-six event.
A member of Brazil's famed Chute Boxe academy, Queiroz hasn't fought since a UFC 120 loss to Rob Broughton in October 2010.
Posted in: bellator, bellator debut, seasonsix event, queiroz, viniciu
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBreaking It Down: Bellator 63
Another week, another Bellator, another bunch of words by me. Bellator 63 is live this evening from the Mohegan Sun with the Season 6 Welterweight Tournament. Featuring some UFC vets, some Bellator vets, and some newcomers, the main card and preliminary card are both serious business and this will definitely be an awesome night of fights. Plainly put, I can’t wait for the Bellator 63 highlight reel!
As with most Bellator events, not everyone made weight, so.. ..wait, what?!?? Everyone made weight?!?! Okay, I wasn’t expecting that, so let’s get down to business, shall we?
Pete Rogers (0-0) vs. Brandon Fleming (0-0)
Not much is known about these two gentlemen. Through my research, I discovered that Fleming went 2-0 as an amateur with one TKO and one decision, a stat that doesn’t really say anything about his fighting style. I actually couldn’t find ANYTHING on Rogers, so.. I’m going to literally flip a coin and guess that guy will win a decision. Totally scientific stuff here.
Winner – Brandon Fleming defeats Pete Rogers via Unanimous Decision
Ryan Quinn (6-3-1) vs. Marc Stevens (14-6)
Quinn beat Dhiego Lima once, so there’s that. Not much to say when it comes to Quinn other than that. He’s an alright fighter with a limited skill-set, but he’s always improving. The experience advantage goes to Stevens, who competes in his 21st fight. He has nine stoppages in his fourteen wins, so he’s no slouch when he’s locked in the cage. Anything is possible, but, I have the more experienced man taking home his third straight victory.
Winner – Marc Stevens defeats Ryan Quinn via Unanimous Decision
Parker Porter (5-3) vs. Randy Smith (14-10-1)
Porter might not sound like someone you know, but this man has fought both Jon Jones and, most recently, Gabriel Gonzaga. While he wasn’t victorious in either bout, he’s no stranger to tough opposition. On the other side of the cage “The Wolf” hasn’t faced really anyone of note, but he put together some impressive winning streaks in his career. I actually see this fight as being very even, but it’s the inconsistencies in Smith’s game that have me giving the win to Porter.
Winner – Parker Porter defeats Randy Smith via TKO Round 1
Saul Almeida (12-1) vs. Matt Bessette (7-3)
Keep your eyes on Almeida. While he may not be the most exciting fighter, the dude can get it done in the cage. Currently riding a five-fight winning streak, he’ll likely be looking for his sixth straight decision victory tonight. Meanwhile, “The Mangler” Bessette is looking to rebound from a loss to Joey Proctor back in October of last year. With most of his wins coming by submission it could be said that he excels in BJJ though I think the difference here is that Bessette doesn’t particularly have any incredibly strong point in this game, whereas Almeida is a grinder of Jon Fitch proportions. Almeida takes home the win after a fifteen solid, dominant minutes.
Winner – Saul Almeida defeats Matt Bessette via Unanimous Decision
Andrey Koreshkov (8-0) vs. Tiawan Howard (9-8)
Koreshkov is another prospect to watch out for. Undefeated in his career, he has never gone the distance and even holds a victory over Kyacey Uscola. The Russian fighter looks to earn his way into next season’s welterweight tournament with a win or two under the Bellator banner. Howard has struggled to find footing in the MMA world, going 2-5 in his last seven scraps. His skill set has been thwarted by his recklessness, and at 37 he’ll need to keep it together if he wants to make a splash anywhere in the MMA world. Unfortunately for him, the 21-year old Russian should make short work of him, likely with strikes and likely early.
Winner – Andrey Koreshkov defeats Tiawan Howard via TKO Round 1
Dan Cramer (7-3) vs. Jeff Nader (5-4)
Remember Cramer from TUF/UFC? Neither do I, but his first two fights took place there, and he even picked up a victory in his debut. Since then, the decision-friendly fighter has put together six more wins and takes on his sixth opponent in the Bellator cage. “Scary Nickname”, his opponent, can’t quite keep it together, but when he’s on he’s on in a violent way. With all but one win coming by knockout, Nader is always a threat on the feet. This is a rematch of their fight at Bellator 48 in which Nader scored the TKO victory late in the fight. That was the only time Cramer has ever been stopped, and honestly I don’t see lightning striking twice. Perhaps in a few months I’ll be breaking down the rubber match?
Winner – Dan Cramer defeats Jeff Nader via Unanimous Decision
Marianna Kheyfets (5-0) vs. Munah Holland (3-1)
The undefeated “Crushen Russian” Kheyfets finally makes her way to the bigger stage after going 5-0 to open her career. Known for having a pretty serious ground game, Kheyfets has basically had her way with every single fighter that has been put in front of her. Holland beat up Kim Couture. I like her already. With sufficient striking and the ability to dictate where a fight goes, Holland is a heavily underrated fighter and can cause problems for anybody/everybody in the division. I see this fight looking like a standard Kheyfets fight., i.e. a frenetic pace will be displayed and fans will be treated to one hell of a fight. Ultimately, Kheyfets scores the submission victory by, let’s say, Triangle Choke.
Winner – Marianna Kheyfets defeats Munah Holland via Submission Round 3
Bryan Baker (16-3) vs. Carlos Alexandre Pereira (33-9-1)
Baker makes the move down to 170 after a successful run at 185. Despite his success, he was unable to overcome Alexander Shlemenko and Vitor Vianna, so he’s coming to bring the pain to the smaller guys. A violent striker, Baker has power, but often gets dragged into a senseless brawl.
Pereira has faced some of the best fighters out there – Thiago Alves, Gleison Tibau, and Siyar Bahadurzada just to name a few. He has 22 knockouts to his credit and is very clearly proficient on the feet. 15-1-1 in his last seventeen fights, it goes without saying that Pereira has earned his way into the Bellator welterweight tournament.
Call me crazy, but I think Baker gets way too excited in this fight. He can win, violently, and if he does so I expect it to be early, but, I think Pereira hurts him, shocks the fans at home, and advances to the next round of the tournament.
Winner – Carlos Alexandre Pereira defeats Bryan Baker via Knockout Round 1
Jordan Smith (17-2-1) vs. David Rickels (9-0)
Oh Smith, look at you! After a ton of fantastic wins, fourteen of which have come within the distance, “Mata Ele” makes his debut on the second (third?) biggest stage in MMA. The well-rounded 27-year old looks to extend his win streak to three with a victory tonight, and he is more than capable of doing so. To be quite honest, he very well may be the dark horse in this tournament.
Looking to play the spoiler, “The Caveman” hopes to score his tenth win in as many fights. Well known for his submission game, Rickels can make anyone tap to his Triangle Choke and has done so in all three of his Bellator fights thus far. Undoubtedly he’ll be looking for another one tonight when he steps into the Bellator cage.
While Rickels has all the potential in the world, Smith is a serious contender. Both of these fighters have serious potential and big futures ahead of them, but I think that at this point Smith just has the better tools to make it happen.
Winner – Jordan Smith defeats Jordan Smith via TKO Round 3
Raul Amaya (9-0) vs. Ben Saunders (12-4-2)
Finally making his way out of the AOF promotion, Raul Amaya enters the Bellator welterweight tournament as an undefeated fighter. Having never gone the distance, “Smash Mode” loves to put his opponents out whether it be with punches or with chokes.
A UFC veteran and arguably the most notable fighter on the Bellator roster, “Killa B” Saunders was a finalist in the last welterweight tournament, and will be seeking redemption following his heartbreaking loss to Douglas Lima. The vicious striker who has shown an affinity to Eddie Bravo-esque grappling is arguably the tournament favorite and is out to prove way this evening.
Sorry Raul, but this just won’t be your night. “Killa B” will do what he does and that’s find the mark with strike after strike, probably even showing off some of that fantastic ground game he’s begun to display.
Winner – Ben Saunders defeats Raul Amaya via TKO Round 2
Karl Amoussou (13-4-2) vs. Chris Lozano (9-2)
The Frenchman, Amoussou, returns to Bellator in hopes of dishing out damage. With eleven finishes in thirteen victories, he definitely fits the description “Psycho”. Amoussou is a fan favorite due to his love of violence, and oh boy does he bring it!
Oh War Machine, oh War Machine, where for art thou, War Machine? After being forced, legally, to drop out of this fight and the tournament, War Machine has been repalced by Lozano. Lozano is a serious striker with some ridiculous power, and the Cleveland based welterweight plans to make the Frenchman’s stint in this tournament a very, very short one.
Amoussou is good, maybe even great, but the problem is he is only great early in the fight. His gas tank is far more limited than his skill-set. In my opinion, Amoussou wins this fight early but loses if it goes longer than five minutes. Basically it all comes down to whether or not Lozano can survive early and capitalize later on. And, honestly, I think he can.
Winner – Chris Lozano defeats Karl Amoussou via TKO Round 2
Oh the potential for violence! I think I’ve caught the vapors! Someone hold me! As always, the action goes down at 7:00 PM EST on Spike.com before the evening’s highlighted bouts head over to MTV2 (or TheScore.ca in Canada) an hour later. Enjoy the fights!
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: fight, bellator, vs, winner, defeat
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 63 Predictions
Bellator kicks off its Season 6 welterweight tournament on Friday night with four quarterfinal fights that feature a mix of established fighters who have been in the Bellator cage before and some newcomers to the promotion. The Bellator welterweight title will be contested in a week when Ben Askren takes on Douglas Lima, and the welterweight tournament will determinewho gets the next crack at the Askren-Lima winner.
What: Bellator 63
When: Friday, the MTV2-televised card begins at 8 p.m. Eastern on Friday.
Where: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut
Predictions on the four welterweight tournament fights below.
Karl Amoussou vs. Chris Lozano
Amoussou is capable of exciting finishes, but he's also capable of disappointing losses, and I think that's what he's going to suffer against Lozano, who has power in his hands and can knock Amoussou out.
Pick: Lozano
Raul Amaya vs. Ben Saunders
Saunders, the UFC veteran who advanced to last season's Bellator welterweight tournament final, shouldn't have any trouble dispatching Amaya, who's 9-0 but has never fought anyone on anywhere near the same level as Saunders.
Pick: Saunders
Jordan Smith vs. David Rickels
Rickels has a 9-0 record that includes three wins in Bellator, all by submission. He's dangerous on the ground, but Smith is a well-rounded fighter who should be able to out-strike Rickels on the way to a victory.
Pick: Smith
Bryan Baker vs. Carlos Alexandre Pereira
Baker has been with Bellator since its first season, but this is his first fight at welterweight after previously fighting exclusively at middleweight. Pereira has a wealth of experience fighting in Brazil, building up a 33-9-1 record, and he's a good enough striker that he'll be a threat to Baker standing. But I see Baker staying out of trouble and taking a decision.
Pick: Baker
Posted in: bellator, welterweight, saunder, baker, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 63 Live Results & Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., at approximately 7 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 62, which features the quarterfinals of Bellator's Season 6 170-pound tournament.
Posted in: bellator, pound, result, playbyplay, uncasville conn
Read the full article at SherdogMatchmaker, matchmaker: Fights for Eric Prindle, Melvin Guillard and a six-fight pay-per-view (Yahoo! Sports)
The latest from MMA's yentes includes a Bellator championship bout and the debut of a jiu-jitsu pioneer. -- Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced on "MMA Uncensored" that Eric Prindle -- who just won the Bellator heavyweight tournament by Thiago Santos … Continue reading →
Posted in: bellator, eric prindle, prindle, eric, mmas yentes
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBest of Bellator Video: Bryan Baker vs. Jared Hess at Bellator 50
Back in September, Bryan Baker joined his second Bellator tournament and looked for his 10th win in 11 fights.
Standing across from him at Bellator 50 and the start of the season-five
middleweight tournament was the tough-to-finish Jared Hess.
In our latest Best of Bellator Video installment, we take a look back at
that opening-round tourney fight.
Posted in: fight, bellator, video, bellator tournament, hes
Read the full article at MMA JunkieChamp Cole Konrad vs. Eric Prindle added to Bellator 65
Bellator officials wasted little time in booking a title fight between heavyweight champion Cole Konrad and de facto tournament winner Eric Prindle.
That bout will take place place April 13 at Bellator 65 in New Jersey, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced Thursday on "MMA Uncensored Live" on Spike TV.
The booking comes after two scheduled rematches between season-five tournament finalists Prindle and Thiago Santos were scrapped in recent weeks.
Posted in: bellator, title fight, tournament, spike tv, prindle
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBittersweet victory: Bellator heavyweight Eric Prindle discusses Thiago Santos and upcoming title fight with Cole Konrad
Bellator heavyweight Eric Prindle doesn't like to be given anything, he'd rather earn it.
That's why his first reaction after learning he'd won the Bellator season five heavyweight tournament by default was more disappointment than excitement. Thiago Santos had over three months to prepare and make weight and he couldn't do it, missing by a whopping 11 pounds.
Prindle felt he had something to prove after the embarrassing no contest in their first match-up, being unable to continue after an "accidental" soccer kick to the groin while he was on the ground.
He'd received negative comments from naysayers who felt he'd milked the injury and wanted to prove that he could actually beat Santos, but now the possibility of that happening are slim to none.
Instead, "The American Soldier" will be battling Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad and he spoke with MMAmania.com about his thoughts on Santos missing weight, dealing with negativity and his upcoming title fight against Konrad in this exclusive interview.
Check it out:
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): How does it feel to be the winner of the season five heavyweight tournament even though you didn't have to fight in the finals?
Eric Prindle: First of all, winning this thing is kind of bittersweet. I'm the type of person that I wants to earn what I do and I feel Thiago Santos disrespected me and Bellator by not making weight. He had months to prepare for this and then he had an extra week when the week prior, Bellator knew that he wasn't gonna make weight and I was sick so they wanted to make sure we had a conclusive end to our fight so they set the fight back a week, which everybody knows he did not make weight. He had a whole extra week on his part and he still didn't make weight. I still don't understand how that could happen.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I know that you've said your biggest motivation is to feed your family. That's gotta be good for your family once that check clears.
Eric Prindle: Oh definitely. Something a lot of people don't understand is, everybody thinks you win 100 grand if you win that fight but that's not the case. The case is, every fight you have, you earn so much and the way the contract is spread is, you may earn up to 100 grand throughout the tournament fights so if something happens, obviously you can earn 100 grand. Either way, I'm glad I'm fighting, I'm making money and I'm doing what I love. To have a job that you love and you're doing good, everything else is gravy.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You can be a bit of a sensitive guy, so did it really bother you when people were coming after you about the low blow and then later when you were really sick, them saying you didn't want to fight especially now knowing what you knew behind the scenes about Santos. How much did that bother you?
Eric Prindle: Oh yeah, big time. Especially when I was fine. I could have fought that Friday (at Bellator 61). I was in the army for 10 years. I've fought with a broken hand before, against Ron Sparks, my ankle was broke, you know what I'm saying? I'm not gonna quit because of being sick or something happened to me. Obviously, I've got my family and I don't want to lose but it did bother me a lot and it bothered me that people were saying that I didn't want to fight because I was sick especially because the commission deemed we wanted a more conclusive to the end of our fight. I was sick on Tuesday, was pretty much fine on Wednesday and was ready to cut weight on Thursday when they told me that there was going to be a problem. I guess they realized how heavy Santos was.
I think with me being sick earlier in the week and having to cut a lot of weight, they gave us both an extra chance, kind of like a godsend. It gave Santos an extra week but then he totally disrespected me, Bellator and the fans. I don't know if he thought it was going to be that easy of a fight or whatever but I can guarantee it wasn't gonna be an easy fight. I'm fighting for my family so I'm not gonna just turn over to a couple punches.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Do you agree with Bellator's decision to keep Santos on the roster after what he did?
Eric Prindle: That's not for me, I'd kind of want to political card on that one. For me, I wouldn't, but at the same time, he's a young guy. He has a lot of potential. I think if he learned some discipline and I've been thinking about it, he probably got a little bit of money, he was back in Brazil and he was living pretty good. The way it looked on his part, he had the fight with me and my ankle was still pretty much trashed from the Ron Sparks fight and the circumstances were that he went back to Brazil and he thinks he's gonna have an easy fight so he's living it up. I think he definitely learned that you can't cut 50 pounds in one day or whatever he had to cut. He learned from the situation and as far as Bellator, that's their decision.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): With the first fight being a no contest in just over a minute and then the next two fights being cancelled, would you ever consider fighting him again say if he wins a tournament or something like that down the road?
Eric Prindle: I would fight him. Personally, I want to fight him for my own, I want to stop him from being able to take me down. I want to learn and grow as a fighter and as a man. I always want to challenge myself and if we fight again, I'm gonna do whatever I can to make the fight standing and make it an exciting fight. I definitely would fight him again especially if the money was there and if it was the right circumstances and I knew for a fact that he was going to make weight. At the same time, I think he learned his lesson. I think he's a good guy. I don't really know him personally but he's always been pretty respectful as far as shaking my hand and all that. I wish him the best and hope he's learned from the mistakes he's made.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Let's transition to the future, now you've got a title fight with Cole Konrad coming up. You've spent a lot of time with Deathclutch and those guys. Are you not going to be able to go up and train with them because Cole trains there too?
Eric Prindle: Well, basically Cole trains with Greg Nelson and Marty Morgan at DeathClutch Gym in Minnesota and Minnesota Martial Arts. These days, I train with Eric Paulson at CSW in Fullerton, California and that's where I do most of my training. Once I get a date for my fight, I'll be going over there to train during the week and I'll come back home on the weekends.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): On Twitter, you were talking with Brendan Schaub and Shane Carwin saying you'd like to train with them. Now if the possibility to do that opens up, would you do that in preparation for this fight or is that more of a "down the road" kind of thing.
Eric Prindle: I definitely would if they were serious about having me out, I would definitely go out there and train with them. I wanna be loyal to Eric Paulson and the guys that are helping me out now, so as long as everyone is copasetic with me going out there, I'd love to go up there. For one, Brandon Schaub and Shane Carwin are awesome fighters from what I know so it would be nice to train with some other guys and get another look.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): How much time have you actually spent training with Cole and do you think that's something that could help you or him in this fight?
Eric Prindle: I trained with Brock Lesnar, we all trained for quite a while, like three or four camps whenever Brock fought or whatever. Anyways, we trained non-stop three months at a time, 2-3 months and I definitely think it helps both of us out. We definitely learned a little bit about each other. I know he's a great champion and one hell of a great guy. I know him personally, we could say we're friends. I would do anything for him and I'm sure he would do anything for me. I'm going to go in there and try to have the best fight possible for the fans, for Bellator and for ourselves.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Cole showcased his improved stand-up in his last fight with Paul Buentello. What did you think of his improved striking skills?
Eric Prindle: I actually haven't seen it but I know Cole is one hell of an athlete. He tends to get really good at whatever he tries so I know he'll be prepared so I'll have to be the best MMA fighter that I possibly can to beat him so I'm basically just going to school every day trying to learn everything I can and getting into the best possible shape I can and come prepared to fight and win.
Eric would like to thank his gyms, Eric Paulson at CSW Fight Ready Gym, Busted Knuckle Boxing, World Class Fighting, Scrap Iron Gym in Prescott, Arizona, his sponsors: Subway, Born to Bleed, Power Blocks, The Burn Machine and a special thank you to all his training partners and coaches. You can follow him on Twitter @EricPrindleMMA.
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Are you one of Prindle's naysayers? Do any of you think he has a shot against Cole Konrad when he fights for the Bellator heavyweight title?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, prindle, im, eric
Read the full article at MMA ManiaTONIGHT: Bellator 63 fight card at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut
Bellator 63 will feature the debut of American Top Team product and Danbury resident Marianna “The Crushen Russian” Kheyfets as she battles New Jersey native Munah Holland. Kheyfets brings a spotless 5-0 record into the cage, and will be looking to impress the Bellator brass in her debut.“I’m incredibly excited to be fighting in such a big event so close to home,” said Kheyfets. “This is a tremendous opportunity for me, and I can’t wait to get into the cage on
Posted in: bellator, cage, bellator brass, kheyfet, team product
Read the full article at Low KickBellator Boss: Eric Prindle-Cole Konrad Set for Heavyweight Gold at Bellator 65
Eric Prindle will receive his shot at heavyweight champion Cole Konrad on April 13 at Bellator 65.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, konrad, eric, heavyweight gold
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 63 Results: Lozano vs. Amoussou
MMA Fighting will have Bellator 63 results for Friday night's Bellator 63 event from the Mohegan Sun Arena at Uncasville, CT.
The main card will feature the welterweight tournament quarterfinals. The preliminary card will air on Spike.com at 7:30 p.m. ET while the main card will be televised on MTV2 and EPIX at 8 p.m. ET.
Check out the Bellator 63 results below.
Main CardChris Lozano vs. Karl AmoussouBen Saunders vs. Raul AmayaBryan Baker vs. Carlos PereiraDavid Rickels vs. Jordan Smith
UndercardRandy Smith vs. Parker PorterMarc Stevens vs. Ryan QuinnSaul Almeida vs. Matt BessetteTiawan Howard vs. Andrey KoreshkovJeff Nader vs. Dan CramerMarianna Kheyfets vs. Munah HollandBrandon Fleming vs. Pete Rogers
Posted in: bellator, result, vs, card, uncasville ct
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 63 Weigh-in Results; Welterweights All Set
The Bellator 63 weigh-ins took place Thursday afternoon at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn., where Friday night’s fights, which air on MTV2, will take place.
Posted in: bellator, result, place, weighin, uncasville conn
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 63: Welterweight Tournament Dissection
The Bellator train makes a stop at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, this Friday for Bellator 63. The show marks the beginning stages of the 2012 welterweight tournament and a solid undercard featuring two TUF alumni in Marc Stevens and Dan Cramer. The main card goes live on MTV2 and on the EPIX network (in HD) at 8 p.m. ET with the prelims streaming on Spike.com and Bellator.com at 7 p.m. ET.
The quarterfinals of the welterweight tournament, which account for the televised broadcast, shape up like this:
Chris Lozano vs. Karl AmoussouBen Saunders vs. Raul AmayaBryan Baker vs. Carlos Alexandre PereiraDavid Rickels vs. Jordan Smith
The preliminary card lineup is as follows:
Marc Stevens vs. Ryan Quinn (165-pound catchweight)Dan Cramer vs. Jeff Nader (185)Marianna Kheyfets vs. Munah Holland (women's 125)Parker Porter vs. Randy Smith (HW)Andrey Koreshkov vs. Tiawan Howard (170)Brandon Fleming vs. Pete Rogers (145)
Chris Lozano (9-2) vs. Karl Amoussou (13-4-2)
Chris Lozano is an athletic specimen and heavy-handed boxer out of the Strong Style Fight Team, where he trains with the likes of Bellator middleweight Brian Rogers and the UFC's Stipe Miocic, but he spent some time with Greg Jackson before this fight. Lozano came out of the gate with five straight stoppages via strikes, two of which were over former UFC fighters (Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Jason Dent).
His first loss was a decision to the scrappy Lyman Good, but Lozano went on to piece together a first-round knockout, a first-round rear-naked choke and a decision win over Brent Weedman. In his last, Lozano suffered his second career loss and first by knockout to Douglas Lima. To put that defeat in context, Lima crunched respected talent Ben Saunders by TKO in his follow-up bout and is no slouch.
There was a bit of a buzz among hardcores when Frenchman Karl Amoussou signed with Bellator. The nickname "Psycho" doesn't score creativity points, but it's appropriate for Amoussou. He's an explosive, bloodthirsty marksman who was physically powerful at middleweight and is now making his welterweight debut. Amoussou's been around the horn: bouts in Strikeforce, Dream, M-1 and Pancrase can be found on his rap sheet.
He carried twelve wins -- ten by stoppage -- and three losses into his Bellator stint, but started off with a semi-controversial decision loss to Sam Alvey. Amoussou dropped Alvey with low kicks, mounted him, hammered down ferocious elbows and split him open in the first, but Alvey clawed back into it in the later rounds to notch a split vote on the score cards. Amoussou clubbed Jesus Martinez in just over two minutes his last outing at Bellator 59.
Gifs and analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of Bellator 63
If all goes well with the cut, Amoussou should be a beast at 170. He's multi-dimensional with cleaving low and high kicks, thunderous punching power, fierce throws in the clinch (Judo black belt) and a legit threat with ground-and-pound, position and submissions on the mat.
He's reminiscent of a Chute Boxe stylist in that he puts everything into his punches and kicks and swarms with heated aggression. Though his defense is sound on the feet, Amoussou's offense-first mentality offers opportunities for counter strikers.
Lozano is a beefy welterweight with solid boxing and a good one-two. He likes to dig in and hurl big leather at close range, but can also be a little more artful and tactical on the fringe.
He started wresting at age five, earned a red belt in Taekwondo at age seventeen and has one pro boxing match. Though only a blue belt in BJJ, Lozano is a burly athlete with a strong clinch and isn't afraid to pursue "gimme-subs" such as guillotines and rear-naked chokes. He doesn't excel in the subtleties of footwork, head movement and defense like Amoussou.
I'm interested if Amoussou will have the speed and agility advantage here. Based on his past fights, he should -- but a reduction in quickness could be one drawback of the drop in weight. Since his clinch takedowns were formidable before, Amassou should be a load in tie-ups and might look to take that route more often. His elbows from the top are vicious and meshing takedown attempts with his fearsome striking could make for an imposing arsenal.
Somewhat surprisingly, Lozano has emerged as a slight favorite on the betting lines. I think Amassou should be too technical for him standing and too tough to move around in the clinch.
My Prediction: Karl Amoussou by decision.
Ben Saunders (12-4) vs. Raul Amaya (9-0)
You should know the scoop on Ben Saunders by now: bald, 70's style chops, ridiculously gangly for a welterweight (6'3", 77.5" reach) with volatile Muay Thai and a smooth submission grappling game. He's often criticized for having weak wrestling, yet there are few whom would not be out-wrestled by A-listers Jon Fitch and Dennis Hallman, which lead to his UFC release. Sanders tacked on four straight stoppages before the aforementioned loss to Lima in his last. His typical M.O. is to attack with a variety of kicks and rangy boxing from outside and gradually lock horns in the clinch to unleash a tornado of knees.
Raul "Smash Mode" Amaya is making his Bellator debut with an undefeated record. Having competed solely in the Art of Fighting promotion, he's finished every opponent with a nicely balanced ratio of four TKOs and five subs, and he's a good-sized welterweight as well (5'11"). Amaya's aggression, punching power and ability to transition from striking to takedowns should be his best weapons against Saunders.
In addition to the disparity in past competition, Saunders is a dynamic opponent who's tough to prepare for. His height and reach are hard to replicate with training partners, he's comfortable switching his stance from orthodox to southpaw, he's sneaky with sweeps and reversals in transitions and his striking and grappling are downright elite. Barring the puncher's chance, I'm in agreement with the betting lines that favor Saunders as high as -375.
My Prediction: Ben Saunders by TKO.
Bryan Baker vs. Carlos Alexandre Pereira
Bryan Baker is a former middleweight who's decided to take the plunge to 170. In his two previous forays in Bellator's middleweight tournament, he lost to Alexander Shlemenko in the 2010 finals and Vitor Vianna in the 2011 semifinals, both by first-round TKO. Baker will be an enormous welterweight at a broad-shouldered 6'3" and it will be interesting to see how he performs at this weight class. Baker is a wild boxer with big power but questionable defense and head movement. He's a load in the clinch and capable on the mat but clearly in his element standing.
Carlos "Indio" Pereira is a Nova Uniao livewire making his promotional debut. He's a former Shooto South American champ at 183-pounds with forty-two career fights at age thirty-two. He started lukewarm but has won fifteen of his last seventeen with one draw (Luis Santos, whom Pereira has defeated once before) and one loss (Siyar Bahadurzada for the Shooto World Light-Heavyweight title).
As we've come to expect from Nova Uniao talent, "Indio" is a high-octane striker with rugged low kicks, stiff knees in the clinch and an aggressive mentality. He holds twenty-two wins by TKO and five by submission. While he prefers to stand and bang, no one from Nova Uniao is weak on the ground.
Baker is a heavy favorite as high as -310. I'm quite skeptical about his decision to drop weight and concerned with his stamina. If he can replicate his previous level of athleticism and quickness, I'd say the line is accurate. The questions surrounding such a steep cut mixed with his sketchy striking defense have me leaning toward the veteran head-hunter in Pereira.
My Prediction: Carlos Pereira by TKO.
David Rickels (9-0) vs. Jordan Smith (17-2)
Rickels is a student of Muay Thai legend Saekson Janjira and undefeated after nine fights. Despite specializing in kickboxing, Rickels has proven to be a proficient grappler and a well rounded fighter (6 subs, 1 TKO). Jordan Smith is best known for his split-decision victory over Karo Parisyan on the Amazon Forest Combat card last September. Smith has seven wins by submission and TKO apiece with three decisions. His only losses are are split decision to former UFCer Josh Burkman and a first-round TKO against former WECer Tim McKenzie.
Smith gets a small push on the betting lines, which seems fair. He's fought a superior level of competition by a good measure, but Rickels is a wild card to watch out for.
My Prediction: Jordan Smith by decision.
All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com
Posted in: bellator, vs, lozano, he, amoussou
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 63 Weigh-In Results See All Fighters Make Weight
For the first time in several weeks, the weigh-ins for Bellator actually seemed to go as close to normal as possible. Bellator 63 will feature the quarterfinals of the season six welterweight tournament beginning at 8 p.m. ET on MTV2.
For the first time this season, all fighters who stepped on the scale made weight, including main event competitors Karl Amoussou and Chris Lozano.
The other main card welterweight tourney bouts include Raul Amaya vs. Ben Saunders, Jordan Smith vs. David Rickels, and Bryan Baker vs. Carlos Alexandre Pereira.
Bellator 63 takes place from the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. The prelims will stream on Spike.com.
BELLATOR 63 WEIGH-IN RESULTS
Main Card (MTV2)
• Karl Amoussou (170) vs. Chris Lozano (171) – welterweight-tourney opening round
• Bryan Baker (169.25) vs. Carlos Pereira (171) – welterweight-tourney opening round
• David Rickels (168.25) vs. Jordan Smith (169) – welterweight-tourney opening round
• Raul Amaya (170) vs. Ben Saunders (170) – welterweight-tourney opening round
Preliminary Card (Spike.com)
• Parker Porter (257) vs. Randy Smith (254.25)
• Ryan Quinn (165) vs. Marc Stevens (164)
• Saul Almeida (155.75) vs. Matt Bessette (154.5)
• Andrey Koreshkov (170.5) vs. Taiwan Howard (171)
• Dan Cramer (185.5) vs. Jeff Nader (184.75)
• Marianna Kheyfets (126) vs. Munah Holland (126)
• Pete Rogers (145.25) vs. Brandon Fleming (145.75)
Posted in: bellator, round, vs, opening, welterweighttourney
Read the full article at MMA ConvertLate-notice replacement Jordan Smith aims to make most of Bellator chance
Jordan Smith keeps telling himself slow and steady, like a tortoise, when it comes to his career.
But things have been moving pretty quickly as of late.
With a week's notice, Smith has a chance to win $100,000 in Bellator's
season-six welterweight tournament sits before him, and he doesn't plan
on blowing it.
Posted in: bellator, chance, jordan, smith, doesnt plan
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 63 Weigh-in Results: All 8 Welterweight Quarterfinalists Hit Marks in Connecticut
All eight welterweight quarterfinalists hit their contracted marks at the Bellator 63 weigh-ins on Thursday, including UFC veteran Ben Saunders
Posted in: bellator, mark, welterweight, welterweight quarterfinalists, quarterfinalist
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 63 weigh in results LIVE from Connecticutt for 'Lozano vs Amassou'
The official weigh-in event for tomorrow night's Bellator 63 fight card takes place today (March 29, 2012) at 5 p.m. ET from the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticutt.
Bellator 63 features the season six welterweight tournament. The main event will be headlined by a welterweight quarterfinal bout between "Psycho" Karl Amoussou and Chris Lozano. Amoussou is a French judo specialist while Lozano is trying to comeback from a tough knockout loss to last year's tournament champion, Douglas Lima.
Also filling out the card, undefeated prospect David Rickels takes on Jordan Smith, who stepped in on late notice for UFC veteran Brian Foster, who failed his medical scans before the event. Muay Thai specialist and fan favorite Ben Saunders will be fighting another undefeated prospect Raul Amaya as well.
Lastly, former middleweight tournament finalist Bryan Baker drops down to 170 for the first time to battle veteran Brazilian Carlos Alexandre Pereira in what expects to be a violent way to open the main card.
Complete Bellator 63 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
170 lbs.: Karl Amoussou () vs. Chris Lozano ()170 lbs.: Raul Amaya vs. Ben Saunders ()170 lbs.: Jordan Smith vs. David Rickels ()170 lbs.: Bryan Baker vs. Carlos Alexandre Pereira ()
Local Feature Fights (Spike.com)
125 lbs.: Marianna Kheyfets () vs. Munah Holland ()185 lbs.: Dan Cramer () vs. Jeff Nader ()170 lbs.: Andrey Koreshkov () vs. Tiawan Howard ()145 lbs.: Saul Almeida () vs. Matt Bessette ()265 lbs.: Parker Porter () vs. Randy Smith ()165 lbs.: Ryan Quinn () vs. Marc Stevens ()145 lbs.: Pete Rogers () vs. Brandon Fleming ()
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 63, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 8 p.m. ET tomorrow night (March 23).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: night, bellator, vs, lb, card
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVyacheslav Vasilevsky's M-1 contract is suspiciously absent
Last week Bellator fighter Vyacheslav Vasilevsky got absolutely reamed when a Dutch court found him in breach of contract with his former promotion M-1. The penalty: 1000 euros per day since the breach, and 5000 euros per day he competes in another promotion. All in all that adds up to over half a million euros, which seems like a slightly silly amount of money to owe. It's not exactly clear how easy it will be for M-1 to get that Dutch judgement upheld in the US. Especially considering Vasilevsky and Bellator are basically claiming M-1 doesn't even have a valid contract with the fighter. Like ... the contract may not even physically exist. Here's Vasilevsky's manager:
"When Bellator signed him back in November, I know at that point, the fighter requested – and I believe Bellator has done the same – requested a copy of the (M-1) contract," Kardan said. "If he was presented a contract, I'm pretty sure Bellator would not have signed him. I'm pretty positive of that. So for almost six months, [M-1 hasn't] presented any kind of contract that would state they do have an existing agreement with him."
Making things more interesting...
When asked to forward a copy of the fighter’s contract on the condition that it would not be published, Kogan declined, stating that the contract is an internal matter. Instead, the M-1 exec forwarded to Sherdog a copy of the signed judgment delivered in the Court of the City of Amsterdam as evidence that Vasilevsky remains under contract with the promotion.
Sound kinda fishy to you too? I'm not really against M-1 stopping fighters from breaching contracts or anything, but the dickface penalties built into their agreements make it hard (as it often is with M-1) to side with them in this situation. Especially when they can't even produce the contract in question.
Posted in: bellator, fighter, contract, vasilevsky, euro
Read the full article at FightlinkerWatch the Bellator 63 Weigh-ins Streaming Live at 5 p.m. ET on MMAWeekly.com
Tune in to MMAWeekly.com at 5:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. PT on Thursday for a live video stream of the Bellator 63 weigh-ins.
Posted in: bellator, pm, video stream, mmaweeklycom, mmaweeklycom tune
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator CEO Bjorn Rebney Part Two: Eddie Alvarez, Hector Lombard, and More
After discussing the future of Bellator in part 1 of the interview, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney was excited to discuss his current crop of fighters. Names such as Eddie Alvarez, Hector Lombard, and Ben Askren have graced the Bellator cage for years, and if it was up to Rebney, they would remain there for the duration of their careers.
Alvarez, the former Bellator lightweight champion, is set to rematch Shinya Aoki on April 20th in Cleveland, Ohio. The rematch has been a long time coming for Alvarez, who lost to Aoki at Dynamite!! 2008 on December 31, 2008. The loss was just the second of Alvarez’s career, and he has desired a rematch since the night of the loss.
For Rebney, it has also been a matchup he has long wanted. In fact, had he gotten his way, Alvarez vs. Aoki 2 would have been one of the first major matchups that Bellator ever put on. Unfortunately, contract discussions halted, and Aoki instead fought in the United States for Strikeforce, along with continuing to routinely fight in Japan. Alvarez was also continuing to fight, and win, as he won the first season’s lightweight tournament, and went on to defend his belt nearly two years later against Pat Curran.
But then everything began to shift, as Zuffa took ownership of Strikeforce in March of 2011, thus ending the partnership between Dream and Strikeforce, and Aoki’s ability to fight for both promotions. Later in 2011, Alvarez lost his lightweight belt to Michael Chandler.
After that loss, Alvarez went to Rebney, pleading for the rematch. Rebney made sure it happened this time around.
“We had our eye on the Alvarez vs. Aoki matchup for a very long time,” Rebney said of the rematch. “Eddie has been a longtime friend of mine, and I signed him in 2008. He had the first matchup with Aoki soon after, and he lost that fight. He came to me after that fight and said ‘If there is ever a favor I could ask of you, it is to get that Aoki rematch’, so I’ve been trying to make this work for years now.”
“After Eddie lost to Michael [Chandler], in typical Eddie Alvarez fashion he came to me and told me if that was still a fight I could put together, that he still wanted it. I would expect nothing less from Eddie. He never wants to take the easy road. If there was a picture in the dictionary next to ‘Philly Fighter’, it would have Eddie Alvarez’s face next to it. I then went to the folks at Dream and finalized the deal right after that.”
Unfortunately for Rebney, contract negotiations with another longtime Bellator veteran, Hector Lombard, have not gone quite as well.
Lombard, who won the Bellator middleweight championship in June 2009, has defended that belt just once in the nearly-three years since. He has fought in Australia for local Australian promotions nearly as many times as he has stepped into the Bellator cage. But Rebney still remains optimistic, hoping to retain the man he sees as the “best middleweight in the world”.
“Unlike many promotions, we don’t have champion’s clauses,” explained Rebney. “We don’t have re-occurring never-ending contracts. Our contracts have a definite term to them, and at the end of that term, the fighter has an exclusive negotiating period, which lasts a short period of time.”
“Our exclusive negotiating period is coming to an end with Hector relatively soon, so he will be able to go out on to the market to sign elsewhere. Because of our contract, we will have the right to match any contract offer. So if he does try and sign elsewhere, we will have the opportunity to sit down with our business people and figure out if we want to match that offer or if we want to wish Hector the best and see him go knock people out somewhere else like the UFC.”
Aside from dealing with those fighters and their workings inside the cage, Rebney has had to deal with other issues, after being given the horrible news that Bellator heavyweight Blagoi Ivanov was stabbed in his home country of Bulgaria in February.
After the incident, Ivanov was placed on an artificial respirator, hoping to stabilize his condition. After some improvements, Ivanov’s condition worsened, and he was placed in a medically-induced coma just weeks after the incident.
“Blagoi is still fighting for his life,” Rebney explained. “There has not really been any good news recently, unfortunately. He’s in a very tough spot and is in a bad situation. People are not cautiously optimistic right now. But if there is anyone that can come back from this and beat it, it’s someone that has been fighting his entire life like Ivanov.”
What Rebney is optimistic about is the remainder of the sixth season of Bellator, with the aforementioned Aoki vs. Alvarez rematch set to take over Cleveland in April, along with Ben Askren taking on Douglas Lima for the Bellator welterweight championship in Windsor, Ontario.
“Cleveland is going to have an absolutely amazing card,” said Rebney. “Not only are they getting the Aoki and Alvarez rematch, but also the second round of the middleweight tournament with Brian Rogers and Bruno Santos and the lightweight semi-finals with Rick Hawn taking on Lloyd Woodard and Brent Weedman vs. Thiago Michel.”
“Not to mention going to Windsor for Askren vs. Lima, which is right across the river from Detroit, and has a great history in the fight game. As we typically do, we are going to continue going into the major markets along with sprinkling in the smaller places like Laredo, Texas, where the people embrace a big-time show coming into town.”
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, aoki, rematch, rebney
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyThiago Santos accepts responsibility for missing weight, apologizes to Bellator officials
Bellator Fighting Championships heavyweight Thiago Santos claims he is a changed man.
After making the trip from the U.S. back to his native Brazil,
Santos has reflected on his Bellator 62 weight gaffe, and "Big Monster"
takes full responsibility.
While initially critical of Bellator brass, Santos and his camp now
admit not making weight is nobody's fault but their own. And while the
mistake cost Santos a chance to fight for Bellator's heavyweight belt,
he's positive it will never happen again.
Posted in: bellator, weight, bellator brass, mistake cost, nobodys fault
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 150: Jimmy Smith, MMA Discussion
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in MMA, including the firing of "King Mo" Lawal, random drug testing, Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen and more. We'll also preview this weekend's Bellator 63, which features the four quarterfinal bouts of the company's Season Six Welterweight Tournament, featuring Bloody Elbow favorite Ben Saunders.
We'll be joined by Bellator color commentator Jimmy Smith to preview Bellator 63 and discuss all things Bellator.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Legacy Fight Shorts, seen on Yushin Okami, Vaughan Lee and Hatsu Hioki at UFC 144, only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter andFacebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Bellator 63
Posted in: bellator, radio, elbow radio, elbow, boy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowWatch today's Bellator 63 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 5 p.m. ET
Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Conn., plays host to today's official
Bellator 63 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a live video stream
of the proceedings at 5 p.m. ET.
Bellator 63 takes place Friday and features the four opening-round matchups of the season-six welterweight tournament.
In addition to the live weigh-ins, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, text results, weighin, uncasville conn, mohegan sun
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 63 preview and predictions for 'Lozano vs Amoussou' on March 30 in Uncasville
Bellator Fighting Championships will head to "The Provisions State" this Friday night (March 30, 2012) at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticutt.
The main card will air live on MTV2 on fight night, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Bellator 63 features the season six welterweight tournament. While a couple original competitors have had to back out due to injury or even incarceration, there's still an intriguing tournament field.
The main event will be headlined by a welterweight quarterfinal bout between "Psycho" Karl Amoussou and Chris Lozano. Amoussou is a French judo specialist while Lozano is trying to comeback from a tough knockout loss to last year's tournament champion, Douglas Lima.
Also filling out the card, undefeated prospect David Rickels takes on Jordan Smith, who stepped in on late notice for UFC veteran Brian Foster, who failed his medical scans before the event. Muay Thai specialist and fan favorite Ben Saunders will be fighting another undefeated prospect Raul Amaya as well.
Lastly, former middleweight tournament finalist Bryan Baker drops down to 170 for the first time to battle veteran Brazilian Carlos Alexandre Pereira in what expects to be a violent way to open the main card.
Check out our complete Bellator 63 preview and predictions after the jump:
170 lbs.: Karl Amoussou (13-4-2) vs. Chris Lozano (9-2)
Karl Amoussou is a powerful French judo practitioner who's been competing professionally for nearly six years now. He's fought all over the world in promotions like M-1, Strikeforce, Dream and finally now Bellator. After losing a razor close split decision to Sam Alvey in a middleweight tournament eliminator fight, Amoussou dropped down to welterweight and laid waste to Jesus Martinez to punch his ticket to this tournament.
Chris Lozano was a highly touted welterweight out of Ohio. He lost a decision to former Bellator champion Lyman Good in his tournament debut last year but returned for season five, defeating Brent Weedman in a very entertaining battle before losing to Douglas Lima. He hasn't fought since Lima, but he's made some significant changes, notably moving out to Albuquerque and training at Greg Jackson's gym full-time.
This will be an interesting battle as Amoussou should be the bigger, stronger fighter but Lozano likely has an edge in terms of speed and striking ability. Don't be surprised to see Amoussou try to take this fight to the ground where he's got some terrific ground and pound, although his dangerous elbows are off limits until the tournament finals. Footwork and timing are going to be key for Lozano if he wants to play spoiler, and I've got a nagging feeling he will.
Final Prediction: Chris Lozano via TKO in round three
170 lbs.: Raul Amaya (9-0) vs. Ben Saunders (12-4-2)
Raul Amaya has entirely been built up in Florida's Art of Fighting promotion. In fact, he's had every single fight in his entire three year career there, going 9-0 and stopping every single one of his opponents. Amaya is a powerful and well-rounded young prospect but one has to be concerned about the level of competition he's faced thus far.
Ben Saunders was a terrific prospect in the UFC showcasing terrific Muay Thai skills, but he got outwrestled en route to being cut from the promotion. He found new life in Bellator, going 3-0 in the promotion and making it to the season five tournament finals before getting stopped by Douglas Lima. "Killa B" has vowed revenge and is extremely motivated heading into this tournament.
While Amaya seems to have some pretty respectable skills, that strength of schedule is a glaring weakness and he's never faced anyone even remotely on the level of Ben Saunders. Depending on if he gets psyched out or not by the giant leap in competition, I feel Saunders is simply going to be too much for him, either with his striking or his jiu-jitsu skills.
Final Prediction: Ben Saunders via knockout in round one
170 lbs.: Jordan Smith (17-2-1) vs. David Rickels (9-0)
Jordan Smith is a very interesting case. He started out his career undefeated in his first 15 fights including impressive victories over the likes of Bristol Marunde and even a draw with current top Bellator light heavyweight Richard Hale. He was surprisingly upset while auditioning to get into The Ultimate Fighter season 11 by Brad Tavares and decided to drop down to welterweight afterwards. He recently defeated Karo Parisyan and then stepped in for Brian Foster as a late entrant into this tournament.
David Rickels is a very talented young fighter. He got off to a quick 6-0 start to his career despite not taking everything very seriously. After signing up with Bellator in 2011, he quit his partying ways and focused on his mixed martial arts career. Once in Bellator, he won back to back to back fights all by triangle choke to earn his position in the season six welterweight tournament. Despite being undersized, he's got the skill and tenacity to make up for it.
Smith prefers to keep his distance and work his kicks in the stand-up department. In doing so, he usually can force his opponents to make a mistake when they turn up the aggression and then he capitalizes. Rickels is the type of fighter who would walk right into Smith's trap, wading forward and really looking to push the pace in the stand-up department. The contrast in fighting styles and strategy should be very interesting here but I have a bad feeling that Smith's size may be too much for Rickels.
Final Prediction: Jordan Smith via decision
170 lbs.: Bryan Baker (16-3) vs. Carlos Alexandre Pereira (33-9-1)
Bryan Baker was a very talented fighter at middleweight, having made it to the finals of the season two tournament and then the semifinals of the season five tournament although a knockout loss to Vitor Vianna convinced him to drop down to 170 pounds. Baker is a very dangerous man and he fights with bad intentions so it will be interesting to see how his skill-set translates to welterweight.
Carlos Alexandre Pereira is a very experienced Brazilian veteran who's undertaking a career resurgence. After starting out 9-7, which included some tough losses to the likes of Thiago Alves and Gleison Tibau in Brazil, he's won 24 of his last 27 fights, almost all of them by some form of knockout. Overall, he's been competing professionally for over 10 years now and he's hoping that experience will pay off in this tournament.
Pereira is a very talented striker and will be looking to catch Baker like Vitor Vianna and Alexander Shlemenko did, but he's going to have also have to be wary of Baker charging forward crazily and looking for a quick knockout himself. Baker loves to brawl in the stand-up and he's also got a very nice submission game to back it up. I think Pereira will give Baker all he's got, but barring some issues with the cut down to 170, "The Beast" will be too much for him.
Final Prediction: Bryan Baker via TKO in round two
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Are you still excited for this tournament despite the fact that War Machine and Brian Foster had to back out of it? Who's your favorite to win the whole thing?
Sound off!
Posted in: bellator, tournament, lozano, baker, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBeginning In 2013, Bellator To Hold Three-Hour Cards On Spike TV
Bjorn Rebney continues to push Bellator Fighting Championship into the mainstream media, as his MMA promotion will move from MTV2 to Spike TV beginning in 2013.
Rebney, the CEO for Bellator, told USA Today in a recent interview that the cards put on by his promotion will expand from two to three hours beginning next year. Rebney also added that an extra tournament – making it six now a year – will be held thanks to the addition of an extra hour.
It’ll eliminate the need for the superfight because we’re going to be able to get six tournaments running simultaneously per season. You’ll get that consistent repetition of having a No. 1 challenger earn the right to fight our champion. I will load the barrel in order for us to do title fight after title fight after title fight.
Rebney talked earlier this week about not going away from the tournament-style of Bellator, despite the problems it has created in the heavyweight division. By already talking about adding a sixth tournament next year, it would seem he is holding true to his word.
While Bellator’s tournament-style of determining a No. 1 contender may not always make for the most interesting match up, it does give a different feel to the sport than the UFC.
Posted in: fight, bellator, title, title fight, rebney
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 63 weigh-ins slated for Thursday, open to fans
Bellator Fighting Championships' sixth season continues Friday with Bellator 63.
The event, which features all four opening-round bouts in the company's current
welterweight tournament, takes place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena in
Uncasville, Conn.
The weigh-ins take place Thursday and are open to fans.
Posted in: bellator, place friday, welterweight tournament, uncasville conn, fans bellator
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNew Weight Class and Camp Have Bryan Baker Dreaming Big Prior to Bellator 63
While a little change in scenery can be refreshing for anyone, Bellator talent Bryan Baker has no plans to relax as he embarks on a new chapter in his career.
Posted in: bryan baker, bellator, bryan, weight class, baker
Read the full article at SherdogBellator CEO Bjorn Rebney on Season Six and Beyond for the Rising Organization
For Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, the sixth season of Bellator is pivotal for the company’s success. Now three weeks in, he could not be happier with how the season has started.
After kicking off the season in Hammond, Indiana with the Featherweight championship fight between Joe Warren and Pat Curran, to last week in Laredo, Texas with Lloyd Woodard pulling off the giant upset with his win over Patricky “Pitbull” Freire, Rebney is ecstatic about taking his product around the country, specifically in cities that do not get to see world-class mixed martial arts that often.
Now three years and six seasons in, not only are the fighters improving dramatically, but the crowds are as well. With three consecutive sellouts, Bellator as a whole is doing exactly what Rebney set out to do when he started the organization- improving.
“I am really excited for the whole season,” Rebney said to MMAFrenzy.com. “We have continued to improve the quality of fighters that step into the cage. Specifically with these tournaments, when they go from 8 guys to 4, I look at the guys that remain and I am shocked at the amount of talent that is there. The talent really is amazing with the top-class fighters we are putting out there.”
“Not to mention, the crowds have been just as great. We sold out the show to kick off the season in Hammond, Indiana. Then we sold out the show Bossier City, Louisiana. While it was a smaller venue, a sellout is a sellout.”
Sellouts might become the usual for Bellator, with Viacom now owning a majority stake in the company. With the backing of a multi-billion dollar media corporation, Rebney’s excitement for the future has only continued to grow.
Viacom, which owns Bellator’s current home channel, MTV2, also owns Spike TV, which will be Bellator’s home as of 2013. While Bellator might still air some programming on MTV2, Rebney is looking forward to being able to tell everyone “Bellator is now on Spike TV.”
“The move to Spike TV is the realization of television dreams,” said Rebney. “They wrote the book on mixed martial arts programming. They understand the promotion, marketing, and advertising better than anyone else in television. They are the best and are the best at it.”
“That transition is spectacular for the Bellator brand, and to be able to say ‘Bellator is on Spike’ is as good as it gets from a worldwide television perspective. With Viacom owning MTV, MTV2, and Spike, along with many other channels, there will be all different kinds of engagement in basically cross-pollinating the Bellator brand, but the place where you will see all-things Bellator will be on Spike TV.”
Spike TV, which formerly broadcasted live UFC programming from 2005 to 2011, has a contract that allows them to broadcast previously-aired UFC content until the end of 2012. On January 1, 2013, the move to Spike TV for Bellator is official. But even with nearly a year to go before the move to Spike TV, Rebney has already seen the impact the support from Viacom has had on the company.
“All of the changes we have experienced have been for the better,” Rebney explained. “We now have the support of the smartest people in television, specifically in televising mixed martial arts. It has made my job easier, as I now have executives I can call for assistance whenever I need it. To be able to have that kind of support system, it is like having an all-star team of coaches, and I can go to them for help in anything I need. The evolution of this company, in terms of the brand, the promotion, the marketing, the production, the advertising, the public relations, and the interaction with the media, it just takes it to a whole new level.”
The beginning of that transition started when Rebney decided to move the company’s broadcasts from Saturday nights to Friday nights, a transition he could not be happier with. While the current season is currently airing on the same night as “The Ultimate Fighter: Live”, it is certainly less of a challenge than routinely going up against UFC pay-per-view events and Strikeforce events.
“We plan on continuing to air Bellator events on Fridays,” Rebney said. “Regarding The Ultimate Fighter and broadcasting on the same night, one of those programs is one where world-class fighters fight and the other is a reality program. It is a show I used to love watching on Spike TV, but they are two very different shows. Format-wise, they are about as different as they can get.”
Another transition that has been made is the preliminary card setup. This season, notable fighters local to the area that the event is taking place have garnered spots on the preliminary card. Notable fighters such as Sean McCorkle, Travis Wiuff and Shamar Bailey fought at Bellator 60 in Hammond, Indiana. That, too, is a transition that Rebney is happy to include on the season, and something he hopes to continue.
“We will continue to use that format, but it will be intermixed with other guys that we need to get back on track or guys we are trying to groom for future tournaments,” said Rebney. “Certain shows are so stacked that we will have to groom other guys to get fights for to prepare them for the summer series and for fall events, but there will still be plenty of events that we will be able to use local talent, as well.”
With the immediate success the moves the company has made, along with the moves the company will see in the near future, it is easy to see why Rebney is so excited about 2012 and beyond for Bellator.
Stay tuned for part 2 of the interview with Rebney, as he discusses other situations with Bellator, including the current situation with middleweight champion Hector Lombard, former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and his upcoming rematch with Shinya Aoki, and the status of heavyweight Blagoi Ivanov, who was recently stabbed at a bar in Bulgaria and has since been placed in a medically-induced coma.
That and more will be discussed in part 2 of the interview, which will be posted on Thursday.
Posted in: bellator, season, tv, rebney, spike
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyMMA Roundtable: Should King Mo Have Been Cut, UFC vs. PRIDE Heavyweight Rosters and More
As we all digest the news of what happened to Muhammed Lawal and keep waiting for UFC 145 to get here already, MMA Fighting felt it appropriate to have my colleague Mike Chiappetta and I debate the weighty topics of today in another installment of the MMA Roundtable.
This week: Mike and I discuss whether Zuffa made the right call in cutting Lawal for his comments about the NSAC on Twitter, if there's a case to be made to change Bellator's tournament format, what chances Chael Sonnen has in his rematch with Anderson Silva and how the UFC heavyweights of today compare with PRIDE's best heavyweight era.
1. King Mo's cut: is that the right call by Zuffa?Chiappetta: No. I would have preferred he was simply fined. It would have been one thing if they released Lawal due to his nine-month suspension ruling by the Nevada state athletic commission stemming from a positive steroids test. At least then they could say they were punishing him for an illegal act related to the sport. Instead, it seems he has been let go due to his reaction to the suspension. More specifically, a tweet he sent out aimed at NSAC commission member Pat Lundvall, which referred to her as a "racist b----" for asking him if he could read and write English.Now, two wrongs don't make a right here, so Lawal wasn't exactly justified in his words. You can't have your athletes going around firing off venom, because that sets a terrible precedent. Policing the fighters has to be done. But stripping him of his livelihood for it seems a little bit harsh. I can understand his anger for being asked such a degrading question. He's not exactly a nobody, and any cursory knowledge of his background -- something by the way, that should exist in a ruling body judging him -- would clearly indicate his level of schooling. By the way, commissioner Lundvall had been speaking to him for a while by the time she asked the question that offended him, and clearly she knew he spoke English. Again, this doesn't excuse Lawal's tweet, but at least it gives some context into the emotion that led up to it. Sadly, the whole situation turned out like a fiasco on every side.
Thomas: Mike's absolutely right here. Certainly Lawal's words were incendiary. They were also unprofessional. But in the absence of a defined social media policy all fighters sign and agree to (like a terms of service agreement), any kind of punishment is capricious and unfair.
The UFC is trying to encourage use and novel application of social media among it's fighters (who, by the way, are not really employees but 'independent contractors'; would you fire your plumber for insulting others on Twitter?). That's a truly excellent idea and the vast majority of the times yields positive results. But fighters need to have a clear sense about what is and isn't expected of him. Relying on some notion of 'common sense' is plainly negligent on the part of the UFC.
Let's also make note of how utterly rude and patronizing commissioner Lundvall was in asking Lawal if he understood English. The notion that line of questioning is somehow common is total myth. Alistair Overeem failed to properly take a drug test in the specified amount of time and English is his second language. Was there any questioning about whether his proficiency in reading or writing English inhibited him from following through on his responsibilities? Please. The commissioner may or may not be racist, but they are most certainly condescending.
2. Bellator's heavyweight tourney ended terribly. Can their model be tweaked?
Chiappetta: Of course it can be tweaked, but should it be? I think the answer is no. The way the heavyweight tournament ended was unfortunate, but it's no different than when a title challenger or No. 1 contender drops out of a UFC bout and has to be replaced. In a way, Bellator has to face the same problem the UFC does: an unrelenting schedule. The shows must continue even when the fighters can't, and so there is only so much wiggle room when an injury takes place.In the past, Bellator has delayed title fights with one injured participant, but the tournament bouts must continue on and generate a winner, otherwise they become pointless. The heavyweight tourney had gone on so long, I can understand why CEO Bjorn Rebney basically threw his hands up and surrendered. Of course we want to see things decided in the cage, but you can only try to set up a fight so many times before it becomes obvious it's not going to happen. The tournament format is one of the few things that differentiates Bellator from other promotions, and they shouldn't give up that uniqueness to be just another fight promotion. Unforeseen issues are going to be pop up from time to time, but you just have to do your best to plug in the hole and move forward.
Thomas: There are obviously tweeks that can be made to Bellator's format. You know who knows that? Bellator. The question is how much? Therein lies the more challenge part of this problem.
This past week on The MMA Hour, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said as much. They'll be having more tournaments per season, moving to three hour shows and more. I can even see a case for abandoning heavyweights and focusing more on women.
But all of those alterations still keep the tournament model in tact. That, above all else, should not be abandoned. It's the key differentiator and a boon to the company. Moreover, there is time to get things right before moving to a bigger and much more important platform. While on MTV2, Bellator has the opportunity to make the adjustments necessary to properly leverage and execute on their business model. Those who argue about lackluster ratings fail to realize Viacom doesn't really care about them. In this window of opportunity, Bellator has the chance to get things right. As long as they don't abandon the tournament format, they'll likely move in the right direction.
3. Sonnen-Silva II was recently announced. What is Sonnen's realistic chance of winning?Thomas: I'd say his chances are slightly diminished from the last time, but still very real. It's well-known (though not exactly proven) Silva suffered from a rib injury during their first bout. He managed to win late, but took a beating along the way and looked dreadful at defending the takedown. He looked better at UFC 134 when he easily bested another strong wrestler in Yushin Okami, but Okami's a significantly different type of fighter. Among other notable differences, he isn't nearly as aggressive and doesn't run through his takedowns.The question on my mind is Silva. If he's healthy, is he still up to to peak performance? His game is so heavily predicated on speed and reflexes. At 37, are they still there? Liddell was cruising up through the second Tito Ortiz bout before his career fell off a cliff. I have no idea if he's there or not, but it wouldn't totally surprise me to see him not move, bounce and counter with the same nimbleness we are accustomed to seeing.I don't know if Sonnen will get rattled when a soccer stadium full of prideful Brazilians are wishing him to lose the fight or his life. There's arguments to be made Sonnen is both properly game for challenges and a bit of a choke artist. Either way, I expect a tough fight that will close inside the distance.Chiappetta: Sonnen has a very real chance to win. Luke makes some valid points, particularly the question we must ask every time Silva walks out to the octagon: Have we already seen his last great performance? This rematch will only intensify that question, only because the 10-month layoff will be his longest inactive stretch since a multi-year rest from 1997-2000 when he was still a young buck. He's been extremely active since then, and that's allowed him to be consistently sharp over the years. Will that time away from the cage adversely impact him against Sonnen? It's certainly possible. On the other hand, Sonnen didn't look particularly terrifying against Michael Bisping last time, though he got the job done. The one thing Sonnen has going for him is he knows he can repeatedly take down Silva, and that's a huge boost for his confidence as he walks into hostile territory. As long as he can stay out of traps, he has a very legitimate chance to win. The odds have Silva as a 3-to-1 favorite. I may be going out on a limb here, but I think it's closer to a coin flip, with Silva a slight favorite. It's not like Sonnen didn't come within two minutes of beating him last time around. 4. Are today's UFC heavyweights better or worse than PRIDE's best era of heavyweights?Thomas: I'd say they are at least as good if not better.Make no mistake: PRIDE's heavyweights were an elite group. And the major triumverate of rivals - Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko CroCop, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - mirrored the close contests among the sport's top light heavyweights at that time (Tito Ortiz. Vitor Belfort, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell) that helped push MMA forward. A lot of credit goes to them for helping to create a spectacle while competing in sport. Beyond the big three, there were MMA and heavyweight pioneers who grew the game with their outsized personalities as well as the technical evolutions they introduced (Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman and Gary Goodridge). And there were x-factors like Aleksander Emelianenko, who before catching a blood-borne disease, showcased the type of excellent boxing-for-mma skills rarely seen at that time in the sport's growth.But let's be serious: outside of the big three in their prime, none of the other heavyweights would stand a chance not only with the UFC's top three today, but possibly even their top 10 or top 15. Do I really believe a prime Kevin Randleman or Mark Coleman have anything for Frank Mir or Antonio Silva? In defense of the PRIDE heavyweights, some are still floating around among the UFC's top ranks. Nogueira may have had his arm broken against Frank Mir at UFC 140, but he was winning that bout and is still a top ten talent. Mark Hunt, for all his faults, is in the top 15 as well. At the top, it's arguably competitive. Across the division, though, the UFC ranks are significantly deeper.Chiappetta: It's always difficult to compare eras due to improvements in training and technique, but it's a fun debate. Let's imagine an eight-man tournament of the UFC's best four current heavyweights against PRIDE's four best all-time. If I'm doing the picking, I have Dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir for the UFC, and Fedor Emelianeko, Mirko Cro Cop, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Josh Barnett for PRIDE.I think a prime Fedor beats Dos Santos, Velasquez mauls Cro Cop, Nogueira submits Overeem and Mir tops Barnett. So we have Fedor vs. Velasquez and Nogueira vs. Mir in the semis. Well, we already know that Mir beats Nog, and Fedor squeaks past Cain to set up Fedor vs. Mir. I've got Fedor in that final, but of course, if you re-seed them and set up the matchups differently, you might get a different result. Still, I think that's a very competitive scenario, and if that's the point, we can't say they're any worse than the old PRIDE set. That said, it's just another reason why rolling the Strikeforce heavies into the UFC is a great move. We won't have to have this debate again five years from now.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, time, heavyweight, sonnen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMorning Report: 'King Mo' Lawal's Awful, Awful Day
They say bad news comes in threes. But if that's the case, King Mo Lawal must be terrified right now.
Truthfully it would be hard to top what just took place. Literally weeks after a prolonged, intensely life-threatening bout with staph, Lawal appeared in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Tuesday, hoping to plead his case in the positive steroid test that derailed his career. Of course, not only did his words fall on deaf ears -- Mo received a nine month suspension, was fined 30-percent of his $80,000 fight purse and forced to surrender his $15,000 win bonus -- he was also incredulously asked if he had the ability to read or understand English by commission official Pat Lundvall. (Check out the audio of the meeting.)
Now, regardless of whether or not you think there were racist undertones in Lundvall's sentiment, you have to admit it's an outrageously condescending remark for an official to make. So Lawal, who, again, just nearly died less than a month ago, snapped a bit and posted the exchange on Twitter, unfortunately referring to Lundvall as "a racist b***h." And yeah, he was fired. Brutal day.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
King Mo suspended by NSAC, cut by Strikeforce. Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal was suspended for nine months and fined $39,000 by the NSAC on Tuesday afternoon. After which, a seething Lawal took to Twitter, calling commission member Pat Lundvall "a racist b****" for asking if he was able to "read or speak english." Lawal was then promptly cut from Strikeforce, according to a press release issued by promotion CEO Scott Coker.
Alistair Overeem sentenced after battery charge in Las Vegas. UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem was sentenced to 50 hours of community service and anger-management counseling, stemming from a battery charge at a Las Vegas nightclub on New Year's weekend. Overeem will be forced to undergo a mandatory 90-day jail sentence if he fails to complete the terms of his sentencing.
UFC 146 combatants face surprise drug tests. All six fighters who appeared at Tuesday's UFC 146 press conference -- Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, Cain Velasquez, Frank Mir, Antonio Silva and Roy Nelson -- were issued surprise drug tests following the proceedings, courtesy of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
UFC drawing strong ratings for TUF Brazil, dealing with alleged leak. The debut episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil drew an astounding 8 millions viewers on Globo TV, despite allegations of Brazilian news outlet R7 leaking the names of the four finalists.
For retired fighters, health care can be a tricky, costly issue. Ben Fowlkes sat down with a slew of former and current fighters to discuss the precarious issue of health insurance in mixed martial arts.
MEDIA STEW
After everything he just went through, it would be heartless to keep piling on King Mo. So instead, check out Lawal destroying Mark Kerr in an M-1 Global heavyweight bout back in 2009.
Legendary trainer Freddie Roach offered up his top five boxers in MMA yesterday, so today he flipped the switch, listing off the top five guys in boxing history who would have thrived inside the cage. Notice a certain Pretty Boy is conspicuously absent.
Is there every a bad time to see a spinning back kick KO? Dennis Siver says no.
Our own Ariel Helwani finally got his grudge match against Kenny Florian in another edition of FUEL's 'Fighter vs. Writer' segment. Who takes it on your scorecards?
CALM BEFORE THE STORM
I shoulda stayed home! Lol. NSAC had they mind made up b4 we got there! Lol. All the research we did and disclosed to em! They ignored! LOL
— King Mo (@KingMoFH) March 27, 2012
MIESHA TATE VS. THE INTERNET
Why is it ppl are so fake they feel good about talkin sh** 2 me behind a computer when they don't have 1/100th of the balls 2 do what I do?
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) March 28, 2012
I swear I just don't get it, I go out I fight hard & I let my arm snap in half in my best effort to win a fight, I came up short but......
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) March 28, 2012
.... I guarantee I'm tougher than ALL you keyboard warriors! Go ahead talk SH** Id like to see YOU do it better
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) March 28, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Tuesday, March 27, 2012):
- UFC 149: Court McGee (13-2) vs. Nick Ring (12-1)
- UFC on FX 3: Seth Baczynski (15-6) vs. Lance Benoist (6-0)
- Bellator 63: Marianna Kheyfets (5-0) vs. Munah Holland (3-1)
- Bellator 63: Dan Cramer (7-3) vs. Jeff Nader (5-4)
- Bellator 63: Andrey Koreshkov (8-0) vs. Taiwan Howard (9-8)
- Bellator 63: Saul Almeida (12-1) vs. Matt Bessette (7-3)
- Bellator 63: Parker Porter (5-3) vs. Randy Smith (14-10)
- Bellator 63: Ryan Quinn (6-3-1) vs. Marc Stevens (14-6)
- Bellator 63: Pete Rogers (0-0) vs. Brandon Fleming (0-0)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day is a set of criteria to determine the merits of an American wrestler, via Bloody Elbow's VirginiaRaider: What makes a wrestler "world class"
Some time ago, there was an article posted on BE discussing Pat Barry's oft touted "K-1 level" striking abilities and what this really entailed when put into proper perspective. The same ought to be done for "world class wrestling" a term tossed about liberally by certain Mixed Martial Arts commentators. It is important to define the term "world class" (WC for the purposes of this post) in a way which excludes the vast majority of wrestlers, otherwise the term becomes totally impotent. Unfortunately, defining WC is difficult but I believe that this post establishes reasonable parameters for the WC label as it applies to American wrestlers.
The first step in defining WC is limiting the number of wrestling styles in consideration. First to be excluded are any styles that involve submissions or the use of clothing. This is a matter of the conventional use of "wrestling" by the previously mentioned commentators. This then removes Judo and all forms of gi or no-gi grappling/submission wrestling. Second, World Class status can only be reasonably be conferred on a practitioner of a style which is contested throughout most of the world. Applying this restriction excludes all "folk-style" forms of wrestling, including American scholastic or folk-style.
The only styles of wrestling which are non-clothed, non-submission, and experience truly world-wide participation are Freestyle and Greco-Roman, the Olympic wrestling disciplines. For this reason the WC tag should only be hung on a wrestler based on his achievements in the Olympic wrestling styles.
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: bellator, vs, mo, king, lawal
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator planning three hour main cards with 2013 move to Spike TV
If two hours of Bellator each week just wasn't enough for you, have no fear.
There's plenty more headed your way in 2013.
Speaking with USA Today, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney mentioned that with the planned 2013 move to Spike TV from its current home on MTV2, Bellator Fighting Championships would be extended its allotted main card time from two to three hours.
With more time, that means more tournaments, more title fights and significantly less, if no more "superfights" at all for the promotion's champions.
Rebney explains after the jump:
"It'll eliminate the need for the superfight because we're going to be able to get six tournaments running simultaneously per season. You'll get that consistent repetition of having the number one challenger earn the right to fight our champion."
Bellator originally did four tournaments per season, but starting last year, they also added a special "Summer Series" which added ninth tournament per hear. This has actually really gotten the featherweight division rolling with a high likelihood of three title fights in 2012.
This year, on top of a planned Summer Series, Bellator has progressed to five tournaments per season which would mean 11 total tournament winners in 2012.
With the promotion hoping to hold six tournaments per season in 2013 with the extended episodes, it would be an extremely important factor in keeping each division's momentum rolling and keeping the champions busy, which has been one of the key criticisms for the upstart promotion thus far.
Rebney says it best:
"t will load the barrel in order for us to do title fight after title fight after title fight."
And isn't that exactly what the fans have been demanding?
Let's just hope that Bellator can improve the pacing of its show in 2013 with that extra hour.
Posted in: fight, bellator, title, title fight, tournament
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 66 achieving “can’t miss” status with five fights on main card
When Bellator heads to Cleveland next month for Bellator 66 the main card will be stacked full of past champions and hopeful contenders.
Along with the headlining rematch between Shinya Aoki and former lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez, the show will also feature action from the final four fighters remaining in the Season 6 Lightweight Tournament and middleweight semifinals as well. Specifically, that means the super-sized main card will feature fights between Rick Hawn-Lloyd Woodard, Thiago Michel-Brent Weedman, Brian Rogers-Bruno Santos, and Maiquel Falcao-Vyacheslav Vasilevsky.
Hawn, Woodard, and Weedman all earned their spots by finishing their first-round opponents off last week at Bellator 62 while Michel narrowly outpointed veteran Rene Nazare to advance. Comparably, Rogers also blasted his adversary into unconsciousness when he fought at Bellator 61 with his remaining middleweight peers earning Unanimous Decisions in their respective rumbles.
Bellator 66 takes place April 20 from the I-X Center.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, shinya aoki, card, middleweight semifinals, ” status
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainLightweight Tournament Semifinals Targeted for Bellator 66 in Cleveland
Bellator Fighting Championships recently announced that the Season 6 lightweight tournament semifinals will take place April 20 at Bellator 66.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, semifinals, cleveland bellator, tournament semifinals
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 63 prelims finalized with Kheyfets-Holland, Cramer-Nader, Koreshkov-Howard
The fight card is complete for Friday's Bellator 63 event with the addition of seven preliminary-card fights, many of which feature local talent.
Headlining the Spike.com-streamed prelims is the promotional debut of undefeated local product Marianna Kheyfets, who takes on Munah Holland at 125 pounds.
Bellator 63 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Posted in: bellator, fight card, preliminarycard fights, spikecomstreamed prelims, munah holland
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 62: 175,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 62 ratings were up this past Friday and received an average of 175,000 viewers. The ratings are up 61 percent from last week’s dismal showing and the live streaming prelims increased in viewership as well.
Via MMA Junkie:
Bellator 62, which got the organization back in the normal range for ratings, took place at Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas. In addition to the MTV2-televised main card, prelims streamed live on Spike.com. Although officials don’t reveal the total number of viewers, Bellator 62′s streaming audience more than doubled (up 110 percent) compared to the previous week.
Bellator 60 – 169,000 viewers
Bellator 61 – 108,000
Bellator 62 – 175,000
Payout Perspective:
The viewership came back to a normal range Friday night notwithstanding March Madness which is a good thing for Bellator. Also, 62 exceeded the debut of season 6 which is a good sign as well. The numbers are still down from the season 5 average but the bounce back in ratings is a positive. The live streaming on Spike.com also did well which reflects the fact that fans are getting used to turning to Spike.com to watch Bellator.
Posted in: bellator, rating, viewer, laredo texas, spikecom
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBellator Fighting Championships Posts 175,000 Viewers for Bellator 62 on MTV2
Bellator Fighting Championships rebounded from a season-low 108,000 viewers last week, earning an average of 175,000 observers for Friday’s Bellator 62 on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, week, championship, viewer, mtv
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 63 fight card finalized for March 30 at Mohegan Sun
CHICAGO, Ill. (March 27, 2012) - As Bellator Fighting Championships prepares to make its sixth trip to Connecticut, the fight card for Bellator 63 has been finalized and features a night of incredible finishers, including the start of Bellator's $100,000 Welterweight Tournament as well as preliminary action loaded with East Coast talent.
Tickets for the event are on sale and are available through Ticketmaster.com or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office. Tickets are priced from $30-$70.
The event will broadcast LIVE starting at 8 p.m. EST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. EST, with the first fight scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The preliminary card, featuring the area's top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. EST.
The night will feature the debut of American Top Team product and Danbury resident Marianna "The Crushen Russian" Kheyfets as she battles New Jersey native Munah Holland. Kheyfets brings a spotless 5-0 record into the cage, and will be looking to impress the Bellator brass in her debut.
"I'm incredibly excited to be fighting in such a big event so close to home," said Kheyfets. "This is a tremendous opportunity for me, and I can't wait to get into the cage on March 30th."
Two very familiar foes collide as Dan Cramer will return to the Bellator cage looking to avenge his last loss when he meets Jeff Nader in a middleweight showdown. The two last meet at Bellator 48 in a very memorable matchup, where Cramer controlled the pace a majority of the fight until Nader connected with a vicious combination that earned him victory.
Russian born welterweight Andrey "Spartan" Koreshkov is also set to make his Bellator debut, and the top prospect will have his hands full with Cleveland native Taiwan Howard. Koreshkov is a true finisher in every sense of the word as the 21-year-old prodigy has never had a fight move into the third round and is the owner of five knockout victories.
Saul "The Spider" Almeida returns to the Bellator cage and has his sights set on victory when he battles Hartford native Matt Bessette. Known as "The Mangler", Bessette is the owner of four submission victories and is eyeing another on March 30th.
Another Hartford resident will be stepping into the Bellator cage as Parker Porter looks to finish New York native Randy Smith in a heavyweight matchup, while Danbury's own Ryan Quinn is set to take on the 14-6 Marc Stevens in a catchweight affair at 165 lbs.
The card will be rounded out as Pete "The Heat" Rogers battles Brandon Fleming in featherweight action. Both will be making their pro debuts, and have their sights set on collecting the coveted win.
Posted in: fight, bellator, cage, card, bellator cage
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 62 ratings up 61 percent, event scores 175,000 MTV2 viewers
After one of its worst weeks ever, ratings rebounded for the latest Bellator event.
This past weekend's Bellator 62 show averaged 175,000 MTV2 viewers, which was a 61 percent increase over the 108,000 viewers who tuned in a week prior for the lowly-rated Bellator 61.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the figures with industry sources.
Posted in: bellator, rating, viewer, percent, bellator event
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 149: Lloyd Woodard, MMA Discussion
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts, including a look at last week's action at Bellator 62, including the Thiago Santos debacle, and The Ultimate Fighter: Live, plus we'll discuss the official booking of Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen for June and much, much more.
We'll be joined by Bellator lightweight Lloyd Woodard fresh off his big win over Patricky Freire at Bellator 62. We'll chat with him about that fight, all the attention the win has garnered him, his semifinal bout with Rick Hawn and more.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Legacy Fight Shorts, seen on Yushin Okami, Vaughan Lee and Hatsu Hioki at UFC 144, only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Bellator 63
Posted in: bellator, radio, elbow radio, elbow, boy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 66 gets Hawn-Woodard, Michel-Weedman lightweight-tourney semifinals
Following this past weekend's opening round, the season-six lightweight tournament now continues with a semifinal round at next month's Bellator 66 event in Ohio.
The final-four matchups include Rick Hawn vs. Lloyd Woodard and Thiago Michel vs. Brent Weedman.
The two winners meet later this season to determine a tourney champion and the next lightweight title challenger.
Posted in: bellator, vs, semifinal round, tourney champion, finalfour matchups
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMMA Quick Quote: Bellator tournament format is pure, not changing anytime soon
"Not unless they drag me out of here kicking and screaming. It's real sports competition. It's football, baseball, basketball, soccer -- every sport we've watched since we were kids is competition. You start with a group and then at the end there's one. Being involved in boxing through the years, the matchmaking in boxing seemed so theatrical -- you know the outcomes of the fights before they occur. That's what I wanted to do away with. Not everybody is going to be in love with the format, nor is everybody going to be in love with the matchmaking format where you have to ask for a world title fight. Should the Giants just be bestowed the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl again? Or should they have to go through the season of 16 games? My answer is, you've got to go through it. All that matters is when that cage door shuts, do you win? I think that's the purest form of sports."
-- Bellator Fighting Championships CEO Bjorn Rebney is sticking to his tournament-style format, whether fans and/or critics alike approve of it or not. Appearing on the The MMA Hour today (March, 26, 2012), Rebney -- who is spearheading arguably the second best mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion behind the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) juggernaut -- says that the format is not for everybody. The tournament style, which has proved successful for Bellator, at times may cause a large gap in between fights for the organizations champion, seeing as he has to wait for the entire tournament to be over to find out who he will face next, and when. Cole Konrad, the Bellator Heavyweight champion, has not seen action in more than seven months waiting for his next opponent, which will be Eric Prindle because of weight issues from Thiago Santos. Meanwhile, the organization's Middleweight Champion, Hector Lombard, has been on the sidelines since Nov. 19, 2011, as well as the promotion's poster boy, Eddie Alvarez. As both fighters are nearing the ends of thier contracts, will they opt to seek greener pastures with the UFC because of the extensive inactivity ? Only time will tell. In the meantime, are you in favor of the tournament-style the Rebney has implemented with Bellator? Or would you like to see the promotion's champions fighting more often?
Posted in: bellator, champion, format, end theres, sport weve
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBjorn Rebney Defends Bellator's Tournament Format
As Bellator Fighting Championships has slowly but surely positioned itself behind Zuffa as America's No. 2 mixed martial arts company, CEO Bjorn Rebney has steadfastly insisted that his promotion's format of crowning champions and contenders through tournaments is the right way to go. And Rebney says there's no chance that will change as long as he's in charge.
"Not unless they drag me out of here kicking and screaming," Rebney said Monday on The MMA Hour.
With Bellator poised to move off MTV2 and onto the much bigger audiences available on Spike TV in 2013, there could be some pressure to try to generate ratings by positioning bigger names in title fights. But Rebney said that will never be the way Bellator works: You earn your way into bigger fights by winning tournaments, not by having a recognizable name.
"It's real sports competition," Rebney said of Bellator's tournament format. "It's football, baseball, basketball, soccer -- every sport we've watched since we were kids is competition. You start with a group and then at the end there's one."
Rebney was a boxing promoter before he was an MMA promoter, and he said he has never liked the way champions are crowned in boxing, with promoters, sanctioning bodies and TV networks having more to do with who gets a title shot than the fighters themselves do.
"Being involved in boxing through the years, the matchmaking in boxing seemed so theatrical -- you know the outcomes of the fights before they occur," Rebney said. "That's what I wanted to do away with."
Rebney acknowledged that some Bellator fighters don't like the tournament format, and that it's been particularly problematic for champions who have had to wait around for a tournament to finish before they could defend their titles.
"Not everybody is going to be in love with the format, nor is everybody going to be in love with the matchmaking format where you have to ask for a world title fight," he said.
But Rebney defended Bellator's seasonal format as like the NFL's.
"Should the Giants just be bestowed the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl again? Or should they have to go through the season of 16 games?," he said. "My answer is, you've got to go through it."
Ultimately, Rebney said, the tournament format puts the focus where it should be: On winning fights.
"All that matters is when that cage door shuts, do you win?" Rebney said. "I think that's the purest form of sports."
Posted in: fight, bellator, tournament, rebney, format
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator, Boxing and BAMMA: Huge combat sports weekend results wrap and review
If you're a fan of mixed martial arts (MMA), Boxing or just combat sports in general, there wasn't a whole lot to complain about this past weekend (March 23-25), no matter how much individual tastes may vary.
That's because there was a little bit of everything, starting (and ending) with The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) series on Friday and Sunday night. To find out what happened on "Live" season 15 as well as "Brazil," head over to our weekend results wrap-up right here.
Now, let's get down to business.
Bellator kept on trucking this weekend and Thiago Santos getting bounced from the Heavyweight tournament (thankfully) wasn't the big story coming out of the Laredo Energy Center. I'm talking, of course, about Lloyd Woodard's bone-crunching submission over Patricky Freire, as well as Rick Hawn's brutal finish over Ricardo Tirloni.
Not to be outdone, BAMMA 9 tore up the International scene across the pond on Saturday night, where Tom Watson finished off Jack Marshman in the second round via technical knockout. ROAD FC and RUFF also did their thing on the Asian front, with our own James Goyder representing.
Still not enough?
Kimbo Slice continued to pad his record as a pugilist after pasting Brian Green at "Fight Night" in Missouri. But he wasn't making the Boxing headlines this morning, as Danny Garcia outlasted Erik Morales for the super lightweight title on Saturday night in Houston.
After the jump, all the links you need to get caught up on (or relive) this weekend's festivities.
Bellator 62:
Thiago Santos misses weight, Eric Prindle wins tournament by default
Results, play-by-play and live blog
Recap and post-fight reactions
GIF: Woodard submits Freire
Video: Lloyd Woodard vs. Patricky Freire (Full fight)
Video: Rick Hawn demolishes Ricardo Tirloni
BAMMA 9:
Results and recap
Boxing:
Kimbo Slice knocks out Brian Green
Danny Garcia decisions Erik Morales
International MMA:
Road FC and RUFF results and recap
That should hold you over for the time being. And don't forget we get to do it all over again this weekend with Bellator 63 from the Mohegan Sun and more Ultimate Fighter "Live" and "Brazil."
Stay tuned!
Posted in: night, bellator, result, boxing, weekend
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFeatherweight Junior Assuncao not interested in Bellator, expects to be back in the UFC soon
Typically when a fighter is cut by the UFC he’ll offer up a statement showing understanding with the company’s decision. However, when it came to featherweight Junior Assuncao’s release after a decision loss to Ross Pearson the 30-year old Brazilian expressed pure shock and vowed to get to the bottom of his sudden free agency.
It appears he’s since done so and, after talking with matchmaker Sean Shelby, learned the professional separation was not a matter of performance so much as a problem with the number of 145ers on the UFC’s roster.
“The boss talked to me and said that if Ross had lost, he would be the one fired. He said he owes fights to ten guys, it’s too crowded in there,” the submission specialist explained in a conversation with TATAME, adding he was told the company will open their doors to him again after a few fights outside of the organization.
Assuncao’s Initial Reaction to Being Cut by the UFC
Where those actual bouts will take place is yet to be determined though Assuncao was apparently approached by Bellator, easily boasting a featherweight division rivaling the UFC’s own in terms of talent. Unfortunately, while the competition piqued Assuncao’s interest, the way Bellator does business was apparently a turn off.
“I was considering signing with Bellator, but they demand a two, three-year contract. I’m only fighting for six more years, so I don’t want long contracts because I have a lot to do in the UFC,” revealed Assuncao.
Assuncao holds an overall record of 13-5 and had won seven straight before falling to Pearson at UFC 141. He holds victories over David Lee and Eddie Yagin inside the Octagon.
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Posted in: ufc, bellator, assuncao, featherweight, assuncao assuncao
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator ring girl Jade Bryce wants you to know that you can watch every Bellator fight on...
Bellator ring girl Jade Bryce wants you to know that you can watch every Bellator fight on Spike.com.
Posted in: fight, bellator, bellator fight, bryce, jade
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator Continues To Assail 2012 As A Can't-Miss Fight Promotion
Bellator was absent from the MMA landscape from late November of 2011 until March 3rd of this year. The promotion has, however, more than compensated for their extended hiatus by flooding the market with riveting events every week.
Bellator's return was wisely synchronized with the debut of The Ultimate Fighter on FX and the corresponding six-week lull between major UFC shows. Thus far, in their three offerings of 2012, Bellator has produced two "Knockout of the Year" candidates and one "Fight of the Year" candidate.
It began with a featherweight extravaganza. Bellator 60 on March 9 featured the featherweight tournament quarterfinals and was headlined by immodest featherweight champ Joe Warren defending against surging tactician Pat Curran. The main event delivered all the ingredients to sate the appetite of ravenous fight-fans: two top-shelf mixed martial artists, heavy anticipation stemming from Warren's confident boasting, an absorbing ebb and flow, technical combat and an obscenely violent knockout.
Along with Strikeforce's Gilbert Melendez, Curran is the highest ranked non-UFC fighter and he justified that lofty status with the unruly shellacking of Warren to assume the featherweight mantle. Curran has also become one of my favorite fighters to watch in MMA -- he's an unshakably composed, three-dimensional juggernaut with some of the best technical defense in the business.
Next up was the middleweight quarterfinals at Bellator 61. The show kicked off with last year's finalist and this year's favorite, Vitor Vianna, a Wand Fight Team rep and two-time BJJ world champion, taking on the volatile Brian Rogers. Vianna quickly determined that the striking exchanges were not to his liking and pursued takedowns with the hope of impose his submission grappling advantage, but Rogers, whose stand up was unfailingly crisp, tight and on-balance, negated each attempt easily.
Rogers uncorked a stiff one-two late in the first that wobbled Vianna, then exploded with a picturesque flying knee that landed square on Vianna's chin. Knowing the airborne assault turned Vianna's lights out, Rogers was walking away with his arms raised in celebration before the referee had even waved the fight off.
Continued in the full entry.
Last Friday's Bellator 62 show staged the stacked lightweight tournament, replete with stellar new prospects and two reputable welterweights dropping to lightweight for the first time; one, Rick Hawn, an Olympic caliber Judoka. The event was captained by tournament favorite Patricky Freire colliding with the staunch Lloyd Woodard, both of whom were defeated by Bellator's newly minted lightweight champion Michael Chandler.
World champion kickboxer and #1 Scouting Report entry Thiago Michel cemented his potential by upsetting Rene Nazare in the opening bout, Brent Weedman latched on a Von Flue choke to tap J.J. Ambrose, Hawn notched a rousing, first-round knockout over Ricardo Tirloni and the main event was pure insanity. Freire and Woodard tore into each other from the get-go, swapping serious leather on the feet and engaging in lively transitions on the mat. Freire dazed Woodard with a punch halfway through and stole the round by fishing for a kimura as it ended.
The knockdown, drag-out brawl that started in the first roared back to life in the second. Both fighters hurled ill-intended haymakers and mutually found the mark, then Woodard clipped "Pitbull" with a knee from clinch and pounced with ground-and-pound. Freire repelled him with an armbar attempt, but Woodard countered and hopped into side control to threaten with an armlock of his own, eventually executing a rolling kimura to submit the Team Nogueira black belt. The bout was action-packed and mesmerizing from start to finish.
The three-years-young fight league has concocted a formula that just works. Match-maker Sam Caplan has lured relevant, name-fighters to their roster while simultaneously scouring the globe to attract legitimate prospects. The results-driven tournament format has long been adored by fans since the heyday of Pride Fighting Championships and, barring the recent flyweight tournament, something curiously amiss in the UFC.
The commentary duo of Jimmy Smith and Sean Wheelock is phenomenal. They have a straightforward, no-bullshit style with the right blend of technical observation and astute play-by-play that caters to new fans and hardcores alike. Referee Jason Herzog, who handles a great deal of Bellator's shows, is flat-out one of the best referees in the sport, if not the best.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has been adamant that fighters must prove themselves as top contenders by rising above in the tournament for a crack at the champ, propagating Bellator's signature catchphrase, "Where title shots are earned, not given." Without the convenience of the UFC's overflowing stable, Rebney's managed to avert the calamity of last-minute requirements by swapping match-ups sensibly (da Silva vs. Reardanz and Bezerra vs. Foster at Bellator 60) or nixing them entirely (Prindle vs. Santos at Bellator 63).
Amidst all of these subtle but critical accomplishments, the thing that stands out the most is that Bellator fighters are just downright hungry. Regardless of experience, popularity or position, the Bellator mixed martial artists all fight like they have something to prove. Which they do -- Bellator and its fighters will always be compared to the UFC, and having the undisputed alpha-promotion as an eternal benchmark can be quite grueling and tedious for an aspiring fight league.
All they can hope to do is put on entertaining fights between exciting and relevant fighters ... and that's exactly what Bellator has done so far.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fighter, year, tournament
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowVideo: Llyod Woodard vs. Patricky 'Pitbull' Freire at Bellator 62
Bellator's season-six lightweight tournament kicked off Friday with Bellator 62.
In perhaps the most exciting of the opening-round matchups, Lloyd
"Cupcake" Woodard took on hard-hitting Patricky "Pitbull" Freire.
Bellator now has made the full fight available for free viewing, and it's a barnburner.
Posted in: bellator, pitbull, freire, patricky, woodard
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 62: Lloyd Woodard vs. Patricky “Pitbull” Freire Full-Fight Video
Bellator has released video of the entire fight between Lloyd Woodard and Patricky “Pitbull” Freire, which took place on Friday night from Laredo, Texas at Bellator 62. The bout was a part of the opening round of this season’s lightweight tournament, which determines who will face off against current Bellator champion, Michael Chandler.
A big favorite going into the fight, Freire was expected to have no problems with “Cupcake”. Woodard had other things in mind. Watch below as Woodward pulls off one of the biggest upsets of the year, defeating “Pitbull” by 2nd round kimura:
With the win, Woodard moves on in the tournament, and will now face Rick Hawn at Bellator 66 in Cleveland, Ohio on April 20th.
Posted in: bellator, pitbull, rick hawn, lloyd woodard, woodard
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyFull fight video: Lloyd Woodard vs Patricky Freire at Bellator 62
Bellator 62 featured so much action last night (March 23, 2012) that the promotion couldn't decide on which moment from the terrific season six lightweight (155 pounds) tournament to highlight. First, it released Rick Hawn's fantastic knockout of Ricardo Tirloni, then a highlight package of the entire main card which included Brent Weedman's Von Flue choke finish of J.J. Ambrose.
But the moment people were raving about afterwards was the main event, an absolute thriller between Bellator season four finalist Patricky "Pitbull" Freire and semifinalist Lloyd Woodard, who both dropped decisions to current champion Michael Chandler.
Woodard was a huge underdog heading into the fight but he channeled the Rocky spirit en route to an incredible upset victory. While sloppy at times, the finish was reminiscent of Frank Mir's Kimura submission against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira late last year although a bit less brutal. The fight was so good that Bellator put the whole thing up on YouTube in glorious HD.
For a detailed play-by-play results of the fight between Patricky Freire vs Lloyd Woodard be sure to check out our complete Bellator 62 results post right here. And to check out our complete recap of the main card action on MTV2 click here.
Posted in: fight, bellator, card action, woodard, promotion couldnt
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 62 Moment: Rick Hawn’s TKO (Video)
For former American Olympic Judo team member Rick Hawn, the question going into his Season 6 Lightweight Quarterfinal fight with Ricardo Tirloni at Bellator 62 was how effective he would be in his first trip to 155 pounds. The answer was clear. With both men exchanging early in the opening round, Hawn appeared to be [...]
Posted in: bellator, ricardo tirloni, quarterfinal fight, rick, hawn
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyVideo: Lloyd Woodard Upsets Tournament Favorite Patricky Freire at Bellator 62
The quarterfinals of Bellator's lightweight tournament kicked off last night at Bellator 62 and while there was good reason to watch the other fights, the main event between tournament favorite Patricky Freire and the scrappy albeit unheralded Llloyd Woodard stole the show.
In a back and forth, often wild brawl, both Freire and Woodard exchanged winging punches and took turns rocking one another into semi-consciousness. Freire badly hurt Woodard early, but the Montana-native returned the favor and then some in the second frame.
Less than methodical but effective striking alone doesn't define the fight's complexion nor its conclusion. Despite Freire's status as a respected Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, it was Woodard who used a potent mixture of aggressive striking and submission savvy to eventually earn the tap from Freire. It also appears he badly hurt and potentially dislocated the Brazilian's elbow in the process.
Freire entered last night's tournament as the prohibitive favorite after his strong showing in the season five lightweight tournament. 'Pitbull' lost only to Michael Chandler in tournament finals. Chandler would not only win that season's tournament, but eventually take the lightweight title from then-champion Eddie Alvarez.
En route to his bout with Chandler, Freire buzzsawed Bellator standout Toby Imada and former WEC lightweight champion Rob McCullough in highlight reel fashion. He also finished the season strong by easily stopping UFC veteran Kurt Pellegrino with strikes.
Woodard, by contrast, came into last night's bout having had only one strong Bellator showing against Carey Vanier. Like Freire, he ultimately fell short against Chandler. He also spent nearly an entire year off the competitive circuit after receiving much-needed knee surgery.
The bout not only provided the most exciting action of the evening, it is also easily the best win of Woodard's surging career. He moves on to the semifinals where he'll face another winner from last night's tournament, former judo Olympian Rick Hawn
For those who missed the sensational bout or simply wish to see it again, watch the full fight below:
Posted in: bellator, tournament, freire, patricky freire, woodard
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 62 Highlights (Video)
Bellator 62 took place in Laredo, Texas last night. Despite losing their main event when Thiago Santos missed weight, the lightweight tournament provided plenty of action on the night. Spike.com released a video of last night’s highlights.
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Bellator 62 Highlights
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Spike Full Episodes
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Posted in: night, bellator, spike, laredo texas, night spikecom
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyDespite apparent support, Thiago Santos' camp not entirely happy with Bellator brass
Thiago Santos' manager makes no excuses for his fighter missing weight for Friday's Bellator 62 event.
That said, he's not exactly thrilled at the circumstances that were presented to his client.
Despite Bellator Fighting Championships CEO Bjorn Rebney's decision not
to cut Santos for the infraction and to instead help connect him with a
nutritional expert, manager Josef Borges believes the company should
take a little responsibility for the misstep.
Posted in: bellator, weight, manager, thiago, support thiago
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 62 Recap: Hawn, Woodard, Weedman, Michel Advance
For a card that lost its headliner at the weigh-ins, Bellator 62 turned out to be an extremely entertaining and action-packed MMA event. The headliner was lost when Thiago Santos missed weight for his season 5 heavyweight tournament final bout against Eric Prindle and Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney declared the tournament over. Prindle will get to challenge Bellator heavyweight champ Cole Konrad in the "next couple of months" per Rebney.
As is so often the case in MMA, when the big men disappoint, the little guys come through. The quarterfinals of Bellator's season six lightweight tournament delivered everything an MMA fan could want: a brutal KO, two sick submissions and a knock-down, drag out brawl that went to a decision.
Former welterweight and Team USA Olympic Judoka Rick Hawn scored the big KO when he finished Ricardo Tirloni in the first round of their bout. Tirloni, the #2 LW in this year's BE Scouting Report, came out aggressive with a flying knee attempt and seemed to be holding his own in the clinch with Hawn early. Once Hawn connected with a right hand to the chin it was all over quickly however. Hawn followed the dropped Brazilian to the mat and finished him quickly with some nasty ground and pound. Hawn is looking like the tournament favorite at this point.
Brent Weedman, another emigrant from Bellator's welterweight class, found fighting at 155lbs to his liking last night against Thailand-trained prospect J.J. Ambrose. Weedman dropped Ambrose quickly with punches -- surprising everyone watching since Ambrose was the fighter with the Muay Thai credentials. Ambrose survived the early scare and threatened with a couple of arm triangle attempts from the front headlock position. The third time Ambrose hung on to a choke attempt too long, Weedman was able to counter with the unorthodox Von Flue choke for the finish.
The rest of the tournament bouts and complete results after the jump.
SBN coverage of Bellator 62
Patricky "Pitbull" Freire, a finalist in last season's tournament, came into his bout against Lloyd Woodard as the favorite, but someone forgot to tell Woodard as he showed no signs of being intimidated. Freire and Woodard put on a barn-burner of a first round, exchanging knock downs and take downs without an iota of letup throughout the frame. In the second Woodard caught Freire with a knee, followed him down and slapped on a kimura that left the slow-to-tap Freire lying on the canvass with a visibly dislocated elbow.
In the remaining tournament bout, #1 ranked Bloody Elbow Scouting Report 2012 lightweight Thiago Michel and fellow Brazilian Rene Nazare fought a back-and-forth bout that saw Michel get the edge on the feet and Nazare dominate the take downs and ground fighting. Neither man got a huge edge and after Michel coasted through the third round he was lucky to advance with a split-decision win.
The LW tourny will continue at Bellator 66 on April 20th. Hawn will meet Woodard and Weedman will get his chance to derail Michel's hype train.
Lightweight Quarterfinal Results:
Lloyd Woodard def. Patricky Freire via submission (kimura) at 1:46 of round 2.
Rick Hawn def. Ricardo Tirloni via KO (punches) at 2:36 of round 1.
Brent Weedman def. J.J. Ambrose via submission (von flue choke) at 3:26 of round 2.
Thiago Michel def. Rene Nazare via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
Posted in: bellator, bout, tournament, hawn, woodard
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowVideo: Rick Hawn Knocks Out Ricardo Tirloni At Bellator 62
Rick Hawn's decision to drop to 155 had some questioning if he would have more power than he did at 170 pounds or if he'd be left drained and weakened. After all, this was a man who made it to the welterweight finals last year only to lose a somewhat controversial split decision to Jay Hieron. It wasn't a necessary move, but was it a smart one?
Hawn looked to be in fantastic shape in the corner before the opening bell and it didn't take long for him to erase questions about his power at lightweight.
Here's the video of him demolishing Ricardo Tirloni at last night's Bellator 62 event:
Hawn is in position to make a real run at the lightweight tournament championship this season but has a very tough semifinal fight in front of him as he will be matched up against Lloyd Woodard. Woodard fractured Patricky Freire's arm with a kimura in their quarterfinal fight on last night's show.
SBN coverage of Bellator 62
Posted in: bellator, welterweight finals, ricardo tirloni, quarterfinal fight, hawn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 62 Highlights – The Opening Round of the Lightweight Tournament
Highlights from last night’s Bellator season 6 lightweight tournament, featuring highlights from Lloyd Woodard, Rick Hawn, Brent Weedman and Thiago Michel.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, opening round, lloyd, woodard
Read the full article at MMA ConvertVideo: Rick Hawn's vicious finish of Ricardo Tirloni at Bellator 62
Former Bellator Welterweight (170 pounds) tournament finalist Rick Hawn made the dip down to Lightweight (155 pounds) for the first time ever last night (March 23, 2012), entering the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion's season six lightweight tournament.
In the quarterfinals, Hawn collided with talented Brazilian Ricardo Tirloni at the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas, in the Bellator 62 main event of the evening.
The former American Olympic Judo team member stalked his opponent from the opening bell, walking through monster leg kicks that apparently were unable to slow down Hawn's aggression. Then, midway through the first round, Hawn connected with a huge right hand that dropped Tirloni like a sack of suds.
Hawn quickly pounced and unleashed a furious barrage of strikes that made Tirloni go stiff and his eyes roll back into his head. One of the shots actually popped Tirloni back into consciousness, but it was clear that the lights were on, but nobody was home.
For a detailed play-by-play results of the fight between Rick Hawn vs. Ricardo Tirloni be sure to check out our complete Bellator 62 results post right here. And to check out our complete recap of the main card action on MTV2 click here.
Posted in: bellator, tirloni, rick, card action, hawn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 62 results recap from last night for 'Woodard vs Freire' in Laredo, Texas
Bellator 62 continued the Bellator Fighting Championship's sixth season last night (March 23, 2012) from the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas. The original main event, a heavyweight finale between Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle was once again cancelled at the last minute, this time for good.
Thankfully, the Bellator season six lightweight tournament competitors more than made up for it, putting on a tremendous show, no one more impressive than massive underdog Lloyd Woodard in the de facto main event against Patricky "Pitbull" Freire.
"Pitbull" was expected to be a favorite to win the entire tournament after a trio of high profile 2011 knockouts, but he got more than he bargained for in the upset-minded Woodard. Both men traded knockdowns, takedowns and big strikes in a blistering back-and-forth first round which had the crowd on its feet.
In the second, Freire and Woodard exchanged heavily, but after a big knee landed for Woodard, he took the fight to the ground and latched on a Kimura. Despite Freire's best attempts to roll to safety, the Montanan finished off the hold and forced "Pitbull" to tap out in one of 2012's best fights thus far.
To check out a .gif of Woodward's arm-twisting, fight-ending submission click here.
The rest of the main card was loaded with some equally compelling finishes.
Former Bellator Welterweight tournament finalist Rick Hawn, dropping down to 155 pounds for the first time in his career, made an extremely strong impression in his bout against talented Brazilian Ricardo Tirloni.
Hawn stalked Tirloni throughout the first round, unconcerned with the bevy of leg kicks he was absorbing from the retreating Brazilian. Once he had Tirloni cornered, Hawn struck with a devastating right hand which sent Tirloni crashing to the canvas.
After following up with a flurry of ground and pound which put Tirloni's lights out, Hawn was on to the semifinals.
Also making his lightweight debut was Kentuckian Brent Weedman, who'd come up short twice in 2011 in consecutive welterweight tournaments. Weedman also made his mark, dropping opponent J.J. Ambrose within the first 30 seconds of the fight but he was unable to secure a finish in the opening round.
After nearly getting caught in a D'Arce choke in the second frame, Weedman turned the tables when Ambrose refused to release his neck and locked in a Von Flue choke from side control which caught everyone off guard and forced Ambrose to call it quits.
Lastly, in the opening bout of the main card, Thiago Michel and Rene Nazare engaged in a spirited affair which featured two distinctly different styles. Nazare, after eating some big shots early, clearly wanted to take the fight to the ground and work his world class submission game while Michel wanted to showcase his superior kickboxing attack.
Michel was able to keep the fight standing for the majority of the first round and all of the second but he got a little overconfident in the third round, seemingly attempting to coast to victory which enabled Nazare to land a big takedown and ride out the round from top position while working for strikes and even potential submission attempts.
Due to his lackadaisical third round, Michel barely ended up squeaking by with a split decision victory despite the fact that he was clearly in control for much of the fight.
During the post-fight press conference, it was announced that Michel will battle Weedman and Hawn will fight Woodard at the loaded Bellator show in Cleveland on April 20th.
For complete Bellator 62 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights click here.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Were you impressed by the two welterweights who dropped down? How big of an upset was Lloyd Woodard's submission of Patricky Pitbull? Who's your favorite to take home the tournament title now?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, hawn, woodard
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator CEO Bjorn Rebney Comments On Eric Prindle-Thiago Santos Situation
Bellator Fighting Championship CEO Bjorn Rebney may not make the same waves across social media sites as UFC president Dana White, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have the same hands-on approach as White.
On Thursday, Rebney was forced to cancel the planned Bellator season five heavyweight tournament final between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos for a second time. However, instead of cutting Santos and moving on, Rebney plans on trying to get the heavyweight the proper nutrition he needs to compete and make the limit for the weight class, as he told MMA Junkie’s John Morgan during a recent interview.
We’re upset, and it is unprofessional. But he’s got unlimited potential. He’s young as can be. He comes from a really poor, really underdeveloped area. He’s not an American wrestler; he doesn’t have any kind of history of cutting weight regularly. Just having talked to the kid and his folks last week, he knows nothing about diet – like an inadequacy of knowledge on diet that was just shocking to me for a professional athlete.
Prindle and Santos were set to conclude the tournament earlier, but the bout was ruled a no-contest after an accidental groin strike to Prindle ended it. Last week, they were slated for the main event of Bellator 61, but the fight was pushed to this week’s Bellator 62 card due to Prindle having flu-like symptoms. Reports, however, have stated that Santos was well-over the limit for heavyweights (265 pounds) last week, as well.
I was looking at him, and he’s a nice kid. He’s kind of a big teddy bear of a guy, but you looked at him, and he was talking about eating things like mashed potatoes. I was like, ‘What? Wait. No. You’re still 20 pounds over. You should be eating grade-A sashimi and some dry broccoli. Why are we talking about mashed potatoes? Really?
Prindle was awarded the tournament title and shot at Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad. Santos, however, is very skilled and could get a look down the road if he can improve his health and stay closer to the heavyweight limit.
Posted in: bellator, week, heavyweight, rebney, prindle
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 62 results- Lloyd Woodard subs Patricky Freire and lightweight bracket update
Bellator 62 resultsLaredo, TXLloyd Woodard def. Patricky Freire via submission kimura 1:46 R2Rick Hawn def. Ricardo Tirloni via TKO (punches) 2:36 R1Brent Weedman def. J.J. Ambrose via submission Von Flue choke 3:26 R2Thiago Michel def. Rene Nazare via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Luis Vega def. Sonny Luque via submission arm triangle choke 3:43 R1Chris Jones def. Steven Peterson via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)Dave Jansen def. Jacob Kirwan via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)Rad Martinez def. Douglas Frey via TKO (punches) 4:08 R1Lightweight bracket update and fighter rankings after the jumpAll tournament rankings are done by ULTMMA.com prior to the opening round of the Bellator eight man bracket. These rankings are unofficial. Former MMA prospects ranked and graded by ULTMMA.com who are making their Bellator tournament debuts include: Mike Corey, Ricardo Tirloni, Karl Amoussou, Raul Amaya and Bruno Santos.Featherweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 9, Hammond, IndianaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Roberto Vargas (#6) by Submission RNC R1Mike Corey (#7) def. Ronnie Mann (#2) by Unanimous DecisionAlexandre Bezerra (#3) def. Kenny Foster (#8) by Submission RNC R2Daniel Straus (#4) def. Jeremy Spoon (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 6, Ontario, CanadaMarlon Sandro (#1) vs. Alexandre Bezerra (#3)Mike Corey (#7) vs. Daniel Straus (#4)Lightweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 23, Laredo, TexasLloyd Woodard (#4) def. Patricky Freire (#1) by Submission Kimura R1 Rick Hawn (#2) def. Ricardo Tirloni (#3) by TKO R1Brent Weedman (#8) def. J.J. Ambrose (#6) by Submission Von Flue Choke R2 Thiago Michel (#5) def. Rene Nazare (#7) by Split Decision April 20, Cleveland, Ohio Rick Hawn (#2) vs. Lloyd Woodard (#4)Thiago Michel (#5) vs. Brent Weedman (#8)Welterweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 30, Uncasville, ConnecticutKarl Amoussou (#4) vs. Chris Lozano (#5)Raul Amaya (#6) vs. Ben Saunders (#1)Brian Foster (#3) vs. David Rickels (#8)Bryan Baker (#2) vs. Carlos Pereira (#7)Middleweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 16, Bossier City, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Norman Paraisy (#7) by Unanimous DecisionBrian Rogers (#6) def. Vitor Vianna (#1) by KO R1Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) def. Victor O'Donnell (#8) by Unanimous DecisionBruno Santos (#4) def. Giva Santana (#5) by Unanimous DecisionTBDMaiquel Falcao (#2) vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3)Bruno Santos (#4) vs. Brian Rogers (#6)Bellator 61 results
Posted in: bellator, decision, submission, vs, spring
Read the full article at UltMMA.gif: Lloyd Woodard's arm-breaking submission of Patricky Freire at Bellator 62 tonight (March 23,...
.gif: Lloyd Woodard's arm-breaking submission of Patricky Freire at Bellator 62 tonight (March 23, 2012) at the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas. It's no Frank Mir job, but it looked painful nonetheless. Prior to the fight-ending kimura, the fighters put on an early "Fight of the Year"-type of show in the Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinals. For complete coverage of the fight, as well as the entire Bellator 62 event on Spike/MTV2, click here.
Posted in: bellator, patricky freire, tournament quarterfinals, mir job, fightending kimura
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 62 results: Woodard, Hawn, Weedman, Michel advance to lightweight semis
In a raucous barnburner of a fight, Lloyd Woodard channeled "Rocky" to
upset tournament favorite Patricky "Pitbull" Freire in the headliner of
Bellator 62, which took place Friday at Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo,
Texas, and aired live on MTV2.
After a flurry of fists that saw both men hurt, Woodard secured a kimura
and rolled through the joint lock until Freire tapped (and his elbow
popped) at the 1:46 mark of the second frame.
Woodard joined Rick Hawn, Brent Weedman, and Thiago Michel in the semifinals of Bellator's season-six lightweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, bellators seasonsix, laredo texas, woodard, frame woodard
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 62 Live Results & Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas, at approximately 7 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 62.
Posted in: bellator, result, playbyplay, laredo texas, laredo
Read the full article at SherdogWoodard, Hawn, Weedman, Michel Advance in Bellator Lightweight Tournament
Lloyd Woodard, Rick Hawn, Brent Weedman and Thiago Michel won their quarterfinal fights and advanced in the Bellator Season 6 lightweight tournament on Friday night at Bellator 62.
Woodard beat Patricky Freire in a highly entertaining main event, surviving a hard-fought and action-packed first round and forcing Freire to tap to a kimura in the second. Freire attempted to survive until the final moment, and he appeared to have a broken arm or dislocated elbow for his trouble. It was a very impressive performance from Woodard, who improved his record to 12-1, with the only loss coming against Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler.
"One down, two to go to get my rematch," Woodard said afterward. "Chandler, you know what's up: I'm ready to go."
Hawn landed a hard right hand to the ear that knocked Ricardo Tirloni down in the first round, then pounced on him and landed nine unanswered punches before the referee stepped in and stopped it. Hawn had previously had a good run in Bellator at welterweight, but at lightweight his power is going to be tough to match.
In an entertaining ground battle with a surprising ending, Weedman forced J.J. Ambrose to tap out to a Von Flue choke. Ambrose seemed caught by surprise, but Weedman said it was one of his specialties: "In my gym guys know that because I catch people with it a lot," Weedman said.
In the first fight of the MTV2 televised card, Michel beat Rene Nazare by split decision. It was the Brazilian Michel's first fight in the United States and an upset win.
And in a non-title fight, Rad Martinez, who became well-known when ESPN aired a feature about the way he cares for his disabled father, beat Douglas Frey by first-round TKO.
Posted in: fight, bellator, hawn, weedman, woodard
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseLloyd Woodard pops Patricky Pitbull's elbow with Montana-Jitsu
And then there were four. Tonight at Bellator 62, Lloyd 'Cupcake' Woodard marched his 'Montana Mustache' into the Laredo Energy Arena in Texas and shocked the world by popping Patricky Pitbull's elbow out to improve his record to 12-1 with a a wild slugfest. It was a bomb throwin, motorcycle ridin, wind in the hair blowin, mustache growin fight that will make you go out and eat some red meat sometime this weekend depending on your schedule. Now Lloyd Woodard moves on to the semi-finals of the Bellator lightweight tournament with his sole loss at the hands of Bellator champion Michael Chandler. He's close to revenge. That is a good Friday.
All of this can be summed up very easily: Bellator never die. You've been entertaining us for almost three years now with rawesome moments like these. Thank you.
Poor Patricky, he even damaged his corner.
Zombie Prophet=gif.
Posted in: bellator, lloyd, lloyd woodard, montana mustache, rawesome moments
Read the full article at Middle EasyBellator is Streaming Live Right Now for Free! (Great Quality Too)
submitted by nooger [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: bellator, right, nooger, quality
Read the full article at RedditFriday night talkback thread: Bellator and two TUFs ()
Another Friday night means more live fights on basic cable for your enjoyment. On MTV2, Bellator 62 will feature the opening round of the lightweight tournament. Patricky "Pitbull" Freire will take on Lloyd Woodard and his awesome mustache, J.J. Ambrose will fight Brent Weedman, Olympian Rick Hawn faces off with Ricardo Tirloni and Thiago Michel will fight Rene Nazare. They are all hoping to win the tournament to get a shot at Bellator lightweight champ Michael Chandler.
On "The Ultimate Fighter," Justin Lawrence will fight Cristiano Marcello in a battle of two highly-touted fighters. Tune into FX for the live fight.
This weekend, fight fans can also tune into the debut of the Brazilian version of "The Ultimate Fighter." The show will stream online at Br.TUF.tv at midnight ET.
Use this post to talk about the weekend's MMA happenings, or go to Cagewriter's Facebook and Twitter page.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fighter, ricardo tirloni, cristiano marcello
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsFriday night talkback thread: Bellator and two TUFs (Yahoo! Sports)
Another Friday night means more live fights on basic cable for your enjoyment. On MTV2, Bellator 62 will feature the opening round of the lightweight tournament. Patricky "Pitbull" Freire will take on Lloyd Woodard and his awesome mustache, J.J. Ambrose … Continue reading →
Posted in: bellator, opening round, friday night, friday, lloyd woodard
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsNow you can watch every single Bellator fight on Spike.com
Yes! This is the kind of forward thinking (or the grasp of the now) that we are talking about. Don't have MTV2? No problem. Have MTV2 and you want to watch in HD? No problem. Computers proving there superiority over everything else in the world, thus leading to the inevitable rise of the machines? Problem. But not for now. Forget about the apocalypse brought on by Cyberdyne Systems, now you can watch every single Bellator fight on Spike.com, in HD and a 95% naked Jade Bryant told me so. Sometimes these things happen in MMA, and life is good.
Tonight's Bellator undercard just began, so before you head over to Spike.com for all of the tournament action, watch this promo that will remind you to stay on Spike.com for your fight fix if that's your desire.
[Source]
Posted in: fight, bellator, problem, bellator fight, spikecom
Read the full article at Middle EasyBellator 62 Results: Freire vs. Woodard
Tonight beginning at 7 p.m. ET is the kickoff to Bellator's lightweight tournament in its sixth season at Bellator 62. The event is being held at the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas.
The main event tonight was originally scheduled to be the finals from the fifth season's heavyweight tournament between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos. In fact, the bout was also supposed to take place at Bellator 61, but was delayed to health and weight issues between the combatants, respectively. Santos failed to make weight at yesterday's weigh-ins and the bout was ultimately cancelled. Prindle was declared the winner of the tournament.
The preliminary card will air on Spike.com while the main card will be televised on MTV2 and EPIX.
Check out the Bellator 62 results below.
Main card (MTV2):
Lightweight Quarterfinal bout: Patricky Freire vs. Lloyd WoodardLightweight Quarterfinal bout: Rick Hawn vs. Ricardo TirloniLightweight Quarterfinal bout: Thiago Michel vs. Rene NazareLightweight Quarterfinal bout: J.J. Ambrose vs. Brent Weedman
Preliminary Card (Spike.com):
Welterweight bout: Sonny Luque vs. Luis VegaFeatherweight bout: Rad Martinez vs. Douglas FreyWelterweight bout: Joseph Daily vs. Sean SpencerFeatherweight bout: Steven Peterson vs. Chris JonesLightweight bout: Dave Jansen vs. Jacob Kirwan
Posted in: bellator, bout, vs, card, quarterfinal
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 62 Real Time Results
Despite the failure of Thiago Santos to make the heavyweight limit for his Bellator 62 headliner against Eric Prindle, the card doesn’t appear to have lost out on much entertainment value given the octet of outstanding lightweights poised to compete at this evening’s event in hopes of moving on to the semifinal round of the Season 6 155-pound tournament.
Participants include sensational scrapper Patricky Freire, Olympic judoka Rick Hawn, former welterweight stand-out Brent Weedman, and more.
Things start up tonight at 7:00 PM EST on Spike.com before the main card fires up at 8:00 PM EST on MTV 2, and, as always, Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in to deliver live results back to readers as they unfold in real time.
Read below for a full list of winners/losers from Bellator 62:
Sonny Luque vs. Luis Vega
Steven Peterson vs. Chris Jones
Joseph Daily vs. Sean Spencer
Dave Jansen vs. Jacob Kirwan
Douglas Frey vs. Rad Martinez
Thiago Michel vs. Rene Nazare
J.J. Ambrose vs. Brent Weedman
Patricky “Pitbull” Freire vs. Lloyd Woodard
Rick Hawn vs. Ricardo Tirloni
Posted in: bellator, vs, card fires, semifinal round, heavyweight limit
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 62 Live Results & Play-by-Play (7 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas, at approximately 7 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 62.
Posted in: bellator, result, playbyplay, laredo texas, laredo
Read the full article at SherdogVideo: Bellator Announces Live Stream Through Spike.com
Bellator Fighting Championships has found a new way to distribute its product.
The promotion announced today that all future Bellator events can be viewed live on the internet on Spike.com, in addition to the show’s regular television carrier, MTV2. The bouts will be available online in high definition and can be viewed through most personal media devices, including the iPad and iPhone.
Bellator events air weekly on Fridays beginning at 8pm ET/7pm CT. The Spike.com live streams will begin with Bellator 62, which will take place this evening in Laredo, Texas, and will feature the opening round of the promotion’s sixth season lightweight tournament.
Bellator’s season six schedule:
Bellator 62 – Friday Mar. 23: Laredo Energy Arena, Laredo, TX
Bellator 63 – Friday Mar. 30: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
Bellator 64 – Friday Apr. 6: Caesars Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Bellator 65 – Friday Apr. 13: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ
Bellator 66 – Friday Apr. 20: I-X Center, Cleveland, OH
Bellator 67 – Friday May. 4: Casino Rama, Ontario Canada
Bellator 68 – Friday May. 11: Caesars, Atlantic City, NJ
Posted in: bellator, opening round, friday, laredo, spikecom bellator
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 62 Predictions
Bellator's Season 6 lightweight tournament begins on Friday night with four quarterfinal fights which will serve as a first step toward identifying a top contender for champion Michael Chandler. We'll predict the winners of the Bellator 62 card (which will not include Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos because Santos failed to make the 265-pound heavyweight limit) right here.
What: Bellator 62
When: Friday, the MTV2 televised card begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.
Where: Laredo Energy Arena, Laredo, Texas
Predictions on the four tournament fights below.
Patricky "Pitbull" Freire vs. Lloyd Woodard
Freire is the biggest favorite in any of the quarterfinal fights and has to be considered the favorite to win the whole tournament. Woodard is a solid fighter with an 11-1 record, and his only loss is to Chandler, the Bellator champion. But he's not on Freire's level as a striker and is likely to get finished.
Pick: Freire
Rick Hawn vs. Ricardo Tirloni
Hawn is a former judo Olympian who didn't take up MMA professionally until he was 32 years old, but he's become a very impressive fighter in a short time. Hawn's only loss came by split decision to Jay Hieron in last year's Bellator welterweight tournament final, and now he's moving down to lightweight where he should have a strength advantage over almost everyone he faces. Terloni is no joke: He's 14-1 and has only lost to UFC lightweight champion Ben Henderson. But I think Hawn can control him and win a decision.
Pick: Hawn
Thiago Michel vs. Rene Nazare
Nazare is an outstanding Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner who's a threat to submit anyone. Michel is purely a striker; he has a 9-2 record with nine wins by knockout or TKO and two losses by submission. In this grappler vs. striker matchup, I'm going with the grappler.
Pick: Nazare
J.J. Ambrose vs. Brent Weedman
Weedman was in both of last year's two Bellator welterweight and is on a two-fight losing streak with losses in both of them. But at lightweight he'll have a decisive power advantage over Ambrose and should be able to knock him out with punches.
Pick: Weedman
Posted in: bellator, loss, vs, hawn, quarterfinal fights
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseFriday Link Club: Jose Aldo Headlines UFC 149 In Calgary
It’s old school vs. new school tonight on TUF: Live on FX
UFC 149 Gets Jose Aldo For Headliner | FightLine
Stop, drop and roll: Bellator’s Rick Hawn is ready to take the lightweight tournament by storm (MMAmania exclusive) | MMA Mania
Tosh.0 Features Male-Female Grappling Match and UFC Personalities | TheFightNerd
Eric Prindle Wins Bellator Heavyweight Tournament by Default | 5thRound
Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II set for 80,000 seat stadium in Rio | LowKick
M-1 Global is suing Bellator’s Vyacheslav Vasilevsky 1,000 € a day retroactive from March 25th 2011 | MiddleEasy
Jake Ellenberger-Martin Kampmann headed towards meeting at TUF 15 Finale | Five Ounces of Pain
Keith Kizer: Rampage’s testosterone cheerleading has led to more TUE requests | Fight Opinion
Evans Says Beating Jones More Important Than Title | Bleacher Report
Control a big issue in UFC-Fox deal | MMA Payout
Dana White Claims Dan Henderson Turned Down a Shogun Rematch, Is Promptly Pwned by Hendo | Cage Potato
Posted in: ufc, bellator, shogun rematch, storm mmamania, headliner fightline
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBreaking It Down: Bellator 62
Another week, another hilarious Bellator heavyweight story. As it is on every Friday, Bellator is back, this time in Texas with Bellator 62 where the promotion kicks off the Season 6 lightweight tournament with a few familiar faces and a few new cast members.
Before we get started here, in case you didn’t already know, the previously announced Season 5 heavyweight final Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos has once again been cancelled, this time due to Santos’ inability to make weight. After last week’s disaster, which included a sick Prindle and an overweight Santos, the Brazilian came in over eleven pounds heavy. As a result, the bout was not only cancelled, but the tournament has been awarded to Prindle by default. Prindle receives the remaining cash in the $100,000 prize and an upcoming title shot at Cole Konrad. What a perfect end to the disastrous Bellator heavyweight tournament, no?
Okay, take a moment to catch your breath, and on with the show!
Dave Jansen (16-2) vs. Jacob Kirwan (9-3)
Submission specialist “The Fugitive” Jansen makes his third Bellator appearance on the preliminary card. The M-1 and WEC vet looks for his third straight victory after two losses cost him his spot in WEC. With submission skills of his own, “The Hunter” Kirwan looks to make good on his name, tracking down “The Fugitive”. The one-time Jake the Snake Promotions fighter looks to make a serious statement in his second Bellator fight. While this fight does carry several unknown factors, I expect “The Fugitive” keeps his freedom for yet another day, scoring a submission over “The Hunter”.
Winner – Dave Jansen defeats Jacob Kirwan via Submission Round 2
Steven Peterson (6-1) vs. Chris Jones (0-0)
Well-rounded fighter Peterson makes his first appearance in Bellator since September 2010 on the strength of a four-fight winning streak. With half of his wins coming by submission, Peterson is clearly adept on the mat. In his professional debut, Jones faces a stiff challenge. Chris was relatively unsuccessful as an amateur, and even though it’s so early in his career he’s taking a step up from his appropriate level of competition. I don’t like to sell anyone short, but I think Peterson makes short work of Mr. Jones.
Winner – Steven Peterson defeats Chris Jones via Unanimous Decision
Joseph Daily (4-2) vs. Sean Spencer (7-1)
Trading wins and losses in most of his professional career, Daily looks for consistency in his Bellator debut. Not one to go to a decision, the Texan loves to scrap and hopes his opponents bring the same attitude into the fight. Spencer however, tends to favor going the distance. With four Unanimous Decision victories in his seven career wins, the Imperial Fight Management competitor has a grinding style, powerful hands, and the skills to pay the bills. While Daily is good on the ground, he has not really shown too much skill off of his back where he is likely to spend most of this fight.
Winner – Sean Spencer defeats Joseph Daily via Unanimous Decision
Rad Martinez (11-2) vs. Douglas Frey (10-7)
A totally radical professional fighter for over four years, Martinez may have one of the coolest first names in MMA. Known for heavy hands, and the ability to dictate the pace of a fight, Rad looks to make it 2-0 in Bellator in this preliminary bout. The Texan, Frey, has had a bit of a rough go of things in his MMA campaign. With just one win in his last four bouts, Frey, who often finishes his opponents, needs to put together some sort of streak if he wants to be relevant in his division. Rad has heavy hands, but Frey has only been TKO’ed once, so perhaps his chin is strong enough to survive the early onslaught. I see this likely going the distance, but for fun I’m calling it a TKO.
Winner – Rad Martinez defeats Douglas Frey via TKO Round 1
Sonny Luque (1-2) vs. Luis Vega (7-2)
Luque is 1-2 in his MMA career. One decision victory, two submission losses are not much of a resume to his credit. Sonny is a local boy, which explains his appearance on the card, but to me he seems very over-matched. Vega is on a six-fight winning streak, and four of those wins have been first round finishes. Forgive me for being so blunt, but seriously, what is this fight doing on a semi-major card?
Winner – Luis Vega defeats Sonny Luque via Submissions Round 1
Thiago Michel (9-2) vs. Rene Nazare (10-1)
In the first fight of the lightweight tournament, the devastating striker Michel makes his Bellator debut. With nine knockouts, six of which took less than five minutes, the kickboxer with particularly nasty knees looks for another quick finish and a chance to advance in the tournament.
Across from him is “The Brazilian Bomber” Nazare. With ten wins, only two having gone the distance, Nazare is a finisher of his own. He’s 3-1 under the Bellator banner, and the dude is just almost never in trouble in a fight. He has earned the nickname “The Brazilian Bomber” and he’ll look to cause some serious explosions on the chin of Thiago.
Call me crazy, but Michel is one underdog I would throw some serious coin on. With the sheer violent ability he possesses on the feet, I think he stands a fairly good chance to knock Nazare out very quickly. No matter how this fight goes, someone is being finished, and I think for the first time in his career it will be Nazare.
Winner – Thiago Michel defeats Rene Nazare via TKO Round 1
J.J. Ambrose (17-3 1 NC) vs. Brent Weedman (18-7-1)
15-1 1 NC in his last 17 fights, Ambrose is kind of a bad dude. He has only gone the distance four times in twenty fights and he was victorious in three of those bouts. Ambrose has some serious Muay Thai chops and he’ll have a significant advantage in the striking department despite giving up some reach.
Weedman is no stranger to Bellator fans. He is well-rounded, powerful, and has seventeen finishes in his eighteen wins. Despite dropping two straight fights under the Bellator banner, Weedman was allowed to take part in this tournament after moving down from welterweight to lightweight. A size advantage is one of his best weapons in this fight, and his tenacity just might carry him to the next round.
Weedman knows what he needs to do to win – use his size/reach advantage and fight smart. However, I think it’s more likely that he gets hit, gets reckless, and gets beaten. Ambrose may not be known to many, but he’s definitely someone to keep an eye on.
Winner – J.J. Ambrose defeats Brent Weedman via Submission Round 2
Rick Hawn (11-1) vs. Ricardo Tirloni (14-1)
Hawn is a beast. The Judo Olympian had a good run at 170 in Bellator, but fell short to Jay Hieron nearly a year ago. Making his return to the cage, this time as a TriStar fighter and at lightweight, Hawn will undoubtedly have a size advantage not to mention some new skills to demonstrate during the fight.
Having only suffered one loss in his career (to UFC lightweight kingpin Benson Henderson), Tirloni brings experience and technical prowess to the lightweight tournament. The Brazilian scrapper has finished all but two of the men he has defeated and can cause problems for anyone that has the misfortune of being locked in a cage with him.
This fight could very well be the most evenly-matched bout of the evening. If I could to throw down money on what would be Fight of the Night, this would be it. I like Tirloni in this tussle, big time. His grappling skills are far above average, and his experience could work out in his favor. Having said that, Hawn is damn good fighter and, should he show up completely prepared for this fight, he should be able to take the fight to Tirloni and at the very least win a close decision.
Winner – Rick Hawn defeats Ricardo Tirloni via Split Decision
Patricky Freire (10-2) vs. Lloyd Woodard (11-1)
In the new main event, one half of the amazing “Pitbull Brothers”, Freire, returns to the Bellator cage. Following a quick victory over Kurt Pellegrino, the Brazilian, who may be best known for turning Toby Imada into a zombie, looks to make his way back to the top and get his revenge against lightweight champion Michael Chandler.
With his only loss coming to the lightweight champ, “Cupcake”, as he is known, is looking to get back to his winning ways. An established grappler who is a little more than adept on the feet, Woodard is returning after nearly a year away from the cage and will no doubt seek to make short work of the tournament favorite en route to his exacting his own revenge.
Woodard needs to fight smart if he wants to win. It is no secret that Freire has the striking and power advantage and this fight is likely to stay on the feet for the most part. I expect a slow start, a scrappy brawl to ensue, and the “Pitbull” to devour the “Cupcake” by the time the curtain closes.
Winner – Patricky Freire defeats Lloyd Woodard via Knockout Round 2
With arguably the deepest talent pool in the whole promotion, the season six lightweight tournament has all the potential to steal the show. As always, the action goes down at 7:00 PM EST on Spike.com before the evening’s highlighted bouts head over to MTV2 (or TheScore.ca in Canada) an hour later. Enjoy the fights!
Posted in: fight, bellator, vs, winner, defeat
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator boss stands behind Santos, hopes for Konrad-Prindle 'within weeks'
Bellator Fighting Championships' CEO Bjorn Rebney is understandably disappointed in Thiago Santos.
That said, he's not giving up on "Big Monster" just yet.
One day after Santos missed weight for his Bellator 62 headlining bout,
Rebney said he's not giving up on the Brazilian just yet. In fact,
Rebney wants to help Santos better his nutrition program and reach his
full potential.
Posted in: bellator, rebney, weeks bellator, fact rebney, nutrition program
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMorning Report: Three Steps to Winning a Bellator Tournament Without Even Fighting
It's official. Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos is the strangest and least satisfying 84-second rivalry in the history of mixed martial arts.
If you're Prindle right now, how exactly are you supposed to feel when you earn $100,000 for: 1.) getting your testicle soccer kicked so hard, you wind up in the hospital with an injury that takes three months to heal, 2.) training for four months to avenge your manhood, only to have the opportunity delayed another seven days because you get a touch of the flu and your rival is toeing the line of being illegally large, and then, 3.) large rival has another week to stop cultivating mass, yet he somehow comes in larger than ever before.
At that point, haven't you kind of earned that paycheck? So congratulations Eric Prindle, on your Bellator Season 5 heavyweight tournament win. Onwards to Cole Konrad.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Eric Prindle wins $100K Bellator tournament, will challenge Cole Konrad. Thiago Santos missed weight by 11 pounds at Thursday night's Bellator 62 weigh-ins, leading to the cancellation of his heavyweight match-up against Eric Prindle. As a result, Bellator officials declared Prindle the winner of the Season 5 heavyweight tournament, earning the former soldier $100,000 and a title shot against Cole Konrad.
The hurt business: a big night on small scene. Grudge Training Center's lesser-known members fight for recognition and meager paychecks on a local Denver fight card in part three of Ben Fowlkes' ongoing series that examines the hidden lives of pro MMA fighters.
UFC's TUF: Brazil broadcast schedule, fight-in bouts. Opening round match-ups have been released for The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, which is slated to debut this Sunday at 11:30 p.m. EST and can be seen by non-Brazilian audiences on a UFC-owned microsite.
Ronda Rousey to be featured in ESPN's Body Issue. "Rowdy" Ronda will join the likes of Jon Jones and Gina Carano as the next MMA star to strip down for ESPN's annual 'Body Issue.'
Justin.tv wins partial dismissal of UFC lawsuit. Online live video streaming service Justin.tv won a partial dismissal of a lawsuit Zuffa, LLC brought against them for illegal broadcasts of UFC 121.
MEDIA STEW
Quick thought: Gerônimo Mondragon has to be the single coolest name since Lance Uppercut. Anyway, Mondragon and Rodrigo Mamute recently engaged in a brawl that is being referred to as the Brazilian version of Kongo vs. Barry, so you should definitely check it out. (HT: Middle Easy)
No one knows for sure if Brian Ebersole will bust out his patented cartwheel kick when he takes on T.J. Waldburger at UFC on FX 4, but if this clip proves anything, his mantra of "it takes balls" is indeed true.
Nothing's better for slow times than jaw-dropping violence. So remind yourself of how insanely scary Jose Aldo is with this stomp and soccer kick filled highlight package. Trust us, it's totally worth it. (HT: Reddit)
Check out one of the UFC's brightest rising stars, Alexander Gustafsson, talking about each of his past fights in the Octagon and calling a loss to Thiago Silva next month "impossible."
BOOK IT
Only halfway through rehab, but my goal now has a name, date and place: UFC 154, NOVEMBER 17, MONTREAL!!! bit.ly/GOPHDH
— Georges St-Pierre(@GeorgesStPierre) March 22, 2012
BACKTRACKING 101
I said on the podcast today about someone from FOX asking me to take my commentary down a notch, in all fairness it only happened once.
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) March 22, 2012
Also, in all fairness it was the first time the UFC aired on FOX and everyone was completely stressed out and trying to make the best show
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) March 22, 2012
I'm pretty spoiled working for the UFC where they pretty much just let me go and do my thing. It's the best job situation on earth for me.
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) March 22, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Thursday, March 22, 2012):
- UFC on FX 3: Bernardo Magalhaes (11-2) vs. Henry Martinez (8-2)
- Bellator 62: Eric Prindle (7-1, 1 NC) vs. Thiago Santos (10-1, 1 NC) cancelled, Prindle declared Season 5 tournament winner
- Bellator 63: Brian Foster (18-5) out, Jordan Smith (17-2) in against David Rickels (8-0)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
For a second day in a row, today's Fanpost of the Day goes to Bloody Elbow's Dangalvan: Creating The UFC All-Star Weekend
There are dollar bills just waiting to be collected from Dana White and Co. from an All-Star Weekend. The biggest problem is that you can't have a UFC All-Star Spar or and All-Star PPV card. It's just not feasible, but there are plenty of other things to do to make an awesome All-Star Weekend. Still doubtful? Here's what my UFC All-Star Weekend would look like.
...
Thursday, May 24th (UFC on Fuel)
16 Man Openweight No-Gi Grappling Tournament
I would love this. Watching MMA's finest going at it on the mat. In an effort to make it exciting, it would be a one ten minute match with judges scoring it. To eliminate dullness, fighters can be penalized for stalling. It would be open to anybody in the UFC to compete.
In order to make it appealing to the fighters, if they won the opening round then they'd get $5,000, second round $10,000, third round $25,000, and finals $50,000. The opening and second round would take place on Fuel TV on Thursday. The Final Four would compete the next day.
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in Monday's post.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, tournament, prindle, allstar
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseEric Prindle gets title-shot after Thiago Santos fails to make heavyweight limit for Bellator 62 headliner
For the second time in as many weeks a bout between Bellator Season 5 heavyweight tournament finalists Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle was scratched from a card’s headlining slot due to one of the involved fighters’ inability to compete. While last week’s cancellation involved Prindle suffering from an undisclosed illness, it appears his health was a moot point based on his Brazilian adversary’s inability to come in at 265 pounds for their pairing.
Santos stepped on the scale Thursday at 277.75 pounds, well north of the division’s limit. As a result Prindle was awarded the Season 5 crown including the attached money and crack at champion Cole Konrad. Today’s events mark the end of an overall ugly saga kicked off, literally, when Santos landed a blatant low blow on Prindle in their original meeting rendering Prindle unable to continue.
Fortunately, the other eight individuals highlighting the card as part of the Season 6 lightweight tourney avoided any similar issues with all hitting their required marks.
The main card for Bellator 62 starts at 8:00 PM EST on MTV 2 with prelims streaming on Spike.com in the preceding hours.
Read below for a full list of weigh-in results. All numbers have been rounded to the nearest quarter-pound:
Sonny Luque (162.25) vs. Luis Vega (158.5)
Steven Peterson (145.25) vs. Chris Jones (145.75)
Joseph Daily (173.25) vs. Sean Spencer (170)
Dave Jansen (155.75) vs. Jacob Kirwan (155.5)
Douglas Frey (145.5) vs. Rad Martinez (145.75)
Thiago Michel (154.75) vs. Rene Nazare (155.75)
J.J. Ambrose (155) vs. Brent Weedman (155.75)
Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (155.5) vs. Lloyd Woodard (154.75)
Rick Hawn (155.5) vs. Ricardo Tirloni (155.25)
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, vs, eric prindle, prindle, card ’s
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainA Look at the Lightweights of Bellator 62
Two weeks into Bellator Season 6 and yours truly is six of eight when it comes to picking the first-round fights. Nothing spectacular I suppose, but that sort of success rate is pretty decent when it comes to the sport of MMA, and if you’re the betting type it’ll likely net you some money. So let’s try to keep that going and finally score the thus far elusive (or all-usive, if you will) perfect week. This Friday begins the search for Michael Chandler’s first challenger in the lightweight division, while former champion Eddie Alvarez is off getting a big name fight against Shinya Aoki and likely departing the promotion afterward.
Match-making messiness in the division aside, this version of the lightweight tournament continues Bellator’s trend of consistently making their divisions deeper and more talented. Whereas previous iterations of the 155-pound bracket have had a few solid fighters (Alvarez/Jorge Masvidal in Season 1, Pat Curran/Roger Huerta in Season 2, Chandler/Patricky Freire in Season 4), in some cases it wasn’t discovered until during or after the tournament how good some of those men were.
Heavyweight Main Event at Bellator 62 Cancelled Due to Missed Weight
Heading into Season 6, we have last year’s lightweight and welterweight finalists, Freire and Rick Hawn respectively. Brent Weedman, who is dropping down from 170, and who many thought beat eventual tournament winner Jay Hieron, could be a contender, and some of the first time tournament participants like Rene Nazare (10-1) and Ricardo Tirloni (14-1) make this tournament more interesting than those of seasons’ past. As we’ve become accustomed to, the odds are not out yet for the quarterfinals (let’s hope that changes for subsequent rounds), so we’ll run down the bout order.
I don’t imagine anyone is anticipating that fight more than the tournament headliner of ‘Pitbull’ Freire taking on Lloyd Woodard. Both fighters were defeated by Chandler in their previous tournament bouts and have the goal of exacting some revenge on the champion. Since returning to MMA after a near three year hiatus, ‘Pitbull’ has gone 6-1, finishing five of those opponents – two with flying knees – and just generally being an exciting, devastating fighter. Woodard doesn’t bring the level of highlight-making ability of his opponent, but he has only gone to decision twice in his eleven career victories including one against ultra-tough veteran Ryan Healy. Despite having a fairly well-rounded game, Woodard’s strategy in this fight should be to take it down early, as Freire is simply too dynamic on the feet for even far more seasoned strikers to survive – just ask Rob McCullough. The problem for Woodard lies in getting the fight down, as the Brazilian’s takedown defense is stout and has only really failed him as he began to tire against Chandler. I favor the elder ‘Pitbull’ to pick up another knockout in this bout and would be mildly surprised if he doesn’t earn himself an eventual spot in this season’s final.
The man I favor to join Freire in the final is another fellow who knows what it feels like to fall just short in the finals of a Bellator tournament. Olympic Judoka Rick Hawn bested Jim Wallhead and Lyman Good in the last welterweight tournament, two fighters just as skilled as any of theliightweight entrants. The biggest question for Hawn, who competed at 178 lbs in Judo and 170 lbs in MMA, is how he will deal with a significant weight cut for the first time in his combat sports career. Not to undersell Hawn’s opponent Tirloni, whose only career defeat came to current UFC lightweight champ Benson Henderson, but I see Hawn’s striking and incredible ability to remain on his feet being the determining factors in this fight. Perhaps Hawn’s power will carry with him down to 155, as he did being his career with seven TKO’s in his first nine fights, leading to a strike-based stoppage of Tirloni but more likely I see a unanimous verdict on the judges’ scorecards for Hawn.
The next bout features two fighters who have also previously competed at 170 pounds in Weedman and JJ Ambrose. Ambrose is a relatively talented submission grappler, but his quality of competition has been lacking to say the least. Looking over some tape of Ambrose, I saw one of his opponents tap to a one-armed Guillotine from side control. In the one fight where Ambrose took a step up in competition he was defeated rather easily by Mike Pyle. Losing to Pyle is nothing to be ashamed of, but Brent Weedman is much closer to Pyle’s skill level than that one the scrubs Ambrose has built his record against. Weedman has the grappling skills to nullify Ambrose’s primary attack which is his top position grappling, but also owns the striking to best Ambrose on the feet. The one danger with any Weedman fight is that he can fight to his own detriment at times, but against Ambrose I see his skills being too much for that to really turn into an issue. In the end, I envision Weedman moves on to the semis where he is capable of giving either Freire or Hawn fits even though I don’t see him moving any further along than that.
Finally, in one of the matches Bellator has made with obvious disregard for previous results, Nazare takes on Thiago Michel despite losing in his last bout to Jacob Kirwan (who happens to take on another guy who could be considered a tournament snub, Dave Jansen, in an undercard match). Nazare has shown the ability to finish opponents with strikes or by using his BJJ Blackbelt and had gone 3-0 in Bellator prior to the Kirwan bout. He is someone the promotion has high hopes for, but at the same time his presence in the tournament contradicts Bellator’s philosophy of having fighters earn their opportunities rather than being given them. Across the cage from Nazare is a guy who is in the tournament for his entertainment value, as there are better Brazilian lightweight prospects that the organization likely could have considered. When it comes to the type of fighters you want to feature on TV it’s hard to argue with a guy who has all nine of his victories by TKO and his only two losses by submission. It’s clear what Michel brings to the cage, and Nazare has the ability to exploit that one-dimensional style to move forward. Again, he has the skills to make for a difficult foil in the semi-finals, but I don’t see him getting past that round.
The lightweight tournament should deliver a handful of exciting fights and certainly some memorable moments, but each scrap seems pretty clear to pick. Unlike some of the other tournaments, where the tournament feels wide open, the path to the title clearly goes through the two fighters who have already seen a Bellator final in their career. In my head, when it comes down to the final, I see Freire getting the better of Hawn. I think Hawn has fallen in love with his striking, but he lacks the aptitude in that area to really trouble ‘Pitbull’ in that regard. It will be interesting to see how Hawn’s transition to 155 goes, because that could sway my opinion on this potential fight, but based on what we’ve seen thus far he has made himself far too one-dimensional to find that next level of success which his tools indicate he could reach.
My Picks:
Patricky Freire def. Lloyd Woodard via Round 2 TKO
Rick Hawn def. Ricardo Tirloni via Unanimous Decision
Brent Weedman def. J.J. Ambrose via Round 2 Submission
Rene Nazare def. Thiago Michel via Round 1 Submission
I’ll even go out on a limb here and predict Freire will take out Hawn in the tournament final to become the second ‘Pitbull’ brother to earn a Bellator title-shot. Agree or disagree with my picks? Let me know on Twitter @bradtaschuk. Be sure to check back for next week’s preview when we take a look at the welterweight division.
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Posted in: fight, bellator, tournament, hawn, ambrose
Read the full article at Fighters.comEric Prindle wins Bellator tournament title without a fight ()
Eric Prindle won Bellator's heavyweight tournament, which includes a $100,000 prize and a shot at Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad. Prindle did this without having to step in the cage for a rematch of his final with Thiago Santos.
How did this happen? In the latest of weird bumps in the road between the two competitors, Santos missed weight by 12 lbs. With Santos so far over the heavyweight limit of 265 lbs, the fight was called off , and Prindle was declared the winner of the tournament.
Last week, their fight was delayed after Prindle came down with the flu. In November, they met in the cage for their first attempt at a final. That bout was declared a no contest when Santos threw an illegal kick to Prindle's groin.
Prindle got to the final with a decision win over Abe Wagner and a 40-second knockout of Ron Sparks. He will now face Konrad at a later date to challenge for the Bellator heavyweight belt.
Posted in: fight, bellator, heavyweight, tournament, prindle
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsReport: Eric Prindle Wins $100K Bellator Tournament Will Challenge Cole Konrad
Mauro Ranallo is reporting on Twitter that not only has Thiago Silva missed weight and forced the cancellation of his Bellator 62 heavyweight tournament final bout against Eric Prindle, but Prindle has been declared the tournament winner. If this report is correct, Prindle will win the $100,000 Bellator tournament prize and get a shot at champion Cole Konrad's title.
It's been a long and fairly crooked path to get to this point. Prindle initially met Santos at Bellator 59 in the heavyweight tournament final. That bout was a No Contest after Prindle ate a kick to the groin from Santos at 1:24 of the round 1 and wasn't able to continue. The pair were then scheduled to meet at Bellator 61 last Friday. Unfortunately, Bellator pushed the bout back a week because Prindle was having "flu-like symptoms."
Here's Mauro's tweet:
@mauroranalloMauro Ranallo I can now confirm that Eric Prindle has been awarded the 100k and Bellator Heavyweight title shot after Thiago Santos missed weight. Mar 23 via Twitter for Android Favorite Retweet Reply
SBN coverage of Bellator 62
Posted in: bellator, tournament, eric prindle, prindle, thiago silva
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 62 weigh-in results: Thiago Santos heavy, Prindle awarded tournament win
Yet again, Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle will not fight.
Santos weighed 277.8 pounds at Thursday's Bellator 62 official
weigh-ins, and his season-five heavyweight tournament rematch with
Prindle was scratched.
With Santos missing weight, Prindle was declared the season-five
tournament victory and will now meet Bellator heavyweight champion Cole
Konrad at a later date.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, eric prindle, prindle, weight prindle
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 62 Weigh-in Results: ‘Big Monster’ Overweight, Heavyweight Tourney Final Scrapped
Eric Prindle was given the green light Thursday to compete in Bellator’s Season 5 heavyweight tournament final, but the same was not true for opponent Thiago Santos, who hit the scales more than 11 pounds overweight prior to the scheduled Bellator 62 clash.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight tourney, monster ’, light thursday, opponent thiago
Read the full article at SherdogEric Prindle Vs. Thiago Santos Appears Off Bellator 62 Card Following Santos Missing Weight
After a confusing bit of nonsense last week before their Bellator 61 rematch, tomorrow's scheduled heavyweight tournament final between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos now appears to be off. The bout was a rematch of the season 5 bout that ended when Santos landed a hard kick to the groin that left Prindle unable to continue and the bout a no contest.
Mauro Ranallo's Twitter was the first place I saw the bout canceled:
@mauroranalloMauro Ranallo Just learned Thiago Santos is out of the Bellator Heavyweight tournament final against Eric Prindle.Trying to find out what now? Mar 23 via Twitter for Android Favorite Retweet Reply
The two were supposed to fight last week but the fight was postponed a week when Bellator said Prindle was ill. Prindle went on The MMA Show and said that he was fine but that Santos was way over weight. It then was re-confirmed that Prindle was in fact ill and Bjorn Rebney said that Santos was only slightly overweight and could have made the weight.
Word is that Santos is 11 pounds over and won't be able to hit the 265 pound limit forcing a cancellation.
So was Prindle actually sick last week? Everyone seems to confirm that he was, but his story about Santos seems to carry a bit more weight (pun intended) in light of this week's nonsense.
Now it appears Bellator will be forced to name Prindle the tournament champion, despite not winning a finals bout, just to give Cole Konrad a fight. Meanwhile, Bellator couldn't put together a rematch between Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler because title shots have to be earned through the title format?
Yikes.
Posted in: bellator, bout, week, weight, prindle
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowEric Pringle just won the Bellator heavyweight tournament and all he had to do was get kicked in the junk and get the flu to do it
November 26th, 2011. Eric Prindle is nailed by a Thiago Santos kick to the junk the likes of which we haven't seen since Monster Squad. With Prindle unable to recover from the horrifying shot to his nether region, the fight is ruled a no contest. Bjorn Rebney and every male witness to the act nods and grimaces, even Santos. The Bellator heavyweight tournament finals would have to go down in season six.
Fast forward to Wednesday, March 14th, 2012. Feel free to add cool zooming sound effects to the fast forwarding in your mind. Eric Prindle is speaking to Sean Wheelock and Jimmy Smith when all of a sudden he starts barfing uncontrollably. Dude's got the flu. They give it the day to see if the illness passes. The next day the Louisiana commission takes a look at Prindle and decides that he should be at home under the covers replenishing his fluids instead of in a cage punching another man for a shot at the Bellator title. Prindle wants to fight, but the bout gets pushed back a week. Santos is fine with the decision, he wants to fight a '100%' opponent.
Now here we are: Thursday, March 22nd, 2012 and Thiago Santos has just come in eleven pounds overweight for his tournament finals bout. Because of this, it turns out Eric Prindle's true test to get beyond the finals of the Bellator tournament was to get kicked in the nards in a really nasty way all those months ago and contract a bad case of influenza. No one thinks less of him for it either, especially us, and most importantly Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney. Mauro just broke the news that Eric Prindle has won the season five heavyweight tournament a few weeks into season six and without having to throw a punch since November:
Huge props to Prindle no matter how this whacky finals ended. Hopefully we can see him Vs. former Frate Trane Cole Konrad soon.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, final, prindle, eric
Read the full article at Middle EasyBellator 62 Weigh-In Results
Barring any late-night problems, we will finally see the conclusion to the Bellator heavyweight tournament from season five Friday night at Bellator 62.
After having their first match end in a no-contest, Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos were forced off last Friday’s card due to Prindle falling ill with flu-like symptoms. Now, the two are set to compete in the main event from Laredo, Texas this evening live on MTV2 beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
The official weigh-ins for the card took place earlier today, and nearly all fighters were cleared for action. Joseph Daily came in over for his contest with Sean Spencer at welterweight, but was working to cut the necessary weight later in the night.
As a reminder, MMA Convert will have complete coverage of Bellator 62 Friday night. Make sure you check back for all your MMA news and results.
BELLATOR 62
Main Card (MTV2)
•Eric Prindle (xxx lbs.) vs. Thiago Santos (xxx lbs.) (season-five heavyweight-tourney final rematch)
•Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (155.6 lbs.) vs. Lloyd Woodard (154.8 lbs.) (lightweight-tourney opening round)
•J.J. Ambrose (xxx lbs.) vs. Brent Weedman (xxx lbs.) (lightweight-tourney opening round)
•Rick Hawn (155.6 lbs.) vs. Ricardo Tirloni (155.2 lbs.) (lightweight-tourney opening round)
•Thiago Michel (154.8 lbs.) vs. Rene Nazare (155.8 lbs.) (lightweight-tourney opening round)
Preliminary Card (Spike.com)
•Sonny Luque (xxx lbs.) vs. Luis Vega (xxx lbs.)
•Douglas Frey (145.6 lbs.) vs. Rad Martinez (145.8 lbs.)
•Cosmo Alexander (xxx lbs.) vs. Oscar de la Parra (xxx lbs.)
•Joseph Daily (173.2 lbs.) vs. Sean Spencer (170 lbs.)
•Steven Peterson (145.2 lbs.) vs. Chris Jones (145.8 lbs.)
•Dave Jansen (155.8 lbs.) vs. Jacob Kirwan (155.4 lbs.)
Posted in: bellator, round, vs, lb, xxx
Read the full article at MMA ConvertWatch the Bellator 62 Weigh-ins Streaming Live at 6 p.m. ET on MMAWeekly.com
Tune in to MMAWeekly.com at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT on Thursday for a live video stream of the Bellator 62 weigh-ins.
Posted in: bellator, pm, video stream, mmaweeklycom, mmaweeklycom tune
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 62 weigh in results LIVE from Texas for 'Santos vs Prindle'
The official weigh-in event for tomorrow night's Bellator 62 fight card takes place today (March 22, 2012) at 6 p.m. ET from the La Posada Hotel in Laredo, Texas.
Bellator 62 features a heavyweight tournament final that features two men with some serious unfinished business. Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle's original bout at Bellator 59 ended in a dreaded "No Contest" after an illegal blow and then the rematch was delayed last week when Prindle came down with a bad case of the flu.
The rest of the main card will comprise the Bellator season six lightweight tournament. Featured this season are two former welterweight tournament fighters Rick Hawn and Brent Weedman as well as two returning competitors from the season four tournament in Patricky Freire and Lloyd Woodard.
Lastly, there's some fresh blood entering the equation in Muay Thai wrecking machine J.J. Ambrose and a trio of dangerous Brazilians in Ricardo Tirloni, Thiago Michel and Rene Nazare.
Complete Bellator 62 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
265 lbs.: Eric Prindle () vs. Thiago Santos ()155 lbs.: Patricky Freire () vs. Lloyd Woodard ()155 lbs.: Rick Hawn () vs. Ricardo Tirloni ()155 lbs.: Thiago Michel () vs. Rene Nazare ()155 lbs.: J.J. Ambrose () vs. Brent Weedman ()
Preliminary Card (Spike.com)
170 lbs.: Sonny Luque () vs. Luis Vega ()155 lbs.: Rad Martinez () vs. Douglas Frey ()155 lbs.: Cosmo Alexandre () vs. Oscar de la Parra ()170 lbs.: Joseph Daily () vs. Sean Spencer ()135 lbs.: Steven Peterson () vs. Chris Jones ()155 lbs.: Dave Jansen () vs. Jacob Kirwan ()
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 62, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 8 p.m. ET tomorrow night (March 23).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: bellator, vs, lb, card, prindle
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBrian Foster Denied Medical Clearance for Bellator 63
Bellator officials broke the news today that planned welterweight tournament participant Brian Foster (18-5) did not receive medical clearance for his scheduled bout against David Rickels (8-0).
Foster will be replaced by another promotional newcomer in Jordan Smith (17-2-1), who’s on a two fight winning streak that includes a split decision over Karo Parisyan.
Foster was due to meet Rickels at Bellator 63 in the opening round of the promotion’s sixth season welterweight tourney, which kicks off at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The event is being overseen by the Mohegan Sun Commission, who want to see Foster undergo additional testing before he can be cleared to fight.
The exact cause for Foster being denied clearance has not been revealed by the commission or by Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney.
“Brian’s a hugely talented fighter who we were hoping to see next Friday, but his Bellator premiere will need to be delayed just a bit,” Rebney said in a release. “But to pick up a rising star in Jordan Smith and place him into the fire of our $100,000 welterweight tournament is what makes great moments. The Mohegan Sun Commission is one of the best in the world and we support their decision.”
Foster was denied medical clearance before what would have been his sixth UFC fight at UFC 129 last April when he showed a brain hemorrhage during pre-fight screening. Foster was not picked back up by the promotion, despite holding a UFC record of 3-2 and riding a two-fight streak at the time of his dismissal.
The 27-year-old indicated on Twitter that similar reasons were to blame for this most recent fight cancellation.
“I’m fine it’s just the same ole sh** from last time.. They just didn’t get my release stuff in time or somthing..,” he wrote.
Bellator was forced to replace another planned tournament participant earlier this year in War Machine (Jon Koppenhaver), when the returning welterweight was sentenced to a year in jail. The opening round of the tournament is now stacked thusly:
Karl Amoussou vs. Chris Lozano
Raul Amaya vs. Ben Saunders
David Rickels vs. Jordan Smith
Bryan Baker vs. Carlos Pereira
Posted in: fight, bellator, welterweight, tournament, opening round
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBrian Foster Unable to Get Medically Cleared, Jordan Smith in at Bellator 63 (MMAWeekly.com)
A victorious Brian Foster at UFC 123 Bellator’s upcoming welterweight tournament has undergone a late change as Brian Foster will be unable to compete on the Bellator 63 fight card at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. He will be replaced by up-and-comer Jordan Smith. Bellator officials announced the change on Thursday. Foster was not medically cleared to fight by the Mohegan Sun Commission and will have to be screened and go through additional testing before he’s able to compete again.
Posted in: bellator, brian, welterweight tournament, jordan smith, mohegan sun
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBrian Foster Ineligible for Bellator Welterweight Tourney, Replaced by Jordan Smith
Brian Foster will not compete in the Bellator Season 6 welterweight tournament as originally expected.
Posted in: bellator, season, welterweight, tournament, brian
Read the full article at SherdogBellator's Brian Foster not medically cleared, replaced by newcomer Jordan Smith
Promotional newcomer Jordan Smith has replaced Brian
Foster in Bellator Fighting Championships'
season-six welterweight tournament.
Bellator officials today announced that Foster has not been medically
cleared for a scheduled appearance at next week's Bellator 63 event and
has been forced to withdraw.
Smith now faces undefeated prospect David Rickels in an opening-round quarterfinal matchup.
Posted in: bellator, brian, jordan, smith, bellators brian
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 63: Brian Foster out, Jordan Smith in against David Rickels on March 30 at Mohegan Sun
CHICAGO, Ill. (March 22, 2012) - Bellator newcomer Jordan Smith will now get a chance to make a run in the stacked Bellator Season 6 Welterweight Tournament as talented 170-pounder Brian Foster is officially ineligible for action in the quarterfinals, which begin at Bellator 63 next Friday, March 30 at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
According to the Mohegan Sun Commission, Foster will need to be screened for additional testing before he is medically cleared to fight. The 18-5 welterweight was originally scheduled to face David Rickels in the opening round, but now the 27-year-old Smith gets his shot in the $100,000 tournament.
"Brian's a hugely talented fighter who we were hoping to see next Friday, but his Bellator premiere will need to be delayed just a bit" Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "But to pick up a rising star in Jordan Smith and place him into the fire of our $100,000 Welterweight Tournament is what makes great moments. The Mohegan Sun Commission is one of the best in the world and we support their decision.
The 16-2-1 Smith has recent victories over one-time UFC contender Karo Parisyan and a win in November against Josh McDonald. But now the One Hit and Black House MMA trained fighter is staring his dream right in the face.
"This is the best opportunity I've ever had in my career," Smith said. "This is the break I've been waiting for. What I like about Bellator is there's a clear line of sight to the title."
Known for his striking prowess, the Layton, Utah fighter remains well-rounded - earning seven of his wins by KO/TKO and seven of his wins by submission. With the short time Smith has had to prepare, the fight-finishing mixed martial artist has quickly brushed up on his opponent.
"It's such short notice that I haven't had a chance to do much research on Dave," Smith added. "I see that he's undefeated and most of his wins have come by submission. From the clips I've seen it looks like he finds a way to win."
More on Bellator 63: Bellator Fighting Championships returns to Mohegan Sun Arena on March 30 for Bellator 63: The Assassin vs. Psycho. The Friday night affair will feature the quarterfinals of the Bellator Season 6 Welterweight Tournament, along with a host of preliminary fights featuring some of the best East Coast talent the sport has to offer. Tickets for the event are on sale and are available through Ticketmaster.com or at the Mohegan Sun Box Office. Tickets are priced from $30-$70.
The event will broadcast LIVE starting at 8 p.m. EST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. EST, with the first fight scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The preliminary card, featuring the area's top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. EST.
The night will be highlighted by Karl "Psycho" Amoussou (@KarlAmoussou) and Chris "The Cleveland Assassin" Lozano as the two vie for a spot in the welterweight semifinals. The Frenchman, Amoussou is known for his tenacious style and desire to finish every fight, leading to 11 finishes in his 13 career wins. For Lozano, the Cleveland Assassin looks for another shot at the Bellator title after coming up short last year against eventual tournament winner Douglas Lima. While Lozano should be a familiar name to Bellator fans after competing in the previous two welterweight tournaments, the evolution Lozano has made over the last half year should make "The Cleveland Assassin" one of the most dangerous fighters inside the Bellator cage.
Former Bellator Welterweight finalist Ben Saunders (@BenSaundersMMA) returns and will take on Bellator newcomer Raul Amaya in quarterfinal action. Saunders tore through the Bellator Season 5 Welterweight tournament with a TKO victory over Chris Cisneros and a submission victory of Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Luis "Sapo" Santos, but fell short against tournament winner Douglas Lima in the finals and now Saunders is poised to make another run at the title. Amaya enters the tournament with a spotless 9-0 record and will be looking to stay perfect on his way to the finals.
Long time Bellator veteran Bryan "The Beast" Baker (@bryanbeastbaker) is making the drop to welterweight and will try his hand at 170 lbs. when he battles Carlos "Indio" Pereira. Fighting almost exclusively out of Brazil, Pereira brings a wealth of experience to the Bellator cage, and should be a force within a loaded welterweight tournament.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.
Posted in: bellator, welterweight, tournament, smith, mohegan
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 148: Ben Saunders, Bellator 62 Preview
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts, including all the latest fight bookings, including the possibility of Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen in a huge stadium in Brazil.
We'll also preview Friday's Bellator 62, which is headlined by a heavyweight tournament final between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos and the quarterfinals of the company's Season 6 Lightweight Tournament, featuring a bout between Patricky Freire and Lloyd Woodard.
We'll be joined by Bellator welterweight Ben Saunders as he prepares for his welterweight tournament quarterfinal bout next week at Bellator 63 against Raul Amaya. We'll chat with him about that fight, rebounding from a tough loss and much more.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Legacy Fight Shorts, seen on Yushin Okami, Vaughan Lee and Hatsu Hioki at UFC 144, only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Bellator 62
SBN coverage of Bellator 63
Posted in: bellator, radio, elbow radio, elbow, boy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 62: Lightweight Tournament Dissection
Live from the Laredo Energy Center in Laredo, Texas, Bellator 62 kicks off this Friday, March 23rd with the first round of the Season 6 lightweight tournament. Last season's heavyweight tournament champion will finally be decided in the show's main event, as Eric Prindle meets Thiago Santos.
While flat on his back, Prindle took a full-on groin kick from Santos that resulted in a No Contest in their initial finals match at Bellator 59. They were set to rematch last week at Bellator 61, but Prindle was a no-go due to illness and the bout was transferred to this card. Prindle vs. Santos got the once-over in the last Dissection so we'll concentrate on the opening wave of this year's compelling lightweight tournament.
Some new faces accent the lightweight lineup. Two former Bellator welterweights are sinking to 155-pounds for the first time in Rick Hawn and Brent Weedman, Tiger Muay Thai's J.J. Ambrose will make his Bellator debut along with Thiago Michel, a #1 ranked lightweight prospect on the Bloody Elbow Scouting Report. Here's the full card:
Season 6 Lightweight Tournament Quarterfinals
Patricky Freire vs. Lloyd Woodard Rick Hawn vs. Ricardo Tirloni J.J. Ambrose vs. Brent Weedman Thiago Michel vs. Rene Nazare
Heavyweight Tournament Final
Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos
Preliminary Card
Sonny Luque vs. Luis VegaDouglas Frey vs. Rad MartinezCosmo Alexender vs. Oscar de la ParraJoseph Daily vs. Sean SpencerSteven Peterson vs. Chris JonesDave Jansen vs. Jacob Kirwan
Patricky Freire (10-2) vs. Lloyd Woodard (11-1)
One of Bellator's best breakout lightweights, Patricky "Pitbull" Freire thundered into the finals last year with back-to-back highlight reel knockouts. He clipped former WEC lightweight champ Rob McCullough with a step-in hook and launched a picturesque flying knee to finish Toby Imada. In his last, Freire retired former UFC lightweight Kurt Pellegrino with a vicious first-round TKO. The Team Nogueira BJJ black belt never fails to entertain and has become a fan-favorite for his violent aggression.
Lloyd "Cupcake" Woodard is a once-beaten, stretchy lightweight with five wins by submission and four via strikes. The Montana native scored a TKO over Carey Vanier in the 2011 quarterfinals, but suffered his first career defeat to current lightweight champion Michael Chandler by decision. Chandler then bested Freire in the finals by the same method and went on to choke out champ Eddie Alvarez to snare the strap.
Like Freire, Woodard is an ever-ready scrapper who's always hunting for a stoppage and both are determined to take the tournament for another crack at Chandler.
Gifs and analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of Bellator 62
From watching his fighting tendencies, you wouldn't think Freire was a submission specialist. He's a stand-up brawler with solid boxing and Muay Thai technique. On the fringe, he pumps a crisp jab, low roundhouse or front kick and hurls a heavy one-two and hooks at close range. Even without a distinct wrestling pedigree, Freire is a capable wrestler, both offensively and defensively. His 5'7" stature is a factor, as his shorter height and reach require good defense, head movement and quickness to dart into striking range, but his strength and stocky frame make him tough to control.
Woodard is also hard-nosed and feisty in all aspects with few apparent weaknesses. Chandler, a D1 All American wrestler, wisely turned their bout into a control-based takedown fest, but Woodard was still ornery with takedown defense and showed good sweep and submission abilities, such as the kimura roll to the left. "Cupcake" does have some semi-pro boxing experience, so he forms up a well rounded package of dangerous striking -- great hands, stiff clinch knees and aggravating dirty boxing -- along with slippery grappling and crafty transitions.
Freire is the favorite to win the tourney and also holds the biggest push on the betting lines at -325. Personally, I think that's pretty steep and that Woodard is being overlooked. The advantages Freire will have are quickness, agility and submission grappling, while Woodard will have the overall size advantage and superior leverage in the clinch. Since Freire isn't an accomplished wrestler and Woodard has sound takedown defense, I see most of this fight playing out on the feet where Woodard's length and range will be a big factor and Freire's BJJ will not.
I'd consider their striking fairly even. They both have legit knockout power and throw hard with resilient defense and beards (Freire has one TKO loss); "Pitbull" uses a few more tools in open space with his kicks where Woodard relies mostly on his hands. In a match up this close on paper, Woodard's gangly reach and capabilities with scrambling and takedown defense should be pivotal. I was leaning slightly towards Freire but the twisted betting lines inspire me to take the underdog for the shocking upset.
My Prediction: Lloyd Woodard by TKO.
Rick Hawn (11-1) vs. Ricardo Tirloni (14-1)
Rick Hawn is one of the rare Olympic-level Judokas in MMA, representing the United States in the 2004 games and posting a 2-2 clip. What's astonishing about Hawn is how drastically he's sharpened up his kickboxing under Mark Dellagrotte at Sityodtong in Massachusetts. Not only his striking fully functional, but Hawn dueled with the experienced Jay Hieron for all three rounds and dotted up the veteran with a snapping jab and a nasty lead left hook. His base is like an immovable battleship and his clinch tactics are world class. Hawn was a force at 170, losing only a controversial split decision to Hieron, and should be an animal at 155.
Ricardo Tirloni is another Bloody Elbow Scouting Report member on the card, coming in second behind the top lightweight pick (Thiago Michel). His only career defeat is to Benson Henderson by guillotine choke at MFC 17 and Tirloni was more than holding his own.
He's similar to Freire in that he's a BJJ black belt who'd rather take your head off with strikes, though he does have seven wins by sub and five by KO. Tirloni is a malicious Muay Thai artist who head-hunts relentlessly and has an aggressive submission game to match, though his standing defense can be lax.
The standout aspect of Hawn's freakish development with kickboxing is his laudable technique across the board. His footwork, head movement and defense are rock-solid, he mixes up his combinations well, has a nice low kick from outside and conducts himself with the cool composure of a veteran. As always, the virgin run in a new weight class can be a factor, but I see Hawn being a little too sharp and clean on the feet for Tirloni. Hawn should own the clinch but has to be cautious if he decides to ground Tirloni, who has a volatile submission arsenal off his back. The betting lines have Hawn at -205, which I'm on board with.
My Prediction: Rick Hawn by decision.
J.J. Ambrose vs. Brent Weedman
Ambrose is another intriguing new addition. He's a Thai specialist who fights out of Tiger Muay Thai and lost to Sevak Magakian in the TUF 12 elimination bout. Don't mistake Ambrose as a one-dimensional kickboxer though -- he's a BJJ brown belt under Tracy Hess and also the head wrestling coach at Tiger Muay Thai.
Ambrose split results in his first four MMA bouts, then scorched a seventeen-fight sequence with only one loss (to the UFC's Mike Pyle in Affliction) and one No Contest. Ambrose boasts four wins by TKO, nine by submission and is soaring on a seven-piece roll.
Weedman, along with Hawn, is dropping to Bellator's lightweight class after establishing himself at welterweight. He's earned a reputation as a spoiler, starting with his surprise upset of Douglas Lima by submission to win the AFL title. That victory ignited a ten-fight win streak that ended with a unanimous decision over Dan Hornbuckle in Bellator, who'd caught Weedman in a triangle back in 2006.
Despite his noticeable surge, Weedman is coming off consecutive decision losses: the first was to Jay Hieron in a bout many felt Weedman may have deserved to win, the second to Chris Lozano at Bellator 49. Weedman is a tough customer who's savvy in just about every department. He has a penchant for stoppages, having finished ten by TKO and seven by submission with only one decision victory.
Weedman is the substantial favorite on the betting lines, which is hard to dispute considering his gameness at 170. Ambrose is definitely a rising talent with a diverse set of skills, though somewhat lacking in A-level competition. Weedman is the safe pick but I'm eager to see what Ambrose brings to the table here. He's one to keep an eye on.
My Prediction: Brent Weedman by decision.
Thiago Michel (9-2) vs. Rene Nazare (10-1)
The alpha lightweight on last year's Scouting Report, Thiago Michel is a stellar Thai boxer who won the 2010 WAKO World Cup. He's long been a touted prospect but has seemed to reach a new level of prestige after steadily fortifying his takedown defense and grappling. Expect elite striking replete with a long reach, effective front and roundhouse kicks, calculating footwork and dizzying angles and motion.
Nazare is a Team Bombsquad black belt who just suffered his first career defeat to Jacob Kirwan by unanimous decision at Bellator 54. He's a strong athlete with a good chin and decent striking and wrestling. Though his base is in submission grappling, he's not an insta-sub terror and more of a methodical position fighter and guard passer.
In this one, I will lean towards the standout prospect in Michel despite the fact he's making his stateside debut after fighting on the Brazilian circuit. Nazare will be outclassed standing and forced to clinch up or shoot takedowns to avoid the sting of leather. Michel has a nasty clinch and has drastically improved his takedown defense through the front headlock position and the options it offers. I think he can keep most of the fight standing and survive short spurts on the mat to score a decision here.
My Prediction: Thiago Michel by decision.
All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com
All betting line references via BestFightOdds.com
Posted in: bellator, vs, freire, hawn, woodard
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 62 Weigh-In Results: Santos overweight, Prindle awarded Tournament Championship
It appears the long awaited Season Five Heavyweight Tournament final bout between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos will not take place. After their first encounter at Bellator 59 was declared a no-contest due to an "accidental kick to the groin," the two were set to meet again at last week's Bellator 61. That bout was eventually scratched as well when Prindle came down with "flu-like symptoms," and the fight was again rescheduled for tomorrow night's Bellator 62. The match-up has now been halted all
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight tournament, eric prindle, prindle, tournament championship
Read the full article at Low KickWatch today's Bellator 62 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 6 p.m. ET
La Posada Hotel in Laredo, Texas, plays host
to today's official Bellator 62 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a live video stream of the
proceedings at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT local time).
Bellator 62 takes place Friday with a Thiago Santos vs. Eric Prindle heavyweight headliner and the opening round of the season-six lightweight tournament.
In addition to the live weigh-ins and pre-fight press conference, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, pm, text results, weighin, posada hotel
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 62 preview and predictions for 'Santos vs Prindle' on March 23 in Laredo
Bellator Fighting Championships will head to "The Lonestar State" this Friday night (March 23, 2012) at the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas.
The main card will air live on MTV2 on fight night, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Headlining the main event will be a heavyweight tournament final that features two men with some serious unfinished business. Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle's original bout at Bellator 59 ended in a dreaded "No Contest" after an illegal blow and then the rematch was delayed last week when Prindle came down with a bad case of the flu.
Now they're back and there's a heavyweight title shot on the line.
The rest of the main card will comprise the Bellator season six lightweight tournament. Featured this season are two former welterweight tournament fighters Rick Hawn and Brent Weedman as well as two returning competitors from the season four tournament in Patricky Freire and Lloyd Woodard.
Lastly, there's some fresh blood entering the equation in Muay Thai wrecking machine J.J. Ambrose and a trio of dangerous Brazilians in Ricardo Tirloni, Thiago Michel and Rene Nazare.
Check out our complete Bellator 62 preview and predictions after the jump:
265 lbs.: Eric Prindle (7-1 1 NC) vs. Thiago Santos (10-1 1 NC)
Thiago Santos entered the Bellator season five heavyweight tournament as an alternate but proved his worth by dropping season three finalist Neil Grove with an overhand right and finishing him with a rear naked choke in just 38 seconds. Santos is large, powerful and while he's not the most technical guy on the ground, he's definitely dangerous with submissions if he can gain an advantage.
Eric Prindle is probably one of the biggest heavyweights in the world. Originally cutting down from about 300 pounds to make the 265 pound limit. Prindle showcased his boxing skills in the semifinals by destroying the heavy hitter Ron Sparks in just 40 seconds,
The key for this fight will be for Prindle to try and keep the fight standing or in the clinch while Santos also looks stand or score takedowns. Prindle has some terrific boxing skills and tremendous power, but this fight will hinge on whether he can remain upright.
He was dumped on his back in the last fight before the ill-fated low blow, so he's going to have to put forth a better effort to stay standing if he wants to win this time around. Santos has proven he's capable both standing and on the ground and in my opinion, that will likely be the key difference.
Final Prediction: Thiago Santos via submission in round one
155 lbs.: Patricky Freire (10-2) vs. Lloyd Woodard (11-1)
Patricky Freire is an absolute monster. He made it to the finals of the lightweight tournament last year scoring two of the most emphatic knockouts of the season over Rob McCullough and Toby Imada. While he ended up on the short end of the stick via decision to tournament winner and now Bellator champion Michael Chandler, he bounced back with a dominant first round stoppage against UFC veteran Kurt Pellegrino this past November. Now he's back and ready to finish what he started last year.
Lloyd Woodard entered Bellator's fourth season with an undefeated record and after an impressive second round technical knockout of Carey Vanier, he too faced the unstoppable force that was Michael Chandler. In a losing effort, he pushed Chandler to the limit, taking him to a decision for the first time in his career but he was eventually overwhelmed by the Xtreme Couture fighter's wrestling. Woodard has not fought since that loss, which was nearly one full year ago, but now he's back and hoping to play spoiler.
Freire should have a striking edge and he's definitely got a power advantage over Woodard. I think Woodard would be wise to try to pick his spots and take this fight to the ground or into the clinch if he can. He's got to do whatever it takes to take away "Pitbull's" weapons, which are his fists and knees. Woodard needs to be as scrappy as possible and really try to push the pace with the Brazilian where he can hopefully wear him down. Freire has slowed down in the later rounds of his previous fights so if he can tire him out, he has a chance to be the tournament dark horse.
Final Prediction: Patricky Freire via knockout in round two
155 lbs.: Rick Hawn (11-1) vs. Ricardo Tirloni (14-1)
Rick Hawn is an absolute beast. A former judo Olympian, he made it to the finals of the Bellator season four welterweight tournament where many fans believed he defeated Jay Hieron but the judges didn't side with him. He was gearing up for another run at the welterweight crown before a knee injury prevented him from competing in the season five tournament. Instead of coming back at 170 pounds, the now-Tristar fighter made the cut to lightweight and if he can translate his power and technique to this division
You may not know Ricardo Tirloni yet, but you'd better respect him. The Brazilian is a ferocious competitor and enters the Bellator season six lightweight tournament riding an impressive 11 fight winning streak. Tirloni holds significant victories over the likes of Brian Cobb and the only man to ever best him in the cage is the current UFC lightweight champion Ben Henderson.
Hawn should have the advantage when the fight is inside whether it's close range where he can use his power or in the clinch where his Olympic level judo can come into play but on the ground, Tirloni could have an advantage with his top level jiu-jitsu skills. Tirloni loves chokes whether it's a triangle, rear naked, Brabo or anaconda and he won't be afraid to attempt to put Hawn away if he can gain an advantage on the ground. He's also got some skill on the feet, as he's finished multiple opponents with his head kicks and knees.
Final Prediction: Rick Hawn via decision
155 lbs.: Brent Weedman (18-7) vs. J.J. Ambrose (17-3) 1 no contest
Brent Weedman was a dark horse in the Bellator season four welterweight tournament and after squeaking by Dan Hornbuckle, he also was on the receiving hand of a rough decision against Jay Hieron after (in my opinion) beating Hieron even worse than Rick Hawn did in the finals. Weedman tried to parlay his tough battles into the season five 170 pound tournament but was upset in the first round via decision by Chris Lozano in a fight where he was outstruck in the second round and outwrestled in the third. Weedman gave in and dropped a weight class for this upcoming 155 pound tournament and he's hoping to end the first two-fight skid of his career.
J.J. Ambrose has never competed in Bellator but he's been fighting all around the world against some of the best and most dangerous warriors out there, primarily in the Pacific rim. Ambrose prefers to keep the fight standing where he can utilize his extremely dangerous Muay Thai skills which he's been honing at Tiger Muay Thai in the Philippines.
Ambrose backs up his solid striking with a surprisingly efficient submission attack. In fact, he's finished over twice as many fights by submission as he has by knockout. Weedman is going to have to use his well-rounded attack to try to neutralize Ambrose in this fight and really put a lot of pressure on him. Weedman will have a nice height and reach advantage in this fight, but he's going to have to be smart if he wants to win, smarter than he has been in recent fights and he's the first to admit it.
Final Prediction: Brent Weedman via submission in round two
155 lbs.: Thiago Michel (9-2) vs. Rene Nazare (10-1)
You may not know either Thiago Michel or Rene Nazare well, but both have some strong skills and are equally dangerous Brazilians. Nazare has been building his way up inside the Bellator cage, winning his first 10 fights overall which included three in Bellator before he was upset by wrestler Jacob Kirwan via unanimous decision.
Michel would be wise to employ a similar tactic as Kirwan and try to stifle Nazare from top position as Nazare tends to be a little too comfortable on his back, even pulling guard on occasion. If Michel is confident in his top game and his submission avoidance, he's got what it takes to at least pull off a unanimous decision victory.
The other side of this equation is the fact that Nazare is likely fired up by suffering the first loss of his career. He's going to be looking to make a statement and I think he's talented enough that he can do it.
Final Prediction: Rene Nazare via TKO in round one
So there you have it, Maniacs.
Who's your favorite to take home the tournament title, earn a shot at the belt and win $100,000? Do you smell any upsets brewing? Will the heavyweight final actually take place this week?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, season, tournament, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaLloyd Woodard Confident in Ability to Finish Patricky ‘Pitbull’ at Bellator 62
Lloyd Woodard will face a tall task when he steps into the cage for his bout with Patricky Freire at Bellator 62 on Friday night.
Posted in: bellator, lloyd, patricky freire, lloyd woodard, woodard
Read the full article at SherdogLevel playing field: Bellator's Brent Weedman discusses making the drop to 155
Bellator Fighting Championships veteran Brent Weedman had to learn it the hard way:
No matter how skilled you are, you can only fight without having to cut weight and remain competitive for so long before you have to suck it up and drop down a division.
Even Frankie Edgar, one of the best in the world and a man who defended his UFC lightweight title three straight times is constantly badgered about dropping a weight class.
Weedman more than held his own in the Bellator season four welterweight tournament, defeating Dan Hornbuckle before dropping an extremely controversial decision to eventual tournament winner Jay Hieron in the semifinals, a fight which a large majority of fans and analysts believe he won.
He came back as a participant in the season five 170 pound field, but had issues dealing with Chris Lozano's strength as the fight wore on, eventually losing the final two rounds and dropping his quarterfinal bout in a very entertaining battle.
The Kentucky native sucked it up and decided to drop down to lightweight, gaining immediate entry into the season six tournament which starts this Friday night (March 23, 2012) at Bellator 62 in Laredo, Texas where he will be taking on Muay Thai practitioner J.J. Ambrose on the main card.
Weedman spoke with MMAmania.com during a guest appearance on The Verbal Submission this past weekend about his motivation for dropping down and how he believes it will affect him in part one of this two-part interview.
Check it out:
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): We'll start with the most obvious question. For the last two tournaments, you competed at welterweight but for this one, you'll be dropping down to 155. Brent Weedman: Yeah, yeah. I was walking around, I was showing up the last for 5-6 fights in a row starting up fight week at around 172, 173. I like to joke and say that I would accidentally make weight about seven or eight times in the two weeks before the fight. I'd wake up in the morning at 171 and go, "Oh, well I guess I get to eat a whole bunch today."
I'd talked to Bellator about my weight. The 170 guys, I like to joke that 195 is the new 170. You've got Bryan Baker in the tournament now and Doug Lima's a huge dude and Chris Lozano is no small pup so when they called and I got a call from my manger saying, "Look, we were trying to get a fight before the end of the year but nothing was coming up, not anything," and he said, "Hey look, Bellator came back and said they can't fit you on as a welterweight but if you can make 155, they'll put you right in the next tournament," and that's all I needed to hear.
In fact, before Bellator called, I had already planned a test cut and I went ahead and pushed it forward a week or two just because I didn't want to leave Bellator waiting so I said, "Screw it, I'll make it next week." I made the cut on a Sunday and then gave myself Monday to recuperate and then Monday night I did some super heavy duty sparring just to see how the body would react and to see if my jaw, my power and speed and everything would stay and it felt good. I felt great so here I am. I'm ready to go.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I've got a question on what spurred this decision to drop down. The fight with Lozano, it kind of felt like you got outmuscled a bit as the fight wore on, especially in the third round. Did it feel like you were suffering from a strength disadvantage?
Brent Weedman: Early, not really because I was on his back much of the first round and technically that's grappling but in the later rounds, like you said, actually having to grapple and clinch with this guy instead of playing yoda and the backpack and hanging on for dear life, yeah, I definitely felt that he was larger than me and it's something that I was kicking around. As far as what spurred this decision, you can only walk around at your weight class in this sport for so long.
My sort of "Ahh" moment, part of our routine when we were in Texas before the quarterfinals last year, we had some media with Jimmy [Smith] and Sean [Wheelock] the commentators and that Wednesday night we like to get some pad work in, get a sweat going to loosen the muscles and so we go to the workout room that they set up for us and he goes, "Well why don't you check your weight?" because I brought my sweatsuit and everything just in case. I stepped on the scale, 171, and we go to working pads. Meanwhile, Douglas Lima comes in and he looks like shredded death run over, he's cut to heck, his eyes are all sunken in, he's been in the sauna and he gets on the scale and weighs 186. He cut down to 186 and still had 15 pounds to go. That was the first moment when I thought, "Huh, maybe I'm in the wrong weight class."
That was just further confirmed the more I hung out and we did the promo stuff in Orlando and I hung out with the 155-ers. Everyone keeps saying, "Oh wow, cutting down to 155, you'll be a huge 155," and I used to think the same thing until I met the other 155-ers. They're all my size too or bigger. I feel pretty good about this decision. It is kind of a bummer now that I'm cutting weight again. My wife has been making fun of me a lot this week. I have to actually watch my caloric intake and do a little sweating here and there and all that jazz, stuff I haven't had to do in a really long time. I feel like I'm where I should be and I hope to come out and sort of reestablish myself. I'm on the first fight skid of my career. I've never lost two in a row so it's time to turn it around. I'm over losing. It's getting real old.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I've got one last question about cutting weight before we move on to other stuff. You've been used to just basically being in really good shape and just weighing in at the welterweight limit. So are you worried at all that it's going to affect you having to actually cut weight and rehydrate yourself after dutting down to lightweight. It'll be a little different for you this time around.
Brent Weedman: Well I did this a lot coming up. I've had people ask me why and I'm not sure I can explain why but my body's just sort of changing. I used to walk around at 190-195, even in shape and then when I was in fight shape, I'd still be in the low to mid 180s and then I'd make the cut from there. That's pretty standard from there for the sport but now I'm at the point where in my time off, I'm 182-185, that's my fat phase and when I'm in shape I'm in the low 170s so I'm not really worried about it. It would be a different story if we would ever go to same-day weigh-ins or anything like that and I don't see that happening any time soon.
By the time it's all said and done, you've got 30-some hours before you have to be in the cage and throw punches. I know this will be a huge shock to you guys but I think the scientific approach to this, I did a lot of research. I got advice from medical professionals and people who know way more about this than I do, the human body that is so I feel pretty good about my strategy. I think it's crazy the guys that make a commitment to a weight cut, I think Demian Maia is making a much-publicized drop to welterweight for the UFC and hasn't made a test cut and I think that's kind of crazy. I think guys who dropped weight and just signed to fight at a new weight class and never did it, you don't know how you're body's gonna react.
It's a finicky thing. I wanted to make sure I had the experience under my belt, that I came in the next day and had a half dozen badass kickboxers that I trained with punch my head in and make sure everything's still where it should be, that I'm still able to take a punch and all that jazz. I feel really good about it. I think guys who dedicate to a weight cut without ever testing it are kinda gutsy. Gutsy or foolish depending how you look at it.
Stay tuned for part two tomorrow in which Weedman discusses strategy going out the window, the intellectual side of fighting and regaining that killer instinct. You can follow Brent on Twitter @brent_weedman.
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Do you believe the weight cut will give Weedman a fair shot this Friday night? Or is this tournament field, which features fighters like Rick Hawn and Patricky Freire, too loaded for him to win it?
Sound off!
To listen to the complete audio of our interview with Brent Weedman, click here (begins at the 6:00 mark).
Posted in: fight, bellator, weight, im, weedman
Read the full article at MMA Mania‘TUF 15’ Episode 2 Earns 1.1 Million Viewers; Bellator 61 Rakes 108,000 on Friday Night
Mixed martial arts programming took a ratings hit on Friday night, as both “The Ultimate Fighter” on FX and Bellator 61 on MTV2 showed a decrease in viewership from the previous week.
Posted in: bellator, friday night, friday, fighter ”, arts programming
Read the full article at SherdogBrian Rogers Talks 'Google It' Catchphrase, Bellator Tournament Format
Post-fight interviews can be a fascinating bit of performance art to watch. Whether it's Sonnen-esque declarations or Volkmann-like train wrecks, in the aftermath of wrecking another human being, anything is fair game.
So when Brian Rogers' knee separated Vitor Vianna from consciousness late in the first round at Friday's Bellator 62 event, everyone knew the possibility for interview gold was in play.
"That's my third flying knee knockout," Rogers went on to proclaim. "Google it! I'm going to throw it, and you're not going to stop me."
Of course, the more he demanded you ‘Google it,' the more fight fans loved it. In fact, days later Rogers is still hearing about the meme-worthy phrase.
"It popped in my head and it's just something I've been laughing about for a while," Rogers said with a chuckle on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour.
"I had a couple different shirts made a few years ago. One said ‘I'm legit' and one said ‘Google me.' I've used that on my banner before, with like a cartoon version of me with the hair and a little predator sitting on my shoulder."
Between all the googling and Rogers' stunning knockout, Friday marked a perfect start to this year's Bellator tournament run for the 28-year-old middleweight. It also provided a necessary reprieve from last year's trip, which ended prematurely with a TKO setback to eventual Season 5 winner Alexander Shlemenko.
Though, if moral victories exist in sports, the loss to Shlemenko would be counted among them.
"It just gave me confidence in my abilities," Rogers explained. "That, even though it was a loss, I could compete with the best guys in the world. Alexander Schlemenko is probably a top-15 or top-20 middleweight.
"So it just kind of let me know that I belong on that stage."
"The Predator" now heads to his home state of Ohio to take on unbeaten Bruno Santos at Bellator 66, with a spot in Season 6's middleweight finals up for grabs. And with Bellator's 185-pound division in flux, and reigning champion Hector Lombard mired in a shaky contract situation, a tournament victory would be a monumental step in Rogers' young career -- which is somewhat surprising given that he never even expected to be here.
A year ago Rogers was fresh off an impressive first-round TKO win over Ian Rammel at Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson. The bout was his first with a bigtime promotion, and after such an stirring debut, he anticipated a call back. It never came.
In retrospect, in the backdrop of the Zuffa-Strikeforce acquisition, bad timing was the most likely culprit.
"They got rid of Rich Chou, who was the Strikeforce matchmaker at the time," Rogers said. "They told me they were interested and I'd be hearing from them, but I feel like I just got lost in the shuffle with the Zuffa purchase. Rather than wait around, Bellator offered me an opportunity and I ran with it."
While the tournament format has its own faults, Rogers echoed the sentiments of new Bellator featherweight champion Pat Curran, lauding the straight-forward nature of earning your own title shot.
"I like that you can make it happen for yourself," Rogers mused. "100-percent. You literally control your own destiny."
"You know if you win this month, you have a fight the very next month, and you know what you're looking at getting paid and everything like that. So you can make your cash and make your name throughout the tournament."
Posted in: bellator, year, tournament, roger, middleweight
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 61: 108,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 61 ratings for this past Friday almost hit a record low with an average of just 108,000 viewers. The ratings reflect the impact of March Madness added to the jammed MMA lineup on Fridays.
The 108,000 viewership average is the second lowest for Bellator on MTV2. Bellator 53 in October 2011 received just 103,000 viewers.
Bellator 60: 169,000 viewers
Bellator 61: 108,000
Payout Perspective:
Obviously the first weekend of the NCAA tournament did damage to the ratings of all MMA programming Friday night as this past week/weekend is one of the most watched sporting events of the year. One would have to hope that Bellator should bounce back after the tournament ends.
One positive Bellator can takeaway from Friday night’s show was the highlight flying knee from Brian Rogers. The YouTube clip of it has garnered 312,302 views as of this writing which engulfs the number of actual viewers of the card. This bodes well for Rogers and for Bellator to promote him in his next fight.
Via MMA Weekly
Posted in: bellator, mma, viewer, friday, mma lineup
Read the full article at MMA PayoutSuper Fight League 2 lineup features familiar faces Duffee, Shlemenko, Minowa, Grove, and more
Indian MMA promotion Super Fight League is only a week removed from their debut offering and has already announced a number of fights for their follow-up show. Set for April 7 in Chandigarh, India, SFL 2 will feature multiple match-ups involving UFC, PRIDE, and Bellator veterans including the latter’s top middleweight contender.
Specifically, SFL recently revealed rumbles involving Todd Duffee-Neil Grove, Alexander Shlemenko-Ikuhisa Minowa, and Gabe Ruediger-Paul Kelly.
Duffee (6-2) is best remembered for notching a seven-second knockout inside the Octagon as well as suffering an upset loss to Mike Russow after pummeling the Chicago cop for two full rounds before gassing out. He has not fought since December 2010, giving knockout specialist Grove (11-5-1) a definite shot to snap the two-fight losing streak he’s currently on.
Meanwhile, Schlemenko (44-7) is next in line for a shot at Bellator 185-pound champion Hector Lombard but has time to fill while waiting for the organization to work out contractual issues with the Cuban judoka. In Minowa he’ll face a fan-favorite with more than 90 professional fights including a number of mismatches size-wise he came out on top in while competing under the PRIDE banner.
Finally, Ruediger (17-8) and Kelly (12-4) have both looked sharp at times while members of the Zuffa roster but have struggled as of late and will be looking to get back on the winning track come showtime in April.
More fights are expected to be announced in the coming days. SFL 2 will be streamed live on YouTube.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: fight, bellator, mike russow, zuffa roster, chicago cop
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 61 ratings: Event draws just 108,000 MTV2 viewers, second-worst all-time
Ratings were down for the second episode of "The Ultimate Fighter: Live" on FX, and they weren't much better for Bellator 61 on MTV2.
Bellator's March 16 broadcast averaged just 108,000 viewers, MMAjunkie.com today confirmed with industry sources.
To date, MTV2 has aired 27 Bellator events, and only one - Bellator 53, which drew 103,000 viewers this past October - drew a smaller audience.
Posted in: bellator, rating, viewer, mtv, industry sources
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 147: Brian Rogers, MMA Discussion
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest news in MMA, including all the latest fight bookings, including Gray Maynard against Clay Guida in June and Rich Franklin against Cung Le in July. We'll also take a look back to last week's Bellator 61 card and much more.
We'll be joined by Bellator middleweight Brian Rogers just days after his spectacular knockout of Vitor Vianna at Bellator 61 last Friday. We'll chat with him about that fight, his upcoming semifinal fight and much more.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Legacy Fight Shorts, seen on Yushin Okami, Vaughan Lee and Hatsu Hioki at UFC 144, only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Bellator 61
Posted in: fight, bellator, radio, elbow radio, boy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 62 'Prelims' announced for March 23 in Laredo, Texas
CHICAGO, Ill. (March 20, 2012) - Bellator Fighting Championships returns to Texas for the first time since the promotion's third season as Bellator 62 kicks off from the Laredo Energy Arena on March 23. The night features the long-awaited rematch between "The American Soldier" Eric Prindle and Thiago "Big Monster" Santos to determine a winner from last season's heavyweight tournament, as well as the quarterfinals of Bellator's $100,000 Season 6 Lightweight Tournament and a host of Texas' top MMA talent.
Tickets for the event are now on sale and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or by visiting The Laredo Energy Arena Box Office. Tickets are priced from $22-$120. The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 7 p.m. CST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CST, with the first fight scheduled for 6 p.m. CST. The preliminary card, featuring the area's top talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 6 p.m. CST.
Laredo favorite Sonny Luque is back after being away from the cage for over a year. He'll meet Brownsville native Luis Vega, who enters the fight with an impressive 7-2 record and brings a six fight win streak into the cage.
The always inspirational Rad Martinez is back with Bellator and will be in a featherweight battle with Amarillo native Douglas Frey. A dedicated family man, many MMA observers are familiar with Martinez after his incredible journey was documented on ESPN's "Outside the Lines."
Cosmo "Good Boy" Alexander looks to continue his ascent up the MMA ranks with a victory in Laredo. Alexander is known for his world class kickboxing, and will put his skills on display against El Paso native Oscar de la Parra in a lightweight affair.
Welterweights collide as Joseph Daily is set to battle Dallas native Sean "Black Magik" Spencer. Both 170 pounders have been climbing up the welterweight rankings, and will be looking to keep their momentum intact.
McKinney native Steven Peterson is ready for action as he steps into the Bellator cage against Dallas resident Chris Jones. Both impressive featherweights hold identical 6-1 records.
Two familiar faces return as lightweights Jacob Kirwan and Dave Jansen do battle. Kirwin is coming off an impressive victory at Bellator 54, while Jansen is 2-0 in his Bellator career, including a dominating submission victory at Bellator 57 over Ashkan Morvari.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.
Posted in: bellator, pm, texa, laredo, cst
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 62's Lloyd Woodard guarantees a finish in his lightweight tourney bout
With Bellator Fighting Championships' season-six programming bleeding
into the broadcast of the recently launched "The Ultimate Fighter: Live"
series, Bellator lightweight Lloyd Woodard knows there's a chance some
people might tune out before his Bellator 62 scrap with Patricky
"Pitbull" Freire.
Woodard advises against making that mistake.
"It's been a long time, but I'm going to go out there, and I'm going to
do what I do best," Woodard told MMAjunkie.com Radio. "I'm going to give Bellator a really great
show and everybody tuned into 'The Ultimate Fighter' are going to miss
out on a really good show."
Posted in: bellator, im, lloyd woodard, woodard, tourney bout
Read the full article at MMA JunkieHeavyweight Tourney Finale Heads Bellator 62
It’s official. Bellator has moved its Heavyweight Tournament finals to Bellator 62 at Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas this Friday night.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, energy, laredo texas, laredo
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyMatchmaker, matchmaker: Clay Guida and Rich Franklin get fights and a Bellator heavyweight final ()
The yentes at Bellator and the UFC spent their weekend putting together fights for your viewing pleasure. Here's a rundown of the latest:
-- Clay Guida and Gray Maynard will headline a UFC on FX event set for June 22. As the main event, the bout will be scheduled for five rounds. Guida's last fight was a loss to Benson Henderson in November, while Maynard lost a rematch with Frankie Edgar in October.
-- UFC 148 in July picked up a ton of fights. The Las Vegas card will now feature Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le, Renan Barao and his 31-fight winning streak against Jeff Hoaglund, and Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch.
-- The Bellator heavyweight final between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos will go down on Friday. It's a rematch of their November bout that ended in a no contest after Santos kicked Pringle in the groin. The winner will win a shot at Bellator heavyweight champ Cole Konrad and $100,000.
Posted in: fight, bellator, clay guida, eric prindle, bellator heavyweight
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBellator 62 weigh-ins slated for Thursday, open to fans
Bellator Fighting Championships' sixth season continues Friday with Bellator 62.
The event, which includes a rescheduled season-five heavyweight
tournament championship rematch between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos,
takes place Friday at Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas.
The weigh-ins, which also include all eight season-six
lightweight-tourney contestants, take place Thursday and are open to
fans.
Posted in: bellator, place friday, eric prindle, laredo texas, fans bellator
Read the full article at MMA JunkieJ.J. Ambrose prepares for Bellator 62 at Tiger Muay Thai
Bellator Lightweight Tournament competitor J.J. Ambrose, who meets Brent Weedman in the quarterfinal round this Friday night, discusses the match-up, as well as the ups and downs that have led him to his Bellator debut. Viewers are also given an inside look into his training and preparation for the bout at Tiger Muay Thai, including a heated sparring session with a teammate.
Posted in: bellator, friday night, quarterfinal round, jj ambrose, brent weedman
Read the full article at Low KickBellator 62: What to Watch For
Bellator Fighting Championships’ sixth season rolls along on Friday, as the Chicago-based promotion holds Bellator 62 in its inaugural visit to the Laredo Energy Center in Laredo, Texas.
Posted in: bellator, championships ’, chicagobased promotion, laredo, season rolls
Read the full article at SherdogEric Prindle vs Thiago Santos rebooked for Bellator 62 on March 23 in Laredo, Texas
CHICAGO, Ill. (March 19, 2012) - Everything is bigger in Texas - including the fight cards. Bellator Fighting Championships returns to The Lone Star State on Friday, March 23rd with a completely stacked night of fights at Bellator 62 live from the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas.
The night will feature the long-awaited rematch between "The American Soldier" Eric Prindle and Thiago "Big Monster" Santos to determine a winner from last season's heavyweight tournament. The night's main event, which was originally scheduled for Bellator 61 on March 16, was moved to this Friday because of a commission mandate due to Prindle battling flu-like symptoms. Despite the minor setback, "The American Soldier" is itching to not only get his hands on Santos, but to get that heavyweight gold.
"I'm just ready to get into the cage and end this," Prindle said. "I'm a warrior and want my shot against Konrad."
But Thiago "Big Monster" Santos doesn't agree with Prindle's game plan; and the colossal Brazillian wants to make sure that he's the one that earns the $100 K and world heavyweight title shot.
"Now I've just got one more week to train and one more week to think about winning," Santos said. "It sounds like Eric may have been sick, and I don't want to fight with any excuses. I want to beat him at 100 percent."
Tickets for the event are now on sale and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or by visiting The Laredo Energy Arena Box Office. Tickets are priced from $22-$120. The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 7 p.m. CST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CST, with the first fight scheduled for 6 p.m. CST. The preliminary card, featuring the area's top talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 6 p.m. CST.
"It makes sense that this huge fight between two Heavyweights is coming to Texas," Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "When Oscar Enriquez and his team at Ultimate Warrior Fighting approached me about bringing Bellator live on MTV2 to Laredo, he had all of the right pieces in place and he made the decision an easy one. With our first trip to Laredo already packed with world class talent, adding this Championship fight makes this one of the best event line-ups we've ever put together."
Not only will Bellator 62 decide Bellator Heavyweight World Champion Cole Konrad's next title opponent, but the talent-laden Laredo card will also feature the quarterfinals of Bellator's $100,000 Season 6 Lightweight Tournament as well a host of Texas' top MMA talent.
Coming off an explosive knockout victory over UFC veteran Kurt Pellegrino at Bellator 59, Patricky Pitbull (@PatrickyPitbull) is back and looking to start his ascent toward a title shot with a quarterfinal matchup against fan-favorite Lloyd "Cupcake" Woodard (@mmacupcake). Patricky has produced a number of incredible Bellator "YouTube Moments" and has his sights set on adding another highlight to his collection.
Former U.S. Olympian Judoka Rick Hawn (@RickHawnmma) is making the drop to lightweight and meets the dangerous Ricardo Tirloni (@Tirlonimma). Hawn compiled an impressive 11-1 record as a welterweight, but is confident the drop in weight will make him even more dangerous.
"I felt like I was sort of undersized in the last tournament," Hawn said. "Everyone had a height advantage on me, and while I thought I made a good run in my last welterweight tournament, I think lightweight is going to be a better fit for me and just give me an advantage over everyone else."
Also making the drop to lightweight is longtime Bellator veteran Brent Weedman (@brent_weedman). Always looking for a finish, "Weedman Nation" will be on full display as he battles Bellator newcomer J.J. Ambrose (@SuperJJAmbrose).
"I've already tested myself with a lightweight weight cut and I felt great," Weedman said. "Over the last year, I've felt a little undersized as a welterweight, so I think lightweight is going to be a great spot for me. I'm excited to show off my new skills, and this tournament is stacked, so we're going to put on a show this season."
Rounding out an absolutely loaded tournament class, Rene "The Brazilian Bomber" Nazare (@Nazaremma) will square off with top prospect Thiago Michel. A product of Team Bombsquad, Nazare always has his eye on delivering the knockout, and nothing will change on March 23rd.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.
Posted in: fight, bellator, tournament, texa, laredo
Read the full article at MMA ManiaPrindle vs. Santos Heavyweight Tournament Championship added to Bellator 62 in Laredo, Texas
Official Press Release
CHICAGO, Ill. (March 19, 2012) — Everything is bigger in Texas – including the fight cards. Bellator Fighting Championships returns to The Lone Star State on Friday, March 23rd with a completely stacked night of fights at Bellator 62 live from the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas. The night will feature the long-awaited rematch between “The American Soldier” Eric Prindle (@EricPrindleMMA) and Thiago “Big Monster” Santos (@BigMonsterMMA) to
Posted in: bellator, star state, longawaited rematch, laredo texas, laredo
Read the full article at Low KickBellator 61 Highlights (Video)
Bellator 61 took place this past Friday in Bossier City, LA with the middleweight division in the spotlight. Prospective title challengers Maiquel Falcao, Brian Rogers, Bruno Santos, and Vyacheslav Vasilevsky all advanced in middleweight tournament. The semifinals of the tournament have been set for Bellator 66. Spike TV has released a full set of highlights for the event.
SPIKE
Bellator 61 Highlights
www.spike.com
Spike Full Episodes
Spike Video Clips
Spike on Facebook
Posted in: bellator, spike, middleweight division, bossier city, wwwspikecom spike
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyMiddleweight semifinal scheduled for Bellator 66
The April 20 Bellator 66 card is shaping up to be an exciting one with the semifinals of the middleweight tournament recently being added to a lineup already boasting one of the most anticipated lightweight fights of 2012. Along featuring fights between Maiquel Falcao-Vyacheslav Vasilevsky and Brian Rogers-Bruno Santos, the evening’s main event will feature Shinya Aoki against former Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez.
The card is set for the I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio with the main portion being be broadcast live on MTV2 and prelims streaming through Spike.com.
Falcao, Vasilevsky, Rogers, and Santos all earned wins in the quarterfinals this past weekend including a highlight-reel knockout by Rogers over Vitor Vianna. The other three all claimed decision victories.
The main event between Aoki and Alvarez is a rematch from a few years back with the slick submission stylings of the Japanese grappler proving to me too much for Alvarez the first time around. Alvarez last fought against Michael Chandler this past November, dropping his title in a Fight of the Year candidate, while Aoki went to war on New Year’s Eve where he outpointed Satoru Kitaoka.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, year candidate, cleveland ohio, brian rogersbruno
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 61 Results: Video Highlights, Rogers Steals The Show With Walk-Away KO
Bellator 61 took place last night from the Riverdome in Bossier City, Louisiana. The intended heavyweight headliner of Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos was transferred to next week's Bellator 63 card at the last minute, which fixed the spotlight on the four match ups that set the 2012 middleweight tournament in motion.
The MTV2 broadcast began with two returning competitors from last year's tournament. Brian Rogers, who knocked out Victor O'Donnell but was swarmed by Alexander Shlemenko in the semifinals, squared off with BJJ world champion Vitor Vianna, a Wand Fight Team member who advanced to the finals (split decision over Sam Alvey, TKO over Bryan Baker) but eventually fell to Shlemenko as well.
Vianna came in as a slight favorite and had an obvious edge in submission grappling, though he's quite a capable striker as well. Rogers, who has a reputation for first-round ballistics, was more patient than usual and methodically established his low kicks and straight one-two on the fringe. Vianna twice attempted the duck-under double leg when assaulted with punches but Rogers, an athletic specimen and former four-year collegiate linebacker, was noticeably on-balance while needling combinations. Rogers' strong base and poise allowed him to evade the takedown attempts with ease and force Vianna to trade on the feet.
After a little over four minutes of controlling the action and walking Vianna down, Rogers cracked off an airtight one-two that wobbled Vianna, then exploded into a flying knee that landed square on Vianna's chin and turned his lights out before he even hit the floor. In a classic walk-away KO, Rogers raised his arms in celebration after landing the home-run instead of bothering to pounce with more punishment, knowing Vianna was already counting sheep. "The Predator" extended his record to 9-3 and continues to evolve at an alarming rate. Each of his wins have been first-round thrashings and this was his second by flying knee.
A video highlight and further review of Bellator 61 can be found after the jump.
SBN coverage of Bellator 61
Exciting new acquisition Maiquel Falcao, a one-time UFC middleweight who defeated Gerald Harris, saw his Bellator debut upgraded to the main event after Prindle vs. Santos was nixed. Falcao drew Norman Paraisy, a French fighter who was defeated by James Hammortree in the TUF 11 elimination match.
Like Rogers, Falcao is heralded for his imminent violence (24 stoppages via strikes, 23 in the first frame) but broke form by taking Paraisy down early rather than unloading leather like everyone expected. He slithered into Paraisy's half guard but was bucked off as soon as he attained the full mount. Falcao persisted with takedowns and closed the first with a near fireman's carry that Paraisy was able to counter. He fired a short knee at the bell that prompted a late left-hook retaliation from Paraisy, but Paraisy apologized and they touched gloves out of respect.
Falcao was content to stay standing in the second and started to cleave with thunderous low kicks from outside. The last minute unfolded with Falcao's trademark aggression. He cornered Paraisy twice and flurried with menacing combinations, both upstairs and down, the second of which staggered Paraisy. "Big Rig" put it all together in the third, nailing an inside trip from the clinch and showering furious ground-and-pound with strong posture. Paraisy was able to reverse position when Falcao pursued a guillotine with a few minutes left, but the Frenchman couldn't do much from the top as Falcao's hips were too active and he smashed effective hammer-fists off his back.
While it wasn't the satisfying first-round devastation that many were hoping for, Falcao took a commanding 30-27 decision across the board and cemented his diversity as a mixed martial artist. No longer with Chute Boxe, he's hooked up with the Luta Livre based Renovacao Fight Team to bolster his grappling under Marcelo Brigadeiro, and the results showed last night.
Two Bloody Elbow Scouting Report prospects met in the third middleweight quarterfinal, as Victor O'Donnell was paired with Russian newcomer Vyacheslav Vasilevsky, who demonstrated that he was a worthwhile acquisition. After an evenly contested first round, Vasilevsky enforced his slick boxing prowess and thoroughly clobbered O'Donnell throughout the closing ten minutes. The beatdown was a fitting application of MMA boxing finesse, as Vasilevsky's crisp and precise punches, stellar in-and-out motion and uncanny timing turned it into a blowout.
Though O'Donnell was hanging by a thread and absorbing nonstop punishment, the man deserves serious credit for his heart and spirit. Every time the one-sided shellacking became gruesome enough to potentially warrant a stoppage, referee Jason Herzog, who also performed admirably, demanded intelligent defense and O'Donnell responded. Amazingly, he continued to sling counter punches, scramble to break free or threaten with takedowns, even rolling for a legit kneebar in the third that Vasilevsky wriggled out of.
The Russian was awarded a unanimous decision and made a huge statement in his promotional debut, though the lack of any 10-8 scores for his undeniably dominant second and third rounds was mildly concerning.
The last pairing of the tournament saw two Brazilians collide, as Giva Santana welcomed the undefeated Bruno Santos to Bellator. Santos, another Scouting Report entry, is a broad-shouldered monster with a penchant for control-oriented decision wins. Santana's stellar guard tactics seemed a lively test for Santos' stifling top game, but much of the bout played out on the feet with Santos shucking off takedowns and keeping things standing. He finally overpowered Santana with a pair of takedowns to win the third round decisively and take a unanimous albeit mediocre decision win.
Posted in: bellator, roger, vianna, falcao, paraisy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 61 Highlight – Brian Rogers Knocks Out Vitor Vianna
In the first quarterfinal fight of the Bellator Season Six Middleweight Tournament, Bellator veterans Vitor Vianna and Brian Rogers faced off. Check out this highlight from the bout, which features an early candidate for knockout of the year.
Posted in: bellator, bellator season, vitor vianna, brian rogers, quarterfinal fight
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 66 to Host Middleweight Tournament Semi-Finals
Bellator 61 concluded last evening and saw the establishment of four middleweight tournament semi-finalists.
Maiquel Falcao, Vyacheslav Vasilevsky, Brian Rogers and Bruno Santos all defeated their respective opponents to advance in the tourney. Already, Bellator has announced their semi-final opponents and attached a date to the next round of 185lbs tournament fights.
Falcao drew Vasilevsky, leaving Rogers with Santos. The four men will do battle at the impending Bellator 66 fight card, which will also feature a lightweight superfight between Shinya Aoki and former promotional champion Eddie Alvarez.
The eventual winner of tournament will get the unenviable task of taking on menacing Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard, who is unbeaten in his last twenty-five outings.
Bellator 66 will take place on April 20 at the I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio. You can take a look at the current official fight card below.
Main Card
-Shinya Aoki vs. Eddie Alvarez
-Brian Rogers vs. Bruno Santos
-Maiquel Falcao vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
Other Bouts Rumored
-Aisling Daly vs. Jessica Eye
-Dan Spohn vs. Attila Vegh
-Donny Walker vs. Frank Caraballo
-John Hawk vs. Marcus Vanttinen
Posted in: bellator, vs, tournament, shinya aoki, roger
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 61 Recap and Results: Fan’s Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
The second event of season six for Bellator Fighting Championship featured the middleweight division tournament. The event was to be main-evented by the season five finals between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos, but an illness knocked Prindle off the card and onto the Bellator 62...
Posted in: bellator, season, event, eric prindle, prindle
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBrian Rogers' knockout of Vitor Vianna highlights entertaining Bellator 61 card
Even though Bellator 61 lost its main event match-up between heavyweights Thiago Santos-Eric Prindle at the last minute for health-related reasons the card didn’t skip a beat come showtime, delivering a number of exciting moments including one of the cleanest knee-based knockouts in recent history courtesy of Brian Rogers.
The finish came in the first round of Rogers’ quarterfinal fight against Vitor Vianna in the organization’s Season 6 Middleweight Tournament when “The Predator” connected flush with the Brazilian’s jaw as he attempted a takedown. The blow sent Vianna spilling backwards to the mat, instantly unconscious. The victory marked the eighth TKO in nine total wins for Rogers.
Prindle Pulled Off Bellator Card Due to Illness
Joining Rogers in the semifinal round will be Bruno Santos, Vyacheslav Vasilevsky, and Maiquel Falcao who won their bouts by way of decision. The foursome will face off in April with the pairings being Santos-Rogers and Vasilevsky-Falcao.
Read below for a complete listing of Bellator 61 results:
Josh Quayhagen def. Brent Taylor via Unanimous Decision
Trey Houston def. Jeremiah Riggs via Submission Round 1 (Armbar)
Jason Sampson def. Jeremy Myers via Submission Round 3 (Rear-Naked Choke)
Derrick Krantz def. Eric Scallan via Technical Submission Round 1 (D’Arce Choke)
Brian Rogers def. Vitor Vianna via Knockout Round 1 (Flying Knee)
Bruno Santos def. Giva Santana via Unanimous Decision
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky def. Victor O’Donnell via Unanimous Decision
Maiquel Falcao def. Norman Paraisy via Unanimous Decision
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Posted in: bellator, round, decision, roger, vitor vianna
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 61 Fight Video: Brian Rogers Stunning KO
Check Brian Rogers' stunning first-round knockout of Vitor Vianna at Friday night's Bellator 61.
Posted in: night, bellator, roger, brian, vitor vianna
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyVideo: Brian Rogers' flying-knee knockout at Bellator 61
Brian Rogers secured a spot in Bellator's season-six middleweight
tournament semifinals with a vicious knockout at Friday's Bellator 61
event.
In an opening-round matchup with submission ace Vitor Vianna, Rogers
unloaded a flying-knee KO to kick off the night's broadcast.
Check out the video of the early KO of the Year candidate.
Posted in: bellator, roger, knockout, openinground matchup, flyingknee ko
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 61: Rogers/Vianna Finish (Spoilers)
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]
Posted in: bellator, spoiler, mattyblayze, mattyblayze link, rogersvianna
Read the full article at RedditBellator 66 adds Rogers-Santos, Falcao-Vasilevsky middleweight-tourney semifinals
After scoring a Knockout of the Year candidate at Friday's Bellator 61 event, Brian Rogers next will fight close to home.
The Ohio-based Rogers has been slotted to fight fellow Bellator 61 winner Bruno Santos at next month's Bellator 66 event in the semifinals of the organization's season-six middleweight tournament.
In the other tourney bracket, Maiquel Falcao takes on Vyacheslav Vasilevsky.
Posted in: bellator, event, year candidate, semifinals, ohiobased rogers
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 61 results recap for 'Falcao vs Paraisy' in Bossier City, Louisiana
Bellator 61 continued the Bellator Fighting Championship's sixth season last night (March 16, 2012) from the Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City, Louisiana. The original main event, a heavyweight finale between Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle, was pulled on little more than 24 hours notice (read the reason right here).
Thankfully, the debut of the Bellator season six middleweight tournament provided plenty of entertainment in its place.
The new main event -- a middleweight battle between former UFC fighter Maiquel Falcao and French savate striker Norman Paraisy -- had both men pick up where they left off after a heated weigh-in staredown from the night before.
Both men had trouble containing their emotions, landing late strikes after the bell in all three rounds. In terms of actual strikes during the bout, it was Falcao who was on the better end of them throughout the fight with his strong ability to mix up his attack.
After landing a series of extremely powerful leg kicks, Falcao went high and had Paraisy on the ropes with a huge right hand in round two, but perplexingly decided to taunt the Frenchmen like a cat playing with his food rather than put him away. Paraisy would hold on to the end of the fight, but it was clear that Falcao was the better man, regardless of his strange strategy and he was announced the victor via unanimous decision.
The remainder of the main card featured plenty of wild and crazy moments as well.
Bellator season five veteran Victor O'Donnell earned another crack at a tournament slot with his strong performances against top competition outside the promotion and by brewing controversy from his defeat in the quarterfinals last year against Brian Rogers in which he complained about an early stoppage.
He more than got the benefit of the doubt against top Russian prospect Vyacheslav Vasilevsky. After a very close first round which could have potentially gone to the Cincinnati native due to aggression and a pair of takedowns, Vasilevsky completely took over, dropping O'Donnell with a left jab and pummeling him on the canvas, doing more than enough damage from top position to potentially stop the fight.
The referee allowed it to continue, however, and O'Donnell soldiered on, taking a heavy beating in the third round as well, this time both in the stand-up and on the canvas. In the end, Vasilevsky was awarded a unanimous decision in one of the most lopsided 29-28 fights you'll ever see.
In a battle of prospect versus veteran, 24 year old Brazilian Bruno Santos outlasted the 40 year old submission wizard Giva Santana in a fight which was largely contested on the feet. Santana started strong, actually outstriking Santos early on, but he could never take the fight to the ground where he wanted it.
In the second round, the passive Santos began to make his mark, landing a crisp right hand and a series of powerful leg kicks which began to slow Santana down. He would also put "The Arm Collector" into the clinch whenever the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt would put forth any threatening offense.
By the third round, Santana was fading and Santos completely took over, even gaining the confidence to take the fight to the ground on occasion without fear of being submitted. It was more than enough to earn him a unanimous decision victory, his 10th straight win via decision.
The biggest fireworks of the night occurred in the opening bout, a one round affair between season five middleweight finalist Vitor Vianna and season five semifinalist Brian Rogers. Both men were stopped in their tracks by Alexander Shlemenko last year and both seemed fueled by revenge for this tournament.
Rogers started strong, but he was cautiously aggressive, seeming concerned about being put on his back by Vianna in case he was out of control with his striking. After a bit of a feeling out process in which "The Predator" fended off a series of Vianna's attempts to put him on the canvas, even mixing in a slick judo toss of his own, Rogers stunned Vianna with a very nice right hand during an exchange.
When Vianna moved straight backwards on wobbly legs, Rogers capitalized by exploding forwards with a thunderous flying knee which cracked the world champion Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt on the jaw and sent him reeling to the canvas completely unconscious.
Rogers didn't even have to follow up with ground strikes, instead raising both arms victoriously in what will clearly be pegged the "Bellator 61 moment" on YouTube and will be a contender for Knockout of the Year when it's all said and done.
At the post-fight press conference, it was announced that Falcao will face Vasilevsky while Rogers will battle Bruno Santos in Rogers' hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. It will be the same night that Eddie Alvarez rematches Shinya Aoki.
For complete Bellator 61 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights click here.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Was Rogers' flying knee one of the best KOs of 2012? Who's your favorite to take home the tournament this season after watching each man in action last night?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, roger, falcao
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator Fighting Championships signs Russian Mikhail Malyutin
Thirty-year-old Mikhail Malyutin is the latest addition to the Bellator Fighting Championships roster.
MMAjunkie.com has confirmed with sources close to
the promotion that the K Dojo lightweight fighter has agreed to terms
with Bellator and could compete in a non-tourney bout in the promotion's
current sixth season.
A near-seven-year veteran of the sport, Malyutin is currently 3-1 in his past four fights.
Posted in: bellator, malyutin, nontourney bout, nearsevenyear veteran, sport malyutin
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 61 Results & Recap
We were supposed to see the conclusion of last season’s heavyweight tournament at Bellator 61, but when the behemoth known as Eric Prindle fell ill with the flu, his pairing against fellow tournament finalist (and fellow behemoth) Thiago Silva was rescheduled for next weekend’s Bellator 62. What we got tonight, though, was the complete quarterfinal bracket of Season Si x’s middleweight tussle. And oh what a tussle it was! Of the four Brazilians in the lineup, two were sent packing, while a UFC vet dominated and an American gave Bellator another highlight-reel knockout to add to its collection.
Wand Fight Team jiu-jitsu instructor Vitor Vianna may have vowed to take it to the ground before his match against slugger Brian Rogers began, but apparently vowing and doing are two very things. For about four minutes of their four-minute and fourteen-second bout, Vianna managed to commit to two deep takedown attempts, circle a lot, and get a cut above his right eye. Then the wheels came completely off the bus when Rogers stunned him with a cross, and followed up almost instantly with a flying knee. Said flying knee landed flush – so flush that Vianna was left starched and stiff on the canvas. Yup, that was the aforementioned highlight-reel knockout, and with the sudden and dramatic ending, Rogers moved on to the semifinals.
Giva Santana bears the nickname “The Arm Collector” due to his penchant for armbars, but he’s no Ronda Rousey. Case in point: his fisticuff with a brutish but effective Bruno Santos. For three rounds Santana found his takedowns stuffed by his countryman, which forced the jiu-jitsu ace to stand and strike. And while he wasn’t all that bad (he had spurts of aggression, and during those spurts, he landed frequently), fighting on the feet against a sprawl-and-brawl specialist built like the Fantastic Four’s “Thing” is a losing prospect. It wasn’t until Round 3 that the bout went horizontal; however, even then, with Santos in his guard, the Arm Collector was unable to collect anything more than punishment. To his credit, Santana was slick as hell spinning into a leglock attempt in the waning seconds of the fight. But it was too little too late, and Santos walked away with the decision.
Victor O’Donnell may rule the regional circuit, but when it comes to the national spotlight, the poor guy can find no traction. When it came time for him to fight his way into the TUF House, O’Donnell ended up being carried out of the TUF Training Center on a stretcher, and at Bellator 50 he fell victim to a questionable stoppage against Brian Rogers. So here we were at Bellator 61, O’Donnell was getting another crack at tournament glory, and what happened? Vyacheslav Vasilevsky happened. That’s what.
An M-1 Challenge veteran with rock-solid punching and the kind of grappling nightmares are made of, Vasilevsky made life miserable for O’Donnell from the get-go. The American managed a sweet takedown in the first, but it bore no fruit, and after that the Russian beat O’Donnell from pillar to post, both by way of standup exchanges and damaging ground and pound. Twice the fight came extremely close to being stopped, and though O’Donnell somehow survived, he was a bloody mess by the end of it. Vasilevsky handily took the unanimous decision when time ran out.
Maiquel Falcao won his lone fight in the UFC, but was cut due to legal problems in his native Brazil. Norman Paraisy is from France, and France has yet to produce an earth-shattering MMA fighter. Can you guess how this one played out? If you said Falcao delivered a beating unto the Frenchman, you are correct! Stalking his prey around the cage and laying into him with whipping leg-kicks and hard punches, and then tripping him to the mat and punishing him, it was pretty much all Falcao, all the time. Only briefly did Paraisy gain an advantage – when a reversal had him on top for a minute in the third – but nothing came of it, and soon the Brazilian was back to dominating. He, too, took the decision when time expired.
Results:
-Maiquel Falcao def. Norman Paraisy via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-37, 30-27)
-Vyacheslav Vasilevsky def. Victor O’Donnell via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
-Bruno Santos def. Giva Santana via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
-Brian Rogers def. Vitor Vianna via KO (Flying Knee) at 4:14 in Round 1
Posted in: fight, bellator, decision, roger, ’donnell
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 61 Results: Middleweight Semifinal Pairings Set
Four fighters moved on to the Bellator Season 6 Middleweight Tournament Semifinals after four exciting quarterfinal bouts at Bellator 61 on Friday night.
Posted in: night, bellator, fighter, middleweight, quarterfinal bouts
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyFalcao-Vasilevsky, Rogers-Santos Pairings Comprise Middleweight Semifinals at Bellator 66
The Bellator Fighting Championships Season 6 middleweight semifinals have been set, promotion officials announced Friday at the Bellator 61 post-fight press conference
Posted in: bellator, middleweight, semifinals, promotion officials, middleweight semifinals
Read the full article at SherdogWe knew Brian Rogers would do something amazing tonight at Bellator 61...
Truth be told, we created our 'Let's explore Bellator's middleweight tournament using the infinite possibilities of the multiverse' article just to have another reason to talk about avid MiddleEasy reader, Brian Rogers. It just so happens that in that article, we were 100% accurate in our Bellator middleweight tournament predictions. That's the beauty of quantum physics, we were right before we even knew it. I wouldn't call it a self-fulfilling prophecy since that's one of the most ridiculously overused terms in literature. Instead, we'll just settle with the notion that we knew Brian Rogers was fighting on Bellator 61, therefore there was a guaranteed pocket of concentrated 'awesome' that would take place at some point. Unfortunately for Vitor Vianna, this awesomeness would explode directly on his forehead, compliments of a flying knee from Brian Rogers. Yes, a flying knee KO. It was like a special move out of Double Dragon 3. Don't take my word for it, check out the .gif below. As always, thanks to ZombieProphet for providing the endless loop.
Posted in: bellator, roger, brian, brian rogers, knee ko
Read the full article at Middle EasyBellator 61 results- Brian Rogers knockouts Victor Vianna and Middleweight bracket update
Bellator 61 resultsBossier City, LAMaiquel Falcao def. Norman Paraisy via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Vyacheslav Vasilevsky def. Victor O'Donnell via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Bruno Santos def. Giva Santana via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28Brian Rogers def. Vitor Vianna via knockout (flying knee) 4:14 R1Josh Quayhagen def. Brent Taylor via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Derrick Krantz def. Eric Scallan via technical submission brabo choke 3:01 R1Jason Sampson def. Jeremy Myers via submission rear naked choke 2:25 R3Trey Houston def. Jeremiah Riggs via submission armbar 3:30 R1Middleweight bracket update and fighter rankings after the jump All tournament rankings are done by ULTMMA.com prior to the opening round of the Bellator eight man bracket. These rankings are unofficial. Former MMA prospects ranked and graded by ULTMMA.com who are making their Bellator tournament debuts include: Mike Corey, Ricardo Tirloni, Karl Amoussou, Raul Amaya and Bruno Santos.Featherweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 9, Hammond, IndianaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Roberto Vargas (#6) by Submission RNC R1Mike Corey (#7) def. Ronnie Mann (#2) by Unanimous DecisionAlexandre Bezerra (#3) def. Kenny Foster (#8) by Submission RNC R2Daniel Straus (#4) def. Jeremy Spoon (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 6, Ontario, CanadaMarlon Sandro (#1) vs. Alexandre Bezerra (#3)Mike Corey (#7) vs. Daniel Straus (#4)Lightweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 23, Laredo, TexasPatricky Freire (#1) vs. Lloyd Woodard (#4)Rick Hawn (#2) vs. Ricardo Tirloni (#3)J.J. Ambrose (#6) vs. Brent Weedman (#8)Thiago Michel (#5) vs. Rene Nazare (#7)Welterweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 30, Uncasville, ConnecticutKarl Amoussou (#4) vs. Chris Lozano (#5)Raul Amaya (#6) vs. Ben Saunders (#1)Brian Foster (#3) vs. David Rickels (#8)Bryan Baker (#2) vs. Carlos Pereira (#7)Middleweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 16, Bossier City, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) def. Norman Paraisy (#7) by Unanimous DecisionBrian Rogers (#6) def. Vitor Vianna (#1) by KO R1Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) def. Victor O'Donnell (#8) by Unanimous DecisionBruno Santos (#4) def. Giva Santana (#5) by Unanimous DecisionTBDMaiquel Falcao (#2) vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3)Bruno Santos (#4) vs. Brian Rogers (#6)Bellator 60 results
Posted in: bellator, submission, vs, roger, brian
Read the full article at UltMMABellator 61 results: Middleweights Falcao, Vasilevsky, Santos, Rogers advance
It took him a round to really get going, but Maiquel Falcao was always in control.
Fighting for the first time since an alleged heart attack, Falcao
dominated Norman Paraisy to earn a unanimous decision in the main event
of Bellator 61, which took place Saturday at Horseshoe Riverdome in
Bossier City, Louisiana.
With his win, Falcao joined Vyacheslav Vasilevsky, Bruno Santos and
Brian Rogers in the semifinals of Bellator's season-six middleweight
tournament.
Posted in: bellator, place saturday, falcao, maiquel falcao, horseshoe riverdome
Read the full article at MMA JunkieTUF and Bellator 61: Friday night fights talkback thread (Yahoo! Sports)
Now that fighters have made it into "The Ultimate Fighter" house, they can start working towards their goal of winning TUF. Their journey starts tonight as the fights will be shown live on FX. Bellator continues their season by starting … Continue reading →
Posted in: fight, bellator, tuf, fighter house, fx bellator
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBellator 61 Results & Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from the Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City, La., at approximately 7 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 61, which features the quarterfinals of Bellator's Season 6 185-pound tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, bossier city, playbyplay, horseshoe riverdome
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 61 Results: Falcao vs. Paraisy
MMA Fighting has Bellator 61 results for tonight's event held at the Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City, Louisiana.
The original main event for the night was to a heavyweight match between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos. The bout was cancelled and rescheduled after Prindle experienced flu-like symptoms. Interestingly, Prindle vs. Santos was the main event for last season's Bellator 59 was but halted mid-contest after Prindle was unable to continue after a groin shot.
Tonight's main event will be a middleweight tournament bout between UFC veteran Maiquel Falcao and Norman Paraisy. The preliminary card will air on Spike.com while the main card will be televised on MTV2 and EPIX.
Check out the Bellator 61 results below.
Main CardMaiquel Falcao vs. Norman ParaisyVitor Vianna vs. Brian RogersVyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Victor O'DonnellGiva Santana vs. Bruno Santos
Preliminary card:
Josh Quayhagen vs. Brent TaylorTrey Houston vs. Jeremiah RiggsEric Scallan vs. Derrick KrantzJeremy Myers vs. Jason Sampson
Posted in: bellator, vs, event, prindle, falcao
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 61 Real Time Results
Last week the Bellator featherweights put on a show with four men advancing to the semifinal round of the Season 6 tournament. This Friday night it’s the middleweights’ turn as eight men compete to move one step closer to a shot at the divisional title.
On deck tonight at Bellator 61, familiar faces Brian Rogers, Vitor Vianna, Giva Santana, and Victor O’Donnell return to the ring, while talented newcomers like Vyacheslav Vasilevsky and Maiquel Falcao look to make an impact in debut performances.
Things will unfold starting at 7:00 PM EST with featured prelims streaming on Spike.com before the main card heads to MTV 2 an hour later. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in from the opening bell, reporting back results as they’re revealed in real time.
Read below for a full list of Bellator 61 winners/losers:
Jeremy Myers vs. Jason Sampson
Francisco Campos vs. Patrick Cenoble
Derrick Krantz vs. Eric Scallan
Jeremiah Riggs vs. Trey Houston
Josh Quayhagen vs. Brent Taylor
Giva Santana vs. Bruno Santos
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Victor O’Donnell
Brian Rogers vs. Vitor Vianna
Maiquel Falcao vs. Norman Paraisy
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, vs, maiquel falcao, bellator featherweights, card heads
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 61: Falcao Vs Paraisy Live Thread
Greetings all,The sixth season of Bellator Fighting Championships kicked off with Bellator 60 last Friday, featuring Pat Curran winning the featherweight championship from Joe Warren and also seeing the opening round of the featherweight tournament.The season continues with Bellator 61 going down tonight in Bossier City, Louisiana. The preliminary fights get underway 6:00 PM local time (Central time), which translates to 7:00 PM on the east coast, 4:00 PM on the west coast. If you are watching in the UK the action begins when the clock strikes midnight.
The event features the first round of the season six middleweight tournament, which includes former UFC fighter Maiquel Falcao. Also fighting are three highly regarded welterweight prospects from the Bloody Elbow World MMA Scouting Report: Vitor Vianna, Vyacheslav Vasilevsky, Victor O'Donnell and Bruno Santos. All four appeared on the 2011 version of the report, with Vianna, Vasilevsky and Santos all rated as better prospects than current UFC middleweight Costa Phillipou. If the success that Phillipou has had this year in the UFC is any indication of the level of talent these guys have, we could easily be seeing the future of the middleweight division in action tonight. And lest I forget, the male version of Ronda Rousey is also competing in the tournament, as Giva Santana has finished a ridiculous 13 of his 17 wins by armbar. The only downside? He's 40, so the rigors of the tournament could be tough for him to overcome.
You can catch all the preliminary action at Spike.com and Bellator.com.
After an hour of prelims, the main card can be seen on MTV 2 and Epix.The scheduled fight card and some questions to keep in mind during the event after the jump
Here is the fight schedule:
Catchweight (165 lbs) bout: Brent Taylor vs Josh QuayhagenMiddleweight bout: Trey Houston vs Jeremiah RiggsWelterweight bout: Derrick Krantz vs Eric Scallan Catchweight (140 lbs) bout: Jeremy Myers vs Jason Sampson Middleweight Quarterfinal bout: Giva Santana vs Bruno SantosMiddleweight Quarterfinal bout: Brian Rogers vs Vitor Vianna Middleweight Quarterfinal bout: Victor O'Donnell vs Vyacheslav VasilevskyMiddleweight Quarterfinal bout: Maiquel Falcao vs Norman Paraisy
A FEW QUESTIONS TO KEEP IN MIND DURING THE EVENT:
1. Does Bellator have more young talent at middleweight than the UFC?As mentioned above, half the guys in this tournament are highly regarded prospects. No one wants to talk about it, but most of the best fighters in the UFC are all growing old together, and the organization has far less young talent in the heavier weight classes than it would like to admit. Chris Weidman and Alan Belcher are the best young middleweights under 30 in the UFC, but after them? Not a single guy in the top 25. Yikes. Bellator has assembled a group of fighters that the UFC would probably like to have on their roster. Of course you won't hear it from them.
2. Will Maiquel Falcao finally perform on the American Stage?Falcao is the headliner and probably the biggest name in the tournament. He brings a lot of violence, although he did not deliver much of it in his one fight in the UFC when he earned a decision victory over Gerald Harris (Falcao did have Harris in a fully locked in rear naked choke at the end of the first round but a timekeeping error robbed him of the precious few seconds he had left in the round to earn the finish). This is only his second fight in America and while it isn't completely necessary for him to get a finish, it would go along way towards legitimizing him as a top middleweight. Complicating matters is the fact that he is going to be fighting for the first time since suffering a heart attack in November of last year. I will be watching him very carefully.3. Will the event run a little smoother than last week?I heard a decent amount of complaining from the MMA twitterverse about the length of time in between fights last week. I understand that things need to be planned out and the live show is different from the one that is shown on TV but part of being a world class promotion is making sure that you can hold the viewer's attention. Especially on a night like tonight, when Bellator is going up against The Ultimate Fighter on FX. I hope to see a little more fighting and a little less of the other stuff this week.
Join us here at Head Kick Legend to discuss these questions and everything else that arises from the event.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, bout, vs, middleweight
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendBreaking It Down: Bellator 61
Another Friday is here, and with the end of the week trailing behind it today brings us another solid offering from Bellator. Bellator 61 rolls into Bossier City, Louisiana, and features the opening round of the Season 6 middleweight tournament. With tourney-veterans Vitor Vianna and Brian Rogers, as well as former UFC fighter Maiquel Falcao, tonight’s fantastic fight card promises some exciting and violent action!
Before we get started here, my god does Bellator ever go crazy with where they place their fights on the card, so please note the order the fights appear here is almost certainly not the order in which Bellator will have them. I mean, come on, Alexandre Bezarra fighting in a tournament bout on the preliminary card last week? What was what?!
Moving on, it’s time to get down to business and roll with the punches. Here is my breakdown of Bellator 61:
Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos has been pushed back to next week’s Bellator 62 due to Prindle coming down with the flu. It’s also been reported that Santos weighed nearly 300 pounds on the day of weigh-ins, so there’s that, though no confirmation of that has been offered up by any officials (unlike Prindle’s health). Falcao vs. Norman Paraisy has been promoted to the new main event on the card.
Jeremy Myers (3-3) vs. Jason Sampson (8-1)
Myers is coming off of two straight losses and faces a tough challenge in 8-1 Sampson. I don’t know much about these two, but on paper Sampson takes this by decision or submission.
Winner – Jason Sampson defeats Jeremy Myers via Unanimous Decision
Derrick Krantz (10-5) vs. Eric Scallan (10-3)
Krantz has never won a fight that has gone the distance. With five knockouts and five submissions to his credit, “D-Rock” is a finisher. Win or lose, he leaves it all in the cage. On the other side of the cage, Scallan has never scored, or been on the receiving end of, a knockout. With seven submissions in ten wins, this man loves to take the fight to the ground. I see this fight as a toss-up. Both are capable of finishing, but should Scallan avoid the striking of Krantz and get this fight to the ground he should take it.
Winner – Eric Scallan defeats Derrick Krantz via Submission Round 2
Trey Houston (8-0) vs. Jeremiah Riggs (7-5)
Undefeated “That Just Happened” Houston has never gone the distance. He has slick submissions and half of his wins have come in the first round. Riggs, most famous for wooing Daisy De La Hoya on VH1 as well as ALMOST winning WWE Tough Enough and then whining about it, is on a five-fight winning streak. I believe that run comes to an end tonight, and he’ll be cast away from Bellator just as we was from the WWE.
Trey Houston defeats Jeremiah Riggs via Submission Round 1
Brent Taylor (0-0) vs. Josh Quayhagen (2-0)
Taylor makes his professional debut after going 2-1 as an amateur. Much like some previous fighters on the card, there’s not much known about him, but he appears to be a sufficient enough striker to have both of his wins by TKO. Quayhagen shocked many by defeating Cosmo Alexandre in his professional debut. Cosmo was a hell of a striker, and Quayhagen passed the test against him, I expect he does the same here.
Winner – Josh Quayhagen defeats Brent Taylor via Unanimous Decision
Giva Santana (17-1) vs. Bruno Santos (12-0)
In the first of four middleweight tournament bouts, “The Arm Collector” returns to Bellator and hopes to add some more limbs to his collection. With 13 of his 17 victories coming by Armbar, including a staggering ten straight om the first round earlier in his career, the decorated grappler attacks from every angle, and if he gets your arm you’re best off just to tap.
Santos is undefeated with ten of his wins coming by decision. The grappling heavy, grinding Brazilian is still young but has a lot of potential, especially as his striking and submission skills improve.
I think Santos can take down Santana, but I don’t think he should. Giva will attack from any and every angle, and at even the slightest sign of ground and pound he’s giving up his arm for Santana to potentially latch onto.
Winner – Giva Santana defeats Bruno Santos via Submission Round 1
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (15-1) vs. Victor O’Donnell (11-3)
Despite sneaky legal games being played by M-1 Global, “Slava” (i.e. Vasilevsky) enters the Bellator middleweight tournament on the strength of a fourteen-fight winning streak. The well-rounded Russian has only been defeated once in his career and has the tools to give any fighter a headache.
O’Donnell looks for redemption following a poor performance against Rogers at Bellator 50. The submission-savvy Team Vision fighter has all but two of his wins coming by submission and has notable wins over Forrest Petz and Rafael Natal.
“Slava” has the clear striking advantage in this fight and should be more than capable of handling himself on the ground if need be. This fight features two tough-as-hell middleweights, and I don’t see either succumbing to anything.
Winner – Vyacheslav Vasilevsky defeats Victor O’Donnell via Unanimous Decision
Brian Rogers (8-3) vs. Vitor Vianna (12-2-1)
One of the more exciting middleweights in the tournament, Rogers always comes to fight. The former Strikeforce and two-time Bellator fighter is out to rebound from a loss to Alexander Shlemenko. Known for his violent striking, Rogers will definitely try to impose his will on his opponent and look for that oh-so-satisfying knockout.
Vianna was a finalist in the last middleweight tournament in the promotion and is looking to take home the whole thing this season. With some great striking and submissions, Vianna can bring it to just about anyone.
Rogers could very well win this fight, but he’s going to need to do it early if he wants to secure the victory. I expect the more cautious Vianna to weather any early storm, get the fight to the ground, and pull off a slick submission.
Winner – Vitor Vianna defeats Brian Rogers via Submission Round 2
Maiquel Falcao (28-4 1 NC) vs. Norman Paraisy (10-1-1 1 NC)
In the new main event, Falcao, a one-time UFC fighter and Brazilian phenom, makes his Bellator debut and is widely regarded as one of the favorites in this tournament. With 23 knockouts in his career, you do NOT want to be on the end of this man’s fists. A fantastic striker with sufficient grappling abilities, Falcao has the skills to pay the bills and he hopes to be a little richer after this fight.
The Frenchman, Paraisy, is no slouch himself. With victories over Paulo Filho and Jack Mason to his credit, the 25-year old is very well-rounded although he seems to favor submissions ever so slightly.
The only thing in question here is Paraisy’s heart. He has been broken down before and Falcao tends to give fighters all they can handle mentally/physically. Falcao will likely take control at some point in the first round, and if he doesn’t end it in that round he’ll end it in the second.
Winner – Maiquel Falcao defeats Norman Paraisy via TKO Round 2
Overall, I believe this card will be awesome. I even think with the heavyweight tournament finals being postponed it is even better than it would have been since fans will see more technique on display. The action goes down at 7:00 PM EST on Spike.com before for the evening’s highlighted bouts head over to MTV2 (or TheScore.ca in Canada) an hour later. Enjoy the fights!
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, submission, vs
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 61: HW final postponed again
Tonight's Bellator 61 card was supposed to be headlined by the Season 5 heavyweight tournament final between Eric "Ginger Giant" Prindle and Thiago Santos, but was called off yesterday when Prindle suddenly fell ill and apparently nearly puked on commentators Sean Wheelock and Jimmy Smith. No, we wasn't getting an early start on St. Paddy's Day, the rumor is it was the ol' weight-cut flu. I'd think a good plan moving forward would be to lose some weight so he doesn't have to cut to make 265, but that's just me.
Anyway, you may recall this fight was already a do-over after their first meeting at Bellator 59 ended in a no contest when Santos decided to boot Prindle squaw in the nuts (check out the gif HERE, if you don't mind also seeing a closeup of said nuts). Not to worry though, the rematch has only been pushed back one week to Bellator 62.
That leaves the Season 6 middleweight quarterfinals to carry the main card, featuring mostly fresh blood. Only three fighters return from Season 5: finalist Vitor Vianna and semifinalist Brian Rogers, both of whom lost to Alexander Shlemenko (who's still waiting for his shot at Hector Lombard); and quarterfinalist Victor O'Donnell, who was TKO'd by Rogers. Filling out the field are: one-and-done UFC'er Maiquel "Psycho" Falcao; former M-1 light heavyweight champ Vyacheslav Vasilevsky; Giva Santana, who boasts enough first-round armbar wins (12!) to make Ronda Rousey totally jealous; smelly Frenchman Norman Paraisy; and undefeated decision machine Bruno Santos. Basically the usual bunch of relatively unknown but generally solid fighters that we've come to expect from Bellator. The unaired prelims star the typical cast of nobodies, with perhaps the exception of TUF 7 and "Daisy of Love" contestant Jeremiah Riggs.
The fun starts with the undercard stream on Spike.com starting at 7PM ET, and the main card kicks off on MTV2 at 8PM. But it doesn't air up here in Canuckistan until late tomorrow night, so no spoilers, eh.
MAIN CARD - Season 6 Middleweight Quarterfinals:Maiquel "Big Rig" Falcao (28-4-1) vs. Norman Paraisy (10-1-2)Vitor Vianna (12-2-1) vs. Brian "The Predator" Rogers (8-3)Vyacheslav "The Crushin Russian" Vasilevsky (15-1) vs. Victor O'Donnell (11-3)Giva "The Arm Collector" Santana (17-1) vs. Bruno "Carioca" Santos (12-0)
PRELIMS:Brent Taylor vs. Josh QuayhagenTrey Houston vs. Jeremiah RiggsDerrick Krantz vs. Eric ScallanJeremy Myers vs. Jason Sampson
Posted in: bellator, season, vs, card, ronda rousey
Read the full article at FightlinkerBellator 61 Predictions
Bellator returns for its second show of the year on Friday night, with its Season 6 middleweight tournament getting underway. The planned main event -- Thiago Santos vs. Eric Prindle to complete Bellator's Season 5 heavyweight tournament -- has been pushed back a week, but that's just as well: The middleweight action is going to be better than that heavyweight fight.
What: Bellator 61
When: Friday, the MTV2-televised card begins at 8 p.m. Eastern
Where: Horseshoe Riverdome, Bossier City, Louisiana
Predictions on the four middleweight tournament fights below.
Maiquel Falcao vs. Norman Paraisy
Falcao signed with the UFC in 2010, was dropped by the promotion amid questions about a prior assault charge, and is now back in the U.S. and fighting for Bellator. He's a fearsome striker who I think has to be viewed as the favorite to win the entire tournament, and I certainly think he'll beat Paraisy, who's a fine fighter but not really on the same level as Falcao.
Pick: Falcao
Vitor Vianna vs. Brian Rogers
Rogers and Vianna both lost to Alexander Shlemenko in last season's middleweight tournament, and now they draw each other in the first round of this season's tournament. Rogers hits hard enough that he could put Vianna in some trouble standing up, but Vianna is a world-class Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner and I think he'll make Rogers tap.
Pick: Viana
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Victor O'Donnell
O'Donnell is back after losing to Rogers in last year's Bellator middleweight tournament, and he gets a tough draw in Vasilevsky, a very exciting prospect who is currently on a 14-fight winning streak but has never fought outside Eastern Europe. It's possible that O'Donnell could take Vasilevsky down and submit him but I think Vasilevsky will prove to be too good a striker and win by TKO.
Pick: Vasilevsky
Giva Santana vs. Bruno Santos
I was extremely excited when Bellator signed Santana, who's nicknamed "The Arm Collector" because he's won 13 fights by armbar while building up a 17-1 record. The 12-0 Santos may be savvy enough to avoid falling into Santana's trap, but I believe Santana will win even if he can't force Santos to tap.
Pick: Santana
Posted in: bellator, tournament, roger, middleweight, vasilevsky
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseVideo: Eddie Alvarez documentary 'No Plan B' official trailer
Add former Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez to the ever-growing list of mixed martial artists who get their own documentary. The 155-pound phenom, who coughed up his division strap to Michael Chandler in a "Fight of the Year" candidate at Bellator 58 last November, will rematch Shinya Aoki at Bellator 66 later this year. More on that fight right here.
Anyone interested in checking out "No Plan B?"
Posted in: bellator, fight right, shinya aoki, michael chandler, year candidate
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAt 40 years old, Bellator's Giva Santana driven by past sacrifice, aims to help mother
Born and raised in the favelas of Sao Paulo, Bellator's Giva Santana knows all about struggle, sacrifice and the
difficulties of starting from nothing and finding success.
It's that drive that has fueled "The Arm Collector" to 17 wins in 18 professional MMA contests.
Now, at 40 years old, Santana is one of eight middleweight hopefuls
vying for Bellator's season-six middleweight tournament crown. And while
most men his age are on the tail end of their careers, Santana believes
he's just getting started.
Posted in: bellator, mma contests, santana, struggle sacrifice, tail end
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 61 Live Results & Play-by-Play (7 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City, La., at approximately 7 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 61, which is headlined by the Bellator Season 5 heavyweight final between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos and features the quarterfinals of Bellator's Season 6 185-pound tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, eric prindle, bossier city, horseshoe riverdome
Read the full article at SherdogLIVE NOW: Bellator 61 Results & Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from the Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City, La., at approximately 7 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 61, which is headlined by the Bellator Season 5 heavyweight final between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos and features the quarterfinals of Bellator's Season 6 185-pound tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, eric prindle, bossier city, horseshoe riverdome
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 61 results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Falcao vs Paraisy' TONIGHT (March 16) on MTV2
Bellator Fighting Championships returns TONIGHT (March 16, 2012) to The Horseshow Riverdome in Bossier City, La., with a new tournament.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 61 below, beginning with the MTV2 telecast at 8 p.m. ET. In addition, we'll deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the undercard action much earlier in the evening.
While the original main event, a heavyweight tournament finals bout between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos had to be scratched at the last minute, there is still plenty of terrific action in store for the fans.
Stepping into headlining status will be the Bellator season six middleweight tournament fight between Norman Paraisy and Brazilian UFC veteran Maiquel Falcao.
Also on the main card will be the remainder of the middleweight tournament which features a bout between season five standouts Brian Rogers and Vitor Vianna as well as some top prospects like former M-1 light heavyweight champion Vyacheslav Vasilevsky or Team Vision fighter Victory O'Donnell.
Lastly, opening up the main card will be a terrific stylistic match-up between top control specialist and undefeated Brazilian Bruno Santos against Brazilian jiu-jitsu master and armbar technician Giva Santana.
Complete Bellator 61 results and play-by-play are after the jump:
Main Card
185 lbs.: Maiquel Falcao vs. Norman Paraisy 185 lbs.: Vitor Vianna vs. Brian Rogers 185 lbs.: Vyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Victor O'Donnell 185 lbs.: Giva Santana vs. Bruno Santos
Preliminary Card (Spike.com)
165 lbs.: Brent Taylor vs. Josh Quayhagen 185 lbs.: Trey Houston vs. Jeremiah Riggs 170 lbs.: Derrick Krantz vs. Eric Scallan 140 lbs.: Jeremy Myers vs. Jason Sampson
Hemmi here! I'll be calling the action tonight.
185 lbs.: Maiquel Falcao vs. Norman Paraisy
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
185 lbs.: Vitor Vianna vs. Brian Rogers
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
185 lbs.: Vyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Victor O'Donnell
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
185 lbs.: Giva Santana vs. Bruno Santos
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
Posted in: bellator, result, round, vs, lb
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMorning Report: March Madness Begins, Rampage Jackson Presses Pause
Rampage Jackson's strange UFC saga hit a snag and tonight's Bellator 61 card underwent a late shake-up. But you want to know yesterday's sneaky-important MMA story? It doesn't even involve MMA.
Day one of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
Brock Lesnar, Phil Davis, Johny Hendricks -- these guys were all D-1 champs, and with the diverging paths of today's wrestling and MMA scenes, more and more blue-chip prospects are forgoing the mat for the more lucrative call of mixed martial arts.
If you've never seen combat sports' version of March Madness, give it a shot and check out some of today's matches. You could be seeing the guys again real soon.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
NCAA Division I wrestling championship session 1 results. Penn State University took the early lead at the opening day of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. Check out the all the day one results.
Rampage Jackson to have double knee surgery. Rampage revealed via Twitter that he will undergo surgery on both of his knees, delaying his recently announced farewell bout against Shogun.
The hurt business: highs and lows in the brick city. Ben Fowlkes offers the second installment of his hit multi-part series that examines the hidden lives of pro fighters within Colorado's Grudge Training Center.
Bellator 61 weigh-in results. Official weigh-ins for tonight's Bellator 61 fight card were held at The Orleans Room at Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City, Louisiana. All main card fighters met their required weight.
Eric Prindle scratched from Bellator 61. Tonight's planned Bellator 61 headliner, Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos, has been rescheduled for Bellator 62 after Prindle was unable to overcome flu-like symptoms on Thursday.
COUNTDOWN TO A SLIMMER ROY NELSON
Started (on March 4th): 32,000 likes.Yesterday's mark: 102,094 likes.As of this writing: 102,242Goal (by March 18th): 132,000 likes.
And that's a wrap, folks. At least we tried.
MEDIA STEW
I'd be lying if I said watching Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar ham it up with little teacups didn't make my day better.
2011 was all about keepin' it real for Donald Cerrone. Fight as often as possible and watch the bonus checks rain in. No worries about rankings or title shots. 2012, on the other hand, is going to be a little bit different. Now "Cowboy" wants that belt.
We're officially entering the summer of MMA documentaries. With Dustin Poirier's Fightville and Mark Hominick's Fight, Spirit, Pride already in the works, Eddie Alvarez has decided to throw his hat into the ring. Check out the trailer for Alvarez's No Plan B, which chronicles his 2010 bout with Roger Huerta.
When you're in slow times like these, sometimes it feels right to dust off the old classics, and this Shinya Aoki vs. David Gardner clip fits the bill perfectly. One of the most absurd finishes in MMA history. Makes it better: his nickname is "Hello Japan" now.
SO SHOGUN'S BACK ON THE SHELF TOO
2 keep it real,the Shogun fight will have 2 wait,I just found out that I have 2 get surgery on both knees,but I heal fast don't trip
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) March 15, 2012
CHECKING IN ON THE CRIPPLER
I just wanna thank everyone who's been sending me support and positive energy my way. I'm a positive energy whore right now
— chris leben (@cripplerufc) March 15, 2012
THE PERFECT RECIPE
"@XStraightEdgePK: @Unclecreepymma How do you grow that awesome mustache ?" magic with a sprinkle of stupidity
— ian mccall (@Unclecreepymma) March 16, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Thursday, March 15, 2012):
- Bellator 61: Eric Prindle (7-1, 1 NC) vs. Thiago Santos (10-1, 1 NC) rescheduled for Bellator 62
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day goes to BE's Crooklyn: Josh Rosenthal: The Invisible Man
The ten point must system and judging
"To me the ten point must is fine. I think definitions of the criteria need to be defined greater. I think that's where discrepancies come into play with it. The way you look at it, is you have striking, grappling, control, and then you have aggression. If you're saying striking is first, you're automatically giving an advantage to the striker, opposed to the grappler, who's category comes second.
To me, grappling and striking are one thing, as far as how they should be judged. They're different systems of combat, but they should be weighed equally. You have to judge each thing in the context of where it's being done. So if a guy is in his guard, and he's throwing elbows from the bottom, and he's damaging the guy, then that's effective striking. Be it that it's on the ground, and not on the feet, it's still effective striking. When you have a fight where a guy is completely smothering the other with grappling, he's taking the back, he's mounting, he's attacking the neck, he's attacking the arm, what's to say that that's not scoring greater than the striking? They all need to be looked at in the context of what they are.
Personally, I like the idea of who's trying to win the fight, like the Japanese style, which is focusing on finishing the fight, and scoring technique. By doing that, you kind of push the striking and the grappling context together, because you're now judging who's actually trying to finish the match, be it with striking or grappling. I believe damage should be a criteria, which it's not really at this point, but I believe it should be. Damage doesn't have to be acute damage of a cut or blood. You end up with fights where guys are getting a lot of body shots, or in positions where their head's not going to get banged around because it's buried in a guy's chest, or in his leg, and he's trying to take him down. You have to look at it positionally, what's happening as opposed to the traditional of ‘It's striking on the feet, and it's grappling on the ground.' You have to look at it as a whole. I think the ten point must is fine, I just think the definitions of the criteria need to be looked at a little bit, and adjusted."
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: fight, bellator, guy, march, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseA Look at the Middleweights of Bellator 61
Last Friday we saw Bellator kick their season off with a very entertaining opening round to the featherweight tournament. Capping off the card was one of the more prolonged, brutal finishes MMA has seen in quite some time, as Pat Curran usurped Joe Warren as the promotion’s 145-pound champion. Curran put the remaining four tournament competitors and current #1 contender Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire on notice that he intends to remain atop the Featherweight mountain.
A world-class champion and long line of high-quality competitors are what make the featherweight class the best in Bellator’s ranks. The next Bellator tournament we’ll be previewing fits one of those criteria, as Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard is one of the best, most violent men in MMA, but the depth after ‘Shango’ leaves something to be desired. Since joining Bellator in 2008 Lombard has faced a line of fighters both in and out of the organization who can best be described as journeymen. After defeating Jared Hess for the title, Lombard has notched an additional ten consecutive wins – five in Bellator – over the likes of Jay Silva, Whisper Goodman, Alexander Shlemenko, Falaniko Vitale, and Trevor Prangley. He is set to face Shlemenko once again in his next title defense (pending contract negotiations). Hardly inspiring stuff.
In terms of creating a competitive atmosphere in the division, recent news has indicated that Lombard’s contract has expired and he is open to negotiate with other potential suitors as of May. While losing one of their biggest stars would be a terrible blow to the organization in the short term, it would turn the upcoming middleweight tournament from wondering, “Who gets the next chance to lose to Hector,” to something that’s actually relevant in the division moving forward. That being said, Lombard is still with Bellator for the time being, so let’s break down who is going to earn the right to get beaten up by him after Shlemenko fails in his second bid against the champ.
While the end product of the tournament may not turn out to be all that enthralling, the tournament as an entity unto itself is actually quite interesting. The middleweight tournament has a wide-open feeling, and I get the sense the champion will come down to what matches get made as the tournament progresses.
Heavyweight Main Event Pulled from Bellator 61
Since there isn’t necessarily a favorite to be had in this tournament we’ll just work in the reverse order that the fights will air on TV meaning that Maiquel Falcao vs. Norman Paraisy is the first bout to look at. Probably the easiest of the opening round fights to break down, Falcao is best known for coming in to the UFC, upsetting Gerald Harris, and then disappearing due to a combination of injuries and legal issues. A talented striker whose 23 T/KO wins in 28 career victories expresses exactly what he comes to do in the cage, Falcao should have no trouble in dispatching Paraisy. The Frenchman’s moment of Zuffa fame was much more auspicious, as after going on about being a tough fighter and wanting to show the world how resilient the French are he refused to answer the bell for Round 2 of his elimination bout to qualify for the Ultimate Fighter 11. Since that time, Paraisy suffered his first official loss to well past his prime Dave Menne in Bellator’s inaugural season. While, a recent win over Zombie Paulo Filho may have some people leaning towards Paraisy in this bout, Falcao will hand the Frenchman his first T/KO loss and move on to the semi-finals where an impressive T/KO victory or humbling submission defeat likely await him, depending on the brackets.
The next fight really comes down to the game-planning of last season’s finalist, Vitor Vianna, and that is not a comforting feeling. Vianna has the tools to be one of the better fighters in Bellator but lacks the smart approach to each fight that will allow him to get there. He almost lost to Sam Alvey in the first round of the last middleweight tournament, stopped Bryan Baker with strikes in the semifinals, and looked completely inept against Shlemenko in the final. Not exactly a model of consistency, eh? While he will come in as the favorite, I actually see his strategic missteps being his downfall against a man who brings immense power to the cage in Brian Rogers. Of course, Vianna could actually try to take this fight to the ground and surprise me where he would likely have an easy time dispatching Rogers. I’m banking on that not happening – since it is yet to consistently in his Bellator career – and if he doesn’t, Rogers will be the more effective striker and may potentially even stop Vianna. A Rogers/Falcao semifinal would produce an absolutely dynamite fight, especially if you’re into some serious hostility.
The third opening round bout pits Russian prospect Vyacheslav Vasilevsky against Victor O’Donnell. Many people are expecting big things from the combat Sambo champion, perhaps thinking all Sambo champions are created equally. While Vasilevsky is not a reincarnation of Fedor Emelianenko, he is a highly skilled, well-rounded fighter splitting his 15 career victories evenly between T/KOs, submissions, and decisions. Up to this point he has been cutting his teeth on the M-1 circuit where he has received some favorable matchmaking being one of the promotion’s poster boys. His opponent, O’Donnell, has been unsuccessful in both a previous Bellator tournament and an attempt to get on the Ultimate Fighter. O’Donnell is normally looking for the takedown in his fights but struggles when he is unable to garner them as evidenced by his loss to Rogers in the last tournament. I see a similar fate befalling O’Donnell this time around, although the fact that Vasilevsky is taking a step up in competition and has previously been faced with opponents who are simply willing to retreat and get beaten up by him. I still see Vasilevsky having the skills to take a decision in this one, but don’t see him being able to deal with the consistent increase in competition throughout the tournament.
The last quarterfinal bout pits fighters of opposing philosophies against one another. Giva Santana is an aggressive submission-grappler who has finished 94% of his MMA victories (fourteen Submissions and two T/KOs), while Bruno Santos, despite being undefeated in his twelve professional bout, has gone to decision in ten of them. Santana’s go-to submission throughout his career has been the Armbar, but he is versatile as a grappler. Santos reminds me of a less skilled, less effective Ricardo Arona. He throws decent leg kicks at times, but they are too few and too far in between. Against a grappler the quality of Santana, I don’t see Santos’ style being overly effective, and I see his first career loss coming in this bout. Moving forward, Santana could be a dark horse in the tournament, because given match-ups against guys who are primarily strikers like Rogers or Falcao he could find great success. At the same time, if he were to fight Vianna, I would venture to say that he’s outmatched in every aspect of the bout. These are the types of dynamics that make this tournament both interesting and difficult to prognosticate.
If I had to pick a favorite to take the tournament at this point it would be Falcao because while he relies primarily on his striking, plus we have also seen an effective grappling game from him. More importantly, ignoring the third round of the Harris fight, he fights to his strengths unlike the other fighter I pointed to with the most well-rounded skill set in the bracket, Vianna. At the same time, the dynamic nature of a fighter like Rogers could easily result in him scoring three knockouts and winning the tournament, or Vasilevsky could prove himself to be not just a prospect but a top fighter at 185 pounds. Proverbial gun to my head, the only official UFC veteran in the tournament would be my pick to get next in line for Lombard, and of the fighters in the field, I believe he provides the best foil for the current champion, as uninteresting as that bout may be.
PICKS:
Maiquel Falcao def. Norman Paraisy
Brian Rogers def. Vitor Vianna
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky def. Victor O’Donnell
Giva Santana def. Bruno Santos
Fans can watch Bellator unfold tomorrow night on MTV2 starting at 8:00 PM EST with prelims streaming through Spike.com prior to the main broadcast.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: fight, bellator, fighter, bout, tournament
Read the full article at Fighters.comBest of Bellator Video: Giva Santana vs. Darryl Cobb at Bellator 53
Is there any question as to what "The Arm Collector" consider his weapon of choice?
Giva Santana earned the nickname after racking up 12 armbars in 16
victories before making his promotional debut at Bellator 53.
In our latest Best of Bellator Video installment, we take a look back at Santana's fight with Darryl Cobb, which set up a berth in tonight's season-six middleweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, darryl cobb, santana, arm collector, santanas fight
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBig Rigg: Bellator 61's Jeremiah Riggs talks WWE, Ultimate Fighter and upcoming fight (MMAmania exclusive)
Jeremiah Riggs is quite the colorful character.
Hailing from as he calls it "the dirty south," he is a former contestant on The Ultimate Fighter season seven. The Mark Fiore trained fighter failed to gain entry into the house but he won over fans due to his tremendous heart and guts displayed in the fight.
Since then, he's gone on to earn more fame in the reality television world, being a contestant on VH1's Daisy of Love with the nickname "Big Rig," advancing to fifth before being eliminated.
During that time, he turned his mixed martial arts career around, winning five straight before stunning his fans in early 2011 by retiring and trying out a pro wrestling career. Riggs competed on the return season of WWE's Tough Enough last year, making it to third place on the show before bowing out.
When the pro wrestling career didn't pan out, he went back to what worked, which was fighting for real. Riggs will be returning to the cage tomorrow night (March 16, 2012) when he takes on undefeated middleweight Trey Houston at Bellator 61 on the preliminary card.
The reality television star spoke with MMAmania.com during a guest appearance on The Verbal Submission this past weekend where he talked about his stint with the WWE, a potential rematch with the man who kept him out of The Ultimate Fighter and his upcoming fight with Houston.
Check it out:
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I originally met you at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery in 2010. You had a 2-5 record at the time and you told me, "The fighter you see before you would destroy the one that tried to get onto The Ultimate Fighter." I have to say, you proved that right because you haven't lost since, winning five in a row. What helped you put it all together?
Jeremiah Riggs: The big thing with me was really just from all the previous fights I had. I hate to say I regret taking the fight I took, but a lot of my ring time experience was a lot of my learning experience. I guess sometimes, it's not if you're gonna lose, but when. I don't believe anybody's gonna stay undefeated for a very, very long time. The game is too evolved and the players are too good. With me, what really turned it around was really just evaluating what I was lacking. What am I doing wrong campwise? Do I need to change my meal plan?
I never felt like in any fight I was outclassed or outperformed technically. Losing sucks, but it is a part of it. My biggest thing was I was hardheaded and stubborn. I never did a lot of jiu-jitsu. I started out training with Frank Shamrock, the first UFC middleweight champion of the world. I started out with the best of the best and I stuck with the best of the best. With my strength and athletic ability, I tried to turn it around and pay fighters back for taking me down and make them hurt a bit instead of playing my own game.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You said that nobody stays undefeated forever and the guy you're fighting, Trey Houston, he's undefeated at 9-0. Do you feel like you've got that mindset that you can take this guy out?
Jeremiah Riggs: I'm hoping he has the same mindset that he can take me out. I don't believe any fighter should be going into a fight based on what's on paper. That number means nothing to me. My record is nothing but a number on a piece of paper. I believe a lot of your fights are within yourself. You've got o face yourself and if you beat yourself up, it gets a lot easier for other people to beat you up.
I don't talk much, but I'll say something like, "I'll give you what you paid money to see." Trey's obviously doing something right. He's 9-0 for a reason and his trainers are doing something right. You've got to give credit where credit is due. Could I end that? I believe that. He's fought a lot of fights but he ain't fought Jeremiah Riggs yet. The skill and talent level are there. They matched this fight up with two athletic and strong guys.
Gerry Rodriguez: This is a middleweight tournament qualifier fight, right?
Jeremiah Riggs: I'm not too sure. I want to say this is his debut in Bellator. This is my second fight in Bellator. I fought at Bellator 30 and beat Mike Fleniken. If I win, that puts me at 2-0 in Bellator and it's very possible I could do the middleweight tournament.
Gerry Rodriguez: I want to kind of switch gears here. I know you've been on three reality shows that I know of, including Tough Enough. Talk to me about what it's like on Tough Enough where you had to put your ego on the backburner knowing you could probably kick everyone's ass that's training you. Is it tough having to take shit from them and doing what they tell you to do?
Jeremiah Riggs: No (laughs) but it just depends. Sometimes you get rubbed the wrong way and I guess that's at every gym. Everyone has their own disputes at times. I'm an open book. It's kind of like, with a white belt and black belt in jiu-jitsu, even a white belt can have open knowledge to a black belt sometimes. Just because you're higher ranking, you take the number one guy in the world that you would think knows it all, I would say he's still learning. You've got to keep an open mind. You don't ever know what you can learn from somebody. Everybody's full of knowledge in some sort of way and they can be useful. I'm up to learn from anybody in this game or any form of sport. You can learn from anybody.
Gerry Rodriguez: Did any guys on Tough Enough try to test you or push you knowing you had an MMA background?
Jeremiah Riggs: No, you know, really no, not really. You get a lot of questions. At first, nobody knew I was at that level or had the experience I had. Coming from their world and coming from my world, everything wrestling-wise, it's like a dance and what it is for me was, I know how the real moves work and I know how a punch feels so I'd be like, "Have you ever been punched in the mouth? Do you know what it feels like? Well try it sometime so you don't look so phony about what you're doing. If you get punched, you're not gonna look like a cartoon, you know what I mean?" It's a funny thing. No one ever really, I don't believe anyone wanted to have the buttons pushed on me though.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Did you know that Dan Cramer, the guy that prevented you from realizing your dream on The Ultimate Fighter, he's signed with Bellator and has been competing with them regularly?
Jeremiah Riggs: Really? I had no idea. I've asked about Dan, I've actually kept up with Cramer after the show. I've actually kept in contact with a few guys from the show. I talk with C.B. Dollaway and I trained with Matt Riddle when I fought for Strikeforce. I actually didn't know if he was still going. I think it was a few months ago, he had fought up north and he was still doing pretty well for himself. Good lord, there's no telling what people would think, me and him again. It'd be fun. It definitely would. I've always respected Dan and he's a good fighter. As far as I know, the last time I checked in, he'd been doing pretty well.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I was just gonna ask if you could ever get the opportunity to avenge that loss, would you take it?
Jeremiah Riggs: Yes. I really think even if you ask Dan if he'd go again, it would be a different fight. I guarantee that. You would see some big smiles on our faces and it would be a hell of a tussle. I think it'd be fun. In the house, it's so weird. It's a weird situation to fight in and you don't have to have all the hype and all that but it's just the atmosphere and everyone talks about that. It's almost like sparring without the gear on. You're fighting for a spot and I believe a fight with me and him again, everything with me and him was left in the cage and you'd see it again. Whoever's hand was raised afterwards, we'd give each other a high five and wish each other good luck and see each other down the road. I believe if you asked him the same question, you'd get the same answer.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Going back to your upcoming opponent Trey Houston, you've had experience with both MMA and pro wrestling and having a good nickname can be really important. What do you think of this guy's nickname, "The Just Happened?"
Jeremiah Riggs: I think I just saw that somewhere and I didn't know if that was just a quote or the nickname. I saw that the other day, "That Just Happened," and I'm like, "Is that his nickname?" To me, I'm like, "Well he ought to have a good sense of humor." (laughs)
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): What is your prediction for your upcoming fight against Trey Houston?
Jeremiah Riggs: I'm not the one to ever promise everybody a knockout or a submission in the first or second round but I promise you this. When the doors shut, you're gonna see me go all out there 100 percent leave it all in the cage. I've got 15 minutes, three rounds, three five minute rounds to do what I need to do to finish the fight and get my hand raised whether it's the first, second or third round. No one ever likes going to a decision but in my mind, I want to make him give up. I want to beat him in every round. If it takes me three rounds, if it takes 30 seconds, I want to make him hate life for these next 15 minutes. I've got 15 minutes on March 16 at Bellator 61. Me and Trey Houston, my prediction is to do what I need to do and make him hate life for 15 minutes in there with me.
Jeremiah would like to thank Mark Fiore at Fiore MMA, his friend and roommate Brian Foster and his sponsors Last Round Nutrition, Clinch Gear, Hooligans United. He'd also like to thank his training partners, Bellator, Trey Houston for accepting the fight, his buddy Corey Bradley who's dad just had a stroke. Lastly, he'd like to thank Jacob's Ladder, a school in Mississippi which is receiving a big donation of his purse and sponsors from him. You can follow him on Twitter @JeremiahRiggs.
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Will Riggs be able to shake off the rust and hand Trey Houston his first loss tomorrow night? Or should he go back to pro wrestling?
Sound off!
To listen to the complete audio of our interview with Jeremiah Riggs, click here (interview begins at 31:00 mark).
Posted in: fight, bellator, fighter, rigg, jeremiah
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 61 Weigh-In Results: Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos Moved To Bellator 62
The Bellator 61 weigh-ins took place earlier this evening in Bossier City, Louisiana.
All fighters made weight with the exception of former UFC fighter Maiquel Falcao who came in 0.6 pounds over his 186 target. He was given two hours to make weight.
Unfortunately, headliners Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos never made it to the scales. Prindle became ill during the cut today and was forced withdraw from the fight. Maiquel Falcao vs. Norman Paraisy will serve as the new main event. Prindle-Santos has been moved to next week’s Bellator 62 card.
Bellator 61 will feature the opening round of the season six middleweight tournament.
The weigh-in results:
Maiquel Falcao (186.6) vs. Norman Paraisy (186) – MW Tourney
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (185.6) vs. Victor O’Donnell (186) – MW Tourney
Giva Santana (186) vs. Bruno Santos (185.2) – MW Tourney
Brian Rogers (186) vs. Vitor Vianna (185.6) – MW Tourney
Brent Taylor (165.2) vs. Josh Quayhagen (164.6)
Derrick Krantz (170.4) vs. Eric Scallan (170.4)
Jeremy Myers (141) vs. Jason Sampson (134.6)
Trey Houston (185) vs. Jeremiah Riggs (185.8)
Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit.
Bellator 61 takes place tomorrow night at the Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City, Louisiana and will air live on MTV2 at 8pm ET. The prelims will stream live on Spike.com at 7pm ET.
Posted in: bellator, vs, prindle, mw, tourney
Read the full article at MMA ConvertFalcao Overweight; Other Middleweight Tournament Quarterfinalists on Point for Bellator 61
All Season 6 middleweight tournament participants hit their contracted marks at the Bellator 61 weigh-ins on Thursday, save for Maiquel Falcao, who tipped the scales at 186.6 pounds prior to his clash with former Season 1 welterweight tournament qualifier Norman Paraisy (186).
Posted in: maiquel falcao, tournament, season, bellator, middleweight
Read the full article at SherdogAll Eight Middleweight Tournament Quarterfinalists on Point for Bellator 61
All Season 6 middleweight tournament participants hit their contracted marks at the Bellator 61 weigh-ins on Thursday.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, middleweight, point, participant
Read the full article at SherdogUpdate: Falcao Cleared on Second Try; Middleweight Tournament Field Set for Bellator 61
All Season 6 middleweight tournament participants hit their contracted marks at the Bellator 61 weigh-ins on Thursday, though it took Maiquel Falcao a second attempt to make his required weight.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, middleweight, falcao, maiquel falcao
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 61 Weigh-in Results; New Main Eventer Slightly Over
The Bellator 61 weigh-ins took place Thursday afternoon with one of the recently minted main event fighters having trouble making weight.
Posted in: bellator, fighter, weight, weighin, event fighters
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyEric Prindle Battling Illness; Bellator 61 Main Event Delayed
The heavyweight rematch between Eric Prindle (7-1, 1 NC) and Thiago Santos (10-1, 1 NC) will have to wait, as it was announced today by Bellator officials that Prindle is ill and will not be able to compete against Santos in tomorrow night’s Bellator 61 main event, as planned.
Denying rumors that the bout was in jeopardy due to Thiago Santos being well over 300 pounds, Bellator officials informed USA Today that the fight was delayed as a result of Prindle battling flu-like symptoms which set in earlier this week.
Though Prindle was keen to push ahead with the fight anyway, The Louisiana State Boxing and Wrestling Committee suggested that the fight be pushed back until at least next Friday. Prindle vs. Santos 2 will now take place at Bellator 62 on March 23 at the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas.
Prindle and Santos first did battle at Bellator 59 in November of last year, with the bout ending early due to a groin kick delivered by Santos from which Prindle couldn’t recover. The bout, which was to determine Bellator champ Cole Konrad’s next opponent, was ruled a No Contest and rescheduled.
The middleweight tournament fight between Maiquel Falcao and Norman Paraisy will now serve as the Bellator 61 main event.
Posted in: fight, bellator, bout, prindle, norman paraisy
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyEric Prindle Out with Flu-Like Symptoms, Santos Rematch Postponed to Bellator 62
Eric Prindle, Bellator's season five heavyweight tournament finalist, has been scratched from his Bellator 61 headlining scrap against Thiago Santos due to flu-like symptoms following a significant weight cut.
As a result, promotion officials have postponed the heavyweight rematch to March 23 at Bellator 62 in Laredo, TX. Friday night's fight card will instead be headlined by a middleweight quarterfinal bout between UFC veteran Maiquel Falcao (28-4, 1 NC) and TUF 11 contestant Norman Paraisy (10-1-1, 1 NC).
USA Today first reported the switch, which was then confirmed by Prindle via Twitter.
Prindle (7-1, 1 NC) reportedly began vomiting on Tuesday night and has struggled with the illness throughout the ensuing days. The 35-year-old bruiser expressed willingness to fight as planned, but Louisiana officials ultimately felt it best to cancel the bout.
The announcement marks another chapter in the ever-expanding history of Prindle-Santos. The two heavyweights initially met last November, at Bellator 59 for season five's heavyweight tournament finals. However, action stopped just 94 seconds into the contest, when Santos (10-1) whizzed a soccer kick straight into the groin of a downed Prindle.
Prindle was eventually ruled unable to continue and the match was declared a no contest.
The winner of the eventual rematch is expected to receive $100,000 and a shot at Bellator's reigning heavyweight champion, Cole Konrad.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, rematch, prindle, flulike symptoms
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseEric Prindle vs Thiago Santos Bellator 61 main event postponed due to illness
Tomorrow night's (March 16, 2012) Bellator 61 main event, which was scheduled to be the conclusion of the season five heavyweight tournament pitting Thiago Santos vs. Eric Prindle, will have to wait one more week.
According to a report from USA Today, Prindle began showing serious flu-like symptoms on Tuesday during a pre-fight conversation with commentators Jimmy Smith and Sean Wheelock and it only got worse from there:
"After showing flu-like symptoms, Prindle started vomiting Tuesday night while speaking to broadcasters Jimmy Smith and Sean Wheelock," Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "Prindle was willing to continue with the fight, but Louisiana regulators suggested it not take place Friday, although they were not going to officially cancel the bout before seeing the fighters at today's weigh-ins," Rebney said.
The event also features the season five middleweight tournament, so stepping in as the new main event will be one of the more highly intriguing tournament quarterfinal fights between Maiquel Falcao and Norman Paraisy.
Prindle and Santos originally fought at Bellator 59, but their bout provided no closure to the tournament as Santos kicked Prindle in the groin and the American was unable to continue, resulting in a "no contest" ruling thanks to the bout lasting less than 90 seconds.
Due to the nature of the delay, the bout will only be postponed for one week and is already planned to headline Bellator 62, which features the lightweight tournament quarterfinals and will take place in Texas.
The winner between Prindle and Santos will eventually challenge Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad, who has been patiently awaiting his first challenger since winning the title in 2010.
Sound fair to you, Maniacs?
Posted in: bellator, bout, event, tournament, prindle
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator heavyweight final between Eric Prindle-Thiago Santos delayed…again
The smattering of fans looking for closure from the Bellator Season 5 heavyweight final between Eric Prindle (7-1) and Thiago Santos (10-1) will have to wait a little longer after it was revealed their bout has been pushed back a week based on Prindle’s health. The two had been scheduled to face off tomorrow night at Bellator 61 in headlining action but will now do so on March 23 in Texas on a card featuring the opening round of the Season 6 lightweight tourney.
The news was confirmed by Bjorn Rebney earlier this afternoon on The MMA Show.
The first fight between Prindle and Santos infamously ended when the latter kicked his downed adversary directly in, as Mauro Ranallo would say, “the peninsula south of the equator”. After an extended period Prindle explained he could no longer continue, leading to accusations of him attempting to earn a DQ win that never unfolded when officials ruled Santos’ strike as accidental.
Bellator 60 will now feature all four fights from the Season 6 middleweight quarterfinal on the main card destined for MTV 2. The match-ups are highlighted by Brian Rogers vs. Vitor Vianna as well as appearances from familiar faces Giva Santana and Maiquel Falcao.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, season, mma show, prindle, equator ”
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainEric Prindle Sick, Out of “Big Monster” Rematch at Bellator 61; Tournament Final Postponed
Eric Prindle has been forced to withdraw from his Bellator 61 main event with Thiago Santos due to illness, Sherdog.com confirmed with a source close to the bout on Thursday.
Posted in: bellator, eric prindle, prindle, eric, illness sherdogcom
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 61 Heavyweight Main Event Scratched (MMAWeekly.com)
The Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament Final at Bellator 59 last November was supposed to have crowned a No. 1 contender to Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad. That didn’t happen. Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos’s fight was instead ruled a no contest. Prindle was unable to continue after Santos accidentally kicked him in the groin in the opening minutes of the fight. The two were then supposed to square off at Bellator 61 on Friday night in Louisiana.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, friday night, opening minutes, ’s fight
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBellator 61 Heavyweight Main Event Scratched
The quest to determine a Bellator heavyweight No. 1 contender has been put on ice as the Bellator 61 main event between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos has been scrapped.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, event, eric prindle, bellator heavyweight
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyEric Prindle Vs. Thiago Santos Delayed To Prindle Illness
Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos were expected to finish last seasons heavyweight tournament final at tomorrow night's Bellator 61 event. The two met last season in a bout that ended when Santos kicked Prindle in the groin while he was on his back, leading to a no contest and Prindle sharing one of the most upsetting TwitPics I can remember.
The rematch has been delayed a week though as Prindle has come down with an illness. Or at least that's what was told to USA Today:
An illness to Eric Prindle convinced officials to push his bout with Thiago Santos back to March 23 at Bellator 62 in Laredo, Texas, the promotion told USA TODAY on Thursday afternoon. Prindle-Santos was supposed to headline Friday's Bellator 61 card in Bossier City, La.
Prindle started vomiting last night after showing flu-like symptoms, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said. Louisiana regulators recommended that the bout not take place on Friday, Rebney said.
The strange thing is, Prindle went on MMA Radio and made it clear that it was nothing he did which was followed up with this tweet from @lawradio:
@themmashow show reports Thiago Santos Vs Eric Prindle II is off due to Santos being over 300 Ibs yesterday (had to make 265 this afternoon)
Bjorn Rebney went on the radio right after Prindle and said that Prindle was sick, though and was throwing up in a trash can yesterday and could barely walk and that Santos was only 12 pounds over
Something very odd is going on here.
SBN coverage of Bellator 61
SBN coverage of Bellator 62
Posted in: bellator, usa today, prindle, eric, thiago
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 61 weigh in results LIVE from Louisiana for 'Santos vs Prindle'
The official weigh-in event for tomorrow night's Bellator 61 fight card takes place today (March 15, 2012) at 6 p.m. ET from The Orleans Room at Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City, Louisiana.
Bellator 61 features a heavyweight tournament final as Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle's rematch from their original fight which ended inconclusively late last year with a no contest. The winner will earn a title shot against champion Cole Konrad.
Now they're back and there's a heavyweight title shot on the line.
The rest of the main card will comprise the Bellator season six middleweight tournament, which features top competitors like Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Maiquel Falcao, as well as season five mainstays like Brian Rogers and Vitor Vianna. Also competing is the top Russian prospect Vyachaslav Vasilevsky and "The Arm Collector" Giva Santana.
Complete Bellator 61 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
265 lbs.: Eric Prindle () vs. Thiago Santos ()185 lbs.: Maiquel Falcao () vs. Norman Paraisy ()185 lbs.: Vitor Vianna () vs. Brian Rogers ()185 lbs.: Vyacheslav Vasilevsky () vs. Victor O'Donnell ()185 lbs.: Giva Santana () vs. Bruno Santos ()
Preliminary Card (Spike.com)
155 lbs.: Quaint Kempf () vs. Josh Quayhagen ()185 lbs.: Trey Houston () vs. Jeremiah Riggs ()170 lbs.: Derrick Krantz () vs. Eric Scallan ()155 lbs.: Derek Campos () vs. Patrick Cenoble ()135 lbs.: Jeremy Myers () vs. Jason Sampson ()
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 61, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 8 p.m. ET tomorrow night (March 16).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: night, bellator, vs, lb, card
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 61 headliner Eric Prindle scratches with flu-like symptoms, pushed to Bellator 62
Friday's Bellator 61 event has lost a headliner.
Heavyweight Eric Prindle is suffering "flu-like symptoms" is unable to compete in tomorrow's main event with with Thiago Santos, sources close to the event today confirmed with MMAjunkie.com.
MMAjunkie.com reached Alvin Topham, the chairman of Louisiana Boxing & Wrestling Commission, who said he was en route to today's weigh-ins and will make an official decision with Bellator officials once there.
Posted in: bellator, alvin topham, official decision, todays weighins, flulike symptoms
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 146: Bellator 61 Preview, MMA Discussion
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they discuss all the latest in mixed martial arts. We'll preview this weekend's Bellator 61, which is headlined by the heavyweight tournament final between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos and we'll also take a look at last week's Bellator 60, which Brian attended live, and get his thoughts on that event and more.
We'll also discuss all the news in the world of MMA, including the Quinton Jackson situation, our thoughts on The Ultimate Fighter: Live and more.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Legacy Fight Shorts, seen on Yushin Okami, Vaughan Lee and Hatsu Hioki at UFC 144, only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Bellator 61
Posted in: bellator, radio, elbow radio, elbow, boy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowWatch today's Bellator 61 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 6 p.m. ET
The Orleans Room at Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City, La., plays host
to today's official Bellator 61 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a live video stream of the
proceedings at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT local time).
The resort also plays host to Friday's event, which airs on MTV2 and
features the opening round of Bellator's season-six middleweight tournament.
In addition to the live weigh-ins and pre-fight press conference, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, pm, bossier city, weighin, horseshoe riverdome
Read the full article at MMA Junkie‘Big Monster’ Santos Predicts Knockout or Sub in Bellator 61 Rematch with Prindle
Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle first met four months ago at Bellator 59. As the Season 5 heavyweight tournament final, the bout was expected to deliver Cole Konrad’s next title challenger.
Posted in: prindle thiago, monster ’, eric prindle, prindle, bellator
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 61 preview and predictions for 'Santos vs Prindle' on March 16 in Bossier City
Bellator Fighting Championships will head to "The Bayou State" this Friday night (March 16, 2012) at the Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City, Louisiana.
The main card will air live on MTV2 on fight night, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Headlining the main event will be a heavyweight tournament final that features two men with some serious unfinished business. Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle's original bout at Bellator 59 ended in a dreaded "No Contest" after a low blow from Santos forced a stop to the fight just 74 seconds into the first round.
Now they're back and there's a heavyweight title shot on the line.
The rest of the main card will comprise the Bellator season six middleweight tournament, which features top competitors like Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Maiquel Falcao, as well as season five mainstays like Brian Rogers and Vitor Vianna. Also competing is the top Russian prospect Vyachaselav Vasilevsky and "The Arm Collector" Giva Santana.
Check out our complete Bellator 61 preview and predictions after the jump:
265 lbs.: Eric Prindle (7-1 1 NC) vs. Thiago Santos (10-1 1 NC)
Thiago Santos entered the Bellator season five heavyweight tournament as an alternate but proved his worth by dropping season three finalist Neil Grove with an overhand right and finishing him with a rear naked choke in just 38 seconds. Santos is large, powerful and while he's not the most technical guy on the ground, he's definitely dangerous with submissions if he can gain an advantage.
Eric Prindle is probably one of the biggest heavyweights in the world. Originally cutting down from about 300 pounds to make the 265 pound limit. Prindle showcased his boxing skills in the semifinals by destroying the heavy hitter Ron Sparks in just 40 seconds,
The key for this fight will be for Prindle to try and keep the fight standing or in the clinch while Santos also looks stand or score takedowns. Prindle has some terrific boxing skills and tremendous power, but this fight will hinge on whether he can remain upright.
He was dumped on his back in the last fight before the ill-fated low blow, so he's going to have to put forth a better effort to stay standing if he wants to win this time around. Santos has proven he's capable both standing and on the ground and in my opinion, that will likely be the key difference.
Final Prediction: Thiago Santos via submission in round one
185 lbs.: Maiquel Falcao (28-4 1 NC) vs. Norman Paraisy (10-1-1 1 NC)
You might remember Maiquel Falcao, he's the man who was the reason for Gerald Harris' release from the UFC due to his funky fighting style and lack of action in the final two rounds. He also got screwed out of a potential fight-ending submission after the round was ended four seconds early and he had Harris on the verge of tapping out. He was released by the UFC after some legal trouble back home and has gone 2-1 since.
Norman Paraisy might be known best for being the French fighter who failed to answer the bell for the second round against James Hammertree in a fight to enter the house for The Ultimate Fighter season 11, which drew plenty of jokes. Since then, however, Paraisy has gone 5-0-1 competing around the globe including a victory over former WEC champion Paulo Filho.
One must questions Paraisy's heart a bit heading into this fight and how he will react if Falcao is able to take control. Also, Paraisy's lone career loss came under the Bellator banner in 2009 against Dave Menne so that will likely be wearing on him as well. Falcao is very powerful and he's skilled in both striking and submissions. I feel if he can begin to gain an advantage, he's going to break Paraisy at some point.
Final Prediction: Maiquel Falcao via TKO in round two
185 lbs.: Vitor Vianna (12-2-1) vs. Brian Rogers (8-3)
Vitor Vianna was widely regarded as one of the best middleweight prospects on the planet. He proved it in the last Bellator middleweight tournament, knocking Bryan Baker senseless before coming up short against Alexander Shlemenko in the finals via decision. Vianna has some extremely good jiu-jitsu skills and he mixes that well with some improving stand-up and power.
Brian Rogers is one of the best middleweights in Ohio. "The Predator" entered the Bellator season five tournament on a six fight streak which included six first round knockouts. He kept the streak alive, stopping Victor O'Donnell inside two minutes at Bellator 50 but he also was halted by Alexander Shlemenko, although he gave the Russian quite a beating before fading in the second round.
Rogers is at his best when he's swarming and overwhelming opponents early with his heavy power shots including kicks and knees. He's going to have to hurt Vianna with some punches and kicks in the opening minute if he wants to present himself with an opportunity to finish the fight. Vianna, on the other hand, should fire back by playing it cautious early or potentially taking the fight to the ground and working his world class submission game. If he can drag this fight into the second or third round, his odds of winning go up drastically.
Final Prediction: Vitor Vianna via submission in round three
185 lbs.: Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (15-1) vs. Victor O'Donnell (11-3)
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky is a very explosive and capable middleweight. A former M-1 light heavyweight champion, he's used to fighting men much larger than him and winning. Vasilevsky would prefer to keep this fight standing where he's most dangerous but if the fight goes to the canvas, that's not the end of the world either as he's highly capable on the ground.
Victor O'Donnell was another Ultimate Fighter season 11 fighter who failed to make it onto the show. He fell short to Brian Rogers via first round TKO in the last tournament but he protested the stoppage and was given another shot for this tournament. O'Donnell trains out of Vision MMA in Cincinnati alongside top prospects like Roger Bowling and Daniel Straus and he's pretty dangerous everywhere.
Vasilevsky will be trying to stand and trade with O'Donnell where he should have a power and technique advantage. He's got some terrific footwork and he can take a shot so he would be willing to eat one to give one. O'Donnell has some respectable striking, but he does most of his damage on the ground whether it's ground and pound or submissions. Both men are very tough and pretty evenly matched so I don't see this fight getting stopped.
Final Prediction: Vyacheslav Vasilevsky via decision
185 lbs.: Giva Santana (17-1) vs. Bruno Santos (12-0)
Giva Santana is an extremely dangerous submission expert. "The Arm Collector" has finished 13 of his 17 career victories via armbar including a ridiculous 10 in a row during a two year stint from 2005-2007. Santana also splits his time by being the head jiu-jitsu coach at Team Oyama where he trains current UFC fighters like Shane Del Rosario and Ian McCall. His age is getting up there, but he's still extremely nimble and is one of the most dangerous middleweights in the world on the ground.
Bruno Santos is a very interesting Brazilian prospect. He's been able to develop a tenacious grinding style which has helped him win all 12 of his career fights. Santos does not have much finishing ability, however, and he's gone to decision in all nine of his most recent fights, winning them all unanimously. His submission and striking skills are still progressing and he's still young enough at 24 years old to add them to his arsenal.
Santos has zero chance of submitting Santana but perhaps if he's got enough confidence in his defense, he could work for takedowns and try to ground and pound his opponent. I expect Santana to immediately be attacking from every angle, and if Santos leaves an arm even close to exposed, he's going to snatch it up and mount that sucker on his wall.
Final Prediction: Giva Santana via armbar in round one
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Who do you see winning the Bellator heavyweight finals and do you think either man can challenge Cole Konrad? What are your picks for the Bellator season six middleweight tournament?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, submission, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 61: Prindle Vs. Santos, Middleweight Tournament Dissection
After a lengthy absence, the Bellator promotion came back with a bang last week. The show was headlined by a rollicking clash between Pat Curran and Joe Warren and the opening round of the 2012 featherweight tournament.
From The Riverdome in Bossier City, Louisiana, Bellator 61 on Friday night (March 16) marks Bellator's second entry of 2012 and features a rematch between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos for the heavyweight strap and the premiere of this year's middleweight tournament. The main card will be televised on MTV2 and the EPIX network at 8 p.m. ET with one hour of preliminary fights streaming on Spike.com and Bellator.com at 7 p.m. ET. The televised broadcast shapes up like this:
Heavyweight Tournament ChampionshipEric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos
Middleweight TournamentMaiquel Falcao vs. Norman ParaisyBrian Rogers vs. Vitor ViannaGiva Santana vs. Bruno SantosVyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Victor O'Donnell
Eric Prindle (7-1) vs. Thiago "Big Monster" Santos (10-1)
The finalists of last year's heavyweight tournament are engaging in a rematch after their initial meeting ended in a No Contest. In the first round of their Bellator 59 match, Thiago Santos punted the prone Eric Prindle square in the nether regions and the fouled fighter was unable to continue despite his allotted five-minute respite.
Prindle, a mammoth heavyweight who barely sneaks in under the 265-pound limit, was an amateur boxer in the military. He's finished five of his seven victories, all via strikes, and hasn't lost since his MMA debut in 2008; a 1st-round submission against Jimmy Ambriz, the former King of the Cage Super-Heavyweight champion. His tenure in Bellator consists of three straight wins (Josh Burns and Ron Sparks by KO, Abe Wagner via decision) leading up to the No Contest with Santos.
"Big Monster" is just that -- like Prindle, he also tips the scales at the heavyweight maximum, but his BJJ black belt and heavy hands give him a dual-pronged approach (2 TKOs, 5 subs). Hailing from Brazil, Santos was a strong new acquisition for Bellator but struggled to make a timely entrance. An undisclosed injury forced him to withdraw from his intended promotional debut against Derrick Lewis at Bellator 45 and visa issues prevented his participation in the heavyweight tournament at Bellator 52.
He finally made an appearance at Bellator 53 in a bout to determine a standby replacement in the tournament and tapped out Josh Burns with a first-round rear-naked choke. Inserted into the brackets after tournament competitor Mike Hayes suffered an injury, Santos was slated to face Blagoi Ivanov -- his originally intended opponent -- but Ivanov was removed due to injury as well. Veteran Neil Grove was the selected replacement and Santos duplicated the outcome of his promotional debut with a quick submission to advance to the finals against Prindle.
Gifs and analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of Bellator 61
From Bellator's Youtube channel, the video above is a highlight of the Bellator 56 event in which both Prindle and Santos advanced to the finals with first-round stoppages.
Both men are leviathans with huge punching power. They share boxing as their main style of striking, and Prindle is a little more polished in his technique, throwing tighter punches with a better defensive guard and footwork. That slight advantage could easily be outweighed by the strong submission acumen of Santos. Though he's not an accomplished wrestler, Santos still has decent takedowns. His malicious striking complements his ground game nicely, as opponents are often lured into a standing brawl and become susceptible to takedowns or, as the video depicts, Santos will pounce with submission attempts after scoring a knockdown on the feet.
The betting lines recognize Santos' diversity and hold him as a big favorite at -425 odds. While Prindle's ability to end the fight at any time with his hands makes that rating a little steep, Santos is my pick as well. The Brazilian should be able to avoid the haymaker and eventually force Prindle to the mat to open up a submission.
My Prediction: Thiago Santos by rear-naked choke.
Maiquel Falcao (28-4) vs. Norman Paraisy (10-1)
Falcao had a brief stint in the UFC that was riddled by unusual circumstances. In his Octagon debut at UFC 123, he blitzed Gerald Harris with combinations and won the first two rounds handily, but the showcase performance was marred by prolonged hesitancy from both fighters in the third round. Falcao locked in a deep rear-naked choke to close out the first round, but it later emerged that the horn sounded seven seconds earlier than it was supposed to; an error by the attending official that very well may have robbed Falcao of the finish (below).
Falcao was pulled from his scheduled UFC 134 bout against Tom Lawlor in Rio and subsequently released by the UFC for some old legal troubles that sprang back up. Since that departure, he's won two of three in Brazil with two first-round knockouts and a submission loss to Antonio Braga Neto -- a Gracie Fusion talent who also just kneebarred Brock Larson -- on the Amazon Forest Combat card.
Two of his four career losses came at the hands of the UFC's Fabio Maldonado.
Falcao boasts a shocking twenty-four wins via utterly violent striking, all but one of which were delivered within the first five minutes of the contest.
He's a head-hunter with blazing hand-speed, a solid Thai game in the clinch, good trips and throws, and overwhelming ground-and-pound.
Formerly a Chute Boxe product, Falcao now trains with the Luta Livre based Renovacao Fight Team under Marcelo Brigadeiro.
His opponent, Norman Paraisy, is another compelling prospect returning to Bellator for the first time since losing to former UFC champion Dave Menne by submission at Bellator 4 in 2009. Along with one No Contest and draw apiece, this is the only flaw on Paraisy's record, though the Frenchman was defeated by James Hammortree when trying out for TUF 11. His biggest wins are decisions over Paulo Filho and Japanese journeyman Hidehiko Hasegawa at M-1 Challenge 6, and he's finished five by submission with two TKOs.
Paraisy is a burly middleweight with a strong arsenal overall. From what I've seen, he appears capable with striking and grappling, has a strong clinch and takedowns with good control and ground-and-pound; no glaring weaknesses nor specific areas of excellence.
Falcao has been asserted as a heavy favorite to win the tournament and is also the biggest favorite on the betting lines, coming in at -310. By my estimation, that's about dead-on. Paraisy's sole defeat is by submission, but he's yet to face a devastating striker like Falcao, who I expect to triumph with a highlight-reel stoppage.
My Prediction: Maiquel Falcao by TKO.
Brian "The Predator" Rogers (8-3) vs. Vitor Vianna (12-2)
Rogers posted a monumental first-round knockout of fellow Bellator 61 cast member Victor O'Donnell in his debut in last year's tournament. The former four-year college linebacker has just three years of MMA experience under his belt and is now complementing his natural athleticism and freakish punching power with increasing technique. His Bellator debut came on the heels of six consecutive first-round TKOs, the last coming over Iam Rammel on the undercard of Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson. Rogers started strong against Alexander Shlemenko (right) but eventually succumbed to strikes in the second.
Wand Fight Team rep Vitor Vianna defeated Sam Alvey by decision and then clobbered Bryan Baker (left) to advance to last year's tournament finals. There, he was also defeated by Shlemenko, but endured three rounds of the Russian's bombardment to drop a decision.
Vianna is a BJJ black belt with rugged striking and a hard-nosed clinch game. He has a balanced finishing ratio with five TKOs and four submissions. Along with Shlemenko, his only other career defeat was the UFC's Thiago Silva in 2006, though an arm injury was the impetus for the TKO loss.
Vianna got some love in the third spot of last year's BloodyElbow Scouting Report and comes in as the narrow favorite at -170, which is understandable considering he's the more diverse and consistent fighter. He might be the safer pick, but I'd stay away from a wager here. Rogers has unparalleled athleticism and excellent natural instincts, and is rapidly transforming into a more complete martial artist. He's hell on wheels in the first round and I like him to pull out the upset here. He's in trouble if he finds himself entangled with Vianna on the mat, but he can match his power standing and wields a mixed onslaught of heavy leather, high kicks and flying knees.
My Prediction: Brian Rogers by decision.
Giva "The Arm Collector" Santana (17-1) vs. Bruno Santos (12-0)
The nickname, seventeen submission wins with thirteen by armbar sum up Giva Santana's method of handling business.
The Team Oyama middleweight is a top-shelf grappler with only one career defeat; a split-decision to Jaime Jara on a 2008 ShoXC card. His rap sheet includes submissions over former WEC fighters Doug Marshall and Anthony Ruiz and a TKO victory over TUF product Lodune Sincaid.
His last fight was a first-round armbar fitted on Darryl Cobb in his Bellator debut (right).
Bruno Santos was the fifth selection in the 2010 version of the BloodyElbow World MMA Scouting Report. Being a control-based decision fighter is his unfortunate calling card, finishing his first and third opponent but grinding out his remaining wins on the score cards. He holds a win over Chute Boxe fighter Daniel Acacio and won last year's Bitetti Combat middleweight tournament with three decisions and forty-five minutes of stifling control in one night.
Hailing from Ze Mario team in Brazil, Santos is a young fighter who basically waits for the prime opportunity to snare a single leg and bury his opponent underneath him. Having no prior experience in traditional martial arts, Santos is surrounded by BJJ artists and undoubtedly honing his knowledge of submission grappling, but is yet to face a submission whiz like Santana, who is the most poisonous match up for Santos out of all the competitors. His unrelenting takedown and top game is highly effective and I could see him pulling out a forgettable upset, but his style is perfectly suited for Santana.
My Prediction: Giva Santana by submission.
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (15-1) vs. Victor O'Donnell (11-3)
Two more Scouting Report entries square off here. Vasilevsky was the fourth-ranked middleweight in 2010 and Vianna came in ninth. Vasilevsky is a Russian with a background in Combat Sambo and slick boxing skills. Former UFC competitor Xavier Foupa-Pokam stands as his biggest win but Vasilevsky's track record is particularly devoid of top-level competition. His Sambo skills offer a decent clinch and grappling game, but his technical boxing is his best weapon.
Victor O'Donnell was the fighter who lost to Chris Camozzi in the TUF 11 elimination bout, but he knocked Camozzi around enough to break his jaw, requiring his early departure from the show. He's faced three UFC-level opponents in his career: impressive stoppages over Forrest Petz (submission) and Rafael Natal (first-round TKO) and a decision loss to Constantinos Philippou. Though he seems like more of a banger, O'Donnell has nine submission wins with one TKO and decision. His knockout loss to Rogers in last year's tournament was the first time he's ever been finished.
Vasilevsky is a deceivingly venomous boxer with solid technique and control of striking range. O'Donnell would be well advised to avoid a straight shootout and phase shift, muffle the Russian in the clinch or pursue takedowns. The Russian should be just a little too precise on the feet and should pick up a rif he can't elicit an early stoppage.
My Prediction: Vyacheslav Vasilevsky by TKO.
All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com
Posted in: bellator, submission, vs, tournament, prindle
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 61's Santos on first Prindle meeting: 'He wanted out of the fight'
Bellator heavyweight contender Thiago Santos isn't
exactly fond of his fellow season-five tournament participant Eric
Prindle.
Forever linked together by an odd Bellator 59 matchup in which Santos
kicked a downed Prindle in the groin, leading to a no-contest result,
"Big Monster" has a theory on why that fight ended prematurely.
"He wanted out of the fight," Santos told MMAjunkie.com. "I believe that kick
wasn't that hard since we wear protection. Actually, I take that back.
It didn't even hit him in the testicles."
Posted in: fight, bellator, prindle, kick wasnt, prindle meeting
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 60 Video Highlights
Highlights from Bellator 60.
Read the full article at MMA Convert
Looking Up At The Lights: Should Bellator's Joe Warren Fight Again?
Like him or dislike him, you have to feel for Joe Warren.
Thanks to pure incompetence by referee Jeff Malott, Warren took a ridiculous amount of unnecessary shots from Pat Curran last Saturday at Bellator 60. The Bellator featherweight title was already Curran's by the time he began to unleash hell on Warren in the fight's third round, but the beatdown the now former champ had to endure was brutal to watch.
But should we have seen this coming? Look at the last three fights leading into the Curran defense:
September 2010: Warren was dominated by Joe Soto in the first round of the Bellator featherweight title tournament but pulled a rabbit out of his hat in a highlight reel second round KO to win the title.
April 2011: After an eight month layoff, Warren fought Marcos Galvao in a 137-pound catchweight fight and took a split decision that many saw as a gift.
September 2011: In the first round of the 135-pound Bellator tournament, Alexis Vila knocked out Warren cold in just 64 seconds.
I was amazed that Warren's title defense Saturday was his first, more a function of the somewhat flawed Bellator system than anything else. I was also amazed that Warren has continued to train in an attempt to make the U.S. Olympic wrestling team while training in MMA at the same time.
I would also be amazed if Warren can come back. Always the underdog, Warren made his MMA debut in the 2009 DREAM featherweight tournament, pulling off big upsets of Chase Beebe and Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto before losing to Bibiano Fernandes in the finals. A late entrant to the MMA game, he rolled through the Bellator tournament, knocked out Soto and lived the life of a champion after that.
Full of charisma and with a title to back it up, Warren has been a great asset for Bellator and can talk the talk whenever the microphone is on, regardless of the opponent. Perhaps he knew he was playing with house money and decided to have as much fun with the ride as he could. In the latest USA Today/SB Nation rankings as of this writing, Warren wasn't even ranked in the Top 25 as the champion of a top organization, nor in ESPN's rankings last week.
With a wife, kids and more achieved than most would have expected, I don't know if I'm comfortable seeing Warren step into the cage again. Between Vila and Curran, that's two straight knockouts for a 35-year-old. With the Olympic trials coming up in late-April, Warren said there's no doubt he'll be there, but what kind of toll did the Curran fight take on him?
While I always err on the side of the fighter when it comes to ending a career, the time may have come to hang up the four ounce gloves. Warren has plenty of talents that he can use elsewhere in MMA, but seeing him flat on his back at the end of a fight shouldn't be one of them.
SBN coverage of Bellator 60
Posted in: fight, bellator, title, warren, curran
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 68 slated for May 11 in Atlantic City
Bellator will make a couple trips to New Jersey in just a month's time.
The organization has tapped the Palladium Ballroom located in Caesars Atlantic City for Bellator 68, which is the ninth of 11 shows planned for its sixth season.
The event is slated for May 11 - four weeks after Bellator 65 takes place at the nearby Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on April 13.
Posted in: bellator, palladium ballroom, atlantic, couple trips, months time
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 60 ratings: Season Debut Card Nets 169,000 Viewers
This past weekend Bellator’s sixth season debuted on MTV2 and EPIX with Bellator 60. The sixth season debut netted an average of 169,000 viewers according to MMAJunkie.
The numbers were down from the season five average of 186,000. The numbers being down should not be much of a surprise as the card opened in competition with the new season of The Ultimate Fighter on FX and Viacom’s counter-programming of TUF on Spike TV.
Bellator 60 was headlined by Pat Curran’s devastating knockout of Joe Warren to earn the Bellator featherweight title. The card also kicked off the season six featherweight tournament.
Pictured: Pat Curran knocks out Joe Warren via Bellator
Posted in: bellator, season, card, joe warren, featherweight tournament
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyAfter Bellator 60 loss, Joe Warren's manager critical of ref, confirms move to bantamweight
Joe Warren has been suspended for 90 days following a vicious knockout loss to Pat Curran at this past Friday's Bellator 60 event.
MMAjunkie.com today requested and received a short list of suspensions from the Indiana Gaming Commission's athletic division.
Warren's manager, Ryan Tobin, told MMAjunkie.com the former Bellator champ sustained a concussion during the fight will no longer compete at 145 pounds.
Posted in: bellator, warren, knockout loss, manager, bellator champ
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 60 ratings: Season-six opener draws 169,000 MTV2 viewers
This past weekend's Bellator 60 event, which kicked off the organization's sixth season, averaged 169,000 MTV2 viewers.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the ratings information with Viacom/MTV2 officials.
The event took place this past Friday, March 3, at The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond, Ind. In addition to Pat Curran dethroning 145-pound champ Joe Warren, Bellator's season-six featherweight tourney kicked off at the event.
Posted in: bellator, event, ratings information, hammond ind, horseshoe hammond
Read the full article at MMA JunkieSean McCorkle gives fighter’s perspective on Bellator 60
This past Friday night former UFC heavyweight Sean McCorkle silently ran his post-Octagon record to 6-0 with the entire lot coming by way of an opening round submission. Known for his frank albeit funny commentary, the always-entertaining McCorkle was at it again this weekend after picking up a victory at Bellator 60, this time offering up his opinion on what he experienced as one of the organization’s newest competitors.
“I was very impressed with Bellator as a promotion as a whole fighting for them last Friday night. Their entire staff is very professional, they treat all of the fighters with the utmost respect almost going overboard catering to the fighters, and look to really be trying to build their promotion the right way,” wrote the 16-2 McCorkle in a post on The Underground, adding, “We stayed in an expensive hotel, the per diem money was way more than I expected or needed, and the production crew to the PR people to the cut guys were awesome.”
Still glowing, the 35-year old continued, “I love the tournament format they have, and the philosophy that fighters can and should fight more than just a few times a year. Obviously nobody will be able to compete with the UFC for many years, but Bellator really did impress me. It will be very interesting to see where the deal with Spike and Viacom has them after the next 18 months.”
Spike TV is expected to start broadcasting Bellator events in 2013 once the remaining aspects of the UFC’s contract with their former home finally expires. Currently Spike.com plays host to Bellator’s preliminary pairings.
While most of McCorkle’s take was positive, he did mention the one sour note he came across involved fallen featherweight champ Joe Warren who was knocked out by Pat Curran earlier in the evening. Many watching felt the stoppage came late and even Bellator edited out part of the finish on a highlights package circulated online.
Tim Hague Wants to Mix It Up with McCorkle
“I did not get a chance to see the Curran/Warren fight the other night because they were on right before me, but Warren did not look in good shape at all backstage after the fight,” said McCorkle. “I’m not one to have my stomach easily turned either, but I was genuinely afraid for him when he passed by as they were practically carrying him. I keep hearing it was a late stoppage, and then that it wasn’t, back and forth. Either way, I genuinely hope that he is OK. That’s a scary thing to see.”
McCorkle will compete again later this month in headlining action against Brian Heden on a WMMA card in Texas marking the fourth time “Big Sexy” will have fought this year.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: bellator, fighter, year, friday night, mccorkle
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 61 fight card finalized for March 16 LIVE from the Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City on MTV2
CHICAGO, Ill. (March 12, 2012) - Bellator Fighting Championships returns to the Bayou State on Friday, March 16 for Bellator 61 live from Bossier City at the Horseshoe Riverdome. The night will feature the long-awaited rematch between "The American Solider" Eric Prindle and "The Big Monster" Thiago Santos to determine a winner from last season's heavyweight tournament.
The quarterfinals of the Season 6 Middleweight Tournament will kick off as well, along with a host of local talent from the Louisiana area.
Tickets for the event are now on sale and can be purchased online at Riverdome.com, by phone at 888-512-SHOW (7469) or by visiting The Gift Horse at Horseshoe Bossier City Casino. Tickets are priced from $25-$75. The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 7 p.m. CST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CST, with the first fight scheduled for 6 p.m. CST. The preliminary card, featuring the area's top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 6 p.m. CST.
Lake Charles native and local-favorite Josh Quayhagen takes on Quaint Kempf in lightweight action. Quayhagen made quite the impression on Bellator fans after collecting a convincing unanimous decision victory over highly-touted kickboxing champion Cosmo Alexander at Bellator 52.
The undefeated Trey Houston looks to keep his spotless record intact as he battles Bellator veteran Jeremiah Riggs in a middleweight affair. No stranger to being in front of the camera, Riggs has appeared on Spike's TNA's Impact Wrestling as well as WWE's Tough Enough.
Baton Rouge native and dangerous welterweight Eric Scallan looks to impress in his Bellator debut when he takes on Derrick Krantz, who calls Texas home. Scallan enters the fight riding a three-fight win streak, and will look to keep the momentum going from The Riverdome.
Patrick Cenoble is set to take on Dallas native Derek Campos in a lightweight battle, while fan-favorite Jason Sampson clashes with the always tough Jeremy Myers in a bantamweight affair.
"Louisiana's been like a second home to Bellator," Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Our last two Louisiana events we're spectacular sell outs, so when we had the chance to bring Bellator to The Riverdome, it was a very easy decision. The Prindle-Santos fight is going to be a war, and the rest of the card is just loaded top to bottom. March 16th will be a great night in Bossier City."
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: bellator, bossier city, horseshoe riverdome, bossier, riverdome
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator CEO rooting for Eddie Alvarez, but unlikely to bend on tourney format
Former Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez has two fights remaining on his contract and could be with the promotion for at least another year.
While he's often defended the promotion, Alvarez also has expressed a desire to fight the best in his class, who largely reside in the UFC. He's also campaigned for an immediate rematch with Michael Chandler.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney wants to re-sign Alvarez. But at this point, Rebney is committed to the tournament format that separates Bellator from other fight promotions.
Posted in: bellator, promotion, alvarez, bellator ceo, promotion alvarez
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 61 weigh-ins slated for Thursday, open to fans
Bellator Fighting Championships' sixth season continues Friday with Bellator 61.
The event, which includes a season-five heavyweight tournament
championship rematch between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos, takes place
Friday at Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City, La.
The weigh-ins, which also include the eight season-six middleweight-tourney fights, take place Thursday and are open to fans.
Posted in: bellator, place friday, bossier city, horseshoe riverdome, fans bellator
Read the full article at MMA JunkieVideo: Pat Curran KO’s Joe Warren At Bellator 60
Bellator 60 saw Pat Curran capture the Bellator featherweight title over Joe Warren. Watch the incredible knockout sequence video right here.
Posted in: bellator, video, joe, joe warren, curran
Read the full article at Heavy MMABellator kicks off with a bang
Bellator is back, and with it more Bellator moment videos. Here's Pat Curran beating the snot out of Joe Warren. Stick that in your singlet and wrestle it!
Posted in: bellator, joe warren, curran, moment, bang bellator
Read the full article at FightlinkerHector Lombard's Bellator contract expires, will not rematch Alexander Shlemenko
That's according to the promotion's CEO, Bjorn Rebney, who is currently working on resigning Lombard, who was originally scheduled to rematch the two-time Bellator Middleweight Tournament winner, Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko, in late 2011. Just recently, Shlemenko released a video where he "officially announces" the rematch with Hector Lombard won't happen, claiming that the reigning Bellator Middleweight champion is out of reach for any type of communication.
Posted in: lombard, hector, bellator, shlemenko, hector lombard
Read the full article at Low KickBellator on brink of losing Hector Lombard
With Eddie Alvarez possibly fighting for the final time in Bellator next month before likely signing with the UFC it looks like another champion could be following suit in the near future, albeit one still possessing a title instead of wearing the “former” label.
Hector Lombard, widely considered one of the best middleweights in the world based on his overwhelming amount of success against respected adversaries, is apparently a restricted free agent with only a few weeks remaining in an exclusive negotiation period with Bellator. CEO Bjorn Rebney confirmed the news while serving as a guest on MMAJunkie Radio where he made his company’s stance clear.
“We’re trying to work dynamics with him (and) see if we can put a deal together,” said Rebney of Lombard. “If we can’t put a deal together, he’ll be able to go out to the open market and talk to the UFC, and if he gets an offer, we have the right to match it.”
“So it’s going to come down to a business decision for him,” Rebney continued. “He’s a tremendous, tremendously talented athlete. He’s at his peak; he’s at his prime. As a fan with my CEO hat off, I think Hector Lombard is the best middleweight in MMA. So we would obviously like to have him continue to fight here, and if we’re not able to come to an agreement, he’ll go and get other offers and then we’ll make a decision whether we’re going to match those offers or let him go.”
Were there any question surrounding the UFC’s interest in bring Lombard on board to spice up the division it was answered in recent weeks when UFC President Dana White was in Australia for UFC on FX 2 and responded to a question about Lombard based on his popularity in the region.
“I hear he’s under contract though with someone else, so we’ll see,” White replied. “I’ll probably end up with him. If he wants to fight in the UFC, then we’ll probably end up with him.”
Lombard holds an overall record of 31-2 who is 24-0-1 in his last 25 fights. Among his numerous impressive victories, 24 of which have involved some form of stoppage, the American Top Teamer has beaten Alexander Shlemenko, Joe Doersken, Niko Vitale, Trevor Prangley, and Brian Ebersole.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: ufc, lombard, bellator, hector lombard, rebney
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainHector Lombard's Bellator Contract Has Expired, Could Be Free Agent In May
Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard is currently not under contract to the organization, and while they have exclusive negotiating rights for a little while longer, he could become a free agent in either late April or early May. The news comes from Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, who spoke to MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger about the issue:
"We've got the right to match on any deal. We're either gonna sign him before he goes out the to marketplace or he's going to go out to the marketplace and we're gonna have a determination as to whether we're gonna match or not match and we're gonna see where it ends up. I love the guy and he's an awesome talent. He's been nothing but a pure pleasure for me to work with. He's been a great guy for me to work with and he's done everything we've asked him to do and every time I've put him in a cage, he's knocked people silly. You can't really ask for more than that from a guy."
Clearly the UFC would be interested, and Dana White even mentioned Lombard when he was in Australia for UFC on FX 2:
"I guess he's pretty popular down here," White said. "I hear he's under contract though with someone else, so we'll see. I'll probably end up with him. If he wants to fight in the UFC, then we'll probably end up with him."
It will be very interesting to see what happens over the next couple of months. If Bellator can't re-sign him before he goes on the open market, the UFC is likely to offer him a deal and Bellator would have 30 days to match any offer. Can the UFC price Bellator out of the race, or would Viacom come up with some big money to keep their middleweight champion? Time will tell.
Posted in: ufc, lombard, bellator, end, he
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNext week's Bellator 61 lineup set with five prelims, including Kempf-Quayhagen
The fight card is set for next week's Bellator 61 event.
The event features the opening round of the season-six middleweight tournament, as well as a season-five heavyweight-tourney rematch between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos. Five bouts also are slated for the prelims.
Bellator 61 takes place March 16 at the Horseshoe Riverdome in Bossier City, La.
Posted in: bellator, fight card, opening round, bossier city, event features
Read the full article at MMA JunkieFinal thoughts from Bellator 60 plus Joe Warren and Hector Lombard updates
Last night's (March 9, 2012) Bellator 60 event is in the books and now it's time to start looking towards next week, although before we do that, I wanted to dish out my final thoughts on the event.
I was fortunate enough to be cageside for the show, which took place a couple hours from me in Hammond, Indiana at the Horseshoe Casino.
Overall, I felt the event was a big success, although it definitely had its ups and downs. A new star was born, four very exciting featherweights moved on to the tournament semifinals and young promotional talent continues to take over.
Posted after the jump, I've got some assorted newsworthy tidbits taken from the press conference, talks with fighters and much, much more:
I'll start with the big news first:
- Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard can begin taking offers from outside promotions in May
While Lombard's contract with Bellator quietly expired in between seasons five and six, the promotion still has exclusive negotiating rights with him until May. After some specific date in May, other promotions like the UFC can begin throwing big money offers his way. Bellator will still have the right to match any offer by another promotion, but it will have to decide whether it will be worth the money to try to keep the 34 year old knockout machine.
If Lombard does in fact leave the promotion, Alexander Shlemenko, who won the Bellator season five middleweight tournament, will fight the winner of the Bellator season six middleweight tournament (which starts next Friday at Bellator 61) to crown a new 185-pound champion.
- Joe Warren likely suffered a very serious concussion, could very well affect his shot at the Olympics
Obviously, Warren was unable to attend the post-fight presser but Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney explained the PG version to the media saying Warren was "nauseous" backstage and was sent to the emergency room. From what I heard, he wasn't just nauseous, he was vomiting pretty badly. That's one of the worst signs of a major concussion. Also, Warren had mentioned he might have broken his hand to his corner before the second round. With the Indiana State Athletic Commission likely giving him a lengthy suspension from even light contact, I have some major doubts that Warren will be able to try out for the Olympics on April 20th in Iowa City like he was originally planning.
Speaking of the stoppage...
- The referee was completely inept and should have stopped the Warren fight way sooner
My friend Gerry Rodriguez counted 35 unanswered strikes from Curran. I watched it myself and counted 42, most of them being big power shots including 6 knees. Joe Warren was turned away, practically on the ground and getting swarmed, that's when the ref should have stepped in. Instead, he allowed Warren to eat another 20 huge shots include two massive uppercuts which knocked him completely out. If there was ever a case for a standing TKO in a fight, it was this one. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney also agreed saying, "Watching it live and again on tape, yeah, it could have been stopped earlier." You can also tell exactly how Bellator felt about the stoppage by watching its "Bellator 60 Moment" on YouTube. It just so happens to cut out about 15-20 seconds of the brutal beating Curran laid on Warren before he lost consciousness. Even the promotional team thought the finishing sequence was too harrowing to be shown in its entirety.
- Bellator is growing significantly in terms of media coverage and attendance
I covered my first Bellator event in 2010, Bellator 23 in Louisville, Kentucky and they only had one table for media and about four or five guys total were there covering the show and none of them were from any major sites. For this event, there was a very large turnout even for the open media workouts on Wednesday with multiple video reporters, tons of photographers and even more writers. Some of the big names in attendance hailed from Yahoo! Sports, ESPN Chicago, the Chicago Tribune, Bleacher Report, Heavy MMA, MMA Torch and much, much more. There were four long rows of tables for the media and they were all full. This show was a much bigger deal this time around and that's a very good sign for Bellator gaining some coverage from media and recognition from the fans.
- The pacing of the main card needs to improve drastically
Others have touched on this already, but with the show starting at 8:00 p.m eastern time and the first fight was concluding just 3:35 into round one, it's very disappointing that the second fight didn't even start until about 8:40 p.m. eastern time. In my opinion, that's inexcusable. Bjorn Rebney mentioned he wanted this season to be a more streamlined package, but last night was not the start they were hoping for. There were too many commercials, the breaks were too long and there was a lot of waiting around. I would really like to see this improve as the season continues.
- Pat Curran is the prototype of the Bellator business model
Curran was a no-name fighter with a 10-3 record when he stepped up as an alternate, taking the last spot in the season two lightweight tournament. We all know what happened next, he knocked tournament favorite Mike Ricci senseless, upset former UFC contender Roger Huerta and then earned a title shot against Eddie Alvarez. Now, after dropping to featherweight and decimating everyone in his path including Ronnie Mann, Marlon Sandro and Joe Warran, I've got him ranked as the number four ranked featherweight in the world behind only Jose Aldo, Hatsu Hioki and Chad Mendes. This is a guy who's complete rise to fame has occurred in the Bellator cage and the promotion wouldn't have it any other way.
- Marlon Sandro returned to form with a dominant first round destruction, seems extra motivated
I'll admit I was beginning to have my doubts about Marlon Sandro after a tough split decision victory in the Summer Series quarterfinals, another tough unanimous decision in the semis and then getting knocked out by Curran last August. I wasn't entirely convinced he was back yet after his last fight either, a first round submission of Rafael Dias, because Sandro had been rocked pretty badly in the stand-up. Despite turning 35 the day before, he showed no signs of slowing down last night against Roberto Vargas, thoroughly dismantling him with punches and knees before choking him out in the first round. I loved his post-fight celebration with the centurian helmet reminiscent of the Bellator logo. We'll see what Sandro is made of in his next fight against fellow Brazilian Alexandre Bezerra, who's an extremely promising young talent. Bezerra is still a bit limited in his striking so this could be a favorable match-up for Sandro.
For complete Bellator 60 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights as well as a recap of the main card and main event click here, here and here.
That's all the key points I had for the event.
Was there anything else that stood out to you, Maniacs? I didn't see the live broadcast on MTV 2 so maybe you guys have a unique perspective on this.
Speak up if so!
Posted in: fight, bellator, promotion, event, warren
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 60 Recap and Reaction: Fan’s Take (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
The new season of Bellator kicked off on March 9 with Bellator 60. Headlining the card on MTV2 was Joe Warren vs. Pat Curran for the Bellator featherweight title, as well as the start of the featherweight tournament. Marlon Sandro defeated Roberto Vargas via Rear-Naked Choke at 3:35...
Posted in: bellator, featherweight, curran, roberto vargas, roberto
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBellator 60 was a fun time, let's relive some of those memories
Bellator 60 in Hammond, Indiana held all the usual magic of a Bellator show: Brutal knockouts, submissions galore, and the hot and heavy tournament action we have come to know and love. Last night Bellator's featherweight tournament got underway with a plethora of highlights that we desperately want to share with you. But first, the results:
Daniel Straus Vs. Jeremy Spoon - Straus defeated Spoon via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).
Ronnie Mann Vs. Mike Corey - Corey defeated Mann via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Marlon Sandro Vs. Roberto Vargas - Sandro defeated Vargas via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:35 of round 1.
Alexandre Bezerra Vs. Kenny Foster - Bezerra defeated Foster via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:57 of round 2.
Take a look at 'Popo' Bezerra flipping out of Foster's whizzer...or hip toss. Frankly I'm not 100% sure what happened below but it was friggin cool.
One of the first undercard bouts saw Genair da Silva pull a Marco Ruas and chop down the legs of Bobby Reardanz. Leg kicks do win fights. Click 'Read More' to, well, not actually do anymore reading, but you can see some fun gifs. Including Marlon Sandro partying like it's roughly 263 B.C.
Posted in: bellator, vs, bezerra, submission rearnaked, whizzeror hip
Read the full article at Middle EasyBellator 60 Results: Pat Curran emerges from event with title in tow
Last night’s Bellator card kicked Season 6 off on the right note with a number of entertaining fights including a title tilt between Joe Warren and Pat Curran. While Warren came out strong, recovering from some early shots to take Curran down and control him throughout solid portions of the bout, in the end it was the 24-year old challenger who brought home divisional gold after rocking Warren with a knee and then pouncing on top of him to score a brutal TKO victory.
The performance improved Curran’s overall record to 17-4 with four consecutive wins at 145 pounds. Next up he’ll face Patricio Freire who earned the right by emerging as the last man standing in the Season 4 featherweight tournament.
Also worth noting, advancing in the Season 6 version were Daniel Straus, Alexandre Bezerra, Mike Corey, and Marlon Sandro.
Read below for a full rundown of Bellator 60 results:
Genair da Silva def. Bobby Reardanz via TKO Round 3 (Strikes)
Alexandre Bezerra def. Kenny Foster via Submission Round 2 (Rear-Naked Choke)
Josh Shockley def. Shamar Bailey via Unanimous Decision
Marlon Sandro def. Roberto Vargas via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke)
Mike Corey def. Ronnie Mann via Unanimous Decision
Daniel Straus def. Jeremy Spoon via Unanimous Decision
Pat Curran def. Joe Warren via TKO Round 3 (Knee/Strikes)
Sean McCorkle def. Richard White via Submission Round 1 (Neck Crank)
Travis Wiuff def. Anthony Gomez via Unanimous Decision
Jake Nauracy def. Cory Galloway via Submission Round 2 (Rear-Naked Choke)
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, round, joe warren, warren, curran
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 60 results recap for 'Warren vs Curran' in Hammond, Indiana
Bellator 60 kickstarted Bellator Fighting Championship's sixth season last night (March 9, 2012) from the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. In typical Bellator fashion, the night ended with some serious violence.
Perhaps too much this time.
Undersized, overachieving champion Joe Warren was looking to defend his featherweight title for the first time, but he ran into the buzzsaw who is Pat Curran.
While by now, people are all talking about the brutal third round finishing sequence by Curran and the referee's "deer in the headlights" ineptitude, one must give some credit to Warren for being able to implement his gameplan of closing the distance with takedowns and some hard work in the clinch over the course of the first two rounds.
While MMAmania.com had it scored 19-19 heading into the third, Curran's corner told him he was likely down two rounds to none.
That's all "Paddy Mike" needed to hear.
Early in the third, when Warren ducked down for yet another takedown attempt, Curran was ready for him, blasting "The Baddest Man on the Planet" with a massive knee to the face that rocked him. Somehow Warren stayed standing for the next 20 seconds as Curran swarmed him with a huge flurry of unanswered blows, culminating in a pair of ridiculous uppercuts that finally sent Warren down for good.
Pat Curran is the new Bellator featherweight champion.
While the rest of the main card, which featured the Bellator season six featherweight tournament quarterfinals, wasn't quite as violent, it certainly had some entertaining moments:
Daniel Straus, a finalist fo the Bellator season four featherweight tournament, faced a stiff test in Jeremy Spoon, who entered the tournament with a spotless 12-0 record. Spoon did his best to push a hard pace and work for repeated takedowns along the fence, pressing Straus into the cage on multiple occasions, but Straus' balance was impeccable and he remained upright for almost the entirety of the contest.
The key factor in this bout was Daniel Straus' improved striking as he showcased a quick and powerful lead left hand and was mixing in some vicious inside leg kicks which connected with extreme prejudice, reverberating with a loud slap throughout the entire venue and leaving Spoon's thigh red and raw. It was more than enough for Straus to be awarded the unanimous decision victory.
Perhaps the feel-good story of the entire event, Team Curran fighter Mike Corey, an alternate who stepped in for an injured Wagnney Fabiano with one week's notice, upset one of the top tournament hopefuls Ronnie Mann with a unanimous decision victory.
Corey was hurt badly in the opening round by Mann in the stand-up portion, but the Brit was unable to finish him and Corey not only regained his senses, but completely turned the fight on its head by going to his bread and butter which was his wrestling. This wasn't basic wrestling either, Corey was extremely active from top position, looking to pass guard and hammer away with powerful punches. Mann was completely unable to get back to his feet and other than an armbar and leg lock attempt, he was not able to put forth much offense from his back which gave Corey all the momentum he needed to win the final two rounds and the fight.
Also advancing to the semifinals was Marlon Sandro, one of the most dangerous and powerful featherweights on the planet. The Brazilian proved his status by clipping 12-1 Roberto Vargas with a slick right hand and he refused to let up his onslaught, pouring on punches in the opening frame and eventually forcing Vargas to tap to a rear naked choke.
Sandro was knocked out by Pat Curran in the Bellator featherweight Summer Series finals and has made it his ultimate goal to work his way to a rematch. He'll have to win the entire tournament to earn that rematch, but if he keeps putting on performances like he did last night, he very well might be able to pull it off.
Lastly, top Brazilian prospect Alexandre "Popo" Bezerra put forth a strong showing against extremely late notice tournament opponent Kenny Foster. Foster, who was a semifinalist in the Bellator season four tournament, stepped up on 24 hours' notice when Genair da Silva failed to make weight and was removed from the tournament field.
Perhaps the late opponent switcharoo threw Bezerra off because he wasn't his usual aggressive self in the first round, although the fight certainly had its moments. The highlight of the bout was definitely late in the second round as Foster, hoping to perhaps steal the round with a takedown, was quickly reversed by "Popo," who dropped a large volume of blows from behind on the ground before locking in a rear naked choke and forcing the tap with just seconds remaining in the frame.
At the post-fight press conference, it was announced that Daniel Straus will fight Mike Corey and Marlon Sandro will fight Alexandre Bezerra in the tournament semifinals, which will take place April 6 in Windsor, Ontario Canada.
For complete Bellator 60 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights as well as a recap of the main event click here and here.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Did Bellator kick off it's sixth season strongly in your eyes? What was the highlight of the night for you and is there anyone in this featherweight tournament field that you believe can knock off the current champion Pat Curran?
Sound off!
Posted in: bellator, round, tournament, featherweight, curran
Read the full article at MMA ManiaPat Curran gets the belt and four new featherweight challengers at Bellator ()
HAMMOND, Ind. -- Bellator's season six started with a new champ, a terrible stoppage, and four featherweights getting closer to challenging for the belt.
Joe Warren started with a nasty takedown, and from the start, his wrestling controlled most of the bout. Curran's on big moment in the first round came when he knocked Warren down with a head kick, and followed it up with several strikes on the ground, but Warren survived. When Curran tried a flying knee, Warren used it for a takedown. Warren had more takedowns and control in the first round. Action slowed in the second round, as Warren was able to get takedowns, but not hold Curran down.
After Curran's corner told him he was down two rounds, he came out in the third round with full intent to injure. Curran's bevy of strikes put Warren against the fence. The fence was the only thing holding Warren up as he withstood several shots from Curran. The fight went on much longer than it needed to, and was finally stopped at 1:25 in the third round.
Warren went to the hospital after the bout. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said he was complaining of nausea and also had a hand injury. Rebney also said he was surprised the stoppage wasn't sooner.
Posted in: bellator, takedown, round, warren, curran
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsPat Curran gets the belt and four new featherweight challengers at Bellator (Yahoo! Sports)
HAMMOND, Ind. -- Bellator's season six started with a new champ, a terrible stoppage, and four featherweights getting closer to challenging for the belt. Joe Warren started with a nasty takedown, and from the start, his wrestling controlled most of … Continue reading →
Posted in: bellator, belt, sport, featherweight, featherweight challengers
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsVideo: Pat Curran's (edited) KO of Joe Warren in Bellator 60 title fight
Pat Curran claimed the Bellator featherweight championship in dominant fashion at Friday's Bellator 60 event.
In the night's MTV2-televised headliner, Curran dethroned reigning champion Joe Warren with a vicious third-round knockout.
Bellator now has released video highlights of the title fight, though
much of the controversial bout-ending violence has been edited out.
Posted in: bellator, title fight, joe warren, curran, boutending violence
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 60 Video: Pat Curran Knocks Out Joe Warren To Win Featherweight Title
Bellator has embraced YouTube in a very solid way, attempting to make many of their "Bellator moments" into viral videos within hours of fights finishing. This time they quickly put out a video of Pat Curran knocking out Joe Warren to take Warren's Bellator featherweight title at last night's Bellator 60.
But something is missing from the video. Check it out:
It appears that they were a little uncomfortable with the poor job the referee did in stopping the fight and edited out most of the barrage of shots Warren took between the knee that set up the knockout and the couple uppercuts that knocked Warren out cold.
Joe was sent to the hospital after the fight and Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney told people at the press conference and in private that the referee did a poor job in stopping the fight. Clearly that feeling carried over into the video room where they didn't want Curran's moment overshadowed by the bad stoppage.
SBN coverage of Bellator 60
Posted in: fight, bellator, video, joe warren, warren
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowJoe Warren vs Pat Curran full fight video highlights from Bellator 60 on MTV2
Pat Curran won the Bellator 145-pound title last night (March 10, 2012) at The Venue at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind., stopping Joe Warren with a spectacular combination of strikes in the second round live on MTV2.
Curran, who has now won four straight fights and eight of his last nine bouts, earned the championship opportunity by winning the Featherweight "Summer Series" tournament in 2011. And he made the most of it with a dominant performance over the Olympic-level wrestler and self-proclaimed "Baddest Man on the Planet."
In fact, Curran lit up Curran like a Christmas tree, connecting with flying knees, uppercuts and other strikes that likely would have put a donkey to sleep. While all this was happening, the referee in charge of the action helplessly -- and dangerously -- looked on as Warren somehow clung to consciousness.
It was no surprise that Warren eventually slumped to the canvas in a heap of lifeless flesh, while Curran strutted away as Bellator's new 145-pound one-man wrecking machine.
For a more detailed recap on the fight between Joe Warren vs. Jeff Curran click here and for complete Bellator 60 results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here. To see a .gif of the final "hellish" fight-ending sequence click here.
Posted in: fight, bellator, warren, curran, hammond ind
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 60 results (spoilers)
submitted by dp517 [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: bellator, result, spoiler, dp
Read the full article at RedditLive NOW: Bellator 60 Results & Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond, Ind., at approximately 7 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 60, which is headlined by Joe Warren's Bellator featherweight title defense against Pat Curran, and features the quarterfinals of Bellator's Season 6 145-pound tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, hammond ind, horseshoe hammond, hammond
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 60 Results & Recap
Bellator, oh beloved Bellator, how I missed thee. Tonight, the sixth season of the number two MMA organization in the world debuted on MTV2, bringing with it the quarterfinals of the latest featherweight tournament, plus a long-awaited championship tilt between reigning king Joe Warren and recent tournament winner Pat Curran. How did it all play out? Glad you asked!
If not for a kick to the grill that came out of nowhere, Marlon Sandro would be fighting Warren in lieu of Curran. But so it goes in MMA, and now the Brazilian Nova Uniao star was back in the tourney mix, taking on fellow 145-pound fighter Roberto Vargas in what was essentially a squash match. For the first minute the two probed each other with kicks and punches, and for a moment it seemed as if we were in for a fight. Yet at the minute-and-a-half mark Sandro flicked a switch, and began unloading – and catching –Vargas with overhands and uppercuts that put the American wrestler on jelly legs. Vargas covered up, wobbled about, and instinctively shot for a takedown to no avail, and soon the jiu-jitsu black belt was on his back, flattening him out for the rear naked choke. Vargas tapped after 3:35 had expired in the first round, and with the win Sandro moved on to the semifinals and one step closer to redemption.
To earn his slot in this featherweight lineup, Ronnie Mann had to transition from a badass UK fighter to a solid Bellator repeat offender and Bellator Summer Series tournament semifinalist. Conversely, to earn his slot, ex-Marine Mike Corey had to draw a very overrated Chris Horodecki. Can you guess which one was a canny fighter and which one was outgunned? If you said Mann, you’d be wrong. For the first half of the first round, Corey kept stepping in swinging and ate two or three rapid-fire hooks for his troubles. Then Mann put him on his butt with a right, and when the American popped back up, Mann sent him back down with the very next right hand he threw. Eventually Corey recovered, and with thirty seconds left in the frame he got the takedown and delivered fists and forearms from above.
The momentum shifted considerably in Round 2, as Corey began dinging his foe up on the feet then took him down and ground and pounded him for the vast majority of the period. Mann seemed to have no answer other than swiveling his hips into a couple ill-fated armbar attempts, and in terms of scorecards, it was clear Corey had evened things up.
Round 3 was the same as the one preceding, with Mann’s inability to escape from the bottom leading to a unanimous decision in Corey’s favor.
By virtue of making it to the Season Four featherweight tournament finals, Daniel Straus had proven himself to be a force to reckon with among the Bellator 145ers. His quarterfinal performance against Jeremy Spoon only further cemented that. Employing superior wrestling that enabled him to dictate if the fight was going to be horizontal or vertical, and employing harder, crisper strikes that banged Spoon up throughout, Straus was a man on a mission. The only real damage he took was an accidental knee to the junk in the first, whatever short punches Spoon managed to land during a brief wall-and-stall bid in the second and third, and whatever negative vibes Spoon mentally sent Straus’ way. Straus easily took the unanimous decision when time ran out.
Champ Warren has turned taking damage into an art form, but tonight the canvas he painted wasn’t pretty. Wielding his usual Greco-Roman prowess, Warren looked to fight the visibly larger Curran on his own terms by making the challenger wrestle. Curran had other ideas. After three and a half minutes of Warren trying to throw his foe down, Curran blasted him with a high-kick and smashed him with a slew of punches and knees. Warren survived, though, and came on strong in the second frame, where was successful in dumping the challenger to the mat twice. Then came the third round, and Curran’s absolute murder of Warren with the kind of knees, hooks and uppercuts that would fell an oak tree. The referee allowed far too many of those blows to land, and the subsequent knockout was brutal in the extreme. The official time of the KO was 1:25 of Round 3, and Curran was crowned the new Bellator featherweight king.
Results:
-Pat Curran def. Joe Warren via KO (Punches) at 1:25 in Round 3
-Daniel Straus def. Jeremy Spoon via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
-Mike Corey def. Ronnie Mann via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
-Marlon Sandro def. Roberto Vargas via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:35 in Round 1
Posted in: bellator, round, warren, mann, curran
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 60 results: Curran claims belt; Straus, Corey, Sandro, Bezerra advance
Pat Curran's size was simply too much for Joe Warren.
Shrugging off takedown after takedown, Curran notched a third-round
knockout win over Warren to win the Bellator featherweight title.
The title fight headlined Bellator 60, which took place Friday at The
Venue at Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond, Ind., and aired live on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, curran, hammond ind, horseshoe hammond, thirdround knockout
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 60 results-Pat Curran blasts Joe Warren and featherweight power rankings update
Bellator 60 resultsHammond, INPat Curran def. Joe Warren by TKO (Strikes) 1:23 R3Marlon Sandro def. Roberto Vargas by Submission Rear Naked Choke 3:35 R1Alexandre Bezerra def. Kenny Foster by Submission Rear Naked Choke 3:52 R2Daniel Straus def. Jeremy Spoon by Unanimous Decision R3Mike Corey def. Ronnie Mann by Unanimous Decision R3Josh Shockley def. Shamar Bailey by Unanimous Decision R3Genair da Silva def. Bobby Reardanz by TKO (Strikes) 0:51 R3Sean McCorkle def. Richard White by Submission Neck Crank 1:02 R1Travis Wiuff def. Anthony Gomez by Unanimous Decision R3Jake Nauracy def. Cory Galloway by Submission Rear Naked Choke 4:22 R2 All tournament rankings are done by ULTMMA.com prior to the opening round of the Bellator eight man bracket. These rankings are unofficial. Former MMA prospects ranked and graded by ULTMMA.com who are making their Bellator tournament debuts include: Mike Corey, Ricardo Tirloni, Karl Amoussou, Raul Amaya and Bruno Santos. Featherweight spring 2012 tourney March 9, Hammond, IndianaMarlon Sandro (#1) def. Roberto Vargas (#6) by Submission RNC R1Mike Corey (#7) def. Ronnie Mann (#2) by Unanimous DecisionAlexandre Bezerra (#3) def. Kenny Foster (#8) by Submission RNC R2Daniel Straus (#4) def. Jeremy Spoon (#5) by Unanimous DecisionApril 6, Ontario, CanadaMarlon Sandro (#1) vs. Alexandre Bezerra (#3)Mike Corey (#7) vs. Daniel Straus (#4)Lightweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 23, Laredo, TexasPatricky Freire (#1) vs. Lloyd Woodard (#4)Rick Hawn (#2) vs. Ricardo Tirloni (#3)J.J. Ambrose (#6) vs. Brent Weedman (#8)Thiago Michel (#5) vs. Rene Nazare (#7)Welterweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 30, Uncasville, ConnecticutKarl Amoussou (#4) vs. Chris Lozano (#5)Raul Amaya (#6) vs. Ben Saunders (#1)Brian Foster (#3) vs. David Rickels (#8)Bryan Baker (#2) vs. Carlos Pereira (#7)Middleweight spring 2012 tourneyMarch 16, Bossier City, LouisianaMaiquel Falcao (#2) vs. Norman Paraisy (#7)Brian Rogers (#6) vs. Vitor Vianna (#1)Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (#3) vs. Victor O'Donnell (#8)Giva Santana (#5) vs. Bruno Santos (#4)
Posted in: bellator, decision, submission, vs, spring
Read the full article at UltMMABellator video game coming Summer 2012
Bellator will launch its own video game this summer entitled, “Bellator: MMA Onslaught.” The video game developed by Kung Fu Factory and published by 345 Games in conjunction with Spike TV will be available for download on the XBox and Playstation platforms.
Via press release:
In “Bellator: MMA Onslaught” gamers can customize their own fighter’s look and fighting style to battle the way they want, whether it be Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing or other styles. The game also shares tips directly from Bellator fighters through exclusive video content as players continue to level-up and gain experience points, allowing them to learn MMA skills in a fun and engaging way. For bragging rights, players who gain the most wins and XP will top the “Onslaught Leader Boards” online and can have the opportunity to be recognized in upcoming Bellator fights live on-air during broadcast episodes.
345 Games collaborated with Bellator Championships to create “Bellator: MMA Onslaught,” ensuring the arcade style gaming experience mirrors the organization’s format, styles, graphics, and music. As the single-elimination MMA championships league continues to grow, 345 Games will support and update the game with new moves and styles, weight classes, fighter selections and additional content.
Payout Perspective:
The video game is more of a PR/marketing tool to get the Bellator name and brand out there. The downloaded video game presents minimal risk versus a full-blown video game which would have to include much more expense. The anticipated price for the game will be $10-$15 and a demo will likely be available for free. I think its a good move to see the market and interest for the game as well as expose more of an audience to Bellator.
Posted in: bellator, video, game, style, video game
Read the full article at MMA PayoutPat Curran Blasts Joe Warren for Bellator Belt
Just four years into his career and Pat Curran has gone from a near miss to strapping a championship belt around his waist.
Posted in: bellator, belt, curran, championship belt, bellator belt
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyPat Curran KOs Joe Warren to Claim Bellator Gold
Joe Warren had to be helped out of the cage -- without his Bellator Fighting Championships featherweight crown.
Posted in: bellator, joe, warren, claim, crown
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 60 Results & Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond, Ind., at approximately 7 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 60, which is headlined by Joe Warren's Bellator featherweight title defense against Pat Curran, and features the quarterfinals of Bellator's Season 6 145-pound tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, hammond ind, horseshoe hammond, hammond
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 60 Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Pat Curran Wins Featherweight Title
Now a champion, Pat Curran is a great story for Bellator. Coming into his first Bellator tournament, there were many, including myself, who felt that Curran was nothing more than a pretty good regional level fighter. Curran proved the doubters wrong at 155, beating Roger Huerta and winning the lightweight tournament. While he was unable to wrestle the title away from Eddie Alvarez, he dropped to featherweight, won that tournament and now left Joe Warren in a pile against the fence to take the 145 pound crown.
He isn't a guy I think anyone would pick to beat Jose Aldo and compete for the best featherweight in the world, but Curran has emerged as a legitimate force in mixed martial arts and certainly has a claim as a top five featherweight with his wins over Warren and Marlon Sandro.
The pacing of these shows is brutal and there is no way it ins't a factor in not growing the audience. One hour and fifty-five minutes into the show we'd been through three fights, one of which ended in the first round and were just getting around to announcing the main event fighters. It's such an unbelievable amount of work to make it to the main event between all the commercials and dead time. There aren't many casual fans willing to go through all that time to get so little in terms of in-cage action, especially with the lack of "big names" on the Bellator roster.
I never want to see Jeff Malott referee another fight as long as I live. His job in the main event was flat out dangerous. He was right to not stop the fight when Warren was hit with the knee that set up the finish, but as Curran poured on clean shots with the fence acting as the only thing keeping Warren from crashing to the mat, it was time to stop the fight. At one point Curran's legs were clearly gone but rather than saving a fighter who was doing nothing to fight back and was eating clean shots, Malott waited for Curran to land enough punches to knock Warren completely out. It is disgusting and I sincerely hope Malott is not allowed to put another fighter's health at risk. He proved himself incompetent tonight.
Joe Warren's "mean face" when he's "psyched up" is totally laughable.
Pat Curran is lucky that he has the ability to land with power because his tendency to sit back doesn't do a good enough job of establishing that he is doing work deserving of taking the round. I scored rounds one and two for Curran but it would not have shocked me at all to have seen all three judges score it for Warren simply because it appeared he was doing more while Curran sat back.
SBN coverage of Bellator 60
When none of the fighters involved with your middleweight tournament are anywhere near ranked, I don't think calling them "some of the best middleweights in the world" is all that accurate. I mean, I get marketing, but man...when your announcer is saying a fighter's name and then asks if he pronounced it right, he shouldn't follow that up by lumping him in with the best in the world.
Daniel Straus looked good while beating Jeremy Spoon but he still doesn't seem like a real force. He was beating Spoon clearly but seems to lack that next gear to really destroy guys he is better than.
Mike Corey recovered well from a rough first round against Ronnie Mann. Once he figured out that Mann couldn't deal with his takedowns, there wasn't a whole that Mann could do to change the course of the fight. Corey just worked takedowns and fired away from top position. I have a feeling that if elbows were legal, Corey would have completely wrecked Mann's face.
Roberto Vargas showed a great chin against Marlon Sandro, but still got steamrolled. Sandro is extremely wild but still found a consistent home for his strikes and had Vargas reeling around the cage for much of the fight before sinking in his choke and finishing the fight.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fighter, warren, curran
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 60: Curran Knocks Out Warren, Four Featherweights Advance
Bellator Fighting Championships began its sixth season with a featherweight title fight that delivered great action, as Pat Curran took the title from champion Joe Warren, knocking him out with big punches in the third round.
It was a great showing for Curran, who continues to look like not only the best featherweight in Bellator but one of the most powerful strikers in the featherweight division in all of MMA.
For Warren, it was his second consecutive knockout loss. Warren is a great wrestler but has problems with his striking, and he has talked about attempting to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in Greco-Roman wrestling. It remains to be seen whether he returns to the cage at all.
After Warren at first looked like he was going to control the first round with his superior wrestling and clinch work, Curran exploded with a high kick and a couple of flying knees that had Warren wobbling around the cage. Warren recovered nicely, however, and after being in big trouble he actually finished the first round by taking Curran down and getting on top of him as the round ended.
The second round was less eventful, as Curran continued to win the stand-up exchanges but without any of the spectacular striking he showed off in the first round, while Warren managed to take Curran down but couldn't do anything on the ground.
And then in the third round Curran's striking became spectacular: He bashed Warren against the fence with punches over and over again, and it was shocking that Warren could even stay standing. The referee allowed the fight to go on for a long time before Warren finally fell to the ground and it was stopped, making Curran the winner.
In addition to Curran taking the featherweight belt, Bellator began the process of determining its next featherweight title contender with the quarterfinals of its eight-man tournament, with Marlon Sandro, Mike Corey, Alexandre Bezerra and Daniel Straus advancing:
-- Sandro dominated Roberto Vargas, winning by first-round submission with a rear-naked choke after beating Vargas up with punches. Vargas showed toughness and a willingness to stand and trade with Sandro, but he also showed that he's just not on Sandro's level.
-- Corey pulled off an impressive upset over Ronnie Mann, surviving a Mann onslaught in the first round and controlling the second and third to win 29-28 on all three judges' scorecards.
-- Bezerra sunk in a rear-naked choke and forced Kenny Foster to tap out with just three seconds remaining in the second round.
-- Straus beat Jeremy Spoon by unanimous decision, 30-27 on one judge's scorecard and 29-28 on the other two cards.
In other Bellator action, Josh Shockley beat former Ultimate Fighter contestant Shamar Bailey by unanimous decision in a one-sided affair. Bailey entered the fight with a reputation as a good wrestler, but Shockley dominated him on the ground.
And the show started with a brutal mismatch in which Genair da Silva, who was removed from the featherweight tournament for failing to make weight, repeatedly hurt Bobby Reardanz with leg kicks and finally put him away with punches on the ground for a third-round TKO.
Posted in: bellator, round, featherweight, warren, curran
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 60 Real Time Results
Bellator FC is back with a brand new season, same old format. Things kick off tonight in grand style on MTV2 with featherweight champion Joe Warren defending his belt against rising star Pat Curran. Curran earned his spot by winning a tournament last summer where he took out a handful of respected adversaries including Ronnie Mann and Marlon Sandro.
Also set for tonight’s card, the opening round of the Season 6 featherweight tournament will take place where eight men battle it out for the right to lay claim to top contendership in the division as well as a six-figure paycheck. Adding to the entertainment, notable veterans Shamar Bailey, Travis Wiuff, and Sean McCorkle will also see action.
The broadcast fires up at 8:00 PM EST with prelims streaming through Spike.com in the preceding hours.
Read below for a full list of Bellator 60 results:
Genair da Silva def. Bobby Reardanz via TKO Round 3 (Strikes)
Alexandre Bezerra def. Kenny Foster via Submission Round 2 (Rear-Naked Choke)
Shamar Bailey vs. Josh Shockley
Cory Galloway vs. Jake Nauracy
Eric Oria vs. Lance Surma
Sean McCorkle vs. Richard White
Travis Wiuff vs. Anthony Gomez
Marlon Sandro vs. Roberto Vargas
Ronnie Mann vs. Mike Corey
Daniel Straus vs. Jeremy Spoon
Joe Warren vs. Pat Curran
Posted in: bellator, round, vs, curran, curran curran
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainJoe Warren pictures and quotes from open media workout for Bellator 60
In just one year's time, Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren went from "The Baddest Man on the Planet" to "The Rodney Dangerfield of MMA."
He gets no respect.
Granted, I'm sure he'd love to forget his 2011 campaign. His title defense was delayed due to injury and he never even competed at 145 pounds. Instead he took a non-title bout at a 137 pound catchweight against Marcos Galvao in which he won an extremely controversial decision in which a large majority of fans and media thought he lost.
He followed that up by dropping down to bantamweight to compete in the Bellator season five 135 pound tournament, but he was swiftly dropped from the field after a vicious first round knockout at the hands of former freestyle wrestling Olympic medalist Alexis Vila.
Now, heading into his first battle to defend his belt against Pat Curran tonight (March 9, 2012) at Bellator 60 in Hammond, Indiana, Warren enters the fight as a 3-1 underdog.
The University of Michigan alumni participated in an open workout or the media this past Wednesday and had plenty to say about all the doubters out there.
Check it out:
While most fighters tend to hold back during their open workouts, Warren went forward with a full head of steam for the entire duration of his shadow boxing, mitt work and in the exhibition of his grappling prowess. He made sure to tell the media mid workout that they should take a look at his improved head movement which he said "was something he could have used in his last fight," which drew some laughs.
He also worked with top UFC bantamweight Scott Jorgensen (pictured below) during his grappling session and referenced multiple times towards his upcoming opponent Pat Curran "That mother fucker's got nothing on me!"
I don't know whether he was extremely confident again or just trying to convince himself he can win. That's something we'll have to wait and see tonight.
Joe Warren quotes from media scrum:
- On being a 3-1 underdog -- "You guys have to understand that I started in as deep of waters as there is. I've been the underdog since the first time I put gloves on. I love my fans but I don't give a crap about who thinks who is gonna win or not. This isn't a team sport. I'm the one that has to deal with the person fighting in front of me.
- On fighting in Pat Curran's backyard -- "I've won not just in MMA but also for the US and let me tell you, the US Greco Roman wrestler is never the guy that's the favorite, not overseas. I'm used to going into hostile countries and competing against the number one guy in their country instead of the number one guy in Chicago."
- On if he still plans on trying out for the Olympics -- "Yes. After I win this fight, I've got Olympic team trials in Iowa City on April 20th. We'll see how that goes.
- On getting his confidence back after a tough knockout loss -- "It's an ego issue. You can bruise my ego but all bruises are healed now. Ego is through the roof again, confidence level is through the roof again. Gotta keep my attitude and positive mindset. I don't even remember the last fight. I hate to say it... I know I was emotional. I'm a real emotional person. If you put everything you have into one basket and it doesn't work, it's emotional to me. When I lose, it takes a piece of my heart away. I'm not a competitor that deals with loss well."
- On if he plans to try bantamweight again -- "I will definitely be there again. I'm 145 right now. I fight at this weight because I'm a champion here and I love Bellator. When I came into Bellator, it was their second season and we did not have bantamweight yet... I believe in my future and that I'll be a bantamweight."
- On the size disadvantage against Curarn -- "I'm not focused on his size. I'm focused on, I'm in great condition. I'm ready to rock in roll. My weight's fine. He's cutting a bunch of weight. He's hurting right now. We'll see what he can do, young kid like that. I'm a man. He's a boy."
- On avenging his two losses -- "I would like to get both of them back. I've talked to Bjorn a lot about that. We still have Alexis [Vila] in the league and we're hoping that they pull Bibiano [Fernandez] here so I can smash him."
So there you have it, Maniacs.
Do you agree that Warren deserves his underdog status for this fight? Will his world class Greco Roman skills be enough to overcome a serious size (20 pounds) and age (11 years) disparity?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, bantamweight, warren, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAfter adjusting to tourney shake-up, Ronnie Mann primed for Bellator 60
It's hard to get much of a rise out of soft-spoken Brit Ronnie Mann.
But the Bellator featherweight isn't happy about the circumstances of his next fight.
"It was bad news," Mann told MMAjunkie.com Radio about a last-minute opponent switch.
Posted in: bellator, mann, mmajunkiecom radio, ronnie, news mann
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 60: Warren Vs. Curran - Live Results and Play-By-Play
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for Bellator 60. Our live coverage will start with MTV 2 broadcast (8 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event. We will not be doing play-by-play of the undercard, but you can discuss those fights in the comments as well. That undercard stream runs on Bellator.com and Spike.com.
The night's main event is a Bellator featherweight championship bout between champion Joe Warren and challenger Pat Curran. The rest of the card is centered on featherweights as well as we get four quarterfinal bouts in this season's 145 pound tournament. Marlon Sandro takes on Roberto Vargas, Ronnie Mann faces Mike Corey, Alexandre Bezerra fights replacement opponent Kenny Foster and Daniel Straus squares off with Jeremy Spoon.
Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down.
SBN coverage of Bellator 60
Posted in: bellator, event, sbn coverage, quarterfinal bouts, undercard stream
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowWith contract expiration, free agency looms for Bellator champ Hector Lombard
Over the course of two years, Hector Lombard
fought eight times for Bellator Fighting Championships, won the
promotion's middleweight title and became one of its biggest stars.
But Lombard's contract is now expired, and he could hit the open market in spring.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney today confirmed to MMAjunkie.com Radio that Lombard is in the midst of an exclusive
negotiating period with the promotion. A source close to negotiations
tells MMAjunkie.com that lawyers for Bellator and its parent company
Viacom are negotiating with Lombard and his camp as the term winds down.
Posted in: lombard, bellator, mmajunkiecom radio, contract expiration, term winds
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 60: Featherweight Tournament Dissection
Bellator gets back in action tonight with Bellator 60, which is headlined by a featherweight championship bout pitting Joe Warren vs. Pat Curran and anchored by the first wave of the 2012 featherweight tournament. Having already analyzed the main event along with an overview of the full card, this season's 145-pound grand prix is stacked and deserves a closer look.
Bellator 2012 Featherweight Tournament
Marlon Sandro vs. Roberto VargasRonnie Mann vs. Mike Corey Alexandre Bezerra vs. Genair da Silva ("Junior PQD")Daniel Straus vs. Jeremy Spoon
Update: Both da Silva and undercard fighter Bobby Reardanz missed weight and will not compete, which will upgrade Kenny Foster, Reardanz's original opponent, to face Bezerra in the tournament. The analysis below still includes da Silva as Bezerra's opponent.
Marlon Sandro (20-3) vs. Roberto Vargas (12-1)
Sandro, who trains at Nova Uniao with UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, was Bellator's hottest acquisition of 2011. He ascended to within the top-five of the world rankings and earned a reputation as a devastating finisher in his overseas tour, which culminated with a first round knockout of Masanori Kanehara to earn the Sengoku featherweight belt and its immediate forfeit in his first defense against Hatsu Hioki.
Before the Hioki loss, Sandro had been on a searing eighteen-fight streak with wins in all but one; a controversial "must decision" to Michihiro Omigawa in the semifinals of the 2009 Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix. Despite making his Bellator debut on the heels of his second career defeat, Sandro was still a bright prospect as Hioki was widely recognized as the best featherweight outside the UFC and signed with the promotion shortly after.
Gifs and analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of Bellator 60
Sandro's beatdown of Kanehara (right) pretty much typifies his showcase knockout wins. Coming into the Sengoku tournament undefeated after twelve outings, Sandro was known for his lack of finishing, having won seven of his last nine by decision.
In his seven Sengoku fights, Sandro was hell on wheels. He strangled former King of the Cage champ Matt Jaggers with an arm triangle and clobbered new UFC entry Nick Denis with an uppercut knockout in twenty seconds before the circus decision against Omigawa.
It took a total of about three minutes to club three consecutive foes with a first-round frenzy of meathooks in response to his controversial first defeat. After winning and losing the Sengoku strap, Sandro signed with Bellator and was encumbered by two durable opponents in Malegarie and "PQD" en route to the finals. Though both were decision wins, one razor-thin, Sandro still let his hands go and laid out a strong sprawl and solid defense. If anything, he was admirably composed in his stateside premiere and harnessed his aggression wisely.
Sandro is a quick and potent boxer who pressures at a frenetic pace, but he falls back on a wicked grappling combo of high-level BJJ and serviceable wrestling. This, especially when punctuated by the swarming ground-and-pound he shows to the right, makes for a dangerous and diverse package.
His opponent, Roberto Vargas, is far from a stepping stone and joins Alexandre Bezerra as the dark horses of the tournament. His only career defeat was a split decision to Wilson Reis at Bellator 10 and there's a strong case that he deserved the nod.
Vargas trains out of Millennia MMA and has a wrestling base with a good grasp of submissions. He tangled with Reis on the mat, a BJJ black belt, throughout much of their encounter and threatened with several legit submission attempts. The other noteworthy name on Vargas' record is a decision win over the UFC's Daniel Pineda at Bellator 6, which saw Vargas nailing monster takedowns and enforcing his imposing ground assault.
This is an extremely interesting opponent for Sandro. Though Vargas' striking is mediocre, his grappling and takedowns could present Sandro with a hefty challenge. The pivotal factor is whether Vargas can secure takedowns consistently while avoiding Sandro's thunderous uppercut.
Sandro has probably exhibited his best efforts in the realm of footwork, sprawling and takedown defense in his short Bellator stint and will need to keep those weapons sharp against Vargas. Expect Vargas to be another under-rated opponent with a legit chance for an upset or, at least, one with the potential to make Sandro work hard for everything and look unflattering in victory.
My Prediction: Marlon Sandro by decision.
Ronnie Mann (21-4) vs. Mike Corey (11-2)
Mann is another reputable new addition who fought alongside Sandro in the Sengoku tournament. He's been flying under the radar as a legit UK prospect since winning the Cage Gladiators featherweight title in 2008 and is also a former student of the late Shawn Thompkins. Mann was eliminated in Sengoku when he fell into Hioki's trusty triangle, but "The Child of Shooto" and Pat Curran are Mann's only losses in his last ten. He made his stateside debut at Shark Fights 13 and defeated Doug Evans by decision to add another featherweight championship to his collection.
He notched two wins in Bellator (decision over Josh Arocho, KO of Adam Schindler) before encountering Curran, but tacked on a first round triangle win (Kenny Foster) in his last. Mann is a skilled Thai practitioner and a BJJ brown belt with eleven submission wins and three TKOs. He applies his long reach well through tight kickboxing combinations and also has adequate footwork, defense and head movement. Wrestling is the only aspect Mann doesn't specialize in, yet he's still quite capable in that department.
Mann boasts a stout, Thai-based clinch game and competent offensive and defensive wrestling. His decision loss to Curran was highly competitive and a respectful performance, proving that he belongs in the upper echelon of Bellator's 145-pound class.
Mike Corey is yet another sleeper on Bellator's roster. He competed as a lightweight in the IFL, losing his lone bout in the promotion to Shad Lierley by split decision. Early in his career, Corey picked up a win over former UFCer Brian Cobb and has only been defeated by Lierley and current UFC featherweight Cub Swanson by TKO (cut).
Corey made his Bellator debut in his last turn, fighting to a suspicious draw with Canadian Chris Horodecki. The former Marine and high school wrestler put Horodecki on his back in the first and treated him to pestering ground-and-pound, but Horodecki mounted a comeback and handily won the last two rounds. Two judges quite curiously rendered the first round a 10-8 for Corey, resulting in a majority draw.
Mann's potential weakness in wrestling might come to the forefront here, as Corey is an aggressive wrestler with legit takedown skills. Mann has the superior striking and submission acumen, and I think he has the wrestling chops to hold his own and the diverse arsenal to pick up a finish.
My Prediction: Ronnie Mann by late submission.
Alexandre "Popo" Bezerra (12-1) vs. Genair "Junior PQD" da Silva (11-4)
Junior PQD is an electric kickboxer and Luta Livre fighter who came aboard for the Summer Series tournament. His lightning-fast hands and creative selection of strikes first started to draw attention on the Brazilian circuit a few years ago, and that potential was validated in his gutsy showing against Sandro.
The uninitiated chalked up the split decision for Sandro as a sign that the Nova Uniao phenom was another over-rated import, but Junior PQD is a feisty spark plug who can cause fits for any featherweight. He's strong, agile, athletic and explosive.
PQD is more of a wild and unpredictable brawler with his striking than a polished technician, and threatens with a broad range of attacks: quick and powerful boxing, crushing leg kicks, the occasional hook kick (left), flying knees and vicious ground-and-pound. He toned down his aggression against Sandro and played more of a strategic game. The bout wasn't the back-and-forth barn burner many hoped it would be, but still displayed the fiery talent the Brazilian has. He balanced out the Sandro loss with a first-round Brabo choke of Bryan Goldsby in his last.
Out of all the lurking prospects in the tournament, Bezerra might be the deadliest. His lone career loss was to the UFC's Charles Oliveira in 2009 and Bezzera has compiled four wins in his Bellator tour, all of which were stoppages; three in the first frame. "Popo" has an unruly submission grappling assault with technical sweeps and transitions. He's no slouch of a striker either, hurling heavy punches and sprinkling in straight and roundhouse kicks. His diversity is reflected in his balancing finishing ratio (6 subs, 5 TKOs, 1 decision).
Junior PQD is adept with both submission grappling and wrestling from his Luta Livre training, endowing him with three-dimensional capabilities that he picks and chooses from as necessary. That benefit will be invaluable against Bezerra, who has top-notch BJJ tactics, fearsome striking and a gangly reach (70"). The betting lines have shifted from even to strongly in favor of Bezerra, which I understand but disagree with. I like Junior PQD here for his brick-chin, slight wrestling advantage and blinding quickness.
My Prediction: Junior PQD by decision.
Update: With Junior PQD now off the card, I expect Bezerra to divine a quick submission win.
Daniel Straus (17-4) vs. Jeremy Spoon (12-0)
After Straus was knocked out by Pat Curran in a 2009 XFO event, he's blazed an impressive fourteen-piece sequence that carried him to victory in all but one, which was against Patricio Freire in the finals of last year's Season Four tournament. The streak includes wins over former WEC fighter Karen Darabedyan and former TUF contestants Jason Dent and (welterweight) Gideon Ray, all by decision.
Straus' Wikipedia page tells of unusual circumstances revolving around his high school wrestling career:
Daniel was a highly successful, and highly controversial, high school wrestler. As a junior at Sycamore High School of Cincinnati, Daniel finished 3rd in the state in Division I (135 lbs.) His senior year, he was ruled academically ineligible and missed the second half of the season (including the state tournament). However, he was given a wild card birth into the NHSCA Senior Nationals (high school senior national championship) and won the tournament. He is considered one of the best wrestlers of the decade (2001-2010) and one of the greatest Ohio high school wrestlers to never win a state title.
Spoon is an undefeated fighter out of the Apex Brazilian Jiu Jitsu team in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He started out as a wrestler and slowly picked up the tools of the trade, competing mostly as a lightweight and winning the King of the Cage championship at 155-pounds. He finished his first nine opponents (8 subs, 1 TKO) but won his last three by decision.
The betting lines hold Straus as a solid favorite which is hard to argue with, as his wrestling is perilous and his striking has improved.
My Prediction: Daniel Straus by decision.
All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com
Posted in: bellator, decision, tournament, featherweight, sandro
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator: MMA Onslaught Video Game Early Screenshots, Trailer And Preview
During the last episode of Spike TV's MMA Uncensored, they announced the news of Bellator releasing a video game called "Bellator: MMA Onslaught". It will be published by 345games, a team that handles licenses for Spike TV, and as you might already know, that's the network that's partnered up with the MMA promotion.
The trailer is after the jump, and if it reminds you a more of MMA Supremacy rather than UFC Undisputed, it's probably cause this Bellator game has the same developer, in Kung Fu Factory.
Unlike EA MMA, or UFC Undisputed, where the games were simulations with a goal of recreating the same feel as the real thing, this Bellator video game apparently will have a more "arcade-y" feel to it. Why? Well the 345games GM said it's because "it was imperative that we create a mixed martial arts game accessible to all types of players not just the hard core MMA fan."
The game is set for a "Summer 2012" release and it will be available for download through the Playstation Network and XBOX Live. More details after the jump, including a trailer and screenshots after the jump.
Fighters from the Bellator roster will be available, but according to them, the video game focuses more on a career-mode type of gameplay called "Path to Glory", where you create a fighter, and level him up as you compete on different one-off fights, and Bellator tournaments. From the press release:
In "Bellator: MMA Onslaught" gamers can customize their own fighter’s look and fighting style to battle the way they want, whether it be Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing or other styles. The game also shares tips directly from Bellator fighters through exclusive video content as players continue to level-up and gain experience points, allowing them to learn MMA skills in a fun and engaging way. For bragging rights, players who gain the most wins and XP will top the "Onslaught Leader Boards" online and can have the opportunity to be recognized in upcoming Bellator fights live on-air during broadcast episodes.
Check out the trailer and screen shots:
Posted in: bellator, mma, video, game, video game
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowSpike TV and 345 Games to Launch First Bellator Based Video Game
Spike TV and 345 Games on Thursday announced they will combine efforts to launch "Bellator: MMA Onslaught" for Summer 2012.
Posted in: bellator, spike tv, tv, spike, game
Read the full article at MMA WeeklySpike TV and 345 Games announce 'Bellator: MMA Onslaught' video game
Spike TV and Bellator Fighting Championships are entering the video-game industry.
In association with Viacom Entertainment Group's 345 Games, Spike TV and
Bellator announced the pending release of "Bellator: MMA Onslaught," an
arcade-style MMA title.
"It was imperative that we create a mixed martial arts game accessible
to all types of players, not just the hardcore MMA fan," 345 Games exec
Dan Yang stated. "Fortunately, with 'Bellator: MMA Onslaught,' the
player doesn't need a doctorate in gaming or MMA to enjoy the non-stop
action and excitement of the game."
Posted in: bellator, mma, game, videogame industry, arts game
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 60: Pat Curran Aiming for Joe Warren’s Belt
After succeeding as a lightweight in Bellator, Pat Curran feels comfortable back down at featherweight. He challenges champion Joe Warren Friday night at Bellator 60.
Posted in: bellator, joe, warren, friday, curran
Read the full article at MMA Weekly‘Bellator: MMA Onslaught’ Game Coming this Summer to Xbox 360, Playstation 3
A new mixed martial arts video game based on the Bellator Fighting Championships will be available for download this summer, 345 Games and Spike TV have announced
Posted in: bellator, spike tv, game, art, summer
Read the full article at SherdogFor Bellator, Decisions Looming on New Deals for Eddie Alvarez, Hector Lombard
If Bjorn Rebney was the architect of Bellator, Eddie Alvarez was its foundation, the first major fighter the promotion signed in launching the brand. He quickly became its most recognizable star, and produced some of the best performances in the company's history. But Alvarez's deal, originally signed in 2008, is soon to run out, leaving questions about his future.However, there is still some time left to iron out a new agreement. Contrary to recent reports that Alvarez's upcoming Bellator 66 bout with Shinya Aoki would be his last under the terms of his current contract, Rebney told MMA Fighting that Alvarez would still have one more fight to go after that. Beyond that, Bellator has matching rights, so if Alvarez did get to free agency and find a suitor, Bellator would have the opportunity to reel him back in by matching key terms of the deal.
"I would go above and beyond with a guy like Ed, just because he’s such a good guy and he’s been such a key part of the organization’s growth," Rebney told MMA Fighting from Hammond, Indiana, where the promotion is set to begin its sixth season with Bellator 60 on Friday night.Rebney said that as of now, Alvarez has two fights and seven months left on his contract. As many have suggested, Alvarez (22-3) is taking a calculated risk by accepting the Aoki fight, as a loss would put him on a two-fight losing streak as he nears free agency. On the other hand, beating a top 10 lightweight would certainly give him added leverage. "My hope is that he uses this Aoki fight to reestablish himself, and perhaps get a big win against one of the top five guys in the world, then puts himself in position either to continue with us for years to come, which would be great, or to move on somewhere else and do real well," Rebney said. "When a guy does what he’s done for this organization, I want nothing but good things for Eddie, his wife and his kids. So I’m hopeful that he does extremely well, and then we'll see."Compounding talent matters for Rebney is the impending free agency of his middleweight champion Hector Lombard, another key fighter in Bellator's history. Unlike Alvarez, Lombard's deal is done in terms of remaining fights. The two sides are currently in an exclusive negotiating period, and if that time ends without a deal, Lombard will have a chance to enter the open market, with Bellator again holding matching rights.Rebney, who has said many times that he considers Lombard (31-2-1, 1 no contest) the best middleweight in the world, said discussions with him are ongoing. Lombard is dealing from a strong hand, having won 20 straight fights dating back to 2007. During his Bellator run, he's gone 8-0 with seven knockouts.Just last week, while in Australia, UFC president Dana White was asked about Lombard, and while he noted Lombard was still under contract, said that "if he wants to fight in the UFC, then we'll probably end up with him."
But Rebney will have the opportunity to match any offer that comes his way. While his preference isn't to part with either Lombard or Alvarez, the economics of running a growing promotion will certainly come into play, something he acknowledges by noting it may come down to a "business decision" as to whether either or both are kept in the fold.
"Those guys were the first and second big signings I ever did, and the deals have come to their logical kind of end, or at least close to their end," Rebney said. "We’ll see where the negotiations go. Those are both obviously tremendously talented fighters, and and whatever happens, they've been great guys to have underneath our banner."
Posted in: fight, lombard, bellator, alvarez, rebney
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator’s Joe Warren ready to move on and ‘pummel Pat Curran’ (Yahoo! Sports)
HAMMOND, Ind. -- Bellator featherweight champ Joe Warren admits he does not take loss well, but he was forced to deal with it after getting knocked out by Alexis Vila in the Bellator bantamweight tournament. Luckily, he doesn't have to … Continue reading →
Posted in: bellator, joe, warren, alexis vila, vila
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBellator 60 Results: Warren vs. Curran
MMA Fighting has Bellator 60 results for the Bellator event held Friday night at the Horsehoe Casino in Hammond, Ind.In the main event, Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren will defend his title against Pat Curran. There were also be four featherweight quarterfinal matches on the main card.Check out the Bellator 60 results below.
Main CardJoe Warren vs. Pat CurranMarlon Sandro vs. Roberto VargasRonnie Mann vs. Mike CoreyAlexandre Bezerra vs. Kenny FosterDaniel Straus vs. Jeremy SpoonUndercardCory Galloway vs. Jake NauracyTravis Wiuff vs. Anthony GomezSean McCorkle vs. Richard WhiteShamar Bailey vs. Josh Shockley
Posted in: bellator, result, vs, warren, hammond indin
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator video game 'Onslaught' sneak peek for Summer 2012 release date
Straight from the files of "Didn't see this one coming," Bellator MMA is releasing a mixed martial arts video game titled "Onslaught," developed by Kung Fu Factory and published by 345 Games for a "Summer 2012" release, available on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
From today's release:
In "Bellator: MMA Onslaught" gamers can customize their own fighter’s look and fighting style to battle the way they want, whether it be Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing or other styles. The game also shares tips directly from Bellator fighters through exclusive video content as players continue to level-up and gain experience points, allowing them to learn MMA skills in a fun and engaging way. For bragging rights, players who gain the most wins and XP will top the "Onslaught Leader Boards" online and can have the opportunity to be recognized in upcoming Bellator fights live on-air during broadcast episodes.
A network television deal (Spike TV), a video game and a roster full of talented fighters. Don't look now ladies and germs, but we have ourselves a bona fide number two MMA promotion ready to make some noise.
Are you ready to listen?
Posted in: bellator, mma, video, game, onslaught
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 60 Predictions
Can Joe Warren retain the Bellator featherweight championship against two-time Bellator tournament winner Pat Curran? Or will Curran hand Warren his second consecutive loss? And which four featherweights will take the next step toward earning a shot at the Warren-Curran winner?
I'll try to answer those questions as I pick the winners at Bellator 60 below.
What: Bellator 60
When: Friday, the main card starts at 8 p.m. Eastern on MTV2
Where: Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, Indiana
Joe Warren vs. Pat Curran
Warren has transitioned from being one of the best Greco-Roman wrestlers in the world into an impressive start to his mixed martial arts career, beating Kid Yamamoto in just his second career fight and then earning the Bellator featherweight title. However, in Warren's last fight he was brutally knocked out by Alexis Vila.
And that's why I don't much like his chances against Curran. That fight had me questioning Warren's chin and his striking defense, and Curran is a powerful striker. I like Curran to take the belt from Warren.
Pick: Curran
Marlon Sandro vs. Roberto Vargas
After losing to Curran in the Bellator featherweight final, Sandro earned an easy win over Rafael Dias in November, and I see him getting another easy win here. Vargas is a solid fighter with a 12-1 record, but he's never beaten anyone nearly as good as Sandro, who's one of the most dynamic featherweights in MMA. I like Sandro to win in exciting fashion.
Pick: Sandro
Ronnie Mann vs. Mike Corey
Wagnney Fabiano was originally scheduled to face Mann but had to drop out with an injury, and although Corey is fine by the standards of a late-notice fill-in, he's a much easier opponent for Mann than Fabiano would have been. Corey is a good wrestler who can control his opponents on the ground and has never been submitted in 14 pro fights, but Mann is excellent off his back and has a good shot of making Corey tap.
Pick: Mann
Alexandre Bezerra vs. Kenny Foster
Bezerra went 4-0 in Bellator in 2011 and is now in a Bellator tournament for the first time, getting a short-notice opponent in Foster, who was added to the tournament on just a day's notice when Genair da Silva missed weight. Bezerra is a fun fighter to watch because he can finish opponents in a variety of ways, and I think he'll finish Foster.
Pick: Bezerra
Daniel Straus vs. Jeremy Spoon
Spoon is an interesting prospect who has built up a 12-0 record without fighting many high-quality opponents. I don't think he's quite ready for Straus, a good wrestler who should be able to take him down and control him for a decision.
Pick: Straus
Posted in: bellator, warren, mann, curran, sandro
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 60 results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Warren vs Curran' TONIGHT (March 9) on MTV2
Bellator Fighting Championships returns TONIGHT (March 6, 2012) to The Horseshow Casino in Hammond, Ind., with a title fight and a fresh tournament.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 60 below, beginning with the MTV2 telecast at 8 p.m. ET. In addition, we'll deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the undercard action much earlier in the evening.
Headlining the main event will be a featherweight title fight as Bellator 145 pound champion Joe Warren looks to defend his title for the first time against rising promotional star Pat Curran, who was victorious in the 2011 Summer Series tournament.
The remainder of the main card will be the Bellator season six featherweight tournament quarterfinals. There was some drama yesterday as Brazilian Genair da Silva failed to make weight and was removed from the season six 145 pound field. Stepping in his place will be Bellator season four featherweight semifinalist Kenny Foster.
Foster will battle Alexandre "Popo" Bezerra while heavy-handed veteran Marlon Sandro takes on Roberto Vargas. Also on the main card, season four featherweight finalist Daniel Straus battles undefeated prospect Jeremy Spoon and well-rounded British fighter Ronnie Mann steps into the cage against on wrestler Mike Corey.
Complete Bellator 60 results and play-by-play are after the jump:
Main Card (MTV2)
145 lb. title: Joe Warren vs. Pat Curran145 lbs.: Marlon Sandro vs. Roberto Vargas145 lbs.: Alexandre Bezerra vs. Kenny Foster145 lbs.: Daniel Straus vs. Jeremy Spoon145 lbs.: Ronnie Mann vs. Mike Corey
Preliminary Card (Spike.com)
135 lbs.: Cory Galloway vs. Jake Nauracy 215 lbs.: Travis Wiuff vs. Anthony Gomez 280 lbs.: Sean McCorkle vs. Richard White 165 lbs.: Shamar Bailey vs. Josh Shockley
145 lb. title: Joe Warren vs. Pat Curran
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Round four:
Round five:
Final Result:
-end-
145 lbs.: Marlon Sandro vs. Roberto Vargas
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
145 lbs.: Alexandre Bezerra vs. Kenny Foster
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
145 lbs.: Daniel Straus vs. Jeremy Spoon
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
145 lbs.: Ronnie Mann vs. Mike Corey
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
Posted in: bellator, result, round, vs, lb
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMorning Report: 'The Ultimate Fighter' and Bellator Collide
This week was kind of strange. And the next five weeks are probably going to be stranger. But we're spoiled as MMA fans now. A month-and-a-half between major events used to be nothing.
Besides, mixed martial arts has reached the point where even if the schedule looks empty, it isn't really. Case in point: between the newly revamped "The Ultimate Fighter" and a brand new season of the promotion that just brought us this and this and THIS (and this and this), Friday nights are about to become the new Saturday. So sit back and get ready for tonight's fights with the Morning Report.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
The hurt business: a year in the life of an MMA fight team. Ben Fowlkes invades Grudge Training Center to examine the hidden lives of pro fighters and watch as fortunes rise and fall over the course of one calendar year in the first installment of this multi-part series.
Bellator 60: Joe Warren vs. Pat Curran dissection. Dallas Winston kicks the door down to Bellator's sixth season with a gif-tastic breakdown of tonight's featherweight championship.
For Bellator's Bjorn Rebney, eventual Spike move vindicates long-term vision. Bellator's CEO discusses his long journey to Spike, upcoming production changes, and the format that allows fighters "to be like Bulter in the NCAA's March Madness."
Daniel Cormier would consider cutting weight for a 205-pound 'superfight.' Despite his past weight cutting struggles, Cormier would give it one more shot for a superfight against a top 205-pounder.
Marloes Coenen cast in Dutch version of ‘Survivor.' The former Strikeforce women's bantamweight champion joined twelve of the Netherlands' biggest celebrities in the survival reality show "De Schat van De Oranje."
COUNTDOWN TO A SLIMMER ROY NELSON
Started (on March 4th): 32,000 likes.Yesterday's mark: 97,282 likes.As of this writing: 99,688 likes.Goal (by March 18th): 132,000 likes.
MEDIA STEW
A week after defeating Frankie Edgar to win the UFC lightweight strap, Ben Henderson was back home in Arizona relaxing. But by relaxing, we really mean competing in the Absolute division of the 7th Arizona Brazilian Jiu JItsu International Open, where he ultimately lost to Daniel Grippaudo via this slick straight armbar. (By the way, Bendo still won his weight class. Check out the full story.)
Tim Sylvia wants in the UFC, regardless of what Dana White says. So he uploaded this video to YouTube. The description simply reads: "Beast Mode." (HT: MMA Mania)
Last month, both Fedor and Aleksandr Emelianenko competed in the Russian Combat Sambo Championships, where they predictably met in the tournament finals. Though their match didn't exactly go how you'd expect. (HT: Cage Potato)
Yesterday we brought you a look at Myles Jury. So today we'll give you a sampling of another early TUF 15 favorite, Brazilian submission wizard Cristiano Marcello, as he takes on Guido Canetti at Bitetti Combat 8.
THE MUSCLE SHARK WANTS BACK IN
I will be coming back before the years end but I need a good fight not some chump who needs some fame!
— Sean Sherk UFC (@SeanSherkUFC) March 8, 2012
MISADVENTURES IN MMA FACIAL HAIR
And so the old school begins!!! #bringitback twitter.com/EddieWineland/…
— Eddie Wineland(@EddieWineland) March 8, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Thursday, March 8, 2012):
N/A
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day goes to BE's Dangalvan: 10 Flyweights That the UFC Should Sign
Mamoru Yamaguchi (26-6-3)
Yamaguchi doesn't just make this list based on his awesome Afro, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't help. He is dripping with charisma that could garner him a cult-like audience. Coming off a loss to Jussier da Silva in August, Yamaguchi should be hungry for a win as he has never lost back-to-back fights in his career. Yamaguchi is a dangerous flyweight that prefers to strike where he is able to showcase his powerful looping hooks.
Dustin Ortiz (8-1)
Continuing the trend of fighters with fantastic hair, Dustin Ortiz has potential to really be a top fighter in the flyweight division. Still in the early part of his career, Ortiz has been impressive recently with a win over Josh Rave (18-9). Ortiz is one of the most fun fighters to watch as he is hyper-aggressive and is relentless with the pressure he forces on his opponents.
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit us on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in Monday's post.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fighter, march, yamaguchi
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBreaking It Down: Bellator 60
I had strongly considered renaming this column Break It Down after the DX jokes in the comments of my last piece, and I am stoked that we have some attitude era wrestling fan readers, but my editor has let me know our insurance will not cover giving birth to any hands, plus for legal reasons you can’t mention Katie Vick. Now on to the important stuff…are you ready? Then I’ve got two words for ya…
SEASON SIX!
Zuffa is taking a short break from live shows, so to speak. With the focus shifting to the new season of TUF and no other big cards on the horizon, Bellator plans to make the most of this lull in the action and returns tonight with Bellator 60. Featuring a featherweight title-fight between Joe Warren and Pat Curran, as well as the quarterfinals of their Season 6 featherweight tournament, the popular performance-based MMA promotion promises to make their premiere one to remember.
It should be noted that after the weigh-ins, which featured four fighters missing weight, there were some shake ups made on the card. Tournament competitor Genair da Silva missed the featherweight limit by four pounds and was given two hours to lose more weight but unable to do so. Replacing him in the tournament is fellow 145er Kenny Foster. Foster’s original opponent, Bobby Reardanz, also missed weight, and at this time it is unknown if he will remain on the card and face Da Silva as has been rumored. The originally scheduled preliminary bout between Eric Oria and Lance Surma was also cancelled after it was revealed that Oria had a warrant out for his arrest. Oops!
Despite the shake-ups tonight’s fights look to be exciting, and a great way to spend a Friday night outside of TUF or Tachi Palace Fights, of course. Without further adieu here is my breakdown of the card. Break it down! Da-na-na-na, bow ba bow bow.
Bobby Reardanz (8-10) vs. Genair da Silva (11-4)
Since I’m a optimist I’ll pick this fight even if it’s not official just in case. In the event that this bout takes place it is a major mismatch. Bobby “The Believer” has submission skills but is largely untested as a fighter, and an opponent such as da Silva would be a huge step up. Look for “Junior PQD” to work his exceptional striking to make quick work of Reardanz.
Winner – Genair da Silva defeats Bobby Reardanz via TKO Round 1
Shamar Bailey (13-5) vs. Josh Shockley (8-1)
Recent UFC castoff Shamar Bailey returns to the cage for the second time in 2012. Coming off of a win over Darrell Smith in January, Bailey looks to build some momentum towards a Bellator tournament slot or perhaps even a return to the UFC. Shockley, a fellow Indiana native, looks for his second Bellator win. The well-rounded fighter has only suffered one loss in his career. While Bailey has good wrestling, I think there is a pretty good chance that Shockley shocks him with his striking and ground game.
Winner – Josh Shockley defeats Shamar Bailey via TKO Round 2
Sean McCorkle (15-2) vs. Richard White (15-12)
“Big Sexy” wants back in the UFC, and will fight anyone and everyone to get there. Undefeated since his UFC release, Sean McCorkle has already won twice this year and looks to make it six in a row. White is 2-10 since 2010 but he basically needs a miracle in this 280 pound catchweight fight. This just really seems like a mismatch to me, sorry “Big Man”.
Winner – Sean McCorkle defeats Richard White via Submission Round 1
Anthony Gomez (5-1) vs. Travis Wiuff (65-14 1 NC)
Anthony Gomez returns to MMA for the first time in nearly two years. Riding a five fight win streak he faces the biggest test of his career in Travis Wiuff. Wiuff, who feels he’s the uncrowned Bellator light heavyweight champ after his victory over current title-holder Christian M’Pumbu, looks to win this fight and earn his way into the next 205 pound tournament. While Gomez is a promising prospect, I feel ring rust, as well as his lack of experience, will be his downfall against the veteran Wiuff.
Winner – Travis Wiuff defeats Anthony Gomez via Unanimous Decision
Cory Galloway (0-0) vs. Jake Nauracy (0-0)
A fight between two guys I know almost nothing about! Great! I’ll go with stats here. Galloway is 4-0 as an amateur with two submissions and two decisions, though based on video footage he is relatively underwhelming at this point. Nauracy is 8-0 as an amateur, with seven submissions and one TKO which he scored in eleven seconds. All of his finishes have come within the first three minutes, so I’ll say he wins here in his professional debut, in under three.
Winner – Jake Nauracy defeats Cory Galloway via Submission Round 1
Jeremy Spoon (12-0) vs. Daniel Straus (17-4)
With eight submissions to his credit, the undefeated “Spooner” fights for the third time in Bellator. Relatively unknown amongst MMA fans, Jeremy Spoon looks to continue his undefeated streak and make a big statement in this tournament.
Daniel Straus is the darkhorse in this tournament. 13-1 in his last 14, the strong, grinding fighter looks for redemption after coming up short in the featherweight tournament finals in Season 4. In general, Straus is a terrific wrestler who has really been working on his overall game.
I expect this fight to spend more time on the feet than most would expect, but ultimately the bigger fighter, Straus, will take Spoon down again and again and grind him out for the full fifteen.
Winner – Daniel Straus defeats Jeremy Spoon via Unanimous Decision
Alexandre “PoPo” Bezerra (12-1) vs. Kenny Foster (9-5)
“PoPo” is a bad ass Brazilian dude. The always dangerous prospect has great striking and strong submissions, and, with seven straight victories since his lone career loss, “PoPo” is looking to continue his streak of violence in Bellator.
The lucky man (or unlucky man, if you will) of the night is Kenny Foster. Stepping in for Da Silva, “The Tooth Fairy” is seeking his first win in a year. With three straight losses, two in Bellator, the well-rounded fighter will attempt to prove his worth against a favored opponent.
Unfortunately for him, I feel he falls short to Bezerra. “PoPo” is just too dangerous and too powerful in the striking and submission games. Foster is going to get hurt early and tap to whatever he gets caught in afterwards.
Winner – Alexandre Bezerra defeats Kenny Foster via Submission Round 1
Mike Corey (11-2-1) vs. Ronnie Mann (21-4-1)
Relatively unknown lightweight Mike Corey makes the drop to 145 for his big shot in the Bellator tournament. Originally an alternate, he steps in for injured Wagnney Fabiano and looks to make the best he can of this opportunity. Corey most recently went to a draw with Chris Horodecki in November and is need of scoring a big win tonight to establish himself as a threat.
Former Summer Series tournament fighter Ronnie Mann returns to the cage for the first time since an October victory over Foster. The strong striker, who also possesses great BJJ, faces a stiff challenge in the bigger, stronger wrestler, Corey, but has no worries going into this fight and may very well add to the Bellator highlight reel while advancing in the tournament.
Corey could very well win this fight. He’s big, powerful, and a very solid grappler. However, the weight cut could be an issue, as could be his conditioning. I expect Mann to use solid footwork and jabs to keep his distance. If Corey can continuously get a hold of Mann, he may find a way to win a decision, but in the end I think Mann finishes the fight within the distance.
Winner – Ronnie Mann defeats Mike Corey via Submission Round 1
Marlon Sandro (20-3) vs. Roberto Vargas (12-1)
Barely having blown out the 35 candles on his birthday cake, world-renowned fighter Marlon Sandro finally returns to the Bellator cage. Widely regarded as the favorite in this tournament, the violently powerful striker is one of the best featherweights on the planet. The Sengoku veteran, and former Bellator tournament finalist, is seeking redemption, planning to make his way through everyone who stands before him.
Across the cage from Sandro, Roberto “Beto” Vargas is no slouch. With six straight wins behind him, the Millennia MMA fighter has all the momentum he needs going into this quarterfinal bout. A balanced fighter, with the ability to finish a fight wherever it may go, Vargas faces a tough test, and is aiming at staking his claim for the Bellator featherweight title with an upset victory over his Brazilian adversary.
Vargas hasn’t looked spectacular in his last couple of fights, but I do imagine he fairs well against Sandro. That said, I believe Sandro is a few levels about Vargas and should be able to light him up on the feet likely en route to a knockout or TKO. However, just to be safe I’ll go with a decision here.
Winner – Marlon Sandro defeats Roberto Vargas via Unanimous Decision
Joe Warren (7-2) vs. Pat Curran (16-4)
“The Baddest Man on the Planet” hasn’t necessarily lived up to his nickname as of late. Warren, as he is better known, is the Bellator featherweight champ and tried to win the bantamweight belt as well but fell short to the fists of eventual tournament finalist Alexis Vila. Warren is a powerful Greco-Roman wrestler and has great clinch work, but he is notorious for being a slow starter and his chin is questionable.
Largely coming into his own during his Bellator stint, two-time Bellator tournament champion Curran is rabid for a belt and plans to take Warren’s by any means necessary. After knocking Sandro’s head off last year Curran will attempt to do the same to Warren and has made no secret about his intentions. Well-rounded with knockout power, passable wrestling, and excellent submission skills to his credit, the 24-year old has the tools to make a lasting impression in the MMA world.
Warren has a lot to prove in this fight. Many have questioned his MMA potential following some less than stellar performances, as well as his knockout loss at Bellator 51. The keys to victory for him will be to utilize is Olympic level wrestling abilities while working some dirty boxing and clinch-technique. Still, Curran has youth, striking, and submission advantages on his side. To win, Curran needs to stay away from Warren’s clinch and just rip him apart on the feet. Originally I believed Curran would have to win early or else face a long, grinding decision, but after more thought I think his youth and technical prowess will guide him to victory. He has the tools to finish it early, and if he doesn’t, he has the tools to go the distance with Warren. I think we’re looking at a brand new Bellator champion tonight.
Winner – Pat Curran defeats Joe Warren via Submission Round 2
Despite a shaky build to the fight night, Bellator is back and promises an action packed 2012, starting with tonight. The preliminary card goes down live at 6pm EST on Spike.com, and the main card actions starts at 8pm EST on MTV2 in the U.S. and on TheScore.ca in Canada. The card also replays on The Score in Canada on Saturday night. Don’t overlook this card, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
Enjoy the fights!
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: fight, bellator, submission, tournament, defeat
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator March fight card line-ups
How the fight cards for Bellator this month are shaping up.
Posted in: fight, bellator, card, lineup, fight cards
Read the full article at Fight OpinionSpike And 345 Games to launch Bellator: MMA Onslaught video game this Summer
345 Games in association with Spike TV announced today the launch of its newest video game title based on Bellator Fighting Championships, “Bellator: MMA Onslaught” for Summer 2012. The arcade style, mixed martial arts fighting game, developed by Kung Fu Factory and published by 345 Games, will be available for download on both the Microsoft Xbox Live Arcade and Sony PlayStation Network.
Posted in: bellator, spike tv, game, microsoft xbox, arcade style
Read the full article at Low KickBellator 60 Live Results & Play-by-Play (7 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com will report from The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond, Ind., at approximately 7 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 60, which is headlined by Joe Warren's Bellator featherweight title defense against Pat Curran, and features the quarterfinals of Bellator's Season 6 145-pound tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, pm, hammond ind, horseshoe hammond
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 60 Weigh-in Results: Warren (145), Curran (145) Set for Featherweight Title Fight
With the sixth season of Bellator set to start tonight from the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, the final preparations took place yesterday with the pre-fight weigh-ins. The event did not occur without its struggles, with multiple fighters missing weight on their first attempt, including one that was pulled from his fight due to being overweight. Amidst all the controversy, headliners Joe Warren and Pat Curran both stepped on the scale on weight to make their featherweight championship fight official.
Aside from the main event, the entire main card will feature featherweight tournament bouts, with the eventual winner facing off against the winner of the night’s main event between Warren and Curran. Marlon Sandro makes his return to the featherweight tournament, after losing in the finals of last year’s tournament to Curran. Previous tournament contestant Ronnie Mann is also making his return.
Former UFC fighters Sean McCorkle and Shamar Bailey will make their Bellator debuts on the night’s preliminary card in catchweight bouts. Another UFC veteran, Travis Wiuff, will be returning to the Bellator cage for the first time since defeating Bellator light heavyweight champion Christian M’Pumbu in a non-title bout last October.
The weigh-in results are as follows:
MAIN CARD (MTV2):
Joe Warren (145) vs. Pat Curran (144.8)
Bellator Featherweight Championship Fight
Bellator Featherweight Tournament Bouts:
Marlon Sandro (145.6) vs. Roberto Vargas (145.4)
Mike Corey (145.4) vs. Ronnie Mann (145.6)
Alexandre “PoPo” Bezerra (145.4) vs. Kenny Foster (145.6)*
Jeremy Spoon (145.6) vs. Daniel Straus (144.8)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike.com):
Cory Galloway (136) vs. Jake Nauracy (135.2)
Anthony Gomez (213.8) vs. Travis Wiuff (214.8)
Catchweight Fight
Sean McCorkle (281)# vs. Richard White (277.6)
Super-Heavyweight Catchweight Fight
Shamar Bailey (164.6) vs. Josh Shockley (165.8)
Catchweight Fight
*-Because Genair Da Silva weighed in at 149 pounds, he was pulled from the tournament. Kenny Foster, who was scheduled to fight on the preliminary card, replaces Da Silva in the tournament.
Bellator 60 airs LIVE on at 8 PM EST/5 PM PST on MTV2, with the preliminary card starting at around 7 PM EST on spike.com
Posted in: fight, bellator, vs, tournament, card
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator videogame! Whoa!
Cool, another MMA videogame. Yep, the digital Joe Warren you see above is real. Bellator has officially joined the ranks of the UFC, Pride, Strikeforce and all of the imaginary or real leagues you created in Fire Pro Wrestling in being digitally recreated in our living room for our enjoyment. The debut trailer for the Bellator game being published by Spike Games (we don't know who's developing it) was released tonight, and we have to admit: we'd be down for some tournament action in the MiddleEasy offices. Let it be known, however: we will absolutely freak out if Joe Warren's character doesn't have a sloppy flying knee that has a power rating of 99/100. Make it happen Spike Games. View the trailer below for some hard hitting tournament action.
[Source]
Posted in: bellator, game, middleeasy offices, spike games, tournament action
Read the full article at Middle EasyBellator 60 Weigh-In Results
The Bellator 60 weigh ins are official with both Joe Warren and Pat Curran making weight, while a late change has been made to the featherweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, joe warren, weight, curran
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyPat Curran open workout quotes, pictures and highlights for Bellator 60
Bellator Fighting Championship held an open media workout yesterday in advance of tomorrow night's (March 9, 2012) Bellator 60 event, which will feature both the season six featherweight quarterfinals and a featherweight title fight.
Yours truly was on location to report on the action.
Pat Curran, who won the Summer Series featherweight tournament, will be challenging champion Joe Warren for the title in the main event on Friday night. "Paddy Mike" was the final fighter to come out and display his skills for all media in attendance.
Working with his cousin, Jeff Curran, Pat showcased his movement, counter-punching ability and some of his defensive wrestling during his time on the practice mat. He was also available for comment and interviews once he was done showcasing his skills.
We've got a brief video and some snippets of Curran's talk with the media after the jump so check it out:
Highlights from the media scrum:
- Curran is a 3-1 favorite. He believes he's finally starting to get some respect after his last few fights.
- Curran learned not to hold back so much from the loss to Eddie Alvarez and mix up his whole game.
- He would prefer to keep this fight standing and pick Warren apart, but he definitely feels he could submit Warren if the fight were to go to the ground.
- He expects to be up to 20 pounds heavier than Warren on fight night.
- He would put his money on Marlon Sandro to win the tournament and he wouldn't mind granting him a rematch because Sandro called him out after his last Bellator win.
- Curran spent a lot of time getting into "wrestling shape" in case Warren only wants to wrestle in this fight.
You can follow Pat on twitter @PatCurranMMA.
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Has Curran earned the right to be an overwhelming favorite despite not currently holding the title? Does he have what it takes to be the new Bellator featherweight champion?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, media, warren, curran
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator Season Six Overview and Featherweight Tournament Preview.
Bellator 60 goes down this Friday. The event will kick off the organization's sixth season. Bellator has been on hiatus for a little over three months, having completed the fifth season on November 26th of last year.
Head Kick Legend will be providing you with complete coverage as the season progresses and what better way to start than with a preview of the upcoming season? Many of you are probably already familiar with how Bellator runs things but for those who aren't here is a quick primer:
BELLATOR FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS: Where Title Shots Are Earned, Not Given.
The basic difference between Bellator and its Zuffa counterparts is tournaments. Each season of Bellator is built around one or more 8 man tournaments, with the winner of each tournament earning $100,000. The winner also becomes the number one contender in that division. The current champions are:
Heavyweight: Cole KonradLight Heavyweight: Christian M'PumbuMiddleweight: Hector LombardWelterweight: Ben AskrenLightweight: Michael ChandlerFeatherweight: Joe WarrenBantamweight: Zach MakovskyWomen's Flyweight: Zoila Gurgel
Tournament bouts are contested under the unified rules but for one minor difference: Elbows are not permitted during the first and second rounds of the tournament, in order to decrease the chances that a cut will render a bout a no-contest.
For the upcoming season Bellator is going to run five tournaments, the most they have ever held in one season: Middleweight, Welterweight, Lightweight, Featherweight and Bantamweight. There will also be three title fights during the season: Joe Warren vs Pat Curran at Bellator 60, Ben Askren vs Douglas Lima at Bellator 64 and Zach Makovsky vs Eduardo Dantas at Bellator 65. So there is lots to be excited about as we head into the first event.
Tournament brackets and featherweight preview after the jump.
THE TOURNAMENT BRACKETS:
Here are the brackets as they are currently set, organized by date: BELLATOR 60 (March 9th)Featherweight Quarterfinals:Marlon Sandro vs Roberto VargasRonnie Mann vs Mike CoreyAlexandre Bezerra vs Genair da SilvaDaniel Straus vs Jeremy SpoonBELLATOR 61 (March 16th)Middleweight Quarterfinals:Maiquel Falcao vs Norman Paraisy Vitor Vianna vs Brian RogersVyacheslav Vasilevsky vs Victor O'DonnellGiva Santana vs Bruno SantosBELLATOR 62 (March 23rd)Lightweight Quarterfinals:Patricky Freire vs Lloyd WoodardJean Mulford vs Ricardo TirloniJ.J. Ambrose vs Brent WeedmanThiago Michel vs Rene Nazare
BELLATOR 63 (March 30th)Welterweight Quarterfinals: Karl Amoussou vs Chris LozanoRaul Amaya vs Ben SaundersBrian Foster vs David RickelsBryan Baker vs Carlos Alexandre Pereira
The opening round match-ups for the bantamweight tournament have not been announced yet, but these are the eight men that will compete in the tournament:Marcos GalvaoRodrigo LimaTravis MarxHiroshi NakamuraLuis NogueiraMasakatsu UedaAlexis VilaEd West
ONES TO WATCH TOMORROW NIGHT: One favorite and one dark horse in the FW tournament.On paper, Marlon Sandro is the overwhelming favorite here. He's a veteran of Shooto and Sengoku who is currently ranked 6th in the world. He trains out of one of the hottest gyms in the world right now in terms of fighter performance, Nova Uniao, with Jose Aldo and company. He is 20-3, with his only losses coming to Hatsu Hioki, Michihiro Omigawa and Pat Curran. This will be his second tournament in Bellator, having reached the finals of the last featherweight tournament, where he lost to Curran. That being said, Sandro is 35 years old and he was brutally knocked out by a Curran head kick, so there is definitely reason to think he might not have the juice left to win three fights in a short time period. He starts the tournament against a well rounded Roberto Vargas, (12-1, 1-1 in Bellator) a tough veteran who holds a victory over current UFC up and comer Daniel Pineda.As for the rest of the field, I like Ronnie Mann, who has already racked up 26 fights (21-4-1, 3-1 in Bellator) at the young age of 25. Mann is going up against Mike Corey, (11-2-1, 0-0-1 in Bellator) a late entrant to the tournament after Wagnney Fabiano dropped out, so he is set-up nicely to advance to the second round of the tournament. The other two quarterfinals look like dynamite matchups, with undefeated Jeremy Spoon (12-0, 2-0) going up against Daniel Straus (17-4, 3-1 in Bellator) and a pair of Brazilians, Genair Da Silva (11-4, 1-1 in Bellator) vs Alexander Bezerra (12-1, 4-0 in Bellator).
THE REST OF THE CARD: Curran vs Warren for Featherweight championship and UFC cast offs.
Not only do we get the start of the featherweight tournament, we also get to see a fight for the Bellator featherweight championship, between champion Joe Warren and tournament winner Pat Curran. On the strength of his knockout of Sandro, Curran is currently the fourth ranked featherweight in the world, making this fight a must-watch for fans of the lighter weight divisions. Is Curran a better fighter than Erik Koch, Dustin Poirier, Diego Nunes or Chan Sung Jung, all guys who fight in the UFC who are ranked below him? We will get a bit of an answer to that question as he faces off against Joe Warren, who won the featherweight title back in September of 2010 but has not fought at the weight since then. Warren is coming off a knockout loss to Alexis Vila in the first round of the last bantamweight tournament back in September, so he is ripe for the picking. For Curran to prove he deserves his ranking he'll have to demolish Warren and I can't wait to see what happens in this fight.There are three match-ups that include former UFC fighters on the card:
Heavyweight Sean McCorkle looks to continue his impressive run since his 1-2 stint in the UFC as he faces journeyman Richard White. McCorkle is 5-0 since he left Zuffa, with five first round submission victories. White is 15-12, so you can expect "Big Sexy" to get another early stoppage. (The fight will actually be fought at a catch weight of 280 pounds.)
Shamar Bailey (13-5, 0-0 in Bellator) looks to win his second straight since getting his walking papers from Zuffa when he takes on youngster Josh Shockley (8-1, 1-1 in Bellator), also at a catch weight (165).
Travis Wiuff will have his 80th MMA fight (69-14, 1-0 in Bellator), yet another catch weight affair (215 pounds) against a very green Anthony Gomez (5-1, 0-0 Bellator)
Finally there will be three local feature bouts between:
Bantamweight bout: Cory Galloway vs Jake Nauracy
Featherweight bout: Lance Surma vs Eric Oria
Featherweight bout: Kenny Foster vs Bobby Reardanz
You can discuss all the action as it happens here at Head Kick, as I'll be hosting a live thread during the proceedings. The card kicks off at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, 8:00 PM Pacific Time and 7:00 PM Central.
Click here for more SBNation coverage of Bellator 60.
Posted in: bellator, season, vs, tournament, featherweight
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendBellator 60 Weigh-in Results: Joe Warren-Pat Curran Set, Genair da Silva Misses Weight
Bellator Fighting Championships gets its sixth-season underway with Bellator 60, as featherweight champion Joe Warren defends his title against challenger Pat Curran.
Posted in: bellator, joe, weight, curran, weight bellator
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 60 weigh-in results: Champ Warren (145), Curran (144.8) on weight
The Bellator 60 weigh-ins are in the books, and the organization's first season-six event got off to a fairly rocky start.
Although Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren (145 pounds) and fellow headliner Pat Curran (144.8) made weight, not everyone else did.
Today's festivities took place at at Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond, Ind. The resort also plays host to Friday's event.
Posted in: bellator, hammond ind, todays festivities, seasonsix event, fellow headliner
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWatch today's Bellator 60 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 6 p.m. ET
Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond, Ind., plays host
to today's official Bellator 60 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a live video stream of the
proceedings at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT local time).
The resort also plays host to Friday's event, which airs on MTV2 and
features the opening round of Bellator's season-six featherweight tournament.
In addition to the live weigh-ins and pre-fight press conference, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, pm, video stream, opening round, weighin
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBrian Foster: ‘I Have Something to Prove’ in Bellator Debut
Former UFC fighter Brian Foster has a spot in Bellator's Season 6 welterweight tournament and says that he plans on letting people know he isn't going anwywhere.
Posted in: bellator, bellator debut, people, brian, ‘ i
Read the full article at Heavy MMABellator Season Six Kicks Off This Weekend; Bjorn Rebney Talks Eddie Alvarez & Hector Lombard
Bellator’s sixth season kicks off this weekend with Bellator 60. The good news is for Bellator is they won’t have a single UFC or Strikeforce event to run against for six weeks. The bad news is they will have to compete against The Ultimate Fighter Live on FX each Friday night which will also include live fights.
I’m going to include a list of events and the current cards below, but before I get to that there’s a few news items I’d like to note.
— Eddie Alvarez’s long-awaited rematch with Shinya Aoki is finally official. The fight is scheduled to go down on April 20 in Cleveland at Bellator 66. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney recently described how difficult it was to book that fight in an interview with MMA Mania.
Yeah, it only took me three and a half years. (laughs) I felt pretty good about that. If you put in the time, I think if we billed that one out on an hourly basis, i was making like 5-6 dollars an hour for that one. I tried to live up to what I promised and Ed Alvarez asked me literally three and a half years ago, he said, “Can you give me a rematch?” and Ed’s been so important to the growth of this company and he’s been with us and a fantastic face of the organization along with the likes of other fighters that we’ve got under contract but man, Ed was the first big contract ever made and I promised I would get him the fight and based on Strikeforce coming out of the dynamic they were in and substantially changing their direction and no longer being engaged in Japan and no longer where they once were, Dream became more available to work with and that alliance didn’t exist anymore.
I was able to talk to the people at Dream and put things together. Moreso than anything, I was happy to be able to honor the commitment to a guy who’s as good of a guy as Ed Alvarez and get that fight done for him. I’ve got an amazing amount of respect for his courage and his confidence. He lost his title in dramatic fashion and boy, instead of looking for an easy fight back or a soft road to get back in the mix, Ed said, “I want to get the best you can get me,” and I said, “Do you still want the Aoki fight? It’s close,” and he said, “Absolutely.” There was never a moment’s hesitation in that guy’s voice so he’s just a class act and a great fighter and a great dude. It should be an epic fight.
Rebney is still very interested in re-signing Alvarez. He understand though that if Alvarez beats Aoki, his value in the marketplace will increase and make him that much more difficult to re-sign. It’s pretty clear that Rebney understands Alvarez could end up leaving for another promotion.
— Eddie Alvarez isn’t the only key Bellator fighter Rebney has to worry about re-signing. Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard is also nearing the end of his contract. Rebney confirmed with MMA Mania that they are currently in the middle of a negotiation period with Lombard, but it is possible he could hit the open market if they can’t come to terms before the period runs out.
Well, Hector remains our champion right now. We are in the midst of a pretty substantial negotiation relative to his future with the organization. I’ve said many times I think he’s the best middleweight in mixed martial arts so it’s not an easy negotiation by any stretch of the imagination. Alexander Shlemenko, who has earned the right to face our champion, has been prepping for that fight for over a year, has been to a certain extent caught in the crossfire and he’s not the beneficiary of these negotiations.
We’re in a state now where we’ve got to negotiate with Hector and potentially resign him. People forget, Hector Lombard and Ed Alvarez have been with this organization now for four years so you lose track of it because our initial distribution platform was ESPN Deportes and Fox Sports Net and it’s been a long build up but Ed and Hector have been with us from the very start. You know, all good things come to an end at some point and four years is a very long time on any kind of agreement.
We’ve got the right to match on any deal. We’re either gonna sign him before he goes out the to marketplace or he’s going to go out to the marketplace and we’re gonna have a determination as to whether we’re gonna match or not match and we’re gonna see where it ends up. I love the guy and he’s an awesome talent. He’s been nothing but a pure pleasure for me to work with. He’s been a great guy for me to work with and he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do and every time I’ve put him in a cage, he’s knocked people silly. You can’t really ask for more than that from a guy.
If Bellator isn’t able to re-sign him, it definitely looks like they’ll have competition if/when he becomes a free agent. UFC president Dana White recently expressed interest in signing Lombard should he become available.
“I guess he’s pretty popular down here. I’ve been hearing all about him since I’ve been (in Australia). But, he’s under contract with somebody else – so we’ll see. I’ll probably end up with him. If he wants to fight in the UFC, then we’ll probably end up with him.”
— Recently crowned lightweight champion Michael Chandler has been booked in a non-title fight against Japanese MMA veteran Akihiro Gono at Bellator 67 on May 4.
— Bjorn Rebney says Viacom is already gearing up for Bellator’s big move to Spike TV next year. They’re already investing time and money into the production and fighter promotion and expects they’ll hit the ground running at the start of 2013.
Current Bellator Season Six Schedule
All cards will air on MTV2, prelims on Spike.com. Current cards via MMA Junkie.
Bellator 60
March 9th, 2012
Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, Indiana
Champ Joe Warren vs. Pat Curran (featherweight title)
Marlon Sandro vs. Roberto Vargas (featherweight-tourney opening round)
Mike Corey vs. Ronnie Mann (featherweight-tourney opening round)
Alexandre “PoPo” Bezerra vs. Genair da Silva (featherweight-tourney opening round)
Jeremy Spoon vs. Daniel Straus (featherweight-tourney opening round)
Cory Galloway vs. Jake Nauracy
Anthony Gomez vs. Travis Wiuff
Lance Surma vs. Eric Oria
Sean McCorkle vs. Richard White
Shamar Bailey vs. Josh Shockley
Bobby Reardanz vs. Kenny Foster
Bellator 61
March 16th
Horseshoe, Bossier City, Louisiana
Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos (season-five heavyweight-tourney final rematch)
Maiquel Falcao vs. Norman Paraisy (middleweight-tourney opening round)
Brian Rogers vs. Vitor Vianna (middleweight-tourney opening round)
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Victor O’Donnell (middleweight-tourney opening round)
Giva Santana vs. Bruno Santos (middleweight-tourney opening round)
Bellator 62
March 23rd, 2012
Laredo Energy Arena, Laredo, Texas
Patricky “Pitbull” Freire vs. Lloyd Woodard (lightweight-tourney opening round)
Rick Hawn vs. Ricardo Tirloni (lightweight-tourney opening round)
J.J. Ambrose vs. Brent Weedman (lightweight-tourney opening round)
Thiago Michel vs. Rene Nazare (lightweight-tourney opening round)
Bellator 63
March 30th, 2012
Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Connecticut
Karl Amoussou vs. Chris Lozano (welterweight-tourney opening round)
Raul Amaya vs. Ben Saunders (welterweight-tourney opening round)
Brian Foster vs. David Rickels (welterweight-tourney opening round)
Bryan Baker vs. Carlos Pereira (welterweight-tourney opening round)
Bellator 64
April 6th, 2012
Caesars Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Ben Askren vs. Douglas Lima (welterweight title)
Featherweight tournament semifinal bout No. 1
Featherweight tournament semifinal bout No. 1
Chris Horodecki vs. TBA
Bellator 65
April 13th, 2012
Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Zach Makovsky vs. Eduardo Dantas (welterweight title)
Middleweight tournament semifinal bout No. 1
Middleweight tournament semifinal bout No. 1
Duane Bastress vs. Pino Cruz
Tim Carpenter vs. Ricardo Romero
Bellator 66
April 20, 2012
I-X Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki
Bellator 67
May 4, 2012
Casino Rama, Rama, Ontario, Canada
Michael Chandler vs. Akihiro Gono (non-title fight)
Ryan Ford vs. Luis “Sapo” Santos
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, vs, opening
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 60: Warren vs. Curran Preview
Bellator kicks off it sixth season this Friday with Bellator 60 live at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN. This season is a very important one for the Bellator brand as the company looks to gain momentum before it begins airing on Spike TV next year.
Bellator looks to jump into that season quickly by showcasing one of its better divisions, the featherweights. MMAFrenzy takes a look at some things to watch for and look forward to on a stacked card.
Bellator Featherweight Championship fight – Joe Warren (c) vs. Jeff Curran
If there is one thing these two fighters share it’s their ability remain dangerous when you least expect it. Curran is coming off a stunning knockout of Marlon Sandro. A fight in which Curran struggled mightily but continued to time Sandro before landing a devastating headkick KO.
Meanwhile, Joe Warren is looking to bounce back after a brutal KO loss to Alexis Vila during his run at adding the bantamweight title to his existing featherweight title. Warren has also been trying to make the 2012 Olympic wrestling team, which is a time consuming goal, so he may not be as focused here as he normally would.
Both fighters start slow and Warren holds a clear edge in the wrestling department. While that is normally enough to grind out a win, Curran is dangerous on the ground thanks to his cousin, UFC fighter and BJJ Guru Jeff Curran, and he can at least wrestle defensively enough to win. Another advantage for Curran is that his striking has improved by leaps and bounds with each fight. Warren has a tendency to get rocked a few times a fight, and against a guy like Curran, that could prove fatal.
Other things to watch:
Former Sengoku featherweight champion Marlon Sandro is the clear favorite in this tournament and will be gunning for a shot at the title after falling short in unexpected fashion. Sandro was devastated after the loss last year and it will likely drive him to bury that disappointment with some vicious striking and submission skills.
Expect the non-title “fight of the night” to be Alexandre Bezerra and Genair da Silva. Da Silva held his own in a tough fight with Sandro in last year’s tournament and Bezerra has some serious skills on the ground. Expect this one to be a fun match-up.
Daniel Straus is a favorite this Friday, and for good reason. Straus possesses dominant wrestling with evolving skills in both the striking and submission game. This make him a formidable opponent for anyone. I would not be surprised at all if he and Sandro are the finalists in this year’s tournament.
Ronnie Mann is very tough featherweight with some excellent muay thai skills and a strong skillset in all areas. Last year he was smothered by Curran due to his inability to avoid the takedown and mount enough offense of his back. At only 25, Mann has plenty of time to get better and it will be interesting to see how his game has evolved in the time between seasons.
Be sure to check out Spike.com as they will likely be airing the night’s undercard, which will involve former UFC fighters Sean McCorkle and Shamar Bailey. As well as the first man to give a Bellator champion a loss in a “Super Fight,” longtime veteran Travis Wiuff.
Posted in: fight, bellator, warren, curran, sandro
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator Caught In Friday Night Wars With UFC And WWE, Looking Ahead To Spike TV
It ain't easy being number two. Just ask Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney who's launching the latest season of his fight promotion right into the jaws of a packed Friday night schedule. Bellator will be airing on MTV2 directly up against the UFC's The Ultimate Fighter Live reality show on FX and WWE's Smackdown on Syfy.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer (subscription required) thinks that will be a painful experience for the promotion and the network:
The Friday night wars that officially kick off on 3/9 already give the indication of a few things. The first is that WWE Smackdown has little to worry about. The other is that MTV 2 and Viacom may have made a big mistake with Bellator....Bellator will be going head-to-head with Smackdown every week for the next few months, airing 8-10 p.m. on MTV 2. Ultimate Fighter will start at 9 p.m. on 3/9, but 10 p.m. every other week, meaning there is only a UFC vs. WWE head-to-head next week, and not again until the TUF finals on 6/1. In theory this also means Bellator won't be airing against Ultimate Fighter. However, due to being live, Bellator frequently goes well over its two hour allotment, meaning its biggest fights, the main events many weeks, will go against the start of TUF....An Observer poll for week one, where from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., all four shows will be going head-to-head, when asking which show you are watching live, had 45% saying Smackdown, 27% saying Ultimate Fighter, while 4% said they would be watching Spike's Best of Ultimate Fighter and only 3% said they would watch Bellator live.
The long odds facing Rebney on MTV2 on Fridays are a good reason he's looking ahead to next year when the promotion will finally debut on Spike TV. Rebney talked to Mike Chiappetta at MMA Fighting:
"The announcement of the transition to Spike, it felt a long time away, but now you look around the corner and it's like nine months until the premiere," he said during an interview with MMA Fighting. "It's an exciting time. There's a lot going on, but it's exciting."
Rebney has Spike's full support behind him because of the recent deal with the cable channel's parent company, Viacom, which bought a majority stake in the promotion last October. While he remains in charge of the company's day-to-day business, the new ownership group provided him with a deep and experienced support system that's fully invested in Bellator's success.
As a result, there are plans to launch Bellator into its new home right at the start of 2013 in a kind of grand re-opening that will trumpet its move. But it's not simply about the live fights. According to Rebney, in the works are a potential reality series, a "best of" show and other ancillary programming that will make Bellator a major presence on Spike. When that channel first launched UFC programming back in 2005, it was something of a happy accident that had to be built upon. This time around, the foundation has already been poured and the house will be ready when the new tenant moves in.
"It will probably premiere and kickoff on January 1," he said. "The specificity of when things hit hasn't been set up, but I know we'll get a great push from our partners at Spike coming out of the box. My assumption is that it will start super-quickly, and all the talk is about starting it super-quickly as well."
Posted in: bellator, week, pm, rebney, spike
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowFor Bellator's Bjorn Rebney, Eventual Spike Move Vindicates Long-Term Vision
There was a time when everyone just assumed Bjorn Rebney was crazy. This was back during the days when mixed martial arts leagues were popping up throughout the country, hoping to become the No. 2 promotion behind the UFC. At the time, there was stiff competition for the spot. Strikeforce had just started to break out following a deal with NBC. The IFL had just become the first fight league to gain network exposure, though it was on little-seen MyNetwork TV, while other organizations like Affliction and EliteXC were making big splashes by signing fighters to lucrative deals.In Chicago, Rebney decided upon a slow build for his new promotion, Bellator. There would be no record-shattering contracts handed out, and no title shots simply given away due to name value. Everything would be earned. So it was for the fighters, so it was for the promotion, which began life on Spanish-language cable TV on ESPN Deportes, but by 2013, will move to its new major cable home, Spike, replacing UFC.That Rebney has outlasted most of his deep-pocketed competition is a testament to his own drive as well as the model he's built and the athletes he's showcased through a tournament format that's created all of the promotion's champions. It's the same formula he'll take to Spike, with a few slight alterations. Before then, he still has time to tinker with things, with season six beginning with Bellator 60 on MTV2 this Friday. But because business is about growth, it's impossible not to look ahead to a move to the cable network that is, as he puts it, "where MMA fans live."
"The announcement of the transition to Spike, it felt a long time away, but now you look around the corner and it's like nine months until the premiere," he said during an interview with MMA Fighting. "It's an exciting time. There's a lot going on, but it's exciting."Rebney has Spike's full support behind him because of the recent deal with the cable channel's parent company, Viacom, which bought a majority stake in the promotion last October. While he remains in charge of the company's day-to-day business, the new ownership group provided him with a deep and experienced support system that's fully invested in Bellator's success.As a result, there are plans to launch Bellator into its new home right at the start of 2013 in a kind of grand re-opening that will trumpet its move. But it's not simply about the live fights. According to Rebney, in the works are a potential reality series, a "best of" show and other ancillary programming that will make Bellator a major presence on Spike. When that channel first launched UFC programming back in 2005, it was something of a happy accident that had to be built upon. This time around, the foundation has already been poured and the house will be ready when the new tenant moves in. "It will probably premiere and kickoff on January 1," he said. "The specificity of when things hit hasn't been set up, but I know we'll get a great push from our partners at Spike coming out of the box. My assumption is that it will start super-quickly, and all the talk is about starting it super-quickly as well."In some ways, they've already begun. Recently, Viacom paid to fly 70 fighters to Orlando, Florida for photo and video shoots that will allow Bellator to tell their individual stories and invest viewers in their success. There have been changes made to graphics packages, new music has been licensed, and the lighting setup has been altered in a move that will help both the in-arena and television viewing experiences.Some of those changes may sound minor, but it's all part of tightening up the show. What goes unsaid but is obvious is that once Bellator moves to Spike, comparisons to the product it replaced will be inevitable. That said, Rebney doesn't view the remaining year on MTV2 as a test run, but as a transitionary time in the move. "I think we’re at a level now where would be prepared to make the move at any given moment," he said. "I think it's just continuing to evolve the level of fighters so once we get to Spike, when we make that next jump, it's as elevated as its become."Season six also marks a schedule shift, as Bellator moves to Fridays, where instead of going head-to-head with UFC pay-per-views and fight nights, it's now head-to-head with The Ultimate Fighter on FX.Rebney though, says he does not see the overlapping time slots as competition, viewing Bellator's live events and the UFC's reality show as fodder for two different audiences. "It's just a much different dynamic in terms of what they’re providing and what we're providing," he said. "It doesn't mean one's good and one's bad, one's better and one's worse. They're such different formats. One's a pre-taped reality show with a small part at the end with a live fight, and ours is live-fight entertainment. I think people have good options with the two."He does have a few outstanding issues that will need to be addressed within the next few months. He'd like to re-sign Eddie Alvarez and Hector Lombard, who are both nearing the end of their deals and could be headed to free agency. He'd like to continue the organization's commitment to women's MMA by putting together a 125-pound tournament, too.He's also hoping to rid Bellator of "superfights" which pit divisional champions against competition in non-title bouts. His hope is that he can increase the number of tournaments to the point that there's always a challenger lined up to face the champion. Beyond that, there's just excitement for what is to come, both with the move to Spike as well as what happens in the cage. Last year saw the quick rise of Michael Chandler, who went from unknown to beating Alvarez in one of the best fights of 2011. In another promotion, Chandler likely would still be working his way towards the top, building his name and his resume before getting the break he earned in Bellator within months. That's why Rebney believes in his product, and that philosophy will follow him to his new home."This is what gives fighters here an opportunity to be like Bulter in the NCAA's March Madness," he said. "This can be the most amazing catapult to establishing a career. I have no idea who the next Mike Chandler is, but the barrels are full."By the time Bellator moves to Spike, the promotion will be celebrating its fifth anniversary. Most of the other big-spending startups that began alongside him are gone. The guy who started on Spanish-speaking TV is still moving forward, expanding, improving, looking to begin a new life on the channel that gave life to MMA.
Posted in: bellator, promotion, time, spike, move
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBjorn Rebney’s top five fights for Bellator’s upcoming season (Yahoo! Sports)
Bellator's spring season starts on Friday with a featherweight championship bout between Joe Warren and Pat Curran plus four featherweight tourney bouts. Cagewriter caught up with Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney and found out which fights he's most looking forward to … Continue reading →
Posted in: bellator, joe warren, bellator ’s, bjorn, fights hes
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 145: Bellator 60, TUF: Live Preview
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop, MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger and Matthew Roth as they preview the upcoming weekend in mixed martial arts, leading with this Friday's Bellator 60, which is headlined by a Bellator featherweight championship bout between Joe Warren and Pat Curran and also features four quarterfinal bouts in the company's Season Six featherweight tournament. We'll preview those bouts and select bouts on the undercard.
We'll also get the scoop on Bellator 60 from our very own Brian Hemminger, who was there at the open workouts Wednesday. We'll find out what the fighters are saying get all the latest from "Bellator Brian."
We'll also take a look at The Ultimate Fighter: Live with a preview of the show, which kicks off Friday, including who we expect to win, potential dark horses and more.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Legacy Fight Shorts, seen on Yushin Okami, Vaughan Lee and Hatsu Hioki at UFC 144, only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Bellator 60
Posted in: bellator, bout, radio, elbow radio, boy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMichael Chandler Vs. Akihiro Gono Set For May's Bellator 67
With no immediate challenger, Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler will not sit out the entire spring as it was announced Wednesday he will face Akihiro Gono on May 4 in Rama, Ontario, at Bellator 67.
Chandler (9-0) defeated Eddie Alvarez last November via fourth round submission in one of the best fights of 2011, culminating a run through his first lightweight tournament. They had no tournament in the fall and apparently weren't interested in putting together a rematch because of their strict tournament winners/title shots policy.
Instead, Gono will make his promotional debut in this non-title bout. 12 years Chandler's senior, he is the most experienced fighter Chandler has faced with a 32-17-7 record. His past includes wins over Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard, former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Gegard Mousasi and losses to Dan Henderson, Mauricio Rua and Matt Hughes.
After a long run in PRIDE, Gono made his UFC debut in November 2007 with a submission win over Tamdan McCrory but was cut in 2009 after consecutive losses to Dan Hardy and Jon Fitch. He comes into the Chandler fight with two consecutive losses with a February defeat marking his first action in nearly 18 months.
Bellator also announced that welterweight prospect Ryan Ford (17-4) will make his promotional debut against Luis Santos (50-7-1).
The event airs live on MTV2 at 8 PM EST, part of their sixth season that kicks off this Friday. For a closer look at who Chandler's next title defense could be against, check out a great preview video after the jump.
Posted in: bellator, matt hughes, loss, chandler, gono
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 60 weigh in results LIVE for 'Warren vs Curran' from Hammond
The official weigh-in event for Bellator 60's Friday evening fight card takes place today (March 8, 2012) at the Horseshoe Casino Venue Lobby in Hammond, Indiana.
Bellator 60 features a featherweight title fight as champion Joe Warren looks to defend his championship for the first time and challenger Pat Curran hopes to win his first title on his second try. Warren is coming off a disheartening non-title loss in his pursuit to win the season five bantamweight tournament, while Curran was able to handily win the "Summer Series" Featherweight Tournament to earn his latest shot.
The remainder of the main card will also feature the featherweight division as Bellator will hold the quarterfinals of its season six 145-pound tournament.
"Summer Series" finalist Marlon Sandro will battle Roberto Vargas, season four tournament finalist Daniel Straus takes on undefeated Jeremy Spoon, top English prospect Ronnie Mann challenges alternate Mike Corey and top Brazilians Alexandre "Popo" Bezerra and Genair da Silva will square off.
Complete Bellator 60 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
145 lb. title: Joe Warren () vs. Pat Curran ()145 lbs.: Marlon Sandro () vs. Roberto Vargas ()145 lbs.: Ronnie Mann () vs. Mike Corey ()145 lbs.: Alexandre Bezerra () vs. Genair da Silva ()145 lbs.: Daniel Straus () vs. Jeremy Spoon ()
Preliminary Card
135 lbs.: Cory Galloway () vs. Jake Nauracy ()215 lbs.: Travis Wiuff () vs. Anthony Gomez ()145 lbs.: Lance Surma () vs. Eric Oria ()280 lbs.: Sean McCorkle () vs. Richard White ()165 lbs.: Shamar Bailey () vs. Josh Shockley ()145 lbs.: Kenny Foster () vs. Bobby Reardanz ()
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 60, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 8 p.m. ET tomorrow night (March 9).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: bellator, vs, lb, card, warren
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 60: Joe Warren Vs. Pat Curran Dissection
Noticeably absent from the landscape since November of 2011, the Bellator promotion unveils its first event of 2012 this Friday (March 9th).
Featherweight madness will ensue at Bellator 60 from The Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, as the event kicks off the opening quarterfinal round of this year's featherweight tournament and is captained by featherweight champion Joe Warren defending the strap against Pat Curran. Even the undercard exceeds expectations and is punctuated by former UFC talent, including love-him-or-hate-him heavyweight Sean "Big Sexy" McCorkle.
The following is the full lineup for the Bellator 60 card:
Bellator Featherweight Championship (live on MTV2 and EPIX at 8 p.m. ET)Joe Warren vs. Pat Curran
Bellator 2012 Featherweight TournamentDaniel Straus vs. Jeremy Spoon Ronnie Mann vs. Mike CoreyMarlon Sandro vs. Roberto VargasAlexandre Bezerra vs. Genair da Silva ("Junior PQD")
Preliminary Card (streaming live on Bellator.com and Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET)Shamar Bailey vs. Josh ShockleyTravis Wiuff vs. Anthony GomezSean McCorkle vs. Richard WhiteKenny Foster vs. Bobby ReardanzEric Oria vs. Lance SurmaCory Galloway vs. Jake Nauracy
Joe Warren (7-2) vs. Pat Curran (16-4)
Featherweight monarch Joe Warren is returning to 145 after an unsuccessful quest for the Bellator 135-pound title. Warren took two fights at bantamweight: the first was an unconvincing and controversial decision over Nova Uniao's Marcos Galvao (137-pound catchweight), the second a high-profile knockout loss to Alexis Vila in the quarterfinals of last year's bantamweight tournament.
Warren had one of the more memorable entries into MMA. He debuted as an unknown in Dream's 2009 Featherweight Grand Prix and launched into stardom by finishing former top-tenner Chase Beebe (first round KO) and legend Norifumi Yamamoto (split decision). He then suffered his first loss by tapping to a first round armbar from Bibiano Fernandes and has competed under the Bellator banner ever since, winning five of his six total fights and becoming featherweight champion in the process.
Gifs and analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of Bellator 60
Warren was a NCAA D1 All American at the University of Michigan and finished third in the national championship tournament. He shifted his focus from freestyle to Greco Roman after graduating from college and accrued a pile of noteworthy accomplishments, the most significant being his two gold medals at the Pan American and World Championships (2006) as well as in the 2007 World Cup.
Warren's 2008 Olympic aspirations were curtailed by a positive test for THC in 2007, and he transitioned to MMA shortly after.
Wielding the memorable offense that tends to make an impression on judges, Warren is exceedingly aggressive with his dual-pronged wrestle-boxing attack. To his credit, he is not the type to become discouraged or gunshy if he can't find the mark, but persists relentlessly and keeps the pressure on his opponent nonstop. Like many wrestling-based fighters, Warren's striking is more bark than bite for MMA's A-level and typically employed to set up his takedowns, but the first gif above against Joe Soto shows that it's not without effectiveness.
Bellator has become a reliable breeding ground for several intriguing prospects, many of whom managed to defy the odds and rise up in the UFC-heavy world rankings. There is no better example than Pat Curran, who secured the fourth-spot at 145-pounds with the crushing high kick knockout over Marlon Sandro to the right. While this outcome resonated in the sports combat community, the previous victories in Curran's tear through the promotion were received somewhat mildly. The F-word (fluke, of course) was a common assertion for his close decisions over Roger Huerta and Toby Imada.
Regardless, the back-to-back wins propelled Curran, then fighting at lightweight, to a crack at Eddie Alvarez's belt, and the hard-nosed, five-round performance validated his skill despite the loss.
Dropping to featherweight has resulted in a slick Peruvian tie submission, a calculating decision over UK vet Ronnie Mann and clenching the 2011 tournament championship by picking off Sandro.
More importantly, Curran has cemented a rep as one of the feistiest featherweights in the game.
The following is a detailed breakdown on Curran's rock-solid defense and counter striking from the Dissection leading into his Bellator 48 clash with Sandro.
The sequence to the right is a medley of Curran's flying knees versus Mann.
The first and second are sprung instantly and with absolutely no set up. Note how, in the second flying knee, Curran adds a straight right hand when Mann anticipates the advance, and he keeps his hands high to protect himself in both.
The third example is the charging double-knee, which he assailed Palomino with after stunning him with a punch. To conclude the second and third attempts, Curran drops levels for a double leg. This has been another tool to continually push his opponents backward and keep him in control of the pace.
In the past Curran was cautious and surrounded himself with a force-field of stiff counter punches, but he's upped his offense since moving to 145 and is now leading exchanges with more enthusiasm.
Being more assertive on the feet is the perfect complement to Curran's stand up game, because he has some of the most amazing defensive abilities in the sport. His ability to stave off takedowns and dodge or block strikes was subtly apparent in his upsets over Huerta and Imada, but became glaringly obvious against Eddie Alvarez's high octane attacks.
As usual, Eddie unloaded everything in the cannon but, due to Curran's freakish defensive skills, had to settle in to a strategic back-and-forth duel when he couldn't run him over with strikes or takedowns.
As shown in the animation above, with Curran, nothing is superfluous, excessive, or wasted; he's one of the most efficient and judicious strikers in the featherweight class.
He controls distance with a long, clean double jab, and when both get through, he cracks a tight right hand. The accuracy and consistency of his punches disrupt his opponent's rhythm and never let them get settled.
To the right we see the subtleties of Curran's bewildering defensive skills. Watch Mann time his counter to Curran's lead jab well, but still, Curran muffles all three strikes with textbook blocking and shelling while skipping back out of range.
In the next exchange, Curran's technique is nearly flawless: his elbows are tight, his chin is tucked, he has his balance, and he delivers a beautiful one-two while deflecting Mann's counter.
Here we see more fundamentally intact boxing from Curran. Check out the lightning fast counter-combination led by the heavy right hand to back Mann up in one of the few instances where Mann gets off first.
Curran advances and feints with a body blow, forcing Mann to backpedal further and reset. Then Curran lances another long jab and left hook before displaying exemplary defense once again when Mann returns fire. This is a great example of how he's relentless in peppering with a variety of blows, keeping foes on the end of his punches, controlling the distance and (somehow) having the innate ability to deflect strikes wholly even when he's in the middle of throwing his own.
And this from Warren preceding his bantamweight bout with Alexis Vila:
The appeal of Vila's potential is that Warren thrives on having his way in the clinch.
The sequence to the right versus Galvao is a fitting example of Warren's grinding and overwhelming style.
Warren lays out the jab to set up his rifling overhand right, epitomizing the Team Quest philosophy by following closely behind the big punch to tangle against the cage.
Warren had one of the most memorable MMA debuts in history, clipping Chase Beebe for a TKO and upsetting Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto in Dream circa 2009.
Here we see a carbon copy of Warren's go-to technique. It's the type of rugged advance that's difficult to stop even if you know it's coming. The overhand right has enough heat to require your full attention and basic human nature suggests you pull your head back from the missile.
This puts the defender quite literally on his heels, and Warren is always clever enough to steer them against the cage wall, further limiting their options for escape.
The options to counter this onslaught are either to circle hard away from Warren's power hand or confront the bull-rush head on.
To the right, Galvao takes the ballsy approach of the latter.
Galvo turned the tide by whittling his selection of strikes down to those that rend upward through the pocket to discourage aspiring takedown artists: heavy uppercuts, the short, spearing knee and the flying knee. Galvao executes each in sequential order here.
Even though Warren presents a high-level wrestling threat that few can mirror, Curran seems to be tailor-made to exploit his flaws. His best attributes are footwork, patience, takedown defense and precision counter punching. If one part of his game stands out above the rest, it's the way he's been impossible to control or coax into a brawl. His wrestling and scrambling are highly under-rated, his submission grappling is top-notch and his defense is phenomenally technical.
Warren has a good chin, a big heart and an imposing combination of wrestling and aggressive striking. However, every time he's faltered, it's been against an opponent whom he could not out-slug nor control with takedowns. Ferocity is more prevalent in his stand up than a wide range of fundamentals, and Curran's concrete beard, icy composure, calculating footwork and thorny defense should make for a venomous formula.
My Prediction: Pat Curran by submission.
All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com and "Caposa"
Poll
Joe Warren vs. Pat Curran
Warren
Curran
13 votes | Results
Posted in: bellator, vs, featherweight, warren, curran
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowThis is what happens when Bellator's featherweight tourney and Game of Thrones merge
This is truly a nightmare scenario. Game of Thrones season 2 starts in April, the same time as my final exams. If that was all I had to contend with, it would be ok, but on top of the ever growing UFC schedule, Strikeforce events, Pro Elite and One FC, we also have the start of Bellator season 6 in March. We’re all going to have to make tough decisions in the coming months. If you haven’t seen Game of Thrones before, it follows the constant power struggle for the Iron Throne in the land of Westeros and the families looking to gain power and influence over the whole kingdom. Over in the real world, Bellator sees eight hopefuls pitting their skill in battle against each other for their chance to take on the champion and reign supreme over the whole kingdom/division. Bellator and Game of Thrones are ridiculously stacked with players so it can be hard to follow both. Bellator season 6 starts on March 9th with the featherweight quarter finals so to better acquaint you, our loyal readers with the cast of each, we present to you this guide to Bellator’s featherweight tournament, with copious amounts of Game of Thrones references.
Ned Stark is the head of the Stark family and good friends with the current King, Robert Baratheon. Starks are tough as nails and are well known for their honour; Ned is no different. A proud man, he will keep his word and take care of business with no complaints. Similarly, Marlon Sandro represents a famous family, Nova Uniao and goes in to every fight as if it is a battle that he must win for his family. This is Sandro’s second attempt at Bellator gold after making it to the finals of the promotion’s 2011 Summer Series Featherweight Tournament and he will face Roberto Vargas in the opening round.
The main thing that Roberto Vargas has in common with Jaime Lannister, the twin brother of Queen Cerci Baratheon is that he hates defeat just as much as he likes winning. Since his only career loss to Wilson Reis back in 2009 ‘Beto’ has gone on a tear, winning all six of his subsequent fights. Another thing the two have in common is the ability to win by any means necessary. Jaime Lannister will fight hand-to-hand, with swords, jousting lance or anything else you give him and if you dropped him in to Westeros, I’d imagine Vargas could do the same given his record of winning by various submissions, KO’s TKO’s and decisions. Vargas is definitely well-rounded but is taking a step up in class fighting Sandro; will his versatility see him come out victorious?
As a well-traveled and experienced fighter, I’m sure Ronnie Mann would have no problems being called a ronin, but since we’re also talking about Game of Thrones here I’m inclined to call him a sellsword; a skilled fighter who will remain loyal to the highest bidder. In the game of Thrones universe Mann would be Bronn, a mercenary hired by Tyrion Lannister, dwarf brother to Jaime and Cerci. Mann is the current Shark Fights Feather weight champion and has previously had a run in Bellator, competing in season 5 after a non-tournament win with Josh Arocha at Bellator 46. His season 6 participation was cemented with a win over season 4 semi-finalist Kenny Foster at Bellator 53.
It might sound a bit weird comparing Mike Corey to a female character but bear with me, there are similarities. Daenerys is somewhat of a mystery to those who have watched season 1 of Game of Thrones as opposed to reading the books and without wanting to spoil anything, I can tell you she comes out of nowhere and becomes a major player. This is exactly how I see Mike Corey. Coming out of the shadows, he fought to a draw with Chis Horodecki at Bellator 57 and now replaces Wagnney Fabiano to face Ronnie Mann.
Bran Stark, the second youngest of Ned Stark’s legitimate children yearns for nothing more than the ability to climb the castle walls. This is forbidden however so he must be furtive like a ninja. I’m sure that given the chance, Bran would make an excellent assassin. I also think Alexandre Bezerra would make an excellent assassin given his propensity for winning fights quickly and safely, since nine of his twelve wins have finished in the first round and most of these by submission. Bezerra could be classed as Bellator veteran, with four wins under his belt however this is his first tournament appearance.
Genair da Silva has a score to settle with Marlon Sandro after he lost out in the opening round of Bellator’s 2011 Summer Series Featherweight Tournament and so does Ser Jorah Mormont, a former knight who was banished in disgrace by Ned Stark for selling slaves while serving as a knight. Both da Silva and Ser Jorah have been plotting revenge from distant lands but da Silva will have to make it all the way to the finals if he wants to best Sandro in a rematch. Well played Bjorn Rebney, well played.
Considered one of the best wrestlers of the decade (2001 - 2010) and the greatest Ohio high school wrestlers to never win a state title according to Wikipedia, you could say that Daniel Straus is looking for validation as a mixed martial artist. This search has lead him to Bellator just as the same search lead Ned Stark’s bastard son Jon Snow, a strong and able warrior to The Wall. Straus fought his way to the final of Bellator’s season 4 tournament, only to lose a unanimous decision to Patricio Freire. Will he find validation in this season’s tournament?
Jeremy Spoon may well be undefeated but for many he is also an unknown entity. Nonetheless, being a former champion in another land (KOTC) stands him in good stead to score an upset in the opening round of this tournament against Daniel Straus. I see Spoon playing the role of Khal Drogo, a Dothraki from across the water who is also an undefeated yet relatively unknown warrior. Khal is determined to cross the water to Westeros to claim the throne for himself and no doubt Spoon wouldn’t have entered the tournament if he didn’t intend to claim the Bellator featherweight crown for himself.
If the above mentioned tournament bouts weren’t enough, Bellator 60 will be headlined by a Featherweight Championship bout between champion Joe Warren and season 5 tournament winner Pat Curran. A ridiculously stacked card like this makes you forget we’re about to go through a UFC drought. Bellator’s 6th season kicks off on MTV 2 on March 9th live from The Venue at Horeshoe Casino, Hammond, Indiana.
Posted in: bellator, season, tournament, game, throne
Read the full article at Middle EasyBellator 60 preview and predictions for 'Warren vs Curran' on March 9 in Hammond
Bellator Fighting Championships will head to "The Hoosier State" this Friday night (March 9, 2012) at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana.
The main card will air live on MTV2 on fight night, beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
Headlining the main event will be a Bellator featherweight title fight featuring champion Joe Warren and challenger Pat Curran, who captured the Summer Series featherweight tournament crown last August.
The remainder of the main card features the quarterfinals of a loaded season six featherweight tournament which includes the likes of Marlon Sandro, Ronnie Mann, Daniel Straus and Alexandre "Popo" Bezerra. There expects to be a boatload of excitement.Our complete Bellator 60 preview and predictions after the jump:
145 lb. title: Joe Warren (7-2) vs. Pat Curran (16-4)
Joe Warren AKA "The Baddest Man on the Planet" was on top of the world late last year. He was the Bellator featherweight champion and was planning to add some more hardware to his trophy case by entering the season five bantamweight tournament on top of trying out for the Olympics. Things didn't go his way, however, when he was knocked out violently by Alexis Vila at Bellator 51 in the bantamweight tournament quarterfinals. Despite still being the reigning featherweight champion, he's got a lot to prove on Friday night.
Pat Curran is the poster boy for the Bellator business model. He was a complete no-name when he originally signed with the promotion, but huge upset victories over Mike Ricci, Roger Huerta and Marlon Sandro helped him win two tournaments. "Paddy Mike" is now widely regarded as a top 10 and even top five featherweight on the planet after the tremendous current run he's been on.
Warren will be looking to utilize his Olympic level Greco Roman wrestling skills, so closing the distance and creating clinch situations will be key for him. He needs to get inside where he can get some takedowns, dirty boxing and trips working. He's prepared to drag this one into the fifth round if need be as conditioning is never an issue with him. Curran is a very well-rounded fighter, displaying one punch or kick knockout power on the feet as well as terrific submission skills on the ground. He's got a respectable wrestling background, but it's nowhere near Warren's credentials. He'll more have to rely on his youthful energy as he's 11 years younger than Warren heading into this fight. I don't know if Warren will be able to keep up with him or avoid his heavy strikes over the course of a potential five round fight.
Prediction: Pat Curran via knockout in round two
145 lbs.: Marlon Sandro (20-3) vs. Roberto Vargas (12-1)
Marlon Sandro just might be the man to beat in this tournament. Widely regarded as one of the most powerful strikers in the world at 145 pounds, he has been strongly tested since signing with Bellator, although he was able to advance to the finals of the summer series tournament, where he was stopped via headkick by Pat Curran.
Roberto Vargas will be returning to Bellator for the first time since 2009, where he defeated current top UFC prospect Daniel Pineda and then lost a split decision to Wilson Reis. Training out of Millenia MMA, "Beto" has won six straight since his Bellator stint and has a tremendous opportunity in front of him against one of the world's most renowned 145-ers.
Vargas is a pretty balanced fighter, with the ability to finish a fight standing or with submissions but he's likely going to have his hands full with Sandro. Vargas was unable to decisively defeat his last two opponents, eeking out a split decision each time and while both were talented young prospects, neither were close to Sandro's caliber. I expect Sandro to have an advantage on the feet and on the ground, although there may be questions about his age, as the Brazilian turns 35 tomorrow. Regardless, I feel this one is Sandro's fight to lose.
Prediction: Marlon Sandro via decision
145 lbs.: Ronnie Mann (21-4-1) vs. Mike Corey (11-2-1)
Ronnie Mann, still just 25, has remained one of the top featherweight talents in the world despite the occasional setback. He made a strong debut with Bellator and then showcased his power with a dominant knockout victory in the summer series quarterfinals last year before dropping a decision to Pat Curran. He bounced back with a first round submission of Kenny Foster last fall and was brought back for another shot this season.
Mike Corey was originally an alternate for this featherweight tournament, but he stepped up on short notice when Wagnney Fabiano was injured. Corey also was supposed be in the season two lightweight tournament but Pat Curran ended up getting his spot and we all know what happened from there. He finally made his Bellator debut this past November, where he ended up drawing against Chris Horodecki.
Mann possesses some very strong jiu-jitsu skills and he packs quite a punch if he can create enough space to throw effectively. He's going to have to utilize some strong footwork if he wants to create any room against Corey, who's a very big and strong wrestler. Corey will be making the cut to featherweight for the first time, which will mean he's going to be very large, but also that his conditioning will likely be suspect. This fight has a bunch of wildcards as Corey very well could stifle Mann and keep him from getting off any offense.
Prediction: Mike Corey via decision
145 lbs.: Alexandre Bezerra (12-1) vs. Genair da Silva (11-4)
Alexandre Bezerra, better known by his contemporaries as "Popo," is an extremely talented Brazilian featherweight prospect. He's quickly garnered a reputation for his tenacity in both the striking and submission departments. His lone career loss was to top UFC prospect Charles Oliveira. That loss was in 2009, however, and he's won seven straight since including a 4-0 stint in Bellator.
Genair da Silva, hailing from Brazil, entered the last summer series with extremely low expectations, but he proved himself worthy by taking the fight to Marlon Sandro and barely losing a split decision. He got back on track against Bryan Goldsby with a first round Brabo choke victory which helped him earn another crack at Bellator tournament.
Bezerra is tenacious, having finished all four of his Bellator fights thus far with none having gone to the seven minute mark and all four finishes have been by different form of submission or strikes. He's extremely well-rounded and his stand-up is improving every time we've seen him in the cage. Da Silva is well-rounded too, but he'd likely prefer to stand and trade with Bezerra, as he's very skilled in the kicking department. He'll be hoping to keep his distance in my opinion, but I just don't think he'll be able to pull this one off. "Popo" is not widely known yet, but he's a dark horse to win this entire tournament.
Prediction: Alexandre Bezerra via submission in round one
145 lbs.: Daniel Straus (17-4) vs. Jeremy Spoon (12-0)
This fight is some seriously solid matchmaking on Bellator's part. Both Daniel Straus and Jeremy Spoon are terrific wrestlers and have been rounding out their games well.
Straus was a finalist in the season four featherweight tournament, losing to Patricio Freire via decision in a bout which would have earned him a title shot. Straus took a fight with NAAFS in Cleveland during his downtime, defeating UFC veteran Jason Dent this past October which got him back on the winning track in preparation for this tournament.
Jeremy Spoon is the only undefeated fighter in the field and is a very strong prospect at featherweight. He has terrific wrestling skills, strong cardio and some decent power in both hands. He had a pair of hard-fought wins under the Bellator banner already, including a unanimous decision victory against Adam Schindler last October which punched his ticket into this tournament
This will be a battle of two grueling grind-em-out styles as both men are terrific at imposing their wills on their opponents. While Spoon is a terrific talent, I feel Straus is going to be a bit too big, too strong and he'll have just enough stand-up ability to keep Spoon at bay in just about every department.
Prediction: Daniel Straus via decision
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Will Curran be able to take the title from "The Baddest Man on the Planet?" Who's your favorite to win this season six featherweight tournament and earn a shot at the belt in 2012?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, tournament, featherweight, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMichael Chandler draws Akihiro Gono at Bellator 67
Yes, you read the headline correctly.
After an incredible exciting title-win over Eddie Alvarez this past November it looks like Bellator lightweight champ Michael Chandler will face another more-experienced veteran with time in Japan albeit not one many fans would have expected for the unbeaten grappler’s follow-up fight.
According to a press release from Bellator, Chandler will collide with Akihiro Gono on May 4 in Canada at Bellator 67.
Gono, who holds an overall record of 32-17, has not fought in America for more than three years after a 1-2 run in the UFC. Known for his colorful entrances and willingness to face all-comers, the 37-year old is coming off back-to-back decision defeats with the latter coming after a sixteen-month break from competition. Though his recent outings leave a lot to be desired Gono does hold past victories over some of MMA’s elite including Hector Lombard and Gegard Mousasi.
“I’m just excited to get back into the cage,” Chandler said of the match-up. “I fought four times in 2011 and I’m ready to get back to work. Gono has beaten some of the best fighters in the sport and this should be a good test for me.”
Bellator 67 will take place at the Rama Casino in Ontario. The card will also feature a bout between former MFC welterweight Ryan Ford and Luis Santos.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/UFC
Posted in: bellator, chandler, press release, gono, akihiro gono
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 70 Fight Card Rumors & Start Times
Bellator Fighting Championships 70 on May 25, 2012, rumored fight card and bouts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight card, card, times bellator
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 69 Fight Card Rumors & Start Times
Bellator Fighting Championships 69 on May 18, 2012, rumored fight card and bouts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight card, card, times bellator
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 68 Fight Card Rumors & Start Times
Bellator Fighting Championships 68 on May 11, 2012, rumored fight card and bouts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight card, card, times bellator
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 67 Fight Card Rumors & Start Times
Bellator Fighting Championships 67 on May 4, 2012, rumored fight card and bouts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight card, card, times bellator
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 66 Fight Card Rumors & Start Times
Bellator Fighting Championships 66 on April 20, 2012, rumored fight card and bouts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight card, card, times bellator
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyMichael Chandler vs. Akihiro Gono set for Bellator 67
At Bellator 58 last November, Michael Chandler defeated Eddie Alvarez in a superlative performance to claim the Bellator lightweight championship. Chandler will return to action for the first time since that spectacular upset win over Alvarez this May at Bellator 67, where he’ll take on seasoned veteran Akihiro Gono.
Undefeated as a professional, Chandler (9-0) capped off a winning run in Bellator’s fourth season lightweight tournament by submitting Alvarez in the fourth round of a rollicking fight to capture the promotion’s championship belt. The 25-year-old Xtreme Couture product is looking forward to keeping active as the season six lightweight tournament plays out to determine his first proper challenger,.
“I’m just excited to get back into the cage,” said Chandler. “I fought four times in 2011 and I’m ready to get back to work. Gono has beaten some of the best fighters in the sport and this should be a good test for me.”
A veteran of both PRIDE FC and the UFC, Akihiro Gono (32-17-7) will be stepping in to face Chandler on the heels of a two-fight losing streak. One of the sport’s more colorful personalities, Gono has faced off against a who’s-who of MMA, with notable wins over Hector Lombard and Gegard Mousasi on his extensive resume.
The fight is scheduled as a three round non-title bout.
Bellator 67 is slated to take place on Friday, May 4 from the Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
Posted in: bellator, chandler, gono, akihiro, work gono
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyMichael Chandler vs. Akihiro Gono Targeted for Bellator 67 'Superfight'
Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler is slated to meet flashy UFC and PRIDE veteran Akihiro Gono in a three-round non-title "superfight" at Bellator 67, scheduled for Friday, May 4 at the Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada.
Bellator officials confirmed the headlining match-up on Tuesday.
Bellator 67 broadcasts live on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. The night's preliminary card will stream online at Spike.com.
The announcement marks Chandler's (9-0) first appearance since his electrifying title-winning performance against Eddie Alvarez last November, which capped the end of a stunning run through Season 4's lightweight tournament. The 25-year-old former Division I wrestler dispatched Marcin Held, Lloyd Woodard, and Patricky Freire in succession, before upsetting the then-champion with a fourth-round rear-naked choke in a contest many outlets considered to be the "Fight of the Year."
Now just three years into his professional MMA career, Chandler has become a fixture on top-ten rankings and remains undefeated with seven stoppage wins.
"I'm just excited to get back into the cage," he said. "I fought four times in 2011 and I'm ready to get back to work. Gono has beaten some of the best fighters in the sport and this should be a good test for me."
Meanwhile, Gono (32-17-7) climbs back into the cage after recently ending a 17-month leave of absence with a decision loss to Daisuke Nakamura. Known as one of MMA's greatest showmen, the 37-year-old has competed for a litany of promotions while picking up notable wins over Gegard Mousasi, Hayato Sakurai, and Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard.
Though Gono's stock has fallen of late, as the fighter tasted defeat in five of his last eight contests, including a current two-fight losing streak.
Posted in: bellator, chandler, titlewinning performance, gono, gonos stock
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseLightweight Champ Michael Chandler Meets Akihiro Gono in Non-Title Bout at Bellator 67
Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler will re-enter the cage on May 4, taking on Akihiro Gono in a non-title affair at Bellator 67
Posted in: bellator, nontitle affair, nontitle bout, akihiro, akihiro gono
Read the full article at SherdogRyan Ford vs. Luis 'Sapo' Santos slated for Bellator 67 in Canada
Canadian fighter Ryan Ford will make his promotional debut against Brazilian vet Luis "Sapo" Santos at Bellator 67.
Bellator officials today announced the non-tournament welterweight bout.
Featuring a Michael Chandler vs. Ahihiro Gono non-title main event, Bellator 67 takes May 4 at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
Posted in: bellator, vs, canada, casino rama, sapo
Read the full article at MMA JunkieGono to challenge Chandler for lightweight belt
Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler will face former UFC and Pride star Akihiro Gono on May 4 at Bellator 67 at Casino Rama.
Posted in: bellator, chandler, gono, belt bellator, challenge chandler
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator 67: Michael Chandler vs Akihiro Gono booked for May 4 in Ontario
CHICAGO, Ill. (March 7, 2012) - On the heels of his title-winning fight of the year performance against the world's top lightweight Eddie Alvarez, Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler returns to face one of his greatest tests to date as the Las Vegas-trained fighter takes on former UFC lightweight Akihiro Gono LIVE on Friday, May 4 at Bellator 67 in the always electric Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada.
Tickets for this event are on sale now and are available at Ticketmaster.com and in-person at the Casino Rama Box Office. Tickets are priced from $25-$175 Canadian.
After Chandler's amazing fourth-round submission victory against then champion Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 58, the undefeated champion knows that he's the one now with the target on his back.
"I'm just excited to get back into the cage," Chandler said. "I fought four times in 2011 and I'm ready to get back to work. Gono has beaten some of the best fighters in the sport and this should be a good test for me."
With 32 career wins, Gono has fought some of the world's best. And with wins over reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard and world-class middleweight Gegard Mousasi, Gono has beaten some of the world's best. Known for jumping weight classes, Gono has a solid reputation of never turning down a fight, and he will have his hands full when he takes on Bellator's Lightweight Champion on May 4.
Edmonton native and Canadian fan favorite Ryan "The Real Deal" Ford will make his Bellator debut against 12-year MMA veteran Luis "Sapo" Santos, who enters the fight with an incredible 50-7 professional record. The two welterweights will square off in non-tournament action, and should provide fireworks.
The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 8 p.m. EST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 6 p.m. EST, with the first fight scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The preliminary card, featuring the area's top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. EST.
"Casino Rama has been a spectacular home to Bellator over the last year, so bringing our Lightweight Champion and the man who provided 2011's Fight of the Year to Rama was an easy decision to make". Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "As always our fight card will be stacked from top to bottom with many of the world's best fighters, so I expect nothing less than a packed house once again on May 4."
Bellator 67 will mark the third-time ever the organization has hosted an event at Casino Rama and the fourth time the promotion has visited Canada for an event.
"Bellator's world-class fighting series provides Ontario fans with exactly the edge-of-your-set excitement Casino Rama is already known for, " said Jeff Craik, Vice-President of Marketing, Casino Rama. "Being able to have Canadian fighters make their debuts before a home crowd is one more reason fans are going to want to be in their seats to see this event live in May!"
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.
Posted in: fight, bellator, champion, casino, rama
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMichael Chandler vs. Akihiro Gono 'superfight' slated for Bellator 67
A three-round non-title fight between Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler and promotional newcomer Akihiro Gono has been added to May's Bellator 67 event.
Bellator officials today announced the headliner.
The event takes place May 4 at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
Posted in: bellator, event, casino rama, gono, akihiro
Read the full article at MMA JunkieExclusive: Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney talks counterprogramming, Eddie Alvarez and Hector Lombard negotiations
As Bellator Fighting Championships gears for its sixth season, which debuts this Friday night (March 9, 2012) with Bellator 60 in Hammond, Indiana, there are plenty of things to get excited about.
But it hasn't been all sunshine and roses.
Of course, there's the story of undefeated heavyweight Blagoi Ivanov getting critically wounded by a knife in a bar fight, but that's recent and obvious. Others have been more subtle, like Bellator partner Spike TV counterprogramming all the free UFC events on Fuel and FX as well as The Ultimate Fighter.
There's also the lingering contract situation of both current middleweight champion Hector Lombard and former lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, who have been with the promotion since day one and are two of its biggest stars.
In part one of our conversation with Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, we discussed the promotion's plans for the future, the upcoming season six debut and more. In the conclusion of our exclusive interview today, Rebney spoke with MMAmania.com about everything from Alvarez, Lombard, UFC pressure and much, much more.
Check it out:
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I heard a rumor. I know you are planning a light heavyweight tournament for your summer series. I heard some whispers that there might even be two tournaments during your summer series. Is there any truth to that?
Bjorn Rebney: Yeah, the rumors are based on the fact that we keep talking about it. We're still considering it. As a company, we've been banging out the idea with out partners at Spike and at Viacom trying to figure out how to do it. It's incumbent on me to keep loading the barrel of the gun so that we can put ourselves into a position where every time one of our champions enters the cage, he or she has their belt on the line. The way you do that is you increase the number of tournaments.
You can see that already for season six, we've got five tournaments going on simultaneously. If we can figure out a way to do it, I'd love to have two going on in the summer and another five in the fall before we break into the regular six that we're gonna be doing as part of our Spike partnership. There's no definitive final answer that we've arrived at, but we're definitely giving it though.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I want to ask about Spike a little bit. They've got a deal going on right now where they're counterprogramming a lot of the UFC shows. It seems like they're trying to entice the UFC to buy back its fight library. Now if that happens and Spike gets its wish in the next couple months, would Bellator be able to get on Spike for say, season seven?
Bjorn Rebney: Yeah, that door would be open. It would obviously be something that our television partners at Spike would have to make a determination based on programming and the like. We work with them day in and day out. I know that Spike has been open to that idea that if there were a change in the direction of the UFC mindset and they were able to work out the pending library issues, that Bellator could conceptually jump over quicker. I think at the level now of the fighters that are stepping into our cage, the level of production, the way that the show flows and works now, the live experience and the number of sellouts that we're experiencing, the timing's right for that jump.
If it happens nine and a half months from now as it's currently scheduled, we're gonna blink and it's gonna be here. If circumstances were to change and it's gonna happen earlier, we're gonna be ready to rock and roll on literally a week's notice. We're excited with what's building out right now. Obviously, as a long time fan of the sport, Spike is nirvana. Spike is the crown jewel. If you think about television and mixed martial arts, I've been watching this stuff since the very first.
I can remember sitting at home in west Los Angeles and watching a WWE show come to an end and watching this new crazy show that the network was gonna launch called The Ultimate Fighter and I can remember sitting there watching. I can remember the fact that they never broke for commercial. I can remember the fact that it came out of the tail end of the wrestling show and it went right into this show about guys who were gonna fight in a cage in a house. I remember it like it was yesterday. They wrote the book.
They are the reason you and I are sitting on the phone today. There's a reason there's a general market crossover with MMA and there's a reason that mixed martial arts show are up on the cover pages of the sports section of USA Today. They built it. To be able to sit on the phone with you and say Bellator is moving to Spike is about as cool as it gets. It's like a six year old coming down Christmas morning and seeing a brand new red Schwinn bike underneath the Christmas tree.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You guys officially announced Eddie Alvarez versus Shinya Aoki this past week so I was wondering your thoughts on getting that fight, getting the deal done and getting it announced.
Bjorn Rebney: Yeah, it only took me three and a half years. (laughs) I felt pretty good about that. If you put in the time, I think if we billed that one out on an hourly basis, i was making like 5-6 dollars an hour for that one. I tried to live up to what I promised and Ed Alvarez asked me literally three and a half years ago, he said, "Can you give me a rematch?" and Ed's been so important to the growth of this company and he's been with us and a fantastic face of the organization along with the likes of other fighters that we've got under contract but man, Ed was the first big contract ever made and I promised I would get him the fight and based on Strikeforce coming out of the dynamic they were in and substantially changing their direction and no longer being engaged in Japan and no longer where they once were, Dream became more available to work with and that alliance didn't exist anymore.
I was able to talk to the people at Dream and put things together. Moreso than anything, I was happy to be able to honor the commitment to a guy who's as good of a guy as Ed Alvarez and get that fight done for him. I've got an amazing amount of respect for his courage and his confidence. He lost his title in dramatic fashion and boy, instead of looking for an easy fight back or a soft road to get back in the mix, Ed said, "I want to get the best you can get me," and I said, "Do you still want the Aoki fight? It's close," and he said, "Absolutely." There was never a moment's hesitation in that guy's voice so he's just a class act and a great fighter and a great dude. It should be an epic fight.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): And do you think getting him this fight that he's been wanting for so long, Eddie's got a new management team as his contract's gonna run out in about eight months or so, do you think getting him this fight and making him happy could help you guys resign him?
Bjorn Rebney: Well it could have one of two different impacts. It could help us resign him which would be great, or it could, coming off a win against one of the top lightweights in the world, it could very very dramatically increase his value in the marketplace and make it more difficult to sign him. But, to be honest, the guy's meant too much to our organization for me to look at it from a pure business perspective.
I look at it and say to myself, "You know what? If this overture on our part, getting him this big fight makes it easier to sign Ed and if it alternatively increases his value and makes it more difficult to sign Ed, that's great too". Ed's gonna do well. If he wins this fight, it's going to be a huge step for him, his career and his family. That actually makes me pleased.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Alexander Shlemenko came out with a video blog a couple days ago saying he was frustrated with the Hector Lombard situation and he doesn't think that the fight' seven gonna be made this spring. There was some talk that Lombard's contract ran out and you guys are in a negotiating period. I was wondering what your thoughts are on that whole situation and what's going on right now.
Bjorn Rebney: Well, Hector remains our champion right now. We are in the midst of a pretty substantial negotiation relative to his future with the organization. I've said many times I think he's the best middleweight in mixed martial arts so it's not an easy negotiation by any stretch of the imagination. Alexander Shlemenko, who has earned the right to face our champion, has been prepping for that fight for over a year, has been to a certain extent caught in the crossfire and he's not the beneficiary of these negotiations.
We're in a state now where we've got to negotiate with Hector and potentially resign him. People forget, Hector Lombard and Ed Alvarez have been with this organization now for four years so you lose track of it because our initial distribution platform was ESPN Deportes and Fox Sports Net and it's been a long build up but Ed and Hector have been with us from the very start. You know, all good things come to an end at some point and four years is a very long time on any kind of agreement.
We've got the right to match on any deal. We're either gonna sign him before he goes out the to marketplace or he's going to go out to the marketplace and we're gonna have a determination as to whether we're gonna match or not match and we're gonna see where it ends up. I love the guy and he's an awesome talent. He's been nothing but a pure pleasure for me to work with. He's been a great guy for me to work with and he's done everything we've asked him to do and every time I've put him in a cage, he's knocked people silly. You can't really ask for more than that from a guy.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): One of my last questions, you had a really nice appearance on MMA Uncensored Live the other night and the UFC's been putting a little bit of pressure on that show, telling their fighters they don't want them to be on the show and pressuring some media, like MMA Junkie was originally going to be a part of that show. Is that frustrating at all, that they don't want anyone to have anything to do with this Spike MMA news show?
Bjorn Rebney: It's a good question. I can tell you, I've been in the television business now for 25 years and it is a hyper-competitive business. I think the most competitive business is the business that goes on inside our cage when that door shuts, but the television and entertainment industry aren't very far behind. It doesn't surprise me that it is a competitive business and it doesn't surprise me that people approach it as a competitive business. None of that really kind of shocks me and it seems to be the way the industry works and it works that way in the sports arena and it also works that way in the drama arena.
Counterprogramming and positioning are just part of our industry. It's just part of what occurs in the entertainment domain. There's a lot of money on the line and there's advertisers at stake and it's competition so it doesn't really shock me. There's very little in the entertainment business that shocks me at this moment. Maybe I'm a little bit jaded because I've been around it a long time and I see a lot of things happen.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): My last thing is, do you have anything you'd like to get out there about this upcoming sixth season, anything you'd like the fans to know before you make your return on March 9th?
Bjorn Rebney: Just as a fan, my excitement level. To have the kinds of things locked and loaded that we do now, to be able to have a show kicking off on Friday night a 30 minute drive out of Chicago with Warren fighting Curran for hte world title and both of them are ranked in the top 10 at 145, Marlon Sandro stepping into the Bellator cage, one of the my favorite fighters that I've ever watched over the years in Japan.
You've got Daniel Straus making his comeback and the last time he was in the Bellator cage, he was ranked number seven in the world at 145. You've got Popo coming in riding this unbelievable wave of the most aggressive and powerful submissions I've seen in the last couple years at that weight and then to bounce out of that and have the heavyweight tournament championship rematch the next week and then see Pitbull get back into our cage the next week with a stacked 155 tournament and Askren versus Lima.
It's like event after event after event now has big fights on it. We wanted to kick off with a big, big bang. That's why we did Warren with Curran with our first event but it's just cool to see every event on that has fights that make you go, "Whooa! I don't want to miss that!" and that's the essence of building up a brand like this.
If you missed part one of our interview with Mr. Rebney, you can find it here. You can follow also follow him on twitter @BjornRebney.
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Will Bellator be able to resign its two biggest names, Lombard and Alvarez, to new deals? Or has their time come and gone in the promotion? What are your expectations for Bellator Fighting Championships in 2012?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, guy, spike, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator returns this Friday
Bellator 60 this Friday night marks the start of the promotion's sixth season, and boasts a pretty decent card headlined by a Featherweight title fight between champion Joe Warren and soon-to-be champion Pat Curran. If you'll recall, Warren competed in last season's Bantamweight tournament (since Bellator champs have plenty of free time) and was epically KTFO'd by Alexis Vila in the first round of the quarterfinals. Pat Curran won the right to challenge for the title by winning last season's featherweight tournament, defeating the likes of Luis Palomino (via awesome Peruvian necktie), Ronnie Mann, and Marlon Sandro in the finals via head kick KO. All 2 of us Jackals that dig Bellator will surely be watching.
The rest of the main card features fights from the opening round of the Season 6 Featherweight Tournament.
Marlon Sandro vs. Roberto Vargas20-3 (11 finishes) 12-1 (7 finishes)
Alexandre 'Popo' Bezerra vs. Genair da Silva 12-1 (11 finishes) 11-4 (8 finishes)
Daniel Straus vs. Jeremy Spoon17-4 (7 finishes) 12-0 (9 finishes)
Ronnie Mann vs. Mike Corey *21-4 (14 finishes) 11-2-1 (7 finishes) *Corey is replacing an injured Wagnney Fabiano
The prelims will air on Spike.com, and will feature such dynamic and exciting UFC veterans as Sean McCorkle, Shamar Bailey, and Travis Wiuff. Hey, it’s free.
Posted in: bellator, season, tournament, marlon sandro, luis palomino
Read the full article at FightlinkerBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 144: Daniel Straus, MMA Discussion
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT for another edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop, MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger and Matthew Roth as we discuss all the latest news in mixed martial arts, including all the aftermath from this weekend's Strikeforce and UFC shows. We'll talk ratings, future matchups and more.
We'll be joined by Bellator featherweight tournament competitor Daniel Straus as he prepares for his fight with Jeremy Spoon at Bellator 60 in Hammond, Ind. We'll discuss that fight with him, his journey to make it back to Bellator and much more.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your Legacy Fight Shorts, seen on Yushin Okami, Vaughan Lee and Hatsu Hioki at UFC 144, only from Bad Boy at the brand new BadBoy.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86 or @BrianHemmingerBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of Bellator 60
Posted in: bellator, radio, elbow radio, elbow, boy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator nabs light heavyweight prospect Phelipe Lins for possible summer debut
The Bellator Fighting Championships will continue the promotion's trend of scooping up top shelf Brazilian prospects with their latest move. Light heavyweight Phelipe Lins (5-0) will join the Bellator roster in 2012. ULTMMA.com (www.ULTMMA.com) confirmed the news over the weekend.Hailing from Natal, Brazil Lins lasted competed in July 2011. Under the Rock Strike MMA banner Lins knocked out Daniel Alexandre (0-1) in the first round. The win for Lins was his first after a five year hiatus. Lins Bellator debut will likely come in May or on a card in early summer. Prior to his MMA layoff, Lins made waves on the Brazilian circuit thanks to a pair of wins over two time UFC vet Antonio Mendes (17-11). Lins, a 6'3 light heavyweight, knocked out Mendes in their first fight and won via decision in the rematch. The 26 year old Lins currently trains with Nova Uniao Kimura.A heavy handed striker at 205 pounds Lins is rated as a four star prospect by ULTMMA.com. Based on his natural striking talent and world class training partners, Lins checked in as the number ten 205 pound prospect in MMA in the latest ULTMMA.com top 20 prospect rankings.
Posted in: bellator, mma, prospect, light, lin
Read the full article at UltMMAUFC spring break opens door for Bellator
Combat sports fans are privy to six major televised mixed martial arts (MMA) events over the next month and a half, starting on Friday, March 9 and ending on Friday, April 13.
And not one of them belongs to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
That may come as a bit of a surprise, considering the aggressive campaign the world's largest fight promotion has mapped out for 2012, between its pay-per-view (PPV) schedule and FOX network deals. In fact, the only original content between now and UFC on FUEL TV 2 on April 14 is the debut of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 15 this Friday night.
Opportunity, she is a' knocking.
While the UFC goes into a self-imposed hibernation, Bellator kicks off its sixth season on Friday night, live via Spike.com and MTV2, featuring a couple of outstanding match-ups including Joe Warren vs. Pat Curran and Marlon Sandro vs. Roberto Vargas.
And that's just the beginning.
Here is the current Bellator season six schedule:
Bellator 60 (March 9)Featherweight World ChampionshipThe Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN
Bellator 61 (March 16)Heavyweight Tournament ChampionshipRiverdome in Bossier City, LA
Bellator 62 (March 23)Lightweight Tournament QuarterfinalsLaredo Energy Arena in Laredo, TX
Bellator 63 (March 30)Welterweight Tournament QuarterfinalsMohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT
Bellator 64 (April 6)Welterweight World ChampionshipCaesars Windsor in Ontario, Canada
Bellator 65 (April 13)Bantamweight World ChampionshipBoardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ
Bellator 66 (April 20)Aoki vs. Alvarez II I-X Center in Cleveland, OH
Bellator 67 (May 4) TBDCasino Rama in Ontario, Canada
As always, "Bellator" Brian Hemminger will bring you the latest and greatest event coverage right here on MMAmania.com, including pre-fight interviews, predictions and analysis, as well as results, recaps and post-fight fallout.
It's a good way to get your feet wet before Bellator transitions to Spike TV in 2013.
Now that we've got some time off from the UFC, how many of you MMA maniacs will be tuning in to check out the sixth season of Bellator on MTV2?
Posted in: ufc, bellator, world, march, april
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator adds Canadians to Windsor show
French welterweight Nordine Taleb will make his Bellator debut against unbeaten American Matt Secor on the undercard of Bellator 64.
Posted in: bellator, bellator debut, matt, unbeaten, windsor show
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator season six to kickoff on Friday
Bellator Season Six will kick off this Friday from The Venue at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond Indiana.
The five fight main card will feature four bouts in the Featherweight tournament and a title fight as a main event. In the main event Joe Warren will defend his title for the first time when he faces Pat Curran who earned his shot at Warren by defeating Marlon Sandro via knockout at Bellator 48.
Warren has fought twice since winning that title, defeating Marcos Galvao at catchweight in April of last
Posted in: bellator, title, warren, featherweight tournament, marcos galvao
Read the full article at Low KickExclusive: Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney talks new fight night, Blagoi Ivano stabbing and TV deal in Brazil
With the purchase of Strikeforce last year by Zuffa, Bellator Fighting Championship became the de facto number two mixed martial arts (MMA) organization in the world.
While we don't expect Bellator to instantly be challenging the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in bidding wars for fighters or going head-to-head in big ratings battles, the promotion has been doing many very smart things like signing several top prospects still in the development stage who are turning into stars before our eyes.
The shining example is Michael Chandler, a young man who had just three career fights when Bellator signed him in late 2010 and then went on to win the season four lightweight tournament and then submit champion Eddie Alvarez in the greatest fight in Bellator history last November.
Now, Chandler is widely regarded as a top 10 lightweight in the world.
The sixth season of the Bellator tournaments begins this Friday night (March 9, 2012) with Bellator 60 in Hammond, Ind., which features the featherweight tournament quarterfinals, as well as a Bellator featherweight championship fight between titleholder Joe Warren and another of Bellator's success stories, Pat Curran.
In advance of the sixth season, Bellator CEO and founder Bjorn Rebney spoke with MMAmania.com about everything from the new night and start time, an upcoming TV deal in Brazil and an update on the status of the recently stabbed heavyweight Blagoi Ivanov in part one of this two-part interview.
Check it out:
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): First thing's first, I'd like to ask about the change in start time, the move to Fridays at 8 p.m. Is that going to be consistant? Last season you had to move around a bit depending on what else was going on.
Bjorn Rebney: Yeah, that was part of the reason for the move. TV lives and thrives on the concept of same time, same place, same channel. There's too many options out there for us as viewers. What we did last year on Saturday nights was we had to bump around a lot to get out of the way of major college football, get out of the way of major boxing pay-per-views, UFC shows. It was all kind of movement and we wanted to move to a night where we could get great consistency and always be in the same place at the same time and really kind of own the night from a live mixed martial arts world class MMA perspective, so what was the whole concept. We will be same time, same place, same channel for the next 25 events which will bring us right into our launch on Spike.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Speaking of that, what are some things, you guys are scheduled to launch on Spike in 2013, what are some goals that you want to hit in 2012 to spread the word on Bellator and grow as a promotion?
Bjorn Rebney: Yeah, that's really it, just to keep growing. We want to keep putting on great event after great event, keep building stars, keep with the Mike Chandlers, the Doug Limas, the Patricio Pitbulls and continue to develop the next guys who will really be the cornerstone of this organization as we move into the new Bellator 2.0, the Spike years. As crazy as it sounds, we talk about 2013 but that's less than 10 months away now. It's shocking how quick this stuff happens but less than 10 months from now, we'll be full bore, pedal to the metal on Spike and we're really, really excited about it.
This year we're going to be doing a bunch of great events and building out all the champions and challengers. We're gonna have a ton of world title fights as part of the free TV package this year and it's gonna be a lot of refining, a lot of building to create great content now and get ready for that launch 10 months from now.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): About this upcoming show on March 9th, your debut of season six, you've got four tournament fights and a title fight. Are all of those fights going to be televised or is one going to be pushed to the Spike prelims?
Bjorn Rebney: Well it all depends on timing. The way we're gonna do it and that's a great question, a two hour show, you can't fit five fights onto a two hour show if the fights go the distance. If we get early stoppages, with the likes of Ronnie Mann, the likes of Marlon Sandro, Daniel Straus, the way Pat Curran's been finishing, you've got a lot of guys who can end fights quick so what we're gonna end up doing is, one of the four 145 pound tournament fights will be on the Spike.com show before we go to air. It will be world-wide free on Spike.com and then if there are any early stoppages, that will be the fight that fills. So for those fans watching on Spike.com, they'll see one of the four tournament fights on Spike.com and as you tune in on MTV2, if there's an early stoppage, you'll see that same tournament fight replayed on MTV2.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Your featherweight champion Joe Warren, he had a tough first round, getting knocked out in the quarterfinals of the bantamweight tournament last year. Do you think because of that, a lot of people are really underestimating him heading into this title defense against Pat Curran on Friday night?
Bjorn Rebney: I'm sure there are some people underestimating Joe, but man, if there's one guy I would not bet against, it's Joe Warren. He has an unbelievable heart and he's furiously relentless. I think Pat's got his hands full. Anybody who faces Joe Warren, whether it be 145 or 135, they've got a night full of pain and discomfort that they should be looking forward to. He's got gas to spare, he's a two-time world champion wrestler and he's absolutely relentless. He will throw everything and anything at you. He's a tough fight. Warren is tough as nails.
He's the champion of our organization for a reason. He beat Patricio Pitbull who's on many people's list as a top three in the world at 145, he beat Kid Yamamoto when Kid was still on the top of the world, the number one guy on Earth at the time. He beat Joe Soto when Soto was ranked number six in the world at 145. Joe Warren's the real deal. He may not be the flashiest striker that you've ever seen but he's a relentless monster.
I said it when Chandler fought Alvarez, to anybody that would listen, do not count Mike Chandler out of this fight. If you do, you are making an enormous mistake, he is a monster, and nobody would listen. They were all like, "Oh, it's Eddie Alvarez, he's one of the top two lightweights in the world. It's gonna be a walk in the park, when are you gonna give him some competition?" I just kept saying, "Michael Chandler is a beast, do not count him out," and it was a fight of the year and Mike is now our world champion.
I've got to be honest, I think the same thing for Joe Warren. Do not count this guy out. He is a monster. This should be a war. Nobody is more cognizant of what's on the line than Joe Warren. He knows what this fight means. He knows what he's coming back from, that vicious knockout at the hands of Alexis Vila. He gets it. He's an old warrior. He understands that these chances are not gonna come around that often. It's not like Joe Warren has got 10 years to build and maneuver and manipulate a career so be careful when you force a pitbull's back against a wall in a small room.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): About the tournament, Wagnney Fabiano was one of the guys that you were really pushing as one of the big signings and he got injured, so I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about Mike Corey, who stepped up from the undercard to take on Ronnie Mann?
Bjorn Rebney: The funny thing about Mike is, he was our number nine in this tournament. He was our first alternate. Every time we do a tournament, there's a bout scheduled that includes the alternate so at any given moment, that alternate can step in from that number nine spot to the number eight spot if somebody bounces out. I was disappointed when Wagnney bounced out but I'll tell ya, Mike, you've go to know Mike's background and what he's been through.
Mike was the guy who was supposed to be in the lightweight tournament that Pat Curran ended up getting the last spot for. Mike was supposed to be in that lightweight tournament a year and a half ago when Pat Curran knocked Mike Ricci with that crazy right hand, then eeked out that victory by the smallest of margins against Roger Huerta than Toby Imada and then he stood toe-to-toe with Ed Alvarez and now look at him. At 145, most people have got him ranked number six in the world.
That was supposed to me Mike's spot and who knows, history's a wacky thing to try to gauge but had Mike followed the path that Pat Curran did. Mike's got wicked talent, he just hasn't been given the shot on the big stage and this is his shot. He was training like a crazed dog for the alternate spot in the hope that if he looked good as the alternate, he would get a shot in the upcoming fall tournament but now his shot is here and he's in against Ronnie Mann who's tough as nails and has looked really good inside our cage of late.
This is a guy who watched someone else take his spot in a tournament a year and a half ago and now Pat Curran's made well over a quarter million dollars with us. This will be his second world title Pat's fighting for. He's been on national television seven times in a 15 month period and I'm sure Mike looks at that every single day and says to himself, "Man, that should have been my ride," so I think you're going to see a very aggressive, very angry Mike Corey when he gets into that cage.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): That's a great story. Something that I see you get asked about a lot lately is Brazil. Bellator features a ton of great Brazilian talent. I think you've got several tournaments that are almost 50 percent Brazilian fighters coming up and you've got a whole bunch of Brazilian title challengers. You've mentioned how close you are to a TV deal, how important is it for you guys to break into Brazil?
Bjorn Rebney: Oh it's huge, it's absolutely huge. The proliferation of Brazilian talent underneath the Bellator banner speaks directly to who we are as an organization. Our reality is, it doesn't matter where you're from, it doesn't matter what language you speak, all that matters is how well you fight when that cage door locks behind you. You hit it right on the head. Whether you're talking about the Pitbull brothers or Doug Lima or Eduardo Dantas, the list just goes on and on of the wickedly deep talent pool that we've been able to cultivate in and through Brazil so the TV deal is major for us.
I anticipate the announcement, obviously I'm pretty close to it, I anticipate the announcement is literally gonna be in position to happen in the next, probably 10-12 days. It's something that we've been working on with a huge diligence and focus with our partners and we're super close. It's incredibly important to this organization. That is a wildly explosive mixed martial arts market and it creates, per capita, many of the greatest fighters in the world so it's a seminal, seminal territory for us to get in and keep a presence in developing talent out of.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): One of the things people were getting on me about asking you was the women's 125 pound division and how close that is to potentially getting a tournament. That just seemed like the number one thing that people were reaching out about so can I get an update about that?
Bjorn Rebney: Sure, it remains something that is top of mind for me as we move into the next incarnation of Bellator's development. We're going to be doing more tournaments per season and of course when we get to Spike, we're gonna be doing six tournaments per season every single season. I believe very strongly, and am focused with Sam Caplan and our creative development team on really developing some very talent ladies at 125 that we can funnel into that tournament. When exactly that can happen, I don't know. I hope that we can get it done in the next 12 month period and I believe we probably can.
We've got Jessica Eye, who's looked great inside of our cage, will be fighting for us on the Aoki vs. Alvarez card in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio and what I think, a lot people are talking about what's going on this past weekend but the number one and number two in the world are going to face each other May 18th inside the Bellator cage in Lake Charles, Louisiana on MTV2 when Megumi Fujii fights Jessica Aguilar. That's the two best women on Earth today facing each other inside the cage on free TV so there's a lot of stuff in the works right now. It's really a matter of getting not just eight but 12-14 really talented women at 125 together, paring that list down to eight and giving it another roll and that's what I'd really like to get going. We're staying focused on it and we had that piece on it for MMA Uncensored Live on Spike which they talked to me about at great length.
I believe in it and I think that women today in mixed martial arts have got an amazing amount to offer. We've been blessed with some of the fights that have been in our cage. The Lisa Ellis fight versus Jessica Aguilar in Florida was awesome and unfortunately for Jessica, it got overshadowed by the fight of the year, Alvarez vs. Chandler, but if Alvarez-Chandler hadn't been the unbelievable Rocky-esque type of fight it was, people would have been talking about Lisa versus Jessica which was an amazing fight but they got dwarfed by this epic performance by those two guys.
We're focused on it, we're dedicated to it. Zoila Frausto-Gurgel is coming back and she's had about as bad a run with injuries as any human being in any sport I've ever seen but god-willing, hopefully she'll be able to heal and start hitting people in the face again which she does extremely well in short order. We're still on it and I hope we can get one done like I said within the next 12 months.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I know some unfortunate news came out about one of your heavyweights Blagoi Ivanov getting critically injured with a knife wound. I heard you'd been in constant talks with his management team and was wondering if you had any updates on his status?
Bjorn Rebney: I'm glad you asked because a lot of people haven't asked about that. It's something we've been tracking twice a day, every single day getting reports from the hospital. The status now is he has been upgraded, which is awesome, from critical to stable. He is still to this day, being kept in a medically induced coma in order to try to do everything humanly possible from a medical perspective to enhance the chances of his whole recovery but there was an upgrade in his status. It happened Thursday in Bulgaria time.
We were extremely pleased to hear about the upgrade. He's still in a very guarded situation, still very dangerous, but nonetheless, there's an upgrade and any time you hear that, you've got to give thanks and hope that continues. He's strong as an ox, he's a young guy, an athlete and he's got the heart of a lion. We're just hoping against hope that he can continue to get out of the woods.
And that's not all. Make sure to tune in tomorrow where the real hard-hitting questions come out for part two of our interview with the Bellator CEO where we talk about UFC interference, the drama with Eddie Alvarez and Hector Lombard, Spike counterprogramming and much, much more.
Posted in: fight, bellator, tournament, mike, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 60 weigh-ins slated for Thursday, open to fans
Bellator Fighting Championships kicks off its sixth season on Friday with Bellator 60.
The event, which includes a featherweight title fight between champion
Joe Warren and Pat Curran, takes place Friday at The Venue at Horseshoe
Hammond in Hammond, Ind.
The weigh-ins, which also include the eight season-six featherweight-tourney fights, take place Thursday and are open to fans.
Posted in: bellator, place friday, hammond ind, horseshoe hammond, fans bellator
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Announces Eddie Alvarez Vs. Shinya Aoki II For April 20
Before dropping his 155-pound title to Michael Chandler last November, the last loss of Eddie Alvarez's career was on December 31, 2008. Eight fights and a rise as one of the top lightweight fighters in the game later, Alvarez will get a chance to avenge that loss as he will rematch Shinya Aoki at Bellator 66 on Friday, April 20th.
The 28-year-old Aoki (30-5-0-1) will make his promotional debut riding a seven-fight win streak. The reigning DREAM lightweight champ had two fights with Strikeforce, losing a unanimous decision to Gilbert Melendez at the infamous April 2010 Nashville, TN, show and defeating Lyle Beerbohm by submission a year later on the Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley undercard.
As the fight approaches, expect to hear a lot more on Alvarez's future with Bellator. Reports came out last month that he was having difficulties on a contract extension with the promotion, leading to speculation about why he didn't choose to enter the upcoming lightweight tournament.
The 28-year-old has been with Bellator since April 2009, winning their first tournament and the lightweight belt with a second round submission of Toby Imada. He's 6-1 inside the Bellator cage and six of his last seven wins have come via finish (five submissions/one TKO).
The show will be at Cleveland, OH's I-X Convention Center with tickets ranging from $30 - $125.
Posted in: fight, bellator, alvarez, aoki, april
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowThis Bellator promo gets us sufficiently pumped for next week
Born on April 3rd, 2009, Bellator is almost exactly one month older than MiddleEasy.com. If MiddleEasy.com and Bellator Fighting Championships were children on a schoolyard playground this gap in their age would be kind of a big deal, and it may even result in a scuffle leaving their pullover Starter jackets torn or jammed at the neck where the zipper is. Do you know how annoying it is to fix a stuck zipper at the neck of a pullover Starter jacket? Especially when you're wearing it? You look down with a double chin and your mouth half open as you try to unjam the zipper but you can't get a good view, so you eat your pride and ask your friend to help unjam it for you. The worst possible scenario now is having your friend not be able to unjam your Starter jacket zipper, which will lead to him calling over other websites and fighting promotions to help unjam it and it just becomes way too big of a deal with all of them reaching at your throat. Really embarrassing.
This isn't a schoolyard and this website and Bellator are not children, but I will tell you this much, if MiddleEasy did wear a Starter jacket it wouldn't have been a Charlotte Hornets jacket. Everyone had that one. I can't speak for Bellator, but since they are based out of Chicago we can say they would be wearing a Bulls Starter jacket.
It's spring time again, and that means Bellator is back for our tournament-loving enjoyment. Here is the season 6 trailer. Enjoy it.
[Source]
Posted in: bellator, jacket, starter, unjam, zipper
Read the full article at Middle EasyBellator 66: Eddie Alvarez vs Shinya Aoki II official for April 20 in Cleveland
It's official.
Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki II is now set for Bellator 66 and will serve as the main event for the April 20 show, which emanates live via MTV2 from the I-X Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
From today's release:
"This really is the perfect scenario for me," Alvarez said. "I need to redeem myself, and I can't think of a better way to do it than avenging my loss to Aoki in 2008. I'm glad I'm able to get back on the horse and fight someone of his caliber right away."
"Ed asked me to secure this rematch for him years ago," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "I promised I would, and now it's official. Anytime you can put two of the world's Top 10 lightweights in the cage together at the pinnacle of their careers, you've got a very special fight on your hands - and that's exactly what we will see in Cleveland April 20th."
Alvarez first met Aoki while battling for the WAMMA lightweight title back at Dynamite!! 2008, the special New Year's Eve supershow from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
The bout featured 92 seconds of blistering action which included some classic Aoki butt-scooting, Alvarez loading up with a big right hand, a huge takedown into mount by Alvarez during a scramble and then "The Tobikan Judan" somehow reversing the position into a heel hook -- which eventually forced the tap after some strong resistance from the Philadelphia native.
It's payback time.
It appears Alvarez has chosen an opportunity for instant revenge over having to win three consecutive fights in the lightweight tournament first, meaning Bellator's 155-pound division -- and Chandler -- will be moving on without him.
For now.
After dropping a lackluster unanimous decision to Gilbert Melendez at the Strikeforce: "Nashville" event back in early 2010, Aoki has won seven straight fights with five nasty submissions. But can he keep the streak going against Alvarez, who is probably still smarting from his upset loss to Chandler?
Early predictions on this epic rematch?
Posted in: fight, bellator, alvarez, aoki, april
Read the full article at MMA ManiaShinya Aoki vs. Eddie Alvarez 2 set for Bellator 66 in Cleveland
A rumored rematch between Shinya Aoki and Eddie Alvarez has been set for Bellator 66 in Cleveland, Ohio. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced the move earlier today. While the rematch has been in the works for awhile, today was the first official news about the event.
Aoki and Alvarez originally met at K-1 and DREAM’s Dynamite!! 2008 event. Aoki needed only 92 seconds to submit Alvarez for the first time in his career via heel hook.
The Aoki rematch will be the former Bellator champion’s first fight since his 2011 “fight of the year” candidate loss with Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler. The loss was Alvarez’s first loss since his 2008 loss to Aoki.
Aoki comes into the fight with a seven-fight win streak dating back to his 2010 loss to Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.
For more on Bellator 66 and all things MMA, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.
Posted in: bellator, loss, alvarez, aoki, things mma
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBefore you see him next weekend at Bellator 60, watch this Ronnie Mann documentary we made
Alright, so we have some good news and bad news regarding Ronnie Mann fighting in Bellator 60. Normally I would ask if you want the good or bad news first, but you seem like a rather pessimistic person that's only focused on the negativity of life -- so I'll start with the bad news. According to Sherdog, Ronnie Mann's opponent, Wagney Fabiano is out of the Bellator featherweight tournament due to a knee injury. He has been replaced by 11-2-1 Mike Corey who made his Bellator debut last year by fighting Chris Horodecki to a confusing draw. The good news is that we made this extensive documentary in conjunction with WHOA! TV that follows Ronnie Mann and his path to the Bellator featherweight tournament. Take some time off from work/school and let your eyes relax a little by watching this video. I'm sure they would appreciate it. They, of course, being your overworked eyes.
Posted in: bellator, news, ronnie mann, mann, ronnie
Read the full article at Middle EasyEddie Alvarez, Shinya Aoki to Rematch at Bellator 66 in Cleveland
Bellator Fighting Championships CEO Bjorn Rebney on Thursday tweeted news of the matchup, which takes place April 20 at Bellator 66. No other bouts have been announced for the show, which will emanate from the I-X Center in Cleveland and air on MTV2 and Epix.
Posted in: bellator, cleveland bellator, ix center, cleveland, ix
Read the full article at SherdogBellator heavyweight Blagoi Ivanov suffers serious injury in club stabbing
Blagoi Ivanov, a former Combat Sambo world champion, has suffered life-threatening injuries after a stabbing at a nightclub in Bulgaria over the weekend.
Ivanov is currently signed to Bellator’s heavyweight roster, having won his first two fights with the promotion.
The Sofia News Agency reported that Ivanov and two of his friends were attacked by eight people carrying bats and knives at a club late at night. Ivanov suffered a deep knife wound to his chest that reached his heart, forcing him into surgery. Doctors performed the needed-operation but he remains under intense care.
In 2008, Ivanov defeated Fedor Emelianenko in a Sambo match, helping elevate his name in the world of MMA. This past December he toppled Ricco Rodriguez via TKO to improve his overall record to 6-0.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, ivanov, knife wound, weekend ivanov, lifethreatening injuries
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainReport: Bellator heavyweight fighting for life (Yahoo! Sports)
Bellator heavyweight Blagoi Ivanov is reportedly on artificial life support after being stabbed in Sofia, Bulgaria over the weekend. Reports say he was attacked by a group of men with bats. Bellator doesn't have all of the details from the … Continue reading →
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, sofia bulgaria, life support, weekend reports
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsMorning Report: 'The Ultimate Fighter 15' Cast List, Ben Henderson's Rejected TUF 9 Audition
Ever since it's inception in 2005, The Ultimate Fighter has proven to be the UFC's cornerstone for farming young talent, providing an ample slew of champions and contenders over the show's fourteen seasons. So with every release of a new season's cast, like we saw yesterday, there exists the faintest glimmer that we may be witnessing the rise of the next great champion. It's what draws us back year after year.
But you already know all that. And plus, the show is still as hit-or-miss as they come. Since 2009, just 21 of the 75 contestants presently hold a UFC contract, good for a lowly 28-percent success rate (not counting TUF 14).
So you're telling me, in a season that produced just three of those 21 names, former WEC champ and new UFC lightweight champ Ben Henderson couldn't make the cut? That seems baffling.
But what do I know. You be the judge. Check out Bendo's rejected TUF 9 audition tape, and catch up with all of yesterday's big news with the Morning Report.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Carlos Condit willing to wait for 'Michael Jordan of MMA.' In speaking with our own Ariel Helwani, Condit revealed why he would be ready to wait for Georges St. Pierre if need be.
Ultimate Fighter cast announced. The UFC and FX revealed the 32-fighter cast that will participate in the The Ultimate Fighter 15.
Jeremy Stephens vs. Donald Cerrone booked for May 15. With an injury to Yves Edwards, Cerrone received a new opponent for his UFC on FUEL 3 lightweight duel.
Bellator's Blagoi Ivanov reportedly stabbed in heart. The undefeated Bulgarian heavyweight is clinging to life after a Sunday morning barroom brawl, according to reports.
Bas Rutten talks PRIDE, UFC 144, and K-1. Matt Roth caught up with El Guapo at Legacy Fighting Championship 10 as he prepared to celebrate his 47th birthday over the weekend.
MEDIA STEW
It's pretty ridiculous that just three years ago Ben Henderson was getting rejected by The Ultimate Fighter 9, and now he's the No. 1 lightweight in the world.
Fedor indulged himself in a little sambo while he waits on the shelf. (HT: Middle Easy)
This right here might be the greatest hype video we've seen all year. (HT: Bloody Elbow)
Wanderlei Silva walks the streets of Brazil and gets his motivational speaking on as he prepares for The Ultimate Fighter Brasil.
Remember that time when Frank Mir absolutely shattered Big Nog's arm? You know, there was that grizzly x-ray of the damage. Wait, that was just a few months ago? Well call him Wolverine, because apparently he's back in the gym already. (HT: MMA Mania)
I'm not really sure what this is about, but I'm sure it has something to do with Anderson Silva.
I will be sending you a knife, fork, dinner-plate, and napkin.Please eat those words, and let me know how they taste, Stupid.
— chael sonnen (@sonnench) February 27, 2012
That cake looks terrified.
Today was a very special day! After a great workout, I got a birthday cake from my Brazilian Top Team Family! twitter.com/ToquinhoMMA/st…
— Rousimar Palhares (@ToquinhoMMA) February 28, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Monday, Feb. 27, 2012):
- UFC on FUEL 3: Yves Edwards (41-18-1) out, Jeremy Stephens (20-7) in against Donald Cerrone (17-4, 1 NC)
- Bellator 60: Shamar Bailey (13-5) vs. Josh Shockley (8-1)
- Bellator 60: Mike Corey (11-2-1) vs. Bobby Reardanz (8-10)
- Bellator 60: Lance Surma (1-0) vs. Eric Oria (0-0)
- Bellator 60: Cory Galloway (4-0) vs. Jake Nauracy (8-0)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day goes to BE reader hobbie: The Right "Answer": The Case for an Immediate Frankie Edgar Rematch.
I never fail to marvel at the odd, utterly unpredictable process by which MMA fans choose what "controversial" decisions to care about.
Nick Diaz doesn't get the nod over Carlos Condit? Robbery, I say! Mike Bisping squeaks past Matt Hamill? Home cooking at it's worst! BJ Penn doesn't get the decision over GSP? I hate wrestling! GSP's a cheater! RAHHHHHH!
And yet other times, the chorus of fans is remarkably silent. Ellenberger vs. Sanchez was a razor close decision featuring a possible 10-8 round - yet not a peep was made about that decision. Anthony Pettis, he of showtime kick legend, had an extremely close fight with Jeremy Stephens that no one got too worked up about. I recall lots of talk about "everybody being a winner" when the ref's raised Dan Henderson's hand instead of "Shogun" Rua's - but switch Dan's hand for Lyoto Machida's that gets raised instead of Rua's, it was an affront to the fight gods.
It's fascinating stuff. You could write a master's thesis on the psyche of the MMA fan when it comes to close decisions. Case in point: last weekend's Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson title fight.
Found something entertaining, brutal, or bizarre you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just send it to @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, fighter, vs, henderson
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator heavyweight Blagoi Ivanov reportedly stabbed during bar fight, in critical condition
Blagoi Ivanov, a participant in the Bellator season five heavyweight tournament, is reportedly clinging to life after suffering a stab wound in which the knife pierced his heart.
The Bulgarian English-speaking news site Novinite has the dirty details:
"Sunday night Ivanov and two of his friends had just occupied their places in a bar on Graf Ignatiev Str., when a group of 8 persons armed with bats and knives came in and attacked them.
At 5.10 am police came in to find the attackers escaped and Ivanov with a deep stab wound under his armpit."
Ivanov had to undergo an emergency operation to save his life. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, speaking to USA Today said that he has been in constant contact with Ivanov's management and the undefeated heavyweight is in critical, but stable condition. He also has yet to regain consciousness.
The Bulgarian famously ended Fedor Emelianenko's streak of Sambo world titles in 2008, defeating "The Last Emperer" in the semifinals before claiming the gold medal for himself.
Ivanov qualified for the Bellator season five heavyweight tournament with a first round technical knockout victory against William Penn.
In the tournament quarterfinals, he destroyed veteran Zak Jensen both standing and on the ground, advancing to the final four with a second round guillotine choke.
Unfortunately for "Baga," he was forced to pull out of the tournament after suffering an injury in training although he recovered enough to take a fight against former UFC champion Ricco Rodriguez on Christmas Eve late last year, defeating the American via third round technical knockout.
There is currently no timetable on his recovery or if he will ever be able to fight again.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, ivanov, bellator season, stab wound
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 60 Season Six Premiere Event Promo
Bellator’s season six kicks off with Bellator 60 on Friday, March 9, at The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond, Indiana and will feature a featherweight title fight between Joe Warren and Pat Curran along with the opening round of the featherweight tournament. The show will broadcast live on Spike.com (prelims) and MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, featherweight tournament, spikecom prelims, hammond indiana, horseshoe hammond
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 60 fight card complete with 11 bouts, Bailey-Shockley joins prelims
The fight card for the first event of Bellator's sixth season is now complete.
Officials today announced the inclusion of four additional preliminary-card bouts to Bellator 60, which takes place March 9 at The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond, Ind.
The event's main card airs live on MTV2 while preliminary-card fights stream on Spike.com.
Posted in: fight, bellator, card, hammond ind, horseshoe hammond
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Heavyweight Blagoi Ivanov Stabbed in Heart, Clinging to Life Support
Undefeated Bellator heavyweight Blagoi Ivanov is clinging to life at Pirogov Hospital in Sofia, Bulgaria after reportedly being stabbed in the heart in a Sunday morning barroom brawl.
According to Bulgaria's Sofia News Agency, the fighter remains in critical condition on the hospital's artificial life support.
Ivanov and two friends were allegedly attacked by eight individuals armed with bats and knives immediately after arriving to a bar on Graf Ignatiev Street. Police arrived at 5:10 a.m. to discover the assailants missing and a deep stab wound under Ivanov's armpit that was later found to have pierced his heart.
The three victims were rushed to Pirogov Hospital, where surgeons reportedly carried out a life-saving operation on Ivanov. Despite the procedure, doctors maintain that the 25-year-old's life is still "under a real threat."
Ivanov's two friends were treated for light wounds and bruises and have since been released from the hospital.
Police are currently investigating the attack. According to reports, the same bar was also the scene of a recent shooting.
Ivanov (6-0, 1 NC) is perhaps best known for being the man to dethrone Fedor Emelianenko in the 2008 Combat Sambo World Championships finals. After rolling to a 3-0 record to kick off his professional mixed martial arts career, "Baga" inked a deal with Bellator Fighting Championships, where he promptly finished William Penn and Zak Jensen to advance to the semi-finals of Season 5's heavyweight tournament.
However, Ivanov would ultimately withdraw from a Bellator 56 bout against Thiago Santos due to an injury sustained in training. He then fought against former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez, earning a third-round TKO victory last December.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, life, ivanov, pirogov hospital
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBlagoi Ivanov stabbed, Bellator asks for 'thoughts and prayers'
Bellator is asking fans for their thoughts and prayers as Bulgarian heavyweight Blagoi Ivanov reportedly clings to life.
Over the weekend, multiple reports stated the Bellator veteran was attacked by a group of men at a bar in Sofia, Bulgaria, and remains in critical condition after being stabbed in the chest.
"Right now, we do not have all of the details, but our thoughts and prayers are with Blagoi and his family," Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said.
Posted in: bellator, thought, blagoi ivanov, blagoi, chest right
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWelterweights Ryan Ford, Luis “Sapo” Santos Targeted for Bellator 67 in Ontario
Top Canadian talent Ryan Ford will likely make his Bellator debut on May 4, as a welterweight confrontation between “The Real Deal” and Luis Santos is in the works for Bellator 67.
Posted in: bellator, bellator debut, lui, welterweight confrontation, deal ”
Read the full article at SherdogBellator inks DREAM champ Marius Zaromskis
Bellator has signed DREAM champion and former Strikeforce welterweight title challenger Marius Zaromskis to a multi-fight deal.
Bellator officials today confirmed the signing with MMAjunkie.com, which MMAFighting.com first reported.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, and a debut date and opponent have not been finalized for the 31-year-old fighter.
Posted in: bellator, deal, debut date, mariu, dream champion
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 60 adds Wiuff vs. Gomez, McCorkle vs. White to prelims
A new pair of matchups is set for Bellator's season-six debut as Anthony Gomez faces Travis Wiuff in a light-heavyweight contest and Sean McCorkle meets Richard White in a super-heavyweight bout.
Bellator officials today confirmed the matchups with MMAjunkie.com.
Both preliminary-card fights are scheduled for Bellator 60, which takes place March 9 at The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond, Ind.
Posted in: bellator, travis wiuff, preliminarycard fights, anthony gomez, lightheavyweight contest
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMarius Zaromskis Signs with Bellator
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: bellator, zaromski, mattyblayze, sign, mariu
Read the full article at RedditBellator Returns to Canada with Bellator 67 on May 4 at Casino Rama in Ontario
Bellator Fighting Championships make at least two Canadian appearances in Season 6, as the Chicago-based promotion Thursday announced that Bellator 67 will take place at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario.
Posted in: bellator, casino rama, rama, bellator returns, canadian appearances
Read the full article at Sherdog
John Morgan: Bellator ready to shine bright
When Bellator Fighting Championships CEO and founder Bjorn Rebney launched his tournament-based MMA promotion in 2008, many MMA pundits saw the start-up company as just another organisation destined for failure. And yet, three-and-a-half years and 59 events later, the promotion appears firmly entrenched in the sport’s landscape. Where can the organisation go from here? Far, says the Chicago-based promoter.
“Just based on what’s occurred in the game over the last five or six months, I think we’re the number-two promotion in the space,” Rebney told Fighters Only. “The UFC still holds a dominant position as the number-one, but I think we’ve got an amazing television alliance with Spike TV. The future looks extremely bright.”
Yes, that’s Spike TV – the same cable channel that has been the UFC’s television partner since 2005. With the UFC bolting for the Fox family of networks, Spike made a firm commitment to remaining relevant in MMA, and the channel’s parent company, Viacom, recently purchased a controlling interest in Bellator. Needless to say, Rebney is delighted with the surprising turn of events.
“We have the greatest television partner you could hope to have in the MMA space, and I think there’s a lot of unbelievable potential for the brand in the coming year and the coming three years,” Rebney adds. “We have the best partners you could hope to have. They wrote the book on TV and MMA, promotion in MMA, marketing and publicising MMA, advertising MMA, reaching the hardcore consumer and reaching the general-market consumer.
“It’s very exciting. The future looks good, and we’ve got the best partners you could hope to have moving into it.” Bellator, which currently airs in the US on MTV2, won’t make the transition to Spike TV until 2013, unless a few existing contractual hurdles are cleared. While Rebney is notoriously tight-lipped when discussing deals in progress, he’s unquestionably hopeful an agreement can be reached.
“You never know,” Rebney said. “Things could potentially happen earlier, I hope.”
There are opportunities, to be sure, but in stark contrast to some past failed promotions, Bellator and its brass seem to be listening to their fans’ suggestions. Don’t like non-title superfights? Good, we’ll get rid of them. Want a way to see the prelim fights? Fine, we’ll stream them online. And, perhaps even more revealing are the company’s ambitious goals, Rebney and his team are looking at growth on a global scale.
“We’ve been talking with three different networks in Brazil,” he revealed. “We’re working very hard to get a deal with the right Brazilian television partner so we can start bringing the entire four-hour show – the two-hour preliminaries on Spike.com and the televised event – to the Brazilian audience.”
Bellator’s sixth season is expected to feature tournaments in five weight classes, rather than the four featured in past seasons, in order to provide more challengers for the promotion’s champions and eliminating the need for non-title ‘superfights.’
Additionally, matchmaker and talent scout Sam Caplan will continue his commendable efforts of scouring the globe to find the world’s top unsigned talent. The Spike TV transition will unquestionably help the brand grow, especially among the common fan. US viewers currently forced to watch the events in standard definition will be relieved to finally have a widely distributed high-definition option. But there are other minor tweaks that could vastly help the promotion. And moving off of Saturday nights seems the first priority.
With The Ultimate Fighter moving to Fridays on FX in 2012, the mid-week will be barren of MMA, and Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday nights would all seem prime real estate. By not going head-to-head with the UFC on Saturdays, Bellator can avoid having their great moments – such as the thrilling fight of the year contender between Mike Chandler vs Eddie Alvarez – being quickly overshadowed by the UFC’s (Dan Henderson vs ‘Shogun’ Rua). Bellator has already announced they will move to a Friday slot when their new season begins this year.
“I don’t think we’ll see any dramatic changes for season six,” Rebney said. “The level of the fighters that are fighting for the organisation will continue to improve. I think we saw an amazing leap forward in the qualitative level of the fighters fighting for us this season, and I think it will continue.
It will just be slight variations, slight improvements on the production, slight improvements in terms of the fighters, unique new venue alliances, more distribution internationally, including – I hope – Brazil for season six. But we’ll just keep trying to make it better, really. That’s what we do every single day is just try and make it better.”
Bellator’s MTV2 ratings have proven a virtual rollercoaster in recent months, but they certainly surpass Strikeforce’s slumping viewership numbers on Showtime. Rebney has no ill-conceived notions of taking down the sport’s premier organisation, the UFC, but he’s also not comfortable remaining stagnant.
“We’re just very excited about season six,” Rebney finished. “We’re very excited about what’s coming up next. We’ve got a lot of work to do and a lot of planning, but this should be an unbelievable season. Before you know it, we’re going to blink and be on Spike TV. Things are going in the right direction.”
John Morgan is the lead staff reporter for MMA Junkie
Posted in: bellator, mma, promotion, season, rebney
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBellator returning to Casino Rama on May 4
Bellator Fighting Championships announced Wednesday that it will make its third trip to Casino Rama in Orillia, Ont., on May 4.
Posted in: bellator, casino rama, casino, rama, orillia ont
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator returns to Canada's Casino Rama for Bellator 67 on May 4
Bellator is returning to Casino Rama for a third time overall - and to Canada for the second time in four weeks.
Officials today announced Bellator 67 is slated to take place May 4 at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario.
No fights are announced for the card, though it's expected to feature second-round matches from Bellator's upcoming season-six tournaments.
Posted in: bellator, casino rama, casino, rama, feature secondround
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 67 booked for MTV2 on May 4 at Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada
CHICAGO, Ill. (February 22, 2012) - After two hugely-successful shows in 2011, Bellator Fighting Championships announced today that the world's leading tournament-based promotion will be heading back to the sold-out, raucous Casino Rama in Ontario, Canada on Friday, May 4 for Bellator 67.
The night will be loaded with tournament action, as well as a bevy of preliminary fights filled with local stars sure to make the Canadian faithful proud. Tickets for this event are on sale now and are available at Ticketmaster.com and in-person at the Casino Rama Box Office. Tickets are priced from $25-$175 Canadian.
"We're thrilled to be able to partner once again with this world leader to bring Ontario MMA fans another edge-of-your-seat action packed fight night," said Jeff Craik, Vice President of Marketing, Casino Rama. "This is exactly the type of Big Time Excitement customers have come to expect from us."
The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 8 p.m. EST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 6 p.m. EST, with the first fight scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The preliminary card, featuring the area's top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. EST.
"Casino Rama has been a spectacular home for Bellator throughout 2011, so returning to this majestic jewel of a resort/casino was a very easy decision to make," Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "As always our fight card will be stacked from top to bottom with many of the world's best fighters, so I expect nothing less than a packed house once again on May 4."
Bellator 67 will mark the third-time ever the organization has hosted an event at Casino Rama and the fourth time the promotion has visited Canada for an event.
More info on the fight card coming shortly.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.
Posted in: fight, bellator, casino rama, casino, rama
Read the full article at MMA ManiaHorodecki returns vs. Richman at Bellator 64
Chris Horodecki will fight in Ontario for a fourth consecutive time as he is set to take on Mike Richman in Windsor, Ont., at Bellator 64.
Posted in: bellator, horodecki, richman, mike richman, windsor ont
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator looking to do Shinya Aoki-Eddie Alvarez on April 20
It has been a little more than three long years since Eddie Alvarez was submitted by Shinya Aoki in Japan on New Year’s Eve. In the bout Aoki tapped Alvarez with a Heel Hook92 seconds into their bout. Now, it appears the former Bellator lightweight champion is poised exact his revenge on American soil.
Though no specific location was mentioned, it looks like Bellator is hoping to book Aoki-Alvarez II at Bellator 66. MMAJunkie was first to report the April 20 match-up.
Since the loss, Alvarez has been defeated just once when Michael Chandler claimed the Bellator lightweight title in a thrilling contest last year. Prior to the defeat he’d won seven straight including victories over Josh Neer and Roger Huerta. Alvarez has been pushing for a rematch with Aoki, as the loss continues to haunt him, and will now apparently get his wish. It could also mark Alvarez’s last fight in the promotion making a win even more important.
Aoki, currently on a seven fight winning streak, is considered to be one of the top BJJers in MMA. He has earned eighteen of his thirty total victories by way of submission including those over the likes of Alvarez, Rich Clementi, Lyle Beerbohm, Joachim Hansen, and Tatsuya Kawajiri.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE/BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, year, alvarez, aoki, bout aoki
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainShinya Aoki on tap for tilt with Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 66
The rumored rematch between submission savant Shinya Aoki and former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez appears to finally have a destination and date after months of speculation on when or whether it would take place at all. The two lightweights originally met on New Year’s Eve in 2008 where the “Tobikan Judan” tapped Alvarez out with a Heel Hook in the opening minutes of their bout.
Alvarez Anxious to Fight Aoki Again
According to MMAJunkie, both Aoki and Alvarez have verbally agreed to fight on April 20 at Bellator 66. No specific location was revealed.
Alvarez won seven straight after stumbling against the 30-5 Aoki but lost in his latest outing, a submission loss to rising star Michael Chandler this past November. Already holding victories over the likes of Pat Curran, Josh Neer, and Roger Huerta, the 22-3 Philly fighter is believed to be at the end of his Bellator contract and could be fighting in his longtime home for the last time, adding yet another layer of importance coming out with his hand raised against Aoki.
Though Alvarez came up short in his last scrap, Aoki has found success in seven consecutive bouts including five by way of submission bringing his total career tap-outs to eighteen. Aoki last visited North American in April 2011 where he took out Lyle Beerbohm in 93 seconds at a Strikeforce event.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
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Posted in: bellator, submission, alvarez, shinya aoki, aoki
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator adds Russian prospect Magomed Saadulaev to lightweight division
Magomed Saadulaev is coming to Bellator, as the once-beaten Russian is expected to join the 155-pound division for the fight promotion.
Saadulaev (14-1) had competed at welterweight previously in his career, racking up eight wins via submission. He is currently on a three-fight winning streak. While his exact debut is unknown, Saadulaev is not expected to compete in Bellator’s upcoming lightweight tournament. It is likely he will make his debut and be considered for future fields depending on how he does.
MMA Junkie was the first to report the signing.
Bellator Season 6 fires up on March 9 with Bellator 60, a card featuring UFC veterans Sean McCorkle and Shamar Bailey as well as the opening round from the promotion’s featherweight tourney and a title-fight between 145-pound champ Joe Warren and rising star Pat Curran.
PHOTO CREDIT – PRO FC
Posted in: bellator, shamar bailey, mma junkie, saadulaev, oncebeaten russian
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainFive star featherweight prospect Mike Richman signs with Bellator and debuts versus Chris Horodecki
Mike Richman's (11-1) second chance is finally here. A longtime Midwest featherweight prospect, Richman has inked a deal to compete in the Bellator promotion. Richman wast cast on the Ultimate Fighter season 12 but lost in the preliminary round as a lightweight. The 26 year old Richman will fight at 145 pounds in Bellator with his first match set versus former IFL star Chris Horodecki (18-3-1). The Richman-Horodecki matchup will take place on the undercard of Bellator 64 in Canada on April 6th. Richman is a five star prospect at 145 pounds and is slotted in the number five spot in the latest ULTMMA.com prospect rankings. Since his time on TUF 12 Richman has gone 3-1 on the Minnesota MMA circuit. A Minnesota Martial Arts Academy team member Richman's only pro defeat came via spilt decision to Brian Pearman (7-1). Richman last saw cage time in November 2011 when he downed Morgan Sickinger (10-5) by unanimous decision; the win was Richman's first by decision in his 12 fight career. Horodecki will compete under the Bellator banner for the third time at BFC 64. After a 2-2 mark with the WEC Horodecki was released from the promotion in December 2010. Now fighting as a featherweight Horodecki last fought in November 2011 when he battled Mike Corey (12-2) to controversial majority draw.
Posted in: bellator, prospect, horodecki, richman, featherweight horodecki
Read the full article at UltMMABellator signs Russian prospect Magomed Saadulaev
Bellator Fighting Championships has signed once-beaten Russian prospect Magomed Saadulaev.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the deal with sources close to the fighter.
Saadulaev, who has competed at welterweight in his native nation, is expected to drop to 155 pounds under the Bellator banner.
Posted in: bellator, prospect, magomed, saadulaev, fighter saadulaev
Read the full article at MMA JunkieRematch with Aoki is likely Alvarez's last dance with Bellator
Bellator's next lightweight season kicks off on March 23rd, but one name is notably absent from the list of entrants: recently deposed king Eddie Alvarez, whose crown was taken by Season 4 winner Michael Chandler in an epic war back in November. Despite Bjorn Rebney's urging, Alvarez chose not to enter this season's tournament and work towards a rematch with Chandler, opting instead for a chance to avenge his 2008 loss to DREAM champ Shinya Aoki. Alvarez says they're aiming for April 20th (presumably Bellator 66) and it's just down to the paperwork, and Rebney's talking like it's on too, so that's a good sign.
Alvarez used to talk like he was cool with hanging out in Bellator and fighting relative unknowns for the time being, with the plan to build up his name and resume until the UFC would welcome him with much hype and money. Considering he's making "six figures" per fight under Bellator, much more than Zuffa offered, it was hard to fault him. Except that plan only works as long as you continue to dominate, and your stock suffers when you lose to one of those relative nobodies. Alvarez is now more or less admitting that he's learned this lesson the hard way.
“It makes no sense for me to rejoin a tournament and fight three guys that people don’t really care to see me fight rather than fight someone a Shinya Aoki, who is ranked in my weight class. I haven’t fought anyone ranked in my weight class in God knows how long. I’d be stupid not to take this fight. He’s ranked top five in my weight class, I believe, and it’ll get me back into the rankings. I’ll be able to forward positively.”
Not only is Alvarez looking for higher-profile opponents now, there's two other big reasons why he'd rather take a "super-fight" than run the gauntlet again. First, he doesn't think he should have to win the tourney to earn a rematch with Chandler.
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Posted in: fight, bellator, season, alvarez, sign alvarez
Read the full article at FightlinkerEddie Alvarez Wasn’t Happy Bellator Wanted Him To Compete In Another Tournament
“I’m definitely not happy with the decision of putting me back into the tournament and having me do all that… I feel like if I went out and I fought Mike Chandler and he just completely dominated, I could understand them saying, ‘alright go back to the tournament, go back to the drawing board, and work your way up.’ I sort of look at it like you work your way up the corporate ladder and you show up 15 minutes late for work one day and you drove me back to the mail room… I put more effort and more love into the promotion and I expected a little bit better back, but it is what it is and I understand the business. I’m just glad that they were able to get Aoki over here so that I can avenge my loss… Instead of going in the tournament again and doing all that again, I’d be more interested in just going on my Twitter or going on MMA.tv and asking all the people who watch this sport, who love this sport and support this sport, who is available and who would you guys like to sign? And tell Bjorn, ‘hey, this is who you sign.’ In all honesty, it’s up to the fans. When the fans scream for a rematch because it was Fight of the Year and when it doesn’t happen, I’m kind of sad about that.”
— Eddie Alvarez on MMA Weekly Radio voicing his displeasure with Bellator wanting him to compete in another lightweight tournament to earn a rematch against Michael Chandler
Alvarez didn’t specifically comment on reports that negotiations have “soured” between him and Bellator, but it certainly doesn’t sound like he’s too happy with them right now. Speaking to Heavy.com, Alvarez said everything started out great with Bellator when he fought in their first lightweight tournament. He was fighting regularly but once he became champion everything slowed down too much for him.
“It was very good in the beginning at Bellator because of the tournament structure. There were a lot of fights right out of the gate and I stayed active. But just like any other time, when you become champion, all of that slows down. I’m not at a time in my career where I’m ready to slow down.
“It’s almost sad to say but what comes with being a champion, almost makes it undesirable for me. It’s great to be a champion, but it’s more important to keep fighting. This is how I make my living and I chose this profession because I love to fight. If you’re only going to fight me once or twice a year, I’m better off getting another job because it’s just not enough for me. It’s not enough for me to sustain a livelihood, and it’s not enough for my own personal wants and needs as far as my development as a fighter goes. I need to keep competing and improving.”
“My goal isn’t even to necessarily win every fight – it is to get those tough fights against top guys. I want as many as I can, because when I do get in the place where I’m ready to challenge for the world titles and get those big opportunities, I’ll be ready and it will make it that much easier. I just want to get in there, get as much cage time as I can and fight against the best competition we can get. That’s my goal right now and we’ll go from there.”
I probably don’t need to state the obvious here, but doesn’t the UFC sound like the perfect fit for Alvarez at this point in his career? Strikeforce could certainly use him, but would they really be able to keep him as active as he wants to be? I have my doubts.
As for his Bellator contract, Alvarez says he has 8-9 months with 1-2 fights left on it. Apparently, the Aoki fight isn’t 100% signed, sealed and delivered, however Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney is talking like it’s going to happen so it probably will. What happens after that fight remains unclear, but Rebney hopes Alvarez will want to stay on board and compete in their next lightweight tournament. Sounds like wishful thinking to me.
It’s also worth noting that Alvarez recently signed on with Authentic Sports Management and will be splitting his training time with the relatively new Blackzillian camp in South Florida where notable fighters such as Rashad Evans, Anthony Johnson and Melvin Guillard now train. You know who else just signed with ASM and joined the Blackzillians? UFC heavyweight top contender Alistair Overeem.
Image via Bellator
Posted in: fight, bellator, alvarez, tournament, ’m
Read the full article at MMA ConvertRick Hawn, Patricky Freire Get Bellator Lightweight Tournament Opponents
With no Eddie Alvarez in the upcoming Bellator 155-pound tournament and with no chance at a rematch with current champion Michael Chandler, eight men will take a shot at creating their own fight of the year candidate with the champ starting at March 23rd's Bellator 62 in Laredo, TX.
Patricky Freire vs. Lloyd Woodard
Freire (10-2, 3-1 Bellator) lost to Chandler by unanimous decision in his first tournament after knockout wins over Rob McCullough and Toby Imada. He returned to the winner's circle with a first round knockout of Kurt Pellegrino in November and is one of the favorites to win the tourney.
While Woodard (11-1, 1-1 Bellator) isn't a big name among today's lightweight crop, his only career loss was to Chandler and he has finished nine of his 11 opponents.
Rick Hawn vs. Ricardo Tirloni
Hawn (11-1, 3-1 Bellator) drops to lightweight for the first time after advancing to the welterweight finals last spring. The U.S. Olympian in judo has shown power in seven T/KO wins, but has had three straight fights go the distance. He faces Tirloni (14-1, 1-0 Bellator), who enters the tournament on an 11-fight win streak. Like many fellow Bellator fighters, the Brazilian is a finisher with 12 victories by submission or T/KO.
Brent Weedman vs. J.J. Ambrose
Weedman (18-7, 4-2 Bellator) is getting an opportunity despite two straight defeats. After winning his first four fights in the promotion, Weedman picked up decision losses to Jay Hieron and Chris Lozano and is dropping to lightweight to help turn it around. Ambrose (17-3-0-1) makes his promotional debut on a seven-fight win streak with nine overall wins by submission.
Rene Nazare vs. Thiago Michel
After running his record to 10-0 amidst a flurry of first round finishes, Nazare (10-1, 3-1 Bellator) was handed his first career loss last October. Despite that, he gets his first tournament opportunity against Michel (9-2), who is making his promotional debut with two straight wins. The Brazilian has finished all of his wins via T/KO and has been submitted in both of his career losses.
The event starts at 8 PM EST on MTV 2.
Other recent Bellator news on BE:
Zach Makovsky To Defend 135-Pound Title In April
Report: Eddie Alvarez, Bellator Contract Extension Talk Not Going Well
Ben Askren Vs. Douglas Lima Set For April 6
Ben Saunders, Brian Foster headline 170-pound tourney
Prindle vs. Santos, 185-pound brackets announced
145-pound tournament matches announced
Posted in: bellator, pound, loss, vs, tournament
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowReport: Eddie Alvarez & Bellator ‘Miles Apart’ On New Contract
Those of us who have longed to see Eddie Alvarez in the UFC may finally be closer to getting our wish.
According to Fighters Only, Alvarez’s upcoming fight against Shinya Aoki is the last on his Bellator contract and negotiations for a new deal have “soured.”
Both sides have been in negotiations on a new deal for some time but a source tells Fighters Only that he and Bellator and “miles apart” on the value of a new contract.
The source says that the tone has “soured” recently and that a resolution now seems all but impossible, with the respective parties adamant that they cannot move from their stated positions.
A training partner of UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, Alvarez has been on the UFC radar for some time.
This of course doesn’t mean Alvarez will land in the UFC, but it certainly makes it much more probable.
Assuming this news is true, his upcoming fight against Aoki will be even more critical than before. If he can avenge his loss and walk away with an impressive win his stock and interest level will be much higher. But if he loses, he would be on a two-fight skid, something the UFC typically shies away from when evaluating potential signees. I think they’d still take him just because of the excitement level he brings to fights, but it’s definitely in Eddie’s best interest to beat Aoki.
Either way, I truly hope 2012 is the year Eddie Alvarez finally makes it to the big show. It’s time.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, alvarez, contract, eddie
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 65 will be highlighted by Zach Makovsky-Eduardo Dantas for bantamweight title
Bellator has announced that Zach Makovsky will defend his bantamweight title on April 13 at Bellator 65 against season five tournament winner Eduardo Dantas. The event will take place from Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.
Along with the title match, the semifinals of the season six middleweight tournament will take place, along with the return of Lyman Good to action against LeVon Maynard.
Dantas rolled through the most recent bantamweight tourney, defeating Wilson Reis, Ed West, and Alexis Vila to secure a shot at Makovsky, who is on an eight-fight winning streak of his own.
“Zach and Eduardo are two of the greatest bantamweights in MMA today, so this should be a really spectacular fight,” said Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney in a recent press release. “We always have a packed house whenever we head out to Atlantic City, and I expect nothing less on April 13.”
“I’m here at Bellator to win the bantamweight champion. I plan to not only win the title, but to keep it for many years to come,” added Dantas.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, title, bantamweight, alexis vila, danta
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainThe Best Finishes in Bellator History
Though it may not receive the same level of recognition as the UFC, Bellator has provided MMA fans with some of the most spectacular finishes in the sport since its inception in April 2009.
Posted in: bellator, sport, mma fans, bellator history, ufc bellator
Read the full article at Low KickBellator 135-Pound Champion Zach Makovsky Defending In Mid April
It will be more than 17 months from when Zach Makovsky first won the Bellator bantamweight title to when he will first defend it, but that day will finally come on Friday, April 13, when recent tournament winner Eduardo Dantas challenges him at Bellator 65 in Atlantic City, NJ.
Makovsky (14-2, 6-0 Bellator) became the promotion's first 135-pound champion with a unanimous decision win over Ed West. The 29-year-old has posted victories over Chad Robichaux (third round TKO) and Ryan Roberts (first round submission) since then, both in 2011 non-title fights. The EliteXC alum has won eight in a row.
He will face a dangerous opponent in the 22-year-old Dantas (13-2, 3-0 Bellator), who won Bellator's second-ever bantamweight tournament with wins over Wilson Reis, West and then Alexis Vila in the finals. The Brazilian has won six in a row and has shown the ability to finish via T/KO or submission in his young career.
The undercard will feature the semifinals of the season 6 185-pound tournament with some combination of Maiquel Falcao, Brian Rogers, Giva Santana, Vitor Vianna, Norman Paraisy, Bruno Santos, Vyacheslav Vasilevsky and Victor O'Donnell fighting. Also, Lyman Good faces LeVon Maynard in a qualifier for the next welterweight tournament.
The event airs at 8 PM EST on MTV2.
Other Bellator news on Bloody Elbow:
Report: Eddie Alvarez, Bellator Contract Extension Talk Not Going Well
Ben Askren Vs. Douglas Lima Set For April 6
Ben Saunders, Brian Foster headline 170-pound tourney
Prindle vs. Santos, 185-pound brackets announced
145-pound tournament matches announced
Posted in: bellator, pound, tournament, makovsky, april
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowFormer TUF finalist Kris McCray headed to Bellator
Kris McCray, who made it to the finals of The Ultimate Fighter Season 11, has signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator Fighting Championships and will debut in the upcoming season.
McCray (7-3) was defeated by Court McGee in 2010 in the finals of TUF 11 and dropped two more bouts inside the Octagon thereafter, forcing his release.
Since his stint in the UFC, McCray has won two fights on the regional circuit. He has been working out in New Jersey at Ricardo Almeida‘s gym with UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar.
News of the signing was first reported by MMAWeekly. Bellator has yet to announce a date/event for McCray’s initial appearance under the promotion’s banner.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, bellator, multifight deal, mccray, ufc mccray
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainReport: Eddie Alvarez At 'All But Impossible' Contract Impasse With Bellator
Fighters Only reported Friday afternoon that Eddie Alvarez is having issues with Bellator Fighting Championships on a contract extension and the chances of it being resolved aren't realistic.
From web editor John Joe O'Regan:
Both sides have been in negotiations on a new deal for some time but a source tells Fighters Only that he and Bellator and "miles apart" on the value of a new contract.The source says that the tone has "soured" recently and that a resolution now seems all but impossible, with the respective parties adamant that they cannot move from their stated positions.
Alvarez (22-3, 6-1 Bellator) had a seven fight win streak snapped and his 155-pound title taken by Michael Chandler last November in one of the year's best fights. However, he was oddly left out of the brackets for the impending lightweight tournament with promotion head Bjorn Rebney saying it wasn't the right move at the time. The 28-year-old is one of the promotion's highest paid fighters and most recognizable stars.
In a recent interview with Heavy MMA, Alvarez addressed his contract situation.
"I still have eight or nine months left on my contract with Bellator or one or two fights," Alvarez said. "I’m waiting to finalize things, but I believe we are going to be doing the fight with Shinya Aoki. That would be on April 20, but we just received the contracts and we are looking them over. Nothing is 100 percent right now, but that is what we are aiming to do."
Without a title, there's no championship clause to keep him in the promotion if he wants to leave for either the UFC or a much-discussed fight with Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez as a tantalizing possibility.
Bloody Elbow reported that Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki II was a go for April 20 but as Alvarez said above, no official announcement has been made yet. It's important to note that he recently changed management, going with growing powerhouse Authentic Sports Management that boasts a roster that includes Rashad Evans, Miguel Torres, Matt Mitrione, Melvin Guillard and more.
Posted in: fight, bellator, promotion, alvarez, contract
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowZach Makovsky to Defend Belt at Bellator 65
Bellator Fighting Championships on Friday announced that bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky would defend his title against Season 5 tournament winner Eduardo Dantas at Bellator 65.
Posted in: bellator, eduardo, makovsky, zach makovsky, zach
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyMakovsky-Dantas, Good-Maynard Set for Bellator 65 in N.J.
Bellator Fighting Championships announced Friday that bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky will defend his title against Season 5 tournament winner Eduardo Dantas at Bellator 65 on April 13.
Posted in: bellator, season, tournament, nj bellator, makovskydantas goodmaynard
Read the full article at SherdogMakovsky-Dantas, Good-Maynard Set for Bellator 65 in Atlantic City
Bellator Fighting Championships announced Friday that bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky will defend his title against Season 5 tournament winner Eduardo Dantas at Bellator 65 on April 13.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, city, makovskydantas goodmaynard, goodmaynard
Read the full article at SherdogChamp Makovsky vs. Dantas headlines Bellator 65 on April 13 in New Jersey
Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky meets
impressive season-five tournament winner Eduardo Dantas at Bellator 65.
Bellator Fighting Championship officials today announced the matchup and
the event, which takes place April 13 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic
City, N.J.
"Our bantamweight division has been electrifying and has provided some
of the best Bellator moments," Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney stated. "Zach
and Eduardo are two of the greatest bantamweights in MMA today, so this
should be a really spectacular fight."
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, bantamweight division, boardwalk hall, mma today
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 65: Zach Makovsky vs Eduardo Dantas booked for April 14 in Atlantic City
CHICAGO, Ill. (February 10, 2012) - After a spectacular run through the Bellator Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament, Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas (@Dudantas22) has earned his world title shot. With victories over Wilson Reis, Ed West and the explosive Olympian Alexis Vila, Dantas is just a win away from becoming a World Champion when he battles reigning Bellator Bantamweight world Champion Zach "Fun Size" Makovsky (@ZachFunSize) on Friday, April 13 from Atlantic City's historic Boardwalk Hall.
Tickets for the event are now on sale and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at (609) 348-7000 and at the Boardwalk Hall box office. Tickets are priced from $50-$150. The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 8 p.m. EST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. EST, with the first fight scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The preliminary card, featuring the area's top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. EST.
"Our bantamweight division has been electrifying and has provided some of the best Bellator moments," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Zach and Eduardo are two of the greatest bantamweights in MMA today so this should be a really spectacular fight. We always have a packed house whenever we head out to Atlantic City, and I expect nothing less on April 13."
Widely regarded as the top bantamweight prospect in the world, Dantas stormed through the Season 5 tournament on his way to a title shot with Makovsky. Only 23 years old, the Nova Uniao product brings an incredibly well-rounded attack to Boardwalk Hall, and only has one thing on his mind.
"I'm here at Bellator to win the Bantamweight Championship," Dantas said. "I plan to not only win the title, but to keep it for many years to come."
Makovsky enters the cage riding an impressive eight fight win streak, and will look to keep the momentum going in his first career title defense. "Fun Size" currently trains alongside former Bellator Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez at the Philadelphia Fight Factory and plans on using his wrestling prowess to dominate Dantas.
"I want to dominate everyone I compete against, but at the same time, I don't feel like I have to make any kind of statement," Makovsky said. "I just want to continue getting better and do the best I can every time I enter the cage. I don't pay attention to the rankings because I feel like that's going to put extra pressure on me. I just look forward to defending my belt on April 13."
The night will also see the return of Lyman Good (@thegoodcyborg), who rejoins Bellator after nearly a year away from the cage. Good will battle LeVon Maynard, and has his sights set on regaining the form that made him Bellator's first Welterweight Champion.
"Nothing makes me feel more alive than getting back into that cage," Good said. "I've got a lot of momentum behind me for this fight, and looking forward to getting back to doing what I love. I've put in a ton of preparation for this, and just want to reintroduce the MMA world to what I can bring to the table."
Bellator 65 will also host the semifinals of the promotion's Season 6 Middleweight Tournament. Maiquel Falcao (@falcaomma), Brian Rogers (@Brogthepredator), Giva Santana (@Givasantana) and Vitor Vianna (@Vitorvianna) headline the stacked tournament and should provide fireworks.
The Boardwalk Hall event will be loaded with local talent, including Pennsylvania native and fan favorite Duane Bastress taking on Pino Cruz, as well as Bellator veteran and Philadelphia resident Tim Carpenter battling Ricardo Romero.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: bellator, world, bantamweight, danta, makovsky
Read the full article at MMA Mania58 Days Out: Ben Askren Vs Douglas Lima Booked For Bellator 64
Since we flipped the calender to 2012, the UFC has dominated North American MMA headlines, already having put on two numbered PPV events plus two more on free television. The Strikeforce show in early January came and went with little fanfare, aside from a positive steroid test by "King" Mo Lawal. The other major North American promotion, Bellator Fighting Championships, has been fairly quiet, with their first show of the year still a month away.
Some big news came down the line yesterday though, as the organizations biggest star, welterweight champion Ben Askren, has a time and place for his next championship defense: Bellator 64 will be held on April 6th, in Windsor, Ontario. Askren will be defending the belt against season five tournament winner Douglas Lima.
One of the reasons that I do fight announcements in this format, (XX Days Out) is to bring attention to the length of time the fighters will have to prepare for each other. It seems that the average training camp for a mixed martial arts fight is between 8-12 weeks, or 60-90 days. The UFC books their shows well in advance, so they almost always give fighters a maximum amount of time to prepare, with short notice fights occuring only when an injury takes place. Strikeforce and Bellator have not been nearly as accomodating to fighters in this respect and this is my first chance to document it. (With this particular fight, it's not really relevant, since Askren knew he would be fighting Lima since November, when Lima won the tournament. But that is not always the case with Bellator fights.)
Ben Askren is 6-0 in Bellator competition, winning the second season welterweight tournament. In his last fight, against UFC veteran Jay Hieron, he won a very close decision. Lima is 3-0 in Bellator, with all his fights coming in the season five tournament. His last victory was also over a UFC veteran in Ben Saunders.
Askren is the 15th ranked welterweight in the world. He fights out of Roufusport.Lima is the 24th ranked welterweight in the world. He fights out of American Top Team Atlanta.
Bellator 64:
Ben Askren vs Douglas Lima. Welterweight Title Fight
Posted in: fight, bellator, welterweight, lima, askren
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendFormer TUF Finalist Kris McCray Signs with Bellator
Former 'Ultimate Fighter' finalist Kris 'Savage' McCray has signed a multi-fight deal to compete in Bellator Fighting Championships.
Posted in: bellator, finalist, multifight deal, mccray, kri
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBen Askren puts Bellator belt up against Douglas Lima on April 6 in Canada
Welterweight Ben Askren will attempt to run his unbeaten record to double-digits in early April when he defends his Bellator title against streaking contender Douglas Lima at Bellator 64, an event scheduled to take place on April 6 in Windsor, Ontario. Both men have won nine straight scraps.
The bout was confirmed through an official Bellator press release where it was also revealed the semifinal round of the company’s upcoming featherweight tournament will also take place on the card in addition to a fight featuring Chris Horodecki.
“I made no secret I wasn’t happy with my performance in that fight, and now having spent over six months training at Roufusport, I’m really confident in my striking,” said Askren while referring to his controversial Split Decision win over Jay Hieron in October. “Douglas is a great fighter, but I don’t think he’ll be able to handle what I bring to the table.”
In addition to Hieron, Askren’s 9-0 record also features wins over Dan Hornbuckle, Nick Thompson, and Lyman Good. The 27-year old has made a name for himself in part due to personality but also as a result of his Olympic-level wrestling prowess.
Comparably, Lima is three years younger than Askren but has nearly 3X as many fights with a 21-4 mark in MMA. “The Phenom” has finished eighteen of the opponents he’s beaten and earned his crack at Askren’s championship by stopping Ben Saunders with strikes at Bellator 57.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, ben, askren, april, table ”
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainFormer Bellator Champ Eddie Alvarez Looking for Redemption
Eddie Alvarez talks exclusively to HeavyMMA's Duane Finley about losing his Bellator lightweight title, an upcoming rematch with Shinya Aoki and how he wants his career to progress.
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, shinya aoki, aoki, eddie
Read the full article at Heavy MMABellator Champ Ben Askren Faces Douglas Lima at Bellator 64 on April 6
After completing the cards for Bellator 60 through Bellator 63 in March, Bellator has booked welterweight champion Ben Askren to defend his title against season five tournament winner Douglas Lima in the main event of Bellator 64 on April 6 at Caesars, Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Askren, a two-time NCAA champion wrestler, remained unbeaten as he defended his title over Jay Hieron by split decision in October, while Lima (21-4) beat Steve Carl, Chris Lozano, and Ben Sauders to win the season five tournament.
Bellator 64 will also host the semifinals of the season six featherweight tournament that kicks off on March 9 with Marlon Sandro vs. Roberto Vargas, Wagnney Fabiano vs. Ronnie Mann, Alexandre “PoPo” Bezerra vs. Genair da Silva, and Jeremy Spoon vs. Daniel Straus.
For the latest Bellator news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Posted in: bellator, vs, caesars windsor, ben sauders, march bellator
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator Announces Ben Askren Vs. Douglas Lima April 6 Title Bout
Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren will look to keep his undefeated record intact when he defends his title against No. 1 contender Douglas Lima on Friday, April 6th, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, in the main event of Bellator 64.
The Lima fight will be Askren's second defense of the gold he won in October 2010. His first defense was a year later, a controversial split decision over Jay Hieron that had this writer asking for a rematch. Due to the promotional rules however, only tournament winners can earn title shots and interestingly enough, HIeron is not in this latest tourney field.
After a 3-0 record in the regional scene, Askren (9-0, 6-0 Bellator) debuted in Bjorn Rebney's promotion and has been there ever since.
The two time NCAA Division I wrestling champion and 2008 U.S. Olympic wrestler will have a stiff test in the 24-year-old Lima, who earned his shot with a second round KO of Ben Saunders in the recent 170-pound tourney finale. Lima (21-4, 3-0 Bellator) has finishes in 18 of his victories with 11 submissions and seven T/KOs. He'll carry a nine fight win streak into the title match.
The undercard will feature former WEC fighter Chris Horodecki vs. the dreaded 'opponent to be named later' and the semifinals of the season six featherweight tournament that opens up on March 9th. Some combo of Marlon Sandro, Ronnie Mann, Roberto Vargas, Wagnney Fabiano, Daniel Straus, Alexandre Bezerra, Jeremy Spoon and Genair da Silva will tangle for the opportunity to fight in the finals.
The event airs at 8 PM EST on MTV2.
More recent Bellator news:
Ben Saunders, Brian Foster headline 170-pound tourney
Prindle vs. Santos, 185-pound brackets announced
145-pound tournament matches announced
145-pound champ Joe Warren to defend against Pat Curran
Posted in: bellator, pound, title, ben, lima
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 64 Fight Card Rumors
Bellator Fighting Championships 64 on April 6, 2012, rumored fight card and bouts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight card, championship, card
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 64 Fight Card Rumors
Bellator Fighting Championships 64 on April 6, 2012, rumored fight card and bouts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight card, championship, card
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 63 Fight Card Rumors
Bellator Fighting Championships 63 on March 30, 2012, rumored fight card and bouts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight card, championship, card
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 63 Fight Card Rumors
Bellator Fighting Championships 63 on March 30, 2012, rumored fight card and bouts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight card, championship, card
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyAskren-Lima, FW Semis, Horodecki Booked for Bellator 64 in Ontario
Ben Askren will defend his welterweight title against Douglas Lima at Bellator 64, promotion officials announced Wednesday.
Posted in: bellator, askren, douglas lima, dougla, welterweight title
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 62 Fight Card Rumors
Bellator Fighting Championships 62 on March 23, 2012, rumored fight card and bouts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight card, championship, card
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 62 Fight Card Rumors
Bellator Fighting Championships 62 on March 23, 2012, rumored fight card and bouts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight card, championship, card
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 64, Askren vs. Lima, take place April 6 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Bellator Fighting Championships' first season-six event in Canada takes
place on April 6 as The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor hosts Bellator 64.
Bellator officials today revealed the booking.
Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren faces
season-five tournament winner Douglas Lima in the
evening's main event.
Posted in: bellator, event, lima, askren, seasonsix event
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 64: Ben Askren vs Douglas Lima set for April 6 in Ontario
CHICAGO, Ill. (February 8, 2012) - After a dominating run through the Season 5 Welterweight Tournament, Douglas "The Phenom" Lima (@PhenomLima) is ready for the greatest test of his career when he battles reigning, undefeated Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren (@BenAskren) for a shot at the world title. The two will clash LIVE at Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on Friday, April 6. Tickets for this event go on sale at Noon ET on Saturday, February 18 and are available via CaesarsWindsor.com or by visiting Ticketmaster.ca. Tickets are priced from $30-$125 Canadian.
The event will broadcast starting at 8 p.m. ET on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open to The Colosseum at 6 p.m. ET, with the first fight entering the cage at 7 p.m. ET. The preliminary card will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 7 p.m. CT.
After a split-decision victory over former UFC veteran and Season 4 Welterweight Tournament winner Jay Hieron, the undefeated Askren is well aware of what it takes to hold onto the welterweight strap. Already known as the best wrestler in Mixed Martial Arts, Askren, a former U.S. Olympian, has continued his stand up training with the legendary Duke Roufus and is well on his way to becoming one of the best welterweights in the sport.
"After my fight with Jay, I went back to work the following Monday to continue my training," Askren said. "I made no secret I wasn't happy with my performance in that fight, and now having spent over six months training at Roufusport, I'm really confident in my striking. Douglas is a great fighter, but I don't think he'll be able to handle what I bring to the table."
Lima enters the fight looking to push his win streak into double digits as the Brazilian-born knockout artist is seeking to dethrone Askren as Bellator Welterweight Champion. The thought of becoming Champion has been the driving force for Lima since he signed with Bellator, and with the title just one win away, Lima has taken his focus and determination to the next level.
"There is no question Ben is a great fighter, and I've been focusing a lot of time on my wrestling," Lima said. "This is the biggest fight of my career, and I'm preparing for it. It's all I think about. Every day from the time I wake up, until the time my head hits the pillow, I'm thinking about April 6th and winning the title."
Bellator 64 will also host the semifinals of the promotions Season 6 Featherweight Tournament. Marlon Sandro (@351marlon), Ronnie Mann (@RonnieMannMMA), Alexandre "Popo" Bezerra (@alexandre_popo) and Daniel Straus (@DanielStraus) headline one of the deepest tournaments in Bellator history and only add to a stacked night of fights.
In addition, the night will feature Ontario native and knockout artist Chris "The Polish Hammer" Horodecki (@chrishorodecki) taking on a soon to be named opponent. Still just 24, Horodecki (18-3-1) has the resume of a veteran mixed martial artist, including an impressive 12-fight win streak to begin his professional career.
"The support we have received in Canada has been nothing short of spectacular, so when we had the chance to bring Bellator to Windsor, it was an easy decision, "said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Ben Askren vs. Douglas Lima will showcase two of the best and brightest starts in the world at 170 lbs. The fans watching inside Caesars and the viewers catching the fights on MTV 2 and theScore are in for a great night."
"In the tradition of Caesars entertainment, we are thrilled to bring another exciting fighting championship event to the Colosseum with Bellator 64," Kevin Laforet, President and CEO of Caesars Windsor said. "We are proud to partner with Bellator Fighting Championships whose great reputation brings fans the best MMA fighters to the cage."
Ticket purchases can be made through caesarswindsor.com or at the Box Office located in the main casino building on the second floor, open Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 8 pm. On concert days, the Box Office is open noon until midnight. Guests must be 19 years of age or older to attend concerts and to enter the casino and all other outlets. Prices listed do not include applicable taxes and fees.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.
Posted in: fight, bellator, welterweight, lima, askren
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBailey, Wiuff Added to Bellator Season 6 Premiere on March 9
Nine fights are now confirmed for Bellator Fighting Championships’ sixth-season premiere, as three new undercard bouts have been added to the Bellator 60 bill.
Posted in: fight, bellator, premiere, undercard bouts, bailey wiuff
Read the full article at SherdogLima to face Askren at Bellator 64 in Windsor
The Bellator Fighting Championships are coming to Windsor, with Douglas Lima taking on welterweight champion Ben Askren at Bellator 64.
Posted in: bellator, lima, askren, douglas lima, face askren
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator, M-1 in Tug of War Over Vasilevsky
A tug of war over the services of former M-1 Global light heavyweight champion Vyacheslav Vasilevsky has broken out between M-1 and Bellator Fighting Championships.
Posted in: bellator, championship, war, vasilevsky, tug
Read the full article at SherdogBellator Fight Cards Set for Bellator 60 to Bellator 63
Bellator will kick off its sixth season in just over a month when it moves to Friday nights on MTV 2 starting with Bellator 60 on March 9 and continuing with Bellator 61 on March 16, Bellator 62 on March 23, and Bellator 63 on March 30.
Bellator recently filled the main cards for the events, which include a featherweight title fight between champion Joe Warren and Pat Curran, a rematch of last season’s heavyweight tournament final between Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle, and the quarterfinals of Bellator’s season six tournaments at featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, and middleweight.
Check out the lineups for Bellator 60 to Bellator 63 below:
Bellator 60 – March 9 (Hammond, Indiana)
Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren vs. Pat Curran
Marlon Sandro vs. Roberto Vargas*
Wagnney Fabiano vs. Ronnie Mann*
Alexandre “PoPo” Bezerra vs. Genair da Silva*
Jeremy Spoon vs. Daniel Straus*’
* Featherweight tournament quarterfinals
Bellator 61 – March 16 (Bossier City, Louisiana)
Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos – heavyweight tournament final
Maiquel Falcao vs. Norman Paraisy*
Brian Rogers vs. Vitor Vianna*
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Victor O’ Donnell*
Giva Santana vs. Bruno Santos*
* Middleweight tournament quarterfinals
Bellator 62 – March 23 (Laredo, Texas)
Patricky Pitbull vs. Lloyd Woodard*
Rick Hawn vs. Ricardo Tirloni*
Brent Weedman vs. J.J. Ambrose*
Rene Nazare vs. Thiago Michel*
* Lightweight tournament quarterfinals
Bellator 63 – March 30 (Mohegan Sun Arena, Connecticut)
Karl Amoussou vs. Chris Lozano
Ben Saunders vs. Raul Amaya
Brian Foster vs. David Rickels
Bryan Baker vs. Carlos Pereira
* Welterweight tournament quarterfinals
For the latest Bellator news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Pat Curran
Posted in: bellator, vs, tournament, quarterfinal, march
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBen Saunders, Brian Foster Draw Undefeated Opponents For Bellator 170-Pound Tourney
Bellator Fighting Championships returns to Connecticut's Mohegan Sun on Friday, March 30, with the opening round of their welterweight tournament, one that features two former UFC fighters mixed with some undefeated prospects that want to make a name for themselves at their expense.
Karl Amoussou (13-4-2) vs. Chris Lozano (9-2)
Former middleweight Amoussou has lacked consistency in the last two years, amassing a 2-2-1 record in Bellator, Strikeforce, Pancrase and Dream. He now drops to 170 pounds and his November 175-pound Bellator catchweight fight against Jesus Martinez turned out just fine with a first round KO victory.
He'll face Lozano, a late sub for the soon-to-be imprisoned War Machine. Lozano entered last year's tourney and was knocked out in the second round by eventual tournament winner Douglas Lima. He was 3-2 overall in 2011 with both losses coming in the Bellator cage.
Ben Saunders (12-4-2) vs. Raul Amaya (9-0)
Saunders' dream run in his debut Bellator tournament ended in the finals with a second round knockout loss to Lima. The UFC veteran is 4-1 since getting released by Zuffa in 2010 with finishes in all four of his wins. He will face promotional newcomer Amaya who has rung up an undefeated streak in Florida's Art Of Fighting promotion with six submissions and three T/KO's.
Brian Foster (18-5) vs. David Rickels (9-0)
Foster makes his Bellator debut on the heels of a four fight win streak. Released from the UFC after health issues threatened his career, the 27-year-old has finishes in all of his wins and has never gone to a decision. He'll have a tough challenge in the undefeated Rickels, a fixture on Bellator undercards for most of 2011. The submission machine has six tapout wins to his credit with three of his last four coming by triangle choke.
Bryan Baker (16-3) vs. Carlos Pereira (33-9-1)
Like Amoussou, Baker is dropping down to 170 pounds after getting TKO'd by Vitor Vianna last October, snapping a three fight win streak. A promotional fixture since 2009, Baker is 7-2 in his Bellator career and is a former middleweight tournament finalist. He faces the debuting Pereira, a well-traveled veteran who is unbeaten in his last four. Baker should be wary as "Indio" has 22 wins by T/KO.
The event -- entitled Bellator 63 -- will air at 8 PM EST on MTV2. Look for more Bellator-related Season Six news after the jump.
Prindle vs. Santos, Middleweight Tournament Brackets Announced
Featherweight Tournament Matches Announced
145-pound champ Joe Warren To Defend Against Pat Curran
Posted in: bellator, pound, round, vs, tournament
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 63 hosts season-six welterweight tourney, War Machine pulled from lineup
With War Machine (formerly Jon Koppenhaver) apparently returning to jail in two weeks, Bellator has given Chris Lozano his slot in the promotion's season-six welterweight tournament, officials today announced.
Lozano now meets Karl Amoussou in the headliner of Bellator 63, which takes place March 30 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
The event's main card, which airs on MTV2, features the opening round of the eight-man tournament.
Posted in: bellator, war machine, jon koppenhaver, weeks bellator, uncasville conn
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWelterweight Quarterfinals Set for Bellator 63 in Connecticut
Bellator’s sixth season continues to develop, as the Chicago-based promotion Friday announced that the welterweight tournament quarterfinals will take place on March 30 at Bellator 63.
Posted in: bellator, welterweight, tournament, quarterfinal, welterweight quarterfinals
Read the full article at SherdogWar Machine replaced by Chris Lozano in Bellator welterweight tournament
Legal troubles have again cost War Machine (otherwise known as Jon Koppenhaver) a year of his freedom after recently being sentenced to jail-time stemming from an old case. Machine had been scheduled to face Karl Amoussou in the opening round of Bellator’s Season 6 welterweight tournament, a series of bouts slated to start on March 30 with the winner receiving both a $100,000 payday and title-shot.
While specifics weren’t offered, Machine announced his status on Twitter, expressing frustration after getting his life on track again six months ago when he was released from prison for a separate yearlong sentence.
War Machine Gets Second Chance from Bellator
Bellator hasn’t wasted any time finding a replacement for Machine, filling his vacancy with the hard-hitting Chris Lozano. “The Cleveland Assassin” holds an overall record of 9-2 with seven TKOs.
“After the last tournament, I knew I needed to grow, so I decided to make the move to Greg Jackson’s,” said Lozano in an official press release from Bellator. “Over the last months, I have just elevated my game by leaps and bounds. Every day I’m surrounded by some of the best fighters in the world, and it has made me a better fighter. It’s controlled chaos. I’ve really gotten back to some of the things that made me so dangerous, and I can’t wait to show off all the training and hard work this March.”
Amoussou seemed unfazed by the change in opponent, saying, “I don’t care who I fight in the upcoming Bellator Welterweight Tournament. I’m going to rock the Bellator welterweight division and destroy every fighter that stands in front of me. I don’t care where you train or who you are, if you are in my way to the belt, I feel sorry for you.”
The two will face off on March 30 at Bellator 63. The other three bouts scheduled for the tourney’s quarterfinal round include Ben Saunders vs. Raul Amaya, and Bryan Baker vs. Carlos Pereira, and Brian Foster vs. David Rickels.
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Posted in: bellator, ’t, welterweight, tournament, machine
Read the full article at Fighters.comBack to jail for War Machine; Bellator debut called off
War Machine’s Bellator debut has been put on hold after the controversial competitor was sentenced to a year in jail earlier this week. The charge stems from an case unrelated to the one causing him to serve a similar sentence previously.
Machine (a.k.a. Jon Koppenhaver) confirmed the news of his impending sentence on his Twitter account, writing, “Seems my year in jail wasn’t enough. Just got sentenced to another year in Vegas for some old bullsh*t. Nevermind I’m rehabilitated. Nevermind I’ve been out for over six months now and doing great and am finally back on my feet. Nevermind all my students that will miss me. Do another year and rot n waste time. Make no money, pay no taxes.”
The 12-4 30-year old was released from jail in July after serving a year for an assault charge.
After defeating Roger Huerta in his return fight this past November, Machine was signed by Bellator to compete in the upcoming sixth season welterweight tournament. He was slated to face Karl Amoussou in the opening round. Bellator has yet to comment on the situation.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, year, machine, jail, nevermind
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator headed to Texas in March with lightweight tournament quarterfinals
Bellator FC will return to Texas for Bellator 62 on March 23 from the Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas. The event will showcase the opening round of the Season 6 Lightweight Tournament.
The eight men slated for action in the tourney include Patricky “Pitbull” Freire, Lloyd Woodward, Rick Hawn, Ricardo Tirloni, Brent Weedman, J.J. Ambrose, Rene Nazare, and Thiago Michel. The last man standing will receive a $100,000 paycheck and a shot at 155-pound champion Michael Chandler.
“Laredo has been on our radar for three years now and I’ve always believed that it could be a spectacular location for a large-scale, nationally and internationally televised Bellator event,” said Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney. “This lightweight field is so loaded with talent and world class competitors that this event should be explosive from start to finish.”
Bellator 62 will be shown live on MTV2, with the prelims streaming live on Spike’s website.
Posted in: bellator, i ’ve, opening round, laredo texas, thiago michel
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainEddie Alvarez vs Shinya Aoki rematch in the works for Bellator season six
Was anyone else curious as to why former Bellator Fighting Championships lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez was absent from the Bellator season six lightweight tournament field?
It turns out he has bigger fish to fry, and that means a date with destiny against Japanese lightweight superstar Shinya Aoki, who had previously been the only man to defeat him at lightweight before Michael Chandler did it this past November.
Bellator officials recently told MMAmania.com that Alvarez vs. Aoki II "should be happening this season," which would give "The Silent Assassin" his first opportunity to avenge one of his three career losses.
Alvarez himself recently revealed to The Fight Nerd that he's targeting an April date with the Japanese submission master, adding "We just recently got the contracts and things of that sort. Just need to be signed and get this match on the road."
If their rematch is anything like the first fight, it should be quick, exciting and very violent.
Alvarez originally met Aoki while battling for the WAMMA lightweight title at Dynamite!! 2008, the special New Year's Eve show at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
The bout featured 92 seconds of blistering action which included some classic Aoki butt-scooting, Alvarez loading up with a big right hand, a huge takedown into mount by Alvarez during a scramble and then Aoki somehow reversing the position into a heel hook which eventually forced the tap after some strong resistance from the Philadelphia native.
It appears Alvarez has chosen an opportunity for instant revenge over having to win three fights in a tournament first, which is only logical.
Do you think Alvarez made the right call in chasing Aoki instead of reclaiming his lightweight title in Bellator? Could this be one of the biggest fights in the promotion's young history?
Sound off, Maniacs!
Posted in: fight, bellator, alvarez, aoki, bellator season
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 62 Hosts LW Tournament Quarterfinals on March 23 in Texas
Bellator Fighting Championships officials Thursday announced more details on its upcoming sixth-season, as Bellator 62 will feature the lightweight tournament quarterfinals from Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, texa, tournament quarterfinals, texas bellator
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 62 headed to Texas with season-six lightweight-tourney opening round
Bellator Fighting Championships is headed to the Lone Star State on March 23.
Officials today announced its third season-six event, Bellator 62, is set to take place at Laredo Energy Arena in Laredo, Texas.
The event's main card, which airs on MTV2 (and in high-definition on EPIX), features the opening round of Bellator's season-six eight-man tournament, which guarantees the winner $100,000 in total pay and a title shot.
Posted in: bellator, star state, seasonsix, laredo texas, epix features
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 62 lightweight tournament quarterfinals booked for March 23 in Laredo, Texas
CHICAGO, Ill. (February 2, 2012) - Bellator Fighting Championships returns to The Lone Star State on Friday, March 23rd for Bellator 62 live from Laredo, Texas at the Laredo Energy Arena. The night features the quarterfinals of Bellator's $100,000 Season 6 Lightweight Tournament, as well a host of Texas' top MMA talent.
Tickets for the event are now on sale and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or by visiting The Laredo Energy Arena Box Office. Tickets are priced from $22-$120.
The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 7 p.m. CST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CST, with the first fight scheduled for 6 p.m. CST. The preliminary card, featuring the area's top talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 6 p.m. CST.
"Laredo has been on our radar for three years now and I've always believed that it could be a spectacular location for a large-scale, nationally and internationally televised Bellator event," Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "When Oscar Enriquez and his team at Ultimate MMA approached me about bringing Bellator live on MTV2 to Laredo, he had all of the right pieces in place and he made the decision an easy one. This lightweight field is so loaded with talent and world class competitors that this event should be explosive from start to finish."
Coming off an explosive knockout victory over UFC veteran Kurt Pellegrino at Bellator 59, Patricky Pitbull (@PatrickyPitbull) is back and looking to start his ascent toward a title shot with a quarterfinal matchup against fan-favorite Lloyd "Cupcake" Woodard (@mmacupcake). Patricky has produced a number of incredible Bellator "YouTube Moments" and has his sights set on adding another highlight to his collection.
Former U.S. Olympian Judoka Rick Hawn (@RickHawnmma) is making the drop to lightweight and meets the dangerous Ricardo Tirloni (@Tirlonimma). Hawn compiled an impressive 11-1 record as a welterweight, but is confident the drop in weight will make him even more dangerous.
"I felt like I was sort of undersized in the last tournament," Hawn said. "Everyone had a height advantage on me, and while I thought I made a good run in my last welterweight tournament, I think lightweight is going to be a better fit for me and just give me an advantage over everyone else."
Also making the drop to lightweight is longtime Bellator veteran Brent Weedman (@brent_weedman). Always looking for a finish, "Weedman Nation" will be on full display as he battles Bellator newcomer J.J. Ambrose (@SuperJJAmbrose).
"I've already tested myself with a lightweight weight cut and I felt great," Weedman said. "Over the last year, I've felt a little undersized as a welterweight, so I think lightweight is going to be a great spot for me. I'm excited to show off my new skills, and this tournament is stacked, so we're going to put on a show this season."
Rounding out an absolutely loaded tournament class, Rene "The Brazilian Bomber" Nazare (@Nazaremma) will square off with top prospect Thiago Michel. A product of Team Bombsquad, Nazare always has his eye on delivering the knockout, and nothing will change on March 23rd.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: bellator, pm, event, tournament, laredo
Read the full article at MMA ManiaLightweight Tournate Featured at Bellator 62
Bellator Fighting Championships returns to The Lone Star State on Friday, March 23 for Bellator 62 live from Laredo, Texas at the Laredo Energy Arena.
Posted in: bellator, star state, championships returns, laredo texas, laredo
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator extends it programming partnership with theScore Television Network
CHICAGO, Ill. (February 1, 2012) -Bellator Fighting Championships today announces that it has extended its programming partnership with Score Media Inc. (TSX: SCR) through its upcoming sixth season, starting on March 9, it's Summer Season as well as its seventh later in the year.
The extension gives Canadian mixed martial arts fans access to another year of Bellator fights across theScore's multiplatform assets including theScore Television Network, theScore.com and its industry-leading application, ScoreMobile.
"The Score is Bellator's longest running TV partner worldwide, having broadcast each of our first five seasons," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "As the place where Canadian fans go for MMA programming, news and information, theScore is the perfect partner to help us connect with our fans in a place where MMA and Bellator have thrived."
"We are extremely pleased to announce the continuation of our partnership with Bellator," says Benjie Levy, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Score Media Inc. "Bellator has developed a reputation for being one of the world's elite MMA promotions and its programming is a perfect fit for our young audience."
Season 6 kicks off on Friday, March 9th headlined by the Bellator World Featherweight title fight between Joe Warren and Pat Curran. In addition, Bellator is planning multiple Canadian event dates in 2012.
The televised portion of each week's events kick off at 8 p.m. ET LIVE on MTV2 in the U.S. and on thescore.com in Canada simultaneously, followed by repeat airings on theScore Television Network on Saturdays at 9 p.m. ET, Sundays at 8 p.m. ET and Wednesdays at 4 p.m. ET.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: bellator, pm, programming, thescore, programming partnership
Read the full article at MMA ManiaShinya Aoki And Eddie Alvarez To Rematch In Bellator This April
After losing his Bellator title in a fight of the year candidate against Michael Chandler, Eddie Alvarez decided to skip this season's lightweight tournament so he could negotiate for a chance to redeem another loss - one against the popular Japanese champion, Shinya Aoki.
Alvarez will finally be getting his wish on April 21st, but this time, he'll be taking on the DREAM champion inside the Bellator cage. Sources close to the situation have informed BloodyElbow.com that bout agreements have been sent and Aoki has already put pen to paper, with Bellator expected to make the official announcement soon.
Their first encounter ended with a heel hook finish from Aoki in a little over a minute, although a lot has changed for both fighters since then. Shinya Aoki has moved his training camps to Singapore, and has shown significant improvements on his game after training with the world champions at Evolve MMA. Eddie Alvarez on the other hand, went on an impressive 7-fight win streak since signing with Bellator, winning their lightweight crown in the process.
He lost the title after Chandler pulled off a huge upset last November, but Alvarez believes he will get back on the horse and avenge a loss at the same time when he faces Aoki this April.
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, shinya aoki, aoki, time hell
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator's upcoming sixth season to air on Armed Forces Network
Bellator Fighting Championships' upcoming sixth season will air on the Armed Forces Network.
Bellator officials today announced the plans, extending a partnership originally formed in 2010.
"It is an honor for us to be able to continue to provide Bellator
programming to the men and women of The U.S. Armed Forces," Bellator CEO
Bjorn Rebney stated. "To be able
to give back to them, even a little bit is something I am pleased we
can do."
Posted in: bellator, something i, network, force, bellator programming
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Notebook: Eric Prindle Vs. Thiago Santos, Middleweight Tourney Matches On March 16
As the last season of Bellator came to a close in November, the final image the public was left with was the bizarre close to the heavyweight tournament, a fight that ended in a no-contest due to a strange low blow that left the tourney without a winner.
The finals between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos has now been reset, scheduled for the main event of Bellator 61 on Friday, March 16 in Bossier City, LA -- a night that will also feature the opening round of the sixth season 185-pound tournament.
The initial tangle on November 26th ended in the first round when a standing Santos (10-1-0-1) threw a kick that went flush into the nether region of Prindle (7-1-0-1). After he couldn't recover following a five minute rest period, Prindle was checked by the cageside physician and couldn't continue. The blow was ruled accidental, the fight was declared a no contest and Bellator head Bjorn Rebney said the two would square off sometime in the spring.
Middleweight Tournament Pairings Announced
On the same night that Prindle and Santos fight, the middleweight tournament kicks off with the four opening round matches:
Maiquel Falcao vs. Norman Paraisy
Released from the UFC in early 2011, Falcao (28-4-0-1) makes his Bellator debut after several fights in Brazil. He will battle Paraisy (10-1-1) who is riding a six-fight unbeaten streak. Falcao has 23 knockouts to his credit, while Paraisy's sole career loss was in Bellator several years ago. He lost to James Hammortree in a "fight-in" match on season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter.
Brian Rogers vs. Vitor Vianna
Rogers (8-3) advanced to the semifinals of the last 185-pound tournament and was KO'd by eventual winner Alexander Shlemenko. He'll face Vianna (12-2-1), himself beaten by Shlemenko in the finals. Before the loss, he had a five-fight winning streak.
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Victor O'Donnell
One of the top talents on our World MMA Scouting Report, Vasilevsky (15-1) makes his promotional debut on a 14-fight win streak with a slew of finishes. Like Paraisy, O'Donnell (11-3) also lost a "fight-in" match on TUF's 11th season and is looking to rebound from a September first round knockout loss to Rogers.
Giva Santana vs. Bruno Santos
With 13 wins by armbar, Santana (17-1) is looking to build on a six-fight win streak in his first Bellator tournament. He faces the undefeated Santos (12-0) who will make his promotional debut. All but two of his fights have gone the distance.
Posted in: fight, bellator, vs, tournament, prindle
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator Extends Armed Forces Network Deal
Bellator Fighting Championships has once again partnered with the Armed Forces Network, including it's season six opener on March 9.
Posted in: bellator, championship, network, force, forces network
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyArmed Forces Network (AFN) to stream sixth season of Bellator beginning March 9
CHICAGO, Ill. (January 30, 2011) - In a continuing effort to bring premier sports and entertainment to those who serve in the United States Armed Forces, Bellator Fighting Championships has once again partnered with the Armed Forces Network, extending a relationship that was formed in 2010.
For the approximately one million service members and their families deployed to 175 countries around the world that depend on AFN, Bellator's sixth season and beyond will be able to be seen via the Armed Forces Network, including Bellator's March 9 premier from The Venue at The Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana.
Tickets for this event are on sale and are available at The Horseshoe Casino, Ticketmaster, www.thevenue-chicago.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
"It is an honor for us to be able to continue to provide Bellator programming to the men and women of The United States Armed Forces," Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "The strength and courage displayed by the men and women of our armed forces is admirable at the highest level. To be able to give back to them, even a little bit is something I am pleased we can do."
With over 10 years of service in the United States Army, Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Finalist Eric Prindle is well aware of the importance of the AFN.
"When you are stationed overseas, being able to sit down and watch sports or a big fight like Bellator brings back a piece a home, and allows you to keep doing your job," Prindle said. "It's a tremendous honor to know I've got the soldiers watching me fight, and I can promise in my rematch with Thiago Santos, I won't let them down."
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.
Posted in: bellator, network, force, state, forces network
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator heavyweight tourney final rematch gets date
Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos will try to finish the Bellator heavyweight tournament on March 16 when they compete for a second time at Bellator 61. The card is set to go down from the Horseshoe Riverdome in Louisiana.
Prindle and Santos competed late in 2011 with the fight ending in a No Contest after a low blow rendered Prindle unable to continue. The quarterfinals of the Bellator middleweight tourney will also take place on that night.
“Louisiana’s been an amazing home to Bellator. Our last two Louisiana events we’re spectacular sell outs, so bringing Bellator to Bossier City was an easy decision to make,” said Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney in a recent press release. “This Prindle-Santos fight has war written all over it and both of these guys have taken this huge fight very personally.”
The quarterfinals of the Bellator middleweight tournament feature Maiquel Falcao fighting Norman Paraisy, Brian Rogers versus Vitor Vianna, Vyacheslav Vasilevsky in action against Vitor O’Donnell, and Giva Santana against Bruno Santos.
As always, the winner of the tourney will receive $100,000 and a future title shot.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: fight, bellator, prindle, prindlesantos fight, louisiana
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainPrindle-Santos, Middleweight Tournament Set for Bellator 61
The first confrontation between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos was short lived, as an illegal blow by “Big Monster” to the groin of Prindle led to their Bellator Season 5 heavyweight tournament finale being declared a no contest.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, eric prindle, prindle, monster ”
Read the full article at SherdogLouisiana hosts Bellator 61, heavyweight finale rematch, middleweight tourney kick off
Bellator Fighting Championships' sixth season is rapidly approaching,
and the company is starting to lay out some of the details.
Bellator officials today announced that the second event of the season,
Bellator 61, will take place on March 16 at the Horseshoe Riverdome in
Bossier City, La.
The event sees a rematch between season-five heavyweight tournament
finalists Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos, as well as the four opening-round contests in the promotion's
season-six middleweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, bossier city, horseshoe riverdome, openinground contests
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 61: 'Big Monster' vs 'American Soldier' booked for March 16 on MTV 2
CHICAGO, Ill. (January 27, 2011) - Bellator Fighting Championships returns to the Bayou State on Friday, March 16 for Bellator 61 live from Bossier City at the Horseshoe Riverdome. The night will feature the long awaited rematch between "The American Solider" Eric Prindle (@EricPrindleMMA) and "The Big Monster" Thiago Santos (@BigMonsterMMA) to determine a winner from last season's heavyweight tournament, as well a host of local talent from the Louisiana area.
Tickets for the event are now on sale and can be purchased online at Riverdome.com, by phone at 888-512-SHOW (7469) or by visiting The Gift Horse at Horseshoe Bossier City Casino. Tickets are priced from $25-$75. The event will also be broadcast LIVE starting at 7 p.m. CST on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CST, with the first fight scheduled for 6 p.m. CST.
The preliminary card, featuring the area's top local talent will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 6 p.m. CST.
"Louisiana's been an amazing home to Bellator. Our last two Louisiana events we're spectacular sell outs, so bringing Bellator to Bossier City was an easy decision to make," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "This Prindle-Santos fight has war written all over it and both of these guys have taken this huge fight very personally. March 16 should be a great night."
Prindle meets Santos after last season's Heavyweight Finals were declared a no contest as Santos delivered what was ruled an accidental illegal blow to the groin of Eric Prindle, which eventually halted the fight. The two will square off to determine who will earn the right to face current Bellator Heavyweight Champion Cole Konrad(@ColeKonradMMA).
The night will also feature the quarterfinals of the Bellator Season 6 Middleweight Tournament. UFC veteran Maiquel "Big Rig" Falcao (@Falcaomma) will make his Bellator debut against the dominant Norman Paraisy. Falcao enters Bellator with an astonishing 23 knockouts to his record and will look to keep that trend intact at Bellator 61.
In a matchup worthy of a Middleweight title fight, Brian "The Predator" Rogers (@Brogthepredator) battles Brazilian ace Vitor Vianna (@VitorVianna) for a spot in the semifinals. For Rogers, the Ohio native wants to build off last season's semifinals appearance and punch his ticket to a guaranteed title shot. Vianna put up a tremendous fight against eventual Middleweight Tournament Champion Alexander Shlemenko(@StormShlemenko) and is eager for another long tournament run.
Entering Bellator on a 14-fight win streak, explosive Russian Vyacheslav "Slava" Vasilevsky (@SlavaVasilevsky) will be making his U.S. debut in a fight with Victor O' Donnell (@Victor_ODonnell). One of the most promising prospects in the world, "Slava" joins Bellator as two-time Sambo World Champion and will look to make his mark with Bellator.
Giva "The Arm Collector" Santana (@GivaSantana) is back with Bellator and will be gunning for another victim when he takes on Bruno Santos. Always looking for the armbar, Santana has tapped 13 of his 17 career opponents with the hold.
"A lot of fighters like to go out there and try to knock their opponents out as soon as they can, and that's the same way I am with my submissions," Santana said. "For me, to tap a guy out is the same feeling as the knockout. When a punch lands and you know you knocked your opponent out, I feel the same feeling when I lock up a submission on my opponent. I know right away that he's going to tap, and it's a great feeling."
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: fight, bellator, pm, opponent, bossier city
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator Sets Eric Prindle-Thiago Santos Heavyweight Finals Rematch for March 16
Filed under: Bellator, NewsIn November, Bellator's heavyweight tournament finals match went to a no contest, after an illegal but accidental low blow by Thiago Santos left Eric Prindle unable to continue. The fight, which will determine the next challenger to face champion Cole Konrad, has now been reset for a March 9 date.
The bout will take place at Bellator 61, the second show of Bellator's sixth season, and will emanate from Bossier City at the Horseshoe Riverdome in Louisiana.
At Bellator 59, Santos (10-1, 1 no contest) had Prindle (7-1, 1 no contest) prone on the ground when he landed a kick between Prindle's legs just 84 seconds into the fight. After a five-minute recovery period, Prindle still couldn't continue and the fight was ruled a no contest after the referee determined the blow to be accidental.
The March 16 event will also host the quarterfinals of a middleweight tournament.
Those bouts are also set, and the matchups will pair UFC veteran Maiquel Falcao vs. Norman Paraisy, Brian Rogers vs. Vitor Vianna, Vyacheslav Vasilevsky vs. Victor O' Donnell and Giva "The Arm Collector" Santana vs. Bruno Santos.
Vianna (12-2-1) was a finalist in last season's middleweight tournament, losing a decision to Alexander Shlemenko in the finals.
Vasilevsky is a notable new entrant to the field, coming in with a 15-1 record and riding a 14-fight win streak. The fight will also mark his US debut. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, bellator, vs, contest, prindle
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator Fighting Championships applies for Nevada promoter's license
Bellator Fighting Championships is considering a trip to Nevada.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission today revealed that the
tournament-based promotion has applied for a promoter's license in the
state, and MMAjunkie.com has confirmed with promotion officials that the
state is under consideration for a future Bellator fight card.
"Nevada has a spectacular fighting sports history," Bellator CEO Bjorn
Reney told MMAjunkie.com. "In the coming year, we may look to bring a
Bellator event to the great state of Nevada."
Posted in: bellator, promotion officials, state, nevada, tournamentbased promotion
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Inks ROC Champion Taleb for April Show in Canada
Canadian welterweight Nordine Taleb has signed to fight for the Bellator Fighting Championships in 2012.
Posted in: bellator, champion, canada, taleb, april show
Read the full article at SherdogBellator Season 6 Middleweight Tournament Matchups Set
The quarterfinal matchups for Bellator Fighting Championships’ sixth-season middleweight tournament are now set.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, middleweight, matchup, quarterfinal matchups
Read the full article at SherdogBellator Announces Featherweight Tournament Match-Ups
On the same night that reigning Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Warren defends his title against No. 1 contender Pat Curran, the road for a new challenger begins in Hammond, IN.
The March 9th season debut will feature the featherweight tournament's first round with mix of several Bellator vets, a couple new faces and a former top 145'er returning after a long layoff.
Marlon Sandro (19-3) vs. Roberto Vargas (12-1)
The 34-year-old Sandro advanced to the featherweight summer tournament finals and was knocked out by Curran in the second round. He returned to the winner's circle with a first round submission victory over Rafael Dias in November and is 5-2 in the last two years. Vargas returns to Bellator after a near three year absence, riding a six fight win streak in regional promotions.
Ronnie Mann (20-4) vs. Wagnney Fabiano (14-3)
The 25-year-old Mann was also a victim of Curran, dropping a unanimous decision to him in the tourney semifinals. He rebounded with a first round submission win over Kenny Foster in October and has won five of his last six. In Fabiano, Mann will face someone once regarded as one of the best featherweights in the world. The former IFL 145-pound champion won two straight after joining the WEC, but went 2-2 with defeats to Joseph Benavidez and Mackens Semerzier before being cut. When he steps into the cage, it will be his first action in 15 months.
Alexandre Bezerra (12-1) vs. Genair da Silva (11-4)
After ripping through four non-tourney opponents in 2011, Bezerra finally gets his shot in a Bellator tournament. He's a finisher with stoppages in 11 of his 12 wins and hasn't been in a fight that's gone the distance in over three years. da Silva returns to Bellator after being dispatched by Sandro last year in the summer tournament's opening round. He's coming off a first round submission win over Brian Goldsby and is 5-1 in the last two years.
Daniel Straus (17-4) vs. Jeremy Spoon (12-0)
Straus did just fine in his first 145-pound tourney, advancing to the finals of the spring tourney against Patricio Freire. The unanimous decision loss that night snapped a 12-fight winning streak, but he bounced back with an October decision win over Jason Dent in a non-Bellator fight. The undefeated Spoon gets his first crack in a tournament after two Bellator wins last year with Straus as his toughest competitor in his young career.
Last week, Bellator confirmed that this event will be their season opener, originally slotted for March 2nd. The aforementioned Freire has also earned a title shot with his spring 145-pound tournament victory but a hand injury prevented him from taking the first shot at Warren.
Posted in: bellator, round, year, tournament, featherweight
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowPat Curran Challenges Joe Warren For Bellator Featherweight Title in March
Bellator 60 is official for Hammond, Ind., for a March 9 Season 6 debut with a main event between featherweight champion Joe Warren and top contender Pat Curran.
Posted in: bellator, featherweight, warren, curran, hammond ind
Read the full article at Heavy MMASean McCorkle signs with Bellator
Bellator heavyweight champ Cole Konrad may finally have himself a future contender to fear in the form of Sean McCorkle, a 13-2 UFC veteran whose skill in the cage is matched by his razor sharp wit outside of it. Though “Big Sexy” won’t be coming in for an immediate title-shot or even super-fight, he will be making his debut when Season 6 opens up on March 9 with an event featuring featherweight quarterfinals and a championship clash between 145ers Joe Warren © and Pat Curran.
McCorkle’s signing was reported by Sherdog where his potential opponent, Richard White, was also mentioned.
The 6’7” McCorkle has won three straight scraps since parting ways with the UFC with all of the bouts involving a first round finish. Twelve of his thirteen total victories have involved a stoppage including an opening round Armbar of Mark Hunt at UFC 119.
On a side note, the March 9 event will now be known as Bellator 60 rather than Bellator 61 due to a cancellation of the March 2 show. McCorkle’s fight is expected to take place on the Spike.com-streamed undercard of the event.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, bellator, event, mccorkle, march
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainMcCorkle Slated for Bellator Season 6 Premiere on March 9
Bellator Fighting Championships’ sixth season will not begin on March 2 as originally anticipated. Instead, the season will kick off March 9 from The Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind.
Posted in: bellator, season, march, championships ’, horseshoe casino
Read the full article at SherdogBellator's sixth season pushed back a week, Bellator 60 slotted for March 9 in Indiana
Bellator's sixth season has been pushed back a week, and the March 9 event in Hammond, Ind., will serve as the season-opening Bellator 60 show.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the plans with event sources.
Tickets for the show, which features featherweight champ Joe Warren vs. Pat Curran and the opening round of an eight-man featherweight tournament, go on sale today at 11 a.m. ET.
Posted in: bellator, sale today, opening round, indiana bellators, hammond ind
Read the full article at MMA JunkieCdn welterweight Taleb signs with Bellator
Canadian welterweight Nordine Taleb signed with Bellator Fighting Championship on Thursday.
Posted in: bellator, welterweight, canadian, cdn, taleb
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator reveals opening round rumbles in Season 6 featherweight tournament
After confirming the main event for Bellator 61 yesterday the fight promotion has now announced the bracket for opening round action in the Season Six Featherweight Tournament which is also set to take place at March 9 event.
More specifically, Marlon Sandro takes on Roberto Vargas, Ronnie Mann locks horns with Wagnney Fabiano, Alexandre Bezerra battles Genair da Silva, and Daniel Straus meets Jeremy Spoon.
The eight combined fighters all have sparkling resumes, giving Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney plenty of high hopes for a thrilling event.
“The Midwest is known for great fighters and great fight fans,” said the excited executive. “To be hosting an event of this magnitude in our backyard is like Christmas morning; plus you get to see Chicagoland’s own, rising superstar Pat Curran vie for the World Title against one of the toughest fighters in all of MMA – Joe Warren. As a diehard MMA fan, I can’t wait for March 9th to get here at Horseshoe.”
Sandro was a finalist in the Season Five tourney and sports a 19-3 career mark. Comparably, Vargas, a former wrestler at Cal-State Bakersfield, is 12-1 in his MMA career with three KO wins and four submission victories.
Looking at the other pairings, Mann is 20-4 with ten submission wins while opponent Fabiano is 14-3. Bezerra is 12-1 and Da Silva carries a record of 11-4.
The remaining quarterfinal pits the 17-4 Straus, a Season 4 finalist, against Spoon (12-0).
Whichever fighter can navigate his way around a group that holds an overall record of 117-20 will receive $100,000 and a future championship shot at the Bellator featherweight title.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, mma, fighter, season, event
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 61 official with Warren vs. Curran, featherweight tourney bouts
Bellator 61 is now official for March 9, and the card will host Bellator
Fighting Championhsips' season-six featherweight tournament
quarterfinals, as well as a 145-pound championship fight.
As MMAjunkie.com previously reported, featherweight champ Joe Warren headlines the event against Pat Curran.
Bellator officials today announced the card also features Marlon Sandro
vs. Roberto Vargas, Wagnney Fabiano vs. Ronnie Mann, Alexandre "PoPo"
Bezerra vs. Genair da Silva and Patricio "Pitbull" Freire vs. Jeremy
Spoon.
Posted in: bellator, vs, featherweight, official, curran
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWarren-Curran, Featherweight Tourney Pairings Official for Bellator 61
Pat Curran will make his second run at Bellator gold on March 9, as promotion officials Thursday announced that the Summer Series tournament champion will square off with reigning featherweight king Joe Warren at Bellator 61.
Posted in: bellator, featherweight, official, summer, bellator gold
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 61 Fight Card Rumors
Bellator Fighting Championships 61 on March 9, 2012, in Hammond, Indiana, rumored fight card and bouts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight card, card, hammond indiana
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 60 Fight Card Rumors
Bellator Fighting Championships 60 on March 2, 2012, rumored fight card and bouts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight card, championship, card
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 61 Fight Card Laid Out; Joe Warren Defends Against Pat Curran
Bellator Season 5 Featherweight Tournament winner Pat Curran has been anxiously awaiting a date with champion Joe Warren... and now he has one.
Posted in: bellator, joe, joe warren, warren, curran
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 61: Joe Warren vs Pat Curran featherweight title fight booked for March 9
CHICAGO, Ill. (1/19/12) - Bellator Season 5 Featherweight Tournament winner Pat Curran stands one win away from realizing his dream. After a brilliant 3-0 tournament run, it was a lightning-fast kick to the head of Marlon Sandro in the final that propelled the 24-year-old rising super star from top prospect to top contender.
Now the contender will get his well-deserved World title shot.
The Chicago-based Bellator Fighting Championships heads back to the Chicago area as Crystal Lake, Illinois' own Pat Curran will take on current Bellator Featherweight Champion "The Baddest Man on the Planet" Joe Warren LIVE from The Venue at The Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana on Friday, March 9. Tickets for this event go on sale at 10 a.m. CT on Friday, January 20 and are available at The Horseshoe Casino, Ticketmaster, www.thevenue-chicago.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are priced from $42-$107.
The event will broadcast starting at 7 p.m. CT on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. CT, with the first fight scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. The preliminary card will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com starting at 6 p.m. CT.
"Everything is falling into place right now," Curran said. "My hometown is really close to where I'm fighting and I know I'll have the support of my family and friends. This is something that is meant to be."
Even though Curran admits he will have the "home-cage advantage" on March 9, the 24-year-old Crystal Lake native knows the challenge that is right in front of him.
"Even though he's coming off a loss, he's a very dangerous opponent," Curran said of Warren. "He is a very strong wrestler who's going to try to close the distance and work the clinch against me. I'm looking forward to a great fight."
After a one-fight stint at Bantamweight, Joe Warren is back defending his Bellator Featherweight championship. Winner of his last five Featherweight fights, the 35-year-old Denver product has the experience and the cage savvy to bust up Curran's homecoming party.
"The Midwest is known for great fighters and great fight fans," Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "To be hosting an event of this magnitude in our backyard is like Christmas morning; plus you get to see Chicagoland's own, rising superstar Pat Curran vie for the World Title against one of the toughest fighters in all of MMA - Joe Warren. As a diehard MMA fan, I can't wait for March 9th to get here at Horseshoe."
Also on this big night in Hammond, the Season 6 Featherweight Tournament kicks off as Season 5 finalist Marlon Sandro takes on Roberto Vargas. A member of the renowned Team Nova Uniao, the 19-3 Sandro is widely regarded as one of the top featherweights in the world. With seven of his 19 wins coming via KO/TKO and three by submission, don't blink when the dangerous Brazilian enters the Bellator cage. A former wrestler at Cal-State Bakersfield, Vargas has used his wrestling pedigree and parlayed that success into a 12-1 mixed martial arts record with three knockouts and four submissions.
Born in Thailand and raised in England, the UK's best featherweight Ronnie Mann has the talent and drive to make a deep run in this season's tournament. A tenacious standup fighter with 10 submission victories on his record, the 20-4 fighter has possibly his toughest test to date when he takes on dangerous veteran Wagnney Fabiano. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and former WEC fighter holds an impressive 14-3 record and adds another true contender to this season's featherweight tournament.
Top featherweight prospect Alexandre "PoPo" Bezerra enters his first Bellator tournament and will face stiff competition in his quarterfinal matchup as the 12-1 submission ace battles fellow Brazilian Genair da Silva. "Junior PDQ" is coming off an impressive victory at Bellator 52, and will be looking to carry that momentum into the tournament on March 9
Daniel Straus returns to the Bellator cage after nearly a year. Straus made a dominant run through the Season 4 Featherweight Tournament, only being stopped by eventual tournament Champion Patricio Pitbull in the finals. When the Ohio native steps into the cage on March 9, it will be against the undefeated Jeremy Spoon, who brings a spotless 12-0 record to the cage, including eight submission victories.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter (@BellatorMMA), follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney (@BjornRebney) and check out Bellator on Facebook.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, featherweight, curran, march
Read the full article at MMA ManiaPat Curran gets crack at Bellator champion Joe Warren in March at Bellator 61
Bellator featherweight champ Joe Warren (7-2) will defend his title on March 9 against Pat Curran at Bellator 61, an event set for Hammond, Indiana at the Horseshoe Casino. Warren was originally scheduled to put his belt on the line against Patricio “Pitbull” Freire but the Brazilian was forced out of the bout due to injury, thus opening the door for Curran to slide in.
News of the match-up was confirmed by Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney.
The 16-4 Curran earned his shot at Warren by winning the promotion’s Summer Series featherweight tournament last year. Curran also competed for the Bellator lightweight title in 2011, falling to Eddie Alvarez via decision, after taking out a slew of savvy 155ers to get the opportunity.
The bout will mark Warren’s return to the featherweight division after making a run at becoming a double-champion by dropping down to 135 pounds. He was defeated in the opening round of last season’s bantamweight tournament via knockout against eventual finalist Alexis Vila.
“Only thing better than Curran vs. Warren is having it in Bellator’s backyard! FW title’s on the line March 9 at Hammond’s Horseshoe,” Rebney posted on his Twitter account. Bellator is based out of Chicago, only a thirty-minute drive from Hammond. Additionally, Curran is a native of nearby Crystal Lake, Illinois, so he should have a large crowd support in his favor for the title contest.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, title, featherweight, warren, curran
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainCurran vs. Warren title fight set for Bellator 61
Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren is set to defend his 145-pound title against Pat Curran in the main event at Bellator 61.
Posted in: bellator, title, champion, warren, curran
Read the full article at sportsnet.caChamp Joe Warren meets Pat Curran on March 9 at Bellator 61
Pat Curran's second shot at Bellator Fighting Championship gold will apparently come on March 9.
In a report for the Chicago Tribune, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney tells
Matt Erickson that's the date Curran will face
featherweight champ Joe Warren for the 145-pound
title.
The contest serves as the main event of Bellator 61 and takes place at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind.
Posted in: bellator, curran, championship gold, date curran, horseshoe casino
Read the full article at MMA JunkiePat Curran to Face Joe Warren in Bellator Featherweight Title Bout on March 9
Filed under: Bellator, NewsPat Curran will get his second crack at Bellator gold on March 9 at Bellator 61.
That's when the fast-rising featherweight will face off with reigning champion Joe Warren at The Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced on Wednesday.
In 2011, Curran won a chance to fight for the lightweight crown but fell in a unanimous decision to Eddie Alvarez. Afterward, he dropped weight to move into the lower division and steamrolled the tournament field with finish wins over Luis Palomino and Marlon Sandro, as well as a decision over Ronnie Mann, to advance to a title bout.
Since then, Curran (16-4) has been waiting on the sidelines for his chance, as first, Warren (7-2) tried his hand at becoming a two-division champ but got knocked out by bantamweight Alexis Vila. And then, Curran was forced to wait as previous tournament winner Patricio "Pitbull" Freire was queued up to fight Warren first.
As it turns out, Freire suffered a hand injury that required surgery, allowing Curran to cash in his opportunity first.
For Curran, it will be a home game of sorts, as the Crystal Lake, Illinois fighter is based only about 75 miles from the fight venue.
Bellator's sixth season premieres with a March 2 event, though a location for that show has yet to be announced. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, bellator, warren, ronnie mann, curran
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 145-Pound Champion Joe Warren Vs. Pat Curran Set For March 9
Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Warren will defend his title against No. 1 contender Pat Curran on Friday, March 9, in Hammond, IN, according to the Chicago Tribune's Matt Erickson. The fight will take place in Bellator's second event of their sixth season at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino.
Warren (7-2) has yet to defend the title he won in a comeback victory over Joe Soto in September 2010. Since then, he picked up a controversial split decision over Marcos Galvao in a catchweight fight and was knocked out in 64 seconds by Alexis Vila in his bantamweight tournament debut last September.
Curran (16-4) won Bellator's most recent 145-pound tournament, defeating Marlon Sandro by second round KO in August. It was his second tournament victory for the 24-year-old as he won their 2010 lightweight tournament, dropping a competitive unanimous decision to then-champion Eddie Alvarez. He is the cousin of UFC/WEC veteran Jeff Curran.
Bellator's next season of action kicks off on Friday, March 2, on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, warren, curran, march
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMichael Chandler talks UFC, Bellator and life changing win over Eddie Alvarez
Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler left 2011 with one of thee most exciting fights of the year against Eddie Alvarez for the Bellator lightweight title. We recently caught up with Chandler who talks about the chances of himself going into the UFC, how his life has changed since the win over Alvarez and his opinions [...]
Posted in: bellator, life, chandler, alvarez, eddie alvarez
Read the full article at Fighthub TVVyacheslav Vasilevsky joins Bellator's season-six middleweight tourney
Native Russian and former M-1 light-heavyweight champ Vyacheslav Vasilevsky is the latest addition to Bellator's season-six middleweight tournament.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed his participation with sources close to the fighter.
The season-six eight-man middleweight tourney kicks off in March on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, middleweight, vyacheslav, seasonsix, vyacheslav vasilevsky
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBruno Santos, Maiquel Falcao join Bellator's season-six middleweight tourney
Middleweights Bruno Santos and Maiquel Falcao are the latest additions to Bellator's season-six middleweight tournament.
Bellator officials today confirmed the selections with MMAjunkie.com. Sherdog first reported Falcao's inclusion.
The eight-man tourney kicks off in March on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, middleweight, falcao, maiquel falcao, mmajunkiecom sherdog
Read the full article at MMA JunkieVictor O'Donnell slotted for Bellator's season-six middleweight tournament
Ohio fighter Victor O'Donnell has joined his second Bellator tournament.
Bellator officials today announced that O'Donnell, who had a brief appearance in a season-five tournament, has joined the eight-man field for the organization's season-six middleweight tourney.
The tourney kicks off in March on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, eightman field, seasonfive tournament, victor odonnell
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Adds Maiquel Falcao, Giva Santana to 185-Pound Tournament
Some names have started to be released for Bellator's 185-pound tournament that kicks off in March with Maiquel Falcao and Giva Santana announced as joining the fray Wednesday.
Sherdog first reported the news of Falcao's involvement, who will be making his promotional debut in the tourney's first round. Falcao (28-4-0-1) was notably released from the UFC even after his only Octagon fight was a win over Gerald Harris at November 2010's UFC 123.
He pulled out of a fight with Alessio Sakara due to an injury and following issues stemming from a 2002 assault on a woman, the UFC cut ties with the 30-year-old. Falcao has fought three times in Brazil since then, going 2-1 with a pair of quick first round TKO wins.
Santana (17-1) made his Bellator debut last October with a first round submission win over Darryl Cobb, his 13th career win by armbar. He's won six fights in a row and is a veteran of EliteXC, M-1 and Tachi Palace Fights.
Brian Rogers (8-3) is the only other middleweight that is confirmed for the tournament, his second for Bellator. In season five, he lost in the semifinals to eventual winner Alexander Shlemenko.
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, darryl cobb, falcao
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC Vet Maiquel Falcao Confirmed For Bellator Middleweight Tourney
With Sherdog's report that Maiquel Falcao will indeed take part in Bellator's Season 6 middleweight tournament, the field of 185-pound fighters has expanded to six.
Falcao fought in the UFC once, in November of 2010, taking a unanimous decision win over Gerald Harris. However, as legal complications arose relating to a 2002 arrest, Falcao was cut from the ranks before he could make a second appearance. Falcao has competed three times since then, with a submission loss to Antonio Braga Neto splitting a pair of first-round TKO victories.
Falcao will be competing against a host of knockout artists and submission specialists, most of them so far only strongly rumored participants, for a shot at the Bellator championship. Below, a look at the likely tournament contenders...
Brian Rogers (8-3-0) compiled a seven-fight winning streak, including wins in both Strikeforce and Bellator, before falling last October to Alexander Schlemenko's knees. He is the only other tournament participant to be definitely confirmed.
Brett Cooper (16-7-0) followed his own loss to Schlemenko with three straight victories, including slight upset victories over Joe Doerksen and one-time Bellator finalist Jared Hess. Eleven of Cooper's sixteen victories have come by (T)KO.
Like most of the men on this list, Vitor Vianna (12-2-1) also saw a win streak come to a halt courtesy of Alexander Schlemenko. A Season 5 finalist, Vianna holds wins over Bryan Baker and current UFC middleweight Francis Carmont.
Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (15-1-0) has spent his entire career fighting on the European circuit. He's currently on a fourteen-fight tear, which includes a third-round submission victory of UFC vet Xavier Foupa-Pokam.
Giva Santana (17-1-0), known also as "The Arm Collector," has defeated fifteen opponents by way of submission, and no less than thirteen of those by armbar. His current six-fight win streak includes victories over former WEC champion Doug Marshall and former Strikeforce title contender Anthony Ruiz.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, submission, victory, falcao
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendGiva 'The Arm Collector' Santana joins Bellator's season-six middleweight tourney
"The Arm Collector" is joining his first Bellator tournament.
Bellator officials today announced that Giva Santana, a submission specialist who once won 10 straight fights via armbar, has joined the eight-man field for the organization's season-six middleweight tourney.
The tourney kicks off in March on MTV2.
Posted in: eightman field, bellator, tourney, giva santana, submission specialist
Read the full article at MMA JunkieEddie Alvarez Not Taking Final Bellator Lightweight Tournament Spot
With one slot remaining for the next Bellator 155-pound tournament, it was assumed that former champion Eddie Alvarez would take it and get on the path toward reclaiming the belt from Michael Chandler, the first man to beat him in nearly three years.
However, that won't be the case as Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney revealed Wednesday that the Philadelphia, PA, native will not be among this year's field.
In an interview with MMA Junkie Radio, Rebney said both sides decided it wasn't the right time for Alvarez (22-3) to enter the tournament field, which would be his first since winning the title in Bellator's first season. Instead, they are still moving ahead on talks for Alvarez to rematch with Shinya Aoki, the last man to beat him before the Chandler defeat.
The two fought on the K-1/DREAM New Year's Eve show in 2008 and Aoki (30-5-0-1) tapped Alvarez to a heel hook in the first round to win the BAMMA 155-pound title. That would be Alvarez' last fight outside Bellator, but Rebney said he's unsure if the rematch would take place in the Bellator cage or for DREAM.
Rebney added they will choose between three lightweights to take the open spot.
Posted in: bellator, year, alvarez, tournament, rebney
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowEddie Alvarez Not Making A Lightweight Title Run In Bellator’s Season Six
Michael Chandler threw Bellator a bit of a curveball late last year when he unexpectedly took out their golden boy Eddie Alvarez in a thrilling lightweight title fight at Bellator 58.
In any other organization, Alvarez would probably only need one or two wins to earn a shot at redemption, but that’s not how Bellator operates. CEO Bjorn Rebney has stated time and time again that the only way to earn a title shot in Bellator is to win one of their tournaments which entails three victories over the span of a 12-week season.
The opportunity was there for Alvarez to take that path as the final participant in Bellator’s upcoming season-six lightweight tournament, however as Rebney recently told MMA Junkie, they decided to go in a different direction and pursue a rematch with Shinya Aoki like they planned before the Chandler loss.
“Ed won’t be part of the next tournament during the March kickoff,” Rebney said. “The decision was reached between us that the next right step wouldn’t be to jump back in the season-tournament right now.”
“We’re still talking very regularly about the Aoki fight,” he said. “We’ve been talking to DREAM about making it happen, so it could still happen as his next fight.”
It’s certainly a unique position Eddie Alvarez finds himself in. I’m not sure how many fights Alvarez has left on his Bellator contract, but if he has any inkling to fight in the UFC, it seems like now would be the time to do whatever it is he has to do to fulfill his Bellator contract and make that happen. Otherwise, if he were to enter another Bellator tournament, say in season seven, and wins the fights he needs to reclaim the belt, then he’s just going to find himself in the same position he was in before — defending a secondary title against unknown fighters looking to make a name off his back. If I was him, I would want to write a new chapter in my career, not rehash the same one.
Image via Bellator
Posted in: fight, bellator, title, alvarez, tournament
Read the full article at MMA ConvertEx-champ Alvarez not joining season-six Bellator tourney, targeted for Aoki fight
Former champion Eddie Alvarez won't be fighting for a chance to reclaim his Bellator lightweight title anytime soon.
Bellator chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney today told MMAjunkie.com Radio that Alvarez won't take the final slot in the organization's season-six lightweight tournament.
Instead, he's working to book Alvarez for a rematch with DREAM champion Shinya Aoki.
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, bellator chairman, exchamp alvarez, book alvarez
Read the full article at MMA JunkieFalcao Confirmed for Bellator Season 6 Middleweight Tournament
Onetime UFC talent Maiquel Falcao will make his stateside return this spring when he takes part in Bellator Fighting Championships’ sixth-season middleweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, middleweight, falcao, stateside return
Read the full article at SherdogBellator Season Six Lightweight, Welterweight Tourney Fields Nearly Set
The lightweight and welterweight tournament lineups for Bellator's sixth season are nearly complete. Take a look at who will be competing starting this March.
Posted in: bellator, season, welterweight, lineup, bellator season
Read the full article at Heavy MMABellator Signs Top Welterweight Prospect Andrey Koreshkov
Less than a day after he was named the top 170-pound prospect in Bloody Elbow's World MMA rankings, Bellator announced the signing of Andrey Koreshkov to a contract.
A teammate of Bellator No. 1 middleweight contender Alexander Shlemenko, Koreshkov (8-0) will bring his undefeated record to the U.S. for the first time in a major organization. The 21-year-old has never gone the distance, finishing all of his fights in two rounds or less with five T/KO victories to his credit.
From our scouting report:
Though his pankration background might suggest a boxing or wrestling-oriented approach to fighting, Andrey dominates with a high paced assault of kickboxing and submission attacks that is reminiscent of DREAM Champion Gegard Mousasi. It remains to be seen how Andrey's defense will fare against a high level grappler, but his offensive skills are outright devastating in all areas.
No opponent or debut date has been announced and with the 170-pound tournament slate now filled, expect Koreshkov to make his Bellator debut sometime during their sixth season which begins in March.
Posted in: bellator, koreshkov, andrey, level grappler, wrestlingoriented approach
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator Signs Top Welterweight Prospect Andrey Koreshkov
CHICAGO, Ill. (1/9/12) - As Bellator Fighting Championships prepares for its highly anticipated sixth season, the promotion has once again added a premier talent from across the globe, this time signing undefeated Russian welterweight phenom Andrey "Spartan" Koreshkov. Last year, Bellator signed highly-touted Douglas Lima, who went on to win the Season 5 Welterweight Tournament and will face Ben Askren for the title.
Widely regarded as the top welterweight prospect in the world, Koreshkov joins Bellator under the tutelage of two-time Bellator Middleweight Tournament Champion Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko as the two dynamic strikers represent RusFighters in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Undefeated in nine professional fights, "Spartan" is a true finisher in every sense of the word. The 21-year-old prodigy has never had a fight move into the third round and is the owner of five knockout victories. While the competition will surely increase with Bellator, Koreshkov adds to an already dangerous welterweight field.
"The international market has produced some incredible talent for us, and Andrey is near the very top of that list," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Our Talent Development team, lead by Sam Caplan continues to be at the forefront of international scouting, and we'll continue bringing the best talent from across the world to Bellator."
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA, follow Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney @BjornRebney and check out Bellator on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.
Posted in: bellator, welterweight, talent, koreshkov, andrey
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBrian Rogers joins Bellator's season-six middleweight tourney
Brian Rogers is the first entrant in Bellator's upcoming season-six middleweight tournament.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the onetime Strikeforce fighter's involvement with a source to the promotion.
The eight-man tournament kicks off in March and airs on MTV2, and the winner earns $100,000 in total pay and a guaranteed title shot.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, brian, brian rogers, eightman tournament
Read the full article at MMA JunkiePatricky Freire, Rick Hawn Highlight Bellator Lightweight Tournament
While Bellator's welterweight tournament field is complete, the promotion's sixth season lightweight tournament is still awaiting one final name to round out the bracket.
Among the seven that will look to make their names in the sport's deepest weight class include a former Olympian and a "Pitbull" that wants to sharpen his bite.
Here's your early look at Bellator's 155-pound tournament with the winner getting a shot at Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler in 2012. With one spot left to go, it's likely that former champion Eddie Alvarez will be the final entrant.
Patricky Freire (10-2): One half of the "Pitbull" brothers, Freire returned to the win column in November with a first round TKO win over Kurt Pellegrino. He advanced to the season five lightweight tourney and lost to Chandler by decision, snapping a five fight win streak.
Thiago Michel (9-2): Michel makes his promotional debut, bringing heavy hands to Bellator with all nine of his wins coming via T/KO.
Ricardo Tirloni (14-1): Tirloni returns to Bellator for his first tournament run on an 11-fight win streak. Adept at finishing fights, Tirloni's lone defeat came at the hands of No. 1 UFC lightweight contender Ben Henderson.
Brent Weedman (18-7-1): A Bellator vet, Weedman is coming off decision losses to Jay Hieron and Chris Lozano. This will mark his lightweight debut.
Rick Hawn (11-1): The Olympian in judo and 2011 welterweight tournament finalist is dropping down to lightweight after his first career loss to Hieron.
J.J. Ambrose (17-3): Ambrose makes his Bellator debut on a seven fight win streak. The California native has 10 of 17 wins via submission.
Lloyd Woodard (11-1): Woodard enters his second 155-pound tournament after he suffered his first career loss to Chandler last April. The man from Montana is 1-1 in Bellator.
Bellator's sixth season kicks off on Friday, March 2nd, with five different tournaments.
Posted in: fight, bellator, tournament, career loss, round tko
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBen Saunders, War Machine Round Out Bellator 170-Pound Tournament
With their sixth season kicking off in two months, Bellator is finalizing the fields in their five tournaments. Their eight-man welterweight tournament is set with the return of a popular finalist, the debut of a controversial figure and someone that left the UFC on a win streak.
Here's the field that will look to challenge either current champion Ben Askren or No. 1 contender Douglas Lima later in 2012.
Ben Saunders (12-4-2): The UFC veteran finished all of his first three Bellator fights before running into Lima's fists in a second round KO loss in November's tournament finale.
Brian Foster (18-5): Medically released by the UFC due to a brain hemorrhage and now completely cleared to fight, Foster will make his Bellator debut riding a four fight win streak with four finishes. The 27-year-old is an early favorite to win the tourney.
Bryan Baker (16-3): Baker's story about recovering from leukemia and fighting during his recovery is well-known within MMA circles. Baker was knocked out by Vitor Vianna in the 185-pound tournament semifinals and will make his 170-pound debut in this tourney. He's won five of his last seven.
Karl Amoussou (13-4-2): Amoussou will be looking for his first win streak since 2009. He's 2-2-1 in his last five.
David Rickels (8-0): The undefeated Rickels gets his first shot in a tournament after three straight submission wins on Bellator undercards. He's a dark horse who will finally get a shot against bigger name competition.
Raul Amaya (9-0): The undefeated prospect makes his Bellator debut and has finished all his fights with six submissions.
Carlos Pereira (33-9-1): The most experienced fighter in the field makes his debut in a major U.S.-based promotion, a winner in four of his last six. He'll be looking to expand on his 22 victories by T/KO.
War Machine (12-4): The former Jon Koppenhaver and TUF alum has a checkered past that involves jail time, getting released by Bellator after making comments about Barack Obama and working in porn. He claims he's put all of that behind him and will get his chance at redemption in the tourney. He last beat Roger Huerta by TKO in November.
Bellator's sixth season kicks off Friday, March 2nd.
Posted in: fight, bellator, tournament, debut, he
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowLightweight and welterweight tournament fields nearly complete for Bellator season 6
CHICAGO, Ill. (January 6, 2011) - As Bellator Fighting Championships prepares to make the jump to Friday nights, the tournament fields are beginning to take shape as the lightweight and welterweight tournament participants have been revealed. Bellator's sixth season begins Friday, March 2nd LIVE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX, with the preliminary fights being streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com. Season 6 will feature tournaments in the bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and middleweight divisions.
Coming off a 50-second knockout victory over UFC veteran Kurt Pellegrino, Patricky Pitbull (@PatrickyPitbull) headlines an impressive group of 155 pounders looking to dethrone the newly crowned Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler. After a successful run at welterweight, former 2004 US Olympic judo team member Rick Hawn (@RickHawnMMA) has made the drop to lightweight and has his sights set on capturing a guaranteed title shot and $100,000 payday. The tournament will also be full of newcomers as Ricardo Tirloni (@TirloniMMA), Thiago Michael and J.J. Ambrose (@Superjjambrose) all make their Bellator tournament debuts and all come with high expectations. Joining Hawn in the weight drop is Brent Weedman (@Brent_Weedman), who will try his hand at lightweight after competing in the last two welterweight tournaments. Fan favorite Lloyd "Cupcake" Woodard (@MMAcupcake) is back with Bellator and looking to get back to his winning ways after suffering a unanimous decision loss at the hands of the current Bellator lightweight champion.
In a field that holds a combined 122-29-5 record, Bellator's Season 6 Welterweight Tournament is loaded with talent hungry for a title shot against undefeated Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren. Bellator newcomers and UFC veterans Brian Foster (@BrianFoster170) and War Machine (@WarMachine170) will be looking to make strong first impressions, while Season 5 Welterweight Tournament Finalist Ben "Killa B" Saunders (@BenSaundersMMA) will be looking to finally secure his title shot. Bellator Season 2 Middleweight finalist and Season 5 semifinalist Bryan Baker (@BryanBeastBaker) has dropped down to welterweight and plans to stir up 170-pound class. David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) and Raul Amaya both bring identical 9-0 records into the tournament, while veterans Carlos Pereira and Karl Amoussou round out one of the deepest tournaments in Bellator history.
A full list of tournament participants is listed below:
Bellator Season Six Lightweight Tournament:
Patricky PitbullThiago MichaelRicardo TirloniBrent WeedmanRick HawnJ.J. AmbroseLloyd WoodardTBA
Bellator Season Six Welterweight Tournament:
Ben SaundersBrian FosterBryan BakerKarl AmoussouDavid RickelsRaul AmayaCarlos PereiraWar Machine
Posted in: title shot, bellator, season, welterweight, tournament
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBryan Baker joins Bellator's season-six welterweight tourney
Bryan Baker has entered his third Bellator tournament. But this time, he's doing so in a new weight class.
Following a runner-up and semifinal finish in two earlier middleweight tournaments, Baker has joined the field for a season-six welterweight tourney.
Bellator chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney today announced the news.
Posted in: bryan baker, bellator, weight class, baker, bellator tournament
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBrian Foster Added to Bellator’s Season Six Welterweight Tourney
UFC veteran Brian Foster brings a four-fight winning streak into Bellator Fighting Championships, as he joins the season six welterweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, season, welterweight, brian, streak
Read the full article at Heavy MMABrian Foster joins Bellator's season-six welterweight tournament
As expected Brian Foster has joined Bellator's upcoming season-six tournament.
Bellator officials today confirmed his participation in the eight-man tournament with MMAjunkie.com. Sherdog first reported Foster's entry.
The eight-man tourney, which earns the winner a guaranteed title shot, kicks off in March, and the season airs on MTV2.
Posted in: title shot, bellator, eightman tournament, eightman tourney, season airs
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWar Machine added to Bellator’s upcoming welterweight tournament
The fighter now known as War Machine is one of two confirmed entrants into the Bellator Season 6 Welterweight Tournament. Real name Jon Koppenhaver, the controversial competitor and Carlos Alexandre Pereira became the first two men in the eight-man field and will take to the cage in respective bouts once the tournament kicks off in March on MTV2/EPIX.
News of their addition to the festivities was confirmed by Bellator officials.
The 12-4 Koppenhaver scored an impressive TKO victory over Roger Huerta in 2011 that vaulted him name back among the MMA public. He went 1-1 in two UFC bouts before being released. War Machine also served a stint in prison due to an assault case before getting back inside the cage this past November.
Pereira holds a record of 33-9-1 in his MMA career and will be making his Bellator debut.
As always, the winner of the tournament will receive a championship match along with a $100,000 paycheck for the honor of being named the last fighter standing.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: bellator, tournament, war machine, war, machine
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainKarl Amoussou joins Bellator's season-six welterweight tournament
Karl Amoussou is making the full drop from middleweight to welterweight for Bellator's season-six tournament.
Officials today announced that Amoussou has joined the eight-man field for the 170-pound tourney.
Amoussou, an M-1 and Strikeforce vet, recently score a vicious first-round TKO of Jesus Martinez in a 175-pound catchweight fight at Bellator 59 to begin the drop in weight class.
Posted in: bellator, strikeforce vet, karl amoussou, amoussou, jesus martinez
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWar Machine, Carlos Alexandre Pereira join Bellator's season-six welterweight tourney
Two fighters are the first confirmed participants for Bellator's upcoming season-six welterweight tournament.
Bellator officials today announced Carlos Alexandre Pereira as an entrant in the eight-man tournament.
Additionally, as MMAjunkie.com recently reported, War Machine - perhaps best known as UFC fighter Jon Koppenhaver before a legal name change - also is part of the tournament field, officials today confirmed.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, war machine, eightman tournament, name change
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWar Machine on comeback trail with Bellator
The man previously known as Jon Koppenhaver is looking to stick to the straight and narrow with a new contract with Bellator.
Posted in: bellator, war machine, jon koppenhaver, koppenhaver, comeback trail
Read the full article at sportsnet.caPatricky 'Pitbull' Freire joins Bellator's season-six lightweight tourney
Patricky "Pitbull" Freire, who posted a runner-up finish in Bellator's season-four tournament, has joined the eight-man field for season six.
Bellator officials today announced his participation.
The Brazilian knockout artist recently rebounded from his tourney-finale loss to Michael Chandler with a 50-second TKO of UFC vet Kurt Pellegrino at Bellator 59.
Posted in: bellator, michael chandler, eightman field, bellators seasonsix, tourneyfinale loss
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator's season-six lightweight tourney includes Weedman, Hawn, Tirloni
The field for Bellator's season-six lightweight tournament is taking shape.
Bellator officials recently announced that Brent Weedman, Rick Hawn and Ricardo Tirloni have been added to the eight-man field.
MMAjunkie.com first reported Hawn's drop from welterweight to lightweight and his tourney plans earlier this month.
Posted in: bellator, tourney plans, hawn, bellators seasonsix, hawns drop
Read the full article at MMA JunkieTirloni, Weedman, Hawn, Freire Confirmed for Bellator LW Tourney
Four men are now confirmed for Bellator Fighting Championships’ sixth-season lightweight tournament.of Ricardo Tirloni, Brent Weedman, Rick Hawn and Patricky “Pitbull” Freire in the upcoming 155-pound draw.
Posted in: bellator, tirloni, freire, hawn, weedman
Read the full article at Sherdog2012 World MMA Featherweight Scouting Report: #3 - Brandon Bender
Name:
Brandon Bender
Nickname:
--
Age:
24
Height:
5'8"
Location:
Rancho Cucamonga, California
A quick glance at the résumé of California-native Brandon Bender (8-0) might shock some fans. After a decision victory in his debut at King of the Cage: Rapid Fire in August of ‘06, Bender rattled off seven consecutive victories, all by submission. That isn't an unfathomable feat considering a fight normally lasts fifteen minutes, and Bender has been training in the arts of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since he was a teenager. The fact that all seven opponents tapped inside the opening frame of action raises eyebrows.
It comes as no surprise that Bender has found success quickly. He began training in Tae Kwon Do when he was seven, took up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu during his teenage years, and wrestled in high school. He also trains at Millenia MMA in Rancho Cucamonga, California, a camp that houses WEC veterans Charlie Valencia and Manny Tapia, Bellator veteran Georgi Karakhanyan, Tachi Palace Fights' flyweight Darrell Montague, and UFC veteran Gabe Ruediger.
The 24-year-old Italian, who ranks as a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is a highly-effective submission specialist, as evident in his aforementioned streak of seven consecutive first round submission victories. Don't let that fool you. He is far from a top heavy, one-dimensional fighter who relies solely on his grappling prowess to win fights.
On the feet, Bender can hold his own, preferring to strike from range and pick apart more aggressive opposition. His stand-up game still needs tuning as he's a bit robotic and flat-footed at times, but there is strong evidence that he's evolving into a well-balanced fighter in his more recent battles.
Bender's last bout took place on the preliminary card of Bellator 35 in March. There's no word yet whether Bender has signed a long-term deal with Bellator that could put him into next season's featherweight tournament. If I had to take a guess, however, I'd say that it's almost a certainty Bender will participate. If Bellator doesn't pounce, the UFC most certainly will.
Check out more video footage of Brandon Bender after the jump...
FlyweightBantamweightFeatherweightLightweight
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#1 - Rony Mariano#2 - Aljamain Sterling#3 - Chris Holdsworth#4 - Josh Hill#5 - Fabiano Fernandes#6 - Claudio Ledesma#7 - Sirwan Kakai#8 - Kyoji Horiguchi#9 - Leandro Hygo#10 - Pedro Munhoz
#1 - #2 - #3 - Brandon Bender#4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers#6 - Anthony Gutierrez#7 - Max Holloway#8 - John Teixeira#9 - Cody Bollinger#10 - Bubba Jenkins
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Brandon Bender vs. Isaac GutierrezBAMMA USA - Bad Beat MMA - September 24, 2010
Brandon Bender vs. Mike PaloMEZ Sports - Pandemonium 3 - November 19, 2010
Brandon Bender Highlight
Posted in: bellator, brandon, brazilian jiujitsu, bender, certainty bender
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowRoberto Vargas rounds out Bellator Season 6 featherweight field
The sixth season of Bellator’s tournament-style competition will begin in March and the upcoming featherweight field is now set.
Roberto Vargas has been added to round out the eight-man tourney, bringing his 12-1 overall record to the table. Vargas will be joined by Jeremy Spoon, Genair da Silva, Marlon Sandro, Alexandre Bezerra, Ronnie Mann, Wagnney Fabiano, and Daniel Straus.
Combined the eight fighters have an overall record of 119-20-1, winning 17 of 22 fights inside the Bellator cage.
Vargas has won six straight bouts since a decision loss to Wilson Reis. He also defeated Daniel Pineda while competing under Bellator’s banner.
The winner of the Bellator tournament will receive the customary championship match and $100,000. Action begins on MTV2/EPIX on March 2, 2012.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, wilson reis, daniel straus, decision loss, varga
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainMasakatsu Ueda Welcomes Whatever Challenge Bellator Throws at Him
He may not be the Bellator bantamweight champion, but Masakatsu Ueda may enter the promotion on day one as the most highly decorated fighter in the promotion.
Posted in: bellator, promotion, ueda, masakatsu ueda, challenge bellator
Read the full article at MMA Weekly11 for 11: No 5 Viacom purchases Bellator
Viacom purchased a majority stake in Bellator this fall and announced that it would move its newest purchase to Spike TV in 2013.
With the UFC looking for a new network dance partner most of 2011, many believed that Bellator would make the move to Spike. The purchase of Bellator confirmed the speculation.
Spike TV has the rights to the UFC library through 2012 and it was thought that Zuffa would purchase the library from Spike but that notion has died down. Spike.com began airing the preliminary fights of Bellator events this year as well.
Ironically, Dana White embraced the Viacom move as the UFC believed that the purchase would ease an FTC investigation and any notion of Zuffa monopolizing the MMA industry. Instead, White described the UFC as a “mom and pop” in comparison to Viacom.
With the Viacom acquisition, it will be interesting to see how much of an investment it puts into Bellator on Spike. Talent acquisitions, production for Bellator programming and marketing should be at the top of the list for improvement for the organization.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, spike, viacom, purchase
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBellator featherweight tourney adds Jeremy Spoon
Jeremy Spoon will put his undefeated record on the line when he steps into action during the Bellator Season 6 Featherweight Tournament.
Spoon (12-0) has won a pair of fights inside Bellator, stopping Adam Schindler for his most recent victory. Spoon is joined by Genair da Silva, Marlon Sandro, Alexandre Bezerra, Ronnie Mann, Wagnney Fabiano, and Daniel Straus.
The featherweight tournament, which will give the winner $100,000 and a shot at the championship belt, begins in March on MTV2.
MMA Junkie was the first to report Spoon’s addition to the eight-person field.
Spoon was a high school state wrestling champion who turned pro in 2008. He holds eight submission victories and a knockout in his career, including his first five fights in less than two minutes.
Season 6 kicks off on March 2 with a live event on MTV2/EPIX.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, championship belt, spoon, submission victories, victory spoon
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainMarlon Sandro added to Bellator’s upcoming featherweight tourney
Marlon Sandro was oh-so-close to achieving greatness earlier this year when the Brazilian featherweight lost in the finals of the Bellator Summer Series tournament to Pat Curran. Now, with the sixth season of Bellator’s tournament schedule set to begin, Sandro is entering the featherweight bracket once again.
Sandro holds a career record of 20-3, including a championship in SRC. Over his last eight fights, he is 6-2, with the lone losses coming to Curran and Hatsu Hioki.
MMA Junkie was first to report Sandro’s addition to the tournament.
So far five total competitors have entered, with the Nova Uniao representative being joined by Alexandre Bezerra, Ronnie Mann, Wagnney Fabiano, and Daniel Straus. Sandro is currently 3-1 in Bellator, while the other four fighters have a combined 10-2 mark in the promotion. Only Fabiano is a Bellator newcomer.
The winner of Bellator featherweight tournament will secure a title shot against the champion and $100,000.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, featherweight, sandro, brazilian featherweight
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainRoberto Vargas is final addition to Bellator's season-six featherweight tournament
The field is set for Bellator's upcoming season-six featherweight tournament.
Early Bellator fighter Roberto Vargas, whose only career loss came to Wilson Reis in a season-two tourney qualifier, is the eighth and final addition to the upcoming tourney.
Sources close to the fighter today confirmed his participation with MMAjunkie.com.
Posted in: bellator, career loss, wilson reis, fighter today, roberto vargas
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBezerra, Spoon, Da Silva, Vargas Complete Bellator FW Field
Eight men are now confirmed for Bellator’s sixth-season featherweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, silva, tournament, bezerra, varga
Read the full article at SherdogJeremy Spoon added to Bellator's season-six featherweight tourney field
Undefeated Jeremy Spoon is tournament bound.
The former lightweight, who's picked up a pair of non-tournament
victories in recent Bellator fights, has joined the eight-man field for a
featherweight tourney in season six.
Bellator officials today confirmed his tournament participation with MMAjunkie.com.
Posted in: bellator, bellator fights, featherweight tourney, jeremy spoon, tournament participation
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMarlon Sandro joins Bellator's season-six featherweight tourney field
After a runner-up finish in his first try, Marlon Sandro is entering another Bellator tournament.
The fighter, who finished second to Pat Curran in the organization's "Summer Series" tournament, has joined the eight-man field for a featherweight tourney in season six.
Bellator officials today confirmed his participation with MMAjunkie.com.
Posted in: bellator, marlon sandro, bellator tournament, eightman field, featherweight tourney
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDaniel Straus, Alexandre Bezerra added to Bellator Season 6 Featherweight Tournament
The Bellator featherweight tournament continues to grow as officials have announced that top 145 prospect Alexandre Bezerra and season four featherweight finalist Daniel Straus will take part in the season six 145 tournament. The two men join Wagnney Fabiano and Ronnie Mann as the other announced participants.
Bezerra has been very impressive in his Bellator run thus far, winning his first four fights and finishing all four opponents within two rounds. “Popo” has only lost once in thirteen professional fights back in 2009 when he was submitted by Charles Oliveira. The jiu-jitsu specialist has finished eleven of his twelve opponents and hasn’t seen the scorecards since his second pro bout in 2008.
Even though Straus lost in the season four finals to Patricio Freire in May, he managed to pick up a victory in October against UFC veteran Jason Dent. Straus defeated Nazareno Malegarie and Kenny Foster on his way to the 145 finals. An amateur wrestling champion in high school, Straus is known for using his size and wrestling to ground opponents. Of his 17 professional victories, ten have come by way of decision.
The eight-man tourney is set to kick off in March 2012 on MTV 2.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, season, tournament, featherweight, strau
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainAlexandre 'Popo' Bezerra added to Bellator's season-six featherweight tourney
Top 145-pound prospect Alexandre "Popo" Bezerra will
take part in Bellator Fighting Championships' upcoming season-six
featherweight tournament.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed Bezerra's inclusion with Bellator officials.
Bezerra joins Ronnie Mann and Daniel Straus as officially confirmed featherweight tournament
contenders.
Posted in: bellator, featherweight, daniel straus, ronnie mann, bezerra
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Featherweight Tourney to Feature Season 4 Finalist Straus
Daniel Straus will compete in Bellator Fighting Championships’ sixth-season featherweight tournament, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced Tuesday.
Posted in: bellator, championship, featherweight, tuesday, strau
Read the full article at SherdogWagnney Fabiano, Marlon Sandro Set For Bellator Featherweight Tournament
Former IFL featherweight champion and prominent WEC fighter Wagnney Fabiano has been added to Bellator's season six featherweight tournament along with Summer Series featherweight tournament finalist Marlon Sandro. Sherdog has the info:
A pair of Brazilian talents has been added to Bellator Fighting Championships’ sixth-season featherweight tournament, as Wagnney Fabiano and Marlon Sandro will both compete for a shot at the gold in the coming year.
Sherdog.com confirmed the tournament participation of both men on Tuesday with sources close to the fighters. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney initially tweeted news of Fabiano’s signing last week but did not specify the fighter’s tournament plans.
Fabiano hasn't competed in over a year, with his last bout being a submission loss to Joseph Benavidez at WEC 52. Sandro is a former Sengoku featherweight champion with a 3-1 record in Bellator. His only loss came to Pat Curran in the aforementioned tournament final.
In addition, Bellator has added Travis Marx to the season six bantamweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, featherweight, sandro, fabiano
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowRonnie Mann latest featherweight added to Bellator Season 6 tourney
After a solid showing six months back as part of the Bellator Summer Series, British featherweight Ronnie Mann has been scheduled for a return to the ring come March when the organization’s sixth season starts up on MTV2/EPIX. More specifically, the 25-year old “Kid Ninja” will participate as part of a Season 6 tournament with the end goal of earning a $100,000 payday and shot at the divisional title.
News of Mann’s addition to the 145-pound field was recently revealed by Bellator officials.
Mann was last seen choking Kenny Foster out in the opening round of an October bout at Bellator 53. The fight marked his first performance since coming up short on the scorecards against eventual Summer Series winner (and current top contender) Pat Curran. Mann holds an overall record of 21-4-1 with eleven submission victories to his credit.
He will join WEC veteran Wagnney Fabiano as a member of the eight-man group with six other featherweights likely to be announced in the coming weeks. Bellator Season 6 starts on March 2 and is slated to feature four other tournaments (bantamweight, lightweight, welterweight, and middleweight).
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, season, mann, tournaments bantamweight, title news
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainDaniel Straus, Marlon Sandro added to Bellator's season-six featherweight tournament
Bellator Fighting Championships' season-six featherweight tournament is
taking shape, and Daniel Straus and Marlon Sandro are the latest
additions to the field.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney today announced Straus' addition to the tournament, which kicks off in March on MTV2.
Meanwhile, Sandro's participation was first reported by Sherdog.com and subsequently confirmed by MMAjunkie.com.
Posted in: bellator, strau, marlon sandro, sandro, sandros participation
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWagnney Fabiano scheduled to be part of the Bellator season six featherweight tournament
With their season six bantamweight tournament set, Bellator is now filling out their featherweight tournament and they’ve recently added Wagnney Fabiano, one of the top 145 lb competitors in the world, to the line up.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney announced the signing on Twitter.
A former IFL featherweight champ, Fabiano was thought to be the second best 145-pound fighter in the world (behind Urijah Faber) when he entered the WEC in 2008. After winning his first two bouts in the WEC cage, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt was upset at WEC 43 when Mackens Semerzier submitted him with a triangle choke in the first round. Following the loss, Fabiano dropped to 135, where he won two more bouts before losing via guillotine choke to former WEC bantamweight title challenger Joseph Benavidez.
He was released from the organization and hasn’t competed in MMA following that November 2010 loss to Benavidez but in March 2012 he’ll step back into the cage and move back up to 145 when he enters the Bellator featherweight tournament.
PHOTO CREDIT – WEC
Posted in: bellator, featherweight, featherweight tournament, wec, fabiano
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainRonnie Mann, Wagnney Fabiano join Bellator Season 6 featherweight field
Bellator FC has hit the ground running in terms of putting together the group of 145-pound talent scheduled for participation in the promotion’s Season 6 Featherweight Tournament. According to an official statement, Summer Series semi-finalist Ronnie Mann will be back in the fray this spring when Bellator returns to the MTV2/EPIX airwaves.
Mann holds an overall record of 21-4-1 and has won five of his last six fights with the only defeat coming via decision in Bellator’s Summer Series tourney to current top contender Pat Curran. A crisp striker, the bulk of Mann’s success has come on the mat including eleven submission wins.
A Closer Look at Mann vs. Curran
Joining “Kid Ninja” in the Season 6 group will be WEC veteran Wagnney Fabiano, a 14-3 Brazilian who is well-versed in BJJ as well. The 36-year old holds past victories over Fredson Paixao, Shad Lierly, and LC Davis. His inclusion in the field was first reported by MMAJunkie.
The other six 145ers involved are expected to be announced over the coming weeks. As always, the last man standing will earn a $100,000 paycheck and shot at winning the divisional championship.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, season, bellator returns, mann, lc davis
Read the full article at Fighters.comSpike TV to Air 'The Ultimate Fighter Fridays' During TUF 15 on FX
Filed under: MMA Media Watch, UFC, Bellator, NewsSpike TV announced on Tuesday that beginning Friday, March 2, from 9:00 p.m. to midnight ET/PT it will air highlights from the past fourteen seasons of The Ultimate Fighter. "The Ultimate Fighter Fridays," as they are calling it, will air at the same time as TUF 15 live on FX, which debuts March 9.
The move comes as no surprise as Spike aired UFC programming on its network at the same time as the UFC's debut on FOX and has already announced that they will do the same during the UFC's second show on FOX on Jan. 28.
Interestingly enough, though, Bellator Fighting Championships, which is owned by Spike TV's parent company, Viacom, will debut its sixth season on MTV2 on March 2, as well. However, according to David Schwarz, Spike TV's Vice President of Communications, MTV2 has not decided which time slot it will use to air Bellator events. That could very well be based on the time slot FX uses to air TUF 15 next year.
"We have to monetize the library," Schwarz said when asked about Spike's decision to counter UFC programming on FOX. "The UFC prefers that we keep the library and run the library."
Spike has the right to air old UFC programming for one more year before its contract with the promotion expires. The UFC could buy back the library to prohibit this from happening, but UFC president Dana White has already stated publicly that he is not interested in doing so.
Spike announced recently that Bellator will move to its airwaves come 2013. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, bellator, tv, spike, air
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseRonnie Mann joins Bellator's season-six featherweight tourney
Ronnie Mann is joining a second Bellator tournament.
The English fighter, who posted a semifinal finish during the "Summer Series" tournament earlier this year, has joined the season-six featherweight tourney.
Bellator officials recently announced his participation in the eight-man field, which kicks off in March on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, ronnie mann, bellator tournament, eightman field, english fighter
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator sets Season 6 Bantamweight Tournament field
Travis Marx is the eighth and final entrant into the Bellator season six bantamweight tournament, joining the likes of Marcos Galvao and Luis Nogueira in the field.
The tournament will begin in March on MTV2, with a championship match against either current champ Zach Makovsky or No. 1 contender and season five winner Eduardo Dantas on the line. Also, the victor receives $100,000.
Marx (18-3) will be making his Bellator debut after previously fighting in the Jackson’s MMA Series and Jeremy Horn’s Elite Fight Night organizations. The 33-year-old is a former member of the Utah Highway Patrol and was a standout prep wrestler in Utah and competed for Ricks College in junior college.
Along with Marx, Galvao and Nogueira, Masakatsu Ueda, Alexis Vila, Rodrigo Lima and Ed West will all compete in the tournament-style format throughout 2012.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, season, tournament, marx, tournamentstyle format
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainFabiano Joins Bellator Season Six Featherweight Tourney
WEC veteran Wagnney Fabiano looks to get back to his winning ways, as he joins Bellator for the promotion's season six featherweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, season, bellator season, fabiano, promotions season
Read the full article at Heavy MMAWagnney Fabiano tapped for Bellator's season-six featherweight tournament
WEC and IFL veteran Wagnney Fabiano will take part
in Bellator Fighting Championships' upcoming season-six featherweight
tournament.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed with sources close to
the fighter that the Brazilian submission ace had been tapped for a
tourney role.
Bellator CEO recently announced Fabiano's signing via Twitter.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, fabiano, wagnney fabiano, wagnney
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Completes 135-Pound Draw, Adds Mann at Featherweight
The lineup for Bellator Fighting Championships’ sixth-season bantamweight tournament is now complete.
Posted in: bellator, pound, bantamweight, tournament, lineup
Read the full article at SherdogBellator Adds Pair of Japanese Vets to Bantamweight Tourney
Bellator's Season 6 bantamweight tournament has added Japanese fighters Masakatsu Ueda and Hiroshi "Iron" Nakamura.
Posted in: bellator, japanese, bantamweight, vet, japanese vets
Read the full article at Heavy MMABellator adds elite Japanese bantamweights Masakatsu Ueda and Hiroshi Nakamura
CHICAGO, Ill. (December 17, 2011) — In a continuing effort to scout and sign the world’s best talent, Bellator Fighting Championships has added two dynamic bantamweights in Masakatsu Ueda and Hiroshi Nakamura.
Both will compete in the promotion’s upcoming Season 6 Bantamweight Tournament, joining Alexis Vila, Marcos Galvao, Ed West, Rodrigo Lima, Luis Nogueira and a yet to be named final participant.
Ueda joins Bellator already well established within the MMA community, holding notable wins over Royler Gracie and current Bellator Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament Champion Eduardo Dantas. With those victories Ueda is widely considered one of the best bantamweights in the world, holding rank in nearly every major Top 10 list.
Armed with one of the best grappling pedigrees in the sport, Ueda should be considered a serious contender heading into the deepest bantamweight tournament in Bellator history.
"Iron" Nakamura should have no problem sustaining a long tournament run, as the scrappy bantamweight has fought seven times since the beginning of 2010, including a unanimous decision victory over Seiji Akao on December 16th.
Holding a 3-1 record alone in 2011, Nakamura will look to keep the momentum going against a tournament field that currently holds an impressive 87-20-6 record.
Bellator’s sixth season kicks of Friday, March 2nd LIVE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX, while the preliminary fights are streamed LIVE and FREE across the globe on Spike.com. Bellator Season 6 will feature five eight-man tournaments in the bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and middleweight divisions.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, tournament, ueda, nakamura
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator Adds Japanese Talent For 2012 Bantamweight Tournament
Bellator Bantamweight Champion Zach Makovsky didn't defend his title a single time in 2011 but already has one title defense scheduled for 2012 with the next title challenger to be crowned during their next season.The promotion announced Saturday they have officially signed Masakatsu Ueda and Hiroshi Nakamura for the tournament, joining Alexis Vila, Marcos Galvao, Ed West, Rodrigo Lima and Luis Alberto Nogueira. The final slot is still to be announced.The 30-year-old Nakamura (14-5-4) has competed mainly for Japanese organizations like Shooto and Deep, winning three of his four fights in 2011. He's mainly a decision fighter (12 decision wins) so don't expect a ton of flashy finishes. David Castillo reported on the soon to be 34-year-old Ueda's signing in-depth earlier this week, but the quick hit info: he's spent nearly his entire career in Shooto and has won four in a row. The rest of the bantamweight field:
Vila (11-1) advanced to the finals of last season's 135-pound tourney, losing to tournament winner Eduardo Dantas by unanimous decision.
Galvao (10-5-1) has lost two of his last three but both losses (Joe Warren, Vila) were seen as wins by many that watched.
West (17-6) has been with Bellator since the fall of 2010 and is 2-2 in his last four. He advanced to the 2010 finals against Makovsky and got to the semifinals this past year.
Lima (9-0) will make his promotional debut, picking up victories by first round submission in his last three.
Nogueira (12-2) went 2-1 in Bellator in 2011, losing to West. He last submitted Zak Laird in 51 seconds in October.
No brackets have been announced yet. Bellator's sixth season starts on Friday, March 2nd on MTV2 with tournaments at 135, 145, 155, 170 and 185.
Posted in: bellator, decision, bantamweight, tournament, west
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow‘Iron’ Nakamura Added to Bellator Season 6 Bantamweight Tourney
Deep veteran Hiroshi “Iron” Nakamura is set to follow countryman Masakatsu Ueda into Bellator Fighting Championships’ sixth-season bantamweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, iron, nakamura, hiroshi
Read the full article at SherdogBellator Signs Two Top Japanese Bantamweights
Bellator Fighting Championships on Saturday announced it has added two dynamic bantamweights in Masakatsu Ueda and Hiroshi Nakamura.
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, bellator signs, ueda, masakatsu ueda
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator adds Hiroshi Nakamura to season-six bantamweight tournament
Another top Japanese fighter has been added to Bellator's 135-pound roster.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney today told MMAjunkie.com
that his promotion has inked Hiroshi Nakamura for
its season-six tournament, which is scheduled to begin in March on MTV2.
He also confirmed the participation of Masakatsu Ueda, whom MMAjunkie.com reported as a likely participant earlier this
week.
Posted in: bellator, japanese fighter, seasonsix tournament, hiroshi nakamura, masakatsu ueda
Read the full article at MMA Junkie'Wild' West Official for Bellator Season 6 Bantamweight Draw
Bellator Fighting Championships announced Friday that two-time tournament veteran Ed West will go for a hat trick in Season 6.
Posted in: bellator, season, west, hat trick, west official
Read the full article at SherdogBellator Season 6 Bantam Tourney Shaping Up
Bellator's Season 6 bantamweight tournament is starting to take shape as the promotion prepares for a move to Friday nights on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, season, move, friday nights, bantam
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator season six bantamweight tournament shaping up for March 2 on MTV2
CHICAGO, Ill. (December 16, 2011) - After a Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament that saw Brazilian phenom Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas secure a title shot against reigning Bellator Bantamweight Champion Zach Makovsky, eight of the world's top 135 pounders are back for Bellator's sixth season, eager to claim a title shot of their own.
Bellator will begin its sixth season Friday, March 2 LIVE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX.
"Our Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament was stacked with world class talent, but this one may be ever stronger," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "There is not an easy fight anywhere in this group and we have a couple of surprise announcements coming soon that will take this to the next level."
While all eight tournament participants have yet to be announced, the field is beginning to take shape. Fresh off a finals appearance in last season's tournament, Alexis Vila will return to the Bellator cage for another shot at a tournament championship. "The Exorcist" became a fan favorite after delivering a stunning knockout to Joe Warren at Bellator 51, and will look to provide nightmares to the competition this season.
Bellator tournament veteran, Ed "Wild" West is back and looking to avenge his split-decision loss to Eduardo Dantas with a long tournament run. In his last 11 fights, West has only two blemishes on an otherwise impressive record. The losses came at the hands of World Champion Makovsky and the aforementioned Dantas, and West knows winning the tournament will guarantee a rematch and a chance to pay back one of the two world-class fighters.
"I'd love to fight Dantas again," West said. "Either guy would be fun, but I'd love to get another shot at Dantas. I'd never look past this tournament, and I know the field is going to be really tough, but that fact is certainly present, and I'm ready to get started."
Nova Uniao product Marcos Galvao will try his hand at another Bellator tournament after suffering a controversial split-decision loss to Alexis Vila at Bellator 55. Many thought Galvao, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, controlled the pace during his fight with Vila, but the judges felt differently and "Loro" will be looking to finish his opponents during his Season six tournament run.
Two promising Brazilians will be looking to make an impression as Luis "Betao" Nogueira and Rodrigo Lima have both been confirmed for the Season 6 tournament. Lima makes his Bellator debut compiling a perfect 9-0 record, including seven finishes.
Announcements on the three remaining participants will be coming shortly, as well as tournament pairings for the highly anticipated tournament.
Posted in: title shot, bellator, season, tournament, danta
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThe Best of Bellator, Survival of Strikeforce, and Stars from the WEC
- Top 10 Best Fights from “Bellator FC” in 2011 (TheFightNerd)"2011 has been a huge year for Bellator, who have made waves across the fighting world as well as the business world when Viacom announced their investment into the promotion. Whenever I see Top 10 year-end lists, Bellator often gets unjustly stiffed, despite putting on consistently solid shows and building their stars from the ground up. The only course of action was giving them exactly what they deserve on this site, a countdown of
Posted in: bellator, world, star, bellator survival, business world
Read the full article at Low KickBellator sets up next bantamweight tournament for Season 6
Bellator’s upcoming bantamweight tournament is starting to take shape, as several fighters have been signed to the sixth season event.
Among those set to compete for a shot at current Bellator bantamweight champion Zack Makovsky are Marcos Galvao, Luis “Betao” Nogueira, Rodrigo “Ratinho” Lima, Ed West, and Masakatsu Ueda.
Galvao, Nogueira and West have Bellator experience, while Lima and Ueda will be making their promotional debuts.
News of the participants was first reported by MMAJunkie.
The sixth season of Bellator begins in March with cards streaming on Spike.com and airing live on MTV2. Along with the bantamweight tourney, Bellator will be holding events in the featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and middleweight divisions.
Galvao was part of the fifth season’s bantamweight tournament, barely losing a decision in the semifinals to Alexis Vila. Nogueira was also part of that tourney, along with West, who was a runner-up in season three and a semifinalist in Season Five.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, season, bantamweight, bantamweight tournament, season event
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainFormer M-1 champ Vyacheslav Vasilevsky likely for Bellator season-six tourney
Bellator Fighting Championships' international-recruiting efforts recently netted another top prospect.
Russian middleweight and light heavyweight Vyacheslav Vasilevsky signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator this past month.
Now, the 23-year-old is expected to be part of Bellator's season-six middleweight tournament, sources told MMAjunkie.com.
Posted in: bellator, middleweight, vyacheslav, multifight deal, seasonsix
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Signs Former Shooto Champion Masakatsu Ueda
For years, Shooto has been the stomping ground for international talent. And for awhile, when Miguel Torres was on top of the world and not joking about rape, hardcore fans felt like a fight between Masakatsu Ueda and Torres was a dream match. With Torres cut from the UFC (I suspect Torres may be back, and despite my "moral outrage" over the situation, firmly believe he should be), it's entirely possible this could become a reality.
At least with the news that Ueda (14-1-2) has just signed a deal with Bellator Fighting Championships according to the Fight Lounge. No word yet on his debut, but it's likely he'll be participant for the Bellator BW tournament.
Ueda will be a solid addition to their BW roster. He already owns a win over BW contender, Eduardo Dantas back in 2009. Unfortunately hardcore fans remember Ueda best for Shuichiro Katsumura's upset of Masakatsu via an atypical maneuver: a submission set up brilliantly as Katsumura went from a failed attempt at mission control to "ninja choke".
Ueda, one of the few Japanese prospects known to be occasionally booed by Japanese fans (yes folks, Japanese people are not immune to audible displays of frustration), brings with him a grappling pedigree hard to match. He's an excellent top control grappler in the vein of Ricardo Arona. His striking is still a little rudimentary, but he's come a long way, and even found himself in a minor slugfest against faded legend Rumino Sato back in July.
Ueda is 33, so he's no spring chicken, but then that would appear to be put him right at home with Joe Warren being 35, and Alexis Vila being 40. Ueda is still expected to be in action early in January at Shooto's Survivor Tournament Final against Kyoji Horiguchi.
Poll
Do you like Ueda's chances of going far in the Bellator 135 lb tournament?
Yes. He beat Dantas. Of course he'll do well.
No. He had to split decision Royler Gracie. Of course he's dead meat.
1 votes | Results
Posted in: bellator, fan, torre, he, ueda
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowVila, ‘Ratinho,’ ‘Betao’ Booked for Bellator Bantamweight Bracket
Three more names have been added to the list of confirmed participants for Bellator Fighting Championships’ sixth-season bantamweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, name, vila, participant
Read the full article at SherdogFormer Shooto Champ Ueda Signed for Bellator Bantamweight Tourney
Former Shooto 132-pound champion Masakatsu Ueda has signed with Bellator Fighting Championships and will participate in the Chicago-based promotion’s upcoming sixth-season bantamweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, shooto, ueda, sixthseason
Read the full article at SherdogBellator signs world-ranked bantamweight Masakatsu Ueda
Former Shooto champion Masakatsu Ueda is Bellator bound.
Sources close to the world-ranked bantamweight told MMAjunkie.com the Japanese veteran has agreed to a multi-fight deal with the organization.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed, though he could compete in a Bellator season-six bantamweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, multifight deal, japanese veteran, organization terms
Read the full article at MMA JunkieTravis Wiuff signs with Bellator, likely to join future light-heavyweight tournament
After knocking off a Bellator champion in a recent non-title fight, Travis Wiuff may get a chance to do the real thing.
The veteran fighter has signed a long-term deal with Bellator and is expected to compete in a future Bellator light-heavyweight tournament.
Sources close to the fighter confirmed the plans with MMAjunkie.com.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, veteran fighter, lightheavyweight, bellator champion
Read the full article at MMA JunkieHawn Drops to Lightweight for Bellator Season 6 Tourney
Rick Hawn will return to Bellator Fighting Championships in 2012 as a lightweight.
Posted in: bellator, season, championship, rick, hawn
Read the full article at SherdogBellator Inks UFC Alum War Machine For Welterweight Division
Bellator made an interesting move in their welterweight division, announcing the signing of former UFC fighter, former porn actor and former inmate War Machine Thursday.
The former Jon Koppenhaver (12-4) has been one of the sport's more infamous figures over the past few years, making a splash on the sixth season of The Ultimate Fighter. After a bloody Fight Of The Night win over Jared Rollins at the TUF 6 Finale, Machine was cut after a submission loss to Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 84, mainly due to comments he made about the late Evan Tanner.
It's been a strange few years for the 30-year-old Machine.
He legally changed his name to War Machine because a professional wrestler was using it as a nickname and the organization threatened legal action if he used it as well, claiming they had the trademark on it.
He signed a deal with Bellator in 2009, but was released before making his debut after he made some controversial comments about President Barack Obama on MySpace. (Yes, there was a social network before Facebook that people actually used.)
He announced that he was shooting his first porn scene in the fall of 2009. In December of that year, a warrant was issued for his arrest following an incident at a porn actress' birthday party where he got into an altercation with several party goers.
He was arrested in both February and March 2010 for two incidents involving physical altercations in California bars. As a result, he was later sentenced for one year in jail for a felony assault conviction and was released this past July.
Something lost completely along the way during this insane stretch is that Machine picked up five straight wins on the regional scene and had finishes in all of them. Before going into jail, Machine had lost two of three but is already on the winning track following a November TKO win over fellow UFC and Bellator alum Roger Huerta.
No date was announced for Machine's debut, nor whether he has a slot in their Season 6 welterweight tournament. Here's hoping his next four years are a lot more kind than his last four.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, year, war, machine
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator Re-Signs War Machine For Season Six Welterweight Tournament
Following a year-long stint in jail and a big win over Roger Huerta, Bellator has given War Machine another chance.
Bellator announced today that they have re-signed War Machine now that he has gotten his life back on track.
“Jon’s not had an easy road,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. “And there’s no doubt he’s made some poor choices, but after having had conversations with him since his release, he really seems to understand where and why things went wrong and wants to make them right. And, when he’s focused on nothing but training and fighting, he’s a talented and exciting fighter. I hope he’s able to turn this second chance into something positive.”
Machine plans to make the most of his second chance.
“My past has kind of shaped and molded who I’ve become, but the mistakes I’ve made in the past have definitely made me realize that I have to avoid certain situations in order to be the type of person I want to be,” War Machine said.
“It’s like I hit the rewind button,” War Machine said. “I pressed rewind and now I have a chance to get my life back on track. It feels great. Not everyone gets this kind of opportunity. I’m just stoked to be back in the mix here with Bellator. I didn’t get released from Bellator because I sucked. I got released because I was making poor decisions in my life. Right now I’m just out to show the world that I do belong here fighting the best with Bellator.” With the recent win over Huerta, War Machine is aware of what is on the line with Bellator, and is ready for this opportunity.
“I feel like I belong fighting with the best fighters in the world and Bellator has a bunch of them,” said War Machine. “I’m ready to fight the best guys again, and now I have that chance. I’m excited for the chance to prove myself and make up for a lot of the stupid stuff I’ve said and done in the past. I love my family and my teammates and I want to make them all proud of me. I want to show them what I’m truly capable of. I know there are a lot of kids and people I care about there watching me so I need to be a lot more careful about some of the choices I make. I just want to make everyone proud of me.”
War Machine originally signed with Bellator in 2009, but was released due to controversial statements he made about US President Barack Obama before he ever got his first fight in.
Info on his debut wasn’t included in the press release, but War Machine tweeted this morning that he will be competing in Bellator’s season six welterweight tournament next spring.
Posted in: bellator, war machine, war, machine, chance
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator signs War Machine…again
It’s not often people are given second chances in life so rest assured War Machine, formerly known as Jon Koppenhaver, woke up this morning fully grasping how fortunate he’s been since his release from prison earlier this year.
According to an official press release from Bellator FC, the Ultimate Fighter alumnus turned adult film star turned felon has inked a deal with the organization with the expectation he’ll compete in the Season 6 welterweight tournament. This is the second time Bellator has signed War Machine with the first run ending before it even started when the 30-year old was released due to a number of ignorant statements he made publicly regarding United States President Barack Obama.
However, according to War Machine he’s learned from his mistakes, saying, “My past has kind of shaped and molded who I’ve become, but the mistakes I’ve made in the past have definitely made me realize that I have to avoid certain situations in order to be the type of person I want to be.”
“It’s like I hit the rewind button,” he continued. “I pressed rewind and now I have a chance to get my life back on track. It feels great. Not everyone gets this kind of opportunity. I’m just stoked to be back in the mix here with Bellator. I didn’t get released from Bellator because I sucked. I got released because I was making poor decisions in my life. Right now I’m just out to show the world that I do belong here fighting the best with Bellator.”
The 12-4 Californian won his first fight back since being released after a yearlong sentence for assault charges, stopping Roger Huerta with strikes in the third round of their bout over Thanksgiving weekend. Now that he’s back on track War Machine is ready to prove his worth to the doubters.
“I feel like I belong fighting with the best fighters in the world and Bellator has a bunch of them,” War Machine concluded. “I’m ready to fight the best guys again, and now I have that chance. I’m excited for the chance to prove myself and make up for a lot of the stupid stuff I’ve said and done in the past. I love my family and my teammates and I want to make them all proud of me. I want to show them what I’m truly capable of. I know there are a lot of kids and people I care about there watching me so I need to be a lot more careful about some of the choices I make. I just want to make everyone proud of me.”
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, war machine, war, machine, ’m
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBreak out your 'Free War Machine' T-shirts! He is now signed with Bellator
Just because War Machine has been released from prison does not mean you still can't rock your 'Free War Machine' T-shirt we made especially for all of you true War Machine fans. As a matter of fact, now is the best time ever to wear that shirt. Now you can show the world that you aren't some noob War Machine fan. Oh no, you were there when the going was rough. You stood by War Machine and supported him by buying his porn, buying the shirt and writing him letters in jail. You need to rock that shirt proudly today and display to the world that you are ride or die when it comes to War.
Wear that shirt to your Thursdday evening happy hour and begin the celebration. According to a tweet from War Machine last night and a report on MMAJunkie.com, he has been signed to Bellator.
"Not everyone gets this kind of opportunity. I'm just stoked to be back in the mix here with Bellator. I didn't get released from Bellator because I sucked. I got released because I was making poor decisions in my life. Right now I'm just out to show the world that I do belong here fighting the best with Bellator."
Both War Machine and Bjorn Rebney hope that this second stint with Bellator will be the second chance that War needs to get his life back on track. Let's hope the best for him. He is signed on to fight in Bellator's next welterweight tournament that begins in March of 2012. [source]
Posted in: bellator, war machine, war, machine, shirt
Read the full article at Middle EasyJon ‘War Machine’ Koppenhaver Signs Deal With Bellator
Released from a one-year jail sentence in July, War Machine has parlayed a win over Roger Huerta into another shot with Bellator.
Posted in: bellator, roger huerta, war, machine, jail sentence
Read the full article at Heavy MMAJon 'War Machine' Koppenhaver joins Bellator Fighting Championship
CHICAGO, Ill. (December 8, 2011) - No one needs to tell Jon Koppenhaver what it means to hit rock bottom. After being raised by a substance-abusing mother and spending over a year in state prison, "War Machine" has seen it all. Only 29 years old and coming off a dominating TKO victory over former Bellator and UFC fighter Roger Huerta, the talented welterweight is ready to resurrect his MMA career by joining Bellator Fighting Championships.
"Jon's not had an easy road," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "And there's no doubt he's made some poor choices, but after having had conversations with him since his release, he really seems to understand where and why things went wrong and wants to make them right. And, when he's focused on nothing but training and fighting, he's a talented and exciting fighter. I hope he's able to turn this second chance into something positive."
Born and raised in California, Koppenhaver has dealt with personal demons nearly his entire life. Watching his mother abuse drugs was common for Koppenhaver, which eventually led to him leaving home to live with his biological father. Soon after the move was made, Koppenhaver's father suffered a heart attack and died in his son's arms.
"My past has kind of shaped and molded who I've become, but the mistakes I've made in the past have definitely made me realize that I have to avoid certain situations in order to be the type of person I want to be," War Machine said.
Fighting certainly has shaped Koppenhaver's life, both in and out of the cage. After a 5-1 start to his professional MMA career, War Machine began a downward spiral that included numerous altercations in bars and nightclubs, which eventually led to his year-long incarceration. Originally signed by Bellator in 2009, War Machine made disparaging political comments that led to his release before he could step foot inside the Bellator cage. Now back with Bellator, War Machine realizes this is a chance not everyone gets.
"It's like I hit the rewind button," War Machine said. "I pressed rewind and now I have a chance to get my life back on track. It feels great. Not everyone gets this kind of opportunity. I'm just stoked to be back in the mix here with Bellator. I didn't get released from Bellator because I sucked. I got released because I was making poor decisions in my life. Right now I'm just out to show the world that I do belong here fighting the best with Bellator." With the recent win over Huerta, War Machine is aware of what is on the line with Bellator, and is ready for this opportunity.
"I feel like I belong fighting with the best fighters in the world and Bellator has a bunch of them," said War Machine. "I'm ready to fight the best guys again, and now I have that chance. I'm excited for the chance to prove myself and make up for a lot of the stupid stuff I've said and done in the past. I love my family and my teammates and I want to make them all proud of me. I want to show them what I'm truly capable of. I know there are a lot of kids and people I care about there watching me so I need to be a lot more careful about some of the choices I make. I just want to make everyone proud of me."
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: bellator, war, machine, im, koppenhaver
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWar Machine Signs with Bellator, Announces Tournament Candidacy
The man known as War Machine will return to Bellator Fighting Championships
Posted in: bellator, war machine, war, machine, tournament candidacy
Read the full article at SherdogFormer UFC Fighter Jon 'War Machine' Koppenhaver Signs With Bellator
Filed under: Bellator, NewsJon "War Machine" Koppenhaver, the fighter who first gained fame on The Ultimate Fighter before his career was sidelined by legal troubles, has signed on with Bellator, fresh off his release from jail and a win in his first fight back.
Bellator confirmed the signing on Thursday.
Koppenhaver's signing is actually the second time he's hooked up with the organization. In 2009, he was set to start with the group but was cut before ever actually fighting for them after posting published comments that were seen as threatening to U.S. President Barack Obama.
That was just one of a series of problems in a topsy-turvy life that has included among other things, serving one year in jail for a felony assault conviction, and briefly performing in adult movies.
Bellator chairman and CEO said he thought long and hard before bringing Koppenhaver into the fold.
"Jon's not had an easy road," he said. "And there's no doubt he's made some poor choices, but after having had conversations with him since his release, he really seems to understand where and why things went wrong and wants to make them right. And, when he's focused on nothing but training and fighting, he's a talented and exciting fighter. I hope he's able to turn this second chance into something positive."
In his fight career, he is 12-4, and has fought once since regaining his freedom, defeating Roger Huerta by third-round TKO in November.
Bellator did not offer details on when he might debut, but a source close to the fighter told MMA Fighting that he would be included in the upcoming welterweight tournament when their sixth season begins on March 2.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: bellator, fighter, welterweight tournament, he, koppenhaver
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator inks polarizing fighter War Machine
Bellator has signed War Machine (formerly known as Jon Koppenhaver before a legal name change). Again.
The 29-year-old fighter first joined Bellator in 2009 but was released soon afterward due to disparaging political comments he posted.
Now, fresh off a victory over fellow UFC vet Roger Huerta in a regional show, he's rejoined the organization, Bellator officials today confirmed with MMAjunkie.com.
Posted in: bellator, war machine, show hes, bellator inks, jon koppenhaver
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator tweaks timeslot, not tournaments
Good news for those of you who wouldn't mind watching Bellator Fighting Championships if it wasn't playing at THE EXACT SAME TIME THE UFC:
Bellator Fighting Championships will shift its live events to Friday starting 2012 with its sixth season, CEO Bjorn Rebney told USA TODAY. Instead of going head-to-head with major shows from industry leader Zuffa's Ultimate Fighting Championship brand, Bellator will try its hand against smaller-scale events and UFC's reality show, The Ultimate Fighter.
It will also be trying it's hand against Friday night, better known as the graveyard slot for all the shows which moved there and died a lonely unwatched death. I'm worried enough to see how The Ultimate Fighter fares there, let alone Bellator. In the end, Friday is the second worst slot the fledgling promotion could choose, after Saturday which they are now abandoning. Maybe another season or two and they'll smarten up and nab Thursday night.Another problem with Bellator: they're turning their tournament format into a lodestone around their neck because they refuse to be flexible about how they set up fights. Here's Bellator boss daddy Bjorn Rebney explaining why:
“That’s one of the most positive things about Bellator,” Rebney said. “If you’re a huge Miami Heat fan, the NBA offices don’t tell you that we’ll just put the Mavs and the Heat in the NBA finals. If the Heat wants to be NBA champions, they have to win enough in the regular season to make the playoffs, go through the playoffs and then win the championship. As much as a fan would love to see the Heat play the Mavs for the championship, it’s not going to happen automatically.”
But the Heat and the Mavs do play a few times every regular season so it's really not the same at all. No one really gives a shit about Bellator's championships, they're just sick of the best guys in the league sitting around holding their dicks all the time. As if them being stuck outside the UFC wasn't bad enough.
From day one, Rebney has held fast to his tournament format, and has made it emphatically clear that as long as he’s running the company, that formula won’t be compromised. When his light heavyweight champion, Christian M’Pumbu, lost a non-title match on Oct. 22 to Travis Wiuff, all that did was guarantee Wiuff a spot in an upcoming tournament, should he choose to take it. Even with a win against the champion, he still needs to win three more fights before getting a title shot.
Yeah why improve when the current format is the perfect, unalterable Word of Bjorn? There will be no compromise! Except the lame compromise where champs have non-title fights against randos! Where exciting guys who get bounced out of a tournament are never seen again. Where most of the guys coming into the tournament are completely unknown. There's absolutely no problems with the dozens of ways Bellator is constrained by the tournament concept. All hail the tournament concept! GP OR DIE!
Posted in: bellator, season, championship, tournament, heat
Read the full article at FightlinkerBellator moving to Friday nights for Season 6
Bellator will be moving to Friday nights for its sixth season scheduled for March 2, 2012 on MTV2 and Epix according to a Bellator press release.
Via Bellator Press Release:
The premiere will mark the first time Bellator has aired on Friday nights. “Our focus was to find the right night, where the largest number of MMA fans could enjoy the show,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “We’ve been discussing this move with our partners at Viacom for months. When we looked at the alternatives, we agreed that Fridays provided a great night for us to reach MMA fans with our live, real sport, tournament events every week.”
Bellator’s Season 6 will feature five tournaments, each loaded with world-class talent from across the globe as well the potential for six World Title fights.”
Payout Perspective:
A very smart move by Bellator to move off of Saturday night’s so it would not go up against the UFC. We will see if the possibility of a Strikeforce/Showtime deal will mean Strikeforce as opposition for Bellator on Friday nights. Still, at this point, the move allows Bellator to own Friday night and have more viewers tune in rather than having them make a choice.
Posted in: night, bellator, mma fans, friday, friday nights
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBellator shifting events to Friday nights in 2012
Bellator Fighting Championships has tried Thursday and Saturday nights to reach the most MMA fans possible. Now, beginning in 2012, Bellator will give Fridays a go on MTV2/EPIX.
“Our focus was to find the right night, where the largest number of MMA fans could enjoy the show,” said CEO Bjorn Rebney in a press release on the move. “We’ve been discussing this move with our partners at Viacom for months. When we looked at the alternatives, we agreed that Fridays provided a great night for us to reach MMA fans with our live, real sport, tournament events every week.”
Bellator’s upcoming Season 6 will begin March 2. Tournaments in five different weight classes will unfold in the cage over the first half of the year along with six title-fights. Thus far the divisions involved in the tournaments include 145, 155, 170, and 185 pounds with championship defenses forthcoming from Zach Makovsky, Joe Warren, Ben Askren, Hector Lombard, and Cole Konrad.
In 2013, Bellator will shift its viewing to Spike TV, replacing the UFC in the television lineup. Spike TV and MTV2 are both owned by Viacom.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: night, bellator, fan, mma fans, show ”
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator Moving To Friday Nights, Season Debut On March 2nd
The assumed move of Bellator off Saturday nights was confirmed Monday, but instead of a mid-week air time, the promotion will once again go head-to-head with the UFC quite frequently.Bellator will now air on Friday nights on MTV2, beginning on March 2nd when their sixth season begins. This next run will feature four tournaments (lightweights, featherweights, welterweights and middleweights) with a fifth to be announced soon, expected to be either light heavyweights or women's 125-pounders.In the press release, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said, "Our focus was to find the right night, where the largest number of MMA fans could enjoy the show. We’ve been discussing this move with our partners at Viacom for months. When we looked at the alternatives, we agreed that Fridays provided a great night for us to reach MMA fans with our live, real sport, tournament events every week."
However, one of Bellator's issues on Saturdays was running up against UFC pay-per-views and other major sports like college football. While they will be out of the college crosshairs for the most part, Fridays are not traditionally a strong TV night for viewership. Additionally, they will go head-to-head with both the newly-moved The Ultimate Fighter and UFC Fight Night events on FX, M-1 Global and Strikeforce Challengers events if both continue to be aired on Showtime, HDNet MMA events and WWE Smackdown on SyFy.No official start time or venue was announced for the March 2nd date.
Posted in: night, bellator, event, mma fans, friday
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator headed to Friday nights starting next season
Fans concerned about the scheduling conflict on Saturdays between Bellator and the UFC no longer need to worry, as the ever-evolving organization has announced its plan to provide live events on Fridays starting with the Bellator Season 6 debut on March 2, 2012.
News of the change was revealed through an official press release.
“Our focus was to find the right night, where the largest number of MMA fans could enjoy the show,” explained Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney. “We’ve been discussing this move with our partners at Viacom for months. When we looked at the alternatives, we agreed that Fridays provided a great night for us to reach MMA fans with our live, real sport, tournament events every week.”
Season 6 is set to feature five of the company’s trademark tournaments with the bulk of the related weight-classes already revealed including featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, and middleweight. Six championship bouts will also take place over the run of episodes such as Alexander Shlemenko vs. Hector Lombard ©, Pat Curran vs. Joe Warren ©, and Douglas Lima vs. Ben Askren ©.
Bellator Closes Season 5 Out in Style
Bellator is coming off their most successful season to date with solid ratings, the addition of HD programming as well as streaming prelims, and a number of memorable match-ups including a “Fight of the Year” between lightweights Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler.
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Posted in: bellator, season, mma fans, championship bouts, show ”
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator Moving To Friday Nights On MTV2 In 2012
Bellator Fighting Championships announced today that their events will be moving to Friday nights on MTV2 starting March 2 when they kick off season 6.
After a historic fifth season that saw Michael Chandler capture the Bellator Lightweight Title in a four-round classic that many critics labeled fight-of-the-year, and Eduardo Dantas, Douglas Lima and Alexander Shlemenko all earning tournament championships, Bellator will open their sixth season on Friday, March 2nd from a soon to be announced location. The premiere will mark the first time Bellator has aired on Friday nights.
“Our focus was to find the right night, where the largest number of MMA fans could enjoy the show,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “We’ve been discussing this move with our partners at Viacom for months. When we looked at the alternatives, we agreed that Fridays provided a great night for us to reach MMA fans with our live, real sport, tournament events every week.”
Speaking to USA Today, Bjorn Rebney explained that the decision was based on finding the right balance between maximizing their television audience as well as the live event audience.
“We didn’t really dig into the analysis and try to assess who was one, who was two and who was three, or what we were trying to avoid the most,” he said. “It just kind of came down to an analysis of, is there a night where all the factors made it to where we can maximize live-event attendance, where we can reach the largest audience from an television perspective, to give MMA fans an opportunity to really make a night for themselves with Bellator.”
“There’s a constant balance between television, which is your primary driving force behind building the brand as you’re reaching the available universe of millions upon millions of homes, versus the live event,” Rebney said. “We’ve always been very, very aware and very cognizant of how much live-event excitement plays into televised-event excitement. You can’t have one without the other.”
An official start time for their Friday night events hasn’t been determined yet, but they will face competition from the UFC when TUF moves to Friday nights on FX next year as well.
Rebney also confirmed that season 6 will feature five tournaments instead of four in an effort to create more frequent title challengers for their champions. We’ll definitely see tournaments in the middleweight, welterweight, lightweight and featherweight divisions in season 6, but the fifth tournament hasn’t been decided upon yet.
In related news, Bellator is still hoping to book a rematch between Eddie Alvarez and Shinya Aoki next year, despite the fact that Alvarez just lost his belt to Michael Chandler. Bellator is also planning a featherweight title fight between Joe Warren and Pat Curran and rematch between heavyweight finalists Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle. They’re first meeting ended in a no-contest after Santos kicked a downed Prindle in the groin.
What do think regarding the move to Friday nights? With Bellator and TUF on Friday nights and the UFC or Strikeforce on most Saturdays, you’re going to have to give up both weekend nights if you want to catch all the shows live. Is anyone willing to do that?
Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog
Posted in: night, bellator, mma fans, friday, friday nights
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator moving to Friday nights beginning with season six on March 2 via MTV2
CHICAGO, Ill. (December 5, 2011) - After a historic fifth season that saw Michael Chandler capture the Bellator Lightweight Title in a four-round classic that many critics labeled fight-of-the-year, and Eduardo Dantas, Douglas Lima and Alexander Shlemenko all earning tournament championships, Bellator will open their sixth season on Friday, March 2nd from a soon to be announced location. The premiere will mark the first time Bellator has aired on Friday nights.
"Our focus was to find the right night, where the largest number of MMA fans could enjoy the show," Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "We've been discussing this move with our partners at Viacom for months. When we looked at the alternatives, we agreed that Fridays provided a great night for us to reach MMA fans with our live, real sport, tournament events every week."
Bellator's Season 6 will feature five tournaments, each loaded with world-class talent from across the globe as well the potential for six World Title fights.
In arguably the deepest division within Bellator, eight featherweights will go to battle looking to earn their right to challenge for the belt.
The lightweights are back, and will be gunning for newly crowned Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler after his fight of the year with Eddie Alvarez.
Fresh off a welterweight tournament that saw Douglas Lima punch his ticket to a guaranteed title shot against reigning Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren, eight 170 pounders will compete to earn their title shot against the winner of this tremendous world title fight, and Middleweights collide as the promotion searches for a challenger to take on the winner of Lombard vs. Shlemenko II for the Bellator Middleweight Title.
Bellator Season Five Tournament winner Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko will battle Lombard during Season 6 in a rematch of their third season showdown where Lombard successfully defended his title with a unanimous decision victory.
A fifth tournament will also be featured in Season 6 with an announcement coming shortly.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: bellator, title, season, tournament, friday nights
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator Moves to Friday Nights for 2012
Bellator Fighting Championships will be moving to Friday nights starting with season 6 in 2012.
Posted in: night, bellator, friday, friday nights, bellator moves
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator Season 6 To Air on Friday Nights in 2012
After five seasons of Saturday night fights, the Bellator Fighting Championships is making a change.
Posted in: night, bellator, season, saturday, friday nights
Read the full article at SherdogBellator Moving to Friday Nights for Season Six in 2012
Bellator Fighting Championships will move its live events to Friday nights on MTV2 when its sixth season begins on March 2, USA Today reported Monday.
Bellator struggled for attention on Saturday nights in 2011 as it often went head-to-head with UFC events as well as other sports programming like college football.
Bellator will face less competition from other sports on Friday nights, but will still be squaring off with the UFC as The Ultimate Fighter shifts to Friday nights on FX around March with a new format featuring live fights.
For the latest Bellator news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney
Posted in: night, bellator, friday, friday nights, bellator news
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator moving to Friday nights for sixth season in 2012
Bellator Fighting Championships is moving its events from from Saturday to Friday nights beginning with the sixth season, which kicks off March 2.
USAToday.com's Sergio Non first reported the news.
According to Bellator chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney, several factors prompted the move. Most obvious, of course, is avoiding going head-to-head with UFC events and other high-profile sports programming.
Posted in: bellator, event, ufc events, bellator chairman, friday nights
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Moves to Fridays, Plans Five Spring Tournaments
Filed under: Bellator, NewsBellator Fighting Championships has decided that going head-to-head with the UFC is a losing battle.
The No. 2 MMA promotion in America announced that starting with its sixth season in the spring, Bellator's live fights will air on MTV2 on Friday nights. The first Bellator show of Season 6 will take place on March 2, and having the event on a Friday ensures that it won't take place simultaneously with a UFC pay-per-view, as Bellator often did this year.
However, the decision to move to Fridays may still mean going head-to-head with the UFC, as The Ultimate Fighter will move to a live format with fights on Friday nights on FX next year, and the UFC may also run some Fight Night-level shows on FX or Fuel TV on Friday nights. It's not clear yet whether Bellator and The Ultimate Fighter will air at the same time, but Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said his promotion views its events as distinct from reality television like The Ultimate Fighter.
"Our focus was to find the right night, where the largest number of MMA fans could enjoy the show," Rebney said in a statement. "We've been discussing this move with our partners at Viacom for months. When we looked at the alternatives, we agreed that Fridays provided a great night for us to reach MMA fans with our live, real sport, tournament events every week."
Bellator's Season 6 will feature tournaments in the featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and middleweight divisions, and one more tournament that the promotion has yet to determine. The season is also expected to feature title fights at bantamweight (Eduardo Dantas vs. Zach Makovsky), featherweight (Pat Curran vs. Joe Warren), welterweight (Douglas Lima vs. Ben Askren) and middleweight (Alexander Shlemenko vs. Hector Lombard).
Other fights planned for Bellator Season 6 include Shinya Aoki vs. Eddie Alvarez and a rematch of the Season 5 heavyweight tournament final, Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos, which was ruled a no contest.
Bellator should have a busy spring with plenty of big fights, but the big question is whether the promotion can differentiate itself from the UFC enough to make MMA fans notice. Moving to Fridays is an attempt to do that. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, bellator, season, vs, friday
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseThis reverse triangle from XFC 15 last night deserves another look
The last time I watched Ryan Thomas fight he was in the middle of Bellator's first feud featuring him and a young Frate Trane in the making Ben Askren. There was a phantom tap stoppage in their first battle at Bellator 14, then due to a dormant volcano erupting in Iceland he got an unsuccessful rematch against Askren at Bellator 19. Since then he's gone 2-2, but last night he pulled off a wild modified triangle finish at XFC 15 that surely has DstryrSG nodding in sage approval.
I would start the video at around 5:36 if you are the type of person who want to go right to the triangle.
[Source]
Posted in: bellator, triangle, frate trane, time i, ben askren
Read the full article at Middle EasyBellator Viewership Remains Strong For Season Finale
The numbers are in and the final event of Bellator's fifth season on MTV2 remained strong for the second straight week.
Viewership for last Saturday's Bellator 59 event were reported as 265,000, a slight drop from the prior week's 269,000 and good for the third-highest viewership of the season.
The event was headlined by Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos in the heavyweight tournament finals and Eduardo Dantas vs. Alexis Vila in the bantamweight tournament finals.
Over 11 events, Bellator drew over 200,000 viewers four times with the lowest viewership at 103,000 for Bellator 53. The average for the season was just over 186,000 with the show-by-show breakdown below:
Bellator 49 (9/10): 235,000
Bellator 50 (9/17): 114,000
Bellator 51 (9/24): 158,000
Bellator 52 (10/1): 269,000
Bellator 53 (10/8): 103,000
Bellator 54 (10/15): 185,000
Bellator 55 (10/22): 168,000
Bellator 56 (10/29): 154,000
Bellator 57 (11/12): 129,000
Bellator 58 (11/19): 269,000
Bellator 59 (11/26): 265,000
The promotion struggled at times with competition from the UFC and college football with their slot on Saturday nights and tried occasionally airing at 7 pm EST to act as a lead-in for UFC pay-per-view events instead of head-to-head. 2012 will be Bellator's final year on MTV2 before moving to Spike TV with the sixth season expected to kick off in February or March.
SBN coverage of Bellator 59
Posted in: bellator, season, event, college football, viewership
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow2011 World MMA Awards Results
Filed under: MMA Media Watch, UFC, NewsMMA Fighting has 2011 World MMA Awards results from the Nov. 30 event at the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
MMAFighting.com is a nominee for Media Source of the Year. Also, Ben Fowlkes and Ariel Helwani are both in the running for MMA Journalist of the Year.
The two-hour show will start at 10:30 p.m. ET. Full results are below.
Fight of the Year
Dominick Cruz
Nick Diaz
Dan Henderson
Jon Jones
Anderson Silva
Breakthrough Fighter of the Year
Donald Cerrone
Daniel Cormier
Phil Davis
Demetrious Johnson
Brian Stann
Fight of the Year
Jose Aldo vs. Mark Hominick (UFC 129)
Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber (UFC 132)
Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard (UFC 125)
Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley (Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley)
Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann (UFC Live 3)
Submission of the Year
Chan Sung Jung vs. Leonard Garcia (UFC Fight Night 24)
Pable Garza vs. Yves Jabouin (UFC 129)
Richard Hale vs. Nik Fekete (Bellator 38)
Vinny Magalhaes vs. Viktor Nemkov (M-1 Challenge 25)
Tito Ortiz vs. Ryan Bader (UFC 132)
Entrance of the Year
Yoshihiro Akiyama (UFC 133)
Vitor Belfort (UFC 133)
Dave Herman (UFC 131)
Mark Hominick (UFC 129)
Jason "Mayhem" Miller (DREAM.16)
Referee of the Year
Herb Dean
"Big" John McCarthy
Dan Miragliotta
Josh Rosenthal
Mario Yamasaki
Ring Girl of the Year
Arianny Celeste
Kelli Hutcherson
Brittney Palmer
Chandella Powell
Mercedes Terrell
Personality of the Year
Bruce Buffer
Jacob "Stitch" Duran
Joe Rogan
Bas Rutten
Burt Watson
Best Technical Clothing
Bad Boy
Hayabusa
Jaco
Sprawl
Venum
Media Source of the Year
"Inside MMA" on HDNet
MMAFighting.com
"MMA Live" on ESPN
MMAjunkie.com
Sherdog.com
Female Fighter of the Year
Marloes Coenen
Zoila Gurgel
Sarah Kaufman
Ronda Rousey
Miesha Tate
International Fighter of the Year
Michael Bisping
Alexander Gustafsson
Joachim Hansen
Alistair Overeem
Dennis Siver
KO of the Year
Patricky "Pitbull" Freire vs. Toby Imada (Bellator 39)
Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry (UFC Live 5)
John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson (UFC 129)
Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture (UFC 129)
Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort (UFC 126)
Comeback of the Year
Marloes Coenen vs. Liz Carmouche (Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson)
Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry (UFC Live 5)
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (career)
Tito Ortiz (career)
Joe Warren vs. Joe Soto (Bellator 27)
Coach of the Year
Rafael Cordeiro
Eric Del Fierro
Cesar Gracie
Greg Jackson
Shawn Tompkins
Gym of the Year
Alliance MMA
Black House
Jackson's MMA
Roufusport
Xtreme Couture
Leading Man of the Year
Scott Coker
Lorenzo Fertitta
Marc Ratner
Bjorn Rebney
Dana White
Promotion of the Year
BAMMA
Bellator Fighting Championships
DREAM
Strikeforce
UFC
Best Lifestyle Clothing
Affliction
Bad Boy
Form Athletics
RVCA
TapouT
Best Technical Equipment
Bad Boy
Everlast
Hayabusa
Rival
Venum
Journalist of the Year
John Morgan
Gareth A. Davies
Josh Gross
Ariel Helwani
Ben Fowlkes Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, vs, year
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseReferee Franklin stands behind decision not to penalize Bellator's Santos
In an interview Monday with MMAjunkie.com, Eric
Prindle openly questioned whether Thiago Santos committed an intentional
foul that forced a premature end to their bout in the finals of
Bellator's season-five heavyweight tournament.
But referee Greg Franklin said he saw nothing intentional about the
south-of-the-border kick Santos landed on Prindle in the first round of the fight this past Saturday at
Bellator 59.
"It looked like he was trying to kick the back of his hamstring, and
when he swung his leg, it caught [Prindle] right between the legs,"
Franklin said on Tuesday. "So, I didn't deem that it was intentional."
Posted in: bellator, prindle, franklin, interview monday, southoftheborder kick
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMMA Roundtable: TUF 14 Finale, Strikeforce's Future, and More
Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, BellatorWith season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter drawing to a close and the big finale fight between the coaches drawing near, now seemed like as good a time as any to go head-to-head with my buddy and colleague Michael David Smith over a few of the more pertinent questions of our day.
Questions like, what's up with Strikeforce? Also, what's up with Bellator? And, if you're not into this TUF Finale business, just what are you into, smart guy? All that -- only, you know, slightly more artfully rendered -- awaits you below. MDS, why don't you start us off.
1. A big part of TUF is supposed to be hyping the fight between the coaches. Has anything on The Ultimate Fighter this year made you any more interested in Michael Bisping vs. Mayhem Miller than you were three months ago?
MDS: I'm kind of surprised by how little the Bisping-Mayhem feud has moved the needle because Bisping and Mayhem are both engaging characters who know how to sell a fight. I assume part of the issue is that there's been less promotion for the fight because it's on Spike, and Spike and the UFC have ended their relationship. If this fight were going to be on pay-per-view, as most coach vs. coach fights have been, I'm sure the UFC would be doing a lot more to promote it.
But the larger issue seems to be that Bisping vs. Mayhem doesn't seem to do a lot for fans in terms of its relevance to the UFC's middleweight division. Both guys are solid fighters, but the winner of this fight will still be behind Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz in line for a title shot, and if either Bisping or Mayhem did get a title shot, it's not like anyone would pick either one of them to beat Anderson Silva. So it doesn't have the feel of a really important fight.
Fowlkes: While I don't disagree that this fight lacks the promise of an immediate impact on its division, I have a hard time accepting that that's why there's not more heat behind it. Yes, the UFC seemed to choose these two as coaches based on force of personality alone, but didn't that work as well as anyone could have hoped? They laughed, they yelled, they pranked, and they even coached. They had their obligatory tense and borderline violent moments, but they also had some fun. That's got to be better than "Rampage" Jackson sleeping on the mat, right?
The TUF franchise did its job on this one, at least according to its own abilities, and its stagnant formula. It's the UFC that decided not to go hard in the paint when it came time to push it on fans. Maybe that's a consequence of the brewing feud between White and his soon to be ex-TV partners. Maybe it's collateral damage from a crazy couple of months worth of events. Maybe it's a little of both.
I just know that this is, on paper, a pretty good fight. I was interested when I first heard about the pairing, and I'm interested now. I can't say that watching them trade expletives or kick through a couple flimsy cardboard doors on the TUF set did a whole lot to get my heart rate up (after fourteen seasons, I've seen all the meaningless property damage and half-bleeped arguments I can take), but so what? It's still an interesting fight, and I still genuinely want to see it.
2. Bellator's season has come to an end. Do you think MMA fans cared? What do you think needs to happen to make fans pay attention in 2012?
Fowlkes: Here's an instance where we must resist the temptation to think of MMA fans as one monolithic slab. Did fans care? Sure. Some of them, anyway. Bellator gets a small, though consistent slice of the MMA pie with every event, and that slice is big enough to spread the word when there's an awesome finish or a great fight. And yet, there's another side to that coin. I suspect there's a healthy segment of the MMA fan population that is aware of and maybe even mildly interested in Bellator, but nonetheless doesn't feel the need to watch every weekend because, hey, if something worthwhile happens, it'll be on YouTube in the morning.
Part of the problem is the Bellator schedule. It's cool to have a fight every weekend as the season plows forward, but it also makes it difficult to convince fans that one fight night is bigger or more important than any other. Oh, there's a Bellator event on Saturday? Well, there'll be another one next Saturday, and the Saturday after that, so no big deal.
The schedule also makes it difficult for Bellator, as an organization, to focus on building a select few stars. As soon as one show ends, the Bellator crew has to turn its attention to the next one. Meanwhile, the champ in each weight class can either sit around and wait for the next tournament winner, or he can engage in a completely non-sensical non-title bout. Neither is a particularly attractive option for the champ or the organization.
These are all problems that arise as a result of Bellator's main selling point, which makes them especially difficult problems to resolve. How do you keep the tournament structure without taking the spotlight off your champs for too long? How do you keep a season rolling forward without it feeling routine? I'm not sure I know, but Bellator is going to have to figure it out eventually.
MDS: I agree with you that there's a problem with the Bellator schedule, but I don't think the problem is that they run every week during their two "seasons." I actually like the weekly format of knowing you're going to have a certain night of the week when Bellator is going to be on, just as I like knowing that The Walking Dead comes on every Sunday
while it's in season and Modern Family comes on every Wednesday while it's in season.
My suggestion to Bellator is they should choose a night other than Saturday. I just don't think it makes sense for a No. 2 MMA promotion to go on Saturday nights, the territory that the UFC has already staked out. To me, that makes about as much sense as a startup football league scheduling its games for Sunday afternoons in the fall.
I love the tournament format and want Bellator to keep it, but it does create major problems with the champions: What are they supposed to do while they wait around for the next No. 1 contender to emerge from the next tournament? The "superfights" haven't really worked out very well, as Bjorn Rebney himself has acknowledged.
I think the answer is that the champions should be in the tournaments. You win the Season 5 tournament? Congratulations. You're the Season 5 tournament champion. Now Season 5 is over, so it's time for you to enter the Season 6 tournament. That's what every sport that uses a seasonal format does -- the defending champion goes right back into the mix. And that's what Bellator should do, too.
3. Strikeforce is back this month with its first non-Challengers show since the Heavyweight Grand Prix semifinals more than three months ago. Do MMA fans still care about Strikeforce? Should they?
MDS: I don't get the sense that fans care much about Strikeforce. If anything, fans wish the UFC would hurry up and absorb all the best fighters so guys like Gilbert Melendez (who fought only once in 2010 and only once so far in 2011) could fight elite opposition more often. Melendez is defending his title against Jorge Masvidal in the main event, and the overwhelming reaction I've heard has been disappointment that Melendez isn't in the UFC fighting a better opponent than Masvidal.
The reason I still care about Strikeforce is, more than anything, my affinity for women's MMA. Cris Cyborg vs. Hiroko Yamanaka is going to be a very good women's fight, and if Strikeforce disappears there's going to be an uncertain future for women's MMA.
But the bottom line is that the UFC is currently stripping Strikeforce for spare parts and will eventually do away with it. Given that, it's hard to fault fans for losing interest in the promotion.
Fowlkes: Well MDS, you just confirmed my suspicion that it's impossible for a dude to type the phrase "my affinity for women's MMA" without it feeling just a little bit creepy for some reason, but okay, I have to agree with you on that score. I would also like to see women's MMA survive, and Strikeforce is the best bet for that right now. Pulling the plug immediately would probably put a lot of very dangerous women out of work, and that's not good for anybody.
But as for whether fans do and/or should care about Strikeforce in general, I have to say 'not really' and 'probably not.' Sorry, but that's what happens when the UFC pillages your roster, taking almost every significant draw and leaving you with a couple champions who are all but begging to be the next ones sucked up by the UFC tractor beam. The heavyweight GP still has a legitimately compelling final between Daniel Cormier and Josh Barnett, and a middleweight title fight between Luke Rockhold and Tim Kennedy is one I wouldn't sneeze at, but after that it starts to look pretty thin.
The Strikeforce fighters -- the ones who have options, anyway -- don't really want to be there, and few can even be bothered to maintain the illusion anymore. Everyone knows this thing is running out of road, and nobody particularly wants to be there to ride it all the way to its sad end in a nearly empty arena, in front of a home audience that's just waiting for Dexter re-runs to come on.
4. December features the TUF Finale, a Strikeforce card and two UFC pay-per-views. What's the best fight of the bunch?
Fowlkes: Without a doubt, the biggest fight in December is the UFC 141 main event between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem. And I don't just mean big in terms of total combined weight, though there's that too. It's just, from a media buzz/pay-per-view sales perspective, nothing in the coming month can top the combination of Lesnar's name and Overeem's experience. It's smart of the UFC to have that on the night before New Year's Eve, when people will be more likely to stay home and rest their livers anyway, and you have to think the end result will be plenty of eyeballs on that one fight.
But then, biggest doesn't necessarily equal best. That distinction I save for another fight on the UFC 141 card: Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz. Cerrone's been on a one-man paper-stacking mission this year, racking up win purses and post-fight bonuses like a man in hock to the IRS. Diaz struggled at welterweight, but looked downright scary when he took Takanori Gomi apart as a lightweight at UFC 135. Both these guys have the sort of tough-first mentality that involves taking no crap off of nobody, and when they get in the cage together I expect a technical, though ruthless fight.
It'll be sort of like a demolition derby featuring half-drunk Nascar drivers: a whole lot of engine-revving and middle finger-waving, no small amount of profanity before, during, and after, and absolutely no regard for safety or long-term repercussions. How can you not like that?
MDS: Lesnar-Overeem is without a doubt the biggest draw, and I don't know if there's any other fight in December that will give me butterflies in my stomach when the cage door closes like Lesnar-Overeem will. That fight is going to be awesome.
But for pure entertainment value, I don't think there's a better fight on the docket than Mark Hominick vs. Chan Sung Jung at UFC 140. Remember how often we used to say after WEC cards that there was no promotion putting on great fights as consistently as the WEC? Hominick vs. Jung is exactly the kind of fight that made us love the WEC, with two featherweights who will relentlessly batter each other for 15 minutes or go down swinging if they can't.
If Hominick vs. Jung is the best fight in December, I won't be the least bit surprised. If it's not, that probably means we're in for an amazing month. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, bellator, strikeforce, fan
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator won't bend on Chandler-Alvarez rematch (Yahoo! Sports)
With the buzz still strong off the recent Michael Chandler-Eddie Alvarez thriller, Bellator's CEO is sticking by the company's tournament format.
Posted in: bellator, sport, tournament, company, ceo
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBellator 59: 265,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 59’s ratings this past Saturday received an average of 265,000 viewers. A replay of the event Saturday night received an average of 136,000 viewers.
Bellator also ran an encore showing of the much talked about Alvarez-Chandler fight from Bellator 58. The replay received an average viewership of 237,000 viewers.
Payout Perspective:
Although Bellator 59 was slightly lower than 58 (269,000 viewers), the numbers are steady. The slight decline this past weekend is likely due to the long weekend and holiday shopping. But still the numbers for the replay of the Alvarez-Chandler fight shows an increase in fan viewership.
Posted in: bellator, replay, viewer, alvarezchandler fight, holiday shopping
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBellator Season 5 Finale Earns 265,000 Viewers on MTV2
Bellator Fighting Championships maintained its ratings momentum during its fifth-season finale, as Bellator 59 earned an average of 265,000 viewers on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, viewer, finale, ratings momentum, fifthseason finale
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 59 ratings: Number holds steady, event draws 265,000 viewers
Ratings for Bellator Fighting Championships' final season-five event
held steady from the previous week as Bellator 59 drew 265,000 viewers
to MTV2.
The number marks the third-highest ratings figure of Bellator's fifth season.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the ratings
information with an industry source, who also said an immediate replay
of the fight card drew 136,000 viewers.
Posted in: bellator, ratings information, rating, viewer, industry source
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator CEO Bjorn Rebney discusses season six and Eddie Alvarez vs Shinya Aoki
Bellator Fighting Championships, on the heels of a successful fifth season, is not content to rest on its laurels. The promotion's CEO, Bjorn Rebney, was a guest on Rear Naked Choke radio and spoke about the upcoming sixth season in 2012, revealing the next four tournaments.
"We're going to go 145, 155, 170 and 185 for sure, and they are just stacked from top to bottom. That's what we're going to get right out of the box and there is the potential for more during that season, but right now that is what we've got locked."
If you're a nostalgic fan of the promotion, 145, 155, 170 and 185 were the four key weight classes that Bellator was founded upon, and both the first and second seasons featured tournaments in those divisions.
Another interesting prospect is a bout between former Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and Japanese submission ace, Shinya Aoki. While the bout has lost some of its luster since Alvarez was recently dethroned by Michael Chandler at Bellator 58 earlier this month, it's still a high profile fight that can draw some much needed attention to the promotion.
Rebney commented that there are still some roadblocks in the way of booking that fight:
"We had always known that the biggest impediment to scheduling would have been that Aoki was going to fight New Year's Eve. He is a huge draw for DREAM and he is a monster player in their New Year's Eve promotion. I would still like to do Aoki vs. Ed, which is an awesome fight and a great way for Ed to catapult his way back into that top-five conversations again."
One of the most important issues going forward for the promotion is building its own stars. If the Bellator champions and challengers can become more notable to the casual fans, it will become much easier to sell tickets and attract viewers to its programming. Rebney was both realistic and optimistic about the prospects.
"It's a marathon, not a sprint. The evolution of recognizability with fighters takes time, but we'll get there."
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Will the Alvarez vs. Aoki rematch ever be made? Will 2012 be Bellator's year?
Sound off!
Posted in: bellator, promotion, season, alvarez, aoki
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator Notebook: The Groin Kick From Hell, Dantas' Inferno, What's Next
As UFC President Dana White said several weeks ago regarding the short UFC on Fox main event, you can't control what happens in the cage. Bellator found that out at Bellator 59 last Saturday as a bizarre groin kick ended the promotion's strong fifth season on a flat note despite plenty of highlights and building blocks for 2012.
With Thiago Santos' down the pike kick to the nether region of a grounded Eric Prindle, the heavyweight tournament ended without a winner as the fight was called a no-contest, overshadowing the rise of a new bantamweight contender and the return to glory of one of Bellator's top stars.
As of this writing, Prindle is still awaiting the swelling to go down in his right testicle but holds no ill will towards a very apologetic Santos. Prindle posted a pic of the injury on his Twitter feed Saturday which was, well, something else.
Regarding Prindle/Santos, no one could have looked good following Santos' kick, regardless of what the final outcome was. A DQ win for Prindle would have caused controversy and hurt his standing going into a title fight with Cole Konrad. The no contest felt flat but considering the unique situation, nothing was going to make it right. It was the worst case scenario and it came true to everyone's chagrin.However, there is a bright spot in that Bellator's first show of 2012 can be stacked up if they want it to be. With Santos/Prindle, Light Heavyweight Champion Christian M'Pumbu defending against Travis Wiuff in a rightfully earned title shot and Eddie Alvarez competing in the first round of the expected 155-pound tournament, that would be a hell of a way for Bellator to kick off season six.
Youth Prevails
Lost amidst the zaniness of swollen balls was the effort of 22-year-old Eduardo Dantas, who turned it on late and earned a unanimous decision win over the previously undefeated Alexis Vila to earn himself a shot at 135-pound champ Zach Makovsky (14-2) early next year. After losing a bland first round, Dantas (13-2) excelled in the final 10 minutes and did what no other contender has done to Vila yet: make him look old.
Makovsky/Dantas may not be a ratings draw, but the two have combined for 14 straight wins and Dantas represents Makosvky's toughest test to date...in addition to the first defense of the title he won in October 2010.
So What Now?
With this season now history, there are questions about when the final year on MTV2 will kick off. In past seasons, March or April marked the beginning of the Bellator calendar but February has continued to be thrown around as well. The company has four title matches set for next year in addition to five different tournaments, making for what could be the best season in company history.
As of the time of this column, the five divisions represented in those tournaments have yet to be clarified, but one would expect 145, 155, 170, 205 and the women's 125-pound division to be featured with lightweight and welterweight being the standout classes.
News & Notes
Patricky "Pitbull" Freire made his presence felt once again with a first round TKO win over Kurt Pellegrino, his first appearance since a loss to Michael Chandler earlier this year. While the stoppage looked premature, Pellegrino didn't argue too much after the defeat and announced to the crowd he was retiring for good.
In an interview with MMA Junkie Monday, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney suggested that the end is nigh for the women's 115-pound division, meaning current champion Zoila Gurgel will have to go up in weight next year if she wants to compete. If they're abandoning the division, shouldn't she earn a bye into the 125-pound finals?
There was some controversy with the scoring in last Saturday's opening fight between Marcin Held and Phillipe Nover. Held earned a split decision win which many (including color commentator Jimmy Smith) suggested was wrong. This writer scored the final two rounds for Nover, but it wasn't the complete travesty of justice some claim. Bad decision? Yes, but we're used to this by now, aren't we?
Smart move by Bellator/MTV2 last Saturday to replay the Chandler/Alvarez title match from a week prior, in addition to making the fight available for free streaming all last week. By comparison, the UFC still has yet to announce how people can see Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson from the UFC on Fox undercard. I guess we're still supposed to shut up about that, however.
SBN coverage of Bellator 59
Posted in: bellator, pound, title, season, kick
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator looking to add fifth tournament to upcoming sixth season
As expected Bellator Fighting Championships chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney is actively working to eliminate the organization's non-title "super fights."
And as Rebney first told MMAjunkie.com this past month, the implementation of more tournaments could achieve that goal.
So far, Rebney said four tournaments are planned for Bellator's upcoming sixth season, and a fifth tourney could be added to the mix.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, rebney, championships chairman, organizations nontitle
Read the full article at MMA JunkieAs champ Zoila Gurgel heals, Bellator likely to nix future 115-pound tournaments
It appears as though Bellator women's 115-pound champ Zoila Gurgel won't have to suffer as much when she returns to the cage.
Following this past Saturday's Bellator 59 event, CEO Bjorn Rebney indicated that his promotion is unlikely to groom a challenger to Gurgel's title for next year.
"My expectation is that Zoila will be back, and she'll be in the mix with some of the best ladies in the world that fight under our banner, but I think it will happen at a weight class probably closer to [125 pounds]," Rebney told MMAjunkie.com.
Posted in: bellator, pound, gurgel, weight class, gurgels title
Read the full article at MMA JunkieFollowing Bellator 59 groin kick, Eric Prindle to have swollen testicle examined today
Two days after taking a kick to the groin that temporarily ended his bid to win the Bellator heavyweight title, Eric Prindle is headed to a hospital in Prescott, Ariz., for a follow-up.
There, he'll find out whether any permanent damage has been done.
Prindle's right testicle was twice its normal size when he visited an area hospital after his bout with Thiago Santos this past weekend at Bellator 59.
Posted in: bellator, prindle, eric, area hospital, prescott ariz
Read the full article at MMA JunkieRoger Huerta moves up to 170 and gets finished by War Machine at Ultimate Warrior Fighting
FanPost promoted by MMAmania.com.
Roger Huerta, once a consensus top-10 ranked lightweight fighter, moved up to welterweight to compete at the Ultimate Warrior Fighting (UWF) inaugural event against Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season six contestant Jon Koppenhaver "War Machine" last Saturday (Nov. 26, 2011) from the Pharr Events Center in Texas.
"El Matador" was finished via technical knockout (TKO) in the third round.
Huerta was 6-0 in his first six Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bouts and had four stoppages including one over top contender Clay Guida in a barn burner.
After going 20-1 (1 NC), Huerta is now 1-5 over his last six fights with back-to-back TKO losses.
As great a feeling he must have had on Dec. 8, 2007, he must have hit rock bottom on Nov. 26 2011. In four years we saw a possible UFC champion losing to a UFC castaway who was in his return bout from jail.
So what happened?
Roger Huerta was a promoter's dream; he was talented, young, exciting and a good-looking fellow. He was substance over style and clearly aiming for the top.
For the UFC, he was very marketable for his Mexican roots and with the UFC trying to obtain stars from all over the globe they found one of the best. Huerta even made the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine and did only wonders to boost himself up.
Leading up to his UFC debut at UFC 63, Huerta faced some of the best lightweights and did very well against them. His lone loss came in the finals of Superbrawl 36 when he broke his jaw in his third fight of the evening. He held wins over Matt Wiman and Brad Blackburn and a no contest with Melvin Guillard who was found greasing in between rounds.
Huerta would face Jason Dent on the preliminary card of UFC 63 which was headlined by a rematch between UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes and BJ Penn. Dent cane in on short notice for Jason Reinhardt whose neck was a lingering injury. Huerta would easily win on all three judges score cards 30-27.
The bout would earn 'Fight of the Night' honors.
At UFC 67, Huerta would face John Halverson and would make short work of Halverson. At the just the19 second mark of round one a knee would spell the end. It was a controversial ending as many thought Huerta landed an illegal knee to the head of a grounded opponent but was cleared after replays showed it hit Halverson's shoulder.
Huerta rushed and landed fists for the TKO win.
At UFC 69 Huerta would take on the always-exciting Leonard Garcia to test his mettle. If you read MMAmaniac's Unambig's article on 'Winning isn't Everything' you will see Garcia fits here. For three rounds Huerta would survive the wild hands of Garcia and earn a decision victory.
In May of 2007, it would prove to be the month that propelled Huerta's new found fame. Huerta would go on to become the first fighter to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Huerta would go through his next two opponents Doug Evans (TUF 5 Finale) and Alberto Crane (UFC 74) stopping both by TKO and now had made it to contender fights. Huerta was going to main event his first UFC show when he would fight Clay Guida at The Ultimate Fighter Finale: 'Team Hughes vs. Team Serra finale.'
Guida and Huerta would fight in one of the best fights of the year and one of the best fight's in the UFC's lightweight division.
The wrestling of Guida clearly stymied Huerta and frustrated him early on. As the fight progressed it was like a trout against the current as Huerta had to dig deep to get back in. Late in the second round, Guida nailed Huerta flushed and sent Huerta down again. The third round turned to be Huerta's as he kept the fight standing and nailed 'The Carpenter' with a knee and scrambled. Huerta would get his back and sink in a rear naked choke for the amazing comeback win.
Huerta came back just to fall.
At UFC 87 in what could have been Huerta's ticket to gaining a title shot turned to be a bitch-slap to his dreams. Championship fight hungry Kenny Florian would outpoint Huerta and earn a decision of 30-27 on all judges scorecards.
Huerta on his last fight of his current UFC contract was matched up with future lightweight contender Gray Maynard. The bigger and stronger Maynard couldn't 'bully' Huerta but did earn a close split decision. Huerta would never fight in the UFC to this date.
It was rumored that Huerta would sign with former number two MMA promotion, Strikeforce. It turned out that Huerta would sign with growing Bellator Fighting Championship (Bellator FC). He was entered in to Bellator's season two lightweight tournament with seven other fighters.
Huerta would bounce back from back-to-back loses when he fought and submitted Chad Hinton in his opening round fight. Huerta would then lose to Pat Curran at Bellator 17 in the lightweight tournament semifinals. His dreams of redemption and facing Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez.
Bellator being the de facto number three promotion and not having the same money as the UFC or Strikeforce didn't have money to spend on big fights. Bellator put together one of its most notable fights by booking Roger Huerta and champion Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 33 in a non-title affair.
The fight took place in Alvarez' hometown of Philadelphia, PA and Alvarez gave his partisan crowd a show. For ten whole minutes Alvarez beat the crap out of Huerta unlike anyone had before him. It was the first time in Huerta's career that he had been stopped by way of TKO and Alvarez made sure it was over. Alvarez used his superior boxing and speed to smash Huerta and make no doubt why he was champion.
Huerta wouldn't fight for over a year.
Huerta traveled to Thailand to try and find himself and his future opponent went on a personal downfall. John Koppenhaver AKA 'War Machine' was a wild young man. He stared in the UFC's 'Ultimate Fighter' reality show and in porn.
He was hell-raising and spent a year in jail for his actions.
At UWF 1:'Huerta vs. War Machine' a tale of two very different stories clashed. One of career losses and one of personal poor choices. While each spent a year away from the fight game one appeared to come back with a purpose. 'War Machine' would stop Huerta by TKO (Rib Injury) and it seems Huerta has ran out of options and decisions to regain his form.
It is only poetic that 'War Machine' and Roger Huerta would try and use the other to rebound after each departing into two very different places. Both rid themselves of friends and family, one by personal choice and one who needed a 'time out.'
Where do they go now? Does 'War Machine' finally get himself together and what else can Huerta do to get his magic back? Or is just too late for both?
Sound off Maniacs!
Posted in: ufc, fight, bellator, huerta, machine
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 59 Video Highlights
Video highlights from Bellator 59.
Read the full article at MMA Convert
Kurt Pellegrino conflicted on his future in fighting
Shortly after losing to Patricky Freire at Bellator 59, UFC veteran Kurt Pellegrino announced he was walking away from MMA with finality in order to focus on family rather than fighting, appearing content with his decision to entertain fans in his native New Jersey one last time before calling it quits on a successful career despite having gas left in the tank.
However, after the reality of the bout’s conclusion set in – a referee prematurely stopping action – it seems Pellegrino may be open to ending things on the right note rather than one filled with disappointment and controversy.
A Full Rundown of Bellator 59 Results
“This isn’t the way I wanted it to end,” the 32-year old explained at the post-event press conference. “Walking up the stairs today to come here I could honestly tell you, you’ll never see me fight again unless you’re watching it on YouTube…It’s just getting hard. I missed my daughter’s first words because of me fighting. That’s something I always think about.
“When I tell you I did everything right, I did everything right,” Pellegrino continued. “To lose that way and have a ref jump on top of you and tell you that you were laying down, and I had to pick you up … I actually told him, ‘I’m standing up asshole.’ I remember holding his leg and trying to stand up. Nothing against the ref. He’s a really amazing guy with an amazing mustache.”
While Pellegrino remained mum on what he would do next, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney made it clear the company is interested in seeing him compete at least one more time.
“I’m going to do everything in my power to try to sit down to take him and his family and convince them that this may not be the last time we see him step into a cage. I think we’d be cheating a lot of fans,” said Rebney.
If Pellegrino remains retired he will exit MMA with a 16-7 record and twelve finishes including ten submissions. “Batman” holds past victories over Rob Emerson, Thiago Tavares, Mac Danzig, and Josh Neer.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: bellator, right, everything, pellegrino, patricky freire
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 59 Results: Pellegrino Retired, Dantas Secures Bantamweight Shot
The heavyweight main event ends in controversy, Kurt Pellegrino fights one last time and Eduardo Dantas earns a shot at Zack Makovsky at Bellator 59.
Posted in: bellator, shot, eduardo dantas, event ends, zack makovsky
Read the full article at Heavy MMAVeteran Kurt Pellegrino retires again after Bellator 59 loss to Patricky Freire (for now)
Kurt Pellegrino, a veteran of 12 UFC fights, called it quits for the second time in his career last night (November 26, 2011) after suffering a first round technical knockout loss to Patricky Freire. In front of his hometown New Jersey crowd, "Batman" took the mic and poured his heart out.
"I started my career in Atlantic City, I wanted to end it in Atlantic City, too. When [Bellator] told me [I would fight] Patricky, I was thrilled. I knew he was super tough and I would have to train hard for him. I really did train hard. I lost fair and square. This will be the last time you ever see me fight, again."
Pellegrino originally retired earlier in 2011, choosing not to renew his UFC contract so he could spend some extra time with his family. After just a few months of freedom, however, he decided that the life didn't suit him just yet and he signed with Bellator. In perhaps a sign of things to come, the New Jersey native again left the door open for a return at the post-fight press conference.
"This isn't the way I wanted it to end. You know, walking up the stairs I wanted to honestly tell you that you guys would never ever ever see me fight again unless you're watching old tapes. It's just getting a little hard. I missed my daughter's first words, which were ‘dad,' preparing for this fight. I don't know what I want to do, but as of right now I'm done. I think I'm done... I don't know what to do. I wanted to retire today."
Afterwards, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said that he would have a sit down dinner with Pellegrino and his family to attempt to convince him to come back once more.
For complete Bellator 59 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights as well as a recap of the action click here and here.
We'll keep you Maniacs posted on all the latest details as they develop.
Posted in: fight, bellator, pellegrino, patricky freire, patricky
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 59 results recap for 'Santos vs Prindle' in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Bellator 59 took place last night (November 26, 2011) from Caesar's Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After a full month stretch, the upstart promotion finally had the night to themselves.
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond their control, they couldn't capitalize.
The main event, the season five heavyweight tournament final between the massive Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos barely got off the ground before it was over and neither man was ruled a winner.
Santos had taken Prindle down twice, showcasing a significantly better ground game as expected, but inexplicably, he chose to get to his feet and lord over the grounded US army veteran. Instead of continuing to attack with ground and pound or potential submissions, Santos instead decided it would be a better idea to soccer kick Prindle where the sun don't shine.
The strike didn't look that bad from the multiple replay angles that were shown, but Prindle used his full five minutes and then stated he felt like he was going to throw up, so the fight was stopped just 1:24 into the first round and officially ruled a no contest once it was determined that the blow was accidental.
Prindle and Santos will rematch sometime early in 2012 when Bellator returns, but that certainly wasn't the way the promotion wanted its exciting fifth season to conclude.
The main event wasn't the only disappointment of the main card, in fact, it might not have even been in the top three. Read on to find out why:
In the co-main event of the evening, New Jersey native and 12 fight UFC veteran Kurt Pellegrino took on the extremely dangerous and powerful Patricky Freire in a lightweight showdown.
Pellegrino had come out of retirement for the bout but it was over just 50 seconds in. "Pitbull" had nailed the American with a beautiful 1-2 combination which dropped him but Pellegrino was keeping himself in the fight by latching onto a leg and closing the distance while hoping to clear the cobwebs. Instead, the referee hesitated, then jumped in at an even worse time when it didn't look like he was in much danger at all.
The New Jersey crowd took their frustration out on the Brazilian, although he had done nothing wrong other than put a hurting on their hometown hero. The lousy stoppage tarnished what would have been a defining victory for Freire, who scored consecutive impressive knockouts to make it to the finals of the last Bellator lightweight tournament.
After the fight, Pellegrino again announced his retirement from the sport and even offered to help train "Pitbull" for the season six lightweight tournament in a gesture of goodwill.
In the only fight not mired in controversy, Eduardo Dantas and Alexis Vila battled for three full rounds. Vila controlled the pace early, winning the first round with a lot of clinch work while mixing in some takedowns with his Olympic wrestling credentials.
Dantas would bounce back, however, as Vila's conditioning began to fade in rounds two and three. The Brazilian prospect utilized his significant height and reach advantage, mixing in knees, kicks and punches while stifling much of Vila's offense.
The third round was all Dantas as Vila was foiled in a takedown attempt and wound up with the Nova Uniao jiu-jitsu black belt on his back for the majority of the period. Dantas had the Cuban defector in trouble, but Vila proved resilient and he was unable to secure the fight-ending rear naked choke that he'd been searching for throughout the majority of the round.
In the end, the judges actually got it right, scoring the bout 29-28 unanimously in Dantas' favor. The 22 year old will next take on Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky sometime in 2012, who showed up for a post-fight staredown with a footstool to make it even.
The opening bout of the evening was a thrilling match between submission ace Marcin Held and Ultimate Fighter season 8 finalist Phillipe Nover, although this one was also mired in controversy.
Nover dropped Held in the opening seconds of the fight but the Polish prospect bounced back with repeated rolling submission attempts, attacking Nover's legs with ankle locks, kneebars, heel hooks and toe holds but Nover, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt himself, was able to defend although it was the closest round of the fight.
In rounds two and three, Nover primarily remained in top position, dropping punches on the ground and staying active while Held continuously looked to escape and attack Nover's legs with more submission attemps.
MMAmania scored the bout 30-27 Nover while many others scored it 29-28 Nover in the worst case scenario, but when it was time for the decision to be announced, the bout was scored in Held's favor with scores of 28-29, 29-28, 29-28 to give the 19 year old Polish prospect a split decision victory. Held was given a hearty chorus of boos by the Atlantic City crowd during his post-fight speech.
For complete Bellator 59 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights click here.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Did the circumstances beyond its control ruin Bellator's big night? What were your thoughts on the event?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, vila, nover
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 59 Results: Dantas Wins Shot at Title; Pellegrino Retires… Again
Bellator 59 hosted the Season 5 bantamweight finals, which were decided; the heavyweight finals, which were not; and the second retirement of Kurt Pellegrino.
Posted in: bellator, final, pellegrino, heavyweight finals, title pellegrino
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 59 results: Dantas claims tourney crown; Prindle-Santos a no contest
Eleven weeks wasn't enough to determine Bellator Fighting Championships'
season-five heavyweight tournament winner, as Eric Prindle and Thiago
Santos fought to a no-contest result in the featured bout of Saturday's
Bellator 59 event.
The end came when Prindle was unable to fight on after being kicked in the groin by his opponent just 84 seconds into the fight.
The bizarre result provided an anti-climatic end to a fight card that
also saw an in-cage retirement and the crowning of a bantamweight
tournament winner.
Posted in: fight, bellator, result, weeks wasnt, incage retirement
Read the full article at MMA JunkieFollowing Bellator 59 loss, Kurt Pellegrino retires for second time
Following a first-round loss to Patricky "Pitbull" Freire at Saturday
night's Bellator 59 event, Kurt Pellegrino has again called it quits.
The 12-time UFC veteran announced for the second time in as many fights that he is hanging up the gloves for good.
"This will be the last time you ever see me fight," an emotional Pellegrino said to the Atlantic City crowd.
Posted in: fight, bellator, time, loss, pellegrino
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDantas Upends Vila in Bellator 59 Bantamweight Final
In a beautiful display of all-around skill, Eduardo Dantas removed the last remaining obstacle between himself and Bellator Fighting Championships bantamweight titleholder Zach Makovsky.
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, vila, danta, upend
Read the full article at SherdogDantas wins Bellator bantamweight tournament
While two tournament finals were scheduled for Bellator 59, only one championship was actually decided as Eduardo Dantas collected an impressive win over...
Posted in: bellator, tournament, eduardo dantas, danta, tournament finals
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyIf you're in the mood for something a little different than Bellator tonight, there's a pretty...
If you're in the mood for something a little different than Bellator tonight, there's a pretty interesting fight going on down in Texas. Roger Huerta returns to competition after more than a year off when to face the recently-freed War Machine at Ultimate Warrior Fighting 1. You can catch the show, which also features Dave Menne, Eric Davila, and Nick Gonzalez, on GFL.tv for $9.99.
Posted in: bellator, something, there, nick gonzalez, mood
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 59 Live Results and Coverage
Bellator has the stage all to themselves tonight as they wrap up what has been an outstanding season 5. Coming to us live from Caesars Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey it’s Bellator 59. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will provide complete results including a fight recap of all the live televised action.
The action kicks off at 7PM EST with the preliminary card streaming live on Spike.com. Then at 9PM EST the main card goes live on MTV2 and EPIX HD.
Bellator 59 is headlined by two tournament finals. In the main event, heavyweights collide as Thiago Santos battles Eric Prindle with the winner earning a title shot against champion Cole Konrad. The co-main event features the bantamweight tournament finals between Alexis Vila and Eduardo Dantas. The winner of the bout will fight champion Zach Makovsky in season 6.
PRELIMINARY CARD
Gregory Milliard vs. Brandon Saling
Scott Heckman vs. Brylan Van Artsdalen
Lucas Pimenta vs. Doug Gordon
LeVon Maynard vs. Chris Wing
Karl Amoussou vs. Jesus Martinez
MAIN CARD
Marcin Held vs. Phillipe Nover
Patricky Freire vs. Kurt Pellegrino
Eduardo Dantas vs. Alexis Vila
Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos
Posted in: bellator, vs, card, eduardo dantas, tournament finals
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 59 Live Results and Play-By-Play
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results and commentary from Bellator 59. Our live blog will begin with the start of the MTV2 broadcast (9 p.m. EST) so be sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
Tonight's event includes the tournament finals in the heavyweight and bantamweight divisions, plus a welterweight tourney qualifier and a lightweight feature fight.
Heavyweights Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos will be battling for a $100,000 check and a title shot against current champ Cole Konrad. Prindle made it to the final with victories over Abe Wagner and Ron Sparks, while Santos earned his place here by defeating first Josh Burns and then Neil Grove.
The bantamweight final is set with Eduardo Dantas facing off against Alexis Vila. Both of these men won their quarterfinal fights with highlight reel knockouts: Dantas with a flying knee against Wilson Reis, and Vila with a solid left that laid Joe Warren out flat. In the semifinals Dantas took a decision over Ed West while Vila carried a spit decision over Marcos Galvao. The winner of this bout will take home the $100,000 check and earn their chance to take the belt away from current champ Zach Makovsky.
In a qualifier for the next featherweight tournament, Marcin Held will be facing Phillipe Nover. This is Held's second fight for Bellator and his first at 145 - he lost in the quarterfinal round of the lightweight tournament to Michael Chandler. Nover, after an unsuccessful stint in the UFC, is making his debut for Bellator tonight.
Finally we have a feature fight between season 4 lightweight tournament finalist Patricky Freire and UFC vet Kurt Pellegrino. Freire lost a decision to Michael Chandler in the final of last season's 155 tourney, leaving Chandler to challenge and ultimately defeat champ Eddie Alvarez. Pellegrino is making his Bellator debut with this fight and, if victorious, will likely secure a spot in the next lightweight tournament.
We'll be live when the action starts at 9 p.m, so join us then!
SBN coverage of Bellator 59
Posted in: fight, bellator, decision, tournament, danta
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 59 Real Time Results
An immensely entertaining Bellator Season 5 comes to a conclusion tonight with a card appropriately stacked with talent. Live from Atlantic City, New Jersey, Bellator 59 features two tournament finals, as well as a pair of UFC veterans making their promotional debuts and appearances from apt adversaries like LeVon Maynard and Karl Amoussou.
The event is headlined by Thiago Santos scrapping with Eric Prindle in a fight likely to last less than five minutes given the heavyweights’ past performances with their polar opposites, bantamweights, filling the co-main event slot with Cuban Olympian Alexis Vila taking on rising youngster Eduardo Dantas.
Other match-ups include Kurt Pellegrino vs. Patricky Freire and Phillipe Nover vs. Marcin Held.
Action starts at 7:00 PM EST on Spike.com with televised tussles firing up on MTV2/EPIX two hours later. Fighters.com will be tuned in throughout and providing live outcomes as they unfold in real time.
Read below for a full list of results:
Gregory Milliard vs. Brandon Saling
Scott Heckman vs. Brylan Van Artsdalen
Lucas Pimenta vs. Doug Gordon
LeVon Maynard vs. Chris Wing
Karl Amoussou vs. Jesus Martinez
Marcin Held vs. Phillipe Nover
Patricky Freire vs. Kurt Pellegrino
Eduardo Dantas vs. Alexis Vila
Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos
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Posted in: bellator, vs, atlantic city, time results, ufc veterans
Read the full article at Fighters.comDantas Wins Bellator Bantamweight Tourney, Heavyweights Fight to No Contest
Filed under: BellatorIn addition to Kurt Pellegrino's swan song, Saturday night's Bellator 59 event also featured the Season 5 tournament finals in the heavyweight and bantamweight divisions. But while the bantamweight tournament final was a solid fight that crowned a new top contender in the division, the heavyweight fight was a debacle.
That heavyweight fight, Thiago Santos vs. Eric Prindle, came to a confusing and confounding ending, with a conference including the referee, cageside doctor and athletic commission officials taking much longer than the fight itself. It was ultimately ruled a no contest.
With Prindle on the ground on his back, Santos kicked him right between the legs, and the referee called a halt to the action for an illegal low blow. After five minutes Prindle said he still couldn't continue fighting, and it was announced that the low kick was unintentional, so the fight was declared a no contest. But it's hard to see how anyone watching the kick could think it was unintentional: If Santos didn't intend to kick Prindle between his legs, what did he intend to do?
In any event, Santos and Prindle will now have to have a rematch to determine which one of them gets the next crack at Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad. That's a disappointment for Bellator, which was hoping to find itself a good contender for Konrad to fight.
At bantamweight, Eduardo Dantas beat Alexis Vila by unanimous decision, 29-28 on all three judges' cards, to win the Bellator bantamweight tournament. The fight gave Vila the first loss of his MMA career and improves Dantas to 13-2. Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky will defend his belt against Dantas next year, and that should be a good fight: Bellator has a fun and exciting bantamweight division, and it's too bad that the bantamweight tournament final was overshadowed by the mess at heavyweight.
And in a big surprise to begin the MTV2 televised broadcast, the 19-year-old Polish lightweight Marcin Held won a split decision victory over former Ultimate Fighter finalist Phillipe Nover. The fight easily could have gone for Nover, and the decision had the crowd booing. A Held-Nover rematch would make a lot of sense for Bellator in 2012. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, bellator, heavyweight, bantamweight, prindle
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 59 Fight Card Primer: Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos
They may not be Cain Velasquez or Junior dos Santos, but Bellator will turn to two of its heavyweights to close up their fifth season as Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos battle in the main event of Saturday's Bellator 59.
The winner of the promotion's second-ever heavyweight tournament gets a shot at Bellator Heavyweight Champion Cole Konrad in 2012.
Prindle (9-1) hasn't lost since 2008 and comes into Saturday on a seven-fight win streak. The 35-year-old debuted in Bellator in April with a second round TKO win over Josh Burns, literally punching his way into a tournament berth this fall. No big surprise here: six of his nine wins have come via T/KO.
A U.S. Army veteran, Prindle was a successful boxer while enlisted, winning several Army and Armed Forces titles amidst 100 amateur bouts.Like Daniel Cormier in the Strikeforce Grand Prix, Santos (10-1) got added to the tourney after Blagoi Ivanov had to withdraw due to injury. The Brazilian debuted back in 2007 and mainly competed in his native country and Russia before making his Bellator debut this fall.
He comes into Saturday on a four-fight win streak and may have destiny on his side. He originally was set to face Ivanov in the tournament's opening round but due to visa issues, he had to be replaced. Again he was set to face Ivanov as he replaced the injured Mike Hayes, but Ivanov withdrew due to injury. With all of that, Santos is now one win away from a title shot.
How do these two stack up?
Prindle: 35 | 6'5" | Preferred form of victory: KO (67%)Santos: 25 | 6'3" | Preferred form of victory: Submission (50%)How did these two get here?
Prindle defeated Abe Wagner via unanimous decision and then knocked out Ron Sparks in 40 seconds in the semifinals, while Santos submitted common opponent Burns in the second round of an alternate bout and submitted Neil Grove in just 38 seconds in the semifinals.
Why should you care?
This is a fairly simple fight breakdown. If Santos gets this fight to the ground, Prindle is in trouble. If Prindle can keep this standing and short, Santos could go to sleep. It's safe to assume both men would like to work quickly as Santos hasn't gone the distance in two years. Don't expect this one to get out of the first round.
SBN coverage of Bellator 59
Posted in: bellator, round, ivanov, prindle, face ivanov
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowKurt Pellegrino Loses, Retires at Bellator 59
Filed under: Bellator, NewsThe final Bellator Fighting Championships event of 2011 also featured the final fight of Kurt Pellegrino's career.
Fighting in front of his home-state fans in New Jersey, Pellegrino was defeated in just 50 seconds by Patricky "Pitbull" Freire, and he said afterward that he won't fight again.
"I started my career in Atlantic City and I wanted to end it in Atlantic City as well," Pellegrino told the fans at Caesar's Atlantic City afterward. "I lost fair and square. I love you all so much. This is the last time you'll ever see me fight again."
Pellegrino telling the fans (many of whom were his friends and family) that he had lost fair and square seemed to quell their anger at an apparent fast stoppage in his loss to Pitbull. Although Pitbull leveled Pellegrino with a left-right combination and then jumped on top and hit him with several punches on the ground, Pellegrino did still appear to be intelligently defending himself at the time of the stoppage, and the fans loudly booed the outcome.
A UFC veteran who went 7-5 inside the Octagon, Pellegrino left the UFC on a two-fight losing streak in May, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family. It was a surprise when he returned to MMA to fight for Bellator, but it's not a surprise that he's now saying he's done fighting at the age of 32. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, bellator, fan, atlantic city, pellegrino
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 59 Fight Card Primer: Alexis Vila vs. Eduardo Dantas
At 40 years old, the odds against Alexis Vila being a force in MMA are against him. But the Cuban-born Olympic freestyle wrestler is just one win away from winning Bellator's current 135-pound tournament and running his record to a perfect 12-0 in the process.
A man 18 years his junior -- Eduardo Dantas -- stands in his way and the former Shooto champion is looking to complete his first run in a Bellator tournament with a big win.
Vila (11-0) and Dantas (12-2) meet Saturday in the co-main event of Bellator 59 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the promotion's final event of 2011.Vila represented Cuba in the 1996 Olympics, taking home a freestyle wrestling bronze medal in the light flyweight division along with medals in several World Championships and the Pan-Am Games in the early-to-mid 1990s. After defecting to the United States in 1997 and later serving a three-year prison term, the American Top Team member debuted in December 2007 and ran up a 9-0 record on regional shows before being signing with Bellator earlier this year.Despite being 22, Dantas also started in 2007 and competed mainly in Shooto in both Brazil and Japan before getting inked by Bellator. Dantas competed for the Shooto 132-pound title in 2009 and lost a decision to Masakatsu Ueda -- one of just two career losses. He comes into Saturday on a five-fight win streak.
How do these two stack up?
Vila: 40 years old | 5'4" | Preferred form of win: knockout (63%)
Dantas: 22 years old | 5'10" | Preferred form of win: decision (42%)
Before his decision victory in the semifinals, Vila had won six straight by T/KO and hasn't been past the second round in three years. While the majority of Dantas' wins are by decision, seven of his wins have come via T/KO or submission and before the West victory, he had finished straight four opponents.
How did these two get here?
In the tournament's opening round in late-September, Vila knocked out current 145-pound champion Joe Warren in 64 seconds, while Dantas knocked out Wilson Reis in 62 seconds with a flying knee strike. In the tournament's second round in late-October, Vila was on the right side of a controversial split decision win over Marcos Galvao, while Dantas also won a close split decision over Ed West.
Why should you care?
Makovsky needs quality opponents and either man will give him a run for his title. The story here is really Vila due to his age and his story, but a great fight could help create another two solid names that will be part of their bantamweight division for the next few years. One X factor? Dantas' six-inch reach advantage.
SBN coverage of Bellator 59
Posted in: bellator, decision, year, vila, danta
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDon't forget about Bellator
Bellator finishes its fifth season of highly entertaining tournament fights this Saturday with Bellator 59 at Caesars in Atlantic City. The card features the finals of this season's Heavyweight and Bantamweight tournies, as well as a couple of interesting non-contender matchups. With no UFC this weekend, may as well give it a go, no? It's not like you have anything better to do on a Saturday night.
First up, Thiago "Big Monster" Santos takes on Eric "Giant Ginger" Prindle in the HW finals for the opportunity to be absorbed via osmosis by resident champion and shaved honey badger, Cole Konrad. Santos has powerful hands and a great ground game and thus is the obvious pick to have the best shot at prying Konrad's gargantuan ass off the throne, but he's been blazing through his opponents so quickly it's uncertain whether he's got the necessary gas tank to go 5 with a rampaging Dr. Zoidberg on top of him. Prindle is a huge motherfucker with heavy hands and fairly sharp boxing, but no real ground game to speak of. This should be a gimme for Santos. As a ridiculous side note, Konrad won the HW title back at Bellator 32 over a year ago, but since contendership is determined via tournament, he hasn't defended it once. He's only fought one time in 2011, and that was a non-title squash match againt Paul fucking Buentello. Dude fought 7 TIMES in 2010, but will have only fought once this year.
Highlights from Santos and Prindle's last fights (quick finishes) start at :48
In the Bantamweight finals, bright young Nova União prospect Eduardo "DuDu" Dantas is set to face aged assassin and Olympic Bronze medalist Alexis "Exorcist" Vila, with the winner getting a shot at Zach Makovsky for the title. My initial thought was that Dantas is in over his head with Vila, but his chances improve dramatically as the minutes tick away. If he can weather the first round storm that Vila brings, and use his vastly superior reach and technical striking ability to pick away as Vila fades, this could very well turn into a lopsided decision victory, or late round KO for DuDu.
Dantas KO of Wilson Reis Vila assassinating Joe Warren
Other interesting bouts from the main card -
'Faintin' Phillipe Nover vs. Polish grappling wiz Marcin Held.Kurt "I'm Still Here" Pellegrino vs. Patricky "But Not For Long" Freire
Prelims streaming on SPIKE.com @ 7 pm EST.Main card on MTV2 and EPIX2 @ 9 pm.
Posted in: bellator, vila, prindle, ground game, nbspnbsp
Read the full article at FightlinkerBellator 59 Fight Card Primer: Kurt Pellegrino vs. Patricky Freire
Athletes handle retirement differently. Some are able to go out gracefully and enjoy what they've accomplished. Others decide that returning to civilian life isn't that much fun and can't wait to get back into action. Then, there's Brett Favre.
Earlier this year, Kurt Pellegrino announced he was hanging up the gloves and didn't pursue a new contract with the UFC. He was coming off consecutive losses to George Sotiropoulos and Gleison Tibau and found himself right back in the middle of the lightweight pack he was trying to free himself from. But that's the thing about retiring at 32 years old. There's a lot of life ahead of you and when opportunities to make money arise, you usually take them.
Pellgrino returns to action Saturday at Bellator 59, but the man welcoming "Batman" back to action -- Patricky Freire -- is no joker. Freire is coming off a lightweight tournament final loss to Michael Chandler earlier this year and will be looking to send Pellegrino to his own Arkham Asylum with the power that knocked out his first two Bellator opponents.
How do these guys stack up?
Pellegrino: 32 | 5'8" | Preferred form of victory: submission (63%)
Freire: 25 | 5'7" | Preferred form of victory: knockout (67%)
How did both guys get here?
Before decision losses to Sotiropolous and Tibau, Pellegrino (16-6) had won four consecutive fights. The near 10-year veteran debuted in the UFC in July 2006 and compiled a 7-5 Octagon mark. He's never been knocked out.
Before his decision loss to Chandler in May, Freire (9-2) knocked out Rob McCullough and Toby Imada at the tail end of a five-fight win streak. Before signing with Bellator, the Team Nogueira member had competed solely in Brazil.
Why should I watch?
This will be a great test for Freire against a well-traveled and experienced fighter. A win over Pellegrino puts him in a great spot heading into next year's expected 155-pound tournament that will also likely feature former champion Eddie Alvarez. Pellegrino can't be counted out by any means, but the question is whether that desire to compete and win is still there following his short retirement. A victory Saturday puts him in a good spot in Bellator's lightweight division heading into 2012.
SBN coverage of Bellator 59
Posted in: bellator, loss, year, freire, pellegrino
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 59 Set for Tonight with Bantamweight, Heavyweight Tournament Finals
With the UFC taking a week off between last Saturday’s UFC 139 event and The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale on Dec. 3, Bellator takes the spotlight tonight with Bellator 59, which airs on MTV2 at 9pm ET and features a bantamweight tournament final between Alexis Vila and Eduardo Dantas and heavyweight final between Thiago Santos and Eric Prindle.
The main card also includes a pair of lightweight bouts, as UFC veteran Kurt Pellegrino returns to MMA against Patricky Pitbull and TUF 8 runner-up Phillipe Nover faces Marcin Held.
All of the Bellator 59 fighters successfully weighed in on Friday in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which also hosts tonight’s event.
For the latest MMA news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Posted in: bellator, alexis vila, eduardo dantas, eric prindle, bantamweight tournament
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 59 Fight Card Primer: Phillipe Nover vs. Marcin Held
With injury comes opportunity and former TUF finalist Phillipe Nover has his opportunity to reintroduce himself to the MMA world Saturday at Bellator 59 against Marcin Held.
Nover/Held was originally slotted for the non-televised portion of the card, but an injury to main card fighter Michael Costa this week resulted in the fight being bumped up to TV. A source close to the situation said Lyman Good turned down two replacement options and was removed from the card completely, thus the opportunity for Nover and Held to make their presence felt to a national TV audience.
Best remembered for having a huge fan in UFC President Dana White ("a young Georges St. Pierre") during the eighth season of TUF, Nover (6-3-1) was released in early-2010 from the UFC after three straight losses. He disappeared for 18 months and resurfaced on a regional show in August, picking up a unanimous decision win over Jake Murphy. He was later inked by Bellator and will make his debut Saturday.
Held (11-2) returns to Bellator for the first time since losing to Michael Chandler by first round submission earlier this year. The 19-year-old (yes, he's that young) got back to his winning ways in September with a first-round submission victory at an Australian event. The Polish Held has been a pro since September 2008, competing solely in his native country before making his Bellator debut.
How do these two stack up?
Nover: 27 | 5'9" | Preferred form of victory: submission (50%)
Held: 19 | 5'9" | Preferred form of victory: submission (55%)
Why should I watch?
On paper, this could be a fun ground battle with plenty of submission attempts. Both guys will be looking for a slot in the next lightweight tournament and it should be interesting to see if Bellator has found anything in a potentially revitalized Nover.
SBN coverage of Bellator 59
Posted in: bellator, submission, card, opportunity, nover
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowKurt Pellegrino expecting to finish Patricky Freire tonight at Bellator 59
Former UFC lightweight Kurt Pellegrino has been out of action for eight months and is coming off a pair of decision losses inside the Octagon, the latter aspect prompting his unexpected (and ultimately temporary) retirement from active competition. With the desire to compete quickly returning, Pellegrino decided to sign with Bellator as a means of staying close to home and has done just that with the New Jersey native fighting Patricky Freire later this evening in Atlantic City at Bellator 59.
However, despite the layoff, consecutive defeats, and questions about his future in MMA, Pellegrino is entering tonight’s fight with supreme confidence as he made clear when offering his thoughts on the match-up’s eventual outcome.
Pellegrino Talks About Decision to Focus on Life, Not Fighting
“I’m going to submit Patricky in this fight,” predicted Pellegrino in an interview with Sherdog. “We are going to play jiu-jitsu on the floor, and he’s going to get tapped out. He can’t show me his back like he’s done in some of his other fights, because I’ll take his back and submit him.”
In fact, to hear “Batman” tell it, he’s fairly certain he can take out any 155er calling Bellator home now that he’s re-motivated and, more importantly, healthy.
“The vision quest I’ve always had for myself ended with me being on top. I have to know if I have something left or if it’s over, and I don’t believe it’s over.”
“I had a serious leg injury in my last two fights before I retired, and that’s not how I want to be remembered. If I lose, I want to know I was 100 percent, and I’m definitely 100 percent going into this fight with Patricky,” he continued. “When I’m healthy, I don’t feel like there’s anyone that can beat me.”
Interested parties can catch Pellegrino vs. Freire on the main card when things fire up on MTV2/EPIX at 9:00 PM EST. Other bouts include Phillipe Nover vs. Marcin Held, as well as two Season 5 tournament finals featuring Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos (heavyweight) and Alexis Vila vs. Eduardo Dantas (bantamweight).
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: fight, bellator, vs, pellegrino, patricky
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 59 headliner Prindle's mission: keep demons away, knock out Santos
Eric "The American Solider" Prindle is as honest as
Thiago Santos about what he plans to do in the
finals of Bellator's season-five heavyweight tournament.
"He's a black belt from Brazil," Prindle said of his opponent. "I'm
going to do what I can to keep the fight standing and let my hands go.
If I do that, as the rounds go on I think it will be better odds to win
it."
The pair headline Saturday's Bellator 59, which takes place at Caesar's
Atlantic City in Atlantic City, N.J. Main-card fights air live on MTV2
while prelims stream on Spike.com.
Posted in: bellator, prelims stream, prindle, brazil prindle, opponent im
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 59's Patricky 'Pitbull' Freire ready to erase sting of championship loss
Bellator lightweight competitor Patricky "Pitbull" Freire is not happy.
Freire dropped a unanimous decision to Michael Chandler at May's
Bellator 44 event, falling one step short of a tournament win and a
championship bid. He's used that memory as motivation ever since.
"I feel even more determined to win the Bellator lightweight
championship because I came so close before," Freire said. "I don't ever
want to feel the taste of defeat again. No fighter likes to get close
to something and not get it, so I will try not to make as many mistakes
again."
Posted in: bellator, championship, michael chandler, i dont, freire
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 59 Weigh-in Results: Two Tourney Finals
The Bellator 59 weigh-ins solidified the roster for Saturday night's event in Atlantic City, N.J., which includes two tournament finals and UFC veteran Kurt Pellegrino.
Posted in: bellator, final, tournament finals, weighin, tourney finals
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 59 results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Santos vs Prindle' TONIGHT (Nov. 26) on MTV2
Bellator Fighting Championships returns TONIGHT (Nov. 26, 2011) to Caesar's Atlantic City in Atlantic City, NJ, with a pair of tournament finales.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 59 below, beginning with the MTV2 telecast at 9 p.m. ET. In addition, we'll deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the undercard action much earlier in the evening.
In heavyweight tournament action, Brazilian Thiago "Big Monster" Santos takes on "The American Soldier" Eric Prindle for the right to challenge current champion Cole Konrad, while on the opposite end of the spectrum, bantamweight prospects Eduardo Dantas and Alexis Vila square off with the winner earning a shot at 135 pound champion, Zach Makovsky.
Opening up the main card will be a pair of lightweight bouts as two Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veterans Kurt Pellegrino and Phillipe Nover do battle with two Bellator season four lightweight tournament fighters Patricky Freire and Marcin Held, respectively.
Complete Bellator 59 results and play-by-play are after the jump:
Main Card (MTV2)
265 lbs.: Thiago Santos vs. Eric Prindle 135 lbs.: Alexis Vila vs. Eduardo Dantas 155 lbs.: Patricky Freire vs. Kurt Pellegrino 155 lbs.: Marcin Held vs. Phillipe Nover Undercard (Spike.com)
175 lbs.: Karl Amoussou vs. Jesus Martinez 170 lbs.: LeVon Maynard vs. Chris Wing 175 lbs.: Lucas Pimenta vs. Doug Gordon 145 lbs.: Brylan Van Artsdalen vs. Scott Heckman 185 lbs.: Brandon Saling vs. Gregory Milliard
265 lbs.: Thiago Santos vs. Eric Prindle
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
135 lbs.: Alexis Vila vs. Eduardo Dantas
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
155 lbs.: Patricky Pitbull vs. Kurt Pellegrino
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
155 lbs.: Marcin Held vs. Phillipe Nover
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
Posted in: bellator, result, round, vs, lb
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 59 Live Results and Play-by-Play (7 ET)
Sherdog.com will report from Caesars Atlantic City in Atlantic City, N.J., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 59, which features the finals of Bellator's Season 5 bantamweight and heavyweight tournaments.
Posted in: bellator, result, city, playbyplay, atlantic
Read the full article at SherdogLive NOW: Bellator 59 Results and Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from Caesars Atlantic City in Atlantic City, N.J., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 59, which features the finals of Bellator's Season 5 bantamweight and heavyweight tournaments.
Posted in: bellator, result, city, playbyplay sherdogcom, atlantic
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 59 Preview
And so Bellator’s fifth season draws to a close, with Saturday night’s installment putting the finishing touches on what’s turned out to be a pretty damn good block of events. In terms of fight goodness, of course at the top of the pugilistic pile is last week’s Eddie Alvarez/Michael Chandler battle royale, but just below that is Douglas Lima’s crushing run through the welterweight tournament, just about every fight in the bantamweight tournament, Marlon Sandro getting back on track, and the fact that the organization managed to pull off a heavyweight tournament with a lot of action and very little suckage. Which brings us to Bellator 59. We’ve got the bantamweight and heavyweight finals in store for us, plus the return to the cage of two popular Northeast fighters who can claim “Octagon experience” on their resume. Preview time!
-Eric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos – Prindle and Santos are the aforementioned big boys, and they will be duking it out for a shot at champ Cole Konrad’s title. To get to the Season Five finals, Prindle went the distance in exciting fashion with TUF castoff Abe Wagner and then he KO’d Ron Sparks in forty seconds; Santos, meanwhile, blitzed Josh Burns and Neil Grove, and when they were stunned he choked them out. Notice how these descriptions involved zero “one man lying on top of the other” or “one man pressing the other against the cage for three rounds”? Yeah, that’s because there was just about none of that. Instead, we got a gigantic American and a gigantic Brazilian just going for it. Odd are that’s what we’ll get on Saturday night, too. As we’ve only seen about three minutes of Santos’ skills, and Prindle has pretty much shown us everything, I’d give the edge to Prindle. But who knows. When the leather starts flying, anyone could go to sleep at any time.
-Kurt Pellegrino vs. Patricky Freire – Pellegrino (a.k.a. “Batman”, because he drives around in a black Lincoln Continental with a Batman insignia emblazoned on the hood) went 7-5 in the UFC before retiring, and his Octagon legacy involved black belt jiu-jitsu mixed with solid wrestling. Now he’s back, facing a jiu-jitsu black belt with explosive striking ability in Freire. Yes, that is definitely a tall order for Pellegrino to overcome – Freire would’ve won the last Bellator lightweight tournament had it not been for the tireless efforts of Michael Chandler – but if anyone is going to get the Brazilian down and rough him up, it’s the New Jersey native. And I’m picking Pellegrino to do just that.
-Alexis Vila vs. Eduardo Dantas – Cuban Olympic wrestler Vila somehow, someway hypnotized the judges at Bellator 55 and compelled them to give him an undeserved split decision over Marcos Galvao. But damn did he knock the hell out of Joe Warren in the bantamweight tournament quarterfinals at Bellator 51! Dantas arrived at the finals treading a similar path, squeaking by Ed West after utterly smashing Wilson Reis. What does that leave us for a final? Well, both these guys are nonstop, fast-paced warriors, so odds are what we’ll get is something full of fireworks. Based on experience alone, I have Dantas taking this (he was a Shooto contender, after all), but again, with the KO power Vila wields, it could end any time.
-Phillipe Nover vs. Marcin Held – He was hailed by Dana White as the next Anderson Silva when he was on TUF 8, but Nover didn’t quite live up to those great expectations, losing to Efrain Escudero at the TUF finale, then falling to Kyle Bradley and Rob Emerson before getting cut from the Octagon. None of that, however, changes the fact that Nover spent his early days rocketing up the Northeast scene with heavy-hands and solid jiu-jitsu. Held is considered to be one of the best fighters coming out of Poland, which, uh, doesn’t exactly mean much in the grand scheme of things, but you never know. He may have lost to Chandler in his Bellator debut, but Held could be a badass. Regardless, Nover’s black belt will likely nullify whatever tricks the Pole has up his sleeve on the groujnd, and the American will have no qualms about punching his head off. What for Nover to TKO Held in brutal fashion.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, prindle, pellegrino, nover
Read the full article at MMA ConvertPrindle Plans to Stand, Throw in Bellator 59 Final with Santos
Eric Prindle has no illusions about where his strengths lie as he approaches his Bellator 59 heavyweight tournament showdown with Thiago Santos
Posted in: bellator, tournament, eric prindle, prindle, prindle plans
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 59 weigh-in results
The Bellator 59 weigh-ins have been completed from Atlantic City, New Jersey in preparation for Bellator’s Saturday night event at Caesars Atlantic...
Posted in: bellator, atlantic city, city, weighin, atlantic
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBellator 59 gets green light after all competitors make weight
Atlantic City, New Jersey will trade in the faux fighting of Jack Dempsey‘s character on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire for a some genuine fisticuffs in the form of Bellator 59, an event this Saturday night headlined by a pair of Season 5 finals as well as bouts featuring two UFC veterans.
All of the scheduled competitors hit their necessary weigh-related marks earlier today meaning things will go on as planned.
Bellator 59 will feature Thiago Santos vs. Eric Prindle for the right to take on heavyweight champion Cole Konrad in one tournament final while Olympian Alexis Vila and Brazilian youngster Eduardo Dantas mix it up on the bantamweight side of things. Other match-ups include Phillipe Nover vs. Marcin Held and Kurt Pellegrino vs. Patricky Freire.
Nover Talks Long Road Back to the Ring
Read below for a rundown of results rounded to the nearest quarter-pound:
Gregory Milliard (185.5) vs. Brandon Saling (183.5)
Scott Heckman (146) vs. Brylan Van Artsdalen (145.25)
Lucas Pimenta (173) vs. Doug Gordon (174)
LeVon Maynard (171) vs. Chris Wing (170.5)
Karl Amoussou (174.5) vs. Jesus Martinez (175.5)
Marcin Held (156) vs. Phillipe Nover (155.5)
Patricky Freire (155) vs. Kurt Pellegrino (155)
Eduardo Dantas (136) vs. Alexis Vila (135)
Eric Prindle (264.75) vs. Thiago Santos (264.75)
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Posted in: bellator, vs, ufc veterans, nover, weighrelated marks
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 59 Weigh-In Results
The Bellator 59 weigh-ins took place earlier this evening in Atlantic City.
All fighters made weight. Bellator 59 will feature the season five heavyweight tournament final between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos and the bantamweight tournament final between Eduardo Dantas and Alexis Vila.
The weigh-in results:
Eric Prindle (264.8) vs. Thiago Santos (264.8)
Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (155) vs. Kurt Pellegrino (155)
Eduardo Dantas (136) vs. Alexis Vila (135)
Marcin Held (156) vs. Phillipe Nover (155.6)
Karl Amoussou (174.6) vs. Jesus Martinez (175.5)
LeVon Maynard (171) vs. Chris Wing (170.5)
Lucas Pimenta (173) vs. Doug Gordon (174)
Scott Heckman (146) vs. Brylan Van Artsdalen (145.2)
Gregory Milliard (185.4) vs. Brandon Saling (183.6)
Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit.
Bellator 59 takes place tomorrow night at Caesars in Atlantic City, New Jersey and will air live on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, vs, atlantic city, heavyweight tournament, weighin
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator tournament finals set as all fighters make weight
Two more Season 5 winners will be crowned tomorrow night in Atlantic City when the boardwalk welcomes Bellator 59 and a card featuring bantamweight/heavyweight finals. Also scheduled for action tomorrow night on MTV2/EPIX, UFC veterans Kurt Pellegrino and Phillipe Nover make their promotional debuts in battles against Bellator staples Patricky Freire and Marcin Held respectively.
The lot of competitors slated to take to the cage all stepped on the scale earlier today with the group making weight meaning the event will go on as planned.
Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos both came in at 264.75 for their showdown with the victor earning a crack at champion Cole Konrad, while a single pound separated bantamweights Eduardo Dantas and Alexis Vila who have divisional ace Zach Makovsky in their sights. Each winner will also take home a $100,000 check in addition to the title-shot.
Here is a complete list of Bellator 59 weights (all figures have been rounded to the nearest quarter-pound):
Gregory Milliard (185.5) vs. Brandon Saling (183.5)
Scott Heckman (146) vs. Brylan Van Artsdalen (145.25)
Lucas Pimenta (173) vs. Doug Gordon (174)
LeVon Maynard (171) vs. Chris Wing (170.5)
Karl Amoussou (174.5) vs. Jesus Martinez (175.5)
Marcin Held (156) vs. Phillipe Nover (155.5)
Patricky Freire (155) vs. Kurt Pellegrino (155)
Eduardo Dantas (136) vs. Alexis Vila (135)
Eric Prindle (264.75) vs. Thiago Santos (264.75)
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, vs, tomorrow night, bantamweightheavyweight finals, weight meaning
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 59 Weigh-In Results: Thiago Santos (264.8) vs. Eric Prindle (264.8)
All fighters did their jobs and made weight Friday at the Bellator 59 weigh-ins in Atlantic City, NJ, at the Palladium Ballroom. The event airs live at 9 pm EST on MTV2 with the prelims kicking off on Spike.com.
The 59th event in company history will wrap up their fifth season of action, headlined by the finals of their heavyweight and bantamweight tournaments. Viewers will also see the promotional debuts of former UFC fighters Kurt Pellegrino and Phillipe Nover.
MAIN CARD
Heavyweight Tourney Final: Thiago Santos (264.8) vs. Eric Prindle (264.8)
Bantamweight Tourney Final: Alexis Vila (135) vs. Eduardo Dantas (136)
Patricky Freire (155) vs. Kurt Pellegrino (155) Both men had to be separated after the staredown.
Marcin Held (156) vs. Phillipe Nover (155.6)
UNDERCARD
Karl Amoussou (174.6) vs. Jesus Martinez (175.5)
LeVon Maynard (171) vs. Chris Wing (170.5)
Lucas Pimenta (173) vs. Doug Gordon (174)
Brylan Van Artsdalen (145.2) vs. Scott Heckman (146)
Brandon Saling (183.6) vs. Gregory Milliard (185.4)
Bloody Elbow.com will have live coverage on the site Saturday evening with fight card primers starting at 3 PM EST.
SBN coverage of Bellator 59
Posted in: bellator, vs, palladium ballroom, company history, staredown marcin
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 59 weigh-in results: Prindle vs. Santos, Dantas vs. Vila official
Official Bellator 59 weigh-ins took place today, and all main-card fighters successfully made weight on their first attempts.
Leading the charge to the scale were Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos, who
meet in the finals of Bellator's season-five heavyweight tournament, as
well as bantamweight finalists Eduardo Dantas and Alexis Vila.
The Palladium Ballroom of New Jersey's Caesars Atlantic City played host
to today's official Bellator 59 fighter weigh-ins.
Posted in: bellator, place today, official, weighin, maincard fighters
Read the full article at MMA JunkieVila Looking For Fast Start Against Dantas at Bellator 59
Alexis Vila began Bellator Fighting Championships’ current bantamweight tournament with a bang, knocking out Joe Warren, the promotion’s outspoken featherweight king, with a brutal left hook at Bellator 51.
Posted in: bellator, joe warren, championships ’, promotion ’s, featherweight king
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 59 Weigh-in Results
Bellator 59 will take place on Saturday night live from Caesars Atlantic City. The event will feature two tournament finals as well as a former UFC fighter coming out of a fairly short retirement.
The Heavyweight tournament finale will feature Eric Prindle facing Thiago Santos. The winner of the bout will receive a check for $100,000 and a date to face Bellator Heavyweight champion Cole Konrad.
The Bantamweight competitors Eduardo Dantas and Alexis Vila have the same $100,000 on the line. The winner will
Posted in: bellator, alexis vila, eric prindle, ufc fighter, tournament finals
Read the full article at Low KickBellator 58 Ratings Match Season-High With 269,000 Viewers
Bellator got some good news this week as ratings for last Saturday's Bellator 58 garnered a season-high viewership of 269,000, more than twice the number of the week prior and matching their season high.
The show was headlined by Michael Chandler winning the Bellator 155-pound title from Eddie Alvarez in one of the year's best fights. It also featured quick finishes from Marlon Sandro and Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard, along with an exciting women's bout featuring Jessica Aguilar.The replay numbers for the 9 PM EST airing even beat the season-low 129,000 viewers from Bellator 57, drawing another 160,000. The original airing was at 7 PM EST to avoid going head-to-head with UFC 139.
The 269,000 viewers match the October 1st Bellator 52 event which featured four heavyweight tournament quarterfinal bouts. Over 10 events this season, Bellator has averaged just over 178,000 viewers. Their final show is this Saturday with the heavyweight and bantamweight tournament finals.
SBN coverage of Bellator 58
Posted in: bellator, viewer, marlon sandro, womens bout, seasonhigh viewership
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowWatch today's Bellator 59 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 5 p.m. ET
The Palladium Ballroom of New Jersey's Caesars Atlantic City plays host
to today's official Bellator 59 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a
live video stream of the proceedings at 5 p.m. ET.
The same property plays host to Saturday's event, which airs on MTV2 and
the finales of Bellator's season-five heavyweight and bantamweight
tournaments.
In addition to the live weigh-ins and pre-fight press conference, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, video stream, text results, weighin, saturdays event
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 59 weigh in results LIVE from Atlantic City for 'Santos vs Prindle'
The official weigh-in event for Bellator 59's Saturday evening fight card takes place today (November 25, 2011) at Palladium Ballroom of Caesars Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Bellator 59 features two tournament finals on the same card. In heavyweight action, "Big Monster" Thiago Santos takes on "The American Soldier" Eric Prindle in a bout where both men are expected to step on the scales at the 265 pound limit.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, two of the best bantamweight prospects in the world, Eduardo Dantas and Alexis Vila square off in 135-pound action.
Opening up the main card will be a pair of lightweight bouts as two Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veterans Kurt Pellegrino and Phillipe Nover do battle with two Bellator season four lightweight tournament fighters Patricky Freire and Marcin Held, respectively.
Complete Bellator 59 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
265 lbs.: Thiago Santos (10-1) vs. Eric Prindle (9-1)135 lbs.: Alexis Vila (11-0) vs. Eduardo Dantas (12-2)155 lbs.: Patricky Pitbull (9-2) vs. Kurt Pellegrino (16-6)155 lbs.: Marcin Held (11-2) vs. Phillipe Nover (5-3-1)Undercard
175 lbs.: Karl Amoussou (12-4-2) vs. Jesus Martinez (6-1)170 lbs.: LeVon Maynard (11-8) vs. Chris Wing (3-1) 175 lbs.: Lucas Pimenta (4-0) vs. Doug Gordon (11-10)145 lbs.: Brylan Van Artsdalen (5-2) vs. Scott Heckman (8-3)185 lbs.: Brandon Saling (6-4) vs. Gregory Milliard (1-2)
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 59, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 9 p.m. ET tomorrow night (November 12).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: bellator, vs, lb, card, atlantic city
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMMA Top 10 Lightweights: Is Mike Chandler Now in Top 10?
Filed under: UFC, Bellator, Rankings, LightweightsMichael Chandler defeated Eddie Alvarez in what may have been the best MMA fight of the year, winning the Bellator lightweight title. Does that make Chandler a Top 10 lightweight?
Not on my list.
I loved the Chandler-Alvarez fight, and I like the 9-0 Chandler a lot. I think he's one of the most talented young lightweights in the sport, and I think it speaks well for Bellator's ability to spot talent that they signed him for their lightweight division. (Chandler fought twice for Strikeforce before Bellator scooped him up, and it was obviously a big mistake for Strikeforce to let him get away.) But while Chandler would be in my Top 20, I just can't put him in my Top 10 yet.
So what could Chandler do to move into the Top 10? I'd love to see Bellator match Chandler up with Shinya Aoki. The previous plan had been to book an Alvarez-Aoki fight, but now that Chandler is the champ in Bellator, Chandler-Aoki would be more appealing. I'd also like to see Chandler take on Kurt Pellegrino, a lightweight who had a winning record in the UFC and is now set to make his Bellator debut against Patricky Freire. Putting Chandler in the cage with a UFC veteran would give us all a good idea how he stacks up against UFC lightweights.
Chandler's win against Alvarez was obviously the biggest of his career so far. I want to see him get another big win before I put him in the Top 10.
The fighters who are in the Top 10 at 155 pounds are below.
Top 10 lightweights in MMA
(Editor's Note: The fighter's rankings the last time we ranked the lightweights are in parentheses.)
1. Frankie Edgar (1): If there was any doubt after Edgar's two decision victories over B.J. Penn and his draw with Gray Maynard, there's no doubt anymore: Edgar's TKO win over Gray Maynard makes him the top lightweight in the world. He'll have his hands full, however, when he takes on Ben Henderson in February.
2. Gilbert Melendez (3): Melendez, the Strikeforce lightweight champion, should be fighting one of the top lightweights in the UFC. Instead, he'll defend his belt against Jorge Masvidal, who's not in my Top 10 or -- as far as I know -- anyone else's.
3. Gray Maynard (2): No two fighters have ever met inside the Octagon four times, but if Maynard wins another couple of fights, he'll have a good case that he deserves to get a fourth shot at Edgar. Maynard is 1-1-1 in his three career fights against Edgar so far.
4. Ben Henderson (6): The former World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight champion, Henderson is now 3-0 in the UFC, with unanimous decision wins over Mark Bocek, Jim Miller and Clay Guida. He'll get a chance to make his case for being the best in the world when he fights Edgar in Japan.
5. Clay Guida (4): Guida's four-fight winning streak was snapped by Henderson, but he'll be back. One thing we can always count on from Guida is that he's going to stay active, win most of the time, and put on a good show when he loses. Guida has won the Fight of the Night award in four of his last five losses.
6. Anthony Pettis (5): Pettis already has a win over Henderson on his record, and that win was supposed to earn him a shot at the UFC belt. Unfortunately, things didn't work out that way for Pettis, and when he lost to Guida he lost his chance to fight for the title. But Pettis looked good in beating Jeremy Stephens in October, and if he beats Joe Lauzon at UFC 144, he'll have to be considered a strong contender for a lightweight title shot.
7. Jim Miller (9): Miller's loss to Henderson in August may have cost him a title shot. The good news is that his next opponent, Melvin Guillard, is tailor-made for Miller to take down and submit.
8. Shinya Aoki (7): Aoki's submission victories over Lyle Beerbohm, Rich Clementi and Rob McCullough have been impressive enough, but none of those three is even close to a Top 10 lightweight. Aoki's level of competition leaves a lot to be desired.
9. Donald Cerrone (NR): Cerrone is 4-0 in the UFC this year and still has one more fight to go in 2011, against Nate Diaz at UFC 141. He could become the first fighter to go 5-0 in the UFC in one calendar year since Roger Huerta in 2007.
10. Nate Diaz (NR): It's great to see Diaz back at lightweight and looking good in his win over Takanori Gomi. Diaz is too lanky for welterweight, but at lightweight he looks great, and his fight with Cerrone should be tremendous. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, bellator, chandler, hell
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator champion Chandler on hard work, confidence
New Bellator champion Michael Chandler surprised more than just Eddie Alvarez when he took the lightweight belt from him last weekend.A relative unknown...
Posted in: bellator, champion, chandler, eddie alvarez, work confidence
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBellator's Dudu Dantas on title dreams
Undefeated Brazilian featherweight dudu Dantas, a Nova Uniao product, has earned himself a spot in the Bellator Grand Prix and tomorrow will face off against...
Posted in: bellator, danta, product, title dreams, dudu
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBellator 59's Alexis Vila: "I'm going to show him the difference between a boy and a man"
The chip on Alexis Vila's shoulder is viewable from space.
You can hear it in the way the 40-year-old former Olympian talks about
himself and his opponents. Any suggestion that he's in for a tough night
or that his opponent is a serious threat, and he almost seethes with
contempt. Every one of his answers is infused with the subtext: you're
messing with the wrong Cuban.
Vila, who's made it to the finals of the Bellator
season-five bantamweight tournament, wasn't satisfied with his most
recent performance, and now he's looking to take all his dissatisfaction
out on fellow finalist Eduardo Dantas.
Posted in: bellator, vila, he, subtext youre, olympian talks
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 59 preview and predictions for 'Santos vs Prindle' on Nov. 26 in Atlantic City
Bellator Fighting Championships will return to "The Garden State" this Saturday night (Nov. 26, 2011) at Caesars Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The main card will air live on MTV2 on fight night, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
Bellator 59 features two tournament finals on the same card. In heavyweight action, "Big Monster" Thiago Santos takes on "The American Soldier" Eric Prindle, while on the opposite end of the spectrum, bantamweight prospects Eduardo Dantas and Alexis Vila square off in 135-pound action.
Opening up the main card will be a pair of lightweight bouts as two Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veterans Kurt Pellegrino and Phillipe Nover do battle with two Bellator season four lightweight tournament fighters Patricky Freire and Marcin Held, respectively.
Our complete Bellator 59 preview and predictions after the jump:
265 lbs.: Thiago Santos (10-1) vs. Eric Prindle (9-1)
Thiago Santos entered the Bellator season five heavyweight tournament as an alternate, smashing Josh Burns in decisive fashion in the first round to earn a spot in the semifinals. Once there, he former tournament finalist Neil Grove by dropping the big Brit with an overhand right and finishing him with a rear naked choke in 38 seconds. Santos is large, powerful and while he's not the most technical guy on the ground, he's definitely dangerous with submissions if he can gain an advantage.
Eric Prindle is probably one of the biggest heavyweights in the world. Originally cutting down from about 300 pounds to make the 265 pound limit, Prindle overwhelmed Ultimate Fighter season 10 fighter Abe Wagner in the quarterfinals and punched his ticket to the finals with a highlight reel knockout of Ron Sparks in just 40 seconds. Prindle is huge, very powerful and is capable of finishing a fight whenever he connects with his sledgehammer fists.
They key for this fight will be for Prindle to try and keep the fight standing or in the clinch while Santos also looks stand or score takedowns. Prindle had an untold amount of boxing fights while competing for the Army and Santos is also capable in the stand-up as his knockdown of Neil Grove showed four weeks ago. Another factor is cardio. Most of Prindle's excess weight is muscle while Santos will be coming in a bit soft. It's going to be very physically exhausting for Santos if Prindle can force him to carry some of his weight for extended periods of time as he'll likely be at least 285 pounds after rehydrating.
Both of these men will be weighing in right at the heavyweight limit so expect some serious power on both ends.
Prediction: Eric Prindle via technical knockout in round two
135 lbs.: Alexis Vila (11-0) vs. Eduardo Dantas (12-2)
Alexis Vila made an emphatic statement in the quarterfinals, knocking out Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren just past the first minute. His follow-up bout, however, was not nearly as impressive. He struggled with Marcos Galvao's range and telegraphed his shots, eventually earning a split decision victory that many didn't agree with. At 40 years old, Vila is a tremendous athlete with Olympic freestyle wrestling credentials and he'll need every ounce of that if he wants to derail Dantas.
Eduardo Dantas made a similar statement, destroying four time Bellator tournament veteran Wilson Reis with a flying knee in the bantamweight quarterfinals. He also would be tested against season three finalist Ed West, but Dantas passed it with a much less controversial split decision victory of his own. The Brazilian possesses very dangerous striking as he's capable of exploding forward on a second's notice with both his hands and knees.
They key here will be for Dantas to try to keep his range and utilize his reach advantage. Vila is more of a natural flyweight but Bellator doesn't use that weight class yet, thus Dantas needs to eek out every bit of leverage he can. He should watch some tape of how Galvao was able to stifle Vila's offensive attack but also needs to mix in more strikes of his own. Galvao lost because he moved backwards the entire time but if Dantas can hold his ground a little more and keep Vila on the outside, he's going to present some serious problems.
Prediction: Eduardo Dantas via decision
155 lbs.: Patricky Pitbull (9-2) vs. Kurt Pellegrino (16-6)
Patricky Freire, the brother of current Bellator featherweight title challenger Patricio Freire, advanced to the finals of the Bellator season four lightweight tournament on the back of two incredible fights, both knockout of "Razor" Rob McCullough and Toby Imada. The Imada knockout was especially nasty. Freire has a solid ground game but it's his striking that's the most dangerous. He can knock his opponents out with both his fists and his knees.
Kurt Pellegrino competed in UFC for nearly five full years before stepping away in a state of semi-retirement following two consecutive losses. He had previously worked his way up to contender status with four straight victories but now, at 32 years old, he's not ready to hang them up just yet. Pellegrino is capable on the feet, but his bread and butter is his wrestling. If he can get the fight to the ground, his prowess in Brazilian jiu-jitsu could definitely come in handy.
This fight is a pretty obvious striker versus grappler match-up. Freire wants to keep it standing while Pellegrino likely wants to get it to the ground. If Pellegrino can put "Pitbull" on his back, he could very possibly grind out a decision as long as he can withstand some likely leg lock attempts. On the other side, Freire has a very good shot at knocking out "Batman" if he can force him to stand. Freire had some issues with Michael Chandler, but that was primarily because Chandler struck with him in the first round and confused him. He shouldn't have a similar issue with Pellegrino.
Prediction: Patricky Freire via knockout in round one
155 lbs.: Marcin Held (11-2) vs. Phillipe Nover (5-3-1)
Marcin Held laid waste to much of the European circuit, beginning his professional fighting career at just 16 years old. He drew Michael Chandler in the quarterfinals of the Bellator season four lightweight tournament and had him on the ropes with a very tight kneebar in the first round before succumbing to Chandler's wrestling and an eventual arm triangle choke. Held's leg locks are very dangerous and he's got significant room for improvement considering how young he is.
Phillipe Nover is a fighter who was quickly thrown into the fire when UFC President Dana White proclaimed that he thought "The Filipino Assassin" looked like a young Georges St. Pierre or Anderson Silva. Nover failed to meet those lofty expectations and quickly bombed out of the UFC with three straight losses. He recently restarted his MMA career and is looking to turn things around in Bellator.
Held is young, crafty and very aggressive. He doesn't have the wrestling to take Nover down where he wants him but he'll likely dive on a leg regardless because he knows that's his best path to victory. Expect Nover to stay back for the first part of round one, sizing him up. Once he thinks he has Held figured out, it could get very violent very quickly. If Nover is to be believed, he's ready to take back the mantle of one of MMA's best lightweight prospects. I'm cautiously taking him here.
Prediction: Phillipe Nover via technical knockout in round three
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Who will prevail in the battle of tournament finales? Will Bellator or UFC veterans win the lightweight showdowns to open up the main card?
Speak up!
Posted in: fight, bellator, danta, prindle, freire
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator's Michael Chandler doesn't care about rankings, he just wants to be the best in the world
On Sat., Nov. 19, 2011, Michael Chandler made good on his guarantee by defeating highly-touted former Bellator Fighting Championships lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez for his belt at Bellator 58 in Hollywood, Fla., in truly sensational fashion.
Some fans and mixed martial arts (MMA) pundits were shocked. Chandler wasn't. Beating Alvarez was always the plan. It's the reason he signed with Bellator in the first place.
Earlier this week, "The Brute" sat down with Pro MMA Radio's Larry Pepe to discuss his newly acquired title, his belief in himself and the path that brought him to where he is today:
"Yeah I mean, I knew signing with Bellator was the road I wanted to walk down and I wanted to see how it all played out. Take a couple fights before the tournament. Fight in the tournament. Win the tournament. Win the title shot. Win the belt. That just kinda how I saw it playing out and the tournament was a means to an end. That was the means to my goal. I couldn't get the title shot unless I got through those three guys. I don't want people to think I'm some cocky guy who pops off at the mouth and just looks past people. I took every one of those fights very seriously, but I'm a firm believe that you can't get where you're going unless you, number one, believe that you deserve to be there and, number two, just really, really see yourself getting there. You'll never get there unless you truly see yourself getting there before it happens. Envision it. You have to believe that you deserve to accomplish what you tell people that you want to accomplish. That's why I wanted people to know that I wasn't just here to make the money from the first fight or win the money from the second fight. I wasn't there to win the $100,000 check. I was there to get the title shot. And once I got the opportunity, I worked my butt off for those six or seven months in between the tournament and the title shot. The fruits of my labor paid off. I just knew I was gonna win. That's the confidence I bring to the cage."
After the jump, MMAmania.com will discuss Chandler's upset win, as well as the impact it may have on the Bellator lightweight division:
Chandler was an NCAA Division I wrestler at the University of Missouri. Wrestling is his base. And it's what directed him toward pursuing a career in MMA.
To make himself a more well-rounded fighter, Chandler has spent time with prominent boxing coach, Gil Martinez, to work on his punching, as well as his overall striking game.
Chandler credits Martinez for helping him prepare for everything that Alvarez had to bring to the table:
"Gil Martinez is my boxing coach. He started off as just a boxing coach, but now he's a big-time MMA boxing coach. And really, for me, he's my all-around coach. We talk strategy, we talk gameplan, obviously we talk boxing and we talk the whole preparation, as a whole, for the fights. I'm really blessed to have him in my corner. We went over some tape together Gil studied three or four of his fights. Even stuff like in-between rounds. Gil is one of those guys that gets the fight game. He'll pick up on little cues during the fight and he knows exactly what to say to me in the corner. I looked at some film, not a ton, because I wanted to focus more on what I was gonna do. But I knew some of Eddie's tendencies and we were able to exploit some of those. He hit with me a lot of shots, but I think we were able to see a lot of them coming as well."
It was a huge win for Chandler who not only defeated the champion, but also a fighter who was ranked in the lightweight top 10 by almost every ranking system.
After being upset by Chandler, there will be many who will say that Alvarez didn't deserve to be so highly ranked to begin with. Chandler disagrees:
"I’m not really into the whole MMA game. I train hard and I love my training and I love my fights, but I don’t really know a lot about the rankings. I don’t know a lot of the talk and the gossip about this-and-that and statistics. Eddie’s been around for a long time. He’s beat a lot of guys. Wherever they had him, I think he deserved to be there. I think he was ranked somewhere like three, four and some places, all the way up to eight. Some had him at about five. I’d say that was about right."
Regardless of how Chandler feels, people are going to talk. The loss certainly hurts Alvarez's chances of getting a call from the bigwigs at Zuffa anytime soon.
Either way, the storyline has changed. Alvarez may eventually work his way back into the title picture, but for now, it's all about Chandler.
The new champion doesn't see himself going anywhere for a while. He enjoys fighting for Bellator and is excited about the potential that the promotion has to offer, especially now with their new deal with Viacom:
"I don't think I necessarily need to be in the UFC. I just need to be in an opportunity where I can fight those top ten guys. Who knows what's gonna happen? I think you could be seeing some things as far as Bellator signing some big name guys. Look at where Bellator is. Now with the Viacom buyout and all that kinda stuff. There's definitely some things going on. I was a true testament to Bellator's recruiting process. Bellator is here to stay, so who knows? Whatever Bellator's got for me. Whatever my management's got for me. I just wanna be the best. I'll just keep training to be that. I know nothing's gonna go wrong with my career. Everything's gonna be a step in the right direction, whatever that may might be."
The question remains: Will Chandler actually see any top 10 guys if he stays with Bellator? For now, it would appear to not be the case, but only time will tell.
Do you Maniacs think Chandler will be sitting atop of the Bellator pile of lightweights for a while? Do you think his win over Alvarez exposed the former champion as being overrated, or is Chandler just that good?
Comments please!
Posted in: fight, bellator, guy, chandler, alvarez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaRedeeming Philippine: Phillipe Nover Bellator 59 exclusive interview with MMAmania.com (Part one)
For former finalist of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8, Phillipe Nover, Saturday night (Nov. 26, 2011) will be the culmination of a near unparalleled amount of hard work and adjustment.
Once compared to the likes of Georges St. Pierre and Anderson Silva by UFC President Dana White in a fit of regrettable hyperbole, Nover suffered a multitude of physical issues and then found himself on the outside looking in after suffering his third straight loss inside the Octagon.
After taking 19 months off to make drastic changes and allow his body to heal, Nover returned to mixed martial arts (MMA) competition this past August, scoring his first victory in over four years at Hoosier Fight Club in Indiana.
Nover quickly signed with Bellator Fighting Championships after his win and has been slated to square off against dangerous European submission whiz Marcin Held for the past 2.5 months.
He'll finally make his return to televised MMA this Saturday night at Bellator 59 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Nover spoke with MMAmania.com during a recent guest appearance on The Verbal Submission, discussing getting rid of distractions, why he took so long to return and what he expects against Marcin Held in part one of this two-part interview.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You took a little over a year off and you mentioned that there's no distractions this time around now that you're back. What was your biggest distraction before?
Phillipe Nover: Wow, I definitely had some distractions before in my life. I would say definitely not having the right frame of mind. One thing, I was in a really bad relationship. I thought it was a good relationship but the person I was with, a woman can drain you, man and if you're making her a priority in your life and it's ok to make a woman a priority in life as long as there's some reciprocation going on, but not to get into so many details but there was no reciprocation going on and it wasn't a good relationship. It was actually a drain and there was a lot of negativity that surrounded me when I thought it was all positive things going on, so that was definitely the major issue. I was focusing on that instead of focusing on my training and that was definitely one thing that changed and is completely changed now.
The second thing is I changed my team up and my training partners. Because I'm such a loyal person and I just come from that type of background especially with the traditional arts, it's difficult cutting ties between your original trainers and stuff, who I still respect to this day but just getting to the new level, getting to a professional level, you need to train with professional people. All my training partners and sparring partners who are professionals, I train at Edge Wrestling with Dave Branch, John Cholish, my trainers Dave Esposito, Brandon Kinney and Jeff Marsh, all these guys do this stuff pretty much for a living. My training partners and sparring partners range now from Frankie Edgar all the way to Charlie Brenneman. Guys just come into Renzo's, I train at Renzo's now. I'm now including John Danaher in my corner. Just changing up completely with my training strategy-wise for my fighting. I think before, I had an approach which was definitely lacking in my fight career and now it's a lot better. I look at fighting now completely different from how I ever looked at it.
The third thing that happened is I had to take some time off because I had neck surgery. I didn't really publicize this. I don't know for sure when the injury came first but I know I had a herniated disk and it was really bad. I definitely fought with the herniated disk a few times, that was during the UFC and it just kept getting worse and worse. Finally, I ended up getting an MRI after fighting Rob Emerson and I saw, the doctor told me that my neck is really bad. I waited about six months or more, maybe eight months before I got the surgery because I was debating. I wanted to do all kinds of things like traction therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, all kinds of stuff I tried. I really had a fear of going under the knife. Finally, I met a doctor, his name was Dr. Shapiro over in Long Island and he put an artificial disk in my neck and it's unbelievable. It's actually healed up. You can YouTube this, I have a video diary of my recovery and it's crazy. Just to get neck surgery and to come back stronger than ever, it's like I have a brand new neck. Those are the three major things that I had changed in my life which is helping me focus again and I just feel like my MMA career can take off even further than it's ever bene.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I appreciate the candor there. When you decided that you were returning to fighting, what you first did was you took your first professional kickboxing fight, a Muay Thai bout. Can you tell me the thought process that went into the decision to try kickboxing before coming back into MMA?
Phillipe Nover: The first thought in my mind, I got the neck surgery on February 8th of this year so it took a few months to heal and I really wasn't training as much wrestling and jiu-jitsu and getting my neck tugged on but I was still training my Muay Thai so by the time I fought, it was June 10th. I decided my first fight back should be, I wanted to fight in New York, that was another thing too, just to wipe the rust off and have my friends and my family easily travel to New York City, this is my place. I train at Church Street Boxing which is under my coach Jason Strout and this is also a partnership of a show that he runs. It was a real comfortable atmosphere. It was real homely and I fought another MMA fighter actually in a Muay Thai fight. (laughs) He had a few Muay Thai fights and it was my first one. It was really just a way to wipe the rust off. Win or lose, I thought it wouldn't affect my MMA career and you're still putting gloves on and punching people in the head so it definitely worked out. I wound up winning via TKO in the first round so it was a good way to get me back in the picture and then build up back into an MMA fight.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): I'm very interested in what led up to your signing with Bellator. I know you took a fight at Hoosier Fight Club and you got a win. Did Bellator approach you around the same time they talked to Kurt Pellegrino because you guys train around the same area? What went into that?
Phillipe Nover: Well, after the fight with Jake Murphy in the Hoosier Fight Club, I was talking to my manager and we somehow got a contract with Bellator. I don't know how it worked out but we got in contract with each other and we started working some numbers around and they made some offers and we just managed it right. I think this is huge for me. I'm really looking forward to my first fight in Bellator. This is pretty much, I think talent pool-wise, I think we have some huge studs at the 155 division. That fight this past Saturday was crazy. I spar with Eddie Alvarez too and these guys are amazing. It's a stacked division, I think even comparable to the UFC so if I ever want to get back to the UFC, I have to have hopes of making it pretty far in Bellator. This is a great opportunity for me to get back into the scene and I'm hoping to do well.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You're taking on Marcin Held, a really dangerous submission fighter from Europe. Have you been preparing your leg lock defense because that guy has some vicious heel hooks.
Phillipe Nover: (laughs) I definitely have. I've been preparing with an emphasis on my lower extremity defense. He does go for kneebars, ankles, he loves getting locked up in there and he will definitely pop ankles and knees. He's done it before and I've watched tape on him. He's a young kid, but man, he beats the crap out of adults so I'm preparing myself completely for this fight as much as I can. I'm reviewing all my good defenses and I know he'll probably try to lock up one of my ankles so we'll see what happens.
What do you think, Maniacs?
Do you agree that Nover's made the necessary adjustments to finally be able to live up to the prospect status that was given to him? Or has that time come and gone already?
Sound off!
Stay tuned for part two of our interview with Phillipe Nover as he prepares for his major promotional return this Saturday night. We discuss the Bellator contract, his nursing career and unrealistic expectations. To listen to the complete audio of the interview, click here.
Posted in: fight, bellator, mma, thing, nover
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFans invited to Friday's Bellator 59 weigh-ins in New Jersey
The official weigh-in ceremony for this weekend's Bellator 59 event is free and open to the public.
The festivities take place this Friday, Nov. 25, inside the Palladium
Ballroom of New Jersey's Caesars Atlantic City. The first fighter hits
the scale at 5 p.m. ET, and MMAjunkie.com will carry a live video stream
of the proceedings.
The same property also hosts the following day's Bellator 59 event. As
usual, main-card action airs live on MTV2 (and in high-definition on
EPIX) while Spike.com streams the preliminary card.
Posted in: bellator, video stream, spikecom streams, fighter hits, palladium ballroom
Read the full article at MMA JunkieTen Things To Be Thankful For In MMA: 2011 Edition
Thanksgiving is upon us, and with it comes a time to eat copious amounts of turkey, see way too much of your relatives, and gives thanks for the things that make life worth living – and if you’re like me, much of those particular “things” involve mixed martial arts. So here we are then, soon to be closing out 2011, and as it has proved to be another banner year for the sport, we’re left with plenty to be thankful for. Thus, a list of ten things that mean a lot to us MMA fans, but if we were transported via time machine to that very first Thanksgiving table centuries ago, and we tried to describe these things to that pilgrim sitting to our left and that loin-clothed Iroquois to our right, we’d probably end up getting shot with a blunderbuss and wacked with a club.
· Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler – A year ago, no athletic commission in the world with even the slightest bit of conscience would’ve approved of an Alvarez/Chandler matchup. But lo and behold, there’s Bellator, which let Chandler earn his shot against the top-ten lightweight by stuffing him into a 155-pound tournament slot and letting him fight his way out. He did, of course, and earned himself a crack at the organization’s champ, and BLAMMO! We had one heck of a kickass fight last Saturday night! I’m not going to waste time extolling the virtues of their four-round virtuoso – the video’s been available everywhere all week and it’s going to re-air on MTV2 after this week’s Bellator installment. But I will say this: Alvarez vs. Chandler is probably one of the best fights Bellator has ever put together.
· Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Dan Henderson – UFC 139 had some awesome moments, but it’s hard to recall them with that much clarity when the last bout of the evening was the five-round master class on heart, skill and warrior-ness. Shogun and “Hendo” were already legends going into their bout on Saturday night, so really, what we got was just the icing on the cake. And damn, what a delicious icing to go with that delicious cake.
· UFC on FOX – In the not too distance past, if you told someone on the street that you watched the Ultimate Fighting Championship, they’d likely say, “Oh yeah, aren’t those fights to the death or something?” And you couldn’t blame them for their ignorance, because for the longest time, MMA was at best a fringe sport. Now, if someone shows that kind of unfamiliarity, you can kick them square in the groin. The UFC is available in 550 million homes! For free! “Fringe sport” my ass, this thing is now mainstream, baby, and it’s all thanks to the UFC’s newly-minted marriage to the FOX networks.
· Jon Jones – Every sporting endeavor needs its Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson (in his prime), and Tiger Woods (uh, when he seemed wholesome). Guess what? We’ve got Jones, who rocketed up the ranks of the light-heavyweight division to claim the crown – and defend it – in completely convincing fashion. That’s right, we’ve got our very own superstar that we can point out to the general public and say, “Yeah, that guy right there, he’s a superhero.”
· Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard III – If you’ve got two fighters engaged in a trilogy of matchups, it’s either because their prior bouts were so totally awesome or so totally inconclusive. What Edgar and Maynard did up until UFC 136 was pretty much the latter. Then came UFC 136, and wow, definitely the former. With an uppercut off a takedown attempt, then a serious of right hands followed by some lefts, Edgar put the world on notice that he was here to stay as lightweight champ, badass challengers be damned. Now we have closure, and there’s no question mark over who the best 155-pound fighter in the world is.
· Nick Diaz – For a while now there’s been no one in the UFC’s welterweight division who could stop champ Georges St. Pierre from laying on top of them like a muscular Canadian duvet. And maybe ex-Strikeforce champ Diaz doesn’t have the sprawl to prevent that from happening either. But regardless, after cleaning out Strikeforce and clobbering BJ Penn in the Octagon, the dude is worthy of a crack at St. Pierre, and it’s going to be fun watching him DESTROY the champ whenever their upcoming title bout is on the feet. That, plus Diaz’s cardio, superior jiu-jitsu, and overall villainous demeanor is going to make for one of the most compelling welterweight fights ever.
· Ronda Rousey – Let’s face it, without Gina Carano smiling coyly at the camera, women’s MMA barely has a pulse. Which is sad, because 145-pound champ Cris “Cyborg” Santos is a viable and deadly fighter who’s more than deserving of accolades. But now we’ve got Rousey to liven things up, and with her Olympic-caliber judo and penchant for amputating arms in under a minute, woo-wee, women’s MMA is going to be fun again. It’s going to be sweet watching Rousey crush Meisha Tate, and it’s going to be even sweeter watching her dismantle Cyborg bit by Brazilian bit.
· SpikeTV and Bellator – Nature hates a vacuum, and with the UFC ditching SpikeTV for the greener pastures of FOX, a gargantuan MMA void was created on a channel that had for years given us junkies a nice, hot fix. So hooray for Viacom (SpikeTV’s momma) buying a majority stake in Bellator. Bellator is now validated as the sport’s solid number two organization, and in a year we’ll supposedly be getting a bit more of that tournament goodness we’re currently enjoying on MTV2.
· Brazil – To borrow a term from the world of finance, Brazil is the next “emerging market” in MMA – and the simple fact that there is such a thing bodes well for the sport in general. Japan has dried up, the UK isn’t catching fire like it should, and there’s only so much love Canada and Australia can give. But Brazil… over ten percent of that country’s population tuned in to watch Junior dos Santos knock out Cain Velasquez. That’s enough to warrant more visits by the UFC and a TUF House erected on a beach in Sao Paulo. Yeah, pay-per-view numbers have been declining here the States. Don’t fret, though, because MMA isn’t doing anything but growing.
· Joe Warren vs. Alexis Vila – Thank you, Alexis Vila, for entering into Bellator’s bantamweight tournament and introducing the mouthy featherweight champ Joe Warren’s face to your fist. Sixty-four seconds was all it took to knock the American out, and now we’ve had a nice stretch of time where we’ve hadn’t had to hear Warren talk about how awesome he is.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, ’t, thing
Read the full article at MMA ConvertInjury to Costa shuffles Bellator 59; Held vs. Nover promoted to main card
An undisclosed injury has forced Wand Fight Team product Michael Costa to withdraw from a bout with Lyman Good at Saturday's Bellator 59.
Due to the last-minute nature of the withdrawal, Bellator officials have
elected to scratch the fight altogether. Promoted to main card is a
lightweight contest between Marcin Held and "The
Ultimate Fighter 8" finalist Phillipe Nover, who
makes his Bellator debut.
Bellator 59 takes place at Caesar's Atlantic City in Atlantic City, N.J.
Main-card action airs live on MTV2 while preliminary bouts stream on
Spike.com.
Posted in: bellator, city, lastminute nature, vs nover, bouts stream
Read the full article at MMA JunkieCosta Injured, Bout with Good Scratched from Bellator 59 Card
Michael Costa has suffered an injury and will be unable to compete at Bellator 59 on Saturday. As a result, the promotion has been forced to cancel the welterweight's planned bout against former divisional kingpin Lyman Good.
Posted in: bellator, bout, injury, costa, kingpin lyman
Read the full article at SherdogBellator Notebook: The Michael Chandler/Eddie Alvarez Classic, Season Finale Saturday
If you haven't yet seen it, everything you've heard about the Bellator Lightweight Championship fight between Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez from last Saturday's Bellator 58 is accurate: a top five Fight Of The Year Candidate and arguably the best fight in the promotion's 58-event history.
The first round was reminiscent of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II and III with the challenger having the champion on the ropes within the fight's first minute. Chandler almost finished the fight within 15 seconds and gained confidence throughout the round by finding a home for his right hand. Just as Alvarez looked to have things together near the end of the first five minutes, a Chandler right knocked Alvarez on his rear, bloodying up his mouth in the process.
Alvarez gained his composure in the second round, slowing the pace and stuffing two Chandler takedowns midway through. He really opened up in the third, destroying Chandler with his stand-up and bloodying him up badly. Chandler looked to strain a muscle at one point after a kick and stopped fighting, which gave Alvarez the opening he needed. The last three minutes were what a champion does when he's looking to finish and he nearly did. Chandler looked tired and completely out of it, but hung on to survive. Then, the fourth round came. Alvarez started the round like he did the third, chasing Chandler with combos. Chandler started getting his jab and right hand through and kept loosening up. With 2:30 to go, Chandler threw an overhand right that hurt Alvarez and he pounced with ground and pound. Alvarez gave him his back and quickly tapped to a rear-naked choke, completing the upset. Bellator now has another star at lightweight to promote in their new undefeated champion and a great fight in which he made his name known. The question is now what's next as there was no lightweight tournament this season and Chandler doesn't have his next challenge lined up. A rematch against Alvarez? CEO Bjorn Rebney doesn't seem to like the idea of non-tournament earned title shots, but this is a tough one to not go with. Then again, having Alvarez compete in the tournament and potentially make three TV appearances on the comeback trail is tempting as well.No matter what the decision is, Chandler/Alvarez was a fight to go out of your way to see. While Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua might have been the fight of the night Saturday, another candidate was nipping at its heels.
Season Finale
Bellator's 11-event season comes to a close Saturday at Bellator 59, unopposed in the MMA world for the first time since October 22nd, with the finals of their heavyweight and bantamweight tournaments and a UFC veteran making his comeback after supposedly retiring.135'ers Alexis Vila and Eduardo Dantas will do battle for the right to challenge Bantamweight Zach Makovsky in the expected co-main event. The undefeated Villa (11-0) knocked out Joe Warren and beat Marcos Galvao by split decision to get to the finals, while Dantas (12-2) knocked out Wilson Reis and beat Ed West by split decision to punch his ticket.
On the heavier side, Heavyweight Champion Cole Konrad will get his next challenger Saturday in either Thiago Santos or Eric Prindle. Santos (10-1) submitted Josh Burns in a tournament reserve bout and when he was officially placed in the tourney, he submitted Neil Grove. Prindle (7-1) beat Abe Wagner by unanimous decision and then knocked out Ron Sparks to make it to the finals.Former UFC lightweight Kurt Pellegrino returns from his short retirement and challenges Patricky Freire on the main card. Pellegrino (16-6) chose not to sign a new UFC deal and announced he was done after a split decision loss to Gleison Tibau this past March. The 32-year-old has lost two in a row after a four-fight winning streak. This will be the first action for Freire (9-2) since losing to Chandler earlier this year.
News & Notes
In all, Saturday's Bellator 58 featured three entertaining bouts in addition to Chandler/Alvarez. To no one's surprise, Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard knocked out Trevor Prangley in the second round to keep his 20-fight win streak alive. Here's hoping that Alexander Shlemenko can give him a real challenge when they face off in 2012...Marlon Sandro was hurt early but came back to submit Rafael Dias in the first round of a very fun fight.But the standout was Bellator's first televised women's fight of the season as Jessica Aguilar earned a close decision win over Lisa Ellis-Ward. It was mainly a stand-up affair and the crowd was into it the entire way for good reason: it was a fun fight to watch. I realize that Zoila Frausto-Gurgel was injured and taken out of a show earlier this season, but it took this long for a female fight to air?However, it was a little suspect when Bellator put up a graphic of their 115-pound women's rankings showing Megumi Fujii ranked first, Aguilar ranked second and Ward as third. Ward hadn't competed in any promotion in over a year and Fujii hasn't competed in Bellator since September 2010.
After two straight weeks at 7 PM EST, Saturday's event will run live on MTV2 at 9 PM EST with the prelims on Spike.com. Notable names competing include Karl Amoussou and Phillipe Nover.
SBN coverage of Bellator 59
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, chandler, alvarez
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC Veteran Maiquel Falcao Recovering From Heart Attack
Filed under: Bellator, NewsUFC 123 competitor Maiquel Falcao remains in intensive care at the Santa Casa de Pelotas hospital in Brazil after suffering a heart attack over the weekend, reports Tatame.
"Maiquel is still on the Intensive Care Unit and might stay there for few more days, when he'll go through a catheterization," Falcao's manager Marcelo Brigadeiro told TATAME on Wednesday. "He's lucid and improving fast."
Falcao competed last month in Brazil, beating Douglas del Rio via TKO in 75 seconds. A week later, Falcao officially joined the Bellator roster.
"Our sole focus and concern right now is for Maiquel and his family," Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney stated on Wednesday to MMAFighting.com. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family as they go through this ordeal."
Fighting out of Chute Boxe, Falcao holds an overall MMA record of 28-4, 23 wins by way of (T)KO. The 30-year-old middleweight went undefeated in his one fight with the UFC, but was released six months later due to legal problems brought on from a 2002 assault charge in Brazil. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: bellator, falcao, maiquel, heart attack, bellator roster
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 58: 269,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 58 held this past Saturday scored an average of 269,000 viewers. Bellator 58 tied for highest ratings this season and is an impressive number considering it went up against UFC 139.
Despite the competition from the UFC, Bellator ratings doubled from last week.
Via MMA Junkie:
An additional 160,000 viewers watched an immediate replay of Bellator 58, meaning a total of 429,000 viewers watched the event on fight night.
The company does not release viewership numbers for the preliminary streams, but a source close to the promotion said the figure was up 97 percent from the previous week’s total.
Payout Perspective:
Very good numbers for Bellator which were aided by Hector Lombard and the Chandler-Alvarez fight. The replay earned solid numbers likely from the social media buzz of the Chandler-Alvarez fight. The ratings could be a sign that Bellator can compete with the UFC. But, more likely, its a sign that the UFC promoted its Fox debut so much that 139 was an afterthought that did not get a lot of promotion. Based on the UFC on Fox’s numbers, the Bellator ratings increase for its stream and show are impressive but must be tempered considering how big the Fox debut was for UFC (and for Fox).
Posted in: ufc, bellator, fox debut, number, chandleralvarez fight
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBellator 58 Bounces Back with 269,000 Viewers on MTV2
Bellator Fighting Championships 58 earned an average of 269,000 viewers with its Saturday night broadcast on MTV2, more than doubling the previous week’s total of 129,000 viewers.
Posted in: bellator, week, viewer, mtv, week ’s
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 58 TV Ratings Rocket to Season High
Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler fueled Bellator 58 to season-high TV ratings for the promotion.
Posted in: bellator, michael chandler, eddie alvarez, rating, tv
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyVideo: Hector Lombard's second-round knockout at Bellator 58
This past weekend at Bellator 58, lightweights Michael Chandler and
Eddie Alvarez combined for a riveting contest many MMA pundits believe
is a "Fight of the Year" candidate.
But in another MTV2-televised main-card bout, Bellator middleweight
champion Hector Lombard also provided a few
highlights.
Now thanks to Bellator, a clip of Lombard's spectacular finish of longtime veteran Trevor Prangley is available for viewing.
Posted in: lombard, bellator, eddie alvarez, mma pundits, year candidate
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 58 ratings: Viewership doubles from previous week, draws 269,000 fans
Despite facing stiff opposition from a stacked UFC 139 card,
ratings for this past weekend's Bellator 58 event increased dramatically
from the previous week and scored 269,000 viewers on
MTV2.
The mark ties October's Bellator 52 card for the highest overall ratings of the company's current fifth season.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the ratings
information with an industry source, who also said the viewership peaked
with 345,000 viewers.
Posted in: bellator, ratings information, rating, viewer, industry source
Read the full article at MMA JunkieKarl Amoussou vs. Jesus Martinez among four Bellator 59 additions
The nine-bout lineup for Saturday's Bellator 59 event is complete with the addition of four preliminary-card contests.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the new contests with Bellator Fighting Championships officials.
The new additions to the card include LeVon Maynard vs. Chris Wing,
Karl Amoussou vs. Jesus Martinez, Scott Heckman vs. Brylan Van
Artsdalen and Gregory Milliard vs. Brandon Saling.
Posted in: bellator, addition, vs, ninebout lineup, championships officials
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBrian Foster Ready To Impact Bellator’s Welterweight Division
New Bellator welterweight Brian Foster details his medical release from the UFC and the damage he plans on doing in the Bellator welterweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, welterweight, division, impact, brian
Read the full article at Heavy MMAMichael Chandler Happy to Have Name Linked With Shogun Rua, Dan Henderson
Filed under: MMA Fighting Exclusive, Bellator, NewsYou couldn't blame new Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler if he had conflicting feelings about his Saturday night. On one hand, he emerged the victor in a Fight of the Year contender, capturing his first championship in the process. On the other, his thrilling win was quickly relegated to the background of a brilliant fight night when Dan Henderson and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua stole center stage in their UFC 139 main event spectacle.
But just nine fights into this career, the unbeaten Chandler has a realistic take on the issue, happy with having his name linked with those of the longtime legends.
"It's great to have my fight with Eddie compared to a fight with the hype and the outcome of Henderson- Rua," he said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "It's great just to be in the talk. I always want to be talked about like that. I always want to be talked about as a guy who goes out, lays it on the line and puts on a great show. This wont be the last time people talk about my fights and how exciting they are. I've got a long career ahead of me. I'm glad the MMA world got to witness two great fights the same night."
Both bouts have quickly gained critical acclaim, but of the four fighters who competed in them, Chandler was by far the least known. A former collegiate wrestling All-American at the University of Missouri, he only began his pro fighting career in 2009, and entered the Bellator lightweight tournament in 2011, always with the belief that he would capture the belt.
Against Alvarez, he was more than a 2-to-1 underdog.
"That's the just confidence that I bring going into any fight," he said. "I don't care if it was Eddie or any of the other top lightweights in the world. I was going to have that confidence going in and feel that I could've beaten anybody. That's the confidence I bring."
Chandler almost got his win within the first 30 seconds, dropping Alvarez with a right hook against the cage just 13 seconds into the bout. But Alvarez persisted on and the match became a dogfight, with momentum shifting back and forth between them and neither able to take control.
In hindsight, Chandler says he's happy the fight wasn't stopped at that point since it led to an epic encounter. He also says that given Alvarez's past history of being dropped early in fights and coming back to win that he was nowhere closer to actually winning.
"He's a great competitor," he said "I knew I was going to have to try to finish the fight hard to finish him. I ended up finishing in the fourth, but he definitely recovered well and had a good next two rounds [after the first]."
As for where he stands now in the lightweight picture, Chandler isn't quite sure. He says that he does not follow the sport much and pays little attention to rankings. But he adds that Alvarez earned his top five ranking over the years, and that he doesn't expect to usurp Alvarez's spot just because he beat him. While he's happy to hold the title, he wants to work his way to a level where he can no longer be denied.
"I know that I'm the best myself because I know how hard I work and of course I see that everyday, but I definitely have not earned it," he said. "I don't even want people to consider me that yet until I go out there and beat the guys that I need to beat."
As for what's next for him, Chandler may wait for the next season's lightweight tourney to play out, or he could participate in a non-title fight. On that, he'll wait for direction from the Bellator brass. Until then, he'll continue controlling what only he can.
"I signed with Bellator for one reason, to win the world title," he said. "Now I have another goal, to defend it and just continue to get better." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, bellator, chandler, alvarez, i need
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBloodied and battered, Bellator champ Chandler relied on Martinez for focus
Sitting on the stool after the third round of his fight with Eddie
Alvarez, Bellator lightweight Michael Chandler was in a bad way.
He had gone after the win in the most vicious manner possible, dropping
Alvarez in the first 20 seconds of the fight and then again later in the
round, and still the Bellator champ was staring across from him on an
opposing stool.
He had prepared for this moment, but maybe not for its reality.
Posted in: bellator, champ, michael chandler, bellator champ, stool
Read the full article at MMA JunkieFree Fight: Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez, Bellator 58
Bellator has released the full video of the incredible fight between new Bellator lightweight champ Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez.
Posted in: fight, bellator, alvarez, michael, eddie
Read the full article at Heavy MMABellator also struck with a dose of teh awesome
The Gods of MMA smiled down upon us this weekend - it was a great three days of human cockfighting from start to finish. What kind of world are we living in where the Fedor fight is the most meh fight of the weekend??? Above is the Eddie Alvarez vs Michael Chandler fight from Saturday's Bellator event. Lemme just say it holds up even against the Dan Henderson / Shogun Rua fight.
Posted in: fight, bellator, weekend, fedor fight, meh fight
Read the full article at FightlinkerEddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler Bellator 58 Fight Video
Filed under: BellatorAfter producing what is likely the best fight in its promotional history, Bellator has made Bellator 58's Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler fight video available.
Alvarez (22-3) came into the fight riding a seven-fight win streak and needing a victory to set up a long-awaited rematch with Shinya Aoki, the last man to defeat him. Chandler (9-0) is a 25-year-old upstart who was a decisive underdog. The lightweight title fight ended up as a rollicking explosion of momentum shifts and dramatic action that produced a new champion and earned immediate praise as a Fight of the Year contender.
The full fight video is below.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, bellator, video, chandler, alvarez
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChandler stuns Alvarez to win Bellator title
Undefeated lightweight Michael Chandler stunned champion Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 58 with a fourth-round submission victory on Saturday.
Posted in: bellator, chandler, alvarez, michael chandler, bellator title
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator makes Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez available for online viewing
As if the fight itself wasn’t incredible enough, Bellator FC has gone the extra mile by releasing last night’s title-fight between Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler through the organization’s YouTube page meaning fans can either enjoy the epic encounter a second time or watch one of the year’s best battles unfold if they were unable to catch the live broadcast on Saturday.
Chandler ultimately went on to win the fight (and Bellator’s lightweight belt) after Alvarez recovered from two near-knockouts in the bout’s opening round to have Chandler on his heels until a late surge resulted in an evening-ending sequence after Chandler rocked Alvarez, then took him down and locked in a Rear-Naked Choke.
“Eddie’s the man,” said Chandler of the fight. “I don’t know that we could do a better fight than that. He brought it to me the whole time.”
As entertaining a match-up as you’re likely to see in 2011, Alvarez vs. Chandler can be found below:
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: fight, bellator, chandler, alvarez, eveningending sequence
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainMichael Chandler becomes Bellator lightweight champion after epic encounter with Eddie Alvarez
Though the world may be talking this morning about the classic between Mauricio Rua and Dan Henderson last night at UFC 139, another fight for the ages unfolded hours before either light heavyweight stepped into the Octagon in the form of Michael Chandler’s title-winning performance against “Top 3” lightweight Eddie Alvarez.
Chandler’s Coach Talks Fighter’s Continued Evolution
Chandler and Alvarez went at it for the better part of four rounds with both men appearing to be on the cusp of defeat with Alvarez getting rocked early, then coming back in the second and third rounds to put Chandler on his heels entering what would be the fight’s final frame. However, after digging deep, the undefeated grappler hurt Alvarez with a combination, then shot in to take him down and advance position. After Alvarez turned over in an attempt to escape the ensuing mount, Chandler secured the Rear-Naked Choke to maintain his unbeaten record (9-0) and walked away as the Bellator’s new 155-pound champion.
“Chandler vs. Alvarez was quite simply the best mixed martial arts fight I have ever seen,” said Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney of the match-up. “After having watched over 1000 fights since the early 1990’s, I’ve never seen a better back and forth battle. Chandler’s win over Alvarez is a win over a fighter who I believed was the best lightweight in the world, while at the same time is a testament to what Bellator is all about.”
Now, in as fan-friendly a move as MMA enthusiasts could hope for, Bellator has made the complete fight available for viewing online. Check it out below (full results under the video):
Here is a complete rundown of Bellator 58 results:
Fabio Mello def. Farkhad Sharipov via Unanimous Decision
Herbert Goodman def. Jonas Billstein via DQ (Soccer Kick to Downed Opponent)
Cosmo Alexandre def. Avery McPhatter via Knockout Round 1 (Knees)
Valdir Araujo def. Ailton Barbosa via Unanimous Decision
Brett Cooper def. Jared Hess via Unanimous Decision
Marlon Sandro def. Rafael Dias via Submission Round 1 (Arm-Triangle Choke)
Jessica Aguilar def. Lisa Ellis-Ward via Unanimous Decision
Hector Lombard def. Trevor Prangley via TKO Round 2 (Strikes)
Michael Chandler def. Eddie Alvarez via Submission Round 4 (Rear-Naked Choke)
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: fight, bellator, round, chandler, alvarez
Read the full article at Fighters.comVideo: Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chadler Full Fight from Bellator 58
UFC 139′s Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua wasn’t the only “Fight of the Year” contender on Saturday night, as Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and challenger Michael Chadler delivered their own instant classic at Bellator 58.
Bellator has released the complete Alvarez vs. Chadler fight video, which can be watched below:
Posted in: fight, bellator, saturday night, vs, chadler
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyVideo: Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez full fight at Bellator 58
The already-legendary UFC 139 headliner between Dan Henderson and
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua was just one of two stellar bouts on Saturday
night.
A few hours before the UFC's barnburner, Bellator had one of its own
when lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez took on recent tourney winner
Michael Chandler in a five-round title fight.
Now, Bellator has made the full fight available for online viewing.
Posted in: fight, bellator, saturday night, dan henderson, eddie
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 58: Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler Fight Video
Bellator deserves credit for fully embracing using the internet to build their brand. Their YouTube account has been the place to go for their great "Bellator Moments" which highlight amazing finishes. Those moments have been somewhat common since the first season saw amazing knockouts and reverse triangle choke wins.
Last night Eddie Alvarez defended his lightweight title against Michael Chandler and the fight was so good that the entire thing deserved to be considered the "moment." Bellator agreed and put up the full fight.
This is must-watch stuff:
For all the love we gave UFC 139's main event between Dan Henderson and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, this is every bit as good of a fight and one that we should all be talking about for a long time.
Again, massive credit to Bellator for not hiding their fights away but making sure that they get out there for as many people to see as possible.
SBN coverage of Bellator 58
Posted in: fight, bellator, moment, youtube account, bellator moments
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 58 Results: Chandler and Alvarez Have Fight for the Ages
Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez did their part to give Bellator Fighting Championships their own personal Griffin vs. Bonnar on Saturday night.
Posted in: bellator, chandler, alvarez, saturday, eddie alvarez
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 58: Eddie Alvarez vs Michael Chandler FULL FIGHT (video)
Courtesy of the Bellator YouTube channel, this isn't just a Bellator moment, it's a Bellator EVENT. The promotion was so pumped about the incredible lightweight title fight between champion Eddie Alvarez and challenger Michael Chandler last night (November 19, 2011) in Hollywood, Florida that they decided to post the entire championship bout online to the fans for free.
All that's required of you, the fan, is that you sit back, relax and enjoy one of the best fights of the year. It may have been overshadowed by Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua last night, but if you want to see that one again, it'll likely cost you.
Pretty ingenious marketing if I say so myself. For those of you that are impatient, the fight begins at the 2:00 mark.
For full results and live play-by-play of Bellator 58 click here and for immediate post-fight reaction of this thrilling match, click here.
Posted in: fight, bellator, championship bout, bellator event, postfight reaction
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 58 results: Chandler blasts Alvarez in thriller to earn lightweight crown
If you didn't see it, you missed one of the best fights of 2011.
Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez put together more than 18 minutes' worth of back-and-forth action that left no fan still sitting in his seat.
When it was all said and done, a bloodied and swollen Chandler had earned the right to be called the new Bellator lightweight champion.
Posted in: bellator, chandler, alvarez, eddie alvarez, backandforth action
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMichael Chandler submits Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez in 'Fight of the Year' candidate
If you missed it, you'll be kicking yourself -- hard.
Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and season four tournament winner Michael Chandler traded bombs for four straight rounds, rocking each other repeatedly, recovering, scoring takedowns and scrambling on the ground.
It was wild, it was dramatic, it might have been the best fight of 2011.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney called it, "The best fight I've ever seen," and he might have been correct.
Alvarez got leveled in the first round when Chandler landed one of his first power punches, rocking him and swarming him along the fence. He recovered, but only long enough to get saved by the bell after getting blasted once more at the end of the round.
Training out of Xtreme Couture, thoughts of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard may have crept into Chandler's mind after his pace slowed dramatically in rounds two and three, especially when Alvarez laid into him with huge flurries of strikes in a blowout third round.
With the cage and both men's shorts stained with blood and sweat, Chandler came out furiously again in round four, the first time he'd ever entered a championship round in his young eight fight career.
After hurting Alvarez again, Chandler advanced to mount, took his back and sunk in a rear naked choke to force that tap as the crowd went wild.
Now, at just 9-0, the former Missouri All-American wrestler, Chandler, stands atop the Bellator lightweight division. After a fight like that, he could be reigning for a long, long time.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Did you get a chance to see this incredible fight live? Was it one of 2011's finest fights?
Speak up!
For full results and live play-by-play of Bellator 58, click here.
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, chandler, alvarez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAlvarez shell-shocked as Bellator belt changes hands
Eddie Alvarez was not the only person left shell-shocked and stunned after the Bellator lightweight title changed hands on Saturday night.Undefeated challenger...
Posted in: bellator, title, alvarez, hand, nightundefeated
Read the full article at Fighters OnlySandro Taps Dias, Cooper Outlasts Hess in Undercard War at Bellator 58
Emotional and frustrated following his August knockout loss to Pat Curran, Brazilian featherweight standout Marlon Sandro channeled his aggression for the better, as he earned a first-round submission over fellow countryman Rafael Dias Saturday night on the undercard of Bellator 58 in Hollywood, Fla.
Posted in: bellator, knockout loss, sandro, undercard war, dia
Read the full article at SherdogLive Bellator 58 Undercard Stream Featuring Brett Cooper vs. Jared Hess
Bloody Elbow is thrilled to be able to provide our readers with a way to watch the Bellator 58 prelims right here on your browser. This is actually a very good undercard for Bellator with a tremendous fight between Brett Cooper and Jared Hess headlining the action. The stream kicks off at 5 p.m. ET.
Full Card:MIDDLEWEIGHT FEATUREBrett Cooper (15-7) vs Jared Hess (11-3-1)
WELTERWEIGHT FEATUREValdir Araujo (8-3) vs Ailton Barbosa (10-2)
LIGHTWEIGHT FEATUREAvery McPhatter (2-2) vs Cosmo Alexander (0-1)
MIDDLEWEIGHT FEATUREHerbert Goodman (18-11) vs Jonas Billstein (9-1)
BANTAMWEIGHT FEATUREFarkhad Sharipov (13-4) vs. Fabio Mello (8-6)
The live video stream can be seen after the jump, so check the fights out and share your thoughts as the action goes down.
Afterward stick around for the main show on MTV 2 as Eddie Alvarez defends his lightweight title against Michael Chandler or take part in our discussion of the UFC 139 event.
SBN coverage of Bellator 58
Live video:
Bellator Prelims Live StreamGet More: Bellator Prelims Live Stream
ajlrea
Posted in: bellator, vs, stream, prelim, bellator prelims
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 58 Live Results and Play-by-Play
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results and commentary from Bellator 58. Our live blog will begin with the start of the MTV2 broadcast (7 p.m. EST) so be sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
Tonight brings us a title fight in the lightweight division. Bellator champ Eddie Alvarez will be facing tournament winner Michael Chandler to determine who will take home the lightweight belt. Chandler defeated Patricky Freire in the tournament final at Bellator 44 to become the latest challenger to try to take the title from Alvarez. Alvarez has held the belt since the first 155 tournament in 2009, but this will be only his second title defense.
Also on the televised card tonight are two feature fights: middleweight champ Hector Lombard will face Trevor Prangley in a non-title catchweight bout, and a featherweight contest between Marlon Sandro and Rafael Dias.
Remember, the action starts at 7 p.m. EST tonight, so join us then!
SBN coverage of Bellator 58
Posted in: bellator, title, tournament, marlon sandro, beltnbsp chandler
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 58 Live Results
The UFC may be offering up an event tonight with former champions adorning the main card but Bellator is back this week with a lineup featuring two of the promotion’s current title-holders including one with his gold on the line.
Coming to fans live from Hollywood, Florida, Bellator 58 is highlighted by lightweight ace Eddie Alvarez putting his gold up for grabs against undefeated tournament winner Michael Chandler. Also scheduled to scrap on the card, explosive 185-pound champ Hector Lombard will take on seasoned veteran Trevor Prangley in a co-headlining clash.
Things start at 5:00 PM EST with preliminary bouts streaming through Spike.com with the primary pairings going down on MTV2/EPIX two hours later to avoid conflicting with the PPV portion of UFC 139.
Read below for full Bellator 58 results:
Farkhad Sharipov vs. Fabio Mello
Ailton Barbosa vs. Valdir Araujo
Jonas Billstein vs. Reggie Pena
Cosmo Alexandre vs. Avery McPhatter
Jared Hess vs. Brett Cooper
Jessica Aguilar vs. Lisa Ellis-Ward
Marlon Sandro vs. Rafael Dias
Hector Lombard vs. Trevor Prangley
Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, vs, gold, ppv portion, champions adorning
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChandler Taps Alvarez in Classic, Lombard KO's Prangley at Bellator 58
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- In a serious frontrunner for “Fight of the Year,” former Mizzou wrestling standout Michael Chandler upset Eddie Alvarez for the Bellator lightweight championship in an electifying four-round battle inside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., in the headliner of Bellator 58.
Posted in: bellator, rock hotel, “ fight, hollywood fla, year ”
Read the full article at SherdogMichael Chandler Submits Eddie Alvarez, Wins Bellator Belt
Filed under: BellatorIn a shocking upset to end a sensational fight, Michael Chandler submitted Eddie Alvarez with a fourth-round rear-naked choke, winning the Bellator Fighting Championships lightweight title.
Chandler was largely unknown when he entered this year's Bellator lightweight tournament, but everyone who follows MMA needs to know his name now. With the victory he improved to 9-0 in his pro career, and he looked amazing doing it. Chandler is for real.
The first 30 seconds of the fight were crazy, with Chandler leveling Alvarez and battering him so hard that referee Troy Waugh looked like he was about to step in and stop it. But Alvarez fought back, hit Chandler with a hard punch of his own that curtailed the barrage, and managed to regroup. For most of the rest of the first Alvarez was actually getting the better end of the striking exchanges, but in the final seconds of the first Chandler again knocked Alvarez down, and only the bell stopped Chandler from pouncing on Alvarez.
In the second round Alvarez got more under control and more precise with his punches, and Chandler appeared to be tiring. Alvarez still appeared to be feeling the effects of the assault from the first round, but he connected with some good shots and probably deserved to win the round.
In the third round Alvarez really went on the attack, landing a hard body shot and a head kick against the cage that had Chandler hurt, and then picking his shots and pounding away at Chandler, as all Chandler could do was try to hold on. By the end of the round both men's faces were covered in blood.
At the start of the fourth round both men looked exhausted, and Alvarez appeared to have the upper hand and the ability to ride out a decision. But Chandler shockingly landed a huge punch that floored Alvarez once again, and this time he jumped on top of Alvarez, got into full mount, battered away and then took Alvarez's back. From there Chandler sunk in a rear-naked choke, and Alvarez tapped out.
This was a great fight, a Fight of the Year candidate. And Chandler is a great champion.
In other Bellator action:
Hector Lombard landed a huge left hook to Trevor Prangley's jaw early in the second round, then teed off on him on the ground before the referee (too slowly) stepped in to stop it. The TKO victory was Lombard's 20th win in a row.
Marlon Sandro survived an early knockdown from Rafael Dias to come back and win by first-round submission, sinking in a head-and-arm choke standing up and then taking Dias down without breaking the choke to finish the fight. It was a typically impressive showing from Sandro.
Jessica Aguilar beat Lisa Ellis-Ward, 30-27 on all three judges' scorecards in a very good performance, and afterward she asked Bellator promoter Bjorn Rebney to book her a fight with Megumi Fujii. That would be a great fight, and a fight Bellator should book in 2012. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, chandler, alvarez
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 58 Prelims Live
Filed under: BellatorThe Bellator 58 prelims are live from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., this evening and you can watch it live here on MMA Fighting.
Lisa Ward-Ellis vs. Jessica Aguilar, Brett Cooper vs. Jared Hess, Valdir Araujovs vs. Ailton Barbosa, Avery McPhatter vs. Cosmo Alexander, Herbert Goodman vs. Jonas Billstein and Farkhad Sharipov vs. Fabio Mello are the matches featured on tonight's undercard which starts at 5 p.m. ET.
You can catch the preview show live starting at 3 p.m. ET. Check out all the action after the jump.
Bellator Prelims Live Stream
Get More: Bellator Prelims Live Stream
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: bellator, vs, preview show, rock hotel, prelim
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 58 results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Alvarez vs Chandler' TONIGHT (Nov. 19) on MTV2
Bellator Fighting Championships returns TONIGHT (Nov. 19, 2011) to the The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., with a lightweight title bout and a pair of non-title bouts that should deliver some highlights.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 58 below, beginning with the MTV2 telecast at 7 p.m. ET. In addition, we'll deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the undercard action much earlier in the evening.
Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, will look to defend his title for the second time. He'll square off against Bellator season four tournament winner, Michael Chandler, who earned a shot at the title earlier this year.
Also on the card, Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard will compete in a 195-pound catchweight fight against former UFC and Strikeforce competitor Trevor Prangley. Lombard will hope to score his fourth highlight reel stoppage in as many non-title bouts since becoming champ.
Lastly, former Sengoku featherweight champion and Bellator summer series tournament finalist Marlon Sandro will look to get back on track against WEC veteran and fellow Brazilian Rafael Diaz.
Complete Bellator 58 results and play-by-play are after the jump:
Main Card (MTV2)
155 lb. title: Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler 195 lbs.: Hector Lombard vs. Trevor Prangley 115 lbs.: Lisa Ward-Ellis vs. Jessica Aguilar155 lbs.: Marlon Sandro vs. Rafael Dias
Undercard (Spike.com)
185 lbs.: Brett Cooper vs. Jared Hess 170 lbs.: Ailton Barbosa vs. Valdir Araujo 155 lbs.: Cosmo Alexander vs. Avery McPhatter185 lbs.: Herbert Goodman vs. Jonas Billstein 135 lbs.: Farkhad Sharipov vs. Fabio Mello
155 lb. title: Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Round four:
Round five:
Final Result:
-end-
195 lbs.: Hector Lombard vs. Trevor Prangley
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
115 lbs.: Lisa Ward-Ellis vs. Jessica Aguilar
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
155 lbs.: Marlon Sandro vs. Rafael Dias
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
Posted in: bellator, title, round, vs, lb
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 58 Live Results and Play-by-Play (7 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 58, headlined by Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez defending his title against unbeaten challenger Michael Chandler
Posted in: bellator, result, pm, rock hotel, hollywood fla
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 58 Live Results and Play-by-Play (7 ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 58, headlined by Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez defending his title against unbeaten challenger Michael Chandler
Posted in: bellator, result, rock hotel, playbyplay, hollywood fla
Read the full article at SherdogAlvarez weighs in for Bellator title bout
Top-ranked lightweight Eddie Alvarez is set to put his Bellator belt and seven-fight win streak on the line Saturday against Michael Chandler.
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, eddie alvarez, bellator belt, line saturday
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator 58 Weigh-In Results
Bellator 58 is officially a go with lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and challenger Michael Chandler making weight on Friday.
Posted in: bellator, champion, michael, weight, friday
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 58 Weigh-In Results
The Bellator 58 weigh-ins took place earlier this evening in Hollywood, Florida.
Jessica Aguilar and Cosmo Alexander both missed weight.
Bellator 58 will feature a lightweight championship fight between Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler and a 195 lbs. non-title fight between Hector Lombard and Trevor Prangley.
The weigh-in results:
Eddie Alvarez (154) vs. Michael Chandler (154.5)
Hector Lombard (193) vs. Trevor Prangley (194.75)
Jessica Aguilar (117.5) vs. Lisa Ellis-Ward (114)
Rafael Dias (145.75) vs. Marlon Sandro (145.5)
Brett Cooper (185.5) vs. Jared Hess (185.5)
Valdir Araujo (169.75) vs. Ailton Barbosa (170.5)
Cosmo Alexander (157.25) vs. Avery McPhatter (156)
Jonas Billstein (185.5) vs. Herbert “Whisper” Goodman (185.5)
Fabio Mello (135.5) vs. Farkhad Sharipov (135.75)
Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit.
Bellator 58 takes place tomorrow night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida and will air live on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, vs, weighin, nontitle fights, hollywood florida
Read the full article at MMA ConvertAlvarez, Chandler Hit Marks for Bellator 58 Lightweight Title Tilt
Eddie Alvarez's second title defense is now official, as the reigning Bellator Fighting Championships 155-pound kingpin and challenger Michael Chandler both hit their contracted weights at Friday's Bellator 58 weigh-ins.
Posted in: bellator, title, alvarez, title defense, alvarez chandler
Read the full article at SherdogVoters give Jessica Aguilar vs. Lisa Ellis-Ward spot on Bellator 58 main card
Let's hear it for the ladies.
A 115-pound women's bout between season-four tournament veterans Jessica Aguilar and Lisa Ellis-Ward has been promoted to the main card of Bellator 58, which take place Saturday at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
Fans today gave the women 60 percent of the vote when Bellator put the final main-card spot up for grabs via Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney's Twitter account.
Posted in: bellator, place saturday, rock hotel, lisa ellisward, maincard spot
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 58 weigh-in results: Champ Alvarez, challenger Chandler on weight
Official Bellator 58 weigh-ins took place today, and all but one main-card fighter successfully made weight on a first attempt.
Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and fellow headliner Michael Chandler were among those successfully weighing in.
Paradise Live inside Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., played host to today's weigh-ins. The Hard Rock also hosts Saturday's event.
Posted in: bellator, rock hotel, place today, weighin, todays weighins
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWatch Bellator 58 Prelims Live on MMAWeekly.com!
Watch the Saturday, Nov. 19, Bellator 58 preliminary bouts streaming LIVE on MMAWeekly.com beginning at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT, courtesy of Viacom and Bellator.
Posted in: bellator, bout, pm, pt, mmaweeklycom
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 58 predictions and preview for 'Alvarez vs Chandler' on Nov. 19 in Hollywood, Florida
Bellator Fighting Championships will head to the "Sunshine State" this Saturday night (November 19, 2011) at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, live on MTV2.
The main card will air live on the basic cable network, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
Bellator 58 features two champions who are competing on the same card. Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, will be looking to defend his title against Bellator season four tournament winner Michael Chandler, who's undefeated in his young career.
The other, Hector Lombard, will be competing in a 195 pound "superfight" against former UFC and Strikeforce competitor Trevor Prangley. Lombard will be looking to go 4-0 in Bellator non-title fights and 8-0 in the promotion overall.
Lastly, former Sengoku featherweight champion and Bellator summer series tournament finalist Marlon Sandro will look to get back on track against WEC veteran and fellow Brazilian Rafael Diaz.
Our complete Bellator 58 preview and predictions after the jump:
155 lb. title: Eddie Alvarez (22-2) vs. Michael Chandler (8-0)
Eddie Alvarez has a spotless record in Bellator, winning the inaugural tournament, defending his title against Pat Curran and also going 2-0 in non-title bouts against UFC veterans Roger Huerta and Josh Neer. Alvarez trains out of Philadelphia Fight Factory alongside fellow Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky and he's a regular sparring partner with UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Needless to say, as a top five ranked lightweight fighter in the world, he should be ready for what Michael Chandler brings on Saturday night.
Michael Chandler holds a spotless record in his entire career and he ran through a gauntlet of top prospects in the Bellator season four lightweight tournament which included a finish of tough European submission specialist Marcin Held and decision victories over formerly undefeated Lloyd Woodard and the incredibly dangerous Patricky Freire in the finals.
Footwork and speed will be key for Alvarez, who likely will want to keep this fight standing where he can work his crisp boxing. The champion is very dangerous with his striking as he seems to throw everything into his punches and he mixes up his attacks well by repeatedly going to the body. He's dangerous with looping hooks, uppercuts and those body shots, all of which have the potential to drop an opponent.
Michael Chandler was an All-American wrestler at Missouri and he'll need all of that skill to score some takedowns against Alvarez. He's young, confident and upset-minded. Training out of Xtreme Couture, he's quickly been adding more tools to his game in his brief mixed martial arts career thus far and he's going to be dangerous if he can put Alvarez on his back. The Bellator champion was taken down in both of his last two fights so that's not a crazy idea to think that Chandler can do it too. Chandler likely can't bullrush him early though, which means he'll have to stand and trade a bit to set up his takedowns which will be dangerous.
In my opinion, Chandler has the tools to beat Alvarez, but this match-up is taking place a little early in his career. I wouldn't be floored if he pulled off the upset, but this is a fight that Alvarez should win at this point.
Prediction: Eddie Alvarez via TKO in round three
185 lbs.: Hector Lombard (30-2-1) vs. Trevor Prangley (23-8-1)
Hector Lombard has been a human highlight reel while competing for Bellator. He's destroyed everyone put in his path with the only fighter making it to the judges being recent middleweight season five tournament winner Alexander Shlemenko. He's competing in another non-title superfight and thus far, the three previous "superfights" have ended with a wild clip of Lombard destroying his opponent on YouTube.
Trevor Prangley was once a pretty good prospect, but at 39 years old, it appears that time has finally caught up to him. He enters this fight having lost three of his past four bouts, all by stoppage including a nasty first round knockout loss to Tatsuya Mizuno at the Dream GP Final earlier this summer.
This fight will be held at 195 pounds, and being the bigger man will likely be the only advantage for Prangley heading in. If he can survive the first few minutes where Lombard will be looking to take his head off, he might be able to draw it to the judges, but prospects are not good for him. Lombard is faster, younger, stronger and incredibly more powerful. He'll likely be putting Prangley to sleep.
Prediction: Hector Lombard via knockout in round one
155 lbs.: Marlon Sandro (19-3) vs. Rafael Dias (15-8-2)
Marlon Sandro is widely regarded as having some of the heaviest hands in the featherweight division. His knockouts while becoming the Sengoku 145 pound champion are some all-time greats, flooring the likes of Masanori Kanehara and Nick Denis while competing in Japan. He advanced to the Bellator "Summer Series" tournament finals and was on his way to capturing the tournament and earning a title shot before he was caught with a head kick from Pat Curran.
His opponent, Rafael Dias, is pretty much being served up to him on a silver platter. Dias has lost his last three bouts and hasn't fought in over a year. His only saving grace is that all three men who recently beat him are pretty solid featherweights. Dias trains out of American Top Team so he'll put up a decent fight but I expect Sandro to overwhelm him with his brutal uppercut at some point.
Prediction: Marlon Sandro via TKO in round two
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Will Eddie Alvarez be able to defend his belt against the young and hungry Michael Chandler? Do you expect any crazy highlight reel-worthy finishes on this card?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, lombard, bellator, chandler, alvarez
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 58: Alvarez vs. Chandler weigh-in results
Bellator 58 will take place on Saturday from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL. The main event of the evening will see Eddie Alvarez defend his lightweight title against Michael Chandler, who earned his shot at Alvarez by defeating Patricky Freire.
Also appearing on the card will be Bellator Middleweight champion Hector Lombard who will face Trevor Prangley in a non-title catchweight bout.
The main card of the Bellator fight will be broadcast on MTV2, while the preliminary card
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, card, trevor prangley, bellator fight
Read the full article at Low KickMichael Chandler Ready To Stun The World And Win Bellator Belt
Bellator lightweight Michael Chandler talks to Duane Finley about challenging Eddie Alvarez for the Bellator lightweight title at Bellator 58.
Posted in: bellator, michael, michael chandler, eddie alvarez, duane finley
Read the full article at Heavy MMABellator 58 weigh in results LIVE from Hollywood for 'Alvarez vs Chandler'
The official weigh-in event for Bellator 58's Saturday evening fight card takes place today (November 18, 2011) at Paradise Live, inside The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Bellator 58 features two of the promotion's champions who are competing on the card. One, Eddie Alvarez, will be looking to defend his lightweight title for the second time against Bellator season four tournament winner Michael Chandler, who earned a shot at the title earlier this year.
The other, Hector Lombard, will be competing in a 195 pound "superfight" against former UFC and Strikeforce competitor Trevor Prangley. Lombard will be showcasing his talents in his fourth Bellator non-title fight just one week after middleweight Alexander Shlemenko won the season five tournament to earn another crack at his title.
Lastly, former Sengoku featherweight champion and Bellator summer series tournament finalist Marlon Sandro will look to get back on track against WEC veteran and fellow Brazilian Rafael Diaz.
Complete Bellator 58 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
155 lb. title: Eddie Alvarez (22-2) vs. Michael Chandler (8-0)185 lbs.: Hector Lombard (30-2-1) vs. Trevor Prangley (23-8-1)155 lbs.: Marlon Sandro (19-3) vs. Rafael Dias (15-8-2) Undercard
155 lbs.: Lisa Ward-Ellis (14-6) vs. Jessica Aguilar (11-4)185 lbs.: Brett Cooper (15-7) vs. Jared Hess (11-3-1) 170 lbs.: Ailton Barbosa (10-2) vs. Valdir Araujo (8-3)155 lbs.: Cosmo Alexander (0-1) vs. Avery McPhatter (2-2)185 lbs.: Herbert Goodman (18-11) vs. Jonas Billstein (9-1)135 lbs.: Farkhad Sharipov (13-4) vs. Fabio Mello (8-6)
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 58, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 7 p.m. ET tomorrow night (November 12).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: bellator, vs, tournament, lb, card
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWatch today's Bellator 58 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 5 p.m. ET
Paradise Live inside The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., plays host
to today's official Bellator 58 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a live video stream of the
proceedings at 5 p.m. ET.
The same property plays host to Saturday's event, which airs on MTV2 and
features Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez defending his belt against top contender Michael Chandler.
In addition to the live weigh-ins and pre-fight press conference, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, rock hotel, text results, weighin, saturdays event
Read the full article at MMA JunkieFear Drives Bellator’s Alvarez to Championship Heights
Nothing motivates a competitor quite like the fear of failure, especially someone as successful as Bellator Fighting Championships lightweight titleholder Eddie Alvarez
Posted in: bellator, championship, alvarez, competitor, fear
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 58 weigh in results
All fighters were on weight at the official Bellator 58 weigh-ins, which took place in Hollywood, Florida ahead of Saturday night’s event. The headline...
Posted in: bellator, fighter, headline, weight, hollywood florida
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBellator 58: Jessica Aguilar Talks MMA Beginnings, Family, and Bellator
Jessica Aguilar is currently ranked as the #2 115 pound female in the world. She is also a veteran of the Bellator tournaments and fights this Saturday against Lisa Ward at Bellator 58. This also happens to be a rematch from her first professional fight. She's on twitter on @JAGATT and her website JessicaAguilar.com.
Matthew Roth (BloodyElbow.com) - You're training at ATT, how did you come about training in MMA?
Jessica Aguilar - Well, I started about five and a half years ago. I moved to South Florida to pursue my acting career and I joined a boxing gym that was near where I lived and I fell into the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class by accident. I started training that and in my second month I went to another tournament, which was an American Top Team tournament, they were looking for a replacement for Erica Montoya because Erica was supposed to fight Lisa War on February 19th of 2006 and they asked me if I wanted to fight. I didn't know what Mixed Martial Arts was, I had never seen a UFC, I was just barely getting to know Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and I took the fight with five days. I went to training and I fought Lisa Ward. I lost to her.
Matthew Roth (BloodyElbow.com) - So how did that fight go?
Jessica Aguilar - It was fight of the night. I did lose with three seconds left. It was an exciting fight but I didn't know anything. I didn't know how to defend an arm bar. I didn't know how to defend a rear naked choke. I didn't know anything. For me, it was a good fight because I had no experience. She had four or five professional fights at the time. It became fight of the night. I'm a different fighter now, I've been training now for five and a half years so it'll be an exciting fight.
Matthew Roth (BloodyElbow.com) - You're actually known for your BJJ. You've won both gi and no-gi at I believe that 2010 World, is that correct?
Jessica Aguilar - I won my first gold medal for the US grappling team against Tara Larosa and then I went to Polad to win two gold medals for the US team with gi and no-gi in 2010.
Matthew Roth (BloodyElbow.com) - So you really do feel more comfortable on the ground. Are you more of a guard player or do you play top game more?
Jessica Aguilar - I'm comfortable anywhere.
Matthew Roth (BloodyElbow.com) - So for a while, it was rumored that your family had no idea that you were a MMA fighter, is that correct?
Jessica Aguilar - I told my mom this past December so she knows. She's okay with it now and is supportive. She just wants me to be happy and safe.
Matthew Roth (BloodyElbow.com) - So what kind of reaction did she have when you broke that news to her?
Jessica Aguilar - Well, it's in my culture. This is a guy's sport. I'm her only daughter so she didn't take it very well. But after explaining to her that this is a different world now. It's a different era and she has to understand. Now she's supportive like I said and she's rooting for me this Saturday.
Matthew Roth (BloodyElbow.com) - Now this Saturday you are fighting Lisa Ward, it is a rematch and you have made massive improvements. How do you see this fight playing out?
Jessica Aguilar - Well this is a totally different fight. When I fought her for the first time I had five days of training. Now I have five and a half years and I have a lot more experience under my belt. It's gonna be an exciting fight. We have a similar style of grappling. She's a wrestler but we have a similar style of grappling. So it's gonna be exciting to watch.
Matthew Roth (BloodyElbow.com) - So this isn't part of a Bellator Tournament but has there been any talk from Sam Caplan about this being a qualifier for a future tournament?
Jessica Aguilar - No, I haven't heard anything about a future tournament. I'm just focused on this bout and then after we can discuss those things.
Matthew Roth (BloodyElbow.com) - As far as Bellator goes, it looks like it will be the home of Women's Mixed Martial Arts, now that Strikeforce's future is in the air. Do you think that more female fighters will start popping up on these Bellator cards?
Jessica Aguilar - Of course, you'll see more women stepping up onto the Bellator platform. With Strikeforce ending next year, Bellator is growing now that they're partners with Viacom. That's a great thing for Bellator and I think that you'll see different weight classes. I think there's gonna be more female MMA in general.
Matthew Roth (BloodyElbow.com) - You brought up the Viacom deal, I wanted to ask you about that. You're the first Bellator fighter that I've interviewed since that deal was announced. What's your take? How did you react when that was announced?
Jessica Aguilar - I think it's great. It's security for us. It's our job security. They partnered up with a huge corporation and now we'll be on Spike in 2013 so I think it's a great move for Bellator to partner up with Viacom. And it's great for us because our paychecks will go up. Sponsorship will go up. We're just going to have more opportunities which is a great thing.
Matthew Roth (BloodyElbow.com) - Your last loss was a split decision to Zoila Gurgel, I personally had you winning that fight. Are you somebody that wants to chase rematches or do you want to let that happen organically?
Jessica Aguilar - You know what Matthew? I forgot about that fight. Right now I'm focused on Saturday and Lisa and after this victory my next focus is Megumi because she is number one. Other than that I don't care. The belt doesn't mean anything to me. I know that I won that fight and with the response of the media and the fans that saw the fight, everybody knows I won. If I get the rematch with her in the future, great. If I don't, that's fine also. Right now I want to fight the best and Lisa Ward is on November 19th.
Matthew Roth (BloodyElbow.com) - You mentioned Megumi Fugi. Is that a fight that's on the table or is it just a dream fight for you?
Jessica Aguilar - No it's not on the table. Obviously after this fight, that's the only fight that makes sense for me to go after. She's number one and that's my goal to become number one. It's not on the table yet. After I get my hand raised Saturday then I'll ask the boss for the fight and we'll go from there.
Posted in: fight, bellator, matthew, jessica, aguilar
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator CEO Bjorn Rebney Asking Fans To Choose Bellator 58 TV Match
In the latest tie-in between MMA and social media, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney is asking fans on Twitter what undercard fight should make air this Saturday at Bellator 58.
Rebney took to the popular social media tool this week, asking fans to follow him and tell him what bout should join Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler, Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard vs. Trevor Prangley in a non-title fight and Marlon Sandro vs. Rafael Dias on the main card that begins on MTV2 at 7 pm EST.
He'll be taking feedback via Twitter until Friday at 12 pm EST and the winning fight will be announced during the weigh-ins.
The three fights to choose from:
Jared Hess (11-3-1) vs. Brett Cooper (15-7): The 27-year-old Hess is a Bellator veteran, former tournament finalist and has lost two of his last three. Cooper has also competed frequently in Bellator and has won four of his last five, all via T/KO.
Jessica Aguilar (11-4) vs. Lisa Ellis-Ward (14-6): A rematch five years in a making, Aguilar goes into Saturday with a two-fight winning streak and is victorious in six of her last seven. Ward hasn't competed in over a year and was last seen getting submitted by Megumi Fujii at Bellator 31.
Farkhad Sharipov (13-4) vs. Fabio Mello (8-6): The #2 ranked World MMA 135-pounder Sharipov returns after getting a six-fight win streak snapped in September, while Mello makes his promotional return after a two-year absence and rides into Saturday with three straight wins.
To cast your vote, follow Rebney and let him know what you want to see by noon on Friday.
SBN coverage of Bellator 58
Posted in: fight, bellator, vs, fan, rebney
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowFans get to vote for Bellator 58's fourth televised fight, three fights available
While initially concerned that Saturday's Bellator 58 broadcast wouldn't have time for a fourth bout, Bellator officials have changed their tune.
In fact, they're letting fans vote and decide which bout will take the final spot on the night's MTV2/EPIX broadcast.
You can choose from middleweights Brett Cooper vs. Jared Hess, 115-pounders Jessica Aguilar vs. Lisa Ellis-Ward, or bantamweights Farkhad Sharipov vs. Fabio Mello.
Posted in: bellator, vs, vote, fact theyre, fans vote
Read the full article at MMA JunkieAmoussou-Martinez, Van Artsdalen-Heckman Added to Bellator Finale
A pair of new matchups has been added to the Bellator 59 fight card, making 10 fights now slated for the promotion's fifth-season finale.
Posted in: fight, bellator, van, finale, bellator finale
Read the full article at SherdogHess-Cooper Completes 9-Fight Bill for Saturday’s Bellator 58
Nine fights now occupy the card for Bellator Fighting Championships 58, as the Chicago-based promotion recently ratified a middleweight bout between former tournament competitors Jared Hess (Pictured) and Brett Cooper.
Posted in: fight, bellator, tournament, middleweight bout, chicagobased promotion
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 57: 129,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Saturday night’s Bellator 57 on MTV2 received a low 129,000. Bellator 57 ran opposite the UFC on Fox, the Pacquiao-Marquez fight and college football Saturday night.
Despite changing its time slot to avoid conflicts, the 129,000 viewers average shows that MMA fans were watching the UFC online, the JDS-Cain marathon on Spike TV, free fight prelims on the Audience Network or college football.
Payout Perspective:
Hopefully in 2012 Bellator can plan ahead during weekends it will run up against UFC PPVs and UFC on Fox. The 129,000 viewers is a low turnout but expected considering the huge event in the UFC. We will see if Bellator can gain some traction with the hype of MMA from the UFC on Fox. It will be interesting to see if it can rebound next week despite competing with a mediocre UFC 137.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, time slot, fight prelims
Read the full article at MMA PayoutM-1 Global says Bellator signee Vasilevsky still under contract, threatens legal action
M-1 Global to Bellator: not so fast.
The Russia-based promotion on Tuesday told MMAjunkie.com that a recent Bellator talent acquisition, Vyacheslav Vasilevsky, is still under exclusive contract with M-1 until February 2013.
"We were exceedingly surprised at [Tuesday's] announcement and disappointed at the lack of background work done by Bellator in this matter," wrote M-1 Global Director of Operations Evgeni Kogan in a statement.
Posted in: bellator, tuesday, background work, tuesdays announcement, russiabased promotion
Read the full article at MMA JunkieConflict of Interest: UFC vs. Spike/Bellator
This Saturday night SpikeTV once again provides a lead in to a UFC PPV by putting on two preliminary fights live on their network.
With a UFC 139 prelim card that includes the charismatic Tom Lawlor vs. an up and coming Chris Weidman, a battle between rising lightweights Gleison Tibau vs. Rafael dos Anjos, and a bantamweight fight between former champion Miguel Torres and Nick Pace; it’s a little surprising that Spike TV has chosen to air fights between Ryan Bader vs. Jason Brilz and Michael McDonald vs. Alex Soto.
And then you look at the Bellator 58 line up including champion Hector Lombard taking on Trevor Prangley in a non-title fight and champion Eddie Alvarez, easily the biggest draw in Bellator, defending his title against an undefeated Mike Chandler and it makes sense why Spike chose a lackluster preliminary card.
The Spike TV prelims kick off at 8PM EST, which is about the same time Lombard and Prangley will be in the cage thanks to the 7PM EST Bellator start time. That means Alvarez and Chandler will be starting during the UFC broadcast on Spike.
As a MMA fan, I’m much more intrigued by the Bellator lightweight title fight than fights between bantamweight prospects and mid-level light heavyweights.
Even though Bellator won’t be on Spike until 2013, SpikeTV is already doing their best to help out the #2 MMA promotion in the country. They’re airing commercials, they’re giving CEO Bjorn Rebney and certain fighters time on TNA Impact and other Spike original shows, and now they’re putting on uninteresting prelim fights so MMA fans will be more likely to tune in to MTV2.
We knew things would get dirty between UFC and Spike TV when UFC signed a deal with FOX. Now Spike is intentionally sabotaging the UFC preliminary broadcast in order to help out the promotion that they have ownership in.
It’s not like this is the first thing Spike TV has done to try and screw over the UFC either. They barely promoted UFC 138 (although UFC should be given blame there as well) and they ran a UFC Unleashed marathon head-to-head with UFC on FOX this past Saturday, promoting it like the Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos fight was on Spike and not on FOX.
UFC should cut ties with Spike. They have nothing to gain by remaining on the network, especially when that network doesn’t have their best interest in mind. In fact, I’m not sure that Spike TV should even be allowed to promote UFC programming when they own a stake of a competing company. To me, that just seems like a conflict of interest.
What’s the harm in UFC buying back their library and officially ending their contract with SpikeTV? Sure it might cost them money, but it will also save them a ton of headaches if Spike is going to continue to handle things the way they’re handling them.
UFC can’t afford to fight unnecessary battles. Dana White has enough pressure on him with the FOX deal, trying to expand the market, running an event every week, and all the other things he has going on. Dana is an extremely busy man who probably gets about 3 hours of sleep. He shouldn’t be losing even more sleep over a network that he no longer has a true affiliation with.
It’s clear that SpikeTV is going to play dirty. Despite all they’ve done for UFC and all the UFC has done for them, they feel abandoned now that UFC is moving to FOX and instead of keeping it quiet and getting ready to move on with Bellator, they’re throwing a tantrum.
The sad part about this is that SpikeTV is damaging Bellator by putting them in the middle of their firefight fight with UFC.
If Dana really wants to bury Bellator and Spike, and you know he does, he’ll let them have their marriage and then put them down together. He’ll bury them just like he’s buried every other MMA promotion that didn’t just sit by and watch the throne while UFC reigned.
Posted in: ufc, fight, bellator, vs, spike
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator Notebook: Douglas Lima Arrives, Countdown To Alvarez-Chandler, Ratings
Thanks to a power right hand, Bellator's welterweight division got a little deeper at Bellator 57 last Saturday as Douglas Lima finished Ben Saunders in the second round to win their 170-pound tournament and the right to lock horns with current champion Ben Askren in 2012.
While much of the focus going into the fight was on the more recognizable Saunders, the 23-year-old Lima could be a top contender in Bellator for years to come and will pose a serious threat to the less experienced Askren when they meet. The American Top Team Atlanta member has bounced all around the United States in his five-year career, but with nine straight wins and an 86% finish rate in his victories, Lima (21-5) has found himself a home and perhaps may get some gold to go with it.Lima joins a group that includes Askren, Saunders, recent top contender Jay Hieron, newly signed Brian Foster, Rick Hawn and former champion Lyman Good. Assuming that Saunders and Hieron will return as entrants into next year's 170-pound tournament, the road to get a title shot will be a bit tougher and create more interesting fights along the way. Lombard Vs. Shlemenko II
Alexander Shlemenko had a dominant performance in an all-stand up affair last Saturday, easily defeating an overwhelmed Vitor Vianna to win Bellator's 185-pound tournament and earn the rematch he wanted with reigning champion Hector Lombard.In his 50th pro fight, Shlemenko (43-7) used accurate spinning back fists, kicks and a straight forward attack on the 12-2-1 Vianna, who froze in the big moment and never shot for takedowns or responded with strikes of his own. Shlemenko began to lose concentration as the fight wore on, playing to the crowd and showing some vintage 2010 Anderson Silva moves in trying to get Vianna to exchange.
He'll need to focus more when he eventually faces Lombard, who competes in non-title action this Saturday against Trevor Prangley at a 195-pound catchweight. As fans have heard, Lombard (30-2-1-1) is riding a ridiculously long win streak and hasn't truly been challenged in Bellator...except by Shlemenko who took Lombard to the distance in October 2010. Expect more of the same dominance Saturday as Prangley is 3-3-1 in his last seven and was finished in the first round in all of his losses. Countdown to Alvarez - Chandler
In addition to Lombard vs. Prangley, Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler will headline this Saturday's Bellator 58 -- a fight originally set to take place in mid-October but was pushed back due to an undisclosed Alvarez injury.The undefeated Chandler (8-0) earned his opportunity by winning Bellator's 155-pound tournament earlier this year with a unanimous decision over Patricky "Pitbull" Friere. This will be the second defense of the gold the 22-2 Alvarez won in June 2009 and since coming to Bellator, he's 7-0 with six finishes. He is coming off a tough unanimous decision win over Pat Curran in April.
In addition, Marlon Sandro will return to action for the first time since being knocked out by Curran in August when he faces WEC veteran Rafael Dias, someone who has lost three in a row and five of his last seven. Jessica Aguilar vs. Lisa Ward is a swing bout and has an interesting twist in that it's a rematch more than five years in the making. Ford beat Aguilar in her 2006 pro debut via second round submission.
New Signing....Maybe?
Earlier today, Leland Roling reported that Bellator announced the signing of highly-ranked middleweight prospect Vyacheslav Vasilevsky to a deal. But according to M-1 Global's Evgeni Kogan, Vasilevsky is under contract and M-1 is threatening to sue. BE will have more on this story as it develops.Ratings Drop Again
Up against a highly-promoted UFC on Fox event, a major boxing pay-per-view and a big college football game, MMA Junkie reported that Bellator's ratings got crushed Saturday, drawing just 129,000 viewers for the event. This is the fourth straight week that viewership has dropped and another clear indication that Viacom has to get the promotion off Saturday nights in 2012.
News & Notes
Those that did watch last Saturday saw a fun back-and-forth battle between Alexandre Bezerra and Doug Evans to open the show. Bezerra's right eye was swelled shut and Evans was looking good, but got caught in a tight heel hook and tapped with under a minute to go in the first round. Evans looked to be in serious pain following the fight. Expect Bezerra to be an entrant in the next 145-pound tournament.
Also on Saturday, the action in the Roger Hollett vs. John Hawk fight was mostly drab but those watching the pre-fight package got to hear Hawk drop the f-bomb loud and clear, despite it being bleeped out in several spots during the same interview. How does that happen?
Like last week, this week's show will air at 7 PM EST to accommodate for UFC 139.
SBN coverage of Bellator 58
Posted in: fight, bellator, pound, tournament, saturday
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowAguilar looking for revenge at Bellator this weekend
This Saturday, Jessica "Jag" Aguilar will look to avenge the first loss of her career when she rematches Lisa Ellis-Ward at Bellator 58. The...
Posted in: bellator, loss, jessica, aguilar, ellisward
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyM-1 announces intent to sue Russian Bellator signing
Recent Bellator FC signee Vyacheslav ‘Slava’ Vasilevsky already has a fight in front of him - but not of the MMA variety. M-1 Global today...
Posted in: fight, bellator, russian bellator, lsquoslavarsquo, vyacheslav
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 100: Eddie Alvarez, Andrew Simon, Pat Healy, Kevin Iole
Bloody Elbow Radio, presented by Bad Boy, will be LIVE! at a special start time of 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT for a special edition of the show. Join hosts Matt Bishop, Forrest Lynn and MMA Mania's Brian Hemminger as they celebrate the show's 100th episode with a very special lineup of guests.
We'll be joined by the following people:
Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, who will chat with us about his upcoming Bellator title defense against Michael Chandler this Saturday at Bellator 58 and more
HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon, who will talk with us about everything HDNet Fights, including his group's acquisition of BAMMA programming, the challenges of taking Inside MMA live and much more.
Strikeforce lightweight Pat Healy, who will talk with us about his about his recent trip to China, where he helped train local fighters for a long period of time.
Yahoo! Sports reporter Kevin Iole, who will chat with us to wrap up this weekend's Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight and the UFC on FOX.
If you have questions for any of our guests, leave them in the comments and we'll do our best to ask them.
Bloody Elbow Radio is sponsored by Bad Boy. Get your brand new Mauricio Rua UFC 139 walkout T-shirt only from Bad Boy at BadBoyMMA.com. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook and tell them Bloody Elbow sent you.
How to listen:
Live/archived on the player below I iTunes I RSS feed I Direct download link (available after live broadcast)
Want to get in touch with the BE Radio crew? Here's how you can do so:
Phone: (347) 202-0934E-mail: bloodyelbowradio@gmail.comTwitter: @mbish86, @sprewellrimz or @gotahemmiBloodyElbow.com: Leave a question or comment in this post
For those calling in, you will first be picked up by our producer who will take your information and get what you want to talk about. You will then be queued. We will try to get to everyone as soon as we can. We ask that you call in around the time of the topic you want to discuss.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos
SBN coverage of Bellator 58
Posted in: bellator, radio, elbow radio, elbow, sbn coverage
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator Signs Russian Striker Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
What will it take for the UFC to wake up and begin flexing their muscles in the free agent market? Your guess is as good as mine, but in the meantime -- Bellator is making all the right moves. According to a press release sent out this morning, the Chicago-based promotion has made another brilliant move, signing the #4-ranked 2011 World MMA Scouting Report middleweight Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (15-1):
CHICAGO, Ill. (November 15, 2011) - In a continuing effort to scout and sign the world's best talent, Bellator Fighting Championships has signed highly-touted Russian striker Vyacheslav Vasilevsky.
Vasilevsky joins Bellator after an incredibly successful career in Russia where "Slava" compiled a dominating 15-1 record. Currently riding a 14-fight win streak, the 23-year-old prodigy will be fighting at middleweight in the Bellator cage. The two-time Sambo World Champion and K-Dojo product has had success at light heavyweight but feels at home at 185 pounds and immediately adds more world-class depth to the Bellator middleweight roster.
"This opportunity means the world to me," Vasilevsky said. "I'm really excited for the opportunity. I felt like I've conquered the Russian scene, and I'm ready to compete against some of the best in the world with Bellator. They have some great middleweights, and I want to test my skills against them as soon as I can."
"We've had tremendous success in the international market acquiring many of the world's best fighters," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Vyacheslav is a world class fighter we've had our eye on for quite some time and he will make a tremendous impact on our middleweight roster."
Since his placement on the 2011 World MMA Scouting Report, he's rattled off four straight wins, most recently beating Polish prospect Robert Jocz by unanimous decision in June. A move to Bellator's 185 lb. division makes perfect sense for his continued career progression, although the UFC certainly would have provided a similar landscape for the Russian.
In a broader scope, the signing points to something I've been privy to over the course of the last six months. Russia's mixed martial arts scene is growing, and their young talent is seeing the benefits of fighting in the more attractive market stateside. Look for more Russian prospects to head to the U.S. in the first quarter of 2012.
Posted in: bellator, world, middleweight, vasilevsky, russian
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowRussian Phenom Vyacheslav Vasilevsky Join’s Bellator Middleweight Division
CHICAGO, Ill. (November 15, 2011) - In a continuing effort to scout and sign the world's best talent, Bellator Fighting Championships has signed highly-touted Russian striker Vyacheslav Vasilevsky.
Vasilevsky joins Bellator after an incredibly successful career in Russia where "Slava" compiled a dominating 15-1 record. Currently riding a 14-fight win streak, the 23-year-old prodigy will be fighting at middleweight in the Bellator cage. The two-time Sambo World Champion and K-Dojo product has had success at light heavyweight but feels at home at 185 pounds and immediately adds more world-class depth to the Bellator middleweight roster.
"This opportunity means the world to me," Vasilevsky said. "I'm really excited for the opportunity. I felt like I've conquered the Russian scene, and I'm ready to compete against some of the best in the world with Bellator. They have some great middleweights, and I want to test my skills against them as soon as I can."
"We've had tremendous success in the international market acquiring many of the world's best fighters," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Vyacheslav is a world class fighter we've had our eye on for quite some time and he will make a tremendous impact on our middleweight roster."
Bellator 58 takes place this Saturday, November 19 LIVE from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino with an early start time 5:00 PM ET for the Spike.com show and 7:00 PM ET for the MTV2 show.
Bellator World Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez defends his belt against his biggest threat to date in No. 1 contender Michael Chandler, and the world's most dangerous middleweight Hector Lombard puts his 24-fight unbeaten streak on the line when he takes on former UFC fighter Trevor Prangley.
The televised portion of the evening will begin at7 p.m. ET and can be seen LIVE on MTV2 and on EPIX in commercial-free HD. The stacked undercard can be seen LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com, starting at 5 p.m. ET.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: bellator, world, pm, middleweight, vasilevsky
Read the full article at MMA ManiaRussian prospect Slava joins Bellator
Bellator Fighting Championships has signed itself a new Russian import in the form of striking stylist Vyacheslav 'Slava' Vasilevsky.Vasilevsky joins Bellator...
Posted in: bellator, bellator bellator, russian, russian import, slava
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyCritics Baffle Bellator Champion Lombard
Bellator Fighting Championships middleweight titleholder Hector Lombard feels the sting of criticism, from his reputation as a brute in the gym to his perceived lack of competition. However, he cannot understand the motives behind his detractors
Posted in: lombard, bellator, championship, criticism, motive
Read the full article at SherdogIt looks like Douglas Lima Vs. Ben Askren is on deck for 2012
I feel like whoever sells the advertising for the mat in Bellator personally knows me and/or follows me on Twitter. A cage with men fighting filled to the brim with ads for EA Sports and Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is almost exactly what my brain looks like on any given night. Replace the crowd of people with corgi's dressed as ambulances and now you know what it's like to be me. For better or worse.
Douglas Lima and Ben Saunders met at Bellator 57 in the welterweight tournament finals for a chance to fight Frate Trane Ben Askren in 2012, and what went down is yet another 'Bellator Moment'.
Now back to Skyrim, where I have officially pick pocketed over 45,000 items.
[source]
Posted in: bellator, ben, ben saunders, scrolls skyrim, ea sports
Read the full article at Middle EasyBellator 58 Undercard Gets Araujo-Barbosa, Sharipov-Mello
Two new bouts have been added to the Internet-broadcast preliminary card for Bellator Fighting Championships 58, this Saturday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
Posted in: bellator, championship, rock hotel, hollywood, araujobarbosa sharipovmello
Read the full article at SherdogPellegrino "retired" in June, now he's back in Bellator.
submitted by Hop_Slam [link] [comment]
Posted in: bellator, june, hopslam, hopslam link, pellegrino
Read the full article at RedditWeekend Results: Bobby Lashley Wins Belt, A. Emelianenko Suffers Quick Loss
Filed under: NewsFormer WWE superstar Bobby Lashley became a titleholder in MMA on Friday, beating Karl Knothe to win the Shark Fights heavyweight title at Shark Fights 21 in Lubbock, Texas.
Lashley, who had to endure four opponent changes for his promotional debut with the Texas organization, won by keylock submission over Knothe (20-7) at three minutes and 44 seconds of the first round.
With the win, Lashley improved to 7-1 and is on a two-fight win streak since losing to Chad Griggs at a Strikeforce event in August 2010. Lashley has two more fights with Shark Fights.
In addition to the historic UFC on FOX event on Saturday, other MMA action took place over the weekend. We'll take a look at some notable fights after the jump.
-- PRIDE veteran Aleksander Emelianenko was knocked out in 23 seconds by Magomed Malikov (4-1) on Saturday in the main event of M-1 Challenge 28 in Russia. In his first punch of the fight, Malikov timed an overhand right to level Emelianenko against the ropes.
The setback put Emelianenko (17-5) in a position of back-to-back losses for the first time in his eight-year career.
Aleksander's older brother Fedor, 35, fights this Saturday against Jeff Monson in Moscow.
-- UFC veteran Rich Clementi bounced back from his May loss to Shinya Aoki in DREAM by defeating Ronnie Rogers Saturday at a Victory Promotions event in Lowell, Mass. The 34-year-old Clementi won with a rear-naked choke in the second round.
-- Also on Saturday, Douglas Lima earned a title shot against Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren by stopping Ben Saunders in the second round with strikes at Bellator 57 in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
-- Alexander Shlemenko won this season's Bellator middleweight tournament and will rematch Bellator champion Hector Lombard at a later date. Shlemenko took a unanimous decision over Vitor Vianna on Saturday. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, bellator, event, saturday, lashley
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator crowns Season 5 champions at action-packed event
Headlined by a pair of tournament finals, Bellator 57 was poised to be an entertaining card and certainly started out on the right note with five straight finishing performances to open the evening up. Living up to the early fireworks, the main card also featured some competitive clashes as well as one of the most brutal submissions in the organization’s history and a UFC veteran left with his lights out.
A Pre-Fight Look at the Middleweight and Welterweight Finals
On the Season 5 middleweight side of things, Alexander Shlemenko outscored a feisty Vitor Vianna to improve his overall record to 43-7. In addition to a $100,000 payday, the 27-year old also earned an opportunity to face 185-pound title-holder Hector Lombard a second time after both battled it out a year ago with the Cuban champion edging Shlemenko out on the scorecards.
Meanwhile, Douglas Lima lived up to his nickname – “The Phenom” – by stopping apt adversary Ben Saunders with strikes early in the second stanza of their headlining bout. The win was Lima’s ninth straight including victories over Ryan Ford, Terry Martin, and Chris Lozano.
Here is a complete rundown of Bellator 57 results:
Taylor Solomon def. Mike Sledzion via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
Josh Shockley def. Eric Moon via Submission Round 1 (Guillotine Choke)
Denis Puric def. Chuck Mady via TKO Round 2 (Retirement)
Dave Jansen def. Ashkan Morvari via Submission Round 2 (Rear-Naked Choke)
Matt Van Buren def. Shawn Levesque via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke)
Chris Horodecki Majority Draws with Mike Corey
Alexandre Bezerra def. Douglas Evans via Submission Round 1 (Heel Hook)
Roger Hollett def. John Hawk via Split Decision
Alexander Shlemenko def. Vitor Vianna via Unanimous Decision
Douglas Lima def. Ben Saunders via TKO Round 2 (Strikes)
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, round, submission, shlemenko, vitor vianna
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 57 results recap for 'Lima vs Saunders' in Rama, Ontario
Bellator 57 took place last night (November 12, 2011) from Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario. After a brief bye week, the upstart promotion held two tournament final fights on the same night.The main event of the evening was a welterweight showdown between former MFC welterweight champion Douglas Lima, who vacated his title to sign with Bellator and UFC castout Ben Saunders, who'd been a destructive force ever since receiving his walking papers from the promotion. Someone's momentum would have to be halted.
Unfortunately for Saunders, it would be his.
Both men battled in a first round spent primarily in the clinch where both men were separated by the referee on multiple occasions. Things got very interesting with about 30 seconds left in the frame when Lima caught a kick and went for a takedown but got reversed into full mount by "Killa B" and was forced to eat some elbows, which are legal in Bellator tournament finals.
Things looked like they were off to a similar start in round two with more clinch work and another separation but out of nowhere, Lima avoided a lead left and blasted Saunders with a huge right hand, similar to his knockout of Chris Lozano in the semifinals. The Muay Thai specialist went down hard and after some swarming ground and pound, it was all over.
Douglas Lima is the Bellator season 5 welterweight tournament champion. He was awarded the $100,000 check as well as a title shot against Ben Askren, who recently squeaked by Jay Hieron with a split decision to retain his title.
The rest of the main card featured some more thrilling Bellator moments as well.
In middleweight final action, Alexander Shlemenko looked to win his second consecutive tournament and earn a rematch against Hector Lombard, the man he took the distance earlier this year.
Standing in his way was top prospect Vitor Vianna, a two-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion who had only ever been defeated once in his career by top UFC light heavyweight Thiago Silva.
Despite having terrific ground skills, this fight was contested primarily on the feet, and while Vianna was coming off a highlight reel knockout of Bryan Baker in his last fight, he simply didn't have the technical prowess to be able to stand and trade with "Storm" Shlemenko for three straight rounds.
Shlemenko was on the attack for the entire fight, forcing Vianna to back up for nearly fifteen straight minutes. Neither man landing anything truly significant, but the Russian's aggression was enough to earn him a pretty lop-sided unanimous decision victory. Most men wouldn't be very excited to be taking on Hector Lombard in their next fight, but the Russian seemed delighted. We'll see how he feels about it next year when the fight goes down.
In light heavyweight tournament qualifier action, Roger Hollett and John Hawk battled for fifteen minutes to a rather dull decision. Hollett was the aggressor in round one but he found himself victim of a wall-and-stall attack from the larger Hawk in rounds two and three.
Thankfully, the judges awarded Hollett with the decision as Hawk didn't provide much offense other than pinning his opponent along the fence. We'll see if the Canadian Hollett can be more exciting in the next Bellator light heavyweight tournament.
The opening bout of the main card was an absolute thriller between featherweight stud Alexandre Bezerra and UFC veteran and former Shark Fights champion Doug Evans. Evans started very strongly, nearly shutting the Brazilian's eye with a stiff left jab and then repeatedly slamming his way out of submission attempts.
First it was a guillotine, then an armbar that Evans powered out of and it looked like he was in line for a TKO victory after some nasty ground and pound that had Bezerra's face swollen up something fierce but the ever-resilient "Popo" never gave up, instead transitioning to an attack on Evans' leg and rolling him over to force the tap via ankle lock with less than a minute remaining in a blistering first round.
With the victory, Bezerra becomes one step closer to a Bellator featherweight tournament title appearance.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Do you think Shlemenko can earn his revenge against Hector Lombard? Or is he destined to be the second best middleweight in Bellator forever? How do you think Douglas Lima matches up against Ben Askren?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, tournament, lima
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 57: Horodecki hangs in for draw
On a night when much of the fight world was paying attention to the UFC on FOX Bellator put on a memorable show for fans at Casino Rama.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, horodecki, fight world, fox bellator
Read the full article at sportsnet.caLima Lamps Saunders, Shlemenko Rolls in Bellator Tourney Finals
Bellator's fifth season has its first two champions, as welterweight Douglas Lima and middleweight Alexander Shlemenko got their hands raised and clinched top contendership at Bellator 57 inside Rama, Ontario's Casino Rama.
Posted in: bellator, shlemenko, lima, rama, dougla
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 57 results: Douglas Lima and Alexander Shlemenko win tourney titles
Welterweight Douglas Lima and middleweight Alexander Shlemenko both have staked claim to Bellator tournament titles.
At Saturday's Bellator 57 event, both fighters won their respective season-five eight-man tournaments, and both have now earned guaranteed title shots with their division's champions.
Bellator 57 took place Saturday at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada, and the main card aired on MTV2 and EPIX prior to the Spike.com prelims.
Posted in: bellator, title, place saturday, casino rama, title shots
Read the full article at MMA JunkieShlemenko, Lima Win Bellator Tournaments
Filed under: BellatorAlexander Shlemenko and Douglas Lima won the Bellator Fighting Championships middleweight and welterweight tournaments with impressive victories on Saturday night.
Shlemenko had no trouble at all defeating Vitor Vianna by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring it 30-27 and one scoring it 29-28. The fight took place almost entirely standing up, and that was exactly what Shlemenko wanted: He's a far better striker than Vianna and knew he'd cruise to a victory as long as Vianna couldn't get him to the ground. Vianna is a gifted Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner, but he wasn't able to use his submission skills in this fight.
"I really respect Vianna. He is a very, very tough opponent," Shlemenko said afterward.
With the victory, Shlemenko earns a rematch with Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard, who beat Shlemenko last year.
As for the welterweight fight, it was fairly even in the first round, and Saunders probably deserved to win the first. But Lima brutalized Ben Saunders with a hard right hand just over a minute into the second round, and a series of hammer fists from Lima finished Saunders off on the ground. Lima is now on a nine-fight winning streak, and he'll be a tough test for Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren, whom he'll fight in 2012.
In other Bellator action, Roger Hollett beat John Hawk by split decision, 29-28, 28-29 and 29-28. And in the first televised fight of the evening, Alexandre Bezerra had his eye almost completely swollen shut by Doug Evans in the first round, but Bezerra still managed to force Evans to tap out to a heel hook before the first round ended. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, bellator, shlemenko, lima, vianna
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 57 Live Results and Play-by-Play
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results and commentary from Bellator 57. Our live blog will begin with the start of the MTV2 broadcast (7 p.m. EST) so be sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
Tonight brings us the finals in both the welterweight and middleweight tournaments. Welterweights Ben Saunders and Douglas Lima will face off for $100,000 and a shot at champ Ben Askren's belt, while Alexander Shlemenko and Vitor Vianna will be fighting for the big check and a crack at middleweight champ Hector Lombard. Also on this card are two feature fights, one at 205 between John Hawk and Roger Hollett, and the other at featherweight between Doug Evans and Alexandre Bezerra.
Again, the event is starting earlier than normal tonight, at 7 p.m. EST. Don't miss what should be a great night of fights!
SBN coverage of Bellator 57
Posted in: bellator, douglas lima, roger hollett, doug evans, john hawk
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 57 Live Results
While there’s no doubt the spotlight is on FOX tonight for the UFC’s historic debut on network television, Bellator is also putting on a solid show worth at least the effort to record or watch when it replays tonight at 11:00 PM EST.
Bellator 57 is highlighted by a pair of Season 5 Tournament finals featuring a quartet of respected competitors
In one match-up, middleweights Alexander Shlemenko and Vitor Vianna will duke it out. Shlemenko, who went the distance against 185-pound champion Hector Lombard after winning an earlier season tournament, will be looking for his sixth straight win since the loss, while Wand Fight Team staple Vianna made it clear he’s more than just a BJJ expert with a sub-minute knockout of Bryan Baker last month in the semifinal round.
On the other side, UFC veteran Ben Saunders will look to make highly-touted youngster Douglas Lima the next victim on his run towards a date with welterweight title-holder Ben Askren. Then again, doing so should be no east feat considering Lima’s ongoing eight-fight run.
Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in when prelims start streaming through Spike.com at 4:00 PM EST until the final shot of the 7:00 PM EST broadcast on MTV2/EPIX when main card action goes down.
Here is a full list of Bellator 57 results:
Josh Shockley vs. Eric Moon
Matt Van Buren vs. Shawn Levesque
Mike Sledzion vs. Taylor Solomon
Dave Jansen vs. Ashkan Morvari
Chuck Mady vs. Denis Puric
Douglas Evans vs. Alexandre Bezerra
Roger Hollett vs. John Hawk
Chris Horodecki vs. Mike Corey
Alexander Shlemenko vs. Vitor Vianna
Ben Saunders vs. Douglas Lima
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, vs, ufc ’s, vitor vianna, subminute knockout
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 57: Official Weigh-In Results
All but one fighter successfully made weight for tonight's Bellator 57 event in Canada.
Posted in: bellator, fighter, weight, canada, official
Read the full article at Heavy MMABellator 58 adds Billstein vs. Pena, Alexender vs. McPhatter to prelims
Two fights have been added to next week's Bellator 58 prelims.
They include German prospect Jonas Billstein vs. Florida middleweight Reggie Pena and lightweights Cosmo Alexender vs. Avery McPhatter, MMAjunkie.com confirmed with event sources.
Bellator 58 takes place Nov. 19 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
Posted in: bellator, vs, prelim, billstein, mcphatter
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 57 Bout with Hawk Will Be Brutal, Hollett Says
Roger Hollett did not come to Bellator Fighting Championships to fool around
Posted in: bellator, roger hollett, hollett, fool, hawk
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 57 Live Results and Play-by-Play (7 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com will report from Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, at 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 57, featuring the finals of the Season 5 welterweight and middleweight tournaments.
Posted in: bellator, result, pm, casino rama, rama ontario
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 57 Weigh-In Results, Special Start Time
While the attention of the weekend is being placed squarely on UFC on Fox, there's another organization putting on a good event Saturday in Bellator who had their weigh-ins Friday for Bellator 57, set for Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.The good news: everyone made weight and the four co-main eventers are set to battle for $100,000 checks and championship opportunities.Main Card
Welterweight Tournament Finals: Ben Saunders (170.4) vs. Douglas Lima (171)
Middleweight Tournament Finals: Alexander Shlemenko (185.6) vs. Vitor Vianna (184)
John Hawk (205) vs. Roger Hollett (204.8)
Alexandre Bezerra (146.4) vs. Doug Evans (146)
Prelims
Mike Corey (154) vs. Chris Horodecki (155)
Ashkar Morvari (155.8) vs. Dave Jansen (155.8)
Chuck Mady (134) vs. Denis Puric (135.8)
Eric Moon (155.8) vs. Josh Shockley (156)
Mike Sledzion (155) vs. Taylor Solomon (156)
Shawn Levesque (203) vs. Matt Van Buren (204.6)
The main card kicks off on MTV2 at a special start time of 7 PM EST with the prelims starting on Spike.com at 5 PM EST.SBN coverage of Bellator 57
Posted in: bellator, vs, fox theres, weighins friday, event saturday
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 57 Preview
Eight events since the beginning of September and now Bellator’s fifth season winds down. Thus far, we’ve seen a featherweight champ try to gain entry into the bantamweight mix and get smoked like a Cuban cigar, a light-heavyweight champ lose some of his luster, and enough heavyweight leather thrown around to kill a yeti. So, while the UFC on FOX prelims are playing out on whatever Internet outlet Dana White has lined up for the evening (MySpace? Tumblr? The Knot.com?), Bellator 57 will be giving us the finals of the current welterweight tournament and middleweight tournament. Who will earn a shot at 170-pound champ Ben Askren and be the next person to be planked upon? Who will be the next dude to be beaten stupid by champ Hector Lombard? I don’t know, but here’s a preview of the action.
-Ben Saunders vs. Doug Lima – Things may not have worked out for Saunders on the Ultimate Fighter, but he’s turned out to be one heck of a top-notch competitor in Bellator’s crucible of combat. In the quarterfinals, Saunders walked through Chris Cisneros, dominating on the ground before finishing on the feet, and in the semis he trounced Luis Santos, ending it all with a bent armlock. Lima, on the other hand, went the distance with Steve Carl before putting Chris Lozano in La-La Land. Is Lima tough? For sure. But Saunders has got the advantage with all of his high-level experience, and where Lima is good (which is pretty much everywhere), Saunders is better. Expect Saunders to finish Lima in the third after two rounds of positional dominance and face-punching.
-Alexander Shlemenko vs. Vitor Vianna – Winning Bellator’s welterweight tournament is old hat to the Russian (as is squaring up against Lombard), and to get to this 185-pound tournament final, Shlemenko quickly submitted Zelg Galesic and battered Brian Rogers until Rogers was one of the Walking Dead. Vianna, meanwhile, barely squeaked by Sam Alvey before overwhelming Bryan Baker on the feet. How will the Brazilian do against the man whose name translated from Russian actually means “spinning backfist”? Probably not so well. Shlemenko has been there and done that in terms of competition, whereas this is uncharted territory for the jiu-jitsu black belt, and it won’t take long for Vianna to eat a variety of strikes and then start to crumble. Shlemenko by decision after three ugly rounds of abusing a Brazilian.
-Roger Hollett vs. John Hawk – Canadian Hollett can both hit hard and sink submissions, which makes him dangerous. Hawk is an 87-year-old World War II soldier and Medal of Honor recipient, which makes him tough but also makes him pretty old for MMA competition. At the end of the day, that means- wait, what? This John Hawk is just some journeyman brawler from Ohio with a 6-3 record? Oh, well in that case, Maximum Fighting Championship veteran Hollett is going to kill him. Probably via TKO.
-Doug Evans vs. Alexandre Bezerra – Evans, an Alaskan who’s fought in everything from the UFC to Shark Fights to some Canadian promotion called Raw Combat (!), has a habit of being tough but losing to the top-end guys in the lightweight division (like Roger Huerta and Mark Bocek). So if Bezerra, who sports a jiu-jitsu brown belt plus boxing and wrestling experience and some fights in Brazil, defeats him, we know this: Bezerra is no scrub, and Evans is not long for the Bellator cage. I’m leaning towards Bezerra in this match-up, as Evans is riding a two-fight losing streak and has problems with guys he can’t submit, and the Brazilian is a master at snagging first-round submissions.
Posted in: bellator, shlemenko, roger, lima, saunder
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 57 Weigh-In Results
The Bellator 57 weigh-ins took place earlier this evening at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
Bellator 57 will feature a welterweight tournament final between Douglas Lima and Ben Saunders and a middleweight tournament final between Alexander Shlemenko and Vitor Vianna.
The weigh-in results:
Douglas Lima (171) vs. Ben Saunders (170.4)
Alexander Shlemenko (185.6) vs. Vitor Vianna (184)
John Hawk (205) vs. Roger Hollett (204.8)
Alexandre “Popo” Bezerra (146.4) vs. Doug Evans (146)
Mike Corey (154) vs. Chris Horodecki (155)
Dave Jansen (155.8) vs. Ashkan Morvari (155.8)
Chuck Mady (134) vs. Denis Puric (135.8)
Eric Moon (155.8) vs. Josh Shockley (156)
Mike Sledzion (155) vs. Taylor Solomon (156)
Shawn Levesque (203) vs. Matt Van Buren (204.6)
Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit.
Bellator 57 takes place tomorrow night at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada and will air live on MTV2.
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Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 57 Official Weigh-in Results
Full, official weigh-in results from Bellator 57 in Ontario, Canada.
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Read the full article at MMA WeeklyMiddleweight Finalists On Point, Lima Over Weight for Bellator 57
Bellator's middleweight tournament final will move forward as planned, as Alexander Shlemenko and Vitor Vianna both hit their contracted weights at Friday's Bellator 57 weigh-ins. Shlemenko tipped the scales at 185.6 pounds for his showdown with Vianna, who came in at 184.
Posted in: alexander shlemenko, bellator, vitor vianna, point lima, middleweight finalists
Read the full article at SherdogProspect Bezerra Has Designs on Bellator Reign
Bellator Fighting Championships has a valuable commodity in Alexandre Bezerra, a 24-year-old featherweight with star potential
Posted in: bellator, prospect, bezerra, prospect bezerra, alexandre bezerra
Read the full article at SherdogSaunders on Bellator Belt: ‘I Will Do Whatever it Takes’
“Killa B” appears to have found new life in Bellator Fighting Championships
Posted in: bellator, championship, life, saunder, killa
Read the full article at SherdogWith title shot on the line, Bellator 57's Douglas Lima ready to show the real him
Despite 24 pro fights and eight consecutive victories, Douglas Lima still thinks MMA fans haven't seen the real him.
But as the 23-year-old Brazilian readies for a Bellator's season-five welterweight-tourney finale against Ben Saunders, he said they soon will.
He and Saunders headline Saturday's Bellator 57, which takes place at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
Posted in: title shot, bellator, casino rama, ben saunders, douglas lima
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 57 Weigh-In results
Bellator 57 will take place on Saturday, November 12 from Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada. Headlining the event will be a pair of tournament finals.
The Welterweight tournament finals will see Ben Saunders facing off against Douglas Lima, while the Middleweight tournament finals will match Vitor Vianna against Alexander Shlemenko.
The winner of the Welterweight finals will move on to face Bellator champion Ben Askren, while the winner of the middleweight bout will get a shot at Bellator champion
Posted in: bellator, casino rama, final, ben saunders, welterweight finals
Read the full article at Low KickBellator 57 weigh in results LIVE from Rama, Ontario for 'Lima vs Saunders'
The official weigh-in event for Bellator 57's Saturday evening fight card takes place today (November 11, 2011) inside Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario.
Bellator 57 will be the conclusion of both the season five welterweight and middleweight tournaments. Squaring off in the welterweight finals will be former MFC welterweight champion Douglas Lima against Ultimate Fighter veteran and lethal striker Ben Saunders.
In the middleweight finals, former title challenger Alexander Shlemenko will battle Wand Fight Team's Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach, Vitor Vianna. Both fights promise to be very entertaining.
Also on the card are a pair of bouts that are hoping to showcase future talent. In light heavyweight action, MFC veteran Roger Hollett takes on huge Ohio native John Hawk with a spot in the Bellator season six light heavyweight tournament on the line.
Opening the main card will be a very exciting battle as top Bellator lightweight prospect Alexandre Bezzera takes on UFC veteran and former Shark Fights champion Doug Evans.
Complete Bellator 57 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
170 lbs.: Ben Saunders (12-3-2) vs. Douglas Lima (20-4)170 lbs.: Alexander Shlemenko (42-7) vs. Vitor Vianna (12-1-1)205 lbs.: John Hawk (6-3) vs. Roger Hollett (12-3)145 lbs.: Alexandre Bezerra (11-1) vs. Doug Evans (13-9) Undercard
155 lbs.: Mike Corey (11-2) vs. Chris Horodecki (18-3)135 lbs.: Chuck Mady (5-5) vs. Denis Puric (3-3) 155 lbs.: Eric Moon (7-6) vs. Josh Shockley (7-1)155 lbs.: Mike Sledzion (3-1) vs. Taylor Solomon (3-3)205 lbs.: Shawn Levesque (1-0) vs. Matt Van Buren (4-0)
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 57, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 7 p.m. ET tomorrow night (November 12).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: fight, bellator, vs, lb, card
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWatch today's Bellator 57 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 5 p.m. ET
Anishnabee Ballroom B at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada, plays host
to today's official Bellator 57 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a live video stream of the
proceedings at 5 p.m. ET.
The same venue plays host to Saturday's event, which airs on MTV2 and
features the semifinal round of Bellator's season-five welterweight and middleweights tournaments.
In addition to the live weigh-ins and pre-fight press conference, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, casino rama, semifinal round, weighin, saturdays event
Read the full article at MMA JunkieLima on Bellator Semifinal: ‘Every Fight is the Biggest Test of My Career’
Douglas Lima has an eight-fight winning streak and a berth in the Bellator Fighting Championships Season 5 welterweight tournament final, but the Atlanta-based Brazilian is not resting on his laurels
Posted in: bellator, tournament, lima, streak, atlantabased brazilian
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 57 predictions and preview for 'Saunders vs Lima' on Nov. 12 in Rama, Ontario
Bellator Fighting Championships will head to the great north this Saturday night (November 12, 2011) at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, live on MTV2.
The main card will air live on the basic cable network, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
Bellator 57 will be the conclusion of both the season five welterweight and middleweight tournaments. Squaring off in the welterweight finals will be former MFC welterweight champion Douglas Lima against UFC veteran and nasty Muay Thai stylist Ben Saunders. In the middleweight finals, Bellator season two tournament champion Alexander Shlemenko will battle Wand Fight Team's Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach, Vitor Vianna. Both fights promise to be very entertaining.
Also on the card are a pair of bouts that are hoping to showcase future talent. In light heavyweight action, MFC veteran Roger Hollett takes on huge Ohio native John Hawk with a spot in the Bellator season six light heavyweight tournament on the line.
Opening the main card will be a very exciting battle as top Bellator lightweight prospect Alexandre Bezzera takes on UFC veteran and former Shark Fights champion Doug Evans.
Our complete Bellator 57 preview and predictions after the jump:
170 lbs.: Douglas Lima (20-4) vs. Ben Saunders (12-3-2)
Douglas Lima has certainly lived up to the hype. He was ranked number four on Leland Roling's 2010 welterweight prospect scouting report and after a tough quarterfinal match with Steve Carl, he destroyed Cleveland fighter Chris Lozano with one of 2011's most brutal one-punch knockouts. Lima has a terrific ground game as well, with 11 of his 20 victories coming by way of submission.
Ben Saunders has always been a fighter known for his tenacious Muay Thai skills, anyone who doubts that should look at specimen number one, Marcus Davis after eating repeated knees to the face from the clinch. "Killa B" has showcased his ground game in the Bellator tournament thus far, dominating Chris Cisneros on the canvas before finishing him off with a third round knee to the face and then displaying some of the most effective rubber guard I've ever seen against Luis Santos in his semifinal fight.
One of the key factors in this bout is the inclusion of elbows. Saunders has had to restrain himself in his last two fights but now he gets to finally unleash one of his most dangerous weapons. If Lima isn't careful, he could find his face slashed to ribbons by Saunders' Muay Thai prowess. While standing, Lima needs to avoid staying too far away or he'll eat kicks and he can't get too close or he'll eat knees and elbows. On the ground, Lima is very dangerous, but Saunders has some nasty sweeps and attacks from rubber guard. This should be a thoroughly entertaining battle.
Prediction: Ben Saunders via TKO in round three
185 lbs.: Alexander Shlemenko (42-7) vs. Vitor Vianna (12-1-1)
Alexander Shlemenko has had a terrific run in this season's Bellator middleweight tournament. He earned an invite after a complete war with Brett Cooper and then choked out kickboxer Zelg Gelesic in less than two minutes in his quarterfinal match. Strongstyle fighter Brian Rogers gave him all he could handle for just over a round but Shlemenko went to town with knees and punches to the head and body to earn a second round technical knockout and a spot in the finals.
Vitor Vianna didn't get off to a great start. Leland Rolings's number three ranked middleweight prospect's quarterfinal match against Sam Alvey was very hotly contested and he had trouble dealing with the Team Quest fighter's pressure, winning a close split decision. He made a statement, though, in the quarterfinals when he destroyed Bryan Baker in less than a minute after landing a huge overhand right that put "The Beast" on ice.
Both Vianna and Shlemenko have big power in their punches although Shlemenko is clearly the more technically sound striker. Vianna is by far the better fighter on the ground, having won two world championships in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The key will be whether or not Vianna can take this fight to the ground and how long he can hang with Shlemenko on his feet if he can't. This one literally could go either way.
Prediction: Alexander Shlemenko via decision
205 lbs.: Roger Hollett (12-3) vs. John Hawk (6-3)
This bout is expected to be a Bellator season six light heavyweight tournament qualifier match. MFC veteran Roger Hollett was originally expected to face D.J. Linderman but an injury granted John Hawk the opportunity to substitute in his place. Hawk was recently victorious at Bellator 51 in Canton with a second round technical knockout but he's likely over his head with this fight.
Hollett is very dangerous and has faced some very tough competition in the light heavyweight division in his career. The Canadian who trains out of Greg Jackson's in Albuquerque is expecting a quick finish on Saturday and I agree.
Prediction: Roger Hollett via technical knockout in round two
155 lbs.: Alexandre Bezerra (11-1) vs. Doug Evans (13-9)
Alexandre Bezerra is one of Bellator's most talented prospects. At 11-1 thus far in his young career and with his only loss being to current UFC fighter Charles Oliveira, he's got a very bright future ahead of him. Bezerra has dominated in Bellator thus far, going 3-0 with three quick finishes. Most recently, he scored a very impressive second round technical knockout against a very tough wrestler in Scott Heckman.
Doug Evans fought twice for the UFC and has routinely stepped up against some elite competition. He won and defended the Shark Fights featherweight title but he's come up short against every high level fighter he's faced. Evans possesses some decent wrestling and offensive attacks, but this is Bezerra's fight to lose. I wouldn't be surprised to see Bezerra dominate positionally with his jiu-jitsu before either scoring a TKO victory or a submission while on the ground.
Prediction: Alexandre Bezerra via submission in round one
So what do you think, Maniacs?
Are you planning on tuning in to Bellator since they switched their start time this week to 7 p.m. eastern time? Who do you see advancing to the tournament finals and earning a title shot?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, shlemenko, lima
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator champ Joe Warren up against Pat Curran, not Patricio Freire as planned
Patricio Freire will have to test his will against thumb ligament rehabilitation instead of grappler Joe Warren after recently announcing recovery would keep him out until early 2012. Taking Freire’s place against Bellator’s featherweight champ will be 24-year old Pat Curran in February at a yet-to-be-named event.
While the specifics remain cloudy Bellator has confirmed the fight will take place.
Curran is looking to improve upon his 16-4 record and claim a division crown to erase memories of his Unanimous Decision loss to lightweight title-holder Eddie Alvarez. Immediately after his loss, Curran moved down to Featherweight where he is currently riding a four fight win streak topped off by his beating of Marlon Sandro. The win made Curran the promotion’s “Summer Series” tournament winner, a claim ultimately earning him the shot at Warren’s belt.
A Look at Curran’s Win Over Sandro
Curran will take his 20 professional MMA fight record and put them to the test against the much less experienced but more decorated Greco-Roman wrestler Warren who holds a 7-2 record. Warren will look to bounce back from his Bantamweight loss to Alexis Vila in the quarterfinal of the Bellator Season 5 tournament.
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Posted in: fight, bellator, warren, curran, patricio freire
Read the full article at Fighters.comMMA's Bellator reaches global TV deal
Bellator Fighting Championships has agreed to a five-year deal with FremantleMedia Enterprises to sell its MMA programming around the world.
Posted in: bellator, deal, fremantlemedia enterprises, mmas bellator, mma programming
Read the full article at sportsnet.caBellator signs European prospect Attila Vegh (MMAJunkie.com)
Bellator Fighting Championships continues their strategy of signing top global talent, and Attila Vegh (24-4-2...
Posted in: bellator, prospect, championship, vegh, attila
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsPat Curran on tap for February title-fight with Joe Warren
Rather than relive his 2010 classic with Patricio Freire from Bellator 23, featherweight champion Joe Warren will instead defend his title against “Summer Series” tournament-winner Pat Curran after original contender Freire recently revealed surgery on an injured hand would keep him out of the ring for at least four months.
Bellator’s decision to book Curran in place of “Pitbull” was announced shortly thereafter with February 2012 being targeted for the bout. The same month has also been mentioned in relation to a potential superfight between lightweight ace Eddie Alvarez and Japanese submission machine Shinya Aoki.
Curran earned his opportunity to face Warren as much through performance as luck with a trio of victories in the “Summer Series” tournament where he beat highly-touted Brazilian Marlon Sandro in the final. The 24-year old is 16-4 in his career with victories over Ronnie Mann, Toby Imada, and Roger Huerta.
More than only being a chance to prove he is still the “baddest man” at 145 the match-up will also mark the 7-2 Warren’s first fight since being brutally knocked out in the Season 5 bantamweight tournament meaning the former Olympian can redeem himself as a competitor in general in addition to the undisputed champ.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, warren, curran, contender freire, face warren
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator signs European prospect Attila Vegh
Bellator Fighting Championships continues their strategy of signing top global talent, and Attila Vegh is the company's newest employee.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the signing, which was first reported by Sherdog.com.
An opponent and date for his first appearance for the promotion have yet to be determined, but Vegh is expected to take part in an upcoming light heavyweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, prospect, vegh, attila vegh, attila
Read the full article at MMA JunkieEddie Alvarez & Michael Chandler Talk Lightweight Title Fight at Bellator 58
Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler were on Inside MMA last night to talk about their upcoming title fight at Bellator 58. Alvarez will get his rematch with Shinya Aoki in February if he defeats Chandler.
Posted in: bellator, title fight, chandler, alvarez, michael chandler
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator Notebook: Ben Saunders, Alexander Shlemenko's Quests For Redemption
Two tournaments come to a close at Saturday's Bellator 57 as Welterweight Champion Ben Askren and Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard will get new challengers for their titles.In the welterweight finals, Ben Saunders faces Douglas Lima. Since being cut by the UFC in the fall of 2010, Saunders (12-3-2) has won four straight and has finished all of his Bellator competition in the third round. While just 23 years old, Lima (20-4) competes for the 25th time Saturday and brings an eight-fight win streak into the finals.In the middleweight finals, Alexander Shlemenko's quest for a rematch with Lombard continues but Vitor Vianna stands in his way. Since Lombard defeated him to win the title in October 2010, Shlemenko (42-7) has ripped off five wins in a row with four finishes. Vianna (12-1-1) has also won five straight and is coming off a first round TKO win over Bryan Baker to advance to the finals.There is a common thread in the quests for both Saunders and Shlemenko: redemption. The former is trying to send a message to the MMA world that the UFC made a mistake in cutting him too soon. The latter wants to prove that his decision loss Lombard, someone who has yet to be challenged since beating him, was just a blip on the radar. However, Lima and Vianna are no slouches and want their Bellator season debuts to culminate with a big check and a title shot.
With everyone on winning streaks and consistent roads to Saturday, these promise to be two of the most competitive final bouts in the promotion's young history.
Hawk, Horodecki and A Guy Named Doug
While not big on names casual fans would know, the rest of the main card in Rama, Ontario, has some promise for some entertaining fights with guys trying to get slots in tournaments next year.
On the televised portion, John Hawk will fight Roger Hollett in light heavyweight action. Hawk (6-3) made his Bellator debut in September with a first round TKO win over Allan Weickert while Hollett (12-3) will look to extend a four fight win streak in his Bellator debut. Of note, Hollett has 11 finishes in his 12 wins with seven coming via submission.
Also expected to air is Alexandre Bezerra vs. Doug Evans in the featherweight division. Bezerra (11-1) has been tearing through competition as of late, winning six straight with five of those wins via submission. He will face a veteran in Evans (13-9), making his Bellator debut. Evans is riding a two-fight losing streak, but has eight career submission victories to his credit.
In a lightweight swing bout, Chris Horodecki (18-3) continues his comeback post-WEC in a bout against Mike Corey. Horodecki is 2-0 since his release with a decision win coming over Chris Saunders in his promotional debut in July. Corey (11-2) will make his Bellator debut Saturday and is riding a five-fight win streak. This will be his first action since January.
News And Notes
On Monday, Bellator announced that U.K.-based FremantleMedia Enterprises will represent them in international TV distribution rights in addition to licensing, digital and ancillary rights for both the U.S. and international markets. The company represents a slew of well-known properties (The Price Is Right, American Idol, The X Factor, etc) and has an existing relationship with Spike TV.
In case you missed it, news broke Monday that Featherweight Champion Joe Warren would next defend against Pat Curran in early-February due to another injury to Patricio Friere. That news was confirmed by Bellator Tuesday.
SBN coverage of Bellator 57
Posted in: bellator, bellator debut, debut, streak, saunder
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowPat Curran Faces Joe Warren for Bellator Featherweight Title in Early 2012
An injury to Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire has opened up a slot for Pat Curran to step in and face Bellator featherweight champ Joe Warren in February.
Posted in: bellator, joe, joe warren, featherweight, curran
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator CEB Bjorn Rebney addresses criticism of non-title “superfights”
As much praise as Bellator FC may receive for determining divisional contendership through tournaments the organization has also drawn fire for the resulting inactivity of their champions when it comes to defending belts. While Bellator keeps its divisional kings on display through occasional non-title “superfights”, doing so rubs some the wrong way and is flawed strategy as proven by light heavyweight champ Christian M’Pumbu’s loss to Travis Wiuff a few weeks ago at Bellator 55.
Company head Bjorn Rebney recently opened up on the topic, letting the public know Bellator had been listening to their concerns and was actively seeking ways to improve the process.
“We’ve talked about eliminating the superfights”, said Rebney in a conversation with MMAJunkie. “It’s a consideration.”
Rebney elaborated further, explaining Bellator would potentially make up for the lack of non-title affairs by holding a larger number of tournaments, possibly even extending shows and showing certain quarterfinals through Spike.com rather than on an event’s televised broadcast.
Rebney Says Bellator will Help Injured Champ Zoila Gurgel
On a side note, those hoping Jay Hieron would receive an immediate rematch at Ben Askren after losing a decision many felt he should have won, Rebney also clarified the matter, stating, “Absolutely not. It was a great fight … but Jay would have to win another tournament to get another shot.”
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator considering more tournaments per season, elimination of non-title fights
Since winning his title two-and-a-half years ago, Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard has defended his belt just once.
The same goes for lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez.
But that could soon change. As Bellator CEO and chairman Bjorn Rebeny told MMAjunkie.com, the addition of more tournaments, the elimination of non-title fights, and continued between-seasons events all could result in the champs defending their titles more often.
Posted in: bellator, bellator ceo, nontitle fights, betweenseasons events, season elimination
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWith Patricio Pitbull Injured, Pat Curran to Face Joe Warren for Bellator 145-Pound Title
Filed under: Bellator, NewsA hand injury has forced Patricio "Pitbull" Freire to undergo surgery, scuttling plans for his Bellator featherweight title shot against Joe Warren. So instead, Bellator will go to plan B.
By virtue of his recent 2011 Summer Series featherweight tournament win, Pat Curran was next in line after Freire, but now he's been bumped ahead with Freire on the shelf, and Curran will face off with Warren at an early 2012 event.
The promotion confirmed the bout on Tuesday, but has not yet finalized an exact date for the title fight.
This will be Curran's second shot at a Bellator championship. In 2010, he won a lightweight tournament and advanced to face reigning champ Eddie Alvarez, but lost a unanimous decision. Afterward, he dropped to featherweight and impressed during his three fights through the bracket, defeating Luis Palomino via submission, Ronnie Mann by decision, and then stopping pre-tournament favorite Marlon Sandro in a second-round knockout.
Curran is 16-4 overall.
Warren (7-2) recently attempted to become a two-division champion in Bellator, hoping to add a bantamweight belt to his collection, but in a first-round fight with Alexis Vila, he was knocked out in just 64 seconds. He previously won the 145-pound belt in September 2010 with a KO of Joe Soto. This will be his first title defense.
Freire (17-1), who won a season four featherweight tournament, will eventually take on the winner of Curran-Warren. The promotion confirmed that Freire's surgery was expected to keep him out of the gym for three months. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: bellator, title, warren, curran, freire
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator looks for worldwide TV deals following FremantleMedia partnership (MMAJunkie.com)
Bellator Fighting Championships has inked a deal to give FremantleMedia Enterprises a license to negotiate its...
Posted in: bellator, deal, fremantlemedia, fremantlemedia enterprises, tv deals
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsPat Curran To Get Next Shot at Bellator Featherweight Champ Joe Warren
MMA Junkie reported Monday that Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Warren will defend his title against Pat Curran in February 2012.
Originally, Season 4 145-pound tournament winner Patricky "Pitbull" Friere was next in line but has injured his hand for a second time, making the change in title challengers necessary. Friere was originally set to battle Warren at July's Bellator 47 but broke his hand.
"Pitbull's had some problems with his hand," Rebney said. "We got him in to see the right people in Southern California. They re-looked at this hand and did another surgery recently. The prognosis is very good, but given what's occurred, he can't hit anything for 90 days."
The plan of action now is for Friere to get a shot at the winner of Warren vs. Curran during the promotion's unannounced sixth season which is expected for the spring if past seasons are any indication. The February event and location has not officially been announced.The 24-year-old Curran earned a title shot with his 2011 Summer Series tournament victory, which saw him win three fights in two months time. Curran (16-4) also won the promotion's 155-pound tournament in 2010 and was defeated by Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez this past April.
Warren (7-2) has yet to defend the gold he earned in September 2010. Since that time, he's defeated Marcos Galvao in a controversial non-title unanimous decision in April and been knocked out by Alexis Vila in the opening round of Bellator's 135-pound tournament in September.
Posted in: bellator, tournament, warren, hand, curran
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCurran lands Bellator title shot
Pat Curran has landed himself a title shot against Bellator champ Joe Warren in February.Curran got the slot after leading contender Patricio ‘Pitbull’...
Posted in: title shot, bellator, title, shot, curran
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyCurran Leapfrogs ‘Pitbull,’ Gets Bellator Champ Warren in February
An injury to Bellator Fighting Championships’ top featherweight contender has moved Pat Curran up in line for a sooner-than-expected title shot
Posted in: bellator, injury, curran, championships ’, featherweight contender
Read the full article at SherdogBellator/Viacom sign deal for distribution of Bellator content
In a sign of growth for the company, Bellator has entered into a deal with FremantleMedia Enterprises. The company will represent Bellator in seeking international distribution rights and other business opportunities on behalf of the company.
Via joint FME-Bellator press release:
FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME), the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, today announced a global rights deal with Bellator Fighting Championships for FME to exclusively represent the rapidly growing brand’s international TV distribution rights, as well as handle the licensing, digital and ancillary rights for the US and international markets.
Since its launch in 2009, Bellator has rapidly gained momentum in the US and abroad, and is now the No. 2 promoter and producer of mixed martial arts worldwide. Currently in its fifth season, Bellator airs in over 80 million homes on MTV2, in high-definition in 30 million homes on EPIX and can be seen weekly on Spike.com. Recognizing the growing popularity of the brand, Viacom, parent of MTV Networks, recently acquired a majority stake in the company. Additionally, Viacom has announced that Bellator will debut on Spike TV in early 2013, where it will be seen in over 100 million homes.
David Ellender, FME’s Global CEO, commented, “This deal further diversifies FME’s third party slate and builds on our reputation as experts at identifying and exploiting the potential of emerging brands. The sport of mixed martial arts is gaining momentum with fans worldwide, and we can see huge potential for the Bellator brand across all platforms, both in the US and internationally.”
“The incredible athleticism and intensity exhibited in all of our mixed martial arts tournaments translate into any language,” said Bjorn Rebney, Chairman, CEO and Founder of Bellator. “With FME as our partner, we will have the ability to showcase our high-intensity brand of fighting to millions around the globe.”
Payout Perspective:
This deal bodes well for Bellator as its a sign of the expansion of the brand and the potential of tapping unrealized economic opportunities abroad. Its likely that this deal is in place as it foreshadows Bellator’s move to Spike TV a year from now.
Posted in: bellator, deal, company, brand, fme
Read the full article at MMA PayoutFremantleMedia Acquires Int’l TV, Licensing Rights to Bellator
Bellator Fighting Championships could soon hit airwaves outside North America, as the Chicago-based promotion’s international television rights have been acquired by a London firm.
Posted in: bellator, right, television rights, bellator bellator, firm
Read the full article at SherdogWith 'Pitbull' injured, Pat Curran gets Bellator champ Joe Warren in February
With Patricio "Pitbull" Freire recovering from a second hand surgery, fellow tournament winner Pat Curran will get the next shot at Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren.
Bellator CEO and chairman Bjorn Rebney today confirmed the plans with MMAjunkie.com.
According to Rebney, Curran has leapfrogged Freire in the division's pecking order. His title fight with Warren in now targeted for a currently unannounced February event - one that could also feature Bellator champ Eddie Alvarez vs. DREAM champ Shinya Aoki.
Posted in: bellator, title fight, rebney curran, february event, leapfrogged freire
Read the full article at MMA JunkieHorodecki-Corey Completes 10-Fight Bill for Saturday’s Bellator 57
Chris Horodecki will remain on the bill for Bellator Fighting Championships 57 despite the withdrawal of original opponent Ricardo Tirloni.
Posted in: bellator, championship, horodecki, tirloni, bill
Read the full article at SherdogBellator signs global distribution deal with FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME)
London/Chicago, November 7, 2011 – FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME), the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, today announced a global rights deal with Bellator Fighting Championships for FME to exclusively represent the rapidly growing brand’s international TV distribution rights, as well as handle the licensing, digital and ancillary rights for the US and international markets.
Since its launch in 2009, Bellator has rapidly gained momentum in the US and abroad, and is now the No. 2 promoter and producer of mixed martial arts worldwide. Currently in its fifth season, Bellator airs in over 80 million homes on MTV2, in high-definition in 30 million homes on EPIX and can be seen weekly on Spike.com.
Recognizing the growing popularity of the brand, Viacom, parent of MTV Networks, recently acquired a majority stake in the company. Additionally, Viacom has announced that Bellator will debut on Spike TV in early 2013, where it will be seen in over 100 million homes.
David Ellender, FME’s Global CEO, commented, "This deal further diversifies FME’s third party slate and builds on our reputation as experts at identifying and exploiting the potential of emerging brands. The sport of mixed martial arts is gaining momentum with fans worldwide, and we can see huge potential for the Bellator brand across all platforms, both in the US and internationally."
"The incredible athleticism and intensity exhibited in all of our mixed martial arts tournaments translate into any language," said Bjorn Rebney, Chairman, CEO and Founder of Bellator. "With FME as our partner, we will have the ability to showcase our high-intensity brand of fighting to millions around the globe."
Bellator Fighting Championships showcases a unique format of world-class fighting with 12-week, eight-man tournaments featuring some of the most dynamic fighters in the world. Bellator’s fifth season currently airs Saturday nights on MTV2 and simulcast in HD on EPIX2.
Its preliminary bouts are also streamed live worldwide on Spike.com.
Bellator’s events emanate from venues across the United States and Canada. The organisation’s stable of championship fighters includes lightweight world champion Eddie Alvarez, middleweight champion Hector Lombard, welterweight champion Ben Askren, bantamweight champion Zack Makovsky, heavyweight champion Cole Konrad and Women’s 115-pound champion Zoila Frausto.
Posted in: bellator, champion, brand, home, fme
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChris Horodecki vs. Mike Corey added to Saturday's Bellator 57 main card
Saturday's Bellator 57 has a late addition to the televised main card.
Canadian IFL and WEC vet Chris Horodecki is now slated to fight fellow lightweight Mike Corey at the weekend event.
MMAjunkie.com confirmed the booking with event sources.
Bellator 57 takes place this Saturday, Nov. 12, at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
Posted in: bellator, saturday, casino rama, mike corey, fight fellow
Read the full article at MMA JunkieNew TV Deal Has Bellator Thinking Globally
Filed under: BellatorWhen Viacom purchased Bellator Fighting Championships, it was a strong sign that the promotion has a good chance to survive as America's No. 2 mixed martial arts promotion. Now Bellator is looking at expanding globally as well.
"I'm really trying to expand this brand into international markets," Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney told MMAFighting.com. "I've always believed since I started watching MMA that this sport was a very easy sport to grasp and understand -- the most basic level of sports competition -- one man vs. another man in a world class competition. So my vision has been building up enough presence domestically so we can start to expand internationally."
Toward that end, Bellator is announcing on Monday a deal with FremantleMedia Enterprises to represent its international TV distribution rights. FremantleMedia has operations in 22 countries and is involved in distributing nearly 10,000 hours of TV programming around the world every year.
"What this really means is we've got the foremost partner in the space out there helping us build this brand from an international perspective," Rebney said. "Domestically I've been clear that we've got the greatest domestic partner you could have from a television perspective. But now internationally we've got them looking to disseminate Bellator content into every single country."
Rebney said he thinks getting on TV channels around the world will help Bellator attract fans from outside North America, as well as compete for the best international MMA talent. He also said he can see Bellator doing international events in Brazil or Europe, although he said the logistics would be difficult to do an overseas show as one of Bellator's weekly seasonal events.
"We'll be able to really expand the power and breadth of the marketing machine," Rebney said. "We're three years old and have never done those things, but now that we have a partner like Fremantle we can start that development process. You'll see more Bellator licensed products, both domestically and internationally. You'll see more home entertainment, video on demand options in Bellator."
As you'd expect from a promoter, Rebney is bullish on what can be expected from Bellator going forward.
"The working relationship with Viacom is spectacular," Rebney said. "This is another very powerful, very large, very well-connected corporate entity that's very invested in the Bellator brand in mixed martial arts."
MMAFighting.com also caught up with Rebney for some other questions and answers regarding issues facing Bellator.
Michael David Smith: Ben Askren beat Jay Hieron in a very close split decision to retain the Bellator welterweight title. Would you consider booking an immediate rematch between the two of them?
Bjorn Rebney: I thought it was a great fight. The reason I went out and signed Jay Hieron was because I thought he was a world-class fighter who had never been given his shot. The key selling point I had with Jay was that if you come here you'll have a clear path to the title. He got it, he bought into it, Ben faced the best fighter he has faced thus far in his career. I thought Ben won the fight. I think the world of Jay Hieron and it would be my pleasure to have him back in another tournament and give him another shot at fighting either Ben Askren or the Ben Saunders-Douglas Lima winner, whoever of them might beat Ben Askren. But I don't give anyone a title shot. Guys earn a title shot in Bellator. So I'm not going to deviate from what's made Bellator unique, and that is that you earn it. Jay got super close, and it was a great fight, but the judges decided Ben won the fight, and if Jay wants another shot he'll come back and earn it.
Are you worried that the tournament format makes your champions too inactive? For instance, Eddie Alvarez likes to stay active, but he's only fought once this year and twice last year.
No, but I'm taking steps right now to increase the frequency of our world title defenses. If you look at other champions you see they typically will defend their titles twice in a year and we're in a position where champions defend their titles twice in a year, but I would like to increase that frequency. So I'm working with our partners at Spike on an adjustment to the format that will allow us to put more tournaments in each season -- not to change the tournaments, but to increase the number of tournaments so we can more regularly provide challengers who have earned the right to fight our champions. Of all the things we've done format wise, the only thing that wasn't as good as I wanted was the superfights. It wasn't an optimal situation in terms of how it should work in a perfect world, which is the guys should be defending their titles every time they step in the cage. That's what we're working on now.
Is Michael Chandler a good enough challenge for Alvarez? And what do you see in Alvarez's future?
I think Mike Chandler is a freak. He's an absolute monster. His maturation in the game, and his progression as a mixed martial artist, is more prolific than anyone I've seen over the last three years. He's a champion wrestler, who showed in his standup with Patricky Pitbull that he's a beast. He trains at an amazing camp with Randy Couture in Vegas and he's an absolute beast. I think Eddie is the best 155-pounder on earth but I think Chandler will be one of the toughest opponents of his career. People will be shocked at how competitive that fight will be.
Is Eddie Alvarez going to fight Shinya Aoki next?
It's signed to happen. The issue becomes what happens in Ed's fight with Mike. Contingent upon the outcome of that fight, it's scheduled to happen in the first quarter of 2012. The folks we're working with it at Dream say they're ready to move forward for it but we have to see how Ed does in his fight with Mike, although Ed losing his title to Mike wouldn't preclude him from fighting Aoki.
Lorenzo Fertitta recently predicted that you guys would end up on pay-per-view. Do you think that will happen?
I didn't see that. There's a potential that we could end up on pay-per-view but our model right now is great because we don't have to get to pay-per-view for our business model to work. Pay-per-view is a difficult model to get to, but hard-core fans of MMA know when pay-per-view is warranted. I don't believe we're there yet but I believe there's the potential for us to get there. The transition to Spike is an amazing step -- they're the name in MMA on TV. I don't know when pay-per-view will occur, but it could occur in the future.
When will Season 6 start?
First quarter of 2012. We don't have a date yet, we'll take some time off after our last fight of this season on November 26 and then get ready to roll.
Which weight classes will you do in Season 6?
We'll definitely have 155, 145 for sure, probably 205 as well because our team has got some amazing signings at light heavyweight, and then we'll figure it out after that. The question is whether we'll do four, five or six tournaments next season.
What do you see as the future of women's MMA in Bellator?
It definitely has a future. It's definitely something we talk about, strategize on and plan for. We've got Jessica Aguilar fighting Lisa Ward coming up. I don't know if Season 6 will see a women's tournament but we'll definitely put women's fights together. Depth is an issue with eight-woman tournaments -- the depth across a weight class isn't one of women's MMA's strengths. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, bellator, title, tournament, rebney
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseEddie Alvarez vs Shinya Aoki rematch planned for Bellator in early 2012
Though Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez has a fight lined up against Mike Chandler on Nov. 19, 2011, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney already has a fight planned for his lightweight champion for early 2012.
Specifically, a rematch against the last man to defeat him, DREAM lightweight champion and limb tearing submission specialist, Shinya Aoki.
Alvarez and Aoki were first matched up at Dynamite 2008 in Japan. It wasn't much of a fight, though, as it lasted all of 92 seconds. Aoki caught Eddie early in the opening stanza with a heel hook that forced a tap. Since then, Alvarez has been on a tear, winning his last eight fights and capturing the Bellator lightweight title in the process.
Time now to get that Aoki thorn out of his side.
Speaking to MMA Weekly, Rebney reveals that the wheels are in motion to have the rematch setup in Bellator in early 2012.
"Eddie and I have been talking about that fight now for the last two years. Ever since Eddie got submitted over in Japan, Ed's been calling me saying ‘how can we make it?' Now we've finally got it done. To be completely honest, Ed has got his hands full against Mike Chandler. Mike Chandler is an absolute freak of nature in terms of his wrestling. Ed's completely focused. He's 110-percent as good as he's ever been. So we'll see what happens in that fight. That is going to be a wickedly difficult fight for both of those guys If Ed wins that fight then we would look at doing the Aoki fight probably February sometime. An early February date, cause Ed's fight's going to happen right around Thanksgiving, and then you want at least a couple of months. You want at least a couple of months before you jump in there with one of the best lightweights in the world."
Aoki gives his thoughts:
"Yes, I will fight him next year. I am looking forward to it."
Before the rematch can even take place, Alvarez will have to defend his lightweight belt against the winner of the most recent Bellator lightweight ournament, the dangerous and undefeated, Mike Chandler.
Aoki, on the other hand, was last seen in action at Dream 17 on Sept. 24, 2011, where he defeated Rob McCullough via neck crank. The Japanese judoka is riding an impressive six fight winning streak since losing to current Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez on April 17, 2010.
Should this champion vs. champion rematch take place? If so, who wins and why?
Posted in: fight, bellator, champion, alvarez, aoki
Read the full article at MMA ManiaEddie Alvarez will earn second shot at Shinya Aoki with win at Bellator 58
Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez (22-2) hasn’t been beaten in nearly three years, winning all seven of his scraps since falling to submission specialist Shinya Aoki (29-5) on New Year’s Eve in 2008. However, while Alvarez has certainly experienced his share of success since the 90-second loss, recent victories over the apt adversaries like Josh Neer and Roger Huerta haven’t diluted his desire to lock horns a second time with the “Tobikan Judan”.
Now it appears Alvarez will get his wish in February as long as he’s able to hold off undefeated grappler Michael Chandler in two weeks at Bellator 58, no easy feat to be sure.
According to Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, the organization is ready to make the match-up with Aoki’s camp also apparently on board.
“Eddie and I have been talking about that fight now for the last two years. Ever since Eddie got submitted over in Japan, Ed’s been calling me saying ‘how can we make it?’ Now we’ve finally got it done,” Rebney explained in a conversation with MMAWeekly Radio.
Focusing on the present rather than future, Rebney also acknowledged the bout between Alvarez and Aoki is far from a given considering the challenge the 8-0 Chandler poses after winning the promotion’s Season 4 lightweight tournament earlier this year.
“To be completely honest, Ed has got his hands full against Chandler. Chandler is an absolute freak of nature in terms of his wrestling. His stand-up has really come around. Chandler’s a beast,” said Rebney glowingly of the Xtreme Couture competitor.
Gil Martinez Talks Star-Student Chandler’s Future
Fans can watch Alvarez attempt to earn his chance at redemption against Aoki on November 19 on a card also featuring a middleweight super-fight between explosive Cuban champion Hector Lombard and well-rounded journeyman Trevor Prangley.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, chandler, alvarez, aoki, eddie
Read the full article at Fighters.comSneak peek: Saturday's 'Bellator Road to the Championship' special for season five
Although Bellator Fighting Championships takes a break from live fights
this week, the organization debuts "Bellator Road to the Championship"
on Saturday.
The season-five special recaps the recent events and tournaments while
previewing the organization's three remaining season-five events.
The half-hour special airs at 11 p.m. ET/PT on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, championship, saturday, seasonfive events, bellator road
Read the full article at MMA JunkieEddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki Rematch Booked For February, Sort Of
There have been rumors for months about Bellator staging a rematch between their lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez and the Dream lightweight champion Shinya Aoki. Today, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney confirmed the rumors and said the bout was signed for February - on one condition (via MMA Weekly):
The only hurdle left to go before the fight happens is Alvarez defending his Bellator lightweight title against tournament winner Mike Chandler in just over a week. That by no means is a gimmee. Rebney understands that and so does Alvarez.
"To be completely honest, Ed has got his hands full against Mike Chandler. Mike Chandler is an absolute freak of nature in terms of his wrestling. His stand-up has really come around. Chandler’s a beast," said Rebney.
The two men first met at Dynamite! 2008, and Aoki submitted Alvarez with a heel hook in just 92 seconds. Alvarez signed with Bellator shortly after and has won seven straight fights in the promotion. He'll hope to make it eight with a win over Chandler next weekend. Aoki last competed at Dream 17 in September, where he submitted Rob McCullough in the first round. Aoki has fought twice before in the US, both for Strikeforce.
Posted in: bellator, chandler, alvarez, aoki, mike
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowWith Zoila Gurgel hurt, Carina Damm scratched from Bellator 57 (MMAJunkie.com)
Carina Damm (17-8 MMA, 0-0 BFC) will not compete at next week's Bellator 57 event. The Brazilian contender...
Posted in: bellator, carina damm, zoila gurgel, damm, carina
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsHigh stakes for Saunders as Bellator returns to Canada
Bellator Fighting Championships makes its return to Canada on Saturday, November 12th as the promotion hosts Bellator 57 from Casino Rama in Ontario.The...
Posted in: bellator, canada, casino rama, bellator returns, canada bellator
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyEddie Alvarez: 'With Spike TV behind Bellator, watch how good we become'
Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez is one of the best mixed martial artists in the game today.
Boasting a record of 22-2, Alvarez has spent the better part of his professional career competing for DREAM and Bellator and has impressive wins over the likes of Roger Huerta, Tatsuya Kawajiri and Joachim Hansen.
There is just one problem: he hasn't had the exposure that many of today's top mixed martial arts stars receive.
But that may all change very soon.
With media conglomerate Viacom buying a large stake in Bellator, Alvarez, along with the rest of the roster, may soon get the exposure that rivals that of the UFC's.
Speaking to Loretta Hunt of SI.com, Bellator's lightweight champion talked about Viacom's purchase as well as the desire to fight more often and also reveals that he wanted to purchase of piece of the Bellator pie.
"Originally, when the UFC purchased Strikeforce, I got very on edge. I called Bjorn Rebney to ask him if there was any possible way that I could buy stake in Bellator. The way the UFC was buying up promotions like that; I didn't want them to come in on Bellator without me being able to capitalize on it."
According to Alvarez, Rebney (Bellator CEO) was open to the idea, but talks never went any further. Soon after, it was announced that Viacom, which is the world's fourth largest media conglomerate behind The Walt Disney Company, Time Warner and News Corporation, had purchased a majority of Bellator's stake.
Alvarez also touched on the frustrations of not fighting on a more regular basis.
"I'd love that. Don't get me wrong, I love the tournament format, but I'd love fighting five times a year. It's hard to do that when we're waiting on a guy to win the tournament. I'm almost tempted to enter another tournament waiting around."
With Viacom now being a majority stake owner, an elated Alvarez feels that everyone will now be able to see how good he and the rest of the Bellator roster really are with their new-found exposure outlet.
"Spike knows what it takes; they know the UFC's production value. They know the UFC's game plan. They're probably going to follow the formula that the UFC does and just tweak it because Bellator has its own flavor with the tournaments. I'd imagine they'll try to create a product that is similar in value when you turn on the TV, but the tournament structure will make it different. You're going to see, and mark my words, I'm going to say it now. Spike TV is behind Bellator now. Watch how good (middleweight champion) Hector Lombard becomes. Watch how good I become. Watch how good (bantamweight champion) Zach Makovsky becomes overnight as soon they start promoting us. Look how excellent of fighters we become. The reality is I'm not any better today than I am tomorrow. It's just more people will know."
Spike will start airing Bellator's bouts in 2013, in the meantime, the world's number two mixed martial arts promotion can currently be seen on MTV2, which is also owned by Viacom.
UFC President Dana White has always been hesitant to say MMA has gone mainstream, however, with the UFC striking a massive deal with FOX and Bellator now under the direction of Viacom, do you feel it's safe to say that mixed martial arts is close to reaching its mainstream potential, if it hasn't already?
Thoughts?
Posted in: ufc, bellator, alvarez, tournament, viacom
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 56 Video Highlights
Video highlights from Bellator 56.
Read the full article at MMA Convert
Bellator 56: 154,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 56 earned an average of 154,000 viewers. This marked the second straight week in a row Bellator’s ratings decreased in its Saturday night spot on MTV2.
Via MMA Junkie:
The event again faced stiff competition from the UFC. UFC 137 took place the same night in Las Vegas, and the event’s Facebook, Spike TV and pay-per-view fights overlapped with Bellator 56′s broadcast and stream.
Payout Perspective:
This week’s decrease in ratings was probable considering it went up against UFC 137, college football and Saturday night Halloween activities. Its a shame considering the Askren-Hieron fight was a matchup that many casual MMA fans would have been interested in. Arguably, Askren is one of the faces of Bellator and its unfortunate that this fight did not get more publicity…or a better night to run this event.
Posted in: fight, night, bellator, event, mma fans
Read the full article at MMA PayoutFeatherweight Prospect Bezerra, WEC Vet Jansen Join Bellator 57 Card
Up-and-coming Brazilian featherweight Alexandre Bezerra will look to improve to 4-0 under the Bellator Fighting Championships banner when he meets two-time UFC competitor Douglas Evans at Bellator 57.
Posted in: bellator, prospect, featherweight, championships banner, bezerra
Read the full article at SherdogTop prospect Alexandre "Popo" Bezerra meets UFC vet Doug Evans at Bellator 57
A lightweight bout between top prospect Alexandre "Popo" Bezerra and UFC vet Doug Evans has been added to next week's Bellator 57 event.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the booking with event sources.
Bellator 57 takes place Nov. 12 at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
Posted in: bellator, prospect, casino rama, popo, doug
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator signs UFC vet Brian Foster for welterweight division (MMAJunkie.com)
Brian Foster (18-5 MMA, 0-0 BFC) is headed to Bellator Fighting Championships' competitive welterweight...
Posted in: bellator, bfc, welterweight, division, brian
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsAlexander Shlemenko vs. Vitor Vianna tourney finale bumped up to Bellator 57 (MMAJunkie.com)
Alexander Shlemenko (42-7 MMA, 6-1 BFC) and Vitor Vianna (12-1-1 MMA, 2-0 BFC) will still compete for Bellator...
Posted in: bellator, bfc, shlemenko, vitor, vianna
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBellator deal could reshape MMA landscape (Yahoo! Sports)
Viacom's investment in Bellator could have long-term implications for the mixed martial arts industry.
Posted in: bellator, sport, deal, art, bellator deal
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsInjured Tirloni Withdraws from Bellator 57 Bout Against Horodecki
A planned lightweight contest between Ricardo Tirloni and Chris Horodecki will not go down as planned at Bellator Fighting Championships 57.
Posted in: bellator, ricardo tirloni, horodecki, tirloni, chris horodecki
Read the full article at SherdogUltimate Submissions: Bellator Bantamweight Champion Zach Makovsky finishes in style
Bellator Fighting Championships, since its first show, has taken a back seat to the UFC in terms of buzz and the size of its audience. While the promotion doesn’t attract the high volume of people the UFC consistently does, the promotion rarely fails on delivering a quality product.
Uniquely, Bellator has made its fight league tournament based, and each tournament winner fights the reigning champion. It is the epitome of working your way to deserving your title shot. It seems as if in every show Bellator promotes something noteworthy and highlight reels abound.
Each show is a must see event if you are a fan of lesser known fighters who put everything on the line.
Bellator 54, which took place earlier this month on October 15, was no different. Bantamweight Champion Zach Makovsky would take on Ryan Roberts in what promised to be an exciting showdown. The bout was a non-title fight for Makovsky while he awaited the conclusion of the 135-pound tournament currently underway.
Instead of just getting through the fight while waiting to defend his title, Makovsky finished it ... brilliantly.
Let's break down how he did it.
Holding a record of 14 wins with only two losses, Zack Makovsky can definitely be considered an up-and-comer, a prospect looking to make a name for himself in a division that is gaining steam within Bellator and is an absolute shark tank outside of it.
Makovsky, a Division I wrestler, showcased his grappling from the opening bell, as he put himself in position to dominate when his opponent, Ryan Roberts, made a critical misjudgment.
Before we start, let me first give a thank you to Zombie Prophet for the .gifs. Check out his site (Ironforgesiron.com) -- he has .gifs and videos of fights up faster than anyone else on the 'net.
Roberts attempts to establish his pace immediately with a low kick. The kick is so non-committal and slow that Makovsky catches it with ease. He grabs the low-mid shin area and he circles with the leg. He doesn’t drive into the takedown, instead he uses that circling to take Roberts base away and his balance, or lack thereof, gets the fight to the mat.
One of the most important things to remember when facing wrestlers, especially ones of the Division I caliber, is that they are waiting to prey on your legs. Single legs and double legs are what wrestlers want to feast on in order to be in their comfort zone, which is on the ground on top of an opponent.
Roberts shouldn’t have strayed from using a low kick; he should have set it up and put much more commitment into the kick itself. It didn’t get any better for the former UFC fighter after that.
Wrestlers are hell on top of you; they have such a solid base that it suffocates you and is highly frustrating. Makovsky shows this as he smothers Roberts and keeps him from putting all effort into escaping with short strikes that are more annoying then powerful.
While in side control, Makovsky is looking to trap and isolate arms. Even though he isn’t doing much one wrong move from Roberts may leave an opening for the pass into mount or arm locks like a kimura or americana, which are both heavily utilized by wrestlers.
Roberts makes that pivotal mistake when he attempts to scramble and inadvertently puts himself into a north-south position. If Roberts would have exploded and got to his knees there is a much better chance he could have escaped back to his feet.
Instead, Makovsky is able to get his right arm around Roberts' neck and positions himself very heavy on the chest and head area. He reaches under and clasps the choking arm in a "Gable Grip." He flattens out his base, staying very heavy on top of the choke, and is able to secure the tap out.
The submission is called a "North-South Choke" and is a favorite amongst powerful wrestlers. Jeff Monson and Matt Hughes have used this front choke to finish opponents. Monson most notably, as it has become a favorite of his throughout his career.
The choke utilizes the bicep to cut off blood flow on one side of the neck. The hold takes slightly longer to finish then other chokes but with the right base it is very difficult to escape. As you can see above, Makovsky has the bicep tight and the rest of his weight on the opposite side of the neck which creates a crushing force on each side and on top of the head and neck area.
With the win, Makovsky continues his quest to become one of the best bantamweights in the world. He's slowly making his way into the spotlight and with finishes like this, it would be long before he's courted by the larger promotions.
Posted in: fight, bellator, robert, makovsky, wrestler
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator Shifts Shlemenko-Vianna Middleweight Final to Nov. 12
Bellator Fighting Championships’ fifth-season middleweight finalists will collide one week sooner than expected, as Alexander Shlemenko and Vitor Vianna have been assigned to Bellator 57 on Nov. 12.
Posted in: alexander shlemenko, bellator, middleweight, nov, vitor vianna
Read the full article at SherdogBellator Signs Former UFC Welterweight Brian Foster
Bellator has signed former UFC welterweight Brian Foster, who won his final two fights in the Octagon to improve to 3-2 in the UFC, but was cut after suffering a brain hemorrhage before a scheduled fight with Sean Pierson in April.
“I’ve been seen by two of the best doctors in the state, they’ve medically cleared me and I feel great,” Foster said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to facing Bellator’s best and becoming the next welterweight champion.”
For the latest Bellator news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, welterweight, brain hemorrhage, bellator news
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyAlexander Shlemenko vs. Vitor Vianna tourney finale bumped up to Bellator 57
Alexander Shlemenko and Vitor Vianna will still compete for Bellator Fighting Championships' season-five middleweight tourney crown.
They'll just do it a week earlier than expected.
MMAjunkie.com has learned from sources close to the event that Shlemenko and Vianna will now meet at Bellator 57 instead of Bellator 58, as was previously announced.
Posted in: bellator, shlemenko, alexander, vianna, vitor vianna
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC veteran Brian Foster signs with Bellator, targets Ben Askren
CHICAGO, Ill. (November 1, 2011) — Brian Foster has a message for the Bellator welterweight division and its champion Ben Askren:
"I’m coming."
The former UFC fighter who won his last two fights in the UFC and who sports a 18-5 record as a welterweight has recently signed with Bellator Fighting Championships in a deal that adds another legitimate contender to Bellator’s already stacked welterweight division.
Currently riding a four-fight win streak, including a TKO win over Forrest Petz and a submission victory against Matt Brown during his UFC run, Foster, who has finished all 18 of his career wins, is hitting his stride and has one thing on his mind.
"I’m getting that belt," Foster said. "I want to fight the best. I want to fight Ben Askren and take home that belt. I ran through my last two opponents and I’m better than I’ve ever been. I’m very happy to be a part of Bellator and I’m coming for the top spot."
The Granite City, Illinois fighter has never gone to a decision in his career. With 10 wins by submission and eight by TKO/KO, the exciting Foster should add another threat to an already stacked welterweight division.
Despite a medical setback in his career, Foster says he’s now 100 percent healthy and ready to start on his road to the championship.
"I’ve been seen by two of the best doctors in the state, they’ve medically cleared me and I feel great," Foster added. "I’m looking forward to facing Bellator’s best and becoming the next welterweight champion."
Posted in: ufc, bellator, welterweight, welterweight division, irsquom
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFoster joins Bellator with eyes on Askren's title
Brian Foster has a message for the Bellator welterweight division and its champion Ben Askren: “I’m coming.”The former UFC fighter who...
Posted in: ufc, bellator, division, askren, ufc fighter
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBellator Notebook: Arguing For Title Rematches, Ratings Drop, Former UFC Signed
On the day of the battle between Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren and Jay Hieron, I lamented about how the fight was getting no buzz or attention because of its placement directly against a UFC pay-per-view featuring two well-known entities in B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz.
A few days later, that thought is still prevalent as Askren and Hieron battled for 25 minutes in one of most entertaining bouts in the promotion's history -- one that begs for an immediate rematch in a similar vein as the non-title bout between 205-pound champion Christian M'Pumbu and Travis Wiuff the week before.For those that didn't see the fight, I implore you to find it as there was some controversy following Askren's split decision victory over Hieron to retain the belt. Hieron's striking gave the champion fits throughout, while Askren was able to secure takedowns and control the challenger on the mat. It was a close bout between someone that is still young as a fighter against a veteran who appeared to do everything right to take home the gold.
But because of Bellator's tournament format, there's no easy way to give Hieron a deserved rematch without delaying the opportunity afforded the winner of the ongoing 170-pound tournament. However, it seems odd to ask Hieron to go back into the tournament mix and do the whole thing over again when many thought he beat the champion to begin with. A lot of this depends on when Bellator expects to start their next season on MTV2. If in March, you could have the fight at the beginning of the season with the tournament winner getting their opportunity in June or July. However, making either Ben Saunders or Douglas Lima wait eight months seems counterproductive in addition to avoiding the pitfall of either man lose an interim bout and weaken their contender status.
There are a lot of positives with the Bellator format, but there are a few negatives when you have great title fights and can't cleanly do immediate rematches. Hieron deserves another opportunity, but might have to fight his way through another tournament to get there.Halloween Weekend Horror
Not surprisingly, ratings were scary for Bellator 56 Saturday, dropping for the second straight week. According to MMA Junkie's research, 154,000 people tuned in to see Askren vs. Hieron and the heavyweight tournament semifinals -- a dip of 14,000 from the week before. That continues a three-week slide, contributed to by UFC 137 and Halloween weekend.Luckily, the promotion won't see a drop next week as they are taking a week off, airing a season recap/tournament final special at 11 PM EST instead. However, they return on November 12...against the UFC's debut on Fox.The Big Guys Work Fast
Fans that didn't see Saturday's show missed Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos making quick work of their opponents and advancing to the tournament finals. Prindle (9-1) won his seventh straight by knocking out Ron Sparks in 40 seconds while Santos (10-1) took his fourth win in a row with a 38-second submission of Neil Grove. Prindle and Santos will meet in the season finale event on Saturday, November 26, with the winner facing champion Cole Konrad in 2012.
Foster The People
Former UFC welterweight Brian Foster was signed Tuesday and is already gearing up to challenge Askren in the future. The 27-year-old has won four in a row, including his last two in the UFC. However, he was medically released earlier this year after having to pull out of a April fight due to a brain hemorrhage and he later suffered a burst testicle during training.
The Bellator release said Foster (18-5) is medically cleared and he fought twice last month with two first-round submission wins within two weeks time -- his first action in nearly a year. No date was given for his promotional debut.
Spoonman
The quick work by the heavyweights Saturday allowed for an entertaining featherweight contest from the undercard to make air in Jeremy Spoon vs. Adam Schindler. After a competitive first round, Spoon turned it on in the final two with great striking that bloodied up Schindler's face. His unanimous decision victory puts him at 12-0 and an interesting, likely candidate for the promotion's next 145-pound tournament.
SBN coverage of Bellator 56
Posted in: ufc, fight, bellator, tournament, hieron
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator Adds UFC Vet Foster to Welterweight Roster
Bellator Fighting Championships on Tuesday announced the signing of former UFC welterweight Brian Foster.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, welterweight, vet, ufc vet
Read the full article at SherdogFormer UFC Welterweight Brian Foster Signs with Bellator
Former UFC welterweight Brian Foster has inked a new deal to compete in Bellator Fighting Championships and he's gunning for Ben Askren.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, welterweight, championship, brian
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 56 ratings: Numbers decrease again, event draws 154,000 viewers (MMAJunkie.com)
For the second straight week, ratings for this past weekend's event decreased, and Bellator 56 drew 154,000...
Posted in: bellator, event, rating, week ratings, weekends event
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBellator 56 ratings: Numbers decrease again, event draws 154,000 viewers
For the second straight week, ratings for this past weekend's event decreased, and Bellator 56 drew 154,000 viewers on MTV2.
Six of Bellator's eight season-five events now have drawn fewer than 200,000 viewers, and the season is averaging 173,000 viewers overall.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the ratings information with an industry source.
Posted in: bellator, ratings information, viewer, week ratings, mmajunkiecom today
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDon’t worry, there’s still time to watch Eric Prindle’s KO from Bellator 56
Halloween may be over, but that doesn't mean you have to stop sending yourself into a sugar coma. Go ahead, eat all the candy you can get your little hands on. You've earned your stash of individually wrapped morsels of high fructose corn syrup. Now grab a few Tootsie Rolls and enjoy this clip of Eric Prindle's 40-second knockout of Ron Sparks from Bellator 56. This Eric Prindle coming from nowhere, you got to admit no one gave him a chance coming into this Bellator heavyweight tournament and three very convincing wins later, he now is slated to face an ultra-tough Thiago Santos at the Bellator heavyweight finals. The winner will do their best to derail Cole Konrad from his current frate traneage through the heavyweight ranks, which is virtually an impossible endeavor. [Source]
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, cole konrad, prindle, eric
Read the full article at Middle EasyEddie Alvarez Tried To Purchase Stake In Bellator Last Year
Loretta Hunt of Sports Illustrated recently interviewed Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez to discuss a slew of topics. One that definitely sticks out is the champion's view on the current state of the MMA market domestically. It seems that with the UFC purchasing organizations left and right, the champion got a bit antsy. So much so that he approached Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney about potentially buying into the company. It wasn't for any reason other than an investment opportunity, one that could pay off had a buy out occured. Now, a year late, the champion revisited his reasoning with Loretta saying:
Originally, when the UFC purchased Strikeforce (last March), I got very on edge. I called (Bellator owner) Bjorn Rebney to ask him if there was any possible way that I could buy stake in Bellator. The way (the UFC) was buying up promotions like that, I didn't want them to come in on Bellator without me being able to capitalize on it.
Turns out Rebney was open to the idea. It would guarantee that his champion would never leave for the greener pastures that exist under the Zuffa umbrella, and it would bring in additional capital. Unfortunately, the follow up talks never happened and Alvarez never bought into the company.
Fate it seemed had a bigger plan. When the UFC announced they had signed a seven-year network broadcast deal with Fox, everyone knew that Bellator would likely be transitioned over to Spike TV. The Viacom owned companies in MTV2 and Spike TV had already begun making preparations for the eventual move airing commercials for other Spike-owned television properties and television events. They even began to air the Bellator preliminary fights on Spike.com.
Last week Viacom and Bellator finally announced that the parent company of MTV, MTV2, and Spike had purchased a majority share of the fighting organization. It's a best case scenario for both. Bellator is ensured a broadcast partner that has been in the MMA business since 2005 when they aired The Ultimate Fighter. Alvarez is excited because with Spike's experience, he only sees ways they can improve the Bellator product:
Spike knows what it takes. They know the UFC's production value. They know the UFC's game plan. They're probably going to follow the formula that the UFC does and just tweak it because Bellator has its own flavor with the tournaments. I'd imagine they'll try to create a product that is similar in value when you turn on the TV, but the tournament structure will make it different.
He definitely has a point. The UFC and Spike TV were intertwined for the greater part of a decade with the deal not fully over until 2013 when Spike loses rights to the UFC's video library. If there is any singular entity that knows the Zuffa product it would the production team at Spike. There are concerns regarding the Viacom/Bellator deal. As long as Spike has access to the UFC's video library, no other organization can air their product on the network. It means that Bellator will be left to flounder on the rarely watched MTV2.
Perhaps it is a case of wearing "rosey lensed glasses" but the champion can't see any negatives to the Viacom/Bellator deal. It makes sense as he is looking at the situation from a fighter's point of view. For him it comes down to familiarity. Once more fans have access to the Bellator product, they will accept that the fighters are as elite as their peers in the UFC and Strikefoce. As he explains to Hunt:
You're going to see, and mark my words, I'm going to say it now. Spike TV is behind Bellator now. Watch how good Hector Lombard becomes. Watch how good I become. Watch how good Zach Makovsky becomes overnight as soon they start promoting us. Look how excellent of fighters we become. The reality is I'm not any better today than I am tomorrow. It's just more people will know.
It is an interesting point of view as there are plenty of top fighters around the world outside of the Zuffa-owned organizations. The champion is correct that once fans become familiar with a fighter, it is easier to accept that they are considered "elite" in the sport. It is a sentiment that is shared by Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky who echoed this very point to me when I interviewed him earlier this month.
However, speaking as a member of the MMA Nation/USA Today rankings panel, my reasoning for not ranking a Bellator champion higher than UFC title contenders is due to the belief that the level competition that the organization brings in for their "super fights" is exponentially lower than what a champion in the UFC or Strikeforce will face.
In the end, I'll concede that the fighters will benefit from this Viacom deal. It ensures that they have another option outside of Zuffa and that's what really matters at the end of the day. It will attract top-tiered talent from the UFC which will only raise the level of the product that fans will receive. That's the most important part. And it's good that Eddie Alvarez views this the very same way.
There are no losers with Viacom buying Bellator. It's literally a win-win situation for everyone, including the UFC who will benefit from a real sense of competition in the market. It will force them to produce an even better product and promote even better card for fear that they could lose a foothold in the market place. It's what fans have been begging for and it's what fans will finally receive.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, champion, spike, product
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowEric Prindle knockout of Ron Sparks at Bellator 56 (Video)
MMAmania.com's own Brian Hemminger with the play-by-play:
Prindle takes the center but Sparks chases him away with a huge looping right hand. Prindle lands a nice leg kick and Sparks responds with a thudding kick of his own. Sparks throws a big left hook and it blasts Sparks on the chin as he throws a leg kick! Sparks faceplants and he's out cold! Prindle dives onto Sparks and gets tackled off by the referee. Awesome finish inside a minute!
While most of the mixed martial arts world was busy with UFC 137 last Saturday night (Oct. 29), Bellator 56 went down at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, as did heavyweight hopeful Ron Sparks. "The Monster" bounced his kisser right off the canvas and right out of the 265-pound tournament thanks to Prindle power.
And someone please tell the referee that knees to a downed opponent are still illegal.
Full Bellator 56 results here.
Posted in: bellator, leg kick, prindle, prindle power, brian hemminger
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVideo: Eric Prindle's quick knockout at Bellator 56
This past weekend at Bellator 56, heavyweight fighter Eric Prindle punched his ticket to a tournament finale in violent fashion.
In a MTV2-televised main-card bout, Prindle took on fellow heavyweight
Ron Sparks in a season-five heavyweight-tourney semifinal.
Now thanks to Bellator, a clip of the spectacular finish is available.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, prindle, tournament finale, eric
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator CEO Bjorn Rebney says the company will help Zoila Gurgel with cost of surgery
Since beating Jessica Aguilar at Bellator 31 in one of the most controversial decisions of 2010, the fans and fighters have been clamoring for a rematch. Gurgel agreed to the fight to be held in late October on a non-title basis. However, after an injury to Aguilar booted her from the fight, Gurgel got matched up with Carina Damm at Bellator 57 in mid-November.
Unfortunately, Gurgel was then forced out of the fight when she tore her ACL while training. The injury is expected to keep her on the sidelines for at least the rest of this year, as it requires surgery. After the injury, Gurgel was force to reach out to fans for financial assistance to help pay for the procedure based on the expense involved.
Damm Thinks Gurgel May Be Faking Injury
In a conversation with MMAWeekly, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney discussed Gurgel’s health and recovery, saying, “She’s had a serious injury, she’s had the kind of injury that’s going to take time to recuperate from. It’s not one of those injuries where you can get some therapy and it can kind of work itself out. It’s going to take time. But the essence of getting that situation taken care of the right way, the essence of giving her the best possible chance of getting back in the Bellator cage, is to take care of it with the right doctors, the right rehab, the right attention to detail. It’s not about rushing it and getting in the first person who agrees to cut the leg open. It’s about doing it the right way, and that’s the process that we’re trying to follow.
“If Zoila follows that process she’ll be given as good an opportunity as you can possibly have with the severity of the injury she has to recuperate fully,” Rebney continued.
Rebney also revealed Bellator will cover the cost of the surgery, explaining, “I’ll say the same thing to you that we said to Zoila and to (husband) Jorge Gurgel – we’re going to take care of it, we’re going to get you through this and we’re going to get it covered by insurance and all of it will be covered. All of it will be taken care of and it will be fine, it will get worked out and it will get taken care of, but those things don’t happen in the matter of a day, or 48 hours, or 72 hours.”
Robney was also asked about what he would need to do help Gurgel, stating, “You have to go through a process, you have to fill out the paperwork, you have to take steps for it to get done. I understand the angst and the anxiety because as an athlete who lost half of his senior year playing as a full scholarship running back at a major college, I understand as an athlete you’re like ‘open me up, fix it, get it done right now’. But you’ve got to take a step back and a breath and say let the process work itself out. Let the insurance take care of what needs to be taken care of, and it will be taken care of. We said it from the very start and we said it to her and we said it to her husband. We’ll get it worked out.”
Gurgel is Bellator’s 115-pound champion and the first (so far only) person to beat long-respected Japanese phenom Megumi “Mega Megu” Fujii. “The Warrior Princess” is 11-1 in her career and has emerged with her hand raised in six straight scraps.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, right, injury, gurgel, care
Read the full article at Fighters.comBen Askren barely retains title after Bellator 56 battle with Jay Hieron
Leading up to last night’s championship clash at Bellator 56 between welterweight title-holder Ben Askren and seasoned veteran Jay Hieron there were a number of questions surrounding whether Hieron even deserved to be in the bout or how competitive the match-up would actually be. In fact, even Askren had some harsh words for the Xtreme Couture competitor.
Askren Feels He Will Have His Way with Hieron
Though the “Thoroughbred” ultimately lost a Split Decision – a controversial one at that – the 35-year old made it clear he still has gas in the tank after giving Askren as serious a run for his money as the undefeated grappler had experienced since transitioning from a decorated wrestling career into MMA. Askren improved his record to 9-0 with the victory and snapped the 22-5 Hieron’s ten-fight winning streak.
Also notable, Bellator determined the finalists for their Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament with Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos each picking up quick stoppages with Ron Sparks and Neil Grove each being finished in less than a minute. Prindle and Santos will meet in a month with the winner of their rumble moving on to face Cole Konrad for the divisional title.
Read below for a full list of Bellator 56 results:
Daniel Gallemore def. Derrick Ruffin via TKO Round 2 (Retirement)
Aaron Ely def. Owen Evinger via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke)
Jacob Aiken def. Jeimeson Saudino via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke)
Emanuel Brooks def. Willian de Souza via Unanimous Decision
Kelvin Tiller def. Dan Spohn via Split Decision
Marcio Navarro def. Rudy Bears via Split Decision
Eric Prindle def. Ron Sparks via Knockout Round 1
Jeremy Spoon def. Adam Schindler via Unanimous Decision
Thiago Santos def. Neil Grove via Submission Round 1 (Rear-Naked Choke)
Ben Askren def. Jay Hieron via Split Decision
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, round, decision, askren, hieron
Read the full article at Fighters.comEric Prindle vs. Thiago Santos heavyweight-tourney finale set for Bellator 59
Bellator Fighting Championships' season-five heavyweight-tourney finale between Eric Prindle and Thiago Santos is set for Bellator 59.
Bellator officials announced the news on the MTV2 live broadcast of Saturday's Bellator 56 event.
Bellator 59 takes place Nov. 26 at Caesars Atlantic City in New Jersey. The main card airs on MTV2 (and in high-definition on EPIX) while the prelims stream on Spike.com.
Posted in: bellator, card airs, prelims stream, eric prindle, heavyweighttourney finale
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 56 Results: Ben Askren Tops Jay Hieron to Retain Title
Ben Askren retained his Bellator welterweight title in a hard fought battle with Jay Hieron.
Posted in: bellator, title, ben, askren, jay
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyAskren retains title at Bellator 56 (Yahoo! Sports)
Ben Askren was not pleased at all after registering his first successful welterweight title defense over a game...
Posted in: bellator, title, ben, yahoo, askren
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsAskren Tops Hieron; Prindle, Santos Need Just 78 Seconds at Bellator
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- It was his biggest win to date, but Olympian and collegiate wrestling great Ben Askren just wasn't happy with his first Bellator welterweight title defense at Bellator 56.
Posted in: bellator, second, ben askren, askren, wasnt
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 56 results: Champ Askren defends; Prindle, Santos advance to HW finals
Ben Askren was not pleased at all after registering his first successful welterweight title defense over a very game Jay Hieron.
It took 25 minutes of back-and-forth action, but Askren managed to convince two of the three judges to score the fight in his favor; he had done just enough to earn the split-decision win.
The matchup served as the main event of Bellator 56, which took place Saturday at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan.
Posted in: bellator, place saturday, memorial hall, askren, backandforth action
Read the full article at MMA JunkieAskren retains belt at Bellator
The action was fast and ferocious inside Memorial Hall as Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren successfully defended his belt against Jay Hieron....
Posted in: bellator, belt, memorial hall, askren, memorial
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBen Askren Beats Jay Hieron, Keeps Bellator Welterweight Title
Filed under: BellatorAfter 25 minutes of action, Ben Askren is still Bellator's welterweight champion.
Askren defeated Jay Hieron by split decision on Saturday night, keeping the Bellator welterweight belt but not satisfying himself with his performance.
"I'm not pleased at all -- I'm supposed to be getting better," Askren said afterward. "In no way did I dominate Jay like I wanted to and that's why I'm disappointed. The judges could have gone either way on this one."
Although he's a great wrestler, Askren knows he's not a complete enough fighter to put himself on the same level as the truly elite in the sport, and he acknowledged as much after escaping with the win over Hieron.
"My goal is to be the best fighter in the world and I wasn't that tonight -- I wasn't even close," Askren said.
Saturday night's Bellator card also featured the two semifinal fights in the promotion's heavyweight tournament, and both of them ended very quickly.
In one heavyweight semifinal, Eric Prindle knocked out Ron Sparks with a brutal left hook just 40 seconds into the first round. Prindle sent Sparks face-first into the canvas with the punch and landed a couple more shots on the ground before referee Chuck Wolfe jumped in to stop the fight (accidentally kneeing Sparks in the face in the process). In the other heavyweight semifinal, Thiago Santos needed just 38 seconds to submit Neil Grove, landing a big shot on the feet and forcing a tap with a rear-naked choke on the ground.
Prindle and Santos will fight next month, with a shot at Bellator heavyweight champion Cole Konrad on the line.
"When you watch us, don't blink," Prindle said. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: bellator, jay hieron, askren, prindle, i wasnt
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 56 Live Play-by-Play and Results
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results and commentary for Bellator 56. Our live blog will start with the beginning of the MTV2 broadcast (9 p.m. ET) so be sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
Tonight brings the semifinal fights in the heavyweight tournament. Eric Prindle will take on Ron Sparks, and Thiago Santos will be fighting Neil Grove. Both Santos and Grove are actually replacements for Mike Hayes and Blagoi Ivanov, respectively. Hayes suffered a broken orbital in his quarterfinal win over Grove that took him out of the tournament, then Ivanov was injured earlier this month and forced to withdraw from the fight.
The main event tonight is the long-awaited welterweight world championship battle between current champ Ben Askren and tournament winner Jay Hieron. Hieron comes to this fight having defeated Anthony Lapsley, Brent Weedman, and winning a controversial split decision over Olympic Judoka Rick Hawn in the tournament final. Askren has had only one fight since winning the belt, taking a unanimous decision over Nick Thompson in April of this year.
Join us at 9 p.m. ET tonight when the action gets underway!
SBN coverage of Bellator 56
Posted in: fight, bellator, tournament, semifinal fights, fight nbsp
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 56 Live Results
Though UFC 137 may have lost the championship clash originally scheduled to headline the card, Bellator FC is prepped to deliver a title-fight tonight in addition to semifinal action from the promotion’s ongoing heavyweight tournament.
Live from Kansas City, Bellator 56 features welterweight king Ben Askren putting his belt on the line against well-rounded veteran Jay Hieron in the main event, plus Neil Grove facing Thiago Santos and Ron Sparks scrapping with Eric Prindle with two men moving one step closer to their own shot at a Bellator strap.
Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in from the time the prelims start at 7:00 PM EST on Spike.com to the conclusion of the MTV2/EPIX broadcast four hours later, bringing live results back to readers as the action unfolds.
Read below for Bellator 56 outcomes:
Aaron Ely vs. Owen Evinger
Jeimeson Saudino vs. Jacob Aiken
Willian de Souza vs. Emanuel Brooks
Kelvin Tiller vs. Dan Spohn
Adam Schindler vs. Jeremy Spoon
Marcio Navarro vs. Rudy Bears
Daniel Gallemore vs. Derrick Ruffin
Eric Prindle vs. Ron Sparks
Neil Grove vs. Thiago Santos
Ben Askren vs. Jay Hieron
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, vs, heavyweight tournament, eric prindle, championship clash
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 56: Ben Askren and Jay Hieron Prepare For Quiet Title Clash
If there ever was a glaring example of why Bellator needs to move off Saturday nights, October 29, 2011, is it.
With the eyes of the MMA world focused on UFC 137 and a welterweight contender battle between BJ Penn and Nick Diaz, another 170-pound fight is flying so far under the radar that this might be the first time you've heard about it or have been reminded of it.
In the main event of Bellator 56, undefeated champion Ben Askren will defend against veteran Jay Hieron -- a fight that is interesting from several angles:
This will be Askren's first defense of his title since winning it one year ago. He looked stellar in a non-title victory over Nick Thompson in April, but where is the 8-0 Askren at in his career as he enters his prime?
Hieron (22-4) has been working for an opportunity like this for years. A pro since 2003, he's fought for titles before and has won them but the last name value gold he took home was the IFL title in 2007. People are aware of his issues with Strikeforce and now he's got the opportunity he wanted. Can he cash in?
Both men have great wrestling backgrounds, but in these cases, that usually means a stand-up battle. However, neither man is known for KO power. What type of fight are we going to get?
With a win, where does Askren fit in the conversation of the top 170-pounders in the world? With a loss, where does that put Hieron? What would be better for the promotion?
But even with all those talking points, the buzz all week has focused around Penn vs. Diaz, making the placement of tonight's fight a disservice to Askren and Hieron. It's rare when a reigning Bellator champion actually defends their gold (April's Eddie Alvarez/Pat Curran fight was the last time) and unfortunately, this defense is getting overlooked from fans and media alike.
Bellator is a smart organization and Bjorn Rebney has stayed the course with their unique format. The announcement of Viacom purchasing a majority interest in Bellator shows there's something there from a leadership and content standpoint that was more attractive than anything else available on the market. But they need to be better in situations like this. Trying to make stars is hard enough. Trying to make them when you're up against a UFC pay-per-view with two dynamic personalities like Penn and Diaz is damn near impossible.Making WeightAskren (169.6) and Hieron (169.8) both made weight Friday, as did fellow main card fighters Ron Sparks (264.4), Eric Prindle (264.2), Thiago Santos (264.6) and Neil Grove (264.6).The action kicks off at 9 PM EST and Bloody Elbow will have full coverage of Bellator 55 tonight with post-fight analysis and feedback through the weekend.
SBN coverage of Bellator 56
Posted in: fight, bellator, title, askren, hieron
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBen Askren’s Bellator Blog, Part 2
Ben Askren's ground game upset a local Kansas City anchorman. | Photo: Keith Mills
Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren (www.twitter.com/BenAskren) will blog his thoughts and experiences for Sherdog.com as he prepares to defend his 170-pound title against Season 4 tournament winner Jay Hieron at Bellator 56 in Kansas City, Kan. Bellator 56 takes place this Saturday, Oct. 29, on MTV2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Well, the last 24 hours have been significantly more interesting than my last blog so at least I can entertain you guys.
Thursday, I had to do a bunch of media stuff; no one really likes to do it but it is a part of the job, and I did it with a smile on my face. My weight was great -- only 179 when I started my weight cut. For the first workout, I grappled with one of my corners and friends Alan Belcher for
25 minutes and got a good sweat going. Then I threw on the plastics and sweats and hit some mitts for about 20 minutes. Even with all the extra clothes on I still felt strangely crisp with my combinations. I ended up losing four-and-a-half pounds and rewarded myself with a small dinner.
Posted in: bellator, ben, blog, askren, media stuff
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 56 Live Results and Play-by-Play (7 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com will report from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 56, which features the semifinals of Bellator's Season 5 heavyweight tournament, and Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren defending his title against Jay Hieron.
Posted in: bellator, result, pm, memorial hall, playbyplay
Read the full article at SherdogLIVE NOW: Bellator 56 Results and Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 56, which features the semifinals of Bellator's Season 5 heavyweight tournament, and Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren defending his title against Jay Hieron.
Posted in: bellator, result, memorial hall, playbyplay, playbyplay sherdogcom
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 56 Results and Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 56, which features the semifinals of Bellator's Season 5 heavyweight tournament, and Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren defending his title against Jay Hieron.
Posted in: bellator, result, memorial hall, playbyplay, playbyplay sherdogcom
Read the full article at SherdogDana White Talks Bellator Sale, Strikeforce's Survival, Next Opponent for GSP
UFC president Dana White did an interview with Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting after yesterday's UFC 137 pre-fight press conference, and touched on a few interesting topics. He spent a few minutes discussing a some of the combatants on tomorrow's card (most notably mentioning that Nick Diaz missed his initial flight to Vegas, but caught the next one), but the only real piece of UFC 137 "news" that he talked about was something that he had already said at the press conference - Georges St. Pierre's next opponent will be Carlos Condit, regardless of tomorrow's outcome between B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz. He also Nick would be in line for a future title shot, but wasn't sure about Penn.
The most interesting stuff he had to say was in regards to Strikeforce and Bellator. He stated that he met with Showtime regarding the Strikeforce contract being renewed, and it went "very well". He also went on a long rant about how the UFC is not a monopoly, and the Bellator sale proves that, even though Bellator isn't competition to him. I'd normally spit out some quotes for you, but his description of each matter is a bit long and convoluted, and definitely comes off better out of his mouth than it does written out. You can catch the video after the jump.
More UFC coverage of UFC 137
Posted in: ufc, bellator, nick diaz, nick, carlos condit
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 56 Weigh-In Results
The Bellator 56 weigh-ins took place earlier this afternoon.
All fighters on the main card made weight. Bellator 56 will feature a welterweight title fight between champion Ben Askren and Jay Hieron. The card will also feature the semi-finals of the heavyweight tournament.
The weigh-in results:
Ben Askren (169.6) vs. Jay Hieron (169.8)
Neil Grove (264.6) vs. Thiago Santos (264.6)
Eric Prindle (264.2) vs. Ron Sparks (264.4)
Daniel Gallemore (247) vs. Derrick Ruffin (242.6)
Rudy Bears (169.6) vs. Marcio Navarro (169.8)
Adam Schindler (145.8) vs. Jeremy Spoon (145.4)
Dan Spohn (205.6) vs. Kelvin Tiller (206.4)
Emanuel “E.J.” Brooks (157) vs. Willian de Souza (155.8)
Jacob Aiken (131.4) vs. Jeimeson Saudino (136.8)
Aaron Ely (140.4) vs. Owen Evinger (135)
Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit.
Bellator 56 takes place tomorrow night at Memorial Hall in Kansas City and will air on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, vs, kansas city, memorial hall, weighin
Read the full article at MMA ConvertAskren, Hieron Hit Marks for Bellator 56 Headliner
Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren’s first title defense will go forward as expected, as both he and challenger Jay Hieron came in on point at Friday’s weigh-ins.
Posted in: bellator, title defense, askren, hieron, askren hieron
Read the full article at SherdogMMAFrenzy Podcast: Pre-UFC 137, Bellator 56, and More
MMAFrenzy.com presents its latest podcast, where host Steve “bsbiz” Barnes is joined by writers Chris Leslie and Bryan Robison providing analysis of this week’s MMA news and recaps of recent events.
Click link to play, “right-click” and “Save as” to download. 05 Episode 5 [10_28]
Podcast Markers:
UFC 137 -
Hatsu Hioki vs.George Roop (2:04)
Donald Cerrone vs. Dennis Siver (5:20)
Brandon Vera vs. Eliot Marshall (10:21)
Matt Mitrione vs. Cheick Kongo (15:45)
BJ Penn vs. Nick Diaz (19:59)
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Roy Nelson (30:44)
Scott Jorgensen vs. Jeff Curran (37:19)
Weight Classes
bantamweight (40:03)
featherweight & lightweight (44:53)
Bellator (47:44)
Bellator 56 (58:22)
Posted in: bellator, vs, event, podcast, bryan robison
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator 56 weigh-in results: Champ Askren (169.6), Hieron (169.8) on weight
Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren and challenger Jay Hieron both today made weight for their long-awaited title fight.
The two notables today weighed in for their five-round Bellator 56 championship headliner, which airs Saturday on MTV2 from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan.
At an official ceremony at Argosy Casino in Riverside, Mo., Askren weighed 169.6 pounds. Hieron was a few ticks heavier at 169.8 pounds.
Posted in: bellator, memorial hall, hieron, argosy casino, notables today
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 56: Askren vs. Hieron Weigh-In Results
Bellator 56 is now set with the main event title fight becoming official on Friday with champion Ben Askren and challenger Jay Hieron both making weight.
Posted in: bellator, ben, official, askren, hieron
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 56 predictions and preview for 'Askren vs Hieron' on Oct. 29 in Kansas City
Bellator Fighting Championships will head to "The Sunflower State" this Saturday night (October 22, 2011) at the Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Arizona, live on MTV2.
The main card will air live on the basic cable network, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
The main event of the evening will be a Bellator welterweight title fight as champion and former Olympic wrestler Ben Askren looks to defend his title against season four tournament winner and former IFL champion Jay Hieron.
Bellator 56 will be the continuation of the promotion's season five heavyweight tournament with the semifinals and it will be a very big battle of 260+ pound men. Quarterfinal winners Ron Sparks and Eric Prindle will square off on one side of the bracket while injury alternate Thiago Santos will match up against Neil Grove, who advanced on late notice when Blagoi Ivanov was also forced out with an injury.
Our complete Bellator 56 preview and predictions after the jump:
170 lb. title: Ben Askren (8-0) vs. Jay Hieron (22-4)
Ben Askren is one of the most accomplished American wrestlers to ever transition to mixed martial arts. He was a four-time collegiate All-American and two-time national champion while wrestling at the University of Missouri and also represented the United States at the 2008 Olympics. Askren has utilized his elite wrestling very well, taking down every opponent he's faced and smothering them from Dan Hornbuckle to former champion Lyman Good.
Jay Hieron, a decorated junior college wrestler himself, is a much more well-rounded fighter, having experience in a plethora of top MMA promotions throughout his career. He earned his title shot by winning the season four welterweight tournament, although it wasn't exactly in convincing fashion.
Askren will clearly be looking to take Hieron down, beat him up a bit, and dominate him positionally as he looks to either pass guard or advance to a location where he can attack with a submission hold. Hieron will be looking to try to knock Askren out on the feet and offer as much resistance as possible to Askren's takedowns. If he can wear Askren down, make him work extra hard for every takedown, he could overwhelm the Olympian in the later rounds.
Prediction: Ben Askren via decision
265 lbs.: Eric Prindle (8-1) vs. Ron Sparks (8-0)
At 6'5 and at least 280 pounds, Eric Prindle is one of the largest competitors in Bellator history. He's had a successful career thus far utilizing his size as well as blasting the opposition with his power. He wore down Abe Wagner in his quarterfinal match, utilizing some takedowns to really make the the Utimate Fighter season 10 veteran carry his weight and tire out.
Ron Sparks got into the MMA game late, but he's been a force against everyone he's faced thus far. He doesn't have a lethal ground game, but he's got dynamite in his hands. He destroyed Mark Holata in his quarterfinal match, knocking the big man out in less than 90 seconds. He's had three fights thus far in the Bellator cage and none have gone past the midway point of the first round.
Prindle will likely try to push Sparks into the cage and wear him out or take him down and beat on him there. If he gives Sparks any space at all, don't be surprised to see another highlight reel knockout.
Prediction: Ron Sparks via knockout in round one
265 lbs.: Thiago Santos (9-1) vs. Neil Grove (11-4-1)
Thiago Santos was originally supposed to be in the season five heavyweight tournament but visa issues forced him to delay his Bellator debut by a week. Thankfully for him, Mike Hayes was not medically cleared to advance in the tournament so Santos was given his spot after defeating Josh Burns via first round submission in a heavyweight alternate bout. Santos is big, powerful and he's got a half decent ground game.
Neil Grove put up a tough fight against Mike Hayes in his quarterfinal bout but he was repeatedly taken down and could not get back to his feet long enough to sway the judges. While standing, he was definitely aggressive and he put a hurting on Hayes, enough to force him out of the tournament. Grove is incredibly powerful and has knockout power in both hands. He'll need to keep this fight standing against Santos.
Expect Santos to again try to take his opponent down and either work ground and pound or look for a submission. Grove still has a lot of work to do if he wants to be a fully well-rounded fighter, but he's been given a second chance. Hopefully he can make the most of it.
Prediction: Thiago Santos via submission in round two
So what do you think Maniacs?
Will Askren retain his title tomorrow night? Who do you see advancing to the Bellator season five heavyweight finals?
Sound off!
Posted in: bellator, season, tournament, askren, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThe Friday Morning MMA Link Party
If you're going to party for this edition of The Friday Morning MMA Link Party, be sure to not run into KJ Noons' dad. He may try to convince you that Mayhem Miller isn't a real MMA fighter and then choke you at a bar moments later. It will make a great story, but it might leave a few marks around your neck. The weekend is here and it's time to spend the next couple days relaxing on your sofa because there's UFC 137 and Bellator 56 to satisfy your MMA viewing habits.
[list class="bullet-6"] [li]Nine Ways of Looking at UFC 137. [MMAFighting]
[/li] [li]UFC Japan Goes PPV, Double-Header Plans Scrapped. [CagePotato]
[/li] [li]Japanese featherweight Hatsu Hioki ready to wow American fans. [Fives Ounces of Pain]
[/li] [li]Nick Diaz: The fight with BJ Penn could be my last. [LowKick]
[/li] [li]Penn is mighty, but what's the point? [NBC Sports]
[/li] [li]Nick Diaz Regrets Choosing The UFC Over Boxing [MMAConvert]
[/li] [li]Dana White: Carlos Condit Guaranteed Next Shot at Georges St-Pierre. [5th Round]
[/li] [li]Career-Defining Moment for Every UFC 137 Fighter. [Bleacher Report]
[/li] [li]Talent Filled Bellator 56 Card Invades KC’s Memorial Hall Saturday Night. [The Fight Nerd]
[/li] [li]Dana White: If there was a gay fighter in UFC, I wish he would come out. [MMAMania]
[/li] [li]Dana White: Viacom buying out Bellator means UFC is a “Mom & Pop” MMA group. [FightOpinion]
[/li] [li]Bellator 55: 168,000 viewers. [MMAPayout]
[/li] [/list]
Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, li, lidana
Read the full article at Middle EasyThough unimpressed, Bellator 56's Neil Grove won't judge opponent on one performance
Neil Grove is a pretty swell guy.
The 40-year-old South African has been around the block enough times to know what to say and - perhaps more importantly - what not to say to maintain a sense of professionalism.
But on the eve of Bellator 56 and a second-chance opportunity in the season-five heavyweight tournament, the usually reverent fighter is both candid and frank.
Posted in: bellator, neil grove, neil, secondchance opportunity, judge opponent
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDana White: Viacom buying out Bellator means #UFC is a “Mom & Pop” MMA group @MMASupremacy @mauroranallo
Is Dana White claiming that Viacom buying out Bellator makes UFC an underdog, fighting the corporate 'man'?
Posted in: ufc, bellator, dana, group, viacom
Read the full article at Fight OpinionBellator 56 weigh in results LIVE from Kansas City for 'Askren vs Hieron'
The official weigh-in event for Bellator 56's Saturday evening fight card takes place today (October 28, 2011) in the Athens Room of the Argosy Casino in Kansas City, Kansas.
Bellator 56 will be the continuation of the promotion's season five heavyweight tournament with the semifinals.
The main event of the evening will be a Bellator welterweight title fight as undefeated champion Ben Askren looks to defend his title against season four tournament winner and former IFL champion Jay Hieron.
Quarterfinal winners Ron Sparks and Eric Prindle will square off on one side of the bracket while injury alternate Thiago Santos will match up against Neil Grove, who advanced on late notice when Blagoi Ivanov was also forced out with an injury.
Complete Bellator 56 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
170 lbs.: Ben Askren (8-0) vs. Jay Hieron (22-4)265 lbs.: Neil Grove (11-4-1) vs. Thiago Santos (9-1)265 lbs.: Eric Prindle (8-1) vs. Ron Sparks (8-0) Undercard
265 lbs.: Daniel Gallemore (0-1) vs. Derrick Ruffin (1-3)170 lbs.: Marcio Navarro (7-7) vs. Rudy Bears (13-9) 145 lbs.: Adam Schindler (9-2) vs. Jeremy Spoon (11-0)205 lbs.: Kelvin Tiller (1-1) vs. Dan Spohn (6-0).155 lbs.: William de Souza (1-2) vs. Emanuel Brooks (4-0)145 lbs.: Jemeison Saudino (1-0) vs. Jacob Aiken (0-1)135 lbs.: Aaron Ely (1-0) vs. Owen Evinger (7-1)
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 56, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 9 p.m. ET tomorrow night (October 29).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: night, bellator, vs, lb, kansas city
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWatch today's Bellator 56 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 5 p.m. ET
Argosy Casino in Riverside, Mo., plays host
to today's official Bellator 56 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a live video stream of the
proceedings at 5 p.m. ET.
The nearby Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan., plays host to Saturday's
event, which airs on MTV2 and
features the semifinal round of Bellator's season-five heavyweight
tournament, as well as a welterweight title fight between champion Ben
Askren and challenger Jay Hieron.
In addition to the live weigh-ins and pre-fight press conference, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, semifinal round, weighin, saturdays event, argosy casino
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWith Viacom Deal, Bellator Plans to Increase Number of Tournaments
The Bellator Fighting Championships made a major deal this week, selling a majority stake in the company to media conglomerate Viacom.
Posted in: bellator, deal, viacom, majority stake, increase number
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 56 Preview – Get Ready for the Man Blanket!
It is a sad state of affairs when the most common thing said about an organization’s champ is that he’s a “work in progress”. But such is the case with Bellator welterweight grandmaster Ben Askren, who is shockingly weak in the striking and submissions department, yet un-freakin’-stoppable when it comes to wrestling. Somehow, he’s used that single dimension of fighting that he’s mastered to own one and all in the promotion’s cage. And good for him. I mean, it’s most certainly a credit to his ability that he’s gotten this far and remained undefeated with just one facet of combat. Unfortunately, it’s not the most exciting thing in the world to watch a man imitate a blanket for a full three- to five rounds, and do it with such effectiveness that challengers often doze off and snore mid-fight. As Viacom now owns a majority stake in Bjorn Rebney’s baby, one has to wonder if the media giant will dispatch ninjas to take Askren out in the dead of night, thereby opening the division up to those he can actually stand and trade or nail chokes and armbars and such. Until then, though, we’ve got Saturday night’s Bellator 56, which will see the champ take on recent welterweight tournament winner Jay Hieron. So! Preview!
-Ben Askren vs. Jay Hieron – Askren is undefeated, and the closest he came to defeat was in the fifth round of his bout against then-champ Lyman Good. Good, who was exhausted from having his foe cuddle him for almost twenty-five minutes, landed a solid up-kick to Askren’s chops and then slipped on a triangle choke. But Askren powered out of it, and took the decision and the belt. Since then, we’ve seen the new Bellator 170-pound king retire Nick Thompson (literally, Thompson retired after that bout) via Askren’s usual means. On the challenger side of the equation is Hieron, who’s fought everywhere (Strikeforce, Affliction, the UFC, the IFL, et al.). “The Thoroughbred” is very well-rounded, having honed his once wrestling-heavy game to include competent and dangerous submissions and kickboxing, and the last time he was defeated was back in 2007, when Brad Blackburn caught him when they met up in the IFL. That said, Hieron just barely squeaked by Brent Weedman and Rick Hawn in Bellator’s Season Four tournament, and when he takes on Askren, it’s going to be five rounds of ugly. I’m talking takedowns and awkward horizontal hugging, and frustration – both from Hieron (because he’ll be stuck on the bottom) and from us (because dammit, it’s Saturday night and we could’ve been out smoking cigarettes on the corner with the neighborhood kids). Does Hieron stand a chance? I wish! But so far nobody has been able to solve the riddle of Askren’s takedowns and top game, and Hieron… oof, I need a cigarette.
-Ron Sparks vs. Eric Prindle – Lest Bellator 56 end up a complete wash, we still have this season’s heavyweight tournament semifinals for our consumption, and if the quarterfinals were of any indication, we should be in for some violence. In Spark’s opening match-up, the behemoth needed just under a minute and a half to punch Mark Holata into sweet oblivion. Prindle’s pairing against Abe Wagner was no less entertaining, as for three rounds he beat on his opponent as if Wagner had stolen his ticket to the buffet. So what does that leave us? Someone with the power to end things quickly against someone who can make a thrashing last fifteen minutes. Yeah, this one’s going to be fun, and no way can I guess who’s going to win it.
-Thiago Santos vs. Neil Grove – Big Brazilian Santos almost missed the tournament boat due to visa issues, but when quarterfinal winner Mike Hayes was handed down a medical suspension, he got a reprieve in the form of a match against an overmatched Josh Burns. Grove, on the other hand, lost to Hayes, and got his second chance when quarterfinal winner Blagoi Ivanov had to bow out due to injury. Grove definitely has the edge in experience, and could likely deal with Santos’ size and aggression. The only hitch is he looked flat as hell against Hayes. Has he had enough time to bounce back? If not, expect him to wind up tapping to whatever the Brazilian vigorously applies to him, like a choke. Yeah, a choke. That’s it.
Posted in: bellator, round, tournament, askren, hieron
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBen Askren sees Jay Hieron posing few challenges at Bellator 56
This Saturday night Bellator welterweight champ Ben Askren will face Season 4 tournament winner Jay Hieron. Both of these fighters have some serious wrestling credentials after success on the collegiate level, though there is no comparing Askren’s superiority on the mat – a point “Funky” himself is quick to point out.
The curly-coiffed Askren recently elaborated on how dominant a performance he expects to have at Bellator 56 against Hieron, also explaining why he has a personal issue with the Xtreme Couture fighter’s demeanor as well.
“I think this is going to be very one-sided,” Askren explained to MMAWeekly.
Askren detailed his technical superiority, saying, “I think No. 1, for starters, I think he’s got cardio that’s not too great. I think we saw that in the Rick Hawn fight and even in the Brent Weedman fight. We saw Weedman win the third round. He definitely gets tired as the fight goes on and we’re in a five-round fight.”
“Secondly, he’s got decent wrestling, but if I want to take him down, I’m going to take him down, and I want to take him down, so I will. That’s just a fact,” Askren continued. “Then No. 3, I don’t think he’s very good off his back and that makes for a really bad match-up for him.”
Askren Wants Higher Level of Competition in Bellator
Askren also expressed his feelings on Hieron’ attitude coming into the fight, stating, “I think what irks me the most is how arrogant he’s being after his last two decisions, which a good majority of people think could have both went against him. I’ve heard a fair amount of people say Bellator fixes fights because Jay Hieron won his last two fights, and yet he’s so arrogant and thinks he’s better than these guys, but he should just be thanking his lucky stars that he got both those decisions.”
Based on his skill and dislike of Hieron, Askren also made it clear that he wants to finish his foe on Saturday night.
“If I won two decisions that were that damn close, I’d be saying ‘You know what, I can’t let a fight be that close anymore.’ I’ve went to decisions, but if you watch all my fights, no one can debate who won the fight, it’s pretty stinking clear. That kind of rubs me the wrong way about him. When we fight, if I’m not able to finish him I’ll make it very, very clear who the winner is.”
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: fight, bellator, “ i, askren, hieron
Read the full article at Fighters.comViacom purchases majority stake of Bellator
Bellator took a big step towards competing with the UFC earlier today when it was announced that television company Viacom, the parent company of stations such as MTV, SpikeTV, and VH1, purchased a majority stake of the promotion. While Bellator currently airs on MTV2 on Saturday nights, the organization will move to Spike TV in 2013 when Spike’s television contract with the UFC runs out.
UFC and Spike cut ties earlier this year when UFC signed a deal with the FOX network. UFC had the chance to purchase back their library from Spike, which would have allowed Bellator to move to their new station in 2012, but declined to do so. Season six of Bellator, which starts in early 2012, could move to a different night but will remain on MTV2 for the year.
Bellator’s highest viewership on MTV2 is under 350,000 homes. That number is expected to increase when they move to SpikeTV. UFC events regularly do over one million viewers on the network.
News of this purchase will ensure that Bellator will be around for the long haul, and while they may never reach the level of success as the UFC, they now have a solid foundation and won’t fall by the wayside anytime soon like many other MMA promotions have done over the years.
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney will remain the head of the organization.
When Bellator makes the move to SpikeTV in 2013, they’ll not only air live events, but they’ll also put together highlight shows much like the current UFC Unleashed program that runs on Spike.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, mtv, spike, network news
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainDepressing story of the day: Zolia Gurgel can’t pay her medical bills
After an ACL tear that forced her off the Bellator 57 card, things seem to be getting worse for Zolia Gurgel. In a development belying the fact that Bellator FC has new corporate sugar daddies who make Oprah look poor, Bellator’s 115lb female champion is taking to the Interwebs to ask for money with her mounting medical bills:
Less than a week after suffering a torn ACL that scratched her upcoming fight with Carina Damm, [Zolia Gurgel] is holding an online fundraiser to help pay for her medical treatment. Gurgel (formerly Zoila Frausto), who is married to UFC and Strikeforce vet Jorge Gurgel, hopes to raise $5,000 for the procedure... A lapse in Gurgel's health-insurance plan coupled by previous medical bills prompted her to seek outside help.
"By the time I was able to pay that insurance, they canceled on me," Zoila Gurgel today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I was trying to find more health insurance and applying, but these places were denying me because of my [existing] bills."... "We don't know if [my current insurance] is going to be able to cover it or not," Gurgel said. "[Bellator] is going to pay for the bills, but the thing is, I wasn't able to get medical insurance right then and there when I needed it during my training camp (and) before my training camp because of the outstanding bills that we've had before.”
"Paying out of pocket to go to the hospital to get an MRI (or) to have surgery is ridiculous, and right now, we're not at a point where we're actually able to pay for that out of pocket." Gurgel admitted that the amount she's seeking to raise is not likely to cover all of her medical bills but would help pay for the initial phase of treatment. "This surgery can cost anywhere from 35 to 40 grand, so it's very little compared to what we're going to need if this health insurance doesn't go through," she said.
It is really quite a downer thinking that one of the best female fighters in the world has to beg for money on social networking apps, which everyone knows are the dirty street corners of cyberspace, like some kind of Internet hobo. We’re talking about a fighter who is 11-1 with a victory over Megumi Fujii. And she was willing to fearlessly fight Carina Damm, who barely even counts as a woman anymore due to her profound case of steroid clitoris. She deserves better than this. It seems odd that Gurgel has Bellator’s back on this, as she says that they will pay the medical bills, but at the same time, she needs to pay for this operation out of pocket up front and has lots of outstanding medical bills that somehow didn’t get paid from her other Bellator-related injuries. Bellator really ought to step up and do something here before our “we aren’t exploiting people” bubble bursts in a seething froth of cadaver ligament tissue. We all like to think that we DON’T simply watch hapless chumps getting taken advantage of by being injured for our amusement in exchange for what often amounts to a bucket of peanut-filled feces in compensation. This is because we aren’t watching XARM. But also, sometimes irrationally, we put the blinders on and figure that the athletes will be taken care of if they get injured. Ever since the Tito Ortiz "pay for my back surgery, biatches" scandal, the UFC has been very good about paying its fighters’ medical bills and getting them health insurance. This is a sad reminder of what can happen when a fighter incurs a training injury in the B leagues, even in a relatively well-to-do promotion.
Posted in: gurgel, bill, insurance, bellator, ’t
Read the full article at FightlinkerDepressing story of the day: Zoila Gurgel can’t pay her medical bills
After an ACL tear that forced her off the Bellator 57 card, things seem to be getting worse for Zoila Gurgel. In a development belying the fact that Bellator FC has new corporate sugar daddies who make Oprah look poor, Bellator’s 115lb female champion is taking to the Interwebs to ask for money with her mounting medical bills:
Less than a week after suffering a torn ACL that scratched her upcoming fight with Carina Damm, [Zoila Gurgel] is holding an online fundraiser to help pay for her medical treatment. Gurgel (formerly Zoila Frausto), who is married to UFC and Strikeforce vet Jorge Gurgel, hopes to raise $5,000 for the procedure... A lapse in Gurgel's health-insurance plan coupled by previous medical bills prompted her to seek outside help.
"By the time I was able to pay that insurance, they canceled on me," Zoila Gurgel today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I was trying to find more health insurance and applying, but these places were denying me because of my [existing] bills."... "We don't know if [my current insurance] is going to be able to cover it or not," Gurgel said. "[Bellator] is going to pay for the bills, but the thing is, I wasn't able to get medical insurance right then and there when I needed it during my training camp (and) before my training camp because of the outstanding bills that we've had before.”
"Paying out of pocket to go to the hospital to get an MRI (or) to have surgery is ridiculous, and right now, we're not at a point where we're actually able to pay for that out of pocket." Gurgel admitted that the amount she's seeking to raise is not likely to cover all of her medical bills but would help pay for the initial phase of treatment. "This surgery can cost anywhere from 35 to 40 grand, so it's very little compared to what we're going to need if this health insurance doesn't go through," she said.
It is really quite a downer thinking that one of the best female fighters in the world has to beg for money on social networking apps, which everyone knows are the dirty street corners of cyberspace, like some kind of Internet hobo. We’re talking about a fighter who is 11-1 with a victory over Megumi Fujii. And she was willing to fearlessly fight Carina Damm, who barely even counts as a woman anymore due to her profound case of steroid clitoris. She deserves better than this. It seems odd that Gurgel has Bellator’s back on this, as she says that they will pay the medical bills, but at the same time, she needs to pay for this operation out of pocket up front and has lots of outstanding medical bills that somehow didn’t get paid from her other Bellator-related injuries. Bellator really ought to step up and do something here before our “we aren’t exploiting people” bubble bursts in a seething froth of cadaver ligament tissue. We all like to think that we DON’T simply watch hapless chumps getting taken advantage of by being injured for our amusement in exchange for what often amounts to a bucket of peanut-filled feces in compensation. This is because we aren’t watching XARM. But also, sometimes irrationally, we put the blinders on and figure that the athletes will be taken care of if they get injured. Ever since the Tito Ortiz "pay for my back surgery, biatches" scandal, the UFC has been very good about paying its fighters’ medical bills and getting them health insurance. This is a sad reminder of what can happen when a fighter incurs a training injury in the B leagues, even in a relatively well-to-do promotion.
Posted in: bellator, ’t, gurgel, bill, insurance
Read the full article at FightlinkerViacom Buys Bellator: What Does it Mean for the MMA (UFC) Landscape?
Just yesterday news broke that Viacom, who owns Paramount Pictures and is the parent company of SpikeTV, bought Bellator. Which means that SpikeTV will be the new home for Bellator in 2013.
Just to belabor the obvious, I'd say it's a big deal. Part of what makes the move interesting is that is that for the first time, another organization is slipping into the television shoes once worn by the UFC. Which will give us a vivid look at the real difference between MMA, and the UFC. Will fans watching Bellator for the first time lose interest? Will it capture their attention in the same way the UFC once did?
Nate Wilcox over at MMA Nation explains how the differences work in Bellator's favor (compared to previous promotions). "Bellator has always been an exceptionally far-sighted promotion compared to the usual grandiose schemers who enter the sport. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has been careful to avoid directly challenging the UFC or positioning Bellator as a direct competitor to MMA's alpha dog. He's also taken the organization's goals much more piecemeal.
Unlike the IFL, Affliction, the World Fighting Alliance (WFA), EliteXC and Strikeforce, Bellator has avoided the wrath of UFC president Dana White. All of those promotions came out of the gate making brash claims and announcing plans to compete head-to-head with UFC for headlining fighters, major television deals and pay-per-view customers."
I agree with Nate on this point, but I also wonder to what extent those differences will pay dividends. Bellator doesn't have a respectable talent pool passed 170. Hector Lombard is a Normal Stansfield in a sea of Lewis Skolnicks. And a bigger stage for fans to view a champ losing a fight, but keeping his title in a lackluster affair might inspire mockery (see Wiuff's win over M'Pumbu). Heavyweight doesn't deserve the oxygen of a wet fart, so let's skip 205 and above.
On top of that, as we've seen with the UFC's struggle to sell exciting champions like Dominick Cruz, and Jose Aldo, there's the question of whether or not MMA fans care about the lighter weights (?). Speaking for myself, I know I damn sure do. This is precisely why I've enjoyed Bellator. But that's precisely why they may be a hard sell for the Spike audience. How will the tournament format impact viewership? It certainly didn't do wonders for the IFL (though to be fair, I think that had more to do with the "teams" concept).
However, perception is reality is the old cliche goes. And fighters, particularly prospects, will flock to the larger stage that Bellator will provide. This is a welcome change to the MMA scenery from a fan perspective because it also means female MMA should continue (let's just assume Strikeforce is indeed, dead, which it is), despite the recent hub-bub about Zoila Gurgel.
I suppose people are expecting Zuffa to go typical apeshit. And that's probably a fair assumption. But I personally doubt it. For one, they're not in a position to buy Bellator, and certainly not with the FTC cloud surrounding them. Second, Bellator isn't competing against their talent pool.
You could say, this is a game changer, but I'm inclined to disagree. The time it would take for Bellator to gather enough capital to create the frenzy required to buy up the kind of talent the UFC would feel like they couldn't afford to miss is something Bellator doesn't have, nor will they anytime soon. Their divisions beyond WW are wastelands, and even below that, they don't have any real stars. But perhaps that will change once UFC fighters start getting more and more pink slips. The MMA landscape is changing, and I'd like to think for the better.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, fan, talent pool
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendBellator Gains Sustainability With Viacom, But Skepticism Still Prevalent on Future
Timing, by definition, is a placement or occurence in time. The swinging of a bat at the precise moment a baseball flies into the strike zone is the perfect example. In a more general context, timing is everything. It can determine whether moments in our lives are filled with success or failure, sometimes in a very short period of time.
For Bellator Fighting Championships, the timing couldn't have been any better. USA Today's Sergio Non reported late last night that Viacom, MTV2's parent company, had bought a majority stake in the Chicago-based mixed martial arts promotion, and it will move the promotion from its current home on MTV2 to Spike TV in 2013.
Timing has more to do with the meteoric rise of the promotion than Rebney's business skills, although his ability to find new homes for the promotion while increasing its television exposure helped solidify it as a staple in our diets over the last few years. The UFC's deal with Fox and their exit from Spike TV opened up the possibility for a new MMA promotion to fill the void. Naturally, most fans and media gravitated toward Bellator because it already existed on a Viacom-owned network. Those assumptions became more realized when news broke that Spike TV executives were scouting Bellator events. Furthermore, a report surfaced stating that it wasn't a matter of "if" Bellator would move to Spike TV, it was a matter of "when".
And here we are today, staring at a headline that isn't quite what we expected, but meets the end goal nonetheless. What exactly does this mean for Bellator? What is the most important asset that Viacom brings to the table?
The short answer is sustainability. Bellator's former majority stakeholder, Plainfield Asset Management, had $5 billion in assets before last year, then took a monumental nosedive to $1.25 billion this year, likely due to the poor economic conditions and terrible management. As reported by MMAPayout.com in March, the company made it known that it would return all capital to its investors by June of next year, then contemplate its future.
As you can imagine, that future is bleak, thus Bellator needed to find a new source of funding. Rebney, according to insiders I've talked to in the past, is a master salesman, so it isn't a stretch to believe he would have found a new investor to keep the boat afloat for another year. Viacom's stake, however, creates the impression of prolonged sustainability, and it saves us from talking about Bellator's impending demise next year.
Once the promotion moves to Spike TV in 2013, other advantages to the buyout will kick in, the most obvious being Spike TV's larger reach. They reach roughly 20 million more homes than MTV2, and the channel isn't filled with shows featuring Chanel West Coast. Yes, she's a real person, not a brand of perfume you buy your wife for Christmas.
Bellator will have more resources, a stronger promotional platform for its fighters, and more capital at their disposal. Let's not blow this out of proportion however. A Viacom-backed promotion isn't throwing UFC-sized contracts at some of the best free agents in the business right away. We have yet to see, in action, the commitment that Spike TV and Viacom are throwing at this venture. What's the expectation, and how much money are they willing to dump into the product?
Bellator's key to success, its talent relations department, should have more leverage. Sam Caplan and company are already beating the Zuffa machine to the punch on many of the sport's top prospects, and the promise of exposure on Spike TV along with more money from sponsors may help entice an even better prospect class short-term. Long-term, if Viacom and Spike TV are committed, higher salaries are a possibility if Bellator can succeed on the network.
More minor advantages involve a move away from direct competition with the UFC and an easily accessible HD option for fans. Fighters will benefit as well. Bigger sponsorship checks with the potential of endorsement deals for the more prominent fighters like Eddie Alvarez are a realistic expectation now.
In the grander scheme of things, this presents an interesting situation for the UFC. Time and time again, promotions, as single business entities, have fallen at the wayside to the Zuffa machine. In this instance however, a network did the smart thing that Showtime should have done with Strikeforce. They bought the promotion. Zuffa can take down independent companies solely promoting MMA, but they can't take down a media conglomerate like Viacom. The UFC would have to go out of their way, spend more money to make life hard for Bellator. I don't see that happening right now with their focus on pleasing Fox.
The deal is certainly a major stepping stone for Bellator. It could possibly lead to Bellator becoming the consensus #2 mixed martial arts promotion in the entire world. But I'm still skeptical of Spike TV and Viacom's overall commitment to the promotion. They aren't going to simply dump coffers of cash in front of Bjorn Rebney and say "Go for it!" tomorrow.
The battle will be a calculated chess game with a male demographic that just so happens to be heavily influenced by the UFC's brand. They are definitely the underdogs in the war of marketing against a giant like Fox, so it remains to be seen whether Viacom is willing to infuse substantial capital into a promotion that might get smothered by the UFC's new partner.
Regardless of my reservations, Bellator is a thorn in the UFC's side now. Under Viacom's umbrella, they can provide a challenge that the UFC has never had to deal with in the past. That is if they can prove their viability in a market that's saturated with the UFC brand. Will we be singing the praises of Bellator in two or three years? Only time will tell.
Posted in: bellator, promotion, spike tv, tv, spike
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator Sold To Viacom, Spike TV To Broadcast Bellator Events In 2013
It’s official. Bellator is moving to Spike TV in 2013. Bellator didn’t just do a broadcast deal with Spike TV though. Spike TV’s parent company, Viacom, went one step further and acquired a majority stake in the upstart promotion.
USA Today broke the news earlier today. Here’s Spike TV’s Kevin Kay explaining to Sergio Non why they decided to go the ownership route versus a broadcast deal like they had with the UFC.
“As we realized that our relationship with UFC was likely to come to an end, our Viacom mergers and acquisitions folks, and us, started to have conversations with MTV2 about getting invested in a mixed martial arts promotion and become owners as opposed to renters,” Kay said. “You’re building value in something that you own, and you own it for the long term. You’re not in a constant state of negotiation.”
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney believes this deal secures Bellator’s future.
“It puts all of those cornerstones of ownership in place for us,” he said. “Which is something that’s been so seriously lacking in the MMA space with so many different companies, including Strikeforce and the IFL and Affliction and all the different failures that have occurred. … It alleviates those issues.”
“It’s a very, very good day for mixed martial arts as a whole,” Rebney said. “Because now you have two groups in the space that have a very substantial presence that obviously isn’t going to go anywhere for a very, very long time.”
While the news will undoubtedly get the UFC’s attention, Kay hopes it doesn’t land them in their crosshairs.
“We had a great relationship with UFC and we still do,” Kay said. “We helped each other to build each other’s brand. Like all good things, you know that at some point it’s going to come to an end.”
“They’re No. 1 in the space, there’s just no question about it,” Kay said. “Who’s more competitive than Dana White? I am, but that’s not a horse race we really want to run around here. I think we respect that organization tremendously.”
This is a big deal. There’s no doubt about that. Many people have questioned how long Bellator could survive with the investors they had, but this deal makes that all a moot point now. Viacom doesn’t guarantee Bellator will grow into a thriving promotion, but it gives them a much better chance than they had before.
Many questions remain unanswered though. Most notably, will they continue on with Bellator’s tournament format or switch to a more traditional matchmaking model like the UFC? Will we see a Bellator version of The Ultimate Fighter? And what about the talent? Will Bellator start targeting top name talent or stick with building their own stars?
There’s a lot of questions, but with the television deal not kicking in until 2013, Spike and Bellator have plenty of time to come up with the answers.
Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog
Posted in: ufc, bellator, deal, tv, spike
Read the full article at MMA ConvertIs Viacom buying into Bellator good for the sport? Kid Nate answers that question and many more in...
Is Viacom buying into Bellator good for the sport? Kid Nate answers that question and many more in "Viacom Buying Bellator Is Good For MMA." Read it at MMA Nation.
Posted in: bellator, question, sport, answer, viacom
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowViacom purchases majority stake in Bellator
Speculation surrounding the possibility of Bellator showing up on Spike TV as a replacement for the UFC was put to rest this morning when it was revealed parent-company Viacom had bought a majority stake in Bellator with the goal of airing air content, including live events and highlight shows, starting in 2013.
Though the UFC’s deal with Spike TV expires in a few months, the network is contractually unable to broadcast other MMA programming based on their ownership of the UFC video library which lasts until the end of 2012.
The landscape-altering news was first reported by USA Today where Spike TV President Kevin Kay explained, “As we realized that our relationship with UFC was likely to come to an end, our Viacom mergers and acquisitions folks, and us, started to have conversations with MTV2 about getting invested in a mixed martial arts promotion and become owners as opposed to renters. You’re building value in something that you own, and you own it for the long term. You’re not in a constant state of negotiation.”
“The tournament format (is), we think, a great way to get the audience invested in the fighters as personalities, as characters,” Kay continued. “I think we can help, with the expertise we have in building fighters as fighters that people want to see and come back week to week.”
Spike Executive Spotted at Bellator 48
Kay also went on to say they’ll be patient where viewership is concerned, citing Blue Mountain State and TNA Wrestling as programs having steadily grown into solid draws since initially debuting with less than satisfactory ratings.
As far as how the move will affect Bellator’s fighters, lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez pointed out the increased cash-flow as far signing talent and sponsorship go.
“They’ll have a ton of more money to negotiate with, As long as I keep doing well and do what I’m supposed to do, the future looks bright,” said Alvarez. “I’m smiling ear-to-ear right now. I couldn’t be any happier. Endorsements are hard to come by when you’re on ESPN Deportes and these other smaller channels.”
Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney summed the entire situation up nicely, stating, “”It’s a very, very good day for Mixed Martial Arts as a whole because now you have two groups in the space that have a very substantial presence that obviously isn’t going to go anywhere for a very, very long time.”
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Posted in: ufc, bellator, fighter, spike tv, spike
Read the full article at Fighters.comViacom Buys Bellator, Plans 2013 Move To Spike TV
Cable conglomerate Viacom has purchased Bellator Fighting Championships and the promotion will start with Spike TV in 2013.
Posted in: bellator, spike tv, tv, spike, viacom
Read the full article at Heavy MMABellator on Spike TV: Viacom purchase paves way for 2013 network debut
Right now, you can watch Bellator fights on Spike.com. In 2013, you can watch them on Spike TV.
USA Today has the report:
Viacom, parent of MTV Networks, bought a majority stake in Bellator Fighting Championships and will start airing the promotion's bouts on Spike in 2013, the companies told USA TODAY this week. They've had ongoing talks for about a year as they finished up various deals, and over the past month finally reached the point where they could announce the news, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said.
Selling to Viacom's entertainment conglomerate guarantees a stable future for Bellator, said Rebney, who will remain in charge of the MMA organization.
"It puts all of those cornerstones of ownership in place for us," he said. "Which is something that's been so seriously lacking in the MMA space with so many different companies, including Strikeforce and the IFL and Affliction and all the different failures that have occurred. ... It alleviates those issues."
More on this in just a bit.
Posted in: bellator, usa today, spike, viacom, bellator fights
Read the full article at MMA ManiaViacom just bought Bellator
Oh snap. A mere two months after Viacom started getting all jiggy with Bellator prelims on Spike.com, we now have news that they've bought the promotion and will be moving it to SpikeTV as soon as legally possible. Unfortunately, because of wonky expiration dates on certain UFC deals, that won't be for another year:
Viacom, parent of MTV Networks, bought a majority stake in Bellator Fighting Championships and will start airing the promotion's bouts on Spike in 2013, the companies told USA TODAY this week. They've had ongoing talks for about a year as they finished up various deals, and over the past month finally reached the point where they could announce the news, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said.Selling to Viacom's entertainment conglomerate guarantees a stable future for Bellator, said Rebney, who will remain in charge of the MMA organization.
Not to shit on the deal or anything, but entrusting your continued existence to a cable tv network conglomerate doesn't sound all that stabilizing to me. They're always pulling the plug on one under-performing property or another, but I guess going big with Spike beats going unseen and slowly broke on MTV2. This move solidifies Bellator as the number 2 promotion in town, albeit only in 2013. Until then, the UFC gets to perform on FOX without any serious combat sports competition from any other channel. Not that I'd consider Bellator serious competition at this point. But Viacom now has 14 months to whip their new promotion into contender shape.
Posted in: bellator, promotion, usa today, viacom, promotions bouts
Read the full article at FightlinkerViacom Buys Bellator, Events to Air on Spike Starting in 2013
Rumors of Bellator moving to Spike TV have been around ever since the UFC's falling out with the network earlier this year. With the UFC and Spike failing to reach a deal to extend their partnership, the network was likely to look to get into business with another promotion as MMA has been one of the cornerstones of Spike's programming since The Ultimate Fighter began in 2005.
Bellator had been airing on MTV 2 and recently began streaming their undercards live on Spike's website. Now, Viacom (parent company of MTV and Spike) has bought the promotion and has big plans for the company's future. USA Today with the report:
Viacom, parent of MTV Networks, bought a majority stake in Bellator Fighting Championships and will start airing the promotion's bouts on Spike in 2013, the companies told USA TODAY this week. They've had ongoing talks for about a year as they finished up various deals, and over the past month finally reached the point where they could announce the news, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said.
...
Although Spike's agreement to carry new material from UFC ends in December, the channel still has rights to the promotion's library through 2012. As a result, fights from Bellator won't air on Spike until 2013, said Kevin Kay, Spike TV president. In addition to continuing Bellator's current practice of having two seasons annually, Spike expects to run additional programs such as highlight shows and related content, both on TV and online.
Make sure you read the full article as it has a lot of good information and quotes from Bjorn Rebney.
I don't think this truly makes Bellator any sort of competitor for the UFC, but their aggressive going after of prospects will likely continue as they have more resources at their disposal and exposure to make the promotion more appealing. It comes down to if they figure out a way to pay their fighters enough that you don't have one champion (Zach Makovsky) publicly saying that he would have been better off not winning the belt and fighting back through the tournament and another (Zoila Gurgel) having to take up donations from fans to pay for injuries.
The appeal of fighting for Bellator is lessened significantly when you hear those things and with their incredibly restrictive contracts any manager of a high level talent would still be better served to wait for Zuffa to come calling.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, promotion, spike, promotions library
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowViacom Buys Bellator, Giving an Upstart Promotion a Long-Term Shot
Filed under: BellatorIn recent years in mixed martial arts, promotions that have tried to position themselves as the UFC's primary competitor have always fallen by the wayside. But the news that Viacom has purchased Bellator Fighting Championships makes this No. 2 promotion different: Bellator may never be on the same level as the UFC, but it now has a solid foundation on which to establish itself as an MMA promotion that's here to stay.
Viacom owns both MTV2, which currently airs Bellator fights, and Spike TV, which has been the cable TV home of the UFC for several years. Spike President Kevin Kay told USA Today that with the UFC leaving Spike for Fox, now is the right time for Viacom to demonstrate that it's heavily invested in MMA by getting on board with Bellator.
"As we realized that our relationship with UFC was likely to come to an end, our Viacom mergers and acquisitions folks, and us, started to have conversations with MTV2 about getting invested in a mixed martial arts promotion and become owners as opposed to renters," Kay said. "You're building value in something that you own, and you own it for the long term. You're not in a constant state of negotiation."
Viacom's plan is to keep Bellator on MTV2 through 2012, then move it to Spike in 2013, when Spike's deal to air repeats of UFC programming comes to an end. Spike has a much larger audience than MTV2 -- and an audience that's accustomed to watching MMA -- and so moving Bellator to Spike just makes sense.
The biggest question is what kind of investment Viacom wants to make in Bellator going forward: Will Viacom be willing to spend the kind of money that will allow Bellator to compete with the UFC for fighters? Or will Bellator be content to stick with fighters who are mostly a step below UFC level? Bellator has a handful of fighters who are considered among the Top 10 in the world in their weight classes, but for the most part the quality of the fighting in the Bellator cage is not on par with what fans are accustomed to seeing in the UFC.
Another question for Bellator is whether it will re-think its approach of using a seasonal format with weekly shows and tournaments. That format has been Bellator's trademark, and it allows the promotion to build up its tournament winners quickly. But it has also resulted in problems when winning fighters have suffered injuries, and the tournament format has caused some of Bellator's champions to experience long layoffs while waiting for the next tournament to end.
But however Bellator resolves those issues, the best news is that Bellator will be around long enough to make those decisions. Viacom is a huge media company with the deep pockets necessary to keep Bellator afloat for years to come. This deal means Bellator has a promising future. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, bellator, promotion, spike, viacom
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseViacom Buys Majority Stake In Bellator Fighting Championships
Late last night, Sergio Non of USA Today broke that news that media conglomerate giant Viacom had purchased a majority stake in Bellator Fighting Championships.
Viacom, parent of MTV Networks, bought a majority stake in Bellator Fighting Championships and will start airing the promotion’s bouts on Spike in 2013, the companies told USA TODAY this week. They’ve had ongoing talks for about a year as they finished up various deals, and over the past month finally reached the point where they could announce the news, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said.
…
Selling to Viacom’s entertainment conglomerate guarantees a stable future for Bellator, said Rebney, who will remain in charge of Bellator.
…
“It puts all of those cornerstones of ownership in place for us,” he said. “Which is something that’s been so seriously lacking in the MMA space with so many different companies, including Strikeforce and the IFL and Affliction and all the different failures that have occurred.
… It alleviates those issues.”
Payout Perspective:
Here are some notes and observations from the story:
- Bellator is now the #2 promotion in Mixed Martial Arts behind the UFC.
- Although Spike’s agreement ends this year with the UFC, they stil lhave rights to the UFC library in 2012, which will prevent Bellator from airing on Spike TV until 2013.
- Spike TV started talking about possibly investing in Bellator with MTV2 and Viacom’s mergers and acquisition group when TV negotiations fell through with the UFC. Spike TV and MTV2 decided to become owners instead of renters.
- Having a strong #2 promotion may be a good thing for the UFC, as they have been dealing with an FTC investigation for the majority of the year.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, spike, viacom, majority stake
Read the full article at MMA PayoutViacom buys Bellator, events to begin airing on SpikeTV in 2013
Viacom, the parent company of MTV Networks, has purchased a majority stake in Bellator Fighting Championships and will begin airing the promotion's events on Spike TV in 2013.The news was initially reported by USA Today, and has since been confirmed by Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney.According to Rebney, the deal has been in the works for the past year and is one that they are hopeful will offer the promotion a more stable foundation going forward."It puts all of those cornerstones of ownership in place for us,"
Posted in: bellator, usa today, parent company, majority stake, promotions events
Read the full article at Low KickReport: Viacom Purchases Bellator Fighting Championships
In a major move to solidify their future in mixed martial arts, Viacom, parent company of Spike TV, has purchased a controlling interest in Bellator Fighting Championships.
Posted in: bellator, championship, spike tv, viacom, purchase
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyHey guys, Viacom just purchased Bellator in a raw power move
Major props to USA Today's Sergio Non for scooping the entire planet on this game-changing news. This is the MMA equivalent of Ernest Rutherford splitting the atom back in 1917. There, take that for an obscure reference. It's a shame you guys aren't familiar with the father of nuclear physics.
And it feels like it was only just yesterday when Bellator CEO, Bjorn Rebney called everyone at MiddleEasy 'out of touch with reality' and even suggested that I ran MiddleEasy from my mother's basement. Now Bjorn just heavily pocketed on Viacom purchasing majority stake of his Bellator Fighting Championship in absolutely authentic 'raw power move.' Notorious B.I.G would be proud.
Now with over $9.34 billion backing them, this undeniably cements Bellator's future in the MMA scene. They're going nowhere, well besides Spike TV in 2013. Technically, Bellator could also be shown on Showtime since Viacom also owns that media entity. Back in March I claimed Sumner Redstone was the most powerful man in MMA and no one understood how I arrived at this conclusion. With Viacom's acquisition of Bellator, some of you are finally starting to understand this guy truly owns the future of mixed martial arts. Now get the popcorn ready, Dana White's response to this purchase will undoubtedly be an interesting one. [Source]
Posted in: bellator, mma, guy, viacom, sumner redstone
Read the full article at Middle EasyHeavyweight Final, Trio of Undercard Bouts Set for Bellator 59
Bellator Fighting Championships’ fifth-season heavyweight tournament final and three new undercard additions are on tap for Bellator 59, Sherdog.com confirmed with a source close to the event on Tuesday.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, undercard, undercard bouts, undercard additions
Read the full article at SherdogFormer Bellator champ aims for spot in welterweight tourney
Bellator Fighting Championships announced today that its former welterweight champion Lyman “Cyborg” Good will make his return against Michael...
Posted in: bellator, welterweight, champion, championship, bellator champ
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBellator bought out by Viacom, Spike TV in 2013
Things have taken an interesting turn in North America with news that the giant media corporation Viacom has purchased Bellator FC.Bellator FC is currently...
Posted in: bellator, viacom, fcbellator, america, corporation
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBellator Notes: Travis Wiuff And Title Shots, Zoila Gurgel Asks For Help, Ratings
Twelve straight times, a Bellator champion had their arm raised following a non-title victory. There were some close calls (Joe Warren vs. Marcos Galvao anyone?) but the stat still held up. When champions fought, they didn't lose.
That changed this past Saturday at Bellator 55 when Light Heavyweight Champion Christian M'Pumbu found that 13 is indeed an unlucky number, breaking the streak in a unanimous decision loss to Travis Wiuff. Bellator now finds itself in the unique position of what to do next with both men.
The easy thing to do would be to simply guarantee Wiuff a slot in the promotion's next 205-pound tournament. However, that tournament likely wouldn't take place until next March or April based on past scheduling which means a winner wouldn't be crowned until May or June. That pushes a potential title match back to early fall -- a flaw in the tournament setup.
You would have to think that M'Pumbu isn't going to want to wait nearly a year before fighting again, but would it make sense to put him in another non-title situation? No, it doesn't. You run the risk of him losing again and then you have a weak 205-pound champion on your hands.
The right call: give Wiuff a shot at M'Pumbu's title on the same night the assumed 205-pound tournament concludes next season. He's beaten the champ in a non-title fight and has earned it. To do otherwise doesn't make sense from any angle.
"Good" News
Former Bellator Welterweight Champion Lyman Good will return to action on Saturday, November 26 in a Season 6 tournament qualifying bout against Michael Costa.
Good (11-2) was last seen dropping a close split decision to Rick Hawn in April's welterweight tournament semifinals. He was the first 170-pound champion in company history, but lost the belt in his first title defense against Ben Askren a year ago. Costa (10-5-1) will be making his promotional debut and will seeing his first action in a year when he steps in the Bellator cage.
Bellator 59 will also feature Kurt Pellegrino vs. Patricky Friere, the bantamweight tournament finals and the Bellator debut of former TUF competitor Phillipe Nover.
Bantamweight Finals Set
Speaking of the 135-pounders, Eduardo Dantas and Alexis Vila both advanced last Saturday and will compete in a month's time for a shot at current champion Zach Makovsky.
Dantas (12-2) won his fifth straight with his split decision over Ed West, while Vila (11-0) remained undefeated with a controversial split decision win over Marcos Galvao -- a fight many observers saw in Galvao's favor. Between this and the Warren defeat, Arizona's judges have not been kind to him.
Injured Champ Asks For Help
In an unusual story, Bellator 115-pound women's champion Zoila Gurgel is asking for help from fans and the MMA community to cover medical expenses related to a recent ACL tear.
Gurgel (formerly Frausto) had to pull out of her scheduled November 12 fight with Carina Damm due to the injury and a lapse in medical insurance has put her and husband Jorge Gurgel in a tough spot.
Bellator does not fully cover out-of-competition medical insurance like Zuffa and therefore fighters are on their own in situations like this. Nearly $2000 of the $5000 target has been reached and fans can donate here.
Bellator 56 This Saturday
The aforementioned Askren returns to action Saturday in his first title defense, facing Season 4 tournament winner and MMA veteran Jay Hieron.
Askren (8-0) last defeated Nick Thompson in a non-title fight in April, while Hieron (22-4) earned the shot with wins over Anthony Lapsley, Brent Weedman and Rick Hawn earlier this year. Hieron goes into Saturday on a 10-fight win streak. Both men have significant wrestling backgrounds so expect a lot of ground work in this one.
The heavyweight tournament semifinals will also take place with Eric Prindle vs. Ron Sparks and Neil Grove vs. Thiago Santos.
Prindle (8-1) advanced with a decision win over Abe Wagner while Sparks (8-0) knocked out Mark Holata. Grove (11-4-1) was defeated by Mike Hayes in the quarterfinals but got a second life after Blagoi Ivanov had to bow out due to injury. Santos (9-1) is also an injury replacement, ironically subbing in for Hayes. Santos submitted Josh Burns in an alternate bout to earn the shot.
Ratings Dip
This past Saturday's event saw a slight ratings downturn to 168,000 fans on MTV2 -- down from the 185,000 viewers the week prior, according to MMA Junkie. The replay did just 45,000 viewers.
Posted in: bellator, decision, champion, tournament, saturday
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBen Askren’s Bellator Blog, Part 1
The funky one is looking for another dominant title bout win at Bellator 56. | Photo: Keith Mills
Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren (www.twitter.com/BenAskren) will blog his thoughts and experiences for Sherdog.com as he prepares to defend his 170-pound title against Season 4 tournament winner Jay Hieron at Bellator 56 in Kansas City, Kan. Bellator 56 takes place this Saturday, Oct. 29, on MTV2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
I hit the road to Kansas City today. My in-laws actually live there, so I decided to arrive a few days early to get the drive out of the way. After the fight, I am going to stop by Columbia, Mo., and check out my old stomping grounds and maybe stop by a few wrestling practices as the Mizzou team gets ready for the upcoming season.
This will be my first fight since I moved back to Milwaukee on Aug. 1, coming home after nine years was a great feeling. I actually just bought a house here, so I feel like this is really my home. Going to a great MMA gym with great coaches and training partners every day is a great feeling. Thinking back on it, my decision to move back home and pursue MMA full-time was a decision that I feel I should have made earlier in my career.
Posted in: bellator, mma gym, home, mizzou team, feeling i
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 59 Fight Card Rumors
Bellator Fighting Championships 59 at Caesars in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on November 26, 2011, rumored fight card and bouts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight card, card, atlantic city
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 55, Bantamweight Semifinals Net 168,000 Viewers on MTV2
Saturday night’s broadcast of Bellator Fighting Championships 55 on MTV2 earned an average of 168,000 viewers, Sherdog.com confirmed Tuesday with an industry source.
Posted in: bellator, viewer, mtv, semifinals, tuesday
Read the full article at SherdogLyman Good to face Michael Costa at Bellator 59
It’s been over six months since we’ve seen former Bellator welterweight champion Lyman Good compete, but that will change on November 26 when “Cyborg” returns to action against Michael Costa at Bellator 59. The bout will be a welterweight tournament qualifier for season six.
Bellator officials confirmed the bout earlier today.
Good was originally scheduled to fight Dan Hornbuckle earlier this year but had to pull out of the fight due to a hamstring injury. He last competed at Bellator 39, losing a close split decision to Rick Hawn in the semifinals of the season 4 welterweight tournament. After going undefeated in his first 10 professional fights and winning the Bellator welterweight title, Good has lost two of his last three bouts. Along with the loss to Hawn, he dropped a decision and the title to current champion Ben Askren before rebounding with a win over Chris Lozano.
Costa will be making his Bellator debut when he steps into the cage to face Good in late November. A black belt under Royler Gracie, Costa has won 10 professional fights, finishing nine of his opponents. He currently trains at Wand Fight Team in Las Vegas with MMA legend Wanderlei Silva.
Bellator 59 is scheduled for November 26 at Caesars Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event will be headlined by the season five bantamweight tournament final between Alexis Vila and Eduardo Dantas.
*PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR*
Posted in: fight, bellator, welterweight, alexis vila, costa
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBears vs. Navarro, Schindler vs. Spoon among seven Bellator 56 prelim contests
Welterweights Rudy Bears vs. Marcio Navarro and featherweights Adam Schindler vs.
Jeremy Spoon are among a seven-fight preliminary
card recently announced for Saturday's Bellator 56 event.
Featuring a welterweight title fight between current champion Ben Askren
and challenger Jay Hieron, as well as the semifinals of Bellator's
season-five light heavyweight tournament, Bellator 56 takes place Oct.
29 at Memorial Hall in Kanas City, Kan.
The evening's main card airs on MTV2, and the seven-fight preliminary card streams on Spike.com.
Posted in: bellator, vs, card, memorial hall, card streams
Read the full article at MMA JunkieFormer Bellator champ Lyman Good returns at Bellator 59 in welterweight qualifier
Back up the ladder.
Former welterweight champion Lyman Good hopes to
secure a spot in his second Bellator tournament when he meets Michael
Costa at Bellator 59, the promotion today
announced.
The bout serves as a qualifier for the promotion's season-six eight-man
welterweight tournament. Bellator 59 takes place Nov. 26 at Caesars
Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey. As usual, MTV 2 airs main
card action while preliminary bouts stream live on Spike.com.
Posted in: bellator, welterweight, atlantic city, michael costa, bellator tournament
Read the full article at MMA JunkieLyman Good gets green light for return at Bellator 59
One of Bellator’s longtime staples, Lyman Good, is poised to return to the promotion’s cage after suffering a leg injury earlier this year with the required recovery time costing him a shot at qualifying for the current season’s ongoing welterweight tournament.
According to Bellator officials, the 26-year old New Yorker won’t have to venture far from his familiar stomping grounds when he fights in a month at Bellator 59 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Good will face Brazilian finisher Michael Costa at the event who has nine stoppages in ten total victories.
“Coming off of that last fight, it really made me go back to the drawing board and start fresh,” said Good of an April loss to Rick Hawn in a Season 4 semifinal bout. “You’re going to see a new Lyman Good (on November 26), but at the same time it’s going to be the old Lyman Good. I felt like I got away from some things that made me who I was as a fighter, and I needed to get back to my roots. I can’t wait to get into that cage, trade some leather and get back to my winning ways.”
Good vs. Hawn Highlights Action-Packed Bellator 39
Good holds an overall record of 11-2 with both losses coming as a result of the judges scorecards. He also held Bellator’s welterweight title until falling to current champion Ben Askren a year ago.
Bellator 59 is also scheduled to feature the promotional debut of UFC veteran Kurt Pellegrino, set to take on Patricky Freire, as well as the final fight in the Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament with either Alexis Vila or Eduardo Dantas moving on to face divisional king Zach Makovsky.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: fight, bellator, season, year, lyman
Read the full article at Fighters.comGood, Costa Meet in Welterweight Tourney Qualifier at Bellator 59
Bellator Fighting Championships officials Thursday announced that former welterweight champion Lyman Good will return to the cage Nov. 26 to take on Sengoku veteran Michael Costa in a welterweight tournament qualifier.
Posted in: bellator, welterweight, tournament, costa, qualifier
Read the full article at SherdogLyman Good Greets Michael Costa at Bellator 59
Former Bellator champion Lyman Good welcomes Michael Costa to the promotion at Bellator 59 in Atlantic City, N.J.
Posted in: bellator, michael, lyman, michael costa, costa
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator 55: 168,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 55’s ratings this past Saturday night received an average of 168,000 viewers on Saturday night. The numbers show a decrease from Bellator 54 which posted an 185,000 viewer average.
An immediate replay of the broadcast received a lowly 45,000 viewer average.
Via MMA Junkie:
Once again, the latest ratings continue the organization’s wildly inconsistent season-five numbers; two events have scored at least 235,000 viewers, and three have drawn 158,000 or fewer. Bellator 55 did go unopposed by the UFC and Strikeforce.
Payout Perspective:
Despite not going up against another MMA card, it seems that Bellator fell victim to College Football (which included several top teams playing at the same time as the broadcast), the World Series and HBO Boxing (including the first episode of Pacquiao-Marquez 24/7). The 168,000 viewer average is decent but one would think that it could have maintained, if not exceeded Bellator 54’s 185,000 average. Also, the replay numbers seemed unusually low.
Posted in: bellator, saturday night, mma, viewer, number
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBellator 59: Lyman Good vs Michael Costa booked for Nov. 26 in Atlantic City
CHICAGO, Ill. (October 25, 2011) - Bellator Fighting Championships announced today that former Bellator Welterweight Champion Lyman "Cyborg" Good will make his long-awaited return to the Bellator cage as the New York native squares off against promising Brazilian Michael Costa in a Bellator Season 6 Welterweight Tournament Qualifier fight on Saturday, November 26 from Caesars Atlantic City in New Jersey and LIVE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX2 beginning at 9 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. CT.
First fight will take place at 7 p.m. ET and will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com. The night will also feature the Bellator Season 5 Bantamweight final between Alexis Vila and Eduardo Dantas as well as two other spectacular fights that include Point Pleasant, New Jersey's Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino taking on Patricky Pitbull and Brooklyn's Phillipe Nover against Marcin Held.
Born in Harlem and currently fighting out of Manhattan, the explosive Good brings an impressive 11-2 professional record to the cage, including five knockout victories. The Tiger Schulmann product marched through the Season 1 Welterweight Tournament and captured the title to become the first ever Bellator Welterweight Champion.
Good was originally supposed to get back into the cage earlier this year against fellow welterweight Dan "The Handler" Hornbuckle, but a nagging hamstring injury forced "Cyborg" out of the fight. The New Yorker has been on a long layoff since coming off a tough split-decision loss at the hands of undefeated Judo Olympian Rick Hawn in the Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament Semifinals and is eager to get back to work.
"Coming off of that last fight, it really made me go back to the drawing board and start fresh," said Good. "You're going to see a new Lyman Good, but at the same time it's going to be the old Lyman Good. I felt like I got away from some things that made me who I was as a fighter, and I needed to get back to my roots. I can't wait to get into that cage, trade some leather and get back to my winning ways."
For Costa, the Royler Gracie trained black belt has been waiting to make his Bellator debut, and will have his hands full with the veteran Good. Costa currently trains and teaches alongside current Bellator Middleweight Tournament Finalist Vitor Vianna at Wand Fight Team in Las Vegas, and a meeting with Good should produce fireworks.
"Lyman was our first ever Welterweight Champion and it's going to be good to see him back in the cage and fighting for a shot in our next tournament," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Lyman always brings it, and Michael is the real deal with great skills, so this should be a very explosive fight""
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: fight, bellator, welterweight, cage, lyman
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 55 ratings dip slightly with 168,000 viewers tuning into MTV2
The Bellator Fighting Championships ratings rollercoaster continues, and
this past weekend's Bellator 55 event saw a slight ratings slide. The
Oct. 22 event drew 168,000 viewers on MTV2. That accounted for an nine
percent decrease from the 185,000 who tuned in for Bellator 54.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the ratings information with an industry source.
The event took place at Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Ariz., and
featured the semifinal round of the season-five bantamweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, event, rating, ratings slide, percent decrease
Read the full article at MMA JunkieFive Ounces of Podcast: Episode 5
Five Ounces of Podcast is back with Jeremy Lambert and Samer Kadi breaking down this weekends UFC 137 event headlined by BJ Penn and Nick Diaz. We’ll preview all the fights in depth, tell you why Penn will destroy Diaz, why it doesn’t matter who you pick to win but why you pick them, discuss the fall of Mirko Filipovic, as well as praise the skills of Hatsu Hioki and Donald Cerrone. Plus we have a quick review of Bellator 55 and why everything went wrong for Bellator plus a preview of Bellator 56 and the best fight that no one will watch this weekend. It’s over an hour and a half of MMA talk so check it out.
Download (Right Click -> Save Link As) / iTunes
Posted in: bellator, bj penn, nick diaz, jeremy lambert, hatsu hioki
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainSaunders Surprising Himself in Bellator
Ben Saunders put on a jiu-jitsu clinic against Luis Santos on Oct. 8 at Bellator 53 that few would have predicted, including himself.
Posted in: bellator, ben, saunder, jiujitsu, jiujitsu clinic
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 55 Video Fight Highlights
Alexis Vila and Eduardo Dantas both earned a place in the Bellator Bantamweight Tournament Finals after defeating their opponents at Bellator 55.
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, alexis vila, vila, eduardo dantas
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyInjured Bellator champ Zoila Gurgel asking for help with mounting medical bills
Zoila Gurgel is asking for help.
Less than a week after suffering a torn ACL that scratched her upcoming fight with Carina Damm, Bellator's 115-pound women's champion is holding an online fundraiser to help pay for her medical treatment.
Gurgel (formerly Zoila Frausto), who is married to UFC and Strikeforce vet Jorge Gurgel, hopes to raise $5,000 for the procedure.
Posted in: bellator, gurgel, zoila, treatment gurgel, zoila frausto
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 55 Video Highlights
Highlights from Bellator 55.
Read the full article at MMA Convert
Alexis Vila vs. Eduardo Dantas bantamweight-tourney finale slated for Bellator 59
Bellator Fighting Championships' season-five bantamweight-tourney finale between Alexis Vila and Eduardo Dantas is slated for Bellator 59.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the booking with Bellator officials.
Bellator 59 takes place Nov. 26 at Ceasars Atlantic City in New Jersey. The main card airs on MTV2 (and in high-definition on EPIX), and the prelims stream on Spike.com.
Posted in: bellator, card airs, alexis vila, prelims stream, eduardo dantas
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWomen's MMA Report: Bellator champ Gurgel injured, Kheyfets upsets Helsel
An ACL tear has forced Bellator 115-pound women's champion Zoila "The Warrior Princess" Gurgel to the sidelines and out of a Bellator 57 bout with Carina Damm.
In our latest Women's MMA Report, MMAjunkie.com's Robert Sargent discusses the injury and how it could impact Bellator's 2012 tournament plans.
He also discusses recent wins by Marianna Kheyfets, Andria Caplan and Suzie Montero, as well as the unfortunate passing of the inspirational "Mighty" Mia Hayes-Camara.
Posted in: bellator, women, carina damm, kheyfet, suzie montero
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 55 Results & Recap – ‘Arizona Hates Marcos Galvao’
Arizona hates Marcos Galvao. That’s a fact. When last the Brazilian set foot in the state, he fought Joe Warren and beat the American from pillar to post, and when the bout went to the athletic commission-appointed judges, Galvao was robbed of what should have been a decision in his favor. Last night at Bellator 55 a similar injustice was meted out, with a screwjob once more befalling the jiu-jitsu black belt in the warm desert night. What the heck is going on here? Does Galvao bear resemblance to some reviled Arizona villain of yore? Is his visage on a poster on the wall of the athletic commission offices with a red circle and line going through it? Bellator 55 featured the two Season Five bantamweight semifinals, with Galvao taking on Alexis Vila and Ed West taking on Eduardo Dantas, and a non-title bout between light-heavyweight champ Christian M’Pumbu and the veteran Travis Wiuff. But the bad taste left in the mouths of viewers – and in poor Galvao’s maw – was that as long as a cage is erected in the last state to be admitted into the Union, the judges are going to make sure someone gets the shaft. And that sucks.
The night began with a match-up between Brazilian Ricardo Tirloni and jiu-jitsu black belt Steve Gable. Despite possessing a black belt in jiu-jitsu himself, Tirloni was exceedingly effective on the feet, stinging his foe with his Muay Thai and tying him up with solid wrestling. Gable was able to land only a couple good punches, both in the form of a strong right hand, but it was pretty much the Ricardo Tirloni Show, and the ending sequence saw Tirloni on top, peppering Gable with knuckles until Gable turned over and got choked out. The tap out came at 3:54 of Round 2 via rear naked choke.
Bellator pitted their best light-heavyweight against a guy who’s fought just about everyone and everywhere, and though no title was at stake, the stakes were high in terms of the value of their 205-pound champ’s belt. But hey, what could wrong with striker M’Pumbu taking on wrestler Wiuff? I’ll tell you what could go wrong – both for Bellator and M’Pumbu. Wiuff could call upon his vast eighty-bout experience and takedown ability to stymie the Congolese stand-up specialist and impose his will throughout almost all their three-round contest. Round 1 saw the American secure top position, and though he couldn’t do much with it, he was on top and M’Pumbu was stuck. In Rounds 2 and 3 the champ landed a few hard strikes in the form of a knee and crosses, but again, when Wiuff wanted it on the ground it went to the ground. When time expired he took the unanimous decision, and the win earned him a berth in the next light-heavyweight tournament.
Rich Hale can do inverted triangles (see Bellator’s highlight reel from now until eternity), and apparently he can score hellacious knockouts, too – as local fighter Carlos Flores learned all too painfully. Hale came out, softened Flores up with a pair of knees, then landed a right hook square on Flores’ “off” button. It took only eighteen seconds, and Flores was snoozing on the canvas.
Dantas took out fellow Brazilian Wilson Reis with an explosive flying knee and some punches to secure his semifinal slot, while West out-danced Luis Nogueira to earn a narrow split decision. Thankfully, putting the two together at Bellator 55 was a recipe for action. In the opening seconds of Round 1 it became apparent that West’s frenetic, unorthodox striking style was no match for Nogueira’s concise and aggressive Muay Thai, as Nogueira just kept coming forward and was able to knock his opponent silly. West never stopped flitting about, though, scoring here and there while doing his best imitation of the Riverdance and the Electric Bugaloo. Round 2 had Nogueira getting West down, taking his back and threatening with a rear naked choke, and the final frame was all about the American and the Brazilian doing things like the Cha-Cha and the Charleston. When all was said and done, Dantas took the split decision, and advanced to the tournament finals. His opponent?
Well, since we already know that the other half of the semifinal bracket had Galvao getting screwed against Vila, there’s no mystery in who Dantas is facing. So let’s see how it all came about, shall we?
If you were expecting the Cuban Olympic wrestler to come out and flatten Galvao like he did Warren, you were undoubtedly disappointed, as Round 1 featured an abundance of caution and both men feeling the other out and testing their range. Vila got one true takedown, but it went nowhere. The second round, however, was when the heat went up a few degrees in the cage. With a height and reach advantage, Galvao began punching, kicking and kneeing his more compact foe repeatedly – a theme that recurred all the way to the final bell. Vila had his moments, landing with power, but as the seconds ticked away and fifteen minutes were finally gone, it felt as if the Brazilian had done enough to win. According to the Arizona judges, it wasn’t. The shafting was so blatant, Bellator honcho Bjorn Rebney awarded Galvao a win bonus, although it was likely cold comfort given that Vila takes his spot in the finals.
Results:
-Alexis Vila def. Marcos Galvao via Split Decision (29-28, 29-28, 27-30)
-Eduardo Dantas def. Ed West via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
-Travis Wiuff def. Christian M’Pumbu via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
-Ricardo Tirloni def. Steve Gable via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:54 in Round 2
-Rich Hale def. Carlos Flores via KO (Punch) at :18 in Round 1
Posted in: bellator, round, decision, vila, galvao
Read the full article at MMA ConvertRichard Hale-Bellator's new human highlight reel
Ask me for a light heavyweight who can pull off inverted triangles with a week's worth of practice and then come out into the Arizona desert to face plant KO the competition and I shall present to you Richard "Rare Breed" Hale, Bellator's newest human highlight reel. You will be able to tell it's him because he has brass knuckles tattooed on the inside of his right bicep (pictured above).
Bellator 55 went down last night literally in the middle of the desert and in front of an excited crowd (including one very excited women) for yet another night of wild action. Bellator light heavyweight champ Christian M'Pumbu actually lost last night to Travis Wiuff, but it was a non title fight so what can you do? This must have inspired Rare Breed to further kick butt for a chance at a rematch with the champ.
The bantamweight tournament continued with a pair of split decisions. Eduardo Dantas narrowly defeated Ed West (with a reaction to the loss that is gif worthy if I can find one) and Miami Hustle star Alexis Vila came out on top over Marcos Galvao in a wild decision. After the fight I talked to Vila's corner and found out that he had a fever coming into the fight and was super gassed.
Bellator delivered yet again. Now check out that Richard Hale knockout.
That video is so Iphone/Ipad compatible it hurts.
[source]
Posted in: fight, night, bellator, richard, brass knuckles
Read the full article at Middle EasyBellator 55 results recap for 'Vila vs Galvao' in Yuma, Arizona
Bellator 55 took place last night (October 22, 2011) from the Cocopah Resort & Casino in Yuma, Arizona. The upstart promotion once again had the night to themselves but instead of delivering the typical highlight, the night was filled with close decisions, upsets and a bit of controversy.
Look no further than the main event of the evening, a semifinal matchup in the Bellator bantamweight tournament pitting Olympic bronze medal wrestler Alexis Vila against two-time world champion Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and WEC veteran Marcus Galvao.
Vila, the smaller man with a significantly shorter reach, had issues finding his range early in the fight, and Galvao was equally concerned with the Cuban defector's power as both men engaged very little in a tentative first round that could have been scored either way.
Things began to open up at the midway point of the fight as both men began throwing punches and kicks more aggressively. Galvao found a home for his leg kicks while Vila tried worked hard to get inside and land his punches. The 40 year old American Top Team product also shot in repeatedly for takedowns but was stuffed time and time again by the Brazilian, Galvao.
In the final round, Galvao turned it up, pushing the pace, landing his kicks and really opening up with his punches as well as Vila began to tire out a bit, no longer bouncing around with frenetic energy like he did early in the bout.
With how close the first two rounds were and how decisive the last was, many felt Galvao had done enough to win the fight and were not surprised when the first judge's scorecard was read 30-27 in his favor, but then the next two were announced 29-28 Vila to give the former Olympian the victory and a place in the tournament finals.
This was the second time Marcos Galvao had lost a controversial decision in Yuma, Arizona, having previously been on the receiving end of an undeserved decision loss to Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren earlier this year. Apparently at the post-fight press conference, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney awarded Galvao his win bonus this time around and guaranteed him admission into the next Bellator bantamweight tournament.
The rest of the main card showcased some entertaining back-and-forth battles including one match that made Bellator history.
In the other bantamweight semifinal bout, season three tournament finalist Ed West took on top-ranked Brazilian prospect Eduardo Dantas. This bout was decided by range. West looked to land his kicks from the outside while Dantas tried to explode forward and get inside with his punches.
Dantas dropped West in the first round with a lunging hook combination but West would bounce back, surviving the pouncing ground and pound, getting to his feet and then staggering the Brazilian with an uppercut of his own later in the frame.
This bout was incredibly hotly contested but it was Dantas who landed the more damaging blows in the first two rounds while West tried to pick him apart from a distance. The problem for West was he couldn't keep Dantas on the outside and he repeatedly allowed the Brazilian to close the distance.
The pace of this bout was very fast and both men tired a bit in the third round. When it was all said and done, Dantas was awarded a split decision victory, much to the dismay of West, who had a stunned look on his face.
In "superfight" action, Bellator light heavyweight champion Christian M'Pumbu took on massive MMA veteran Travis Wiuff in a non-title affair. Wiuff was at least 30 pounds heavier than M'Pumbu, as the champ does not cut weight to make 205 pounds and it cost him.
Wiuff took M'Pumbu down in rounds one and two and the champion could not get to his feet either time, being forced to remain on his back and eat occasional punches from above for nearly the full duration. In round three, M'Pumbu hurt Wiuff on multiple occasions with punching combinations but could not force a stoppage and Wiuff recovered by taking him down and riding out the remainder of the bout to earn a unanimous decision victory. It was the first time a Bellator champion has lost a non-time bout.
Expect to see the veteran Wiuff in the next light heavyweight tournament.
In the opening bout of the evening, top Brazilian lightweight prospect Ricardo Tirloni took on tough American jiu-jitsu blackbelt Steve Gable. Tirloni controlled the bout with his knees as Gable repeatedly tried to clinch and take the fight to the ground but was unsuccessful every time, even getting reversed and taken down himself during some of Tirloni's sprawls.
Eventually, Tirloni wore Gable down and overwhelmed him with punches on the ground. When Gable turned away from the strikes, the Brazilian pounced with a slick rear naked choke that forced a near-instant tap from the collegiate wrestler.
For complete Bellator 55 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights click here.
So what did you think Maniacs?
Who did you felt won each close split decision in the bantamweight tournament semifinals last night? Does Christian M'Pumbu losing a non-title bout to Wiuff devalue the Bellator title?
Sound off!
Posted in: bellator, time, bout, round, galvao
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGrove officially replaces Ivanov, meets Santos in semis at Bellator 56
As expected, eliminated competitor Neil Grove has reentered the Bellator season-five heavyweight tournament as an injury replacement for Blagoi Ivanov.
Grove, who suffered an opening-round/quarterfinal-round loss to Mike Hayes, now meets Thiago Santos in a semifinal fight at Saturday's Bellator 56 event.
MMAjunkie.com first reported the change this past week, and Bellator executives recently made it official.
Posted in: bellator, grove, mike hayes, openingroundquarterfinalround loss, bellator executives
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDespite close Bellator 55 loss, Marcos Galvao gets 'win' bonus
Despite a controversial loss in the headliner of Saturday's Bellator 55 event, Marcos Galvao isn't going home empty handed.
Following a close split-decision loss to Alexis Villa in the semifinal
round of Bellator's season-five bantamweight tournament, Galvao received
his "win" bonus.
Bellator officials confirmed the decision with MMAjunkie.com after the event.
Posted in: bellator, loss, alexis villa, galvao, semifinal round
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 55 results: Vila, Dantas advance with splits; M'Pumbu loses in non-title affair
Alexis Vila and Eduardo Dantas will meet in Bellator's season-five bantamweight tournament final with a shot at champ Zach Makovsky on the line.
The Cuban wrestler and Brazilian submission ace each advanced to the
finals of the eight-man bracket with tightly-contested split-decision
wins over Ed West and Marcos Galvao, respectively.
The bouts served as the featured contests of Saturday night's Bellator
55 event, which took place outside the Cocopah Resort and Casino in
Yuma, Ariz. The night's main card aired on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, marcos galvao, ed west, cocopah resort, splits mpumbu
Read the full article at MMA JunkieVilla and Dantas earn spots in Bellator bantamweight finals
Alexis Vila and Eduardo Dantas both earned a place in the Bellator Bantamweight Tournament Finals after defeating their opponents by split decision from...
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, split decision, eduardo dantas, danta
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyDantas, Vila Advance in Bellator Bantamweight Tournament
Filed under: BellatorEduardo Dantas and Alexis Vila will meet in the final of the Bellator Fighting Championships bantamweight tournament after both men won split decisions at Bellator 55 on Saturday night.
The 22-year-old Dantas showed off his trademark fast pace in beating Ed West by split decision, staying active and clearly earning the decision. The judges scored it 30-27 Dantas, 29-28 Dantas and 29-28 West, and it was surprising that one judge gave the fight to West: This was Dantas's fight all the way.
The decision in the other semifinal was much more controversial: One judge scored it 30-27 for Marcos Galvao, while the other two scored it 29-28 for Vila, and it was clear from the crowd's reaction that most of the fans in attendance thought the judges got it wrong, and Galvao deserved to win.
Dantas vs. Vila should be a very good fight for the bantamweight final, culminating what has been an entertaining eight-man tournament, but the controversial decision in the main event had the crowd booing when Dantas and Vila squared off in the cage Saturday night.
In other action, Bellator's light heavyweight champion, Christian M'Pumbu, lost to Travis Wiuff and in the process became the first Bellator champion to lose a non-title "super fight." The bigger, stronger Wiuff controlled most of the way, and M'Pumbu didn't really get things going until he knocked Wiuff down and appeared close to winning by TKO in the third round. That late rally wasn't enough, and Wiuff won by unanimous decision. M'Pumbu is still the light heavyweight champ, but he'd be well served to move down to middleweight: He's just not big enough to take on a guy the size of Wiuff.
And Ricardo Tirloni, widely regarded as one of the best young lightweights in MMA, sunk in a rear-naked choke to force a quick tap from Steve Gable in the second round of the opening fight on the MTV2 broadcast. Tirloni, who was making his Bellator debut, improved his pro record to 14-1. He looks like he's going to be a very good fighter in the Bellator lightweight division. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: bellator, decision, vila, danta, wiuff
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 55 Live Results and Coverage
Once again Bellator takes center stage tonight with their bantamweight semifinal bouts. Coming to us live from the Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Arizona it’s Bellator 55. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will provide complete results including a fight recap of all the live televised action.
Things kick off with the preliminary bouts on Spike.com at 7PM EST. Then at 9PM EST the main card goes live on MTV2.
Bellator 55 is headlined by the two semifinal bouts in the bantamweight tournament. In the main event, Alexis Vila, fresh off his KO victory over Joe Warren, takes on Marcos Galvao. In the co-main event season 3 finalist Ed West battles Eduardo Dantas. Also on the card is Bellator light heavyweight champion Christian M’Pumbu facing off against Travis Wiuff in a non-title bout.
PRELIMINARY CARD
Nick Piedmont vs. Jade Porter
Erin Beach vs. Roscoe Jackson
Jacob Ortiz vs. Edgar Garcia
Steve Steinbeiss vs. Dano Moore
Steve Gable vs. Ricardo Tirloni
Richard Hale vs. Carlos Flores
MAIN CARD
Efrain Escudero vs. Ceasar Avila
Christian M’Pumbu vs. Travis Wiuff
Ed West vs. Eduardo Dantas
Alexis Vila vs. Marcos Galvao
Posted in: bellator, bout, vs, card, center stage
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 55 Live Results
The time has come again as it does every week where a group of fighters will take to the cage as part of Bellator’s tournament structure with the field this go-round comprised of four highly-skilled bantamweights thirsty for the recognition a championship brings.
Set for Bellator 55, Olympian Alexis Vila will look to build off his highlight-reel knockout of Joe Warren and face one of Season 5‘s toughest, BJJer Marcos Galvao, with a bout between up-and-comers Eduardo Dantas and Ed West comprising the other side of the semifinal bracket.
Vila Crushes Featherweight Champ Warren at Bellator 51
Also scheduled for action, light heavyweight champ Christian M’Pumbu will take on Travis Wiuff in non-title action while Ultimate Fighter winner Efrain Escudero will make his Bellator debut in earlier action.
Fans can tune in to watch things unfold live through streaming prelims on Spike.com (7:00 PM EST) and main card mayhem on MTV2/EPIX starting two hours later. Fighters.com will be tuned in and along for the ride, delivering live outcomes back to readers as soon as they unfold from Arizona.
Read below for a rundown of live Bellator 55 results:
Nick Piedmont vs. Jade Porter
Erin Beach vs. Roscoe Jackson
Jacob Ortiz vs. Edgar Garcia
Steve Steinbeiss vs. Dano Moore
Steve Gable vs. Ricardo Tirloni
Richard Hale vs. Carlos Flores
Efrain Escudero vs. Ceasar Avila
Christian M’Pumbu vs. Travis Wiuff
Ed West vs. Eduardo Dantas
Alexis Vila vs. Marcos Galvao
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Posted in: bellator, vs, joe warren, travis wiuff, highlightreel knockout
Read the full article at Fighters.comWe talk to Ben Askren about Jay Hieron, nudity and Disc Golf
I witnessed Ben Askren's first Bellator match from the comfort of a cageside photo gig at Bellator 14, little did I know on that surprisingly cold April day that we would be seeing the birth of a Frate Trane. After plowing through the season two welterweight tournament against the likes of Dan Hornbuckle and dominating the champ Lyman Good, Ben Askren has gone on to retire Nick 'The Goat' Thompson and is set to face his next challenge in Jay Hieron at Bellator 55. I was able to talk to the Bellator welterweight champ and ask him a bunch of questions that have been laying around the MiddleEasy offices for a while now, mostly about Disc Golf. Enjoy.
So how is training with Duke Roufus working out for you? Good I was just there this morning everything is going really good.
How is the evolution of your stand up? It's going really well, I'm not a stand up superstar yet, but things are coming along.
Will there ever come a time where you will feel the need to prove you improving standup by saying you're going to knock someone out, or will you always stick to your bread and butter: wrestling? I will go with the second one, I will stick to my wrestling for sure, I want my stand up to be good obviously, if the guy is good on the ground at sucks on his feet I will keep it on the feet now and you know, take him out. But for the most part I will stick with my wrestling because it's so far advanced and I think it will be really hard to get my kickboxing to that level.
So this has been your first camp with Roufus, in previous years you've coached wrestling at high levels and been doing a bunch of different things, how is it now that you have one dedicated fight camp? I just think this camp is at such a high level, there are tons and tons of great training partners every day and that's something I never had before was the great training partners on a day in and day out basis.
How do you feel when people call you 'another boring wrestler'? It's America they are entitled to it, give me time and I will be proving them wrong. Yep.
Is it true that you lost to Jon Jones in College wrestling? No that's not true.
Does Jay Hieron bring anything that you haven't seen before? Is there anything special you are game planning for? No he's a solid veteran and he's well rounded but I don't think he's a standout in any one category. I mean his best game is probably wrestling and he probably thinks it's going to nullify mine.
It seems like some trash talk has started, is this fight starting to get personal with you? I never really liked him to begin with, I mean since the day I met him haha so I wouldn't say it's just starting, you could say I have a personal distaste for him.
What is it that you don't like about him? Personality clash? Yeah I guess you could say that. We fought the same night in Oklahoma and he was just walking around like his shit didn't stink and it really just rubbed me the wrong way.
So there's this picture of you completely naked with the Bellator belt covering your bits. Oh God
Did Beau Taylor take that picture? No I took it and sent it to him because he has one of him sitting on the toilet with his belt.
What's you relationship like with the infamous OMA? Oh it's good I just saw him at the Battle of the Bayou UFC show in Louisiana and he was being hilarious as usual. I met him back in 2006 and he didn't even know me but he let me borrow his apartment for a week which was really helpful to me and we've been friends ever since.
Your threshold for caring about other welterweights emotions is at 0% haha
People appreciate you being ruthless in the way you call people out, especially on Twitter, you think you can beat any welterweight don't you? Yeah that's my opinion, some people appreciate it and some people don't appreciate it that kind of depends on...their perspective.
You're on MiddleEasy.com's Frate Trane list, are you aware of this? No I was not, that's awesome.
You met N.O.R.E at Bellator 33, what was that like? He was supposed to do a rap as I walked out or whatever but the people we were with at the time, I think Fox Sports said it wasn't going to fly.
Zeus, the creator of MiddleEasy has argued before publicly with Joe Rogan that you are a modern day Sakuraba, do you agree? Hahaha In what sense? Grappling?
Yeah I mean my combination of wrestling and Jiu Jitsu, no one has really put it together the way I am. Now my Jiu Jitsu, obviously I'm not at the level of Marcelo Garcia but he takes it to a whole different plane. But in MMA my combination of wrestling and Jiu Jitsu, no one has put those together like I have yet and if I'm going to continue to get better and better at it.
Have you ever been in trouble in any of your fights? I've never felt that way, some people said I got upkicked by Lyman Good and that it hurt me but I didn't think it did.
Would you ever move up to 185? If someday I am the best fighter in the world at 170 pounds I have beaten every single person worth beating at welterweight and beaten everyone in the top ten maybe. That's the only way.
You are on Twitter a lot, and you have the ability to almost instantaneously call anyone out that is available at welterweight, it's pretty impressive. Is your finger on the pulse of the MMA Twitterverse? Oh well I'm a huge fan of the sport of MMA as well as a competitor. I'm also an opportunist. If someone as big as Nate Marquardt gets cut by the UFC, oh well where else can he go because he can't go to Strikeforce. Well maybe we can get him to Bellator and make the fight happen, so that's what I'm trying to do.
Switching gears now to Disc Golf, we hear you are quite the competitor, what brand do you prefer? Discraft! I'm a Discraft player all the way!
What is your favorite course? Oh man...That's a tough one...Wow there are too many I really love. One of my hobbies is traveling and playing so I've played a hundred some courses. My home course is Indian Hills in Columbia, Missouri and that one is awesome. I've probably played that one more than anything. I would say that one is my favorite because of familiarity.
How far can you throw back hand and how far side arm? Side arm not very far, I'm not very good side arm...Back hand my longest recorded throw was, um i threw 487 feet in a distance competition. I throw almost all back hand.
How many holes in one do you have? Thirteen? I had two this fall...Thirteen or fourteen.
Do you have any tips for Disc Golf novices? Go out and just play a ton, that's the only way. Play a ton and you will get better.
How long have you been playing Disc Golf for? I played a few times in high school, and then it was my second year in college when I got my car that I started playing a lot. So that was 2004 and I did my first tournament in 2005 and i have been playing heavily since then.
Can you clarify why you called GSP boring? It was spur of the moment and they did a name association thing and boring was the first thing that popped into my head. I mean he does play it safe, there were some of his old fights when he was very exciting, but more recently he has been playing it so safe.
Would you say you are the best wrestler in MMA? In my opinion..Well there was a guy who recently came in with better credentials he was a world champion, Yoel Romero, but I don't have that on my resume, besides him I would say yes.
Do you think Joe Warren is going to make it through the Olympic trials this year? Not if he doesn't start training a lot harder than he is.
Posted in: bellator, way, people, im, that
Read the full article at Middle EasyBellator 55 Live Play-by-Play and Results
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results and commentary for Bellator 55. Our live blog will start with the beginning of the MTV2 broadcast (9 p.m. ET) so be sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
Tonight's MTV2 card brings us the semifinals of the bantamweight tournament. Eduardo Dantas, after his nice flying knee KO of Wilson Reis in the quarterfinals, will be taking on Ed West. West comes out of the quarterfinals riding a decision win over Luis Alberto Nogueira. Also, Alexis Vila, triumphant after his KO of Joe Warren, will be taking on Marcos Galvao, who is coming off a split decision win over Chase Beebe. The winners of these two fights will move on to the final and will compete for $100,000 and a chance to take the Bellator bantamweight belt away from champ Zach Makovsky.
Rounding out the broadcast portion of the event is a light heavyweight superfight between Travis Wiuff and Bellator 205 champion Christian M'Pumbu, and a feature fight between Steve Gable and Ricardo Tirloni.
We'll be live at 9 p.m. ET, so join us then!
SBN coverage of Bellator 55
Posted in: bellator, marcos galvao, sbn coverage, ricardo tirloni, broadcast portion
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBrazilian Beat: Bellator 55's Marcos Galvao not relying on judging help in main-event bout
While "Never leave it in the hands of the judges" has become an
ever-present part of MMA vernacular, Nova Uniao product Marcos Galvao might as well have it tattooed on his arm.
In his Bellator Fighting Championships debut, Galvao lost a
controversial decision to Joe Warren, and despite advancing into the
company's season-five bantamweight tourney semifinals, "Loro" was still deemed the
loser by one of the three cageside judges.
So as Galvao prepares to take on Alexis Vila at Saturday night's Bellator 55 event, you'll understand of he's a little wary of
three officials bearing pen and paper.
Posted in: bellator, galvao, marcos galvao, everpresent part, mainevent bout
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 55: Bantamweight Semifinals Preview
The ongoing tournament train rolls on as Bellator 55 unfolds the bantamweight tournament semifinals this Saturday night from the Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, AZ. Adhering to the standard format, the preliminary card will stream live and free on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the main card broadcast on MTV2 and the Epix network at 9 p.m. ET.
The prelims will feature new Bellator acquisition Efrain Escudero (17-3). The Arizona based lightweight wrestler won season eight of The Ultimate Fighter with a decision over Phillipe Nover. Escudero went on to alternate wins and losses against his next four UFC opponents: Cole Miller (TKO win), Evan Dunham (submission loss), Dan Lauzon (decision win) and Charles Oliveira (submission loss).
He's won four of his five fights since, his sole defeat being dealt by another former UFC lightweight in Fabricio Camoes, who outworked him to a decision at Tachi Palace Fights 9. Escudero draws Cesar Avila (6-1), another Bellator newcomer fighting out of Team United in California. Avila is a young fighter who's finished five of his six wins and is getting his first taste of top competition against Escudero.
Another noteworthy undercard competitor is Richard Hale (17-4), last season's light-heavyweight tournament finalist. Hale latched an inverted triangle on Nik Fekete and eked out a split decision over D.J. Linderman but, in the battle to crown Bellator's first 205-pound champion, was clipped by a Christian M'Pumbu combination in the third round. In a qualifier bout for the next light-heavyweight tournament, Hale squares off with Carlos Flores (5-0).
Captained by the duplex of bantamweight tournament bouts, the MTV2 broadcast shakes out like this:
Ed West vs. Eduardo DantasAlexis Vila vs. Marcos GalvaoChristian M'Pumbu vs. Travis WiuffSteve Gable vs. Ricardo Tirloni
Match up analysis for the main card awaits in the full entry.
SBN coverage of Bellator 55
In one of the promotion's most memorable debut performances, former Cuban Olympic wrestler Alexis Vila (10-0) maintained his perfect record and dashed featherweight champion Joe Warren's hopes of holding gold in two weight classes with a first round knockout in the opening round.
It's creepy to see a natural flyweight with a background in wrestling swinging that boat anchor of a left hook.
Vila's last six wins were all crippling knockouts and he's only allowed one opponent (Tyler Weathers) to survive to a decision.
Vila was laying into Warren before delivering the final dagger as well.
Preying on his tendency for straight-line retreats, you can see Vila measure the range with his left hand before winging a huge overhand right in this sequence.
The two left hooks he pounces with afterward signify his killer instincts, accuracy and power. This is a top-of-the-food-chain fighter with elite grappling accolades and dynamite in both hands.
The only downside for Vila is that he's surging a bit late at age forty.
Marcos Galvao (7-4-1) gets my vote for the most under-rated bantamweight around.
He's pretty tall and gangly for the weight class, his guard and scrambling game are ravenous, his clinch is deceivingly strong and he's tough as nails in general.
His stand up is a little awkward but rapidly improving, as the animation to the right against Chase Beebe shows.
"Louro" fought to a draw with tenth-ranked bantamweight Masakatsu Ueda, has wins over former WEC fighter Fredson Paixao and Jacob Kirwan (the lightweight that just beat Rene Nazare) and got jobbed by the judges in his fight with Warren.
What killed his reputation was the consecutive TKO losses in the WEC to sluggers Damacio Page and Brian Bowles.
Unfortunately, that slice of history does not bode well for Galvao against Vila's firepower.
He tends to drop his hands and leave his chin exposed when committing to combinations, and doesn't necessarily compensate with dedicated head movement.
Historically, even though his chin isn't fragile and he's only been caught by acclaimed knockout artists, he absorbs way too many punches.
I am interested to see him tangle with Vila in the clinch and on the mat. Galvao was a handful in tie-ups with Warren and, even though he hails from the creditable American Top Team, Vila hasn't really proven himself against top-notch submission fighters. All signs point to Vila by TKO but I wouldn't rule out Galvao surprising him with his wiry strength and feisty ground acumen.
The second bantamweight semifinal pits Ed West (17-5) vs. Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas (11-2).
Dantas and Galvao are both Nova Uniao fighters under Andre Pederneiras; a team whose presence continues to loom heavily over MMA's lighter weight classes.
In the quarterfinals, Dantas took flight and gored staunch BJJ black belt Wilson Reis with a crippling knee.
Reis is another tough customer who holds a submission win over Bellator champ Zach Makovsky and, prior to Dantas casting his Spell of Levitation, had only been finished by Patricio Freire.
Reis was a pertinent litmus test for Dantas, who'd spent the majority of his career overseas, mostly as a staple in Shooto.
One of the two losses on Dantas' record is a DQ, leaving a decision to the aforementioned Ueda as his only legit defeat. In that bout, Dantas laid into Ueda with a storm of strikes but was penalized one point for grabbing the ropes. Were it not for the point deduction the match would have resulted in a majority draw.
Still in his early twenties, "Dudu" could prove to be another flourishing prospect on the Bellator roster.
Ed West similarly combined flying knees and stiff punches to score a decision over Luis Alberto Nogueira to advance in the brackets.
West's record is plagued by a three-fight skid in the IFL where he dropped decisions to Chris Horodecki, Erik Owings and Savant Young back in 2006-2007.
His two remaining defeats are to Harris Sarmiento -- a deceivingly reputable opponent despite his 33-22 rap sheet -- and Makovsky at Bellator 32.
Though his stand up is highly effective, West has never won via TKO (9 submissions, 8 decisions).
His wrist control is excellent from all positions, enabling him to constantly threaten to torque a limb anyone he's connected.
To the left, West holds the kimura throughout the takedown and craftily uses it to sweep Nogueira.
This should be a pure dogfight between two diverse fighters who like to push the pace aggressively.
Like his teammate Galvao, Dantas is considerably tall for a 135-pounder at 5'10" and fundamentally sound in the clinch or on the mat, but doesn't suffer from the technical deficiencies Galvao does and has much more power.
I expect this to be a crowd-pleaser with Dantas' fierce striking and relentless pace being just a little too much for West to overcome.
Bellator light-heavyweight champ Christian M'Pumbu returns for the first time since snaring the strap, but the belt will not be up for grabs against veteran Travis Wiuff and I can understand why.
Typifying the problem that most champions and top-ranked fighters in Bellator are facing, Wiuff represents a lose-lose opportunity. His experience, wrestling and general toughness give him a great chance to smother M'Pumbu or finish him with ground-and-pound. While his record may not be pretty, each defeat is to upper-echelon fighters and M'Pumbu will probably have to finish him to win.
M'Pumbu definitely has the submission and striking blend to expose the holes in Wiuff's game, but it's a risky opponent and my instincts lean toward Wiuff souring the 205-pound division's legitimacy by beating the newly crowned champ in this non-title affair.
The final pairing on the main card is Steve Gable (5-1) vs. Ricardo Tirloni (13-1); a curious choice considering the name recognition and entertaining style of Escudero, who's relegated to the prelims. I believe the intention is to showcase Tirloni, a training partner of Thiago Tavares with a penchant for first round stoppages whose only loss is to Ben Henderson.
All gifs via FightLinker.com
Main Card (MTV2 and Epix at 9 p.m. ET)
Eduardo Dantas vs. Ed WestAlexis Vila vs. Marcos Galvao
Christian M'Pumbu vs. Travis WiuffSteve Gable vs. Ricardo Tirloni
Preliminary Card (Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET)
Richard Hale vs. Carlos FloresEfrain Escudero vs. Ceasar AvilaJacob Ortiz vs. Edgar GarciaSteve Steinbeiss vs. Dano MooreNick Piedmont vs. Jade PorterErin Beach vs. Roscoe Jackson
Poll
The bantamweight tournament finalists?
Vila and Dantas
Galvao and Dantas
Vila and West
Galvao and West
0 votes | Results
Posted in: bellator, vs, vila, galvao, danta
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 55 results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Galvao vs Vila' TONIGHT (Oct. 22) on MTV2
Bellator Fighting Championships returns TONIGHT (Oct. 15, 2011) to the Cocopah Casino in Yuma, Arizona, with the continuation of the promotion's season five bantamweight tournament as the promotion holds its semifinals.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 55 below, beginning with the MTV2 telecast at 9 p.m. ET. In addition, we'll deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the undercard action much earlier in the evening.
Former Olympic bronze medal winner Alexis Vila will battle gritty WEC veteran Marcos Galvao while Bellator season three finalist Ed West will take on highly touted Brazilian prospect Eduardo Dantas. The winners will advance to the finals to potentially earn a title shot against Bellator champion Zach Makovsky.
Also on the card will be a superfight featuring the Bellator light heavyweight champion Christian M'Pumbu as he squares off with massive MMA veteran Travis Wiuff.
The opening bout of the main card will be a lightweight attraction as top Brazilian prospect Ricardo Tirloni and EliteXC veteran Steve Gable.
Complete Bellator 55 results and play-by-play are after the jump:
Main Card (MTV2)
135 lbs.: Marcos Galvao vs. Alexis Vila 135 lbs.: Eduardo Dantas vs. Ed West 205 lbs.: Christian M'Pumbu vs. Travis Wiuff 155 lbs.: Ricardo Tirloni vs. Steve Gable
Undercard (Spike.com)
155 lbs.: Cesar Avila vs. Efrain Escudero 210 lbs.: Carlos Flores vs. Richard Hale 185 lbs.: Edgar Garcia vs. Jacob Ortiz 155 lbs.: Erin Beach vs. Roscoe Jackson 145 lbs.: Nick Piedmont vs. Jade Porter 185 lbs.: Dano Moore vs. Steve Steinbeiss
Hemmi here, I'll be handling the play-by-play tonight.
135 lbs.: Marcos Galvao vs. Alexis Vila
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
135 lbs.: Eduardo Dantas vs. Ed West
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
205 lbs.: Christian M'Pumbu vs. Travis Wiuff
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
155 lbs.: Ricardo Tirloni vs. Steve Gable
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
Posted in: bellator, result, round, vs, lb
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 55 Live Results and Play-by-Play (7 ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Ariz., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 55, which features the semifinals of Bellator's Season 5 bantamweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, yuma ariz, cocopah resort, playbyplay
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 55 Weigh-In Results
The Bellator 55 weigh-ins took place earlier this evening in Yuma, Arizona.
All fighters on the main card made weight. The card will feature the semi-finals of the bantamweight tournament.
The weigh-in results:
Marcos Galvao (135.5) vs. Alexis Vila (134.75)
Eduardo Dantas (135) vs. Ed West (135)
Christian M’Pumbu (201.75) vs. Travis Wiuff (205)
Ricardo Tirloni (154.75) vs. Steve Gable (155.5)
Cesar Avila (155.5) vs. Efrain Escudero (156)
Dano Moore (184.75) vs. Steve Steinbeiss (186)
Nick Piedmont (146) vs. Jade Porter (145)
Erin Beach (155) vs. Roscoe Jackson (158)
Edgar Garcia (185) vs. Jacob Ortiz (185.75)
Carlos Flores (210) vs. Richard Hale (210.5)
Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit.
Bellator 55 takes place tomorrow night at the Cocopah Casino in Yuma, Arizona and will air on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, vs, yuma arizona, nontitle fights, bantamweight tournament
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 55 Weigh-in Results; Bantamweight Semis Set
Full Bellator 55 weigh-in results from Yuma, Arizona, where the Season 5 bantamweight semifinals are set for Saturday night.
Posted in: bellator, result, bantamweight, weighin, yuma arizona
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBantamweight Final 4 Hit Marks at Bellator 55 Weigh-Ins
All four Season 5 bantamweight tournament semifinalists made the cut at Friday’s Bellator 55 weigh-ins, as Alexis Vila, Marcos Galvao, Ed West and EEduardo Dantas have all been given the green light to compete.
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, ed, weighin, eeduardo dantas
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 55 Weigh-In Results
Bellator FC is back with another semifinal round of Season 5 tournament action, this weekend presenting the final four in the remaining bantamweight field facing off for a spot in the final where one man will emerge with $100,000 and a title-shot.
Set to take place in Yuma, Arizona, Bellator 55 features Ed West facing Eduardo Dantas on one side of the bracket with Alexis Vila looking for another devastating knockout with Marcos Galvao doing his best to hold off the undefeated Olympian. The card will also feature light heavyweight champ Christian M’Pumbu taking on veteran Travis Wiuff in non-title action and the Bellator debut of former Ultimate Fighter winner Efrain Escudero.
Before any of the fighters take to the cage they must first battle the scale. Weigh-ins are set for this evening at 8:00 PM EST and Five Ounces of Pain will be tuned in to relay live results back to readers.
Read below for a fill list of Bellator 55 weights:
Nick Piedmont ( lbs) vs. Jade Porter ( lbs)
Erin Beach ( lbs) vs. Roscoe Jackson ( lbs)
Jacob Ortiz ( lbs) vs. Edgar Garcia ( lbs)
Steve Steinbeiss ( lbs) vs. Dano Moore ( lbs)
Steve Gable ( lbs) vs. Ricardo Tirloni ( lbs)
Richard Hale ( lbs) vs. Carlos Flores ( lbs)
Efrain Escudero ( lbs) vs. Ceasar Avila ( lbs)
Christian M’Pumbu ( lbs) vs. Travis Wiuff ( lbs)
Ed West ( lbs) vs. Eduardo Dantas ( lbs)
Alexis Vila ( lbs) vs. Marcos Galvao ( lbs)
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, vs, lb, marcos galvao, eduardo dantas
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainMMAjunkie.com Radio: Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, TSJ winner Jordan Grenke
MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes to the show Bellator CEO and chairman Bjorn Rebney, who previews tomorrow's Bellator 55 event.
We also catch up with The Sunday Junkie winner Jordan Grenke.
MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from noon to 2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Listen to and
watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio.
Posted in: bellator, radio, las vegas, video stream, mmajunkiecom
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 55 Preview
Unless you’re like me, and committed to traveling to every local MMA show with a pulse, your only source of sanctioned fist-fighting this weekend is going to be Bellator 55 on Saturday night. But don’t fret! There’s a pretty strong pair of bantamweight semifinals on tap – one of which includes that spry little Cuban who nearly clubbed Joe Warren to death – and there’s a non-title light-heavyweight bout between Bellator champ Christian M’Pumbu and the salty veteran Travis Wiuff to look forward to. Preview time!
-Alexis Vila vs. Marcos Galvao – Featherweight champ Warren tends to be a mouthy, and somewhat annoying, guy when a microphone is stuck in his face. However, thanks to former Olympic wrestler Vila (the aforementioned Cuban), we now know that if you hit Warren hard enough, he goes all rigid and stares quietly off into space. Such was the case with their match-up in the quarterfinals of this season’s bantamweight tournament, which lasted all of a minute and four seconds. Galvao, meanwhile, beat the stuffing out of former WEC champ Chase Beebe at that same event, so now we get to see two very scrappy individuals do the man-dance. Hooray! For while there’s still a big question mark hanging over Vila’s head (How does he look two minutes into a fight? Three minutes into a fight?), you know you going to get action, and Galvao has proven to not be the kind of guy to avoid action. Based on experience alone I’d favor the Brazilian, but you never know.
-Eduardo Dantas vs. Ed West – Okay, so Dantas knocked out Wilson Reis in the quarterfinals with a flying knee. Big deal. These days everyone does that. The fact of the matter is the Brazilian Nova Uniao exponent is going to have a rough time replicating that against the American West, who’s tough as nails. How tough is West exactly? He went the distance with champ Zach Makovsky in the finals of the last 135-pound tournament, and when fighting in his rightful weight class (this one), he’s practically impossible to put away and tends to keep going strong when opponents slow down. I expect the Brazilian to come out hard and aggressive, but when the second and third rounds come along, West will have him begging his corner for an oxygen tank and some Power Bars.
-Christian M’Pumbu vs. Travis Wiuff – Congo-born striker M’Pumbu won Bellator’s inaugural light-heavyweight tournament by putting his hands on foes in very violent fashion – which, when you think about it, is exciting and how you want fights to end. But he’s still a little green when you compare him to opponent Wiuff, who has literally fought in every promotion out there (the UFC, Sengoku, the IFL, et al.). Adding to M’Pumbu’s troubles is the fact that Wiuff has a solid wrestling background, and he was YAMMA’s one and only tournament champ. Thankfully, Bellator fighters have to compete in a cage and not a bowl like they did in YAMMA, but that wrestling thing might pose problems. If Wiuff can get things to the ground, M’Pumpu could be in trouble.
-Steve Gable vs. Ricardo Tirloni – A lightweight bout between some American ShoXC vet named Gable and some vet of the Brazilian circuit named Tirloni? As these two are pretty much unknowns, we’ll just call this match-up “filler”. Maybe it’ll be exciting – Gable has only a fraction of Tirloni’s fights, and squash matches can be fast and ugly – but how this one ends is anyone’s guess.
Posted in: fight, bellator, champ, west, wiuff
Read the full article at MMA ConvertWatch today's Bellator 55 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 8 p.m. ET
Cocopah Casino in Yuma, Ariz., plays host
to today's official Bellator 55 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a live video stream of the
proceedings at 8 p.m. ET.
The same venue plays host to Saturday's event, which airs on MTV2 and
features the semifinal round of Bellator's season-five bantamweight tournament.
In addition to the live weigh-ins and pre-fight press conference, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, video stream, semifinal round, weighin, saturdays event
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 55 weigh in results LIVE from Yuma for 'Vila vs Galvao'
The official weigh-in event for Bellator 55's Saturday evening fight card takes place today (October 21, 2011) at the Cocopah Casino in Yuma, Arizona.
Bellator 55 will be the continuation of the promotion's season five bantamweight tournament as the promotion holds its semifinals.
Season three finalist Ed West will take on highly touted Brazilian prospect Eduardo Dantas while former Olympic bronze medal winner Alexis Vila will battle gritty WEC veteran Marcos Galvao.
Also on the card will be a superfight featuring the Bellator light heavyweight champion Christian M'Pumbu as he squares off with massive MMA veteran Travis Wiuff.
The opening bout of the main card will be a lightweight attraction as top Brazilian prospect Ricardo Tirloni and EliteXC veteran Steve Gable.
Complete Bellator 55 weigh in results after the jump:
The official weigh-in event for Bellator 55's Saturday evening fight card takes place today (October 21, 2011) at the Cocopah Casino in Yuma, Arizona.
Bellator 55 will be the continuation of the promotion's season five bantamweight tournament as the promotion holds its semifinals.
Season three finalist Ed West will take on highly touted Brazilian prospect Eduardo Dantas while former Olympic bronze medal winner Alexis Vila will battle gritty WEC veteran Marcos Galvao.
Also on the card will be a superfight featuring the Bellator light heavyweight champion Christian M'Pumbu as he squares off with massive MMA veteran Travis Wiuff.
The opening bout of the main card will be a lightweight attraction as top Brazilian prospect Ricardo Tirloni and EliteXC veteran Steve Gable.
Complete Bellator 55 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
135 lbs.: Marcos Galvao (10-4-1) vs. Alexis Vila (10-0)135 lbs.: Eduardo Dantas (11-2) vs. Ed West (17-5)205 lbs.: Christian M'Pumbu (18-3-1) vs. Travis Wiuff (64-14)155 lbs.: Ricardo Tirloni (13-1) vs. Steve Gable (5-1) Undercard
155 lbs.: Cesar Avila (6-1) vs. Efrain Escudero (17-3) 205 lbs.: Carlos Flores (5-0) vs. Richard Hale (17-4-1)185 lbs.: Edgar Garcia (10-2) vs. Jacob Ortiz (10-2).155 lbs.: Erin Beach (2-1) vs. Roscoe Jackson (1-4)145 lbs.: Nick Piedmont (5-2) vs. Jade Porter (7-2)185 lbs.: Dano Moore (5-5) vs. Steve Steinbeiss (8-4)
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 55, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 9 p.m. ET tomorrow night (October 22).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: bellator, vs, lb, card, veteran
Read the full article at MMA ManiaZoila Gurgel tears ACL, forced to withdraw from Bellator 57 fight
On Tuesday UFC champion Georges St. Pierre fell victim to a knee injury that forced him out of UFC 137. Today Bellator women’s champion Zoila Gurgel announced that she’s fallen victim to a knee injury as well, forcing her to withdraw from her Bellator 57 non-title fight against Carina Damm. Unfortunately for Gurgel, the news is much worse for her than it is for St. Pierre as she’s completely torn her ACL, which could put her on the shelf for close to a year.
“The Warrior Princess” took to Twitter to inform her fans of the bad news, saying, “I just took an MRI of my knee yesterday and results came back; I completely tore my ACL. If it was up to me, I still was planning on fighting. I am able to still move forward and box, and I am very confident in that and my cardio, but doctor and coaches say ‘No way in hell!’ So it’s off to surgery hopefully soon and back to the training ASAP.”
Gurgel has not fought since March when she picked up a unanimous decision victory over Karina Hallinan. On that same night her husband, Strikeforce fighter Jorge Gurgel, submitted Billy Vaughan in the first round. Zoila is currently on a six fight win streak, winning the Bellator women’s 115 lb tournament and title along the way, and also defeating the previously undefeated Megumi Fujii.
Bellator 57 is scheduled for November 12 at the Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada. The event will be headlined by the welterweight tournament final between Ben Saunders and Douglas Lima.
*PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR*
Posted in: bellator, gurgel, knee injury, zoila, karina hallinan
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainCatching up with bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky after last Saturday's Bellator 54 victory
In just four minutes and 48 seconds, Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky stole much of buzz that had been building around the loaded season five bantamweight tournament.
He showcased his striking, he showcased his wrestling and to cap it all off, he finished UFC veteran Ryan Roberts with a north-south choke to force the tap on the main card of Bellator 54 in a non-title affair while he waits for his first challenger to emerge from the tournament field.
With the victory, Makovsky moved to 2-0 in Bellator "superfights" and moved his current winning streak to eight straight.
The titleholder spoke with MMAmania.com about his recent victory, his confidence and he wasn't afraid to share his opinion on the necessary evil of the Bellator "superfight" system.
In just four minutes and 48 seconds, Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky stole much of buzz that had been building around the loaded season five bantamweight tournament.
He showcased his striking, he showcased his wrestling and to cap it all off, he finished UFC veteran Ryan Roberts with a north-south choke to force the tap on the main card of Bellator 54 in a non-title affair while he waits for his first challenger to emerge from the tournament field.
With the victory, Makovsky moved to 2-0 in Bellator "superfights" and moved his current winning streak to eight straight.
The titleholder spoke with MMAmania.com about his recent victory, his confidence and he wasn't afraid to share his opinion on the necessary evil of the Bellator "superfight" system.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You looked really comfortable standing in the fight with Roberts. You stumbled him with a leg kick, you stumbled him with a combination. Can you talk about the progression of your striking?
Zach Makovsky: Yeah, I feel it's really coming together. I've been working on my stand-up for a while now. I've found it hard to showcase at time. Look at Ed West, he's 5'9, he's got five inches on me and it can get difficult to get in range and throw combos effectively. Against Robichaux, the fight before this, I wanted to actually trade a lot more standing but he kinda came at me recklessly and presented me with a lot of opportunities to take him down. I've been working on it pretty diligently and it's come together. I feel good.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Watching the fight, you never let him get comfortable in there. I think the first kick he threw, you caught it and took him down. When you got back to stand-up later, you got in his face and when he tried to fire back with another strike of his own, you took him down again and then finished the fight there. Was that part of your plan coming in, to make him doubt everything?
Zach Makovsky: Yeah, in a couple different interviews I mentioned I wanted to make him feel uncomfortable everywhere, make him feel like he had no options left, that I could beat him to the punch with everything he tried. I did that pretty well. My movement and footwork and combinations were solid. I took him down on both kicks he threw. I definitely wanted to keep him off balance in all areas and I feel I was effective in doing that.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): It almost looked instinctual, you were able to flow between striking and takedowns very well.
Zach Makovsky: I think that's a huge part of being successful in MMA. I think the guys who have the most success are the ones that constantly put everything together. That's the kind of fighter I want to be. I don't want to be a guy who strikes for a while and then randomly goes for a takedown. I want to use everything together, my striking, my takedowns and constantly having options available. I think that's where you'll have the most success.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Let's talk about the finish of that fight. You pulled off a north-south choke. That's a pretty uncommon choke in my opinion, especially for the smaller fighters. You normally would see it from the bigger guys because they can use their weight a bit better. You mentioned that you had worked on it in practice, is that a submission you look for now because you found yourself in that position while grappling?
Zach Makovsky: Yeah, especially in MMA. I'm always looking for new attacks and stuff like that. I've been working on the north-south choke for a while. I think most people know it, it's a well-known choke but not many people attack with it like you said. I kinda always found myself in that position. I was always there and people a lot of times are defending their arm because when you're in side control or north-south, you're probably looking for arm locks and stuff like that and they kinda leave their necks exposed. I started practicing a lot on the north-south choke, really adjusting my position and the finer details of how to finish it. I was really hitting it a ton in my training camp, I was submitting a lot of people and I got it in the fight. Roberts told me he was about to go out after the fight so I knew I had good pressure.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Can you talk taking the things you work on in practice and bringing them into the cage? There are a lot of guys that practice new things all the time and then they go back to being their old self.
Zach Makovsky: That's the reason you train, to improve. My coach, my head trainer Steve Hague came up to me after the fight and said, "It feels good when the fight looks like you do in practice and training. The whole fight looked exactly like what you practiced to do." That's a great feeling that you're doing the right things. that I have the right kind of ideas and approach to the fight. I think it's also about your mentality when you get in there, speak to the ideas that you've had and not get emotional or flustered by your opponent or crowd or anything like that.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): What's your opinion of the superfights? Bellator tries to walk that fine line of getting a guy that will challenge their champion but they also expect the champion to win every time. Do you feel they are a necessary evil due to the tournament format while you wait for the next title challenger to emerge?
Zach Makovsky: Yeah pretty much. It takes a bit of time to do the tournament and determine who's gonna be able to fight for the belt. We have to take one of these non-title superfights. Like you said, they pick guys that will test you but they're not looking for the champions to lose either. Actually, I felt a lot of pressure in this fight because of that. Everybody's expecting me to win. You're the champion and if you lose one of these fights and the belt doesn't change hands, I don't know, it kinda devalues the title. What does the belt really mean at that point? I kinda do feel a little pressure in that way but at the end of the day, I just remind myself that no matter what that external stuff, in the end, it's just a fight and nothing else matters. I'm not crazy about non-title fights but they are definitely a necessary evil at this point.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): This is a topic that was thrown around by a couple people as a potential solution to the superfights, would you ever be open to re-entering the tournament, kinda like what Strikeforce tried to do with their Heavyweight Grand Prix and Alistair Overeem?
Zach Makovsky: Yeah, I'd definitely be open to that. I would have loved to have competed in this bantamweight tournament that's going on right now but then it goes back to the same idea. If I'm the champion and I compete in the tournament and if I lose before the finals, do I lose my title? Or does the winner of the tournament get a shot at my belt anyways? I don't know, it's still a weird circumstance. I like the tournament format. I like fighting in them. I like that whole idea. I think there's something intriguing about them. Japan had success with tournaments in MMA and people like them. I like seeing one person emerge from a sea of contenders, it's kinda cool.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Yeah and it can completely turn a fighter from someone that people don't know well at all into a recognizable figure, a star before the their eyes.
Zach Makovsky: I kinda feel like that's what happened to me. I was pretty unknown heading into that first Bellator tournament and I'm slowly getting more and more recognition and it's good. I'm very grateful for the opportunity that tournament provided me.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): We talked before about how impressive this bantamweight tournament field is. Did your performance against Roberts give you more confidence about facing one of these potential title challengers coming up?
Zach Makovsky: Yeah, when you perform in a way you can. I did pretty well. I was happy with that whole fight. I still feel like I have a lot of improving to do. I'm always confident in what I can do against everyone. I'll be ready for whoever wins.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You spend a lot of time at the Philadelphia Fight Factory working alongside some great fighters. Do you feed off of guys like Eddie Alvarez that train there who are also fellow champions?
Zach Makovsky: Oh yes, definitely. I mean, just having him around the gym is very motivating and the fact that you've got a great, physical training partner. His technique, his intensity, his knowledge of the sport, just like when he talks about how much confidence he has, it builds our own confidence in ourselves. It's awesome to have a guy like that to train with who's been at the top of the sport for a while now. It's great to have a guy like that around.
Zach would like to thank his team at Philadelphia Fight Factor, his trainers, his sponsors Yoked Up who created his walkout shirt, Gamma Labs and Keats Karaoke Bar.
So what do you think Maniacs?
Were you impressed by Makovsky's dominance of Ryan Roberts this past Saturday? Do you like his odds against the winner of the upcoming Bellator bantamweight tournament?
Speak up!
Posted in: fight, bellator, tournament, brian, zach
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFans invited to Friday's Bellator 55 weigh-ins in Arizona
The official weigh-in ceremony for this weekend's Bellator 55 event is free and open to the public.
The festivities take place this Friday, Oct. 21, at Cocopah Casino in
Yuma, Ariz. The first fighter hits the scale at 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT
local time), and MMAjunkie.com will carry a live video stream of the
proceedings.
The same property also hosts the following day's Bellator 55 event. As
usual, main-card action airs live on MTV2 (and in high-definition on
EPIX) while Spike.com streams the preliminary card.
Posted in: bellator, video stream, spikecom streams, fighter hits, yuma ariz
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator women's champion Zoila Gurgel out of Nov. 12 fight with torn ACL
Zoila Gurgel, the women's 155-pound Bellator champion has suffered a terrible setback in training.
She tweeted today that she has torn the anterior-cruciate ligament (ACL) in her knee and will be unable to fight as scheduled at Bellator 57.
"I just took an MRI of my knee yesterday & results came back, I completely tore my ACL. If it was up to me, I still was planning on fighting. I am able to still move forward & box & I am very confident in that & my cardio but Doctor & coaches say "No way in hell!" So it's off to surgery hopefully soon & back to the training asap."
Gurgel had been preparing for a November 12 showdown at Bellator 57 against top female submission specialist Carina Damm in a non-title "superfight."
The "Warrior Princess" had previously been recovering from a right hand fracture suffered during a unanimous decision victory against Karina Hallinan at Bellator 35 earlier this year.
Zoila Gurgel, the women's 155-pound Bellator champion has suffered a terrible setback in training.
She tweeted today that she has torn the anterior-cruciate ligament (ACL) in her knee and will be unable to fight as scheduled at Bellator 57.
"I just took an MRI of my knee yesterday & results came back, I completely tore my ACL. If it was up to me, I still was planning on fighting. I am able to still move forward & box & I am very confident in that & my cardio but Doctor & coaches say "No way in hell!" So it's off to surgery hopefully soon & back to the training asap."
Gurgel had been preparing for a November 12 showdown at Bellator 57 against top female submission specialist Carina Damm in a non-title "superfight."
The "Warrior Princess" had previously been recovering from a right hand fracture suffered during a unanimous decision victory against Karina Hallinan at Bellator 35 earlier this year.
Gurgel famously made her Bellator debut against top female fighter Rosi Sexton, knocking the talented grappler out violently in the first round. She would go on to win the Bellator season three women's 115 pound tournament scoring three consecutive decision victories against Jessica Pene, Jessica Aguilar and Megumi Fujii to capture the promotion's inaugural title.
There had previously been rumors that she would participate in an upcoming women's 125-pound tournament in 2012 but that will now most certainly out of the question.
There is currently no timetable for her return.
Posted in: bellator, women, gurgel, acl, amp
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator champion Zoila Gurgel out of November fight after tearing ACL
Bad news struck earlier today for fans of Bellator 115-pound champion Zoila Gurgel after “The Warrior Princess” went online to confirm she’d injured her knee while training for a November 12 fight against Carina Damm at Bellator 57.
“I just took an MRI of my knee yesterday and results came back. I completely tore my ACL,” the 11-1 Gurgel revealed through Twitter. “If it was up to me, I still was planning on fighting. I am able to still move forward and box, and I am very confident in that and my cardio… but (my) doctor and coaches (said) ‘No way in hell,’ so it’s off to surgery hopefully soon and back to training ASAP.”
Gurgel, ever positive, continued on to say she’ll be working her butt off in the gym to do what she can before going under the knife and saw a silver-lining to the situation in the time it will allow her to spend with the people she loves including husband, and fellow fighter, Jorge Gurgel.
The Bellator title-holder won her belt beating previously undefeated Japanese star Megumi Fujii during Season 3 but has only fought a single time this year, beating Karina Hallinan at Bellator 35 in March and subsequently having to sit on the sidelines after breaking her hand in the bout.
“Warrior Princess” Wows at Bellator 34
The 27-year old has beaten a number of notable peers in her career beyond Fuji including Jessica Aguilar and Rosi Sexton.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: bellator, gurgel, jessica aguilar, knee yesterday, twitter “
Read the full article at Fighters.comTorn ACL Knocks Women’s Champion Gurgel Out of Bellator 57
Bellator Fighting Championships 115-pound women’s titleholder Zoila Gurgel has torn the anterior-cruciate ligament in her knee and will be unable to fight as scheduled at Bellator 57
Posted in: bellator, women, gurgel, anteriorcruciate ligament, anteriorcruciate
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 55 predictions and preview for 'West vs Dantas' on Oct. 15 in Yuma
Bellator Fighting Championships will return to "The Copper State" this Saturday night (October 22, 2011) at the Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Arizona, live on MTV2.
The main card will air live on the basic cable network, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
Bellator 55 will be the continuation of the promotion's season five bantamweight tournament with the semifinals. Season three finalist Ed West will take on highly touted Brazilian prospect Eduardo Dantas while former Olympic bronze medal winner Alexis Vila will battle gritty WEC veteran Marcos Galvao.
Also on the card will be a superfight featuring the Bellator light heavyweight champion Christian M'Pumbu as he squares off with massive MMA veteran Travis Wiuff.
The opening bout of the main card will be a lightweight attraction as top Brazilian prospect Ricardo Tirloni and EliteXC veteran Steve Gable.
Our complete Bellator 55 preview and predictions after the jump:
Bellator Fighting Championships will return to "The Copper State" this Saturday night (October 22, 2011) at the Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Arizona, live on MTV2.
The main card will air live on the basic cable network, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
Bellator 55 will be the continuation of the promotion's season five bantamweight tournament with the semifinals. Season three finalist Ed West will take on highly touted Brazilian prospect Eduardo Dantas while former Olympic bronze medal winner Alexis Vila will battle gritty WEC veteran Marcos Galvao.
Also on the card will be a superfight featuring the Bellator light heavyweight champion Christian M'Pumbu as he squares off with massive MMA veteran Travis Wiuff.
The opening bout of the main card will be a lightweight attraction as top Brazilian prospect Ricardo Tirloni and EliteXC veteran Steve Gable.
Our complete Bellator 55 preview and predictions after the jump:
135 lbs.: Ed West (17-5) vs. Eduardo Dantas (11-2)
Ed West proved his mettle the first time around, advancing to the Bellator season three finals before dropping a five round decision to Zach Makovsky in the championship bout. He proved he's a legitimate threat to advance to the finals again after defeating Luis Nogueira via unanimous decision in the quarterfinals. West has a strong arsenal of kicks and uses his range well. He's also very tricky on the ground.
Eduardo Dantas is one of the top prospects in the world at bantamweight and he proved it in the quarterfinals by crushing Wilson Reis with a flying knee in the round two. Dantas has terrific submission skills but he loves to stand and bang. He's extremely explosive and has power everywhere. He just needs room to use it.
Expect to see West either try to keep this fight at a severe distance where he can utilize his kicks or he might even change things up and utilize his improving wrestling skills to keep Dantas guessing. Dantas can close the distance at the drop of a hat with his explosiveness so West cannot make any mistakes.
Both men have their weaknesses. West sometimes is too comfortable on his back and Dantas had some issues dealing with the pressure that Wilson Reis put in his face in round one of his quarterfinal fight. This is a very evenly matched fight.
Prediction: Eduardo Dantas via decision
135 lbs.: Alexis Vila (10-0) vs. Marcos Galvao (10-4-1)
Cuban defector Alexis Vila turned into an instant star at bantamweight last month when he knocked Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren out cold with one huge left hook to the chin in barely one full minute. Vila didn't even get an opportunity to showcase his incredible wrestling credentials or his freak athleticism in the fight.
Galvao also had a strong performance in his quarterfinal match, defeating former WEC bantamweight champion Chase Beebe via decision and halting the American's five fight winning streak in the process. Galvao is very well-rounded, with solid technique in the stand-up department and an extremely dangerous ground game, having been a two-time world champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Vila will clearly have the power and wrestling edge while Galvao will have a better reach and submission skills. Look for Vila to try to get inside with his hooks in the stand-up or power double his way to the ground and blast Galvao there. The Brazilian will try to keep Vila at bay in the stand-up and then use his sweeps and submission skills if the bout goes to the ground. It should be an intriguing battle wherever this fight ends up.
Prediction: Alexis Via via TKO in round two
205 lbs.: Christian M'Pumbu (18-3-1) vs. Travis Wiuff (65-14) 1 no contest
Despite being undersized, Christian M'Pumbu smashed his way through the Bellator light heavyweight tournament, defeating all three of his opponents via TKO to become the inaugural Bellator light heavyweight champion. M'Pumbu honestly should be fighting at 185, but he's so successful at 205 that he hasn't ever felt the need to cut weight. He's primarily a striker, he uses his speed well and it allows him to land on his opponents consistently as has significant power in both hands.
Travis Wiuff is a veteran of 80 professional fights. He primarily fights at the smaller shows, but has competed in bigger promotions like the UFC, Pride and Sengoku, although he's failed to find success there. He'll definitely be willing to stand and go toe-to-toe with M'Pumbu. If this bout is really at 205 pounds, Wiuff should have a serious weight advantage after rehydrating.
Expect to see M'Pumbu try to utilize his lateral quickness and land on his slower opponent while avoiding getting hit himself. Wiuff's best shot will be if he can either pin M'Pumbu against the fence and wear him down or to take him down and try to pound on him on the canvas. I don't know if he'll be able to catch M'Pumbu long enough to do that though.
Prediction: Christian M'Pumbu via TKO
155 lbs.: Ricardo Tirloni (13-1) vs. Steve Gable (5-1)
Ricardo Tirloni was a big signing for Bellator back in August. He's been crushing his opposition primarily inside the first round throughout his career and his only loss was to current top UFC lightweight contender Ben Henderson in just his fourth professional fight. Tirloni trains with a great camp at Ataque Duplo alongside top fighters like Nazareno Malegarie and Thiago Tavares.
Steve Gable is a veteran of EliteXC and while he hasn't had as much experience in the cage as Tirloni, he's been fighting for nearly as long. He hasn't faced the level of competition that Tirloni has fought and he also hasn't competed in over a year.
This bout is likely expected to be a showcase of the fresh signee Tirloni, but Gable will probably give him a tough enough fight to allow him to showcase his full skill-set.
Prediction: Ricardo Tirloni via knockout in round two
So what do you think Maniacs?
Who's do you predict to advance to the finals of this loaded Bellator bantamweight tournament? Will Christian M'Pumbu pass the test of his first "superfight?"
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, danta, mpumbu, tirloni
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator female champ Zoila Gurgel announces ACL tear, facing surgical repair
Bellator Fighting Championships female champion Zoila Gurgel has been forced to withdraw from a planned Bellator 57
non-title fight with Carina Damm.
Gurgel announced the withdrawal today on her Twitter account, citing a torn ACL as the issue.
"I just took an MRI of my knee yesterday and results came back; I
completely tore my ACL," Gurgel stated. "It's off to surgery hopefully soon and back to the
training ASAP."
Posted in: bellator, gurgel, acl, knee yesterday, repair bellator
Read the full article at MMA JunkieZoila Gurgel Out of Bellator 57 After Suffering Torn ACL in Training
Bellator world champion Zoila Gurgel will have to wait a bit longer to get back into the cage after suffering a knee injury.
Posted in: bellator, training, gurgel, zoila gurgel, zoila
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyZoila Frausto Gurgel Out of Bellator 57 Due to Injury
Filed under: Bellator, NewsBellator women's champion Zoila Frausto Gurgel has suffered a knee injury and will not compete at Bellator 57 on Nov. 12 in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
Gurgel, who was scheduled to face Carina Damm in a non-title fight, tweeted Thursday that she will need to undergo surgery.
"I just took an MRI of my knee yesterday and results came back," Gurgel said. "I completely tore my ACL."
Despite having to be sidelined for the near future, the 27-year-old Gurgel was in positive spirits.
"Regardless of my current situation, I'm happy cause I have an amazing life, the best hubby, a great family and great people that surround me."
Gurgel (11-1) won the Bellator's 115-pound tournament last year to become the promotion's first women's champion. She fought once this year, beating Karina Hallinan in a non-title bout in March via unanimous decision.
This past February, Gurgel tied the knot with UFC and Strikeforce veteran Jorge Gurgel. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: bellator, gurgel, knee yesterday, surgery i, situation im
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseOutside the Octagon: Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Changes, FEG Reportedly Bankrupt, and More
The injury bug has hit this season’s Bellator heavyweight tournament as semi-finalists Mike Hayes and Blagoi Ivanov have been forced to withdraw from the tournament. The two have been replaced by Bellator favorite Neil Grove and original tournament entry Thiago Santos. Grove and Santos will face each other October 29 at Bellator 56, with former US Army boxer Eric Prindle and heavy hitter Ron Sparks meeting the same night.
Hayes’ exit from the tournament was not unexpected, as he was given a 60-day suspension for a cut following his Bellator 52 victory over Grove. Bellator held gave original entry Thiago Santos, who was scratched from Bellator 52 due to visa issues, a shot at being his replacement. Santos took advantage of the opportunity at Bellator 53 when he choked out Josh Burns.
Ivanov’s injury was unexpected but original tournament favorite Neil Grove was ready for a second shot at $100,000 and rematch with champion Cole Konrad. While Ivanov’s injury is being listed as “undisclosed,” the Bulgarian fighter has struggled with hand issues since breaking both hands in a fight with Kazuyuki “Ironhead” Fujita years ago.
FEG Bankrupt, K-1 Grand Prix Cancelled
MMAFighting’s Dan Herbertson is reporting that K-1 parent company and DREAM co-promoter FEG is bankrupt. While rumors of the company’s money problems are nothing new, there was a chance that company would survive with new investors. The company was never able to find those investors due to economical and cultural changes in the country. As a result, K-1 and DREAM will likely become two completely separate promotions.
The news was also announced by K-1 competitor “IT’S SHOWTIME,” who stated that K-1 will likely be purchased by a group of three companies, including Golden Glory’s Bas Boon, but that the deal is being held up for a multitude of reasons.While “IT’S SHOWTIME” is a competitor of K-1, the company will apparently still assist the floundering brand for the “good of the sport.”
While K-1 is more affected by the collapse of FEG, DREAM is expected to live on, albeit with more limited funds. DREAM executive producer Keiichi Sasahara says the promotion will still have its traditional New Year’s Eve card but that it will likely undergo a name change since K-1 will not be involved.
Other News from Outside the Octagon:
Former UFC middleweight prospect Maiquel Falcao has signed with Bellator, though his debut is unknown at this time. Falcao was released from the UFC after past legal issues prevented him from taking part in UFC 134. While the promotion is currently running a middleweight tournament this season, it stands to reason they may hold another tournament in the near future with recent fighters being released and other Bellator fighters being availible.
TUF 8 winner Efrain Escudero will fight Cesar Avila on the undercard of Bellator 55 this weekend. While this appears to be a one-fight deal, the winner of the bout will likely earn a longer contract with the promotion.
Featherweight Kazuyuki Miyata has announced he is leaving DREAM after the company failed to pay him “in full or at all” the last few years. The former Olympic wrestler has expressed interest in the UFC’s upcoming venture in Japan but at this time, he has not made a decision on his future. Miyata struggled early in his career but found success after dropping several weight classes and finding a home at featherweight.
Russian officials have extended former Bellator prospect Rasul Mirzaev’s stay in prison yet again, citing Mirzaev as a flight risk due to his career as a fighter and because of what is being called an ongoing investigation into the incident outside a Moscow night club that left a Moscow college student dead. While the extension was originally granted until February, it was reduced to December since pretrial procedures have barely begun. Mirzaev’s lawyers have argued that this investigation is unneeded since reports were already completed by the arresting officers, the hospital, and the medical examiner. Russian officials are stating that if released, Mirzaev will attempt to intimidate potential witnesses in the case or flee the city, an assertion Mirzaev vehemently denies. Meanwhile, Mirzaev’s attorneys have reported that Mirzaev’s family is receiving death threats related to the case and have appealed to the judge after alledging that Russian police have ignored them.
For more on these stories and other MMA news, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Posted in: bellator, dream, tournament, company, mirzaev
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyBellator News: Ratings Up, Neil Grove Returns, Efrain Escudero Debuts
The ongoing saga of up-and-down ratings for Bellator continues as the promotion saw a significant uptick in viewers for this past Saturday's Bellator 54.
The main telecast on MTV2 drew 185,000 viewers, up from the previous week's all-time low of 105,000. The replay garnered 116,000 viewers.
Green Grove
After losing a decision to Mike Hayes several weeks ago, Neil Grove has found his way back into Bellator's heavyweight tournament as an injury replacement for the injured Blagoi Ivanov.
Grove (11-4-1) will face fellow injury replacement Thiago Santos (9-1) at Bellator 56 on Saturday, October 29th. A former Bellator heavyweight tournament finalist, Grove has lost two of his last three fights while Santos has a three-fight win streak. Ironically, Santos is replacing Hayes who had to withdraw after a 60-day medical suspension.
In the other semifinal, Ron Sparks will face Eric Prindle.Halfway Home
Saturday's Bellator 55 -- the seventh event of this season -- is once again unopposed by any UFC or Strikeforce competition and viewers will see the bantamweight semifinals with Alexis Vila vs. Marcos Galvao and Ed West vs. Eduardo Dantas, in addition to Light Heavyweight Champion Christian M'Pumbu competing in non-title action.Dantas (11-2) is coming off a second round KO of Wilson Reis while West (17-5) beat Luis Nogueira by decision. Vila (10-0) will try to follow up on his first round KO of Featherweight Champion Joe Warren when he faces Galvao (10-4-1), who advanced via split decision over Chase Beebe. The four men are vying for a shot at current Bantamweight Champion Zach Makovsky.
M'Pumbu (18-3-1) returns for the first time since winning his championship against veteran Travis Wiuff (65-14-0-1) in non-title action. Ricardo Tirloni vs. Steve Gable in lightweight action rounds out the televised card.
Comeback Kid?
The most interesting name on Saturday's undercard in Yuma, AZ, is that of TUF 8 winner Efrain Escudero, cut by the UFC just over a year ago.
Escudero (17-3) was released by the UFC after a third round submission loss to Charles Oliveira at a Fight Night event in September 2010. Since then, the 25-year-old has gone 4-1 in regional promotions and last defeated Mike Rio by unanimous decision in July. He will face Ceasar Avila (6-1).
Posted in: bellator, round, saturday, grove, round ko
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGrove Replaces Injured Ivanov in Bellator Heavyweight Tournament
Sambo specialist Blagoi Ivanov has suffered an unspecified injury and will be unable to compete in Bellator Fighting Championships’ fifth-season heavyweight tournament semifinals against Thiago Santos.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, tournament, injury, ivanov
Read the full article at SherdogGrappling with Issues – 10/19/11
How much gas does Rich Franklin have left in the tank? Will Alexis Vila cruise to the Bellator Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament crown? Is Roy Nelson at risk of getting released without a win at UFC 137? Should Bellator consider holding events on a new night come 2012?
Keyboard warrrrriors….come out to plaaaay-yay!
Welcome to Grappling with Issues, our site’s regular weekly feature highlighting insight and opinion from myself and resident workhorse Jeremy Lambert whose general contributions and “Scorecard” event-breakdowns can be regularly found on Five Ounces. As always, just because we staffers get the fancy set-up, please don’t hesitate to offer your own take on the topics in the “Comments” section below.
TRUE/FALSE – Rich Franklin will fight beyond 2012.
Lambert: TRUE. He’ll be 38 entering 2013 and I know he was disappointed in recent comments made by Dana White about him ducking Alexander Gustafsson, but as Franklin himself said, he’s a “company man.” UFC is always going to find a fight for him and because of who he is he’s always going to get solid fights against good opponents. They’ll match him up with other “name” fighters like Tito Ortiz, Rogerio Nogueira, Quinton Jackson, etc… at 205 or he can move down to 185 and fight guys like Cung Le, Chris Leben, Michael Bisping, etc… He’s not going to compete for a title ever again, but as long as they give him guys who the fans know and respect, he’ll fight them.
Conlan: FALSE, at least I hope so. I am a fan of Franklin’s without question but there’s nothing left for him to prove in the UFC. He’s gone 6-4 in the ten fights since his facial reconstruction from Dr. Anderson Silva without any truly impressive wins in the bunch. He’s good for a few more “money” match-ups but other than that it’s time for “Ace” to consider hanging up his pink-and-brown trunks while taking on a role inside the UFC. He’s a great spokesman for MMA and could be a huge success representing the company in a suit rather than inside the Octagon.
Will the UFC cut Roy Nelson if he loses to Mirko Filipovic?
Lambert: First, I honestly can’t envision a scenario where “Cro Cop” beats Nelson next weekend. But, for the sake of the question, I’ll play along. It really depends on what kind of shape Nelson shows up in. If he’s his usual fat-self, which Dana White hates but really I don’t think it’ll make a huge difference, and loses then he’ll probably be released. But if he’s trimmed down a little bit and he “comes to WAR” then he’ll be given at least one more fight. Honestly, if Nelson can’t beat the 2011 version of Mirko, he probably should be released anyway.
Conlan: Jeremy makes a great point regarding Nelson’s form, as “Big Country” has apparently gone to “Not-As-Big” status with a new diet. However, he’ll still be rotund to an extent, so unless he looks sharp against Filipovic in defeat I think he’s probably in line for a pink-slip with a loss. Dana White hasn’t held back expressing his dislike for Nelson’s physique in terms of being a true player on the UFC heavyweight scene so I’m under the impression he will gladly part ways with Nelson if given even a semi-understandable opportunity to do so.
Closer to a title-shot with a win at UFC 137: Donald Cerrone or Tyson Griffin?
Lambert: Griffin, just because there’s a shorter line at 145. After Chad Mendes, the field is wide open and Griffin has the luxury of being one of the more well-known fighters in the division because he’s been in the UFC for so long, he’s fought good competition at 155, and he’s produced five Fight of the Night bouts. Cerrone on the other hand would have to wait for the Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson winner, then possibly Gilbert Melendez, and who the hell knows who will come out of the blue in the lightweight division since it seems to change on an event by event basis.
Conlan: No argument here. The featherweight field is fairly wide open after Mendes mixes it up with Jose Aldo. Given Griffin’s name value and success at 155, I could see a win over Bart Palaszewski on October 29 giving him enough momentum to earn a title-shot with one more victory. Perhaps a bout against Hatsu Hioki (if he beats George Roop at UFC 137) on the same card as Mendes/Aldo in early 2012 would make the most sense?
What night should Bellator Season 6 air on?
Conlan: Fridays make the most sense by far. The move would eliminate the direct competition for ratings currently taking place on Saturday nights when the UFC typically airs events while also avoiding the occasional Sunday Fight Night or UFC Live card (or the NFL for that matter). The shows could easily be marketed as a way for fans to start their weekends out right; as incredibly entertaining, free, live MMA action that’s over early enough to let folks head out for the rest of their evenings as well or simply keep the party going at home. Not a bad package, eh?
Lambert: Friday’s are usually a ratings disaster night. Networks move shows to Friday because they want to kill them off, not to keep them around. Plus, the new season of The Ultimate Fighter will be airing on Friday’s as well on FX, so they’ll still be against the UFC.
I’m going with Wednesday. People already think of Wednesday as a night for fights thanks to SpikeTV having UFC Unleashed marathons and TUF. With UFC moving off of Spike, Bellator can fill that void on Wednesday. Plus they could run that night on MTV2 and Spike could continue to run UFC programming as a lead in for them. Then, when Bellator eventually ends up on Spike, they can continue to run on Wednesday, people will still associate that night with MMA, and Bellator won’t have to once again move days.
Would Vinny Magalhaes win a fight should he return to the UFC?
Conlan: Absolutely. He’s steadily improved since falling to Ryan Bader and Eliot Marshall inside the Octagon, winning seven of eight with all of the wins involving some form of stoppage. He’s also shown his striking has evolved enough to make him more than a BJJ wiz with no stand-up to speak of. Magalhaes is also relatively young (27), meaning he should keep getting better, and always shows up to fight in great shape. There are plenty of on-the-bubble guys on the UFC roster lacking those characteristics, as well as his background on the mat, so I have no reason to believe Joe Silva couldn’t put Magalhaes in the cage with one of them with the result being Vinny’s first win under the promotion’s banner.
Lambert: Magalhaes has improved a lot since his first UFC run, but his chin is still very suspect. Plus his wins are over some really bad competition. Of course it really depends on who Magalhaes fights. Would he beat a guy like James Te Huna? I don’t think so. But could he beat Ricardo Romero? I’d say yes. Just looking at UFC 205 roster though, I wouldn’t favor him against many fighters on the list. I think UFC would give him a good match up in his return fight, but I’m not sold on him enough to say “yes” to this question.
Who do you see meeting in the Bellator Season 5 bantamweight finals?
Conlan: Eduardo Dantas and Alexis Vila. Beyond being extremely talented, both bantamweights had a far easier road to the semifinal round based on how their wins came about. In comparison to their quick knockout wins, Marcos Galvao and Ed West went three full rounds at Bellator 51 including a fight close enough to result in a Split Decision where Galvao’s success was concerned. With a tournament involving the necessity for fighters to remain active for three consecutive months the difference between a fast finish and a hard-fought victory can ultimately be $100,000 and a shot at the Bellator title.
Lambert: I’m going with West and Vila. I’m not concerned about West having gone to a decision in his opening round bout because the guy always seems to go to a decision. He ended up in the finals of the season 3 tournament after picking up decision victories in the first two rounds, so I’d say he’s used to it. Plus I think his wrestling is going to give Dantas problems. As for Vila and Galvao, I’m picking Vila simply because he KO’d the self-proclaimed baddest man on the planet, thus making him the baddest man on the planet, and I don’t go against the baddest men on the planet until they lose. And I like his power against Galvao’s chin.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fight, night, bellator, nelson
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBlagoi Ivanov out, Neil Grove back in heavyweight tourney at Bellator 56
Bellator's heavyweight-tournament shuffle continues.
The latest change comes as a result of an injury to semifinalist Blagoi Ivanov. Taking his place in the final four is opening-round loser Neil Grove, who now gets a second life and meets Thiago Santos in a semifinal matchup at Bellator 56.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the change with a source close to the fighter.
Posted in: bellator, neil grove, heavyweight tourney, blagoi ivanov, semifinal matchup
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 54: 185,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 54 on MTV2 received an average of 185,000 viewers. Running unopposed a UFC card helped the promotion increase viewership by 80% between Bellator 53 and 54.
Via MMA Junkie:
Once again, the latest ratings continue the organization’s wildly inconsistent season-five numbers; two events have scored at least 235,000 viewers, and three have drawn 158,000 or fewer.
A replay earned an average of 116,000 viewers.
Payout Perspective:
A nice bounce back from 53′s 103,000 average a week ago. As MMA Junkie points out, Bellator’s ratings have been across the board and its hard to find a pattern. But, we may argue that the numbers reflect the fact that Bellator can draw a decent audience when its not running up against the UFC. This begs the question as to if Bellator should move to another night. Moving the time slot on Saturday could be another option but that could draw confusion. Bjorn Rebney indicated that he would be open to such a move in 2012. But, this week Bellator 55 runs unopposed (on TV that is) so we should see another solid ratings week.
Posted in: bellator, mma, viewer, time slot, junkie
Read the full article at MMA PayoutUpdate on Bellator-Desert Rage litigation
Last week we reported that Bellator had sued Arizona promotion Desert Rage Full Contact Fighting claiming the Arizona-based promotion interfered with contracted Bellator fighters for its upcoming event in Yuma on October 22nd as Desert Rage was set to hold its own event nearby on the same date.
The most recent movement in the case has Desert Rage filing a jurisdictional challenge to Bellator’s lawsuit. As a company in Illinois, Bellator filed its claim in Illinois. However, Desert Rage has opposed the filing and is requesting that the lawsuit either be dismissed or transferred to the district court in Yuma, Arizona. The hearing date to determine the jurisdiction issue will be held in December which is interesting considering that its well after the October 22nd events of both companies.
In its motion, Desert Rage includes the affidavit of Chance Farrar, the individual Bellator alleges to be the central person to have had contact with Bellator contracted fighters and had knowledge of its contracts as Farrar worked with Bellator this past spring. In his affidavit Farrar claims not having a contract with Bellator and worked as a “fight coordinator” for Bellator’s April 2011 event in Yuma. Notably, he states, “I did not have any written contract with Bellator in relation to this (April 2011) event.” He also states that Desert Rage had planned its October 22nd event in July which would trump Bellator as it claimed it started planning for its event in August.
Based on the affidavit, its interesting that Bellator did not have Farrar sign a non-disclosure, non-compete agreement prior to having him work with the company. Obviously this is Monday-morning quarterbacking and perhaps Bellator did not have a reason to suspect this could happen. But, as a fight promotion, planning is everything. Its interesting that some sort of instinctive relief (a request from the court to stop a party from doing something) was not requested by either party as both promotions are set to hold its events this Saturday. The hearing date for the motion is set well after the events and the effect of that would make the lawsuit about money. Or, just a moot point.
DISCLAIMER
The information in this post is opinion only. In addition, and because this is my opinion, it is not intended to be (and is not) legal advice or an advertisement for legal services. This post provides general information only. Although I encourage interested parties to contact me on the subjects discussed in the article, the reader should not consider information on this site to be an invitation for an attorney-client relationship. I disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any contents of this post. Any e-mail sent to me will not create an attorney-client relationship, and you should not use this site to send me e-mail containing confidential or sensitive information.
Posted in: bellator, event, desert rage, rage, desert
Read the full article at MMA PayoutEfrain Escudero: TUF Winner to Bellator Prelims
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: bellator, winner, mattyblayze, bellator prelims, escudero
Read the full article at RedditEfrain Escudero vs. Cesar Avila added to Saturday's Bellator 55 event
A notable name has been added to Saturday's Bellator 55 event.
"The Ultimate Fighter 8" winner and recent regional-show regular Efrain Escudero meets fellow lightweight Ceasar Avila on the event's preliminary card.
Bellator officials alerted MMAjunkie.com of the addition on Tuesday night.
Posted in: bellator, event, saturday, ceasar avila, efrain escudero
Read the full article at MMA JunkieKen Pavia Opens Up on UFC Lawsuit
Filed under: UFC, BellatorLast year the UFC filed a lawsuit against Bellator Fighting Championships and MMA agent Ken Pavia, claiming that Pavia gave confidential UFC documents to Bellator.
Pavia, who has since sold his MMA agency, says he didn't give Bellator anything confidential, and that the lawsuit will show that.
"The claim is that I shared confidential and secret information with a competitor that gave them some sort of advantage," Pavia said on The MMA Hour. "Time will tell I didn't. Did I share confidential information? Documents were passed, and we've been very forthright about that, and our contention is that they're a few documents that are readily available to the public. Google them. They're all there. They're all on the Internet. ... I guess I just saved them probably two hours of Googling."
Pavia said some people have assumed he sold the agency because of the suit, but that in reality the vast majority of fighters he was representing at the time stayed with him.
"My reputation took a little bit of a hit, which is unfortunate because a year and a half into it I think I'm going to be vindicated eventually. I feel very confident," Pavia said.
According to Pavia, Bellator didn't even have any use for the documents in question. Eventually, Pavia expects all the facts to come out, although he doesn't know when that will be.
"We're a year and a half in and we haven't even begun discovery," he said. "The American legal process, I guess." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, bellator, pavia, year, document
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseEscudero-Avila Booked for Saturday’s Bellator 55 Undercard
Efrain Escudero, winner of “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8, will make his Bellator Fighting Championships debut this Saturday against Ceasar Avila on the undercard of Bellator 55.
Posted in: bellator, saturday, championships debut, undercard, ceasar avila
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 54, Middleweight Semifinals Earn 185,000 Viewers on MTV2
Bellator Fighting Championships benefited from a ratings rebound on Saturday night, as the promotion raked in 185,000 viewers for its live broadcast of Bellator 54 on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, saturday night, viewer, mtv, ratings rebound
Read the full article at SherdogBellator open to moving from Saturday night in 2012
Bellator could move from its current Saturday night slot according to Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney. MMA Junkie reports that “it remains to be seen” where the promotion will place its sixth season which starts in the first quarter of 2012.
Via MMA Junkie:
Bellator, which has promoted 54 shows since its 2009 debut, now airs on MTV2 on Saturday nights. But those events frequently face competition from the UFC, Strikeforce and other weekend-loving promotions. And though it’s hard to determine if it’s solely that competition that’s affecting ratings – season-five Bellator events have peaked with up to 269,000 viewers and recently bottomed out with 103,000 – MMA fans often are forced to make a choice.
Bellator’s move could depend on whether it will move to Spike TV. And that move will depend on whether the UFC will purchase the rights to its library from Spike as Spike has retained the rights to it for 2012. The network cannot feature another MMA promotion so long as it has the rights to the UFC library.
Payout Perspective:
A move to another night is not as simple as one might think. Rebney points out the ease of selling tickets to a Saturday night event as one reason Bellator remains on Saturday night. However, viewers would have a better chance of watching Bellator programming if it moved to another night when it does not go up against the UFC. Of course, without the NBA, Bellator has one less competitor on Saturday nights the first quarter of 2012. It would mainly have to work around UFC PPVs.
Another option could include holding events on another night and giving away the event tickets to ensure attendance while finding other ways to recoup the gate revenue. It could also just move its start times on nights of the UFC PPVs although that move could become confusing since it could lose viewership if people are confused about the start times.
Posted in: ufc, night, bellator, event, saturday
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBellator 54 Video Highlights
Video highlights from Bellator 54.
Read the full article at MMA Convert
Bellator brings on Brazilian middleweight Maiquel Falcao
Bellator has announced the addition of Brazilian middleweight Maiquel Falcao to their roster. Falcao, who still trains under the infamous Chute Box banner, currently carries an official professional MMA record of 28-4 with one no-contest and 23 of his wins coming by knockout.
He fought for the first time in the US last November competing for the UFC on the main card of the UFC 123 event, winning a unanimous decision over promising wrestler Gerald Harris.
Bellator Middleweights Cruise Towards Shot at Champ Hector Lombard
Falcao was expected to face Tom Lawlor at UFC 134 in August, but the fight was cancelled and Falcao found himself suddenly released by the promotion due to surroundings of his assault charge on a woman back in 2002.
Since then Falcao has fought three times in his native Brazil, winning two by knockout, both in under two minutes, but he was also subbmited by a Kimura courtesdy of fellow BJJ black-belt Antonio Braga Neto.
No news has surfaced form Bellator of when he may face his first opponent, or who that opponent may be.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
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Posted in: ufc, bellator, middleweight, falcao, form bellator
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator CEO Bjorn Rebney says events could move to new night in sixth season
With Bellator Fighting Championships' fifth season in full swing, many things are going right for the promotion.
Bellator's tournament format continues to produce intrigue, some major title fights are just weeks away, and the organization is reaching more viewers thanks to broadcast/streaming deals with the high-definition EPIX channel and Spike.com.
But as CEO and chairman Bjorn Rebney recently told MMAjunkie.com, those Saturday-night time slots remain a constant source of discussion.
Posted in: bellator, title fights, broadcaststreaming deals, viewers thanks, bjorn
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 54: Makovsky Dominates, Shlemenko Meets Vianna In Tournament Final
A first round submission and a pair of impressive knockout finishes highlighted the action at Bellator 54 last night in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Posted in: night, bellator, tournament, atlantic city, round submission
Read the full article at Heavy MMABellator signs Maiquel Falcao
Bellator FC has announced the signing of Maiquel ‘Big Rig’ Falcao to its middleweight division.The Brazilian middleweight’s name is familiar...
Posted in: bellator, name, falcao, maiquel, divisionthe
Read the full article at Fighters Only
Bellator Middleweight Tournament Finals Set: Shlemenko vs. Vianna
Middleweights Alexander Shlemenko and Vitor Vianna will meet in the Bellator Middleweight Tournament Finals, after they both picked up TKO victories at Bellator 54.
Shlemenko finished Brian Rogers in the second round during the main event, while Vianna quickly finished Bryan Baker in the first minute of their fight.
“The middleweights have absolutely brought it this season,” said Bjorn Rebney, Bellator CEO, in a press statement. “Vitor Vianna, who is known for his submission game, has proven tonight that he has dynamite in his hands, and Alexander Shlemenko is absolutely one of the most exciting and explosive middleweights in the world. These finals will be an absolute magic at The Seminole Hard Rock on November 19.”
Shlemenko is an experienced MMA fighter with 49 pro MMA fights, and is riding a five-fight win streak since dropping a unanimous decision against Hector Lombart in October 2010. Meanwhile, Vianna has just one loss in his 14 pro fights (a TKO loss to Thiago Silva in 2006), and is a solid BJJ fighter with still developing MMA skills.
I look forward to watching the finals matchup next month, when Bellator hosts a stacked card that includes Eddie Alvarez vs. Mike Chandler and Hector Lombard vs. Trevor Prangley.
Posted in: bellator, shlemenko, middleweight, final, vianna
Read the full article at MMA OpinionBellator signs Brazilian middleweight Maiquel Falcao
The Bellator middleweight roster just got even better as company CEO Bjorn Rebney announced that the organization has signed Brazilian striker Maiquel Falcao. The signing was made official last night during the Bellator 54 event.
“Big Rig” is best known for his one bout in the UFC where he defeated the highly-touted Gerald Harris at UFC 123 by unanimous decision. He was scheduled to compete at UFC 134 in August but was released from the company on May 11 due to charges stemming from a 2002 assault case. The Brazilian native headed back to his home country following his UFC released and has gone 2-1 in that time. Of his 28 career victories, 23 have come by way of (T)KO. He’s only competed once outside of Brazil, that being his one bout inside the octagon.
No debut date or opponent have been announced.
The Bellator middleweight division is currently ruled by champion Hector Lombard, who has won 19 straight contests. Top contenders Alexander Shlemenko and Vitor Vianna are scheduled to meet at Bellator 58 with the winner get a shot at Lombard’s belt.
*PHOTO CREDIT – UFC*
Posted in: ufc, bellator, middleweight, brazilian, home country
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 54 results recap for 'Shlemenko vs Rogers' in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Bellator 54 took place last night (October 15, 2011) from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. With no competing Zuffa event for once, it was an opportunity for the smaller promotion to shine and boy did they.
The main event of the evening was a Bellator season five middleweight tournament semifinal match-up between aggressive strikers Alexander Shlemenko and Brian Rogers. Shlemenko held a serious experience edge with nearly five times as many fights, but Rogers entered riding a wave of momentum with a seven consecutive first round knockouts to his credit.
Rogers got the better of Shlemenko early, battering him with punches and knees and inflicting serious damage when he had him pinned against the fence. "The Predator" also took the Russian down with immaculate timing when Shlemenko attempted his crazy spinning back fist attacks.
Shlemenko would get his revenge in round two, withstanding more punishment from Rogers and landing some of his own. Shlemenko began to heat up after grabbing the back of Rogers' head and blasting him with knees. Rogers saved himself temporarily but dropping to the three point stance, but after being granted a brief reprieve, Shlemenko would go back to work with the knees to finish the job and earn an invite to the tournament finals.
The rest of the main card contained equally scintillating finishes.
The other middleweight tournament semifinal didn't last very long.
Season three finalist Bryan Baker took on top Brazilian prospect Vitor Vianna. Baker showed no respect for Vianna's game, coming in hard and aggressive with big overhand rights. He left himself exposed and Vianna countered with an overhand right of his own that clocked "The Beast" and put him down.
With Baker hurt, Vianna charged him with a soccer kick that thankfully whiffed. He followed up with hammer fists until the fight was stopped just 54 seconds into the first round. Vianna will meet Shlemenko at Bellator 58 in November.
In "Superfight" action, Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky took on UFC veteran Ryan Roberts. Roberts was the bigger man but Makovsky took him down every time he even thought about striking with him. "Fun Size" also showcased some improved striking of his own, staggering Roberts with leg kicks and combinations. Makovsky capped off his showcase fight by finishing his overmatched foe with a north-south choke from top position.
"Fun Size" will now wait for the season five Bellator bantamweight tournament to conclude before attempting to defend his title for the first time.
The opening bout of the evening was a match between hyped Brazilian jiu-jitsu prospect Rene Nazare and Jacob Kirwan. Kirwan surprised many by getting in Nazare's face and taking him down repeatedly. He had a strong enough grappling acumen that he wasn't swept and he kept the Brazilan on his back for much of the last two rounds to win a unanimous decision and earn the upset.
For complete Bellator 54 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights click here.
So did you get to catch any of the action, Maniacs?
Who impressed you the most with their performance last night on the Bellator 54 main card? Can Shlemenko make good if he earns a second crack at the title? Does Vitor Vianna have what it takes to be a champion?
Sound off!
Posted in: bellator, shlemenko, tournament, roger, vianna
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator Signs Former UFC Middleweight Maiquel Falcao
Filed under: Bellator, NewsMaiquel Falcao, one of few fighters to win his UFC debut and then be released, has found a new home.
The Brazilian middleweight powerhouse was signed by Bellator, the promotion announced on Saturday night.
Falcao's one and only UFC fight was memorable for the wrong reasons, as he came to the organization behind big expectations as an explosive striker but ended up out-pointing Gerald Harris in a UFC 123 fight that was short on action. Afterward, UFC president Dana White criticized the win, memorably pointing out that "this isn't the Ultimate Staring Competition, it's the Ultimate Fighting Championship."
Less than a month after that win, Falcao was arrested in Brazil on a warrant stemming from a 2002 incident, and due to his outstanding legal issues, the UFC dropped him.
Since the release, Falcao has won two of three fights, and his career record stands at 28-4 with 23 TKOs. Just last week, he needed just 75 seconds to earn a first-round TKO over Douglas Del Rio.
Bellator did not immediately announce a date or opponent for Falcao's organizational opener, but he's clearly a welcome addition to a division headlined by champion Hector Lombard. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, bellator, falcao, release falcao
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC President Dana White isn't worried in the slightest by Bellator. Find out why right here.
UFC President Dana White isn't worried in the slightest by Bellator. Find out why right here.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, right, president, isnt
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator ring girl Mercedes Terrell making name for herself in ascending promotion
Chances are if you've ever seen a Bellator Fighting Championships event you know who Mercedes Terrell is.
The striking 27-year-old is a cageside fixture as one of the promotion's
ring girls and never seems to be too far out of frame each Saturday
night for MTV2 television producers.
With the ascension of Bellator into the de facto No. 2 MMA promotion in
the world (behind the UFC) over the past year, Terrell's own brand has
grown considerably along with it over said span.
Posted in: bellator, promotion, terrell, cageside fixture, mercedes terrell
Read the full article at MMA JunkieHere's further proof that Bellator was amazing last night
Ah, Bellator. You always leave me satisfied and last night with no counter programming you delivered in a big way. Fun fights, brutal finishes, all in glorious standard definition. I think the Spike.com prelims looked sharper...The more I think about it, Bellator is kind of like the ugly girl in the romantic comedy who is suddenly drop dead gorgeous once she removes her glasses and brings her hair down. So I'm willing to look past those blemishes on the surface and patiently wait for you to come to Spike and deliver more moments like Bryan Baker vs. Vitor Vianna.
Fun fact: image searching Vitor Vianna yielded this.
[source]
Posted in: bellator, vitor vianna, counter programming, spikecom prelims, definition i
Read the full article at Middle Easy[SPOILERS] Results from last night's Bellator 54 show.
submitted by col0rado [link] [comment]
Posted in: night, bellator, show, result, spoiler
Read the full article at RedditBellator 54 Results: Middleweight Final Set with Shlemenko and Vianna Victories, Makovsky Dominant
Bellator 54 took place tonight in Atlantic City, New Jersey tonight and the crowd was treated to a solid card. The Bellator Season Five middleweight tournament final was set after Alexander Shlemenko and Vitor Vianna picked up victories tonight at Bellator 54. The two will face each other at Bellator 58, where a title shot and $100,000 will be on the line.
In the main event, Shlemenko recovered from a tough first round to defeat Brian Rogers via TKO. Shlemenko was knocked down in the first, but managed to keep it reasonably close with his trademark spinning strikes. In the second, Rogers had the momentum early before Shlemenko cracked him with a flush shot that completely changed the bout. From that point on Rogers desparately tried to regain his legs and landed a hard shot on Shlemenko. However, the relentless Russian regained his senses quickly and unloaded with hard knees that finally dropped Rogers.
Vitor Vianna showed his composure in the face of a heavy attack by Brian Baker to score a TKO victory. Baker launched a wild assault on the BJJ ace but left himself vulnerable to counters. Vianna landed a wicked overhand right and nearly cost himself a victory when he fired a soccer kick to the head of Baker that just missed. Vianna then finished Baker with hammerfists to end the bout.
Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky was impressive in victory over Ryan Roberts. The former Drexel wrestler controlled Roberts with impressive speed in the striking game and slick takedowns. Eventually “Fun Size” advanced to north-south position and forced the one-time UFC fighter to tap.
In the opener, Jacob Kirwan upset the talented BJJ fighter Rene Nazare by out wrestling the BJJ world champion. Kirwan handed Nazare his first professional loss with the win. The bout was one of the few times that Nazare has not looked dominant in his career as he was just unable to do much with Kirwan.
MAIN CARD RESULTS
Middleweight tournament semifinal - Alexander Shlemenko def. Brian Rogers via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 2:30
Middleweight tournament semifinal - Vitor Vianna def. Bryan Baker via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:54 -
Non-title bantamweight fight - Zach Makovsky (c) def. Ryan Roberts via submission (north-south choke) – Round 1, 4:48
Jacob Kirwan def. Rene Nazare via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
PRELIMINARY CARD RESULTS
Duane Bastress def. Daniel Gracie via TKO (cut) – Round 2, 5:00
Joey Kirwan def. Lewis Rumsey via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:40
Claudio Ledesma def. Brian Kelleher via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Andria Caplan def. Adrienne Seiber via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Posted in: bellator, round, shlemenko, vianna, kirwan
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyAlexander Shlemenko vs. Vitor Vianna meet in tourney final at Bellator 58
An already impressive Bellator 58 just got a little more stacked as the
promotion's season-five middleweight tournament bout will also be
contested on the card.
Bellator officials announced that Bellator 54 semifinal bout winners
Alexander Shlemenko and Vitor Vianna will meet at the Nov. 19 event.
Already featuring a lightweight title fight between Eddie Alvarez and
Michael Chandler, as well as a non-title fight with champ Hector Lombard
and Trevor Prangley, Bellator 58 takes place at the Seminole Hard Rock
Hotel & Casino.
Posted in: bellator, michael chandler, rock hotel, non-title fight, vitor vianna
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 54 Results: Shlemenko and Vianna Punch Their Tickets to the Finals
The middleweight finals for the latest tournament in Bellator are set with Alexander Shlemenko and Vitor Vianna making their way there after Bellator 54 on Saturday night.
Posted in: bellator, saturday night, vitor vianna, middleweight finals, vianna punch
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyShlemenko, Vianna Take Violent Paths to Bellator Middlleweight Finals
Alexander Shlemenko took one step closer to earning his desired rematch with Bellator 185-pound champion Hector Lombard Saturday night at the Boardwalk Hall Ballroom in Atlantic City, N.J.
Posted in: alexander shlemenko, bellator, pound, shlemenko, atlantic city
Read the full article at SherdogShlemenko, Vianna Take Violent Paths to Bellator Middleweight Finals
Alexander Shlemenko took one step closer to earning his desired rematch with Bellator 185-pound champion Hector Lombard Saturday night at the Boardwalk Hall Ballroom in Atlantic City, N.J.
Posted in: alexander shlemenko, bellator, pound, shlemenko, atlantic city
Read the full article at SherdogShlemenko, Vianna advance to Bellator finals
Returning to Atlantic City for the second time this season, Bellator Fighting Championships brought the fans to their feet inside Boardwalk Hall as Alexander...
Posted in: vianna advance, bellator, atlantic city, boardwalk hall, bellator finals
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyUFC Veteran Falcao Inks Deal With Bellator
Bellator Fighting Championships has signed Brazilian knockout artist Maiquel Falcao to compete in its middleweight division.
Posted in: bellator, division, championship, middleweight division, falcao
Read the full article at SherdogBellator announces signing of UFC veteran Maiquel Falcao
"Big Rig" is apparently trucking on back to the U.S.
Bellator Fighting Championships CEO Bjorn Rebney today announced that
Brazilian middleweight slugger Maiquel Falcao will
soon make his debut for the promotion.
Rebney made the announcement during the Spike.com-streamed prelims of Saturday's Bellator 54 event. Falcao and his management weren't immediately available for comment.
Posted in: bellator, rebney, falcao, management weren, spike.com-streamed prelims
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 54 Live Results
Two middleweights will take one step closer to an opportunity at dethroning dominant Bellator champion Hector Lombard and a chance at $100,000, with the semifinal round of the Bellator Season 5 Middleweight Tournament. Coming to use live from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey it’s Bellator 54. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will provide complete results including a fight recap of all the live televised action.
The preliminary action kicks off at 7PM EST withe the fights streaming live on Spike.com. Then the main cards hits your television set at 9PM EST on MTV2 and EPIX HD.
Bellator 54 is headlined by one of the middleweight semifinal fights as former finalist Alexander Shlemenko battles Brian Rogers. The co-main event features the other middleweight semifinal with Bryan Baker taking on Vitor Vianna. Also taking to the cage will be bantamweight title holder Zach Makovsky against striker Ryan Roberts in a non-title fight and undefeated Brazilian Rene Nazare will face off against submission-specialist Jacob Kirwan.
PRELIMINARY CARD
Brian Kelleher vs. Claudio Ledesma
Andria Caplan vs. Adrienne Seiber
Lewis Rumsey vs. Joey Kirwan
Tim Carpenter vs. Ryan Contaldi
Duane Bastress vs. Daniel Gracie
MAIN CARD
Jacob Kirwan vs. Rene Nazare
Zach Makovsky vs. Ryan Roberts
Bryan Baker vs. Vitor Vianna
Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brian Rogers
Posted in: fight, bellator, vs, middleweight, cards hits
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 54 Live Results
The thoughts to many will turn from “Nucky” Thompson and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire to Bjorn Rebney and the Bellator cage as MMA hits Atlantic City tonight. Taking place live from the Boardwalk Hall Boardroom, it’s Bellator 54 featuring the semifinal round of the Season 5 middleweight tourney.
Set to scrap on MTV2/EPIX starting at 9:00 PM EST, former finalists Bryan Baker and Alexander Shlemenko will mix it up on the card with “The Beast” taking on Wand Fight Team pupil Vitor Vianna and his Russian counterpart battling hard-hitting Brian Rogers.
Also in action, bantamweight champ Zach Makovsky will compete in non-title action against Ryan Roberts and undefeated Brazilian Rene Nazare looks to go 11-0 with Jacob Kirwan standing in his way.
Read below for Bellator 54 results as they unfold live from New Jersey:
Andria Caplan def. Adrienne Seiber via Unanimous Decision
Brian Kelleher vs. Claudio Ledesma
Lewis Rumsey vs. Joey Kirwan
Tim Carpenter vs. Ryan Contaldi
Duane Bastress vs. Daniel Gracie
Jacob Kirwan vs. Rene Nazare
Zach Makovsky vs. Ryan Roberts
Bryan Baker vs. Vitor Vianna
Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brian Rogers
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, vs, ryan, jacob kirwan, kirwan
Read the full article at Fighters.comShlemenko, Vianna Advance to Bellator Middleweight Tournament Final
Filed under: BellatorAlexander Shlemenko and Vitor Vianna put on a couple of exceptional performances Saturday night at Bellator 54, winning their semifinal fights and advancing to the finals of the Bellator Fighting Championships middleweight tournament.
Shlemenko used vicious knees to finish off Brian Rogers in the main event, winning a second-round TKO after a round and a half of wild, back-and-forth brawling. Rogers hurt Shlemenko with some hard shots to the body, but it was Shlemenko's more diverse striking arsenal that was the difference in the fight. As he always does, Shlemenko showed off some of his trademark spinning strikes, but what was even more impressive was the way Shlemenko would control Rogers in the clinch and land knees, both to the body and to the head. Eventually those knees connected enough times that Rogers had no answer, and the referee stopped the fight.
Now Shlemenko will advance to the tournament final, where he'll face Vianna -- who looked plenty good himself on Saturday night.
Vianna is known primarily as a Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner, but it was his striking that looked sensational in his victory over Bryan Baker. Vianna leveled Baker with an overhand right, then pounced on him against the cage and finished him with hammer fists. Vianna's TKO victory lasted just 54 seconds.Afterward Vianna said he's looking forward to the chance to face Shlemenko.
"He's a tough fighter. I know it will be a great challenge. I will be ready," Vianna said.
In a non-title fight, Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky sunk in a north-south choke to force Ryan Roberts to tap out with just seconds remaining in the first round. It was an easy victory for Makovsky, who ran his record to 14-2, including 6-0 in Bellator.
And in the first fight of the live MTV2 card, Rene Nazare, a previously undefeated Brazilian lightweight who was viewed by many as a promising prospect, was soundly beaten by Jacob Kirwan. Two judges gave the fight to Kirwan 30-27, and one judge scored it 29-28. It was a disappointing performance from Nazare and the biggest win of Kirwan's career. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, bellator, shlemenko, roger, vianna
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseLive NOW: Bellator 54 Live Results and Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from the Boardwalk Hall Ballroom in Atlantic City, N.J., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 54, which features the semifinals of Bellator's Season 5 middleweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, tournament, atlantic city, n.j .,
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 54 Live Results and Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from the Boardwalk Hall Ballroom in Atlantic City, N.J., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 54, which features the semifinals of Bellator's Season 5 middleweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, tournament, atlantic city, n.j .,
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 54 Live Play-by-Play and Results
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results and commentary for Bellator 54. Our live blog will start with the beginning of the MTV2 broadcast (9 p.m. ET) so be sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
Tonight's card features the semifinal fights in the middleweight tournament: Bryan Baker vs. Vitor Vianna and Brian Rogers vs. Alexander Shlemenko. The eventual winner of this tournament will take home $100,000 and earn a fight with champ Hector Lombard for the middleweight belt. Also on the card tonight, we'll see current bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky in a non-title super fight with Ryan Roberts, and a feature fight between Rene Nazare and Jacob Kirwan. This will be Kirwan's Bellator debut. Roberts and Nazare, however, have fought for the promotion previously, and Nazare will likely be taking part in the next lightweight tournament.
SBN coverage of Bellator 54
Posted in: fight, bellator, . , sbn coverage, card features
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowAfter surviving Iron Ring debacle, Bellator 54's Brian Rogers happy in new role
It only takes one Iron Ring to make you appreciate a Bellator.
Middleweight Brian Rogers passed the quarterfinals of
the promotion's season-five tournament with flying colors, knocking out
Vitor O'Donnell to earn a spot in the semis opposite season-two champ
Alexander Shlemenko at Saturday's Bellator 54, which
takes place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
Sure, fighting three times in three months is a daunting task, as anyone
competing in the promotion can attest. But at least you know what
you're getting into, which is more than Rogers can say about the hip-hop
flavored MMA reality show that aired in 2009 and almost immediately
fizzled.
Posted in: bellator, roger, season-five tournament, brian rogers, iron ring
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 54 results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Shlemenko vs Rogers' TONIGHT (Oct. 15) on MTV2
Bellator Fighting Championships returns TONIGHT (Oct. 15, 2011) to the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, with the continuation of the promotion's season five middleweight tournament as the promotion holds its semifinals.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 54 below, beginning with the MTV2 telecast at 9 p.m. ET. In addition, we'll deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the undercard action much earlier in the evening.
Headlining the main event will be a thrilling tournament battle between free-swinging Alexander Shlemenko and first round knockout artist Brian Rogers. The other semifinal bout will be between dangerous Brazilian Vitor Vianna and well-rounded season three tournament finalist Bryan Baker.
The special feature fight of the evening will be a match between Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky and UFC veteran Ryan Roberts, who's dropping down to 135 pounds for the first time. It will be interesting to see if Makovsky can continue to showcase the evolution of his game
The opening bout of the main card will be a lightweight attraction as top Bellator prospect Rene Nazare takes on local Maryland product Jacob Kirwan.
Complete Bellator 54 results and play-by-play are after the jump:
Main Card (MTV2)
185 lbs.: Brian Rogers vs. Alexander Shlemenko185 lbs.: Vitor Vianna vs. Bryan Baker 135 lbs.: Ryan Roberts vs. Zack Makovsky 155 lbs.: Jacob Kirwan vs. Rene Nazare
Undercard (Spike.com)
185 lbs.: Duane Bastress vs. Daniel Gracie205 lbs.: Ryan Contaldi vs. Tim Carpenter185 lbs.: Lewis Rumsey vs. Joey Kirwan125 lbs.: Andria Caplan vs. Adrienne Seiber 135 lbs.: Brian Kelleher vs. Claudio Ledesma
Hemmi here, I'll be bringing the play-by-play of the main card for you Maniacs.
185 lbs.: Brian Rogers vs. Alexander Shlemenko
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
185 lbs.: Vitor Vianna vs. Bryan Baker
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
135 lbs.: Ryan Roberts vs. Zack Makovsky
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
155 lbs.: Jacob Kirwan vs. Rene Nazare
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final Result:
-end-
Posted in: bellator, result, round, vs, lb
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 54 Live Results and Play-by-Play (7 ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the Boardwalk Hall Ballroom in Atlantic City, N.J., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 54, which features the semifinals of Bellator's Season 5 middleweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, tournament, atlantic city, n.j .,
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 54 weigh-in results
The Bellator 54 weigh-ins have been completed from Caesars Atlantic City in preparation for Bellator’s Saturday night event at Boardwalk Hall,...
Posted in: night, bellator, weigh-in, city, boardwalk hall
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyAlexander Shlemenko ready to move closer to second title-shot with win on Saturday night
Tomorrow night Alexander Shlemenko will step inside the Bellator ring and take on slick striker Brian Rogers. For the man they call “Storm”, this is the second time he has stepped inside the ring inside the last thirty days including submitting Croatian striker Zelg Galesic via Guillotine Choke in less than two minutes at Bellator 50 on September 17. His opponent is also coming off of a big win, as Rogers is known for his strong, powerful stand-up game and didn’t disappoint by finishing Victor O’Donnell via TKO at the same event.
Shlemenko Returns to Semis with Convincing Win at Bellator 50
With a victory in his bout with Rogers tomorrow night, Shlemenko will get one step closer to a rematch with Bellator middleweight champ Hector Lombard. Shlemenko lost their first meeting at Bellator 34 by a Unanimous Decision. However, the young Russian showed great promise by serving as the only opponent in Lombard’ last seven fights to take the fight to the scorecards, though still falling short because of Lombard’ wrestling and ability to keep him on the ground
In an interview with MMAConvert, Shlemenko discussed his thoughts about a rematch with Lombard and what he would try to do differently if they locked horns a second time. “It will be a completely different fight,” he explained. “I’ve been practicing takedown defense, standing up from the ground a lot, (and) I’m much stronger physically now than I was when we fought. (Now) I’ll be able to defend his takedowns, he won’t be able to stall on the ground, and I (will) be able to beat him up and knock him out standing.”
However, Shlemenko still made sure to complement the dynamic Cuban as a champion and fighter, saying, “Lombard was my most difficult opponent because he was the most experienced, explosive, and strongest fighter (I’ve faced). I also consider Lombard to be one of the best, if not the best, middleweights in the world right now.”
Shlemenko will no-doubt look to showcase those new-found skills against Rogers tomorrow night at Bellator 54 in Atlantic City, New Jersey with Bryan Baker battling Vitor Vianna in the other semifinal scrap.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: night, lombard, bellator, shlemenko, roger
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 54 Weigh-In Results
The Bellator 54 weigh-ins took place earlier this evening in Atlantic City.
Several fighters on the card missed weight including Ryan Roberts, Rene Nazare, Lewis Rumsey and Brian Kelleher. They were given an hour to hit their targets.
The weigh-in results:
Brian Rogers (185.5) vs. Alexander Shlemenko (185.5)
Bryan Baker (183) vs. Vitor Vianna (185.2)
Zach Makovsky (135) vs. Ryan Roberts (136.5)
Jacob Kirwan (155) vs. Rene Nazare (156.2)
Duane Bastress (184.5) vs. Daniel Gracie (185.5)
Tim Carpenter (205) vs. Ryan Contaldi (206)
Joey Kirwan (186) vs. Lewis Rumsey (187.2)
Andria Caplan (146) vs. Adrienne Seiber (144)
Brian Kelleher (139.2) vs. Claudio Ledesma (136)
Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit.
Bellator 54 takes place tomorrow night at Caesars in Atlantic City, New Jersey and will air live on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, vs, atlantic city, non-title fights, brian kelleher
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 54 Weigh-In Results: Middleweight Semifinals Set
The middleweight semifinals are set as the Bellator 54 weigh-ins went down in Atlantic City, NJ on Friday.
Posted in: bellator, atlantic city, weigh-in, semifinals, middleweight semifinals
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyWeigh-in Results: Middleweight Semifinalists Cleared for Bellator 54
Bellator Fighting Championships is now one step closer to finding Hector Lombard’s next challenger, as all four Season 5 middleweight tournament semifinalists hit their marks at Friday's Bellator 54 weigh-ins.
Posted in: bellator, weigh-in, weigh-in results, semifinalists, middleweight semifinalists
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 54 Weigh-In Results
Two middleweights will move one step closer to an opportunity at dethroning dominant Bellator champion Hector Lombard, not to mention $100,000, with the semifinal round of the Bellator Season 5 Middleweight Tournament set for tomorrow night in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Scheduled for action, albeit against other opponents, former finalists Alexander Shlemenko and Bryan Baker will look to set up a rematch of their Season 2 scrap against Brian Rogers and Vitor Vianna respectively. Also taking to the ring at Bellator 54, bantamweight belt-wearer Zach Makovsky will see action in a non-title bout against striker Ryan Roberts and undefeated Brazilian Rene Nazare will face off against submission-specialist Jacob Kirwan.
The event also marks the Bellator debut of Andria Caplan, wife of Five Ounces of Pain‘s widely-respected former owner Sam Caplan.
Before the fighters can get to business in the cage on MTV2/EPIX they first have to make weight on the stage. Things kick off this afternoon at 5:00 PM EST and 5 OZ will be here, as always, to relay results back to readers.
A full list of weights can be found below:
Andria Caplan ( lbs) vs. Adrienne Seiber ( lbs)
Brian Kelleher ( lbs) vs. Claudio Ledesma ( lbs)
Tim Carpenter ( lbs) vs. Ryan Contaldi ( lbs)
Duane Bastress ( lbs) vs. Daniel Gracie ( lbs)
Karl Amoussou ( lbs) vs. Joey Kirwan ( lbs)
Jacob Kirwan ( lbs) vs. Rene Nazare ( lbs)
Zach Makovsky ( lbs) vs. Ryan Roberts ( lbs)
Bryan Baker ( lbs) vs. Vitor Vianna ( lbs)
Alexander Shlemenko ( lbs) vs. Brian Rogers ( lbs)
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, vs, lb, vitor vianna, brian rogers
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainDana White: Good for Bellator
submitted by tbolts48 [link] [comment]
Posted in: bellator, dana, tbolt
Read the full article at RedditUFC's Dana White Has No Problem With Bellator...Yet
Dana White is a ruthless competitor and that's certainly not a bad thing. The world of combat sports promotion has always been cutthroat and always will be. Dana and the rest of the management at the UFC are competitive and they've used that drive to become the big winners in the MMA field.
Dana talks about his feelings on competitors and why he has no beef with Bellator in this MMA Weekly video:
From the video:
"I've went after the promotions that come after me. When you come out and you talk a bunch of (expletive), talk about our company and how we're doing business, and how you're gonna take us down and you're gonna beat us; now you've picked a fight. And now we're gonna fight until somebody wins and somebody loses."
...
"The people from Bellator have never said anything about us. I have nothing to say about them either. They're out there. They're doing their thing. Good for them."
Some of us have long enough memories to remember when Dana said those same exact things about Strikeforce and how quickly that changed.
Sleep with one eye open, Bellator.
Posted in: bellator, dana, thing, dana talks, expletive ),
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowAlvarez vs. Chandler, Lombard vs. Prangley Set for Bellator 58 on Nov. 19
A Bellator lightweight title fight between champion Eddie Alvarez and season four tournament winner Michael Chadler has been rescheduled to headline Bellator 58 on November 19 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Bellator 58 will be one of the biggest events of Bellator’s fifth season, with a 195-pound catchweight, non-title fight between middleweight champion Hector Lombard and veteran Trevor Prangley scheduled for the co-main event.
The MTV2-televised main card also features Jessica Aguilar vs. Lisa Ward and Marlon Sandro vs. Rafael Dias.
For the latest Bellator news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Posted in: bellator, vs, co-main event, lombard vs, rafael dias
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyChamp Eddie Alvarez meets Michael Chandler at November's Bellator 58 (MMAJunkie.com)
While injury forced a short delay in Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez's planned title defense...
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, title defense, michael chandler, eddie
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBellator 54 Weigh-In Results: Middleweight Semifinalists Official
This weekend's Bellator 54 competitors gathered today at Caesars Atlantic City Hotel & Casino in New Jersey for the official fighter weigh-ins. The event will be headlined by a pair of season five Middleweight semifinal bouts, one of which pits former tournament champion Alexander Shlemenko against Brian Rogers, while the other will feature Bryan "The Beast" Baker taking on Vitor Vianna. Current Bantamweight Champ Zach Makovsky will also be competing, squaring off with Ryan Roberts in a non-title
Posted in: bellator, weigh-in, ryan roberts, vitor vianna, brian rogers
Read the full article at Low KickWatch today's Bellator 54 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 5 p.m. ET
New Jersey's Caesars Atlantic City plays host
to today's official Bellator 54 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a live video stream of the
proceedings at 5 p.m. ET.
The nearby Boardwalk Hall plays host to Saturday's event, which airs on MTV2 and
features the semifinal round of Bellator's season-five middleweight tournament.
In addition to the live weigh-ins and pre-fight press conference, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, video stream, text results, semifinal round, boardwalk hall
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 54 weigh in results LIVE from Atlantic City for 'Makovsky vs Roberts'
The official weigh-in event for Bellator 54's Saturday evening fight card takes place today (October 7, 2011) at the Buffalo Run Hotel & Casino in Miami, Oklahoma.
Bellator 54 will be the continuation of the promotion's season five middleweight tournament as the promotion holds its semifinals.
One of the most exciting potential match-ups of the night will be between free-swinging Alexander Shlemenko and first round knockout specialist Brian Rogers. The other semifinal bout will be between Wanderlei Silva's Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach Vitor Vianna and well-rounded season three tournament finalist Bryan Baker.
The main event of the evening will be a special feature fight for the Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky as he takes on UFC veteran Ryan Roberts, who's dropping down to 135 pounds for the first time.
The opening bout of the main card will be a lightweight attraction as top Bellator prospect Rene Nazare takes on local Maryland prospect Jacob Kirwan.
Complete Bellator 54 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
185 lbs.: Brian Rogers (8-2) vs. Alexander Shlemenko (41-7)185 lbs.: Vitor Vianna (11-1-1) vs. Bryan Baker (16-2)135 lbs.: Ryan Roberts (16-9-1) vs. Zack Makovsky (13-2)155 lbs.: Jacob Kirwan (8-3) vs. Rene Nazare (10-0)
Undercard
185 lbs.: Duane Bastress (3-1) vs. Daniel Gracie (5-3-1)205 lbs.: Ryan Contaldi (7-3-1) vs. Tim Carpenter (7-1)170 lbs.: Lewis Rumsey (6-6) vs. Joey Kirwan (7-5)125 lbs.: Andria Caplan (0-0) vs. Adrienne Seiber (1-1)135 lbs.: Brian Kelleher (4-1) vs. Claudio Ledesma (4-2)
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 54, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 9 p.m. ET tomorrow night (October 16).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: night, bellator, vs, lb, card
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAlexander Shlemenko: My main goal is to KO Hector Lombard (Exclusive Interview)
Inagural Bellator Middleweight Tournament Winner, Alexander "Storm" Shlemenko, is man on a mission. Russian KO artist was on a six-fight winning streak prior to facing Hector Lombard for the Bellator Middleweight title almost a year ago, only to find himself losing via Unanimous Decision after five rounds of tough battle. Now, with vengeance on his mind, Shlemenko looks to pave the way to a second shot at the Bellator Middleweight title and a rematch with Hector Lombard.
"Storm" is 4-0 since the Bellator
Posted in: hector, bellator, shlemenko, hector lombard, middleweight
Read the full article at Low KickQ & A with Alexander Shlemenko
Alexander Shlemenko, Bellator’s badass Russian middleweight, steps into his semifinal matchup against Brian Rogers on Saturday night with an advantage: he’s been here before. In fact, it was Shlemenko who won the Season Two 185-pound scrum, with the victory earning him a shot at champ Hector Lombard. And though the man with more spinning backfists than a Tae Kwon Do tournament fell short in his efforts to dethrone the king last year, he did end up going the full five-round distance, proving his mettle and establishing himself to be the kind of contender who’ll keep coming no matter what.
So who is this soft-spoken Russian? MMA Convert got in touch with Shlemenko a few days before his Bellator 54 bout for some insight, and with the help of a translator, pinned him down for a little “Q” and “A”.
You’ve fought all over the world for a variety of promotions. How do you like fighting in the United States and for Bellator?
I really enjoy fighting for Bellator. It’s a good chance to showcase my skills to the American public. It would be even better if there would be bonuses for KO of the night, submission of the night, or fight of the night, because I believe I would have a good chance of getting these bonuses.
How is it fighting in Russia compared to fighting in the US? Do the audiences treat you differently?
There is a big difference in audiences. In Russia I fight at home. And in any country people are rooting for their countrymen. So I get tremendous support from the public when I fight in Russia. Another important issue is acclimatization. I have to come to the US at least two weeks before my fight to acclimate. And it is a known fact that today the US is the world center of MMA. It’s a big industry here, and because of that all top fighters are fighting in the US, so competition is very high over here.
You have a very unique striking style that employs colorful but effective techniques. You also looked smooth submitting Zelg Galesic. How much do you train striking compared to grappling?
I pay more attention and devote more time to grappling, because it used to be my weak point.
You’re facing Brian Rogers on Saturday, while Bryan Baker and Vitor Vianna are facing each other. Who do you think will win between Baker and Vianna?
I think Brian Baker will win, because he has more experience fighting strong opponents.
You had a hard fight against Hector Lombard that went the distance. If you get the chance to do it again, what would you like to do differently?
It will be a completely different fight. I’ve been practicing takedown defense, standing up from the ground a lot, I’m much stronger physically now than I was when we fought. So I’ll be able to defend his takedowns, he won’t be able to stall on the ground, and I would be able to beat him up and KO him standing.
Was Lombard your most difficult opponent?
Yes, Lombard was my most difficult opponent, because he was the most experienced, explosive and strongest fighter. I also consider Lombard to be one of the best, if not the best, middleweights in the world right now.
If you win this Bellator tournament and defeat Lombard, what’s next? What would you like to accomplish in mixed martial arts after that?
I don’t know who’ll be next, it’s a question for Bellator. Whoever they would put in front of me. But my main goal is to become the best middleweight fighter in the world.
You’ve been fighting since 2004 and you’ve had numerous wars – how many more fights does Alexander Shlemenko have in him?
A lot. I think that I just started my professional career on a serious level one year ago, when I started to fight in the US for Bellator. I still have a lot of work to do to improve myself, and become a better fighter, so I think my most tough and exciting fights are ahead of me.
Posted in: fight, alexander shlemenko, lombard, bellator, shlemenko
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator Announces Eddie Alvarez Vs. Michael Chandler For Mid-November
While some fans may malign Bellator for its lack of champions actually defending their titles, the promotion announced Thursday that Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez will put his title on the line in mid-November against Michael Chandler.
Alvarez (22-2) will face Chandler (8-0) in the main event of Bellator 58 on November 19th in Hollywood, FL -- a fight that was originally scheduled for this Saturday but was delayed to an Alvarez injury.Chandler earned the title shot by winning Bellator's Season 4 lightweight tournament, beating Patricky Freire by unanimous decision in May. Alvarez last competed in April in the first defense of his gold, besting Pat Curran in a unanimous decision. He carries a seven-fight win streak into the event.
In the co-main event, Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard faces Trevor Prangley in a non-title fight announced last week. Jessica Aguilar vs. Lisa Ward and Marlon Sandro vs. Rafael Dias round out the main card.
Posted in: bellator, vs, event, alvarez, michael chandler
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 58 line-up confirmed
The Bellator lightweight title will be on the line November 19th as Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez squares off against undefeated Michael...
Posted in: bellator, title, michael, line-up, square
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBellator 58 headlined by Alvarez vs. Chandler and Lombard vs. Prangley
Bellator 58 is shaping up to be the organizations biggest card to date with a lightweight title fight and the middleweight champion in action. In the main event of the evening, Eddie Alvarez will defend his Bellator lightweight strap against season four lightweight tournament winner Mike Chandler. Plus Bellator middleweight title holder Hector Lombard will square off against tough veteran Trevor Prangley.
Bellator officials sent out a press release today confirming the event.
Originally scheduled to go down at Bellator 54, Alvarez vs. Chandler was pushed back after Alvarez suffered an injury while training. The 155 champ won the title at Bellator 12, submitting Toby Imada in the finals. He’s only defended the belt once, against Pat Curran, but he picked up non-title victories over Josh Neer and Roger Huerta during his Bellator run. The undefeated Chandler earned a title shot by winning the Season 4 tournament, defeating the very dangerous Patricky Freire in the finals. Alvarez is currently on a seven fight win streak while Chandler is unbeaten in eight professional fights.
The man with the longest winning streak on the card though is Lombard, who has won a very impressive 19 straight bouts, only going the distance in four of them. Lombard has defeated the likes of Brian Ebersole, Jared Hess, Alexander Shlemenko, and Joe Doerksen during his run. The judo champion could have his hands full with Prangley, a veteran of over 30 fights. Prangley has fought many of the top fighters in MMA including Chael Sonnen, Jeremy Horn, Tim Kennedy, and Keith Jardine.
Also on the card will be top featherweight Marlon Sandro taking on Rafael Dias and Jessica Aguilar battling Lisa Ward in a rematch of their 2006 bout.
Bellator 58 is scheduled for November 19 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Posted in: lombard, bellator, title, chandler, alvarez
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainEddie Alvarez vs Michael Chandler title fight scheduled for Bellator 58 on Nov. 19
As promised, Eddie Alvarez's Bellator lightweight title defense against season four tournament champion Michael Chandler was only delayed a month.The promotion today announced that Alvarez will put his belt on the line on November 19, 2011 at Bellator 58 in Hollywood, Florida. The fight was originally delayed due to an unspecified training injury to Alvarez.
This will be the second Bellator champion on display that night as middleweight titleholder Hector Lombard will duke it out with UFC and Strikeforce veteran Trevor Prangley in a "superfight." Lombard will expect to have the homefield advantage as he trains out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, just a hop, skip and a jump away.
The upstart promotion also announced two more fights which could take place either on the main card or the Spike.com streamed preliminary portion.
According to the press release:
For the second week in a row, Bellator will host a women's feature fight as long time Bellator veteran and fan favorite Jessica "Jag" Aguilar will battle Lisa Ward, who will be looking to move to 2-0 against Aguilar with a victory at Bellator 58.
The night will also host the return of a few fan favorites as Top 10 ranked featherweight Marlon Sandro is back with Bellator after a Summer Series Featherweight Tournament Finals appearance. The impressive Brazilian takes on submission ace Rafael "The Law' Dias in a 145-pound feature fight.
Lastly, with Bellator 57 featuring the season five welterweight tournament finals, don't be surprised to see the middleweight tournament finals featured prominently at this event as well. We'll find out who that will be after Saturday night's event concludes.
The participants will be the winners of the Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brian Rogers and the Vito Vianna vs. Bryan Baker matches. from Bellator 54 this Saturday night (October 16, 2011).
Posted in: fight, night, bellator, alvarez, tournament
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBrazilian Shooto champ Carlos Alexandre Pereira signs with Bellator
Brazilian prospect Carlos Alexandre Pereira, who
has scored 22 of his 33 career wins via knockout, is heading to Bellator
Fighting Championships.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed that verbal agreements
are in place between the Brazilian Shooto champ and Bellator brass.
The signing was first reported by Sherdog, who also suggested Pereira
will make his promotional debut at November's Bellator 58 event against
a yet-unnamed opponent.
Posted in: bellator, mmajunkie.com today, brazilian, bellator brass, pereira
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 54 predictions and preview for 'Makovsky vs Roberts' on Oct. 16 in Atlantic City
Bellator Fighting Championships will return to "The Garden State" this Saturday night (October 16, 2011) at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, live on MTV2.
The main card will air live on the basic cable network, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
Bellator 54 will be the continuation of the promotion's season five middleweight tournament as Bellator holds its semifinals. One of the most exciting potential match-ups of the night will be between free-swinging Alexander Shlemenko and first round knockout specialist Brian Rogers. The other semifinal bout will be between Wanderlei Silva's Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach Vitor Vianna and well-rounded season three tournament finalist Bryan Baker.
The main event of the evening will be a special feature fight for the Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky as he takes on UFC veteran Ryan Roberts, who's dropping down to 135 pounds for the first time.
The opening bout of the main card will be a lightweight attraction as top Bellator prospect Rene Nazare takes on local Maryland prospect Jacob Kirwan.
Our complete Bellator 54 preview and predictions after the jump:
135 lbs.: Zach Makovsky (13-2) vs. Ryan Roberts (16-9-1)
Zach Makovsky has quickly risen to one of the better bantamweights out there and he should not be underestimating UFC veteran Ryan Roberts, who is 6-1-1 in his last eight fights.
"Fun Size" has some of the best offensive grappling in the bantamweight division right now. He's very aggressive with his wrestling and takedowns, will pass guard and attempt multiple submissions if he finds an opening. His striking has also improved. He added some nice ground and pound to his skill-set, something he utilized very well in his last "superfight" against Chad Robichaux earlier this year.
Ryan Roberts has been in there with some elite fighters and while he's come up short each time, that experience could be all he needs. He's stepped into the cage with UFC fighters like Donald Cerrone, Duane Ludwig and Marcus Aurelio at lightweight. He'll be dropping down to bantamweight for this fight and he could have a big size and strength advantage over Makovsky in this fight.
If Roberts has any weaknesses, it's that he doesn't coordinate his attacks as efficiently as Makovsky, and he has been submitted multiple times in the past, although not in over two and a half years. Makovsky will try to really work his offensive grappling and push Roberts until he breaks.
Prediction: Zach Makovsky via submission in round three
185 lbs.: Alexander Shlemenko (41-7) vs. Brian Rogers (8-2)
This will be a battle of two very entertaining strikers. Alexander Shlemenko has more flash but Brian Rogers is all about the power. Shlemenko is known for his unpredictability. He's just as likely to throw a spinning back fist as he is a jab, perhaps even more likely. His nickname is "Storm" but you'd think it was "Tornado" with how often he throws crazy spinning attacks. The Russian won the Bellator season three tournament, losing a title shot to Hector Lombard and is back for more. He defeated Croatian kickboxer Zelg Galesic with a standing guillotine in his quarterfinal bout.
Brian Rogers is as nasty of a powerhouse striker as they come. He's got heavy hands and some ferocious knees. He showcased a head kick in his last fight, which helped set up a first round knockout of Victor O'Donnell, the first time O'Donnell had been stopped in his career. Rogers has now won seven consecutive fights via knockout in the opening frame.
Rogers will definitely want to keep this fight standing. He has excellent reflexes and defended O'Donnell's takedowns easily, but there are still questions about his ground game. Shlemenko's submission in his last fight could be a sign of things to come, or it could just be that he took advantage of an opening that Galesic gave him. If this fight stays standing, it's anybody's game. Hector Lombard couldn't knock out Shlemenko in five rounds, so if Rogers pulls it off, he'll instantly be a superstar.
Prediction: Brian Rogers via knockout in round two
185 lbs.: Bryan Baker (16-2) vs. Vitor Vianna (11-1-1)
This bout features two premier middleweight talents. Bryan Baker is a WEC veteran and was a finalist in the last middleweight tournament (while battling chronic leukemia) and Vitor Vianna is one of the most hyped prospects to come out of Brazil.
Baker has a very well-rounded game. He's got heavy hands, strong defensive (and offensive) wrestling and a great submission game. He's actually very dangerous off his back with not only sweeps but triangle chokes and the like. He defeated Jeremy Horn and Joe Riggs between middleweight seasons and then put away former tournament champion Jared Hess in the third round of the season five middleweight quarterfinals. He simply wore down the stubborn wrestler, something no one had ever done before.
Vitor Vianna has some seriously high level Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) credentials and was brought to American by Wanderlei Silva to teach BJJ at his gym Wand Fight Team in Las Vegas. In return, he was given the opportunity to work on the rest of his game and become more well-rounded. Vianna barely squeaked by a very game Sam Alvey in his opening fight of the tournament via close split decision.
The key for this fight will be for Baker to really get in Vianna's face. Vianna had difficulty dealing with the pressure when Alvey was being aggressive and Baker should have the ability to take that to the next level. As long as he doesn't make the mistake of allowing Vianna to take him down and work his submission game, Baker should be able to outwork him.
Prediction: Bryan Baker via decision
155 lbs.: Jacob Kirwan (8-3) vs. Renê Nazare (10-0)
This bout should be more of a showcase fight for Rene Nazare, a fighter that Bellator is incredibly high on right now. Nazare is 10-0 with a list of grappling credentials that showcases his domination from blue belt all the way to black. He's put a focus on his striking in recent fights and obliterated Juan Barrantes in his last bout with a constant barrage of punches until he opened a fight-ending cut. Nazare is extremely aggressive, and while it has helped him in past fights against overwhelmed opponents, he could be getting himself into trouble as he works his way up the food chain.
Jacob Kirwan primarily fights at featherweight, so he's definitely not being expected to win. He's got an 8-3 record but the more telling statistic should be that he's 1-2 in his last three fights, losing both times he's stepped in against top competition like current UFC featherweight Jim Hettes and current Bellator bantamweight semifinalist Marcos Galvao.
Expect to see Nazare attempt to completely run over Kirwan with his aggressive striking and grappling. Don't be surprised if he ignores submission opportunities to let loose with his hands. It really appears that striking has become a priority for him lately, it's just something new and fun for him.
Prediction: Rene Nazare via TKO in round one
So what do you think Maniacs?
Do you smell any upsets brewing at this event? Who's your pick to advance to the finals of the Bellator season five middleweight tournament?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bellator, roger, makovsky, vianna
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGable-Tirloni, 9 Bouts Official for Bellator 55 in Arizona
Nine fights are now official for Bellator 55, as a lightweight contest between Steve Gable and Ricardo Tirloni was added to the main draw by promotion officials Thursday.
Posted in: bellator, official, ricardo tirloni, steve gable, gable
Read the full article at SherdogDana White Defends UFC Crushing the Competition, Has No Problem with Bellator
UFC president Dana White has no problem with other fighter promoters, as long as he's not provoked. He's even cool with Bellator, but boxing promoter Bob Arum is another story altogether.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, problem, fighter promoters, promoter
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyFinancial Uncertainty, Long Layoffs Underscore Drawbacks for Bellator Champions
Winning a Bellator tournament is not only a career-defining moment for its winner, it's usually a financial milestone as well. In the sport of mixed martial arts, there isn't a single promotion that gives prospects the opportunity to earn $100,000 bucks in the span of a few months. The only thing close is the possibility of a lowly newcomer earning a submission, knockout, or fight of the night bonus in the UFC. That normally never happens because more popular and prominent fighters are given those checks over buried undercard performances.
The allure of cash has been the cornerstone of Bellator's recruiting process. Sign with our promotion, fight often, bank a boatload of money, increase your star power, and become a world champion. Sounds great, right? Unfortunately, life as a Bellator champion isn't all it's cracked up to be.
MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani sat down with the Bellator bantamweight champion to talk about his upcoming non-title bout with Midwest journeyman Ryan Roberts at Bellator 54 this coming weekend. During the interview, Makovsky alluded to one of the major problems with Bellator's tournament model from the perspective of a champion:
ZACH MAKOVSKY: ... there is obviously a downside as far as once I've won the tournament, I've had a lot of downtime between fights. I've fought six times in 2010, only gonna fight twice in 2011, no title fights. If they didn't have the non-title fights, I wouldn't have fought at all this year. There's ups and downs.
ARIEL HELWANI: It seems like winning the tournament is a blessing and a curse because if you get the title, you don't get to fight as much.
ZACH MAKOVSKY: It probably would have been better financially to...
ARIEL HELWANI: To lose!
ZACH MAKOVSKY: To make it to the finals, then get back into the tournament again. And try it again, but... I don't know.
You're right, Zach. It would have been better for you to take a dive in the finals, then get a spot back in the tournament to win another $100,000 bucks. The fact that this scenario is even possible is not only a major concern, but it's an indication that it doesn't pay to be a Bellator champion.
The issue's source stems from Bellator's tournament format. Two seasons per year without a guarantee that both seasons will feature the same weight classes tends to hurt Bellator's champions. Makovsky might fight a season winner by mid-year, or perhaps last fall's season winner in the spring, but he's then sidelined for the rest of the year awaiting the outcome of the next tournament. In the meantime, Bellator brings in a relatively unknown veteran like Ryan Roberts to keep their champion active while eliminating any risk he'll lose his title. Fans don't care about the fight because a guy like Ryan Roberts isn't drawing in anyone.
The fact that there is next to no talent outside of the promotion to bring in to challenge their champions is a broader issue that affects what the promotion can do to remedy the problem. It's a secondary factor, piled on top of the restrictiveness of their contracts and the notion that they may only fight twice in one year if they achieve the ultimate goal of becoming a champion. Once that initial lump sum is made, there isn't a whole lot of incentive to remain the champion.
Those factors may lead to trouble in terms of talent acquisition. While Bellator has been successful in signing talent under the watchful eye of Sam Caplan, these increasingly problematic issues are already steering away talent. I've spoken with a few managers in the last six months who have expressed the concern they have about being stuck in that type of contract for a lengthy period of time. Younger fighters are more willing, but it seems illogical for a guy like Alexis Vila to take this chance.
There are very few solutions to these problems however. The tournament format is what makes Bellator unique, so I don't think it's a matter of moving away from Bellator's identity. I think non-title fights should go away. Perhaps if a champion is upset by an outsider, enter him into next season's tournament as a challenger and allow that outsider to defend the belt.
What about allowing the champion to fight in every single tournament? If he gets beat, then he's out of the bracket, but he must still defend his title against the eventual winner. If you want to make it even more intriguing and crazy, replace the champion mid-tournament if a challenger beats him. Eliminate that side of the bracket, then the winner of the other side of the bracket faces the new champion. Bellator could then set up a title fight between the former champion and new champion during the summer series or over the winter break.
Keep these guys fighting consistently, and keep money in their pockets. It might not seem like a major problem right now because you've got these guys locked down into contracts, but prospects and their managers are watching. All of the great talent acquisition that Bellator has done over the years could begin to slow down considerably if champions are outspoken about their lengthy downtime and financial problems.
Posted in: fight, bellator, champion, tournament, problem
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowGable vs. Tirloni promoted to Bellator 55 main card, Steinbeiss among prelim additions
Two-time EliteXC fighter Steve Gable and Brazilian
lightweight prospect Ricardo Tirloni have been
elevated to main-card status at next week's Bellator 55 event.
Bellator brass recently announced the change while also releasing a few changes to the evening's current nine-fight lineup.
Bellator 55 takes Oct. 22 at Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Ariz.
The main card airs on MTV2 and also sees previously announced
bantamweight-tourney bouts of Alexis Vila vs. Marcos
Galvao and Eduardo Dantas vs.
Ed West.
Posted in: bellator, card airs, vs, prelim additions, bellator brass
Read the full article at MMA JunkieZach Makovksy - People Would Know Who I Am If I Fought In The WEC
Zach Makovsky is one of the top bantamweight fighters in the world, yet to most fans he's completely unknown. This is because he's not fighting in the UFC and never spent time in the WEC. Instead, Makovsky cut his teeth in the Bellator bantamweight tournament. I had a chance to speak with Makovsky about being a Bellator fighter and if he ever feels slighted because he hasn't spent time in a Zuffa run organization. He also gave me his thoughts on the current bantamweight field and who really impressed him in the first round of the tournament. He's an exciting fighter and a name that people should definitely become familiar with as he possesses the skill set to be a force in the division for years to come.
Recently there have been a string of Bellator fighters that have been outspoke on the amount of press coverage their fights received compared to the UFC. Bellator heavyweight Neil Grove went as far as publicly tweeting about Bloody Elbow's coverage of his promotion. I asked Makovsky if this was a common feeling on the Bellator roster, the "Us Vs. Them" attitude. He was pretty straight forward in his response saying, "I don't know. I try not to get caught up in any of that. It kind of is what it is. The UFC is by far the biggest name in the game. I would think to most casual fans, they don't know the sport is called Mixed Martial Arts. To them, the sport is Ultimate Fighting. It's frustrating from that kind of stand point. But at the same time you appreciate what the UFC is doing and they're obviously doing good things for their business."
He added, regarding the UFC's policy of treating fighters outside the organization as ones not to regard, "At times it takes away from other organizations, we also wouldn't be in the spot we're in now without what they've done for Mixed Martial Arts. I don't know what to say, they have the majority of the best fighters in the world and I don't think anybody argues that. But just because they have that doesn't mean there's not anyone else outside of the UFC, which I think they tend to neglect. They have the majority of the best fighters so I understand why they don't give us coverage."
Unlike many American bantamweights, Makovsky never fought in the WEC. Compared to his contemporaries, he's a relative unknown to most fight fans and because he doesn't have a WEC fight on his record, he's not regarded as a top fighter. He was honest about this, telling me, "I think it's just a matter of exposure, you know? Before I got into the Bellator tournament, I hadn't really fought on any big stages. I was never in a televised bout. I fought in EliteXC on the undercard and I fought over in Tokyo in DEEP, but I was never exposed to a large population of fans until I was on TV. And even now, it's still a much smaller amount of people than what the UFC would have on Spike or pay per view, but it's slowly growing and slowly getting more exposure and I thank Bellator for that opportunity."
"I mean, of course if I fought in the WEC earlier I would have had that exposure so people would know me better but I kind of really started building my name in Bellator. I kind of was under the radar until I got in the tournament and ended up winning it. There's not much else I could have done otherwise. I don't think the WEC would have had me in there before I created a name in Bellator which is a good thing about Bellator. They give you the opportunity to get into a tournament where you're not being matched up with a certain fighter here or there. You're in a tournament and you have a chance to win it, it's kind of cool that way."
He also spoke about the current field of bantamweight compettitors and who impressed him the most out of the semi-finalists in this year's bantamweight tournament. "There was a lot that went on there. Some I expected and a couple things I didn't. I thought Galvao and Beebe would be a close fight like it was. I thought it would be a split decision for one of them. Galvao came out on top. Ed West looked pretty good and did what he does well. He's a tall guy for that weight and used his height and high volume of kicks to control the stand up which I thought he would do and he did it well. I was impressed with Dantes really. For how young he is, he's really composed. He doesn't do anything really fancy, he does a lot of basic stuff but it's all sharp. He has a good ground game and a good striking game."
"And obviously Villa knocking out Warren, I think Warren kind of came in with a strategy where he wanted to strike with Villa. Villa's clearly got some power in his hands and when he plants and throws, you don't want to get hit by that. Joe got caught doing what he's done in the past with the reaching with his hands away from his head and not protecting himself and got caught with that big punch. He should have tried to wear him down or push him against the cage and wear him out a little bit before trying to really strike with him. I think I match up pretty well with them, Villa would probably be an interesting fight for me. I'm really interested to fight other wrestlers because I come from that background. So for someone on paper who is a much better wrestler than me, an Olympic bronze medalist, it would be a real test for me to see how well rounded I've become and a good way to challenge myself."
Makovsky fights this weekend in Atlantic City at Bellator 54 in a non-title fight against Ryan Roberts. The card also features the Middleweight Tournament semi-finals.
Posted in: ufc, fight, bellator, fighter, tournament
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMichael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez added to Bellator 58
Undefeated grappler Michael Chandler will finally get his crack at Bellator lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez after watching the title-shot he earned last season put on hold due to an injury Alvarez sustained while training for the bout. Though the two were originally slated to face off this weekend at Bellator 54, it looks like fans won’t be left twiddling their thumbs for too long as the match-up has been booked for Bellator 58.
Bellator officials recently confirmed the November 19 showdown, adding it to an already stacked card featuring middleweight king Hector Lombard in non-title action against Strikeforce/UFC veteran Trevor Prangley, as well as appearances from Marlon Sandro and Jessica Aguilar.
Xtreme Couture’s Chandler is 8-0 thus far in his career since transitioning to MMA after a decorated career on the mats as a collegiate wrestler. His shot at Alvarez’s gold came after picking up a trio of wins in the organization’s Season 4 Lightweight Tournament including a victory over highly-touted Brazilian Patricky “Pitbull” Freire this past May.
Chandler Scores Upset of the Night at Bellator 44
Alvarez is widely considered to be one of the top 155-pounders in the sport with an overall record of 22-2 and in-ring success against a number of respected adversaries such as Josh Neer, Pat Curran, Roger Huerta, Joachim Hansen, and Tatsuya Kawajiri.
Bellator 58 will unfold from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. As always, the show will be broadcast live on MTV2/EPIX with preliminary pairings streaming earlier through Spike TV’s website.
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Posted in: bellator, chandler, alvarez, non-title action, marlon sandro
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 54′s Bryan Baker Recounts Battle with Cancer Before Fighting Vitor Vianna
Bryan Baker will return to the Bellator cage against Vitor Vianna this Saturday at Bellator 54 in hopes of making it back to the finals of the promotion’s middleweight and if one this is certain, this time it will be easier (at least for him).
Two weeks before the start of the season two middleweight tournament, Baker was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (or CML), a challenge that Baker tackled with the same heart and strength that has made him a successful fighter. MMAFrenzy recently spoke to Baker regarding his story ahead of Saturday’s MTV2-televised fight with Vianna.
It all started when Baker’s coach, MMA pioneer Thomas “Wildman” Denny, decided it was time to move his gym to Denver, Colorado. Baker followed his coach to Colorado and, like everyone else that followed Denny, he struggled with the change in altitude. While this is hardly uncommon for anyone experiencing a drastic change in altitude, Baker began to suspect something was wrong as everyone else adjusted while he actually got worse. Baker says, “I thought man, my body really doesn’t like this altitude. I started turning colors, I was like a yellowish green and very pale.”
At that point, Coach Denny arranged for Baker to see one of the most respected doctors in the MMA community, Dr. Alex Constantinides. Dr. Constantinides, more commonly known in the MMA community as “Dr. Alex,” told Baker’s coach “Thomas, get this kid to Dr. [Douglas] Reznick right away.” At that point, Baker did not think that cancer was an issue but Dr. Alex’s (whom our thoughts and prayers are still with) recommendation was followed. What followed next was a confusing and sobering moment for Baker as Baker found himself in the waiting room of a cancer center.
Baker had no clue what expect as he waited in the waiting room for Dr. Reznick as the though of cancer had not crossed his mind. When he saw the doctor, Baker was told he would need a bone marrow biopsy, a very painful procedure used to diagnose the possibility of cancer. Dr. Reznick used the bone marrow biopsy to diagnose Baker with CML. Baker was shocked by the news. His first thought was “am I going to be able to fight again?” Dr. Reznick told Baker that he did not know the answer to that but that they had to get him on medication, where they would then judge things based upon how he reacted. While Baker admits an understandable moment of fear and doubt, he quickly rallied, telling himself “this was not going to beat me and I’m going fight through this, I don’t care what goes on, I’m strong–minded, and my faith in God leads me through every situation in my life. Once I did that, I knew I was going to have to go through some challenges but God would be with me every step of the way and he honestly has been.”
Meanwhile, while undergoing treatment, Baker amazingly participated in the Bellator tournament and did impressively well. Baker again credits his faith in God but also credits his coach and his team for pulling him through this, stating, “they kept me motivated and strong-minded because it was like ‘whoa, these guys believe in me.’ I thought I could still be a champion.” While Baker came up short, losing in the final to Alexander Shlemenko, he still credits his team for pushing him and growing together.
While Baker has been in remission for over a year now, he still feels the effects of his condition today. I asked Baker what had changed the most in his training regime and he stated he eats a different diet, he listens more to his body, and that healing takes him longer than most since he cannot push through injuries or fatigue like he used to. Baker also stated that he is constantly learning more each day and that it is a constant challenge to make weight because he cannot rehydrate like a normal person. Most of all, Baker again credits his faith and is very thankful for the help he has received, including being given a two-year supply of his $5,000/month medicine for free.
No matter what happens in his fight career, Baker has, in my opinion, already accomplished his goal of “being a hope or inspiration to anyone that’s struggling.” No one can question Baker’s heart or determination. This was true even before this ordeal, as Baker was willing to step in on less than two weeks notice to replace former WEC champion Paulo Filho against current UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen but it is even more true now. With all the trash talk and outside the cage nonsense going on these days it is refreshing to hear a truly inspirational story such as Baker’s.
This story, however, is far from over as Baker looks to defeat Vianna on Saturday for a possible shot at that $100,000 check and a chance to possibly erase one of his only two career losses if Shlemenko advances as well. No matter what happens though, expect Baker to give nothing less than his all. An attitude that has already helped him defeat a much more challenging opponent.
Posted in: bellator, coach, cancer, baker, dr
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyChamp Eddie Alvarez meets Michael Chandler at November's Bellator 58
While injury forced a short delay in Bellator lightweight champion Eddie
Alvarez's planned title defense with season-four tournament winner
Michael Chandler, fans won't have to wait long for the contest.
Originally scheduled to take place at this weekend's Bellator 54 event,
company brass recently announced the matchup has been moved back just
five weeks and will take place at November's Bellator 58 card.
Already featuring middleweight champion Hector Lombard in a 195-pound
non-title fight with Trevor Prangley, Bellator 58 takes place Nov. 19 at
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
Posted in: bellator, title defense, rock hotel, place, company brass
Read the full article at MMA JunkieEddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler Rescheduled for Bellator 58 on Nov. 19
Filed under: Bellator, NewsThe injury that knocked Eddie Alvarez out of his scheduled October lightweight championship defense against Michael Chandler won't keep him sidelined for long.
The Bellator star is back healthy, and has agreed to face Chandler at Bellator 58 on November 19, the promotion confirmed late on Wednesday night.
The 27-year-old Alvarez has never lost under the Bellator banner, winning seven in a row since signing with the promotion. He won the lightweight championship in the promotion's first season, and has successfully defended it on one occasion with a unanimous decision over Pat Curran. He also has non-title wins over Josh Neer and Roger Huerta during that time.
Alvarez is 22-2 overall.
Chandler was a collegiate wrestler at the University of Missouri who burst upon the national fight scene this year, romping through the season four lightweight tournament with wins over Marcin Weld, Lloyd Woodard and the highly regarded Patricky "Pitbull" Freire.
Chandler is 8-0 in his young career, which only began two years ago.
Bellator 58 will emanate from Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, and will also feature middleweight champion Hector Lombard in a non-title fight against veteran Trevor Prangley. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: bellator, promotion, chandler, alvarez, michael chandler
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator Bantamweight Champ Zack Makovsky Just Wants to Have Fun
Filed under: Bellator, NewsZack Makovsky's nickname seems to apply to more than just his size.
Makovsky's "Fun Size" nickname is mostly a playful jab at his physical stature. But the Bellator bantamweight champion is making the size of the fun he has carry over elsewhere, too.
Makovsky said spending his time just trying to improve as a fighter and compete to the highest of his ability is what keeps mixed martial arts fun for him.
"I think I definitely am understanding how to compete in MMA more," Makovsky told host Ariel Helwani on Monday's edition of "The MMA Hour." "I really think I'm trying to put everything together. My mentality is probably the biggest part of it. I revamped my whole mentality, especially from when I was (wrestling) in college. I try not to care if I win or lose. I just try to have fun with it and do the best I can."
So far, that philosophy has translated quite well for Makovsky (13-2, 5-0 Bellator). On Saturday, at Bellator 54, Makovsky has what amounts to a stay-busy fight against Ryan Roberts. His 135-pound title will not be on the line. He won't put his belt up for grabs until next year, when he fights the winner of the ongoing Bellator bantamweight tournament.
Makovsky said he likes Bellator's tournament format - after all, winning the inaugural bantamweight tourney is what put him on the major MMA map. But at the same time, he said it has some drawbacks.
"Going into the tournament, I was unknown to the majority of the MMA community," Makovsky said. "I like that about Bellator - it's a tournament and you control where you go yourself. I like how they let you get there on your own.
"(But) there's a downside as far as once I won the tournament, I've had a lot of downtime. I fought six times in 2010, and I'll only fight twice in 2011 with no title fights. There's ups and downs."
Makovsky even joked that because of the downtime this calendar year, he may have been better off not winning the first bantamweight tournament - just making the finals. That way, he could compete in this year's bantamweight tourney and make more money.
Still, the product of the Fight Factory, in Philadelphia, where he trains alongside Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, said winning the $100,000 tournament a year ago put him in the position, financially, where he can just concentrate on becoming a better fighter. He no longer has to pay the bills by being an assistant wrestling coach at Drexel University, where he competed collegiately.
"I wasn't making a living (fighting) by any means until I got into Bellator," Makovsky said. "My first fight, I fought for $300 to show and $200 to win. I saved a little bit from winning the tournament, but it's definitely different (not having a job). I'm very happy doing what I love for a living. I get to sleep in when I want and set my training schedule - so I'm living the dream."
Though he's on a seven-fight winning streak and holds a title for one of the most prominent MMA promotions in the world, Makovsky said he's not prepared to say he's a Top 10 bantamweight in the world. Not that he isn't confident in his skills, but it's just not his style.
"I think my skills are up there with those guys, (but) I don't like to say where I should be ranked," Makovsky said. "That's up to the media. I want to continue to grow and be the best I can be, and something like that would put extra pressure on myself. That's not where I'll have the most success. I'll have the most success when I'm focusing on me and getting better. Everything else will take care of itself."
Including, he hopes, the fun. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, tournament, fun, makovsky
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseAlvarez-Chandler, Aguilar-Ward 2 Slated for Bellator 58 on Nov. 19
Michael Chandler will receive his shot at Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, albeit a bit later than originally anticipated.
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, michael, bit, aguilar-ward
Read the full article at SherdogEddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler Re-Scheduled for Bellator 58 on Nov 19
An injury forced Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez out of his Oct 15 bout against Michael Chandler, but it appears it was only a one month delay.
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, michael, michael chandler, month delay
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyFocused Asken has no time for Olympics (Yahoo! Sports)
While other big-name wrestlers have their eyes on London, Bellator champ Ben Askren is all MMA.
Posted in: bellator, eye, askren, olympic, asken
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBellator 53 hits low of 103,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 53 bottomed out with an average of 103,000 viewers Saturday night. The numbers reflect the lowest ratings on MTV2 since it began broadcasting on the network.
Via MMA Junkie:
The latest ratings continue the organization’s wildly inconsistent season-five numbers; two events have scored at least 235,000 viewers, and three have drawn 158,000 or fewer. Bellator 53 faced stiff competition from UFC 135 (sic actually UFC 136) and a full slate of NCAA football games, which likely had a major effect on the ratings.
A rerun of Bellator 53 received more viewers (120,000) than the live viewing.
Payout Perspective:
The most telling number from Bellator 53 is that its replay outdrew the live event. Obviously a low rating was expected considering going up against UFC 136. But, the replay shows that there are viewers out there that would watch its product. Should Bellator move to another time slot or another day? Will moving to Spike TV help its ratings?
Posted in: ufc, bellator, rating, viewer, season-five numbers
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBellator's Roller Coaster Ride Exacerbated by MTV2's Poor Decisions
In February, Bellator, the consensus #2 mixed martial arts promotion in North America, signed a three-year deal with MTV2 to air live events. Understandably, fans following the promotion became giddy with excitement. No longer would they have to wait for tape-delayed broadcasts or other fans in different markets to upload the events to the Internet. The deal guaranteed live events and easy accessibility with the hope that it would bring higher ratings and more revenue.
The initial numbers drew heavy criticism from the ignorant segments of the fanbase, mostly because comparisons were being made with the averages of other promotions on television. MTV2 doesn't have the pull or reach of Spike TV and it isn't a subscription-based network like Showtime, thus Bellator 35's 200,000 viewer debut was seen as a success for the network. It was a 83% increase in viewership in the 18-49 demographic for MTV2.
As the year has progressed however, those ratings haven't been steady. In fact, one could make the comparison that the ratings' trend is a roller coaster ride with no stability in sight. The culprit of Bellator's lows? The UFC.
From Bellator's debut with the network at Bellator 35 to their most recent event this past Saturday at Bellator 53, ten of those shows have fallen below the debut mark of 200,000 viewers. Of those ten events, five of those events went head-to-head with the UFC while one of the events shared a weekend:
Event
Viewers
Notes
Bellator 53
103,000
UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard, NCAA Football
Bellator 50
114,000
UFC Fight Night 25
Bellator 41
132,000
Warren vs. Galvao, Freire vs. Reis
Bellator 38
150,000
UFC Fight Night 24
Bellator 51
158,000
UFC 135: Jackson vs. Jones
Bellator 37
173,000
UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones
Bellator 39
174,000
LW Title: Alvarez vs. Curran
Bellator 43
182,000
Hieron vs. Hawn
Bellator 46
185,000
Same weekend as UFC on Versus
Bellator 42
199,000
LHW Semifinals
The data includes all head-to-head match-ups with the UFC with the exception of Bellator 52. Not surprising, Bellator 46 is included on the list, which didn't go head-to-head, but shared a weekend with a UFC on Versus card. It was the lone Bellator event in a six-event stretch that dipped below the 200,000 mark. Even when they aren't on the same night, they can't win due to the media focus on the UFC.
I imagine many of you will look at this data and say "This won't matter once they move to Spike TV". You're wrong. It will matter, although the number will be inflated to an average more suitable for Spike TV's reach in the market. That move is still up in the air due to the chess game between the UFC and Spike TV over library rights. If the UFC won't buy back the library rights, Viacom, MTV2's parent company, can't move Bellator over to Spike TV. Spike TV can, however, counter program UFC events with their own library. From every indication, Dana White has no intention of buying back the library, thus Bellator will stay on MTV2 in 2012.
Bellator's uphill climb will only get steeper in the coming year. The UFC is increasing their event output to 34 events, plus adding live The Ultimate Fighter fights weekly on Friday nights for a majority of the weeks throughout the year. Where exactly does Bellator go if the historically prime spots for MMA are taken by the world's largest organization?
Sherdog.com's Jordan Breen suggested that any day but Saturday would suffice, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Friday night will be filled with The Ultimate Fighter live shows and HDNet's MMA programming, not to mention the fact that the male demographic on those nights is more prone to leaving the house over sitting in front of the television. Sunday nights have become mainstays for other professional sports. Sunday night football and baseball will take viewers away.
Breen later suggested Thursday. It shouldn't be a suggestion however. I think that's the best night for Bellator to stabilize their ratings' roller coaster. Limited competition from other sports, a late week time slot, and the move could easily transition to Spike TV if they move TNA wrestling to a new time or a new day. Attempting to move start times on Saturday, as Rebney stated to MMAJunkie radio back in February, isn't going to work, not when the UFC takes up the entire evening with Facebook prelims, Spike TV prelims, and then the pay-per-view.
Media coverage is another major issue, and it isn't going to get any better by publicly stating that media outlets need to give Bellator a fair share. It's absurd and delusional to think that every media site is going to devote equal time to both promotions, especially when every single shred of evidence points to the UFC being the more prominent brand. That's exactly why Bellator 46 saw a ratings' dip, and everything needs to be done to avoid those conflicts.
There are other minor issues like the fact that there is a very limited HD option for the shows. I don't get Epix HD, and there is a large number of fans out there who have no idea what it is or how to get it.
We can't blame CEO Bjorn Rebney here. Obviously, they are restricted to MTV2's decisions. The staff in charge of programming at MTV2 might be a group of college dropouts for all I know. According to these geniuses of the television world, Rob & Big marathons are worthy of the Thursday time slot and Bellator is stuck getting eviscerated in the ratings' game against the UFC on Saturdays. It's time to show MTV2 or their parent company, Viacom, the raw data and persuade them that the ratings will increase with a move. If they can't do that, Bellator may not make it to Spike TV in 2013.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, event, nbsp, spike tv
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDouglas Lima says Ben Saunders has “nothing to be afraid of”
Now that Douglas Lima has improved his winning streak to eight with a pair of knockout wins in the Bellator Season 5 Welterweight Tournament his focus has turned towards fellow finalist Ben Saunders. “Killa B” has also finished both opponents he’s faced in the competition, most recently notching a third round submission victory over 50-7-1 Luis Santos.
Lima recently spoke about his November meeting with Saunders and, while showing respect to certain aspects of the American Top Teamer’s game, explained he isn’t overly concerned with anything the UFC veteran brings in the ring.
“I know Ben is a tough athlete. He’s slim, knows how to use his knees on the clinch, and also has a guard that is hard to break into, but nothing to be afraid of,” said Lima in a conversation with Tatame.
The 23-year old Lima also assured fans he’ll be prepared no matter where the fight goes and expects to bring a title-shot with him back to Atlanta after the event’s conclusion.
“Not only striking, but also the ground game,” revealed Lima of his training. “We’ve prepared ourselves to anything, I’m pretty confident to fight him standing up or on the ground. Nowadays we gotta be ready for everything. I really want to do a good fight…I’ll bring this GP title home for sure.”
Lima and Saunders Advance to Tournament After Fantastic Finishes
Lima holds have overall record of 20-4 with seventeen stoppages including eleven submissions and six TKOs. Among his past success are wins over Ryan Ford, Terry Martin, and most recently Chris Lozano at Bellator 53.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, “ i, lima, saunder, douglas lima
Read the full article at Fighters.comChamp Zach Makovsky epects 'big' challenge with Ryan Roberts at Bellator 54
Bellator bantamweight champ Zach Makovsky isn't exactly a stranger to training with bigger guys.
Unless you're a regular with the Urijah Faber-led Team Alpha Male, a fighter of his stature can bet on rolling at a weight disadvantage for much of his training.
On Saturday at Bellator 54, Makovsky meets Ryan Roberts in his second non-title bout since winning the bantamweight strap in season three.
Posted in: bellator, non-title bout, makovsky, ryan roberts, weight disadvantage
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 53 Broadcast Draws 103,000 Viewers on MTV2
Bellator Fighting Championships earned a series-low 103,000 viewers for its Saturday night broadcast of Bellator 53 on MTV2, network officials confirmed on Tuesday.
Posted in: bellator, viewer, mtv, broadcast, tuesday
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 53 ratings bottom out with MTV2-low 103,000 viewers
The topsy-turvy world of Bellator ratings shows sign no signs of stability.
A week after scoring the second-largest TV audience in Bellator-MTV2 history, this past weekend's Bellator 53 event scored an all-time low of 103,000 viewers during its first run of the night.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the ratings information with an industry source.
Posted in: bellator, ratings information, mmajunkie.com today, industry source, tv audience
Read the full article at MMA JunkieRadio: Amir Sadollah, Ben Saunders, Guram Gugenishvili, Mercedes Terrell
MMAjunkie.com Radio is joined in studio today by UFC 140's Amir Sadollah, injured M-1 Global champ Guram Gugenishvili,
and Bellator ring girl Mercedes Terrell.
We also catch up with Bellator tourney finalist Ben Saunders following his impressive Bellator 53 win.
MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from noon to 2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Listen to and
watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio, or watch it live on select television markets as part of Fight Now TV.
Posted in: bellator, radio, guram gugenishvili, amir sadollah, studio today
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC Veteran Ben Saunders Paves Path to Success With Bellator
Sports fans can be the most cruel critics when a team or individual isn't performing well. Unforgiving and relentless, droves of fans will take to the streets, the stadiums, the offices, the schools, and the Internet to let everyone who will listen know of their displeasure. As a lifelong Bears and Cubs fan, I've participated in these types of prolonged criticisms, and judging from the Detroit Lions' utter destruction of the pitiful Chicago Bears' offensive line last night -- it's going to continue.
Those same criticisms run rampant in mixed martial arts. Fighters come in through talent acquisition or The Ultimate Fighter reality series and fail in some manner that fans see as embarrassing or undeserving of a shot in the world's premier organization. If those fighters fail again, it's likely they'll be sent back out into the regional proving ground, and many of them never make it back to the big show.
UFC veteran Ben Saunders, at first glance, didn't fit that profile. The 6'3" welterweight was cast on The Ultimate Fighter season six after amassing a 4-0-2 record in Florida's local MMA scene. His sheer size made him an immediate threat to anyone he was pit against on the show. Unfortunately, eventual finalist Tommy Speer grinded out Saunders in the quarterfinals.
After the show, Saunders made all the sacrifices to become a well-rounded martial artist, improving by leaps and bounds on both the feet and the ground under the watchful eye of one of the best camps in the world, American Top Team. Wins over Dan Barrera and Ryan Thomas proved he was progressing, but his brutal victory over Brandon Wolff at UFC: Fight for the Troops in December of 2008 was a rude awakening for anyone sleeping on Saunders as a rising prospect. The win earned Saunders bigger and better opportunities.
Unfortunately, Saunders faltered against the better competition put in front of him, amassing a 1-3 record in his last 4 appearances. He absolutely crushed UFC veteran Marcus Davis at UFC 106, but dropped decisions to Jon Fitch and Dennis Hallman at UFC 111 and UFC 117 respectively while also succumbing to strikes from Mike Swick at UFC 99 prior to his win over Davis. The two consecutive losses earned him a release from the promotion. Too much, too soon was a constant mantra repeated by fans in the aftermath.
As the old adage says "When one door closes, another one opens". Saunders signed with rival promotion Bellator six months later in February. The move was seen by some fans as a bad one due to Bellator's restrictive contracts, but I'd argue it was the perfect opportunity. I've watched countless hours of footage of every prospect on the planet, and there isn't a substitute for fighting against veteran competition while attempting to improve your skills.
Saunders skipped that segment of his career, mainly due to his incredible success in the UFC. Despite his failure to break through to the upper tier of the UFC's welterweight division, he's now doing exactly what he needs to do in order to become an elite level fighter. He's fighting known prospects and veterans who possess different styles. They may not be the most successful fighters on the planet, but they offer Saunders what he needed after The Ultimate Fighter... a consistent increase in competition while he improves the details of his skill-set.
Unlike many of the perished fighters of the UFC who washed away out of our memories, Saunders made the right call. The 28-year-old has demolished the competition in three fights with the organization, including a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu clinic on Scouting Report rankee Luis Santos this past Saturday at Bellator 53. He'll square off against heralded prospect Douglas Lima in the finals, an even greater challenge than his last. Win or lose, Saunders' choice is one that we don't see often, and other aspiring MMA fighters should follow in his footsteps.
SBN coverage of Bellator 53
Posted in: ufc, bellator, fighter, fan, saunder
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator Announces Christian M'Pumbu Vs. Travis Wiuff, Mike Hayes Out Of Tourney
Bellator made two announcements Monday, one regarding their 205-pound champion and another on the future of one of their heavyweight tournament competitors.
The promotion finalized their card for Bellator 55, confirming that Alexis Vila vs. Marcos Galvao and Ed West vs. Eduardo Dantas will be their bantamweight tournament semifinal fights.Vila (10-0) made headlines by knocking out Bellator Featherweight Champion Joe Warren in the tourney's opening round, while Galvao (10-4-1) defeated Chase Beebe by split decision. West (17-5) advanced by picking up a unanimous decision win over Luis Nogueira as Dantas (11-2) scored a second round knockout win over Wilson Reis.Bellator also announced that Light Heavyweight Champion Christian M'Pumbu will return to action for the first time since winning his belt in a non-title defense against veteran Travis Wiuff.M'Pumbu (18-3-1) is on a three-fight win streak, all via T/KO. Wiuff (65-14-0-1) has won his last two fights, both by first round finish. Bellator is currently not holding a 205-pound tournament, so it will be quite some time before M'Pumbu actually defends his title.In other action, Edgar Garcia (10-2) will make his promotional debut against a yet-to-be named opponent. In 2009, Garcia competed twice in the UFC, dropping a split decision to Brad Blackburn and 1st round submission loss to DaMarques Johnson before being cut. Richard Hale vs. Carlos Flores and Ricardo Tirloni vs. Steve Gable were also confirmed for the event.The Saturday, October 22nd event will be held outdoors in Yuma, AZ, at the Cocopah Resort.Hayes Out, Santos In
Thanks to a first round submission win this past Saturday, Thiago Santos now finds himself in the final four of Bellator's heavyweight tournament.
He replaces Mike Hayes who was medically suspended for 60 days by the Louisiana State Commission due to a broken orbital bone after his recent win over Neil Grove. Santos will battle Blagoi Ivanov and Ron Sparks will fight Eric Prindle in the semifinals at Bellator 56 on Saturday, Oct. 29.
Posted in: bellator, round, vs, tournament, mike hayes
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowSaunders, Lima Advance to Bellator Welterweight Tournament Finals
Former UFC fighter Ben Saunders earned a submission win via keylock against Luis Ramos during Bellator 53 on Saturday night.
Saunders’ victory helped him earn a spot in the Bellator welterweight finals against Douglas Lima, a fighter with a strong ability to submit or KO/TKO opponents.
Here is what Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said following the Bellator event:
“Our Welterweights were simply electric tonight,” he said via press release. “Lima looked spectacular on his feet against a top, top tier striker in Chris Lozano and Ben Saunders on the ground was spectacular. Top to bottom this was an incredible show, and our Welterweight Finals should be something very special.”
Saunders vs. Lima is expected for a Bellator event on Nov. 12 currently scheduled for Ontario, Canada.
It’s a shame that Bellator seems to continually fly under the radar, as the MMA promotion continues to host fun MMA events. In addition to a decent amount of televised fights on MTV2, the fights are often entertaining to watch, and feature skilled fighters able to compete.
Posted in: bellator, welterweight, bellator event, lima, saunder
Read the full article at MMA OpinionBellator sues Arizona promotion Desert Rage
MMA Fighting reports that Bellator has filed a lawsuit against Arizona promotion Desert Rage Full Contact Fighting (“Desert Rage”) claiming the local Arizona promotion interfered with its upcoming show October 22nd in Yuma, Arizona.
The lawsuit filed in the US District Court in Illinois (where Bellator’s principal place of business is located) states that Chance Farrar was paid to assist with Bellator’s April card in Yuma, Arizona. The Complaint filed by Bellator claims Farrar was given access to Bellator fight contracts as well as pertinent information related to negotiating with fighters. It also claims Farrar knew the terms of fighter contracts and knew the length and conditions of the contracts.
The Complaint goes on to allege that Bellator did not enlist Desert Rage to secure fighters for its upcoming event October 22nd in Yuma, Arizona. It began the process of finding fighters in August 2011. Bellator discovered that Desert Rage would be holding an event that same night in Winterhaven, California–9 miles from the site in Yuma where Bellator would hold Bellator 55. It also learned that the local promotion offered more money to fighters under contract with Bellator. A cease and desist letter (attached to the Complaint as Exhibit A) was sent to Desert Rage requesting that it not contact fighters under Bellator contract. In addition, Bellator claims that Desert Rage officials told fighters and others in the MMA industry that Bellator had cancelled its event on October 22nd. As a result of these claims, Bellator believes that ticket sales would be impacted.
Bellator has sued Desert Rage and Chance Farrar for 1) Intentional Interference with Contractual Relations; 2) Interference with Prospective Advantage; 3) Negligent Interference with Prospective Advantage; 4) Deceptive Practices under Illinois state law. and 5) Common Law Unfair Competition.
Bellator is requesting an order from the court which would stop Desert Rage from holding an event on the same night as Bellator 55 and from holding an event “within 50 miles of Yuma,” until after October 25th. It also is requesting that the court order Desert Rage and Farrar to not communicate with any fighters that are under exclusive contract of Bellator or are negotiating with Bellator. Bellator is also requesting actual damages of over $75,000, exemplary/punitive damages and attorney fees and costs.
CM_ECF LIVE, Ver 4.2 – U.S. District Court, Northern Illinois-CM_ECF LIVE, Ver 4.2 – U.S<>
Interesting notes in the Complaint:
- Bellator claims its production costs for Bellator 55 exceed $500,000
- Bellator is seen on television weekly by 250,000 viewers nationwide
- Farrar admits to receiving Bellator’s cease and desist letter although he personally denied telling anyone that Bellator’s card was cancelled.
As of this writing Desert Rage and/or Chance Farrar had not filed an Answer (response) to the Complaint.
H/t: The Fight Lawyer
Payout Perspective:
It does not appear that a non-disclosure agreement was signed by Farrar when he helped Bellator in April. But, it appears from the Complaint that Farrar was privy to Bellator fighter contracts and information related to fighter contracts. Whether or not the information Farrar received from working with Bellator was used by Desert Rage or himself will be important to this lawsuit. Certainly, Bellator is arguing that this information was used in recruiting fighters for Desert Rage’s card. More damaging to Desert Rage and Farrar is the claim that the Arizona promotion told fighters that the Bellator card was cancelled. It will be interesting to see how the court rules in this case.
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The information in this post is opinion only. In addition, and because this is my opinion, it is not intended to be (and is not) legal advice or an advertisement for legal services. This post provides general information only. Although I encourage interested parties to contact me on the subjects discussed in the article, the reader should not consider information on this site to be an invitation for an attorney-client relationship. I disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any contents of this post. Any e-mail sent to me will not create an attorney-client relationship, and you should not use this site to send me e-mail containing confidential or sensitive information.
Posted in: bellator, fighter, rage, desert, farrar
Read the full article at MMA PayoutThiago Santos replaces injured Mike Hayes in the Bellator heavyweight tournament
The Bellator season 5 heavyweight tournament is undergoing some changes. Mike Hayes, who defeated Season 3 tournament finalist Neil Grove in the opening round, is out of the tournament with a broken orbital bone. His replacement will be Thiago Santos, who is coming off an impressive first round submission victory over Josh Burns this past weekend. Santos will meet Blagoi Ivanov at Bellator 56.
Bellator officials sent out a press release with the news earlier today.
Santos was originally scheduled to be part of the opening round of the tournament, coincidently against Ivanov, but failed to make the opening round due to visa issues. With those squared away, Santos took a tournament reserve fight against Burns in hopes of getting back into the tournament. “The Big Monster” got his wish as Hayes was suspended 60 days by the Louisiana State Commission following his fight with Grove.
Ivanov was victorious in his first round bout against replacement Zak Jensen, submitting him in the second round with a guillotine choke.
Bellator 56 takes place on October 29 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. The night will be headlined by Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren defending his belt against Jay Hieron. Also on the card will be the other heavyweight tournament semifinal bout between Eric Prindle and Ron Sparks.
*PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR*
Posted in: bellator, round, tournament, opening round, mike hayes
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainFun Size fits all: An MMAmania interview exclusive with Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky (Part one)
Based out of Philadelphia, Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky has some of the best training partners a 135 pound fighter could ask for.
On top of occasional visits by four time tournament veteran Wilson Reis, he's got Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez just around the corner and UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar just a hop and skip over the state line in New Jersey.
Makovsky has really come into his own since signing with Bellator, going undefeated over the past two years including impressive victories against Ed West in the season three tournament final as well as handing Chad Robichaux his first professional loss this past April in his first "superfight" as a champion.
Nicknamed "Fun Size" due to his diminutive 5'5 frame, the former standout Drexel wrestler is bracing for his first title defense, which will take place in early 2012 once this season's loaded bantamweight tournament concludes.
In the meantime, he'll be putting his skills on display in a "superfight" against former UFC lightweight Ryan Roberts this Saturday night (October 16, 2011) in the main event of Bellator 54 in Atlantic City. The champion spoke with MMAmania.com in this two-part exclusive interview about his thoughts on his potential title challengers, what went wrong with Joe Warren and the advances he's made in his skill-set.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): What did you think of these four bantamweight winners that came out of the quarterfinals at Bellator 51?
Zach Makovsky: I think there were a couple things that surprised me and a couple things I expected. I was surprised by the way the Dantas - Wilson Reis fight went. I really felt Wilson had the style to beat Dantas. I mean, I admittedly haven't seen too much of Dantas but I thought Wilson would have the ability to take him down. I didn't think he'd be able to submit him or anything like that but I thought that he would definitely be able to control the action on the ground. Wilson went for a takedown but didn't really repeatedly try to take him down. It looked like he wanted to strike a little more which I really don't think is his strength especially against a taller, solid striker like Dantas. It didn't work out for him. Dantas looked good. Very long, crisp, clean strikes. He was very composed for his first fight in Bellator and for only being 22 years old so I was impressed with him.
I was obviously impressed with Vila's power. It's hard to judge a guy on a one minute fight but he came at Warren and connected, hurt him earlier and then caught him with that big hook while Warren was kinda reaching out, trying to grab ahold of him. Vila's clearly got some power. He's clearly a guy you do not want to let hit you cleanly but I think it's hard to judge him because we haven't seen too much of him. I think Warren's the first really credentialed fighter that he's fought so I'd really like to see more of Vila but he did look very good.
I thought Ed West looked good too. He definitely played his style of game. I think him and Dantas should be really interesting. Vila should have a good chance to beat Galvao because I think Galvao will have trouble getting it to ground and Vila hits harder in the stand-up. I think whoever wins out of Dantas or West could both give Vila problems in the finals.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Joe Warren was the tournament favorite by a pretty wide margin just due to the fact that he was the featherweight champion. What do you think went wrong for him? I know it was only a one minute fight but did you see anything where he made a big mistake?
Zach Makovsky: I picked Warren to win that fight. I thought he was going to use his size and I know he's got very good conditioning. He's a guy that doesn't get too tired and even when he's tired, he can push through and keep a very high pace for the whole fight. I thought he was gonna kinda clinch, push Vila against the cage, wear him out, beat him up especially in the later rounds. He came out and looked like he kinda, I know he's been working on his striking and I think a lot of people get caught up, especially it seems wrestlers, they come to MMA and they've had a lot of success using their wrestling and doing what they do and then they start to strike a little bit and then they think they've become a striker within, how long has Warren been in MMA, two years maybe?
I started fighting professionally in 2006 and I'm very slowly getting comfortable striking in a real fight. It's coming, but I think I have a lot more to show in that area but I'm not gonna forget what got me to where I am. It's mixed martial arts for a reason. You don't go out there just to kickbox or anything. It looked like to me, he wanted to strike a little bit and he was getting a little wild and leaving his hands away from his face and Vila made him pay for it.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Let's talk about your striking. You've slowly been progressing in that department. How good did it feel in that last fight with Chad Robichaux, an incredibly exciting battle, to go out there and score your first technical knockout victory?
Zach Makovsky: It was good. In all honesty, he brought the fight to me in a pretty big way. He wanted to pressure me and come at me and try to strike with me and maybe get a takedown. It's potentially a good strategy but it leaves you open a lot coming in and not just coming in but coming in kinda recklessly and really aggressive. He left a lot of holes and I landed some decent strikes and he presented a lot of takedown opportunities. He's not a joke on on the ground. He's a Gracie Barra black belt and I felt like I really controlled him on the ground and got to dominant positions, almost got a couple submissions. I think if I was more patient with my arm triangle I think I could have got that but I let it go a little early. I got mount, took his back and got the TKO from there anyways so I think it was a sign that I'm doing the right things, I'm progressing, becoming more dangerous everywhere and more complete as a mixed martial artist.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): Since that fight, you stepped down from your coaching position at Drexel as the strength and conditioning trainer to focus full-time on mixed martial arts. Can you talk about making that committment?
Zach Makovsky: It's something that I've always wanted to do. My main goal when I got into this sport was that, I like coaching a lot but I mean, I think I'm really an athlete at heart and I love competing and to train and compete full time was always the goal for as long as I can be in this sport. With Bellator, I finally got the opportunity financially to make just enough to be able to do that so I took advantage of it and I've definitely been getting a lot more training in. It kind of threw me off at the beginning. I was training a lot more and I kind of pushed it too hard with overtraining a bit, doing too much because I had so much extra time and I kinda had to pull back a little bit. It's been good. Now that I've got my schedule down and know what I can do, it's been great. I've been getting a lot more technical training in, a lot more rest when I need it. I feel good.
Stay tuned tomorrow for part two of our interview with Zach Makovsky where he discusses how his obsession with MMA caused a negative impact on him, why he'd rather have a clear head than get pumped up before a fight and his upcoming fight this Saturday night with UFC veteran Ryan Roberts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, lot, vila, makovsky
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThiago Steps into Bellator Heavyweight Tourney for Injured Mike Hayes
Mike Hayes has been forced out of Bellator’s Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament due to injury, according to a statement from Bellator officials on Monday.
Posted in: bellator, mike, bellator officials, mike hayes, thiago steps
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyThiago Santos Steps into Bellator Heavyweight Tourney for Injured Mike Hayes
Mike Hayes has been forced out of Bellator’s Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament due to injury, according to a statement from Bellator officials on Monday.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, mike, bellator officials, mike hayes
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyThiago Santos replaces injured Mike Hayes in tourney semifinals at Bellator 56
As officials feared, a broken orbital bone has forced Mike Hayes out of Bellator's current season-five heavyweight tournament.
In his place steps replacement Thiago Santos, who now meets Blagoi Ivanov in a semifinal matchup later this month at Bellator 56, officials today announced.
Bellator 56 takes place Oct. 29 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan.
Posted in: bellator, mike hayes, blagoi ivanov, tourney semifinals, semifinal matchup
Read the full article at MMA Junkie‘Big Monster’ Santos Replaces Hayes in Bellator HW Tourney
Once-beaten Brazilian Thiago “Big Monster” Santos will take the place of the injured Mike “300” Hayes in the semifinals of Bellator Fighting Championships’ fifth-season heavyweight tournament, promotion officials announced Monday.
Posted in: bellator, promotion officials, monster ’, monster ”, monster
Read the full article at SherdogIn addition to tourney semifinals, Bellator 55 adds M'Pumbu-Wiuff non-title fight
In addition to the semifinal round of Bellator's season-five bantamweight tournament, this month's Bellator 55 event also will feature a non-title fight between light-heavyweight champion Christian M'Pumbu and veteran Travis Wiuff.
Bellator officials today announced additions to the card.
Bellator 55 takes Oct. 22 at Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Ariz. The main card airs on MTV2 (and in high-definition on EPIX), and Spike.com streams the preliminary card.
Posted in: bellator, addition, card, semifinal round, tourney semifinals
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Beat: Ben Saunders And Douglas Lima Roll, David Rickels' Triangle Of Doom
Ben Saunders continued his post-UFC surge Saturday, running his Bellator record to 3-0 with a third-round submission win that puts him in the promotion's 170-pound tourney finals.
What stuck out was how Saunders (12-3-2) picked up the victory: keylock submission. It was the 28-year-old's first non-strikes submission win since August 2008: a streak of eight fights. While opponent Luis Ramos has a BJJ black belt, half of his 50 wins came via T/KO. Instead of engaging in a bloody 15-minute slugfest, Saunders changed up his game and it worked.
Evolution of a mixed martial artist? Great game planning? Right opponent, right time, right place? Lesser competition? Whatever it is, Saunders is taking full advantage of his Bellator opportunity and finds himself one win away from a shot at either current champ Ben Askren or his October 29th challenger Jay Hieron."Killa" stuff, indeed.
Lima BombsTo get that title shot, Saunders will have to get through another Brazilian in Douglas Lima, who punched his ticket to the finals with a second round KO of Chris Lozano.Lima (20-4) will take an eight-fight win streak into the Saunders fight, expected for November 12 at Bellator 57. During his run, Lima has three submission wins and two by T/KO, fueling a career 85% finish percentage.
Lima didn't take any major damage and battered a tough Lozano Saturday, opening up a nasty cut under his left eye. The end came with Lima connecting on a straight right hand that had crumpled up Lozano, knocking him out before he hit the canvas.
Both Lima and Saunders men should enter the finals relatively healthy and will have five weeks of preparation time if the November 12 date holds.
Of Triangles And Arm CollectorsThanks to a few quick fights, viewers were treated to six bouts Saturday, giving two fighters an opportunity to introduce themselves to a national audience with impressive undercard performances.
Of note was young David Rickels who pushed his record to 8-0 with a second round submission win over a bloody Levi Avera -- his third consecutive victory by triangle choke and fifth overall.He has yet to compete in a Bellator tournament, but it will be hard to deny the Kansas native a slot in 2012. What's great is how they've brought younger unknown talents like this along: slowly against comparable competition. This is the second time the 22-year-old welterweight has seen air time and if he keeps winning like this, it won't be the last.
Then there was Giva Santana, a man with a reputation of being a bit obsessed with armbars as 12 of his 16 wins had come via that form of submission going into his Bellator debut. Make that 13 of 17 as he made Darryl Cobb tap via first round armbar, a fitting way to introduce himself to a national audience. The 185-pounder has now won six in a row and made his case to be one of the eight included in next year's 185-pound tournament.Bellator and MTV2 deserve a tip of the cap for smartly using their full two hours to getting Rickels and Santana some airtime with great performances.
Quick HitsRonnie Mann rebounded from a loss to Pat Curran with a quick submission win over Kenny Foster…The promotion announced that heavyweight Mike Hayes is appealing a 60-day medical suspension that would eliminate him from the tourney semifinals. In a reserve bout, Thiago Santos submitted Josh Burns and will get the slot if Hayes cannot fight…Nine of the event's 10 fights ended in a finish.
The Week AheadSaturday's Bellator 54 won't have Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler but Bantamweight Champion Zach Makovsky returns in a non-title bout against Ryan Roberts. Since winning the gold a year ago, Makovsky (13-2) has only competed once in another non-title defense.Bryan Baker vs. Vitor Vianna and Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brian Rogers compete in the middleweight semifinals as Rene Nazare vs. Jacob Kirwan round out the main card. The undercard features Daniel Gracie (5-3-1) looking for his first Bellator victory.
SBN coverage of Bellator 53
Posted in: bellator, time, submission, lima, saunder
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 55 booked for Cocopah Casino in Yuma, Arizona, live on Oct. 22 via MTV2
CHICAGO, Ill. (October 10, 2011) - Bellator Fighting Championships announced today the promotion will return to Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Arizona for Bellator 55 on Saturday, October 22 LIVE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX starting at 9 p.m. ET.
The night's preliminary fights will be streamed LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET.
The night will feature the semifinals of Bellator's stacked Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament. The eight-man bracket was cut in half earlier in the season when Alexis Vila, Ed West, Eduardo Dantas and Marcos Galvao all punched their tickets to the semifinals with impressive victories.
Plus, Bellator Light Heavyweight champion Christian "Tonton" M'Pumbu chases his fourth consecutive TKO victory when he faces UFC and Pride veteran Travis Wiuff.
Bantamweight semifinalist Alexis Vila scored knockout of the night when he delivered a first-round KO to the self-proclaimed "Baddest Man on the Planet" Joe Warren in stunning fashion at Bellator 51. The former Cuban Olympian will take on Team Nova Uniao product Marcos Galvao, who secured his spot in the semifinals with a dominating performance over former WEC Champion Chase Beebe.
In the other highly-anticipated semifinal matchup, long time Bellator veteran Ed West takes on Brazilian phenom Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas. While West secured his win with an impressive decision victory, Dantas delivered an explosive flying knee to Wilson Reis that propelled the rising star to the semifinals at Bellator 55. You can watch Dantas' victory shot here: http://bit.ly/qnC2Oo.
In addition to a night filled with great tournament bouts, Arizona fighter Edgar Garcia makes his Bellator debut in front of a home crowd. A 2002 high school state wrestling champion, Garcia is a seasoned veteran with UFC experience. The 27-year-old Yuma fighter looks to ignite the Arizona crowd and earn his first Bellator win.
After capturing the Bellator Light Heavyweight title at Bellator 45, Christian "Tonton" M'Pumbu is back and will take on fellow light heavyweight Travis Wiuff in a non-title affair. M'Pumbu marched through the Season 4 Tournament field on his way to capturing the title, and will look to keep his keep the momentum going at Bellator 55. Wiuff, looks for win No. 65 of his impressive career when he takes on Bellator's best 205-pounder.
Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament Finalist Richard Hale will be back in action looking to secure his spot in a future tournament with a victory over Bellator veteran Carlos Flores. Hale made headlines at Bellator 38 with one of the greatest submissions in mixed martial arts history, an inverted triangle against Nik Fekete (Watch Here: http://bit.ly/dGZg89).
The night will also feature Brazilian lightweight prospect Ricardo Tirloni, who will make his promotional debut after compiling an impressive 13-1 record to begin his MMA career. Tirloni meets California native and submission specialist Steve Gable.
"We're thrilled to be returning to Cocopah Resort and Casino for our only Season 5 outdoor event," Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "And the Bantamweight Tournament in Season 5 is stacked from top to bottom, so Arizona MMA fans will able to see a truly spectacular show. This gives our audience an unbelievable viewing experience."
The night will also host a number of local feature fights that will include premier talent from across the Southwest and be streamed LIVE on Spike.com.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: night, bellator, season, tournament, victory
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVideo: Douglas Lima vs. Chris Lozano at Bellator 53 tourney fight
Nearly every event, Bellator gets to boast about a highlight-reel
knockout. And this past weekend's Bellator 53 event is no different.
The event featured the semifinal round of Bellator's season-five welterweight tournament.
In the co-headliner, Douglas Lima punched his ticket to the finale - with a vicious second-round punch of Chris Lozano.
Posted in: bellator, event, semifinal round, chris lozano, highlight-reel knockout
Read the full article at MMA JunkieThe MMA Hour With Gilbert Melendez, Nam Phan, Firas Zahabi, Zach Makovsky
Filed under: UFC, Strikeforce, MMA Fighting Exclusive, Bellator, VideosThe MMA Hour is back in your life on Monday for our 103rd episode. Here's who will be stopping by.
* Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will talk about where he will be fighting next and his thoughts on Frankie Edgar's win at UFC 136.
* Nam Phan will discuss his win over Leonard Garcia on Saturday night and what's next for him.
* Tristar trainer Firas Zahabi will discuss Kenny Florian's loss to Jose Aldo, Georges St-Pierre's title defense against Carlos Condit and his involvement with the Martial Arts for Heart charity.
* Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky will stop by the studio to talk about his Bellator 54 non-title fight against Ryan Roberts.
* And MMA Fighting's Mike Chiapetta will look at all the storylines coming out of UFC 136.
Of course, we'll be taking your calls. Give us a shout at: 212-254-0193, 212-254-0237 or 212-254-0714.
*** You can also stream the show live on your iPhone or iPad by clicking here.
Watch the show live below beginning at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: audio feed here; video feed here. Download previous episodes here. Listen to the show via Stitcher here.
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Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, mma hour, nam phan
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 53 Highlight: Douglas Lima KO’s Chris Lozano
Highlight from Bellator 53.
Posted in: bellator, ko, lima, lozano, dougla
Read the full article at MMA ConvertFight video: Douglas Lima ices Chris Lozano at Bellator 53
Saunders, Lima Secured Spots in Welterweight Finals at Bellator 53
There were eight at the start but after Bellator 53 in Miami, Okla., just two men remain in the Bellator Season 5 Welterweight Tournament.
Posted in: bellator, welterweight, miami, okla .,, welterweight finals
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBen Saunders advances to tournament final with submission win at Bellator 53
It’s hard to tell how a fighter will react after being released by the UFC. Some bounce around on local shows hoping to string together a few wins over inferior competition while hoping to earn another shot in the Octagon, others take on all-comers with only moderate success. In the case of Ben Saunders, he’s gone 4-0 with a quartet of stoppages including three wins under the Bellator banner.
Saunders’ latest example of success came last night at Bellator 53 where “Killa B” submitted 50-7-1 Luis Santos in the closing minutes of their Season 5 Welterweight Tournament semifinal scrap. The finish was only the second time Santos had been tapped in his career with the first occurring more than five years ago.
Next up, the talented American Top Teamer will face 23-year old sensation Douglas Lima who flattened Chris Lozano with a right cross in the second stanza of their showdown despite having been hurt himself early in the fight. The powerful shot sent Lozano to the mat where he would remain until the referee jumped in to stop things and award Lima the knockout win. Lima has now finished seventeen of the twenty opponents he’s beaten.
The winner of what should be an absolutely fantastic final between himself and Saunders will earn $100,000 and a shot at the Bellator welterweight title whether held by current champion Ben Askren or top contender Jay Hieron who fight for the belt on October 29 at Bellator 56.
Askren Hungry for Competition in Bellator
Here is the complete rundown of Bellator 53 results:
Luis Nogueira def. Zak Laird via Submission Round 1 (Guillotine Choke)
David Rickels def. Levi Avera via Submission Round 2 (Triangle Choke)
Raphael Davis def. Myron Dennis via KO Round 2 (Left Hook)
A.J. Matthews def. Rudy Bears via Unanimous Decision
Giva Santana def. Darryl Cobb via Submission Round 1 (Armbar)
Emanuel Brooks def. Greg Scott via TKO Round 2 (Strikes)
Thiago Santos def. Josh Burns via Submission Round 1 (Rear Naked Choke)
Ronnie Mann def. Kenny Foster via Submission Round 1 (Triangle Choke)
Douglas Lima def. Chris Lozano via KO Round 2 (Punch)
Ben Saunders def. Luis Santos via Submission Round 3 (Keylock)
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, round, submission, saunder, chris lozano
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 53 moment: Douglas Lima knocks out Chris Lozano
Douglas "The Phenom" Lima punches his ticket (literally) to the Bellator season five tournament finals with one of 2011's finest knockouts at Bellator 53 last night (October 8, 2011). Don't believe me? See for yourself, Maniacs. You will be hard-pressed to find a better one-punch knockout this year.
Posted in: bellator, bellator season, lima punches, one-punch knockout, tournament finals
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVIDEO: Douglas Lima KO's Chris Lozano at Bellator 53
VIDEO: Douglas Lima KO's Chris Lozano at Bellator 53
Posted in: bellator, ko, video, lozano, chris lozano
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 53 results recap for 'Saunders vs Santos' in Miami, Oklahoma
Bellator 53 took place last night (October 8, 2011) from the Buffalo Run Hotel & Casino in Miami, Oklahoma and if fans skipped out to watch the big pay-per-view last night, they missed on hell of a show.
While many expected the night's main event between welterweight Muay Thai specialist Ben Saunders and veteran Brazilian striker Luis Santos to be a stand-up war, "Sapo" had different ideas.
Santos immediately shot in for a takedown and eventually slammed the taller, rangier Saunders to the ground but that was about all the offense he was able to put up. Ben Saunders did a tremendous job of fighting off his back, really working the rubber guard with his long legs, threatening with reverse triangles, omaplatas and keeping Santos on the defensive throughout the fight.
Round two was similar except Saunders was even more aggressive off his back, throwing strikes and eventually sweeping Santos with a nasty Kimura and repeated omaplata attacks. By the final frame, "Killa B" had worn Santos down and after taking top position, he impressively forced the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt to tap out to an old school keylock.
It was a dominant performance by Saunders despite being taken down and it was a perfect example of how to win rounds off your back.
Saunders now advances to the finals of the Bellator season five welterweight tournament and the man he'll be facing in the finals may have one-upped him in terms of impressive finishes.
Douglas Lima battled Chris Lozano in the other welterweight tournament semifinal and this bout was even more thrilling. Lima, despite getting dropped by "The Cleveland Assassin" in the first round, was able to outpoint Lozano and open up a cut under his left eye.
In round two, Lozano was out for blood, and he left himself a little too open while aggressively pressing the action and "The Phenom" took full advantage. When Lozano left himself hanging, Lima threw one of the nastiest straight right hands you'll ever see and knocked the Strong Style fighter clean out with one punch. This finish will surely be the "Bellator moment" of the week
With the win, Lima advances to the season five welterweight tournament finals against Ben Saunders for the right to challenge for the Bellator championship and win $100,000.
Also on the main card was a Bellator season six featherweight tournament qualifier match between 2011 tournament semifinalists Ronnie Mann and Kenny Foster. Foster got in Mann's face and took him down multiple times but he bit off more than he could chew when Mann latched on a triangle choke. After turning to tighten the hold, he forced a tap in the first round.
Ronnie Mann is the first qualifier for the Bellator season six featherweight tournament which will take place in 2012.
Opening the main card was a heavyweight attraction featuring two seriously big men. Both Thiago Santos and Josh Burns tipped the scales over 260 pounds but it was Santos who had the advantage. "Big Monster" took Burns down and pounded on him, eventually scoring a rear naked choke victory from Burns' back just before the midway point of the first round.
Santos will likely be stepping into the season five heavyweight tournament as an injury replacement for Mike Hayes, who fractured his orbital bone while defeating Neil Grove in the quarterfinals.
For complete Bellator 53 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights click here.
So did you get to catch any of the action, Maniacs?
Who impressed you the most with their performance last night on the Bellator 53 main card? Will either Lima or Saunders be a credible challenger to the winner of Jay Hieron and Ben Askren?
Sound off!
Posted in: bellator, round, tournament, saunder, bellator season
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 53 results: Saunders and Lima punch tickets to welterweight-tourney finale
Ben Saunders and Douglas Lima punched their tickets to next month's Bellator season-five welterweight-tournament finale.
Both fighters picked up victories in the semifinal round of the tourney, which took place at Saturday's Bellator 53 event at Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla.
The night's main card aired on MTV2, and the prelims streamed on Spike.com.
Posted in: bellator, semifinal round, ben saunders, douglas lima, welterweight-tourney finale
Read the full article at MMA JunkieSantana Collects Cobb's Arm to Cap Bellator 53 Undercard
As Hector Lombard continues to overwhelm all challengers in the Bellator cage, the promotion's middleweight talents becomes more and more critical. The Bellator 53 undercard at Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla., put one of the company's finest recent signings on display, as jiu-jitsu stalwart Giva Santana earned yet another armbar win, tapping Darryl Cobb in the first round of their middleweight contest.
Posted in: bellator, middleweight contest, giva santana, darryl cobb, middleweight talents
Read the full article at SherdogSaunders and Lima make it to Bellator FC final
There were eight at the start but after Bellator 53 in Miami, OK, just two men remain in the Bellator Season 5 Welterweight Tournament. Ben "Killa...
Posted in: bellator, miami, bellator fc, lima, ok
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBen Saunders, Douglas Lima Advance in Bellator Tournament
Filed under: BellatorBen Saunders and Douglas Lima both looked great on Saturday night. Next they'll face each other.
Saunders and Lima earned impressive victories in the semifinals of the Bellator Fighting Championships welterweight tournament, earning a spot in the final where they'll meet each other next month.
For Saunders, it was a dominant, one-sided victory over Luis Santos in which he finally forced Santos to tap out with an americana in the third round. For Lima, the victory came when he landed a beautiful right cross to the chin of Chris Lozano, knocking him cold.
The wins by Saunders and Lima were part of an entertaining Bellator 53 card on Saturday night, which also featured some solid undercard action:
-- Giva "The Arm Collector" Santana made his Bellator debut and did exactly what everyone expected him to do, submitting Darryl Cobb with an armbar in the first round. It improved Santana's record to 17-1, including an incredible 13 wins by armbar.
-- In a fast-paced featherweight contest, Ronnie Mann submitted Kenny Foster with a triangle choke. The victory improves Mann's record to 21-4-1, including 11 wins by submission. Mann showed that he's one of the top fighters in Bellator's featherweight division, which is the promotion's best weight class.
-- And in the heavyweight division, Thiago "Big Monster" Santos finally made his Bellator debut and made quick work of Josh Burns. Santos easily controlled Burns on the ground and forced him to tap out to a rear-naked choke midway through the first round. It was a solid Bellator debut for the Brazilian. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: bellator, bellator debut, lima, victory, saunder
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 53 Live Results
Oklahoma and Texas battled today on the football field and they battle again tonight in the cage. While most eyes will be focused on the action going on in Houston, there is a pretty significant event going on in the land of Sooners. Coming to us live from the Buffalo Run Hotel & Casino in Miami, Oklahoma it’s Bellator 53. As always Five Ounces of Pain will provide complete results of all the action.
Things kick off at 7PM EST with the preliminary card streaming live on Spike.com. Then at 9PM EST the main card hits your television on MTV2 and EPIX.
Bellator 53 is headlined by the two welterweight semifinal fights. First Chris Lozano tries to snap the seven fight win streak of Douglas Lima in the co-main event of the evening. Then, in the main event, the always entertaining Ben Saunders battles MMA veteran Luis Santos. The two winners will meet in the finals of the tournament to fight it out for a shot at the Bellator 17-pound championship.
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike.com
Darryl Cobb vs. Giva Santana
A.J. Matthews vs. Rudy Bears
Raphael Davis vs. Myron Dennis
Emanuel Brooks vs. Greg Scott
MAIN CARD (MTV2/EPIX)
Josh Burns vs. Thiago Santos
Kenny Foster vs. Ronnie Mann
Chris Lozano vs. Douglas Lima
Luis Santos vs. Ben Saunders
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, vs, event, card, douglas lima
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 53 Results and Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 53, which features the semifinals of Bellator's Season 5 welterweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, miami, casino, okla .,
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 53 Live Play-by-Play and Results
As with every major MMA show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results and commentary for Bellator 53. Our live blog will start with the beginning of the MTV2 broadcast (9 p.m. ET), so be sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
The second round of the Season 5 welterweight tournament is the focal point of this event, with Chris Lozano fighting Douglas Lima and Ben Saunders clashing with Luis Santos. All four welterweights fought at Bellator 49, which may have been one of the strongest cards Bellator ever put on. Lonzano had a fantastic fight with Brent Weedman and came away with the unanimous decision victory. Lima was sternly tested by Steve Carl, but also pulled the unanimous decision his way. Saunders knocked out Chris Cisneros in the third round to move on and Luis Santos stymied Dan Hornbuckle en route to a unanimous decision win. The eventual winner of this welterweight tournament will win $100,000 and challenge Ben Askren, Bellator’s welterweight champion, for the title.
Also on the card, Ronnie Mann will go up against Kenny Foster in a featherweight bout. Mann is looking to bounce back from his decision loss to Pat Curran at Bellator 47, while Foster seeks redemption after being submitted by Daniel Straus at Bellator 41. To round out the main card, Thiago Santos will fight Josh Burns in a heavyweight battle to determine who will be the alternate for Bellator’s heavyweight tournament.
Now that the stage has been set and all main card fighters have made weight, grab your drinks and snacks and settle down to watch a great night of fights. Remember to fire your comments at us here at BloodyElbow.
SBN coverage of Bellator 53
Josh Burns vs. Thiago Santos
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Final Result:
Kenny Foster vs. Ronnie Mann
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Final Result:
Douglas Lima vs. Chris Lozano
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Final Result:
Luis Santos vs. Ben Saunders
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
Final Result:
Posted in: bellator, result, round, welterweight, nbsp
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBest of Bellator Video: Ronnie Mann vs. Josh Arocho at Bellator 42
As the tournaments steal the spotlight during Bellator's fifth season, a few big non-tourney bouts are on the horizon.
One of them takes place tonight when featherweight notable Ronnie Mann takes on Kenny Foster at Bellator 53.
In our latest Best of Bellator Video installment, we take a look back at
Mann's promotional debut: a Bellator 42 clash with Josh Arocho.
Posted in: bellator, ronnie mann, mann, josh arocho, non-tourney bouts
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 53 predictions and preview for 'Saunders vs Santos' on Oct. 8 in Miami
Bellator Fighting Championships will return to "The Sooner State" tonight (October 8, 2011) at the Buffalo Run Hotel & Casino in Miami, Oklahoma, live on MTV2.
The main card will air live on the basic cable network, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
Bellator 53 will be the continuation of the promotion's season five welterweight tournament as the promotion holds its semifinals. Former UFC prospect Ben Saunders will battle seasoned Brazilian veteran Luis Santos in the headlining bout while a pair of highly touted prospects in Chris Lozano and Douglas Lima duke it out in the other tournament semifinal.
Also on the card will be a future featherweight tournament qualifier between former 145 pound tournament semifinalists Ronnie Mann and Kenny Foster, who advanced in the season four and the 'Summer Series' tournaments respectively.
The opening bout of the main card will be a heavyweight alternate fight between two giants in Josh Burns and Thiago Santos. Santos will finally make his Bellator debut after injuries and visa issues prevented him from competing in last week's heavyweight tournament quarterfinal. With an injury to the advancing Mike Hayes, the winner of this bout could easily step into "300's" shoes.
Our complete Bellator 53 preview and predictions after the jump:
170 lbs.: Luis Santos (50-6-1) vs. Ben Saunders (11-3-1)
This one was picked as the main event for a reason. Both of these fighters are capable of some serious fireworks in the stand-up department. Luis Santos is a veteran of a ridiculous amount of fights but it took until his 57th bout to get that big significant victory he'd been searching for. He absolutely dominated Dan Hornbuckle in the first round of the tournament, keeping him at bay with superior use of range, leg kicks and mixing in takedowns.
Ben Saunders might have the most aggressive use of Muay Thai kickboxing in MMA right now. When he goes into "killer mode" he can charge forward, put his opponent in the Thai plum and obliterate them with knees. He was the only fighter to finish his opponent in the welterweight quarterfinals and it looked like he was trying to make a statement against Chris Cisneros with the use of his takedowns and ground work as well.
Both men want to impose their will in the striking department. Saunders wants to get in close and really work his knees and short strikes while Santos wants to keep his distance and blast "Killa B" with leg kicks and jabs. Whoever can utilize their range the best is going to win. I'm sticking with Saunders, but Santos is a very live dog here. Don't underestimate him.
Prediction: Ben Saunders via decision
170 lbs.: Douglas Lima (19-4) vs. Chris Lozano (9-1)
This should be a thrilling welterweight attraction between two of the best welterweight prospects on the planet. Douglas Lima is a very accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter who has really worked to add some wrestling and striking to his skill-set. Despite being hurt in the first minute against Steve Carl in his last fight, he rebounded to win all three rounds with his offensive grappling skills. He'll likely be looking to do something similar against Chris Lozano.
Lozano put on a show in his first Bellator tournament, losing a spirited decision to former champion Lyman Good but he went right back to work in training to come back stronger than ever. He returned at Bellator 49 against one of the tournament favorites, Brent Weedman, and after losing the first round, he came back strong and blasted Weedman with an offensive assault of wrestling and striking in the final two frames to win a decision and advance.
Lozano will want to keep this fight standing and work his stellar striking where he'll have a technical edge as well as a power advantage. Lima might stand for a bit, but he will most certainly want to get this fight to the ground. Lima does not have a big wrestling edge so that may be an issue for him in putting Lozano on his back. I smell an upset.
Prediction: Chris Lozano via TKO in round two
145 lbs.: Kenny Foster (9-3) vs. Ronnie Mann (20-4-1)
This should be a scintillating battle between two featherweights with absolutely no fear of each other. Kenny Foster entered the season four Bellator featherweight tournament as an underdog and absolutely smashed former top collegiate wrestler Erik Larkin with a first round submission victory. His timing is excellent, he caught Larkin with a big knee on his first shot in and he really took the fight to him before dropping down for a guillotine choke.
Ronnie Mann dominated his first two fights in Bellator. He outgrappled Josh Arocho in his debut and then knocked Adam Schindler out cold in the opening round of this summer's special featherweight tournament. He's very well-rounded and will clearly have an experience edge, having stepped in against some world-class featherweights.
Both men were outworked in their semifinal bouts by Daniel Straus and Pat Curran respectively, but they are still top talents and will definitely be bringing it tonight. Foster will likely have an issue dealing with Mann's technical edge in striking and likely in grappling as well and I have a tough time seeing how he'll be able to win this fight.
Prediction: Ronnie Mann via decision
265 lbs.: Josh Burns (6-4) vs. Thiago Santos (8-1)
Now this is a matchup of some really, really big dudes. Both Josh Burns and Thiago Santos weighed in at over 260 pounds at the weigh-ins yesterday. Burns is a heavy brawler who came up short in a heavyweight tournament qualification bout against Eric Prindle this past April. He's a scrappy dude, but he likely doesn't have the talent to match Santos.
Thiago Santos is a hulking beast of a man. He comes in at 6'3 and barely makes the heavyweight limit. He has tremendous power in both hands and is very good at muscling opponents around. He's had multiple issues which prevented him from making his Bellator debut, but he is finally in the US and he's looking to put a hurting on Burns.
Prediction: Thiago Santos via knockout in round one
How do you see the fights playing out tonight, Maniacs? Who's your pick to win this tournament and earn a shot at the Jay Hieron-Ben Askren winner?
Speak up!
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, tournament, lozano
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 53 Live Results and Play-by-Play (7 ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 53, which features the semifinals of Bellator's Season 5 welterweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, tournament, casino, okla .,
Read the full article at SherdogLIVE NOW: Bellator 53 Results and Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla., at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 53, which features the semifinals of Bellator's Season 5 welterweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, miami, casino, okla .,
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 53 Preview
Overshadowed as usual by an extremely compelling UFC on pay-per-view Saturday night is Bellator 53, which, though lacking in lightweight trilogies and dudes returning from testosterone-induced suspensions, is actually chock full of its own brand of scrappy goodness. The quartet of remaining Bellator Season Five welterweight tournament semifinalists are going to mix it up (and by “mix it up” I mean slaughter each other), Brit bruiser Ronnie Mann returns to take on upstart Kenny Foster, and Brazilian monstrosity Thiago Santos – freshly smuggled into the country in the back of a pickup truck Bjorn Rebney himself drove – gets to have his moment in the MTV2 spotlight. If none of this has convinced you to at least set your DVR to record it, then read on. Or don’t. Either way, I’m doing this Bellator 53 preview without you.
-Ben Saunders vs. Luis Santos – We’ve been over this material before, so here’s a quick review: Saunders is a TUF veteran, jiu-jitsu brown belt and deadly clinch-fighter; Santos is a Nogueira black belt and hits hard. The new info gleaned since last month is from how Saunders and Santos dispatched their quarterfinal opponents, Chris Cisneros and Dan Hornbuckle, respectively. For the American, it was business as usual, as he owned Cisneros on the ground in the first two rounds, then clobbered him with strikes in the third. Santos, on the other hand, beat on Hornbuckle all three rounds, but wasn’t able to put him away. Where does that leave us on Saturday night? It’s likely we won’t see much ground fighting. Instead, these guys are going to latch on to each other and engage in the kind of dirty boxing that’s so messy, the canvas is going to need to be steam-cleaned afterwards. Expect Saunders to emerge victorious – maybe via TKO, maybe by decision.
-Doug Lima vs. Chris Lozano – Despite all his hype, Lima still had to work hard to defeat Steve Carl in the tournament’s opener. Lozano, meanwhile, had to wage war against Brent Weedman (which was expected) before earning the decision (which wasn’t expected going into the bout). Therefore, this we know: these guys are tough, these guys are dangerous, and these guys might have some wear and tear going into Bellator 53. Watch for another long, protracted stand-up battle, as that seems to be where Lima and Lozano do their best, but no way can I predict who’s going to earn himself the “W”.
-Ronnie Mann vs. Kenny Foster – UK-based face-smasher Mann may have fallen to Pat Curran in the last featherweight brouhaha, but come on, it’s Pat freakin’ Curran – he’s been wrecking nearly everyone. Foster, too, lost his shot at glory in the 145-pound tournament before that, falling to eventual finalist Daniel Straus. So here we are. A dangerous striker against a wrestling-heavy grappler. Who gets to keep his job and who is forced back into the regional shows? My money is on Mann, who wields the advantage for having faced much tougher competition, pulling out the win.
-Josh Burns vs. Thiago Santos – Santos missed last week’s heavyweight tournament quarterfinals because of visa issues (I’m telling you, you have to make those monthly payments), but he gets another crack at performing before a national audience when he faces Bellator veteran Burns. Two big guys, blah, blah, blah… the most interesting thing about this pairing is the rumor that Mike Hayes (who defeated Neil Grove at Bellator 52) might be injured and unable to move on to the semifinals. Thus, Santos – and Burns, if he wins – might get the opportunity. Giddyup.
Posted in: bellator, guy, tournament, wasn ’t, mann
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 53 weigh-in results
he Bellator 53 weigh-ins have been completed from Buffalo Run Casino in preparation for Bellator’s Saturday night event at Buffalo Run Casino,...
Posted in: bellator, &rsquo, weigh-in, casino, buffalo
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBellator 53 Weigh-In Results
The Bellator 53 weigh-ins took place earlier this evening at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma.
All fighters on the main card made weight. The card will feature the semi-finals of Bellator’s season five welterweight tournament.
The weigh-in results:
Luis Santos (170.5) vs. Ben Saunders (170.5)
Chris Lozano (169.75) vs. Douglas Lima (170.5)
Kenny Foster (146) vs. Ronnie Mann (145.75)
Josh Burns (262.5) vs. Thiago Santos (263.5)
Darryl Cobb (185) vs. Giva Santana (185.5)
A.J. Matthews (175) vs. Rudy Bears (174)
Raphael Davis (206) vs. Myron Dennis (204.5)
Emanuel Brooks (160.5)* vs. Greg Scott (157)
Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit.
Bellator 53 takes place tomorrow night at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma and will air live on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, vs, weigh-in results, non-title fights, welterweight tournament
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 53's Ronnie Mann not dwelling on loss, eager to capture tourney berth
When you don't lose that often, a defeat is an especially important lesson.
On his way to winning the season-four Bellator featherweight tournament, Pat Curran outpointed Ronnie Mann to hand him just his third professional loss in 24 fights.
Now on the eve of a qualifier fight for the promotion's next eight-man featherweight competition, Mann is determined not to make the mistake he did against Curran when he fights Kenny Foster at Bellator 53.
Posted in: fight, bellator, ronnie mann, mann, qualifier fight
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWelterweight Semifinalists on Weight for Bellator 53
All four welterweight tournament semifinalists hit their marks at Friday's Bellator 53 weigh-ins, taking them one step closer to challenging for the promotion's 170-pound title.
Posted in: bellator, welterweight, weigh-in, welterweight semifinalists, semifinalists
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 53 weigh in results LIVE from Miami, OK for 'Saunders vs Santos'
The official weigh-in event for Bellator 53's Saturday evening fight card takes place today (October 7, 2011) at the Buffalo Run Hotel & Casino in Miami, Oklahoma.
Bellator 53 will be the continuation of the promotion's season five welterweight tournament as the promotion holds its semifinals.
Headlining the main card will be a strong bout between stand-up specialists Ben Saunders and Luis Santos. Saunders is a Muay Thai wrecking machine while Santos possesses solid kickboxing skills and a strong submission game. The other semifinal matchup will be an intriguing bout between Cleveland's own Chris Lozano, a heavy hitter and Douglas Lima, a submission specialist with an improving striking game.
They will be joined by two main card fights which feature two semifinalists of previous featherweight tournaments in Ronnie Mann and Kenny Foster, both scrappy young strikers that are capable on the ground.
Lastly, there will be a heavyweight alternate fight between two giants in Josh Burns and Thiago Santos. Both men will be battling to potentially replace Mike Hayes, who was issued a 60 day suspension after defeating Neil Grove last week in the heavyweight tournament quarterfinals.
Complete Bellator 53 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
170 lbs.: Luis Santos (50-6-1) vs. Ben Saunders (11-3-1)170 lbs.: Douglas Lima (19-4) vs. Chris Lozano (9-1)145 lbs.: Kenny Foster (9-3) vs. Ronnie Mann (20-4-1)265 lbs.: Josh Burns (6-4) vs. Thiago Santos (8-1) Undercard
185 lbs.: Darryl Cobb (5-3) vs. Giva Santana (16-1)175 lbs.: A.J. Matthews (4-1) vs. Rudy Bears (13-8)205 lbs.: Myron Dennis (4-0) vs. Raphael Davis (10-2)170 lbs.: Levi Avera (16-9) vs. David Rickels (8-0)140 lbs.: Zak Laird (5-1) vs. Luiz Nogueira (11-2)157 lbs. Greg Scott (0-0) vs. Emanuel Brooks (3-0)
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 53, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 9 p.m. ET tomorrow night (October 8).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: bellator, vs, lb, card, tomorrow night
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWatch today's Bellator 53 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 3 p.m. ET
Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla., plays host
to today's official Bellator 53 fighter weigh-ins, and we're providing a live video stream of the
proceedings at 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT local time).
The same resort plays host to Saturday's event, which airs on MTV2 and
features the semifinal round of Bellator's season-five welterweight tournament.
In addition to the live weigh-ins and pre-fight press conference, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, video stream, text results, semifinal round, okla .,
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBen Askren, Bellator Give Back to Tornado Victims in Joplin, Mo.
Filed under: Bellator, NewsBen Askren walked around the city of Joplin, Mo., in late May and could hardly believe what he was seeing.
The Bellator welterweight champion had been in the nearby town of Neosho to help at a wrestling clinic not long after a massive EF5 tornado devastated Joplin, ravaging everything in its path. It was one of the deadliest tornados in world history, killing 162 people.
Askren went to view the damage with friends from his days wrestling for the University of Missouri. Looking at the destruction, he knew there had to be a way to give something back - some how, some way.
"We went to one guy's house, and it wasn't even a house," Askren told MMA Fighting on Thursday, recalling the devastation. "It was just two walls, the roof was all gone, and you just look at that and think, 'I can't imagine this being my house. There's nothing left here.' Everything they owned is just gone, and they're staying with family and friends. You feel for people at times like that."
As Askren continued to look around, seeing buildings destroyed, cars thrown around like toys, trees uprooted and houses of his friends' friends ripped apart, he decided to ask his boss, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, if the promotion could find a way to do something to help.
"It just blows your mind," Askren said. "You see it on TV, but you could never really imagine until you actually go there. So I texted Bjorn and said, 'Hey, it would be nice if we could do something for all these people.'"
Rebney, though, didn't have any quick answers.
"He said, 'What can we do? Can I do something?' Rebney said. "He was just reaching out asking what could be done. And I said, 'I don't know, buddy. I don't know what we can do.'"
Admittedly, Rebney said, coming up with a plan for the people of Joplin "fell off the radar screen" over the summer. But earlier this fall, when the promotion finalized the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla., a short drive from Joplin, for Saturday's Bellator 53, a plan finally got put into place - when Askren again reached out and was adamant in his desire to try to make a contribution.
Friday night, Bellator and Buffalo Run Casino will give away 300 tickets to Saturday's show to Joplin residents at Joplin High School's homecoming football game. For those still trying to rebuild the lives they knew before May 22, it won't change anything. But a temporary reprieve might help, even for just one night.
"I just hope the people that were affected can have some enjoyment for one night of fighting that Bellator's going to put on," Askren said. "It's not a huge gesture. It's not like we're rebuilding their houses. But every small thing helps."
"It's a great thing to do," Rebney said. "It's not going to change the dynamic of anybody's life in Joplin, but the people have been through a lot here. It's an opportunity to kind of kick back and forget about your issues for four or five hours."
Rebney said it was Askren's perseverance in wanting to find a way to give something to the people of Joplin that ultimately got the plan rolling, and started Bellator down the community service path, really for the first time.
"Thank God we haven't been in communities where something as tragic as what happened here happened before," Rebney said. "But this was more about Ben Askren reaching out. He was the guy really pushing it. He called me, I didn't have an answer, and he just stayed on it."
Rebney said Askren, who defends his welterweight title later this month at Bellator 56 against Jay Hieron, proved to him he has talents that extend beyond the cage, and that his strength of character is typical of many MMA athletes.
"It gives me a sense of pride that we're lucky enough to have a guy like Ben on our roster who isn't thinking of himself, who isn't doing it for any kind of sponsorship angle," Rebney said. "He was just calling me, saying, 'Dude, what can we do? How can we help? Can I do something? Can we do something? Big or small, it doesn't matter.' There's more of that in the MMA industry than people realize. It's a real good feeling, and I'm proud we have Ben on the roster - he's an amazing talent, and I think he's the best wrestler in mixed martial arts. But he's also a very good dude, and that counts for a lot." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: bellator, people, rebney, askren, joplin
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseSantos and Burns competing for Bellator GP alternate slot
When Thiago Santos and Josh Burns step into the cage this Saturday at Bellator 53, one of the two will secure their spot as the heavyweight tournament...
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight tournament, slot, burn, bellator gp
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyHeavyweight Alternates Santos, Burns Clash at Bellator 53
Thiago Santos may have missed the start of Bellator’s second heavyweight tournament, but all hope is not lost.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, heavyweight tournament, bellator ’s, burns clash
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 53: Thiago Santos vs Josh Burns booked for Oct. 8 on MTV2
CHICAGO, Ill. (October 6, 2011) - When Thiago Santos and Josh Burns step into the cage this Saturday at Bellator 53, one of the two will secure their spot as the heavyweight tournament alternate. While Mike Hayes secured his spot in the heavyweight semifinals with an impressive victory of Neil Grove, it may have come at a cost as Hayes received a 60-day medical suspension from the Louisiana State Commission and may be unable to compete when the tournament resumes at Bellator 56.
With Hayes' ability to continue in question, the fight between Santos and Burns, which airs LIVE and FREE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX at 9 p.m. ET from Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Oklahoma this Saturday could determine the fight to face Blagoi Ivanov later this month in the Semifinals of Bellator's $100,000 Heavyweight Tournament.
The undercard for this event can be seen streaming LIVE and FREE around the world on Spike.com beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Tickets for Bellator 53 are on sale now and can be purchased at Stubwire.com and at the Buffalo Run Box Office.
Santos, who was originally slated for the Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament this past weekend, encountered visa problems in his native Brazil and was unable to compete in the tournament quarterfinals. The visa issues are now behind the former Brazilian State Jiu-Jitsu Champion and "The Big Monster" is ready for a battle at Bellator 53.
"I just want to fight," Santos said. "The issues with the visa are over. I'm here now, and just ready to try to get back into this tournament and get a shot at the title."
For Burns, the Detroit native and knockout artist is looking to get back to his winning ways after suffering a tough defeat at the hands of Bellator Heavyweight Semifinalist Eric Prindle at Bellator 40. Burns understands chances like these don't come around very often, and is ready to make the most out of this unique opportunity.
"I think I've got a lot to prove coming into this fight, and know this is a huge chance for me to show off what I'm really capable of," said Burns. "I'm the first to admit my fight with Prindle was sloppy, but that wasn't me. I'm ready for this fight, and I'm going to show everyone why I should have been in this tournament in the first place. Thiago has never fought anyone like me, and he really doesn't know what he's in for."
The Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals will take place at Bellator 56 from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, and will feature Eric Prindle taking on Ron Sparks, with Blagoi Ivanov facing Hayes if he can overcome the current 60-day suspension and continue on the 29th, or the winner of Santos-Burns.
Posted in: fight, bellator, heavyweight, tournament, burn
Read the full article at MMA ManiaM'Pumbu-Wiuff Non-Title Bout Set for Bellator 55 in Yuma
Bellator light heavyweight champion Christian M'Pumbu will return to the cage on Oct. 22, but his title will not be on the line. Sherdog.com has learned from a source close to the situation that M'Pumbu will lock horns with 10-year pro Travis Wiuff in a non-title bout at Bellator 55.
Posted in: bellator, non-title bout, 'pumbu, travis wiuff, m 'pumbu
Read the full article at SherdogBellator files lawsuit against Arizona-based MMA promotion
Not every fight in the Mixed Martial Arts world involves striking/grappling or takes places in a ring. Rather, some wars are waged inside the friendly confines of a courtroom with lawyers exchanging verbal blows rather than the physical kind.
The latest example of such being the case surfaced earlier today when it was revealed Bellator FC was suing Desert Rage Full Contact Fighting after the organization learned the proprietors Arizona-based promotion had attempted to negatively impact sales for Bellator 55 (being held in Yuma) by providing false information to fighters/managers/fans regarding the October 22 show.
According to a report on MMAFighting, Desert Rage is promoting their own card on the same day less than ten miles away from Bellator 55 and has been telling people Bellator’s offering has been scrapped.
In the filing, the suit reads, “On September 12, 2011, Bellator learned that Defendants had told multiple parties that BELLATOR 55 was cancelled. Upon information and belief, Defendants knowingly misrepresented the status of BELLATOR 55 to persuade important local fighters with whom Bellator was negotiating, as well as others currently under contract with Bellator, to participate in the Desert Rage X show instead of the BELLATOR 55 event.”
Bantamweight Semifinals Set for Bellator 55
Adding fuel to the fire, Desert Rage executive Chance Farrar worked intimately with Bellator in preparation for Bellator 41 (also held in Yuma) and had access to information including “Bellator’s process and rationale for signing certain fighters, its philosophy behind ticket sales, as well as each fighter’s production value,” as well as “long-term promotional contract terms of Bellator’s agreements with fighters, including its obligations to fighters under those contracts and its methods and systematic means of meeting those obligations.”
Bellator’s intent in the lawsuit was not mentioned in terms of involving a “cease and desist” order for Desert Rage X, financial terms, or a combination of the two.
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Posted in: bellator, fighter, desert rage, rage, desert
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator's Poor Matchmaking
Bellator has taken can crushing to a new extreme with the recent announcement that their middleweight champion Hector Lombard would be facing the over matched Trevor Prangley at Bellator 58. Talk all you want about how well Bellator is doing these days, but pitting a fighter on a 19 fight win streak against an opponent on a 2 fight losing streak (and only 1 win in his last 5) is absolutely appalling and goes to show how shallow Bellator truly is.
I don’t know if it’s an attempt to protect the champion’s record, or just a lack of depth in the middleweight division outside the UFC, but this matchup is wrong, plain and simple. Prangley has decent name recognition and has even competed in the UFC a handful of times but is clearly on the tail end of his fighting career.
Some will look at his record and see the win over Jardine as reason enough for this match up but Jardine himself has looked far from impressive lately. This is also his only notable win since defeating Travis Lutter at UFC 54. There is no way you can look at this fight as relevant to the division; it’s just another easy win for Lombard to inflate his record. This is not real competition.
Bellator’s stature in the MMA world has risen significantly since Zuffa purchased Strikeforce and if they want to continue that progress, they’ll need to put together more compelling match ups for their champions. If by some miracle Prangley managed to defeat Lombard, what would that say about not only Lombard as a champion, but the belt itself?
I understand they’re in a tough position considering the majority of top ranked middleweight fighters are under the Zuffa umbrella but I’d rather they put Lombard on the shelf. Feeding him cans like Prangley (and yes, at this point in his career he is a can) will only diminish any prestige the belt currently holds. Something needs to change.
Posted in: lombard, bellator, champion, &rsquo, prangley
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendBellator Sues Desert Rage Full Contact Fighting
Filed under: Bellator, NewsIn a battle between MMA promoters that may be headed for the courtroom rather than the cage, Bellator is suing a small Arizona-based promotion called Desert Rage Full Contact Fighting, saying that Desert Rage is interfering with Bellator's contracts and attempting to harm its upcoming show in Arizona.
Bellator says it worked with Desert Rage and its promoter, the former WEC fighter Chance Farrar, on a previous Bellator event in Arizona. But Bellator says Desert Rage is now attempting to hurt the upcoming Bellator 55 event, which is set to take place on October 22 at Cocopah Resort and Casino in Yuma, Arizona.
The lawsuit provides an interesting look inside the MMA world, with details including the fact that the production costs of Bellator 55 exceed $500,000, and an accusation that Desert Rage is spreading lies about Bellator within the local MMA scene.
"Previously, Bellator engaged Farrar to aid in promoting Bellator's April 16, 2011 show in Yuma, Arizona," the lawsuit says. "As part of that engagement, Farrar communicated often with Bellator employees based in Chicago and was paid for his services by Bellator using its Chicago-based bank accounts. As part of the services he rendered in connection with Bellator's April 16 event, Farrar gained intimate familiarity with Bellator's business, including its method for setting up events, and recruiting talent for its shows. Farrar also had substantial involvement with, and developed an understanding of, Bellator's process of signing fighters for its events, including, but not limited to, Bellator's process and rationale for signing certain fighters, its philosophy behind ticket sales, as well as each fighter's production value. As part of his role in the April 16 event, Farrar saw Bellator's fighter contracts, which included material payment terms that Bellator negotiates with fighters as part of an oftenlengthy bargaining process. Farrar also was privy to the long-term promotional contract terms of Bellator's agreements with fighters, including its obligations to fighters under those contracts and its methods and systematic means of meeting those obligations."
Now, Bellator claims, Desert Rage has decided to put on its own event on October 22, just nine miles away from Bellator's location. And Bellator says Desert Rage is attempting to interfere with Bellator's business, by going after fighters who are already negotiating with Bellator and misleading the local MMA community about the upcoming Bellator show. Bellator is seeking a restraining order to prevent Desert Rage from putting on its October 22 show.
"On September 12, 2011, Bellator learned that Defendants had told multiple parties that BELLATOR 55 was cancelled," the lawsuit says. "Upon information and belief, Defendants knowingly misrepresented the status of BELLATOR 55 to persuade important local fighters with whom Bellator was negotiating, as well as others currently under contract with Bellator, to participate in the Desert Rage X show instead of the BELLATOR 55 event."
Last year the UFC sued Bellator, accusing the promotion of stealing trade secrets, and then less than two weeks later Bellator turned around and sued the UFC, saying Ultimate Fighter cast member Jonathan Brookins should not have appeared on the UFC's reality show because he was under an exclusive contract to Bellator. MMAFighting.com was not able to reach either Bellator or Desert Rage for comment on the latest lawsuit. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: bellator, fighter, desert rage, rage, desert
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 52: 269,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 52 received its second highest ratings ever on MTV2 with an average of 269,000 viewers. The numbers show an increase of 70 percent from last week’s performance.
Via MMA Junkie:
The Bellator 52 broadcast peaked between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m. ET with 345,000 viewers. Additionally, an immediate replay of the event scored 196,000 viewers, marking a combined audience of 465,000 viewers for the first two airings of Bellator 52.
Bellator 52 featured the quarterfinals of its Heavyweight tournament.
Payout Perspective:
The numbers are promising considering the show went up against a live and free UFC event on Versus, college football as well as HBO Boxing (although I believe MMA ended before boxing began). At this point, Bellator is likely hoping for consistency with its ratings. As you may recall just two weeks ago it scored an all-time MTV2 low of just 114,000 viewers. Of course, that occurred the same night as Mayweather-Ortiz. Notwithstanding this past weekend’s ratings, it seems that Bellator is not destination television. Looking at the last three shows, there’s a huge swing in viewership. Obviously, its been going up against stiff competition the past couple weeks (Mayweather and Jon Jones). So, perhaps 52 is a turning point for the organization.
Posted in: bellator, week, viewer, couple weeks, college football
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBellator 52 Raises Ratings with 269,000 Viewers on MTV2
MTV officials Tuesday announced that Bellator Fighting Championships 52 earned an average of 269,000 viewers with its Saturday night broadcast on MTV2, peaking with 345,000 viewers during its third quarter-hour.
Posted in: bellator, rating, viewer, mtv, tuesday
Read the full article at SherdogTwo big weekend takeaways: Point fighting in the UFC & Bellator’s lifeline to Spike
Dominick Cruz - respected champion or dismissed as a 'point fighter'? Will Spike TV be Bellator's lifeline come 2013?
Posted in: bellator, point, dominick cruz, weekend takeaways, lifeline
Read the full article at Fight OpinionBellator heavyweight Hayes' tourney spot in jeopardy with medical suspension
Mike Hayes passed the first gauntlet of Bellator's season-five tournament, but he may have taken too much damage to continue.
Hayes has been issued a preliminary suspension of 60
days by the Louisiana Boxing and Wrestling Commission following his
split decision over Neil Grove at Bellator 52,
which hosted the quarterfinals of the eight-man competition.
A final report due soon will determine whether Hayes suffered a fractured orbital in the bout.
Posted in: bellator, haye, neil grove, eight-man competition, season-five tournament
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator Signs Prospect Attila Vegh for Season 6 Light Heavyweight Tournament
According to a report by Sherdog.com's Tim Leidecker, 26-year-old European prospect Attila Vegh (24-4-2) has signed with Bellator Fighting Championships to appear in the sixth season's light heavyweight tournament. The deal was confirmed by Vegh's coach and manager, Ilja Skondric.
Vegh has gone on an impressive run since fighting to a draw against Hans Stringer at Nitrianska Noc Bojovnikov 3 in Slovakia in February. He knocked out Russian prospect Baga Agaev at Heroes Gate 3 in Prague, Czech Republic a little over one month later, defeated #9-ranked Scouting Report light heavyweight Marcus Vanttinen in Finland in May, and submitted hyped German prospect Jonas Billstein in his most recent performance in June.
Interestingly enough, Billstein also signed with the promotion at the beginning of September, leading to a potential rematch between the two fighters within the tournament format. There is no set date when the light heavyweight tournament will begin, nor any information on whether Vegh will take a non-tournament bout under the Bellator banner before fighting in the tournament. Finnish prospect Marcus Vanttinen announced this past weekend that he has signed with Bellator, adding another name to the tournament mix.
The only question now is... can Bellator produce a light heavyweight tournament comprised of fighters wanting revenge on Vegh? In reality, Baga Agaev isn't a bad choice for the tournament either. It'll be interesting to see who they pick up next.
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, prospect, tournament, vegh
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 56 adds Hayes-Ivanov, Prindle-Sparks heavyweight semifinals
Bellator's eight-man heavyweight tournament will have two finalists come Oct. 29.
Following their victories at this past weekend's Bellator 52 event, the season-five semifinals are now booked for Bellator 56, which takes place at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan.
The MTV2-televised main card features semifinal bouts of Mike Hayes vs. Blagoi Ivanov and Eric Prindle vs. Ron Sparks.
Posted in: bellator, kansas city, memorial hall, blagoi ivanov, season-five semifinals
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWith Weekend Win, Vanttinen Earns Bellator Tourney Ticket
With his third-round stoppage of Malik Merad at Saturday’s Fight Festival 31, Finnish prospect Marcus Vanttinen secured his spot in Bellator Fighting Championships’ Season 6 light heavyweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, prospect, tournament, malik merad, vanttinen
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 52 results from heavyweight tournament on Oct. 1 in Lake Charles
LAKE CHARLES, La. (October 1, 2011) - It was an action-packed start to the Bellator Heavyweight Tournament as eight heavy hitters lined up inside the L'Auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles for Bellator 52 to kickoff the quarterfinals of the Season 5 tournament. Ron "The Monster" Sparks will take on Eric Prindle and Mike "300" Hayes faces Blagoi Ivanov in the semifinals after big wins in Louisiana this weekend.
"It was another great night in another full house at L'Auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles," Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "Our heavyweights put on some explosive performances tonight, and I can't wait for the semifinals later this month at Bellator 56 from Memorial Hall in Kansas City."
In a stunning upset, Mike "300" Hayes eliminated Neil Grove from the tournament with a split-decision victory in the night's main event. Grove had a slight reach advantage and outweighed his opponent by more than 30 pounds, but Hayes executed an excellent game plan. He moved in and out of Grove's striking distance and racked up points on the judges' scorecards with lots of leg kicks and straight punches to the body.
Ron Sparks remained undefeated and advanced to the semifinals with a knockout win over Mark Holata in the first fight of the evening. Holata didn't shy away from the fight, trading punches with Sparks right away, but "The Monster" was able to stun him with a right hook early and on a later exchange dropped him to the canvas with a pair of left hooks to the jaw line. It was a big win for Sparks who is eager to show Bellator and the fans what he's capable of.
His corner instructed him before the final round to continue pushing the pace and to force a takedown when the time was right. He did just that and took Grove to the mat midway through Round 3, losing top position for a moment, but finishing strong on top with a submission attempt followed by some heavy punches.
"Don't mistake my kindness for weakness," said Sparks after the victory. "These guys are monsters but I'm ‘The Monster.' I think I can be one of the best heavyweights out there. You guys will see."
Zak Jensen stepped up to fight Blagoi Ivanov last minute as Thiago Santos was scratched from the fight card. He walked through all of Ivanov's best punches but couldn't avoid his takedowns and despite taking quite a beating, was the victim of a technical submission not a knockout. Jensen escaped full mount, a keylock and some ground-and-pound by Ivanov in the second round, but was caught in a five-finger guillotine choke as he attempted to fight the submission attempt. Jensen was briefly put to sleep by the fight-ending submission as Ivanov advanced to the semifinals.
Eric Prindle would also advance to the semifinals with a hard fought win over Abe Wagner. Both these men fought for three hard rounds and looked to be hitting just as hard in the final round as they had in the first. The fighters split the first two rounds and Prindle stole the third when he stuffed a takedown attempt by Wagner and kept him grounded for the remainder of the fight.
Bellator Fighting Championships visits the Buffalo Run Casino & Resort in Miami, Oklahoma on Saturday, October 8 for Bellator 53. The night will include the semifinal round of the Bellator Welterweight Tournament and matchups between Ben "Killa B" Saunders and Luis Santos, as well as Chris Lozano and Douglas Lima. All four welterweights are looking for a chance to advance to the finals of this season's 170-pound tournament.
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, tournament, lake charles
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 52 Video Highlights
Video highlights from Bellator 52.
Read the full article at MMA Convert
Bellator 52 heavyweight tournament highlights
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Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, tournament, mhtfc
Read the full article at RedditAskren vs. Hieron Scheduled for Bellator 56
Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren will defend his championship against Jay Hieron during Bellator 56 on October 29 in Kansas City.
Hieron earned the right to challenge Askren for the championship after winning season four of the welterweight tournament. Since then, both fighters have engaged in a public war of words that will finally reach a boiling point when they stand across from one another in the cage later this month.
“It’s an unreal feeling knowing I’ll be fighting so close to Mizzou,” Askren said in a press release. “It won’t affect me during the fight, I could beat Jay in his living room, but to be able to celebrate with all my friends and family after the win is going to awesome.”
Hieron is an experienced veteran, while Askren is an NCAA champion with an obviously budding MMA career. I think this should be a good fight that will depend if Hieron can stop Askren’s takedowns and top control for five rounds.
“I’ve been getting ready for this fight for months, so location doesn’t matter,” Hieron noted in a Bellator press release. “I’ve got one goal in mind, and that’s punching this guy in the face and taking his belt. We all know the game he is going to bring to the cage, and everyone knows mine, so it’s going to be a war, simple as that.”
Bellator 56 will also host the Season 5 heavyweight tournament semifinals, and air live on MTV2.
Posted in: fight, bellator, askren, hieron, welterweight tournament
Read the full article at MMA OpinionBellator 52 delivers night of exciting heavyweight fights
The “big boys” came to play last night in Lake Charles, Louisiana as part of a Bellator 52 lineup featuring the opening round of action from the organization’s ongoing Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament.
The foursome emerging last night from the cloud of dust created by the scrum all did so deservedly with a pair of convincing finishes and two three-round wars to their credit. Moving on to the semifinals were Ron Sparks, Eric Prindle, Blagoi Ivanov, and Mike Hayes.
Sparks flattened opponent Mark Holota in the opening round with some precise, powerful strikes, while Prindle went toe-to-toe against Ultimate Fighter alumnus Abe Wagner and came away with a hard-fought decision win. Also earning the judges’ nod, albeit in a closer manner, was Hayes who barely outpointed former tournament winner Neil Grove while Sambo specialist Ivanov choked opponent Zak Jensen out cold.
Bellator Signs Kickboxing Champ Alexander for Bellator 52 Debut
Read below for a full list of Bellator 52 results:
Matt Van Buren def. Nick Nichols via TKO Round 2 (Strikes)
Justin Frazier def. Liron Wilson via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
Josh Quayhagen def. Cosmo Alexander via Unanimous Decision
Bryan Goldsby def. Genair da Silva via Submission Round 1 (Brabo Choke)
Ron Sparks def. Mark Holata via Knockout Round 1 (Strikes)
Eric Prindle def. Abe Wagner via Unanimous Decision
Blagoi Ivanov def. Zak Jensen via Technical Submission Round 2 (Guillotine Choke)
Mike Hayes def. Neil Grove via Split Decision
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, round, decision, opening round, mike hayes
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator's heavyweight tournament quarterfinals kicked off last night
Bellator is like the Red Mage of MMA organizations: always coming through and placing multiple debuffs on the enemy while doing slight elemental damage and throwing in a spot heal every now and again when the paladin requires it. And they are reliable. We can always rely on Bellator to give us highlights week in and week out and this Saturday was no different.
Bellator kicked off their heavyweight tourny last night and the evening was full of the excitement only men with thick frames could deliver. Our friend Neil Grove lost an excruciatingly close split decision, Eric Prindle defeated Abe Wagner in aback and forth match that has to be seen, Blagoi Ivanov took a break from being the leader of a multi-tiered terrorist organization who's number one enemy is GI Joe to guillotine Zak Jensen into oblivion, and right below these words we have Ron Sparks knocking out Mark Holata.
[source]
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight tourny, mark holata, abe wagner, blagoi ivanov
Read the full article at Middle EasyBellator's hevyweight tournament quarterfinals kicked off last night
Bellator is like the Red Mage of MMA organizations: always coming through and placing multiple debuffs on the enemy while doing slight elemental damage and throwing in a spot heal every now and again when the paladin requires it. And they are reliable. We can always rely on Bellator to give us highlights week in and week out and this Saturday was no different.
Bellator kicked off their heavyweight tourny last night and the evening was full of the excitement only men with thick frames could deliver. Our friend Neil Grove lost an excruciatingly close split decision, Eric Prindle defeated Abe Wagner in aback and forth match that has to be seen, Blagoi Ivanov took a break from being the leader of a multi-tiered terrorist organization who's number one enemy is GI Joe to guillotine Zak Jensen into oblivion, and right below these words we have Ron Sparks knocking out Mark Holata.
[source]
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight tourny, mark holata, abe wagner, blagoi ivanov
Read the full article at Middle EasyBig Man Semifinals Set after Quarterfinals at Bellator 52
The big men settled the quarterfinal round of the Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament at Bellator 52 on Saturday night in Louisiana.
Posted in: bellator, saturday night, quarterfinal, man semifinals, quarterfinal round
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyIvanov Dominates; Hayes, Sparks, Prindle Advance in Bellator Tourney
LAKE CHARLES, La. -- As the Bellator Season 5 heavyweight tournament quarterfinals kicked off Saturday night at the L'Auberge du Lac Hotel and Casino, no entrant was more brutal in victory than Bulgarian sambo world champion Blagoi Ivanov, who remained undefeated by destroying late replacement Zak Jensen over two lopsided rounds.
Posted in: bellator, saturday night, lake charles, bellator tourney, prindle advance
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 56 Features Askren vs. Hieron Title Fight and Heavyweight Semis
Bellator Fighting Championships on Saturday announced that undefeated welterweight champion Ben Askren will put his title on the line against Jay Hieron at Bellator 56
Posted in: bellator, jay hieron, askren, hieron, heavyweight semis
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyHayes, Ivanov, Prindle, Sparks Advance in Bellator Heavyweight Tournament
Filed under: BellatorMike Hayes, Blagoi Ivanov, Eric Prindle and Ron Sparks advanced to the semifinals of the Bellator Fighting Championships heavyweight tournament on Saturday night with victories at Bellator 52 in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
In the main event of the evening, Hayes won a split decision to upset Neil Grove, who advanced to the finals of last year's Bellator heavyweight tournament. Two judges scored the fight 29-28 for Hayes, and one judge scored it 29-28 for Grove.
Ivanov bloodied up Zak Jensen's face in the first round of their fight, and choked him into unconsciousness with a guillotine in the second round. Jensen had to step into the fight at the last minute because Ivanov's original opponent, the Brazilian Thiago Santos, couldn't get a visa to make the fight. Jensen is probably wishing he hadn't been able to fight Ivanov either.
Prindle beat Abe Wagner by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 29-28. It was a sloppy mess of a heavyweight brawl, with both men swinging wildly early and then gassing out late. The win improves Prindle to 8-1 in his MMA career.
Sparks destroyed Mark Holata with a couple of huge left hooks that knocked him down and a couple more ground strikes to finish him off. The whole fight took just 1 minute, 24 seconds. The win improves Sparks' MMA record to 8-0, and he's finished seven of his opponents in the first round.
As always for Bellator, the question will be whether the heavyweight tournament can gain any traction among MMA fans, who often overlook Bellator in favor of the UFC. If there's anyone in this tournament who can capture the attention of MMA fans, it's the hard-hitting Sparks. If he can win this tournament and keep looking the way he looked on Saturday night, he could become the kind of fighter MMA fans make a point of seeking out. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, bellator, mma, heavyweight, tournament
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 52 Live Play-by-Play and Results
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results and commentary for Bellator 52. Our live blog will start with the beginning of the MTV2 broadcast (9 p.m. ET) so be sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
Tonight is the quarterfinals in the season 5 heavyweight tournament. The eventual winner of the tournament will receive $100,000 and a shot at the Bellator heavyweight championship belt, currently held by Cole Konrad.
The card for this event is as follows: Mike Hayes vs. Neil Grove, Abe Wagner vs. Eric Prindle, Blagoi Ivanov vs. Zak Jensen, and Mark Holata vs. Ron Sparks. Blagoi was originally scheduled to fight Thiago Santos, but Santos had to withdraw from this fight due to visa issues. Hayes, Grove, and Sparks all took part in the first Bellator heavyweight tourney, while Wagner and Jensen will be familiar from their stints on The Ultimate Fighter. Prindle and Blagoi have fought previously in Bellator non-tournament fights as well.
SBN coverage of Bellator 52
Posted in: bellator, vs, . , fight thiago, eric prindle
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 52 Live Results
The latest Bellator tournament to take to the airwaves is tonight’s heavyweight affair featuring eight “big boys” vying for an opportunity to take on undefeated champion Cole Konrad and earn a $100,000 payday in the process.
Bellator 52 will unfold in Lake Charles, Louisiana and Five Ounces of Pain will be along for the ride, bringing live results back to readers as they unfold from bayou country.
Fans can tune in to the action starting with streaming prelims on Spike.com at 7:00 PM EST before the main card fires up on MT2/EPIX at 9:00 PM EST.
Read below for a complete list of Bellator 52 results thus far:
Bryan Goldsby vs. Genair da Silva
Josh Quayhagen vs. Cosmo Alexander
Justin Frazier vs. Liron Wilson
Nick Nichols vs. Matt Van Buren
Blagoi Ivanov vs. Zak Jensen
Mark Holata vs. Ron Sparks
Abe Wagner vs. Eric Prindle
Neil Grove vs. Mike Hayes
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
Posted in: bellator, result, vs, lake charles, card fires
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 56: Ben Askren vs Jay Hieron title fight set for Oct. 29 in Kansas City
CHICAGO, Ill. (Oct. 1, 2011) - Bellator Fighting Championships announced today that undefeated Bellator Welterweight Champion Ben Askren will put his title on the line against Season 4 Tournament winner Jay Hieron on October 29 at Bellator 56 from Memorial Hall in Kansas City. Bellator 56 will also host the Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament Semifinals and air LIVE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX beginning at 9 p.m. ET. Tickets for the event can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com and at the Memorial Hall Box Office.
Tune in tonight for the Heavyweight Quarterfinals that begin at Bellator 52 tonight from L'Auberge Casino Resort at Lake Charles in Louisiana at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT LIVE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX. You can also catch all the undercard action streaming live on Spike.com beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
A 2008 U.S. Olympian and former ESPY award nominee for Best Collegiate Athlete, Askren, the reigning Bellator Welterweight Champion, will put his title on the line for the first time since capturing the crown at Bellator 33 over then champion Lyman Good. While the fight may be the toughest test of his young MMA career, the University of Missouri product and two-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion should feel right at home fighting in Kansas City.
"It's an unreal feeling knowing I'll be fighting so close to Mizzou," said Askren. "It won't affect me during the fight, I could beat Jay in his living room, but to be able to celebrate with all my friends and family after the win is going to awesome."
Askren and Hieron have made no secret that this fight will be a grudge match of sorts as both competitors have used social media to display their dislike for one another. While both fighters certainly respect each other's accomplishments, contrasting styles and personalities have added another level of intrigue to an already highly-anticipated fight.
"I've been looking forward to this fight for a while," Askren said. "I'm more excited to dominate Jay than anyone I have ever fought, so October 29th can't get here fast enough. We're going to put on a show."For Hieron, the former UFC veteran and Las Vegas-trained fighter is looking to extend his winning streak to 11 with a championship victory over Askren. "The Thoroughbred" earned his title shot by claiming the Season 4 welterweight tournament with victories over Anthony Lapsley, Brent Weedman, and former judoka Olympian Rick Hawn. While the New York native fully understands the Midwest crowd will mostly be in Askren's corner, that doesn't bother the confident Hieron.
"I've been getting ready for this fight for months, so location doesn't matter," said Hieron. "I've got one goal in mind, and that's punching this guy in the face and taking his belt. We all know the game he is going to bring to the cage, and everyone knows mine, so it's going to be a war, simple as that."
"I've been waiting for this fight for some time now," Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. "These are two great welterweights - both are world-class athletes and neither of them like each other. Ben and Jay have been going back and forth on Twitter; and when that cage door shuts, they will have a chance to settle it."
The night will also feature the semifinals of Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament, featuring some of the sport's top knockout artists. The quarterfinals begin at Bellator 52 TONIGHT from L'Auberge Casino Resort at Lake Charles in Louisiana at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT LIVE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX and features an eight man tournament field with a combined 73-15-2 record. The stacked undercard for this event will be streamed LIVE and free around the world on Spike.com, beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
Posted in: fight, bellator, kansas city, askren, hieron
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBen Askren defends Bellator title against Jay Hieron at Bellator 56
When October 29 rolls around Georges St. Pierre won’t be the only talented welterweight putting his gold up for grabs, as Bellator FC has confirmed undefeated 170-pound champ Ben Askren will defend his title against tournament-winner Jay Hieron.
The bout will take place at Kansas City’s Memorial Hall on a card also featuring the semifinals of the organization’s heavyweight tournament, the opening round of which kicks off later tonight at Bellator 52 on MTV2/EPIX (9:00 PM EST).
“It’s an unreal feeling knowing I’ll be fighting so close to Mizzou,” said Askren in a press release when asked about the match-up. “Funky” was anything but on the mats in his career as a Missouri Tiger where he won multiple NCAA championships.
However, the 8-0 Askren is positive the emotion won’t interfere come showtime, adding,“It won’t affect me during the fight, I could beat Jay in his living room, but to be able to celebrate with all my friends and family after the win is going to awesome.”
Of course Hieron has a different plan in mind. “I’ve been getting ready for this fight for months, so location doesn’t matter,” the Xtreme Couture original explained. “I’ve got one goal in mind, and that’s punching this guy in the face and taking his belt. We all know the game he is going to bring to the cage, and everyone knows mine, so it’s going to be a war, simple as that.”
Early Thoughts on Askren vs. Hieron
Hieron will represent the toughest opponent has faced so far in his career with a 22-4 record and wins in ten straight. He holds past victories over Jesse Taylor, Jason High, Joe Riggs, and Jake Ellenberger, though earned his shot at Askren in semi-controversial fashion after taking home a Split Decision against <a href=http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2011/05/07/bellator-43-live-results>Rick Hawn in the Season 4</a> tournament final.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: bellator, ’t, askren, hieron, jay
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 52: Heavyweight Tournament Preview
The Bellator 52 Heavyweight Tournament quarterfinals are a go for this Saturday night on MTV2 and the EPIX network at 9 p.m. ET. Complementing the main, a robust undercard will also stream live and free on Spike.com beginning at 7.pm ET.
The preliminary card features exciting newcomers Genair da Silva (10-4), the featherweight who nearly upset Marlon Sandro in his debut, and sizzling new acquisition Cosmo Alexandre (0-0).
da Silva, more commonly known as "Junior PQD", is a Luta Livre stylist and skilled kickboxer from Brazil's Renovacao Fight Team. He's paired with Bryan Goldsby (13-14), who holds a win over Jeff Curran at Bellator 14. Cosmo "Good Boy" Alexandre is a decorated Muay Thai practitioner, It's Showtime champion and King's Cup tournament winner. In his intriguing MMA debut, the fierce striker takes on another first-timer in Josh Quayhagen.
In the main card headliner, two competitors from last year's brackets return in the Neil Grove (11-3-1) vs. Mike Hayes (15-4-1) match. Grove barreled his way to the Season 3 finals where he was submitted by current champion Cole Konrad. The loss was Grove's first since a Mike Ciesnolevicz heel hook at UFC 95 in 2009. Along with one draw, Grove has won four of his last six -- all by first round TKO -- over the likes of former UFC heavyweight Eddie Sanchez, fellow tournament entry Zak Jensen and Bellator heavyweight Alexey Oleinik.
Mike "300" Hayes kicked off his career with seven straight wins before hitting a rough five-fight skid where he lost three with one draw. Hayes was eliminated by Oleinik last season in a tight split decision -- his only defeat in his last eight -- but has finished three straight opponents in the Rumble on the Ridge promotion since.
Read on for details on the remaining heavyweight competitors.
SBN coverage of Bellator 52
Undefeated slugger Ron Sparks (7-0) squares off with Mark Holata (11-2) in the second heavyweight quarterfinal. Sparks has slaughtered all seven opponents in the first round (5 TKOs, 1 sub) except for the venerable Johnathan Ivey, whom he defeated by decision. Sparks caught a keylock on Vince Lucero in his last outing at Bellator 43 and knocked out Gregory Maynard at Bellator 30, his promotional debut. Sparks is a visceral knockout artist who's worth a watch.
Holata won his first three MMA fights, dropped consecutive bouts to John Orr and former UFC heavyweight Darrill Schoonover and has now pieced together eight straight wins. His current roll includes a first round knockout of Shawn Jordan (the Greg Jackson trained heavyweight that just submitted Lavar Johnson on the Strikeforce Challengers 19 card) and a decision over former UFC heavyweight Carmelo Marrero.
The third bracket pits Blagoi Ivanov (4-0), who made a name for himself by defeating Fedor Emelianenko in Combat Sambo, against TUF 10 contestant Zak Jensen (10-7).
Barring a split-decision over Pride vet Kazuyuki Fujita in Sengoku, Ivanov has finished his remaining three opponents in the first round (2 TKO, 1 sub). Ivanov, a southpaw, brings a formidable set of striking, clinch work and grappling to the table and has spent time training with Randy Couture.
Jensen was last seen in a mutual bashing with Neil Grove at Bellator 47, which he lost by TKO. The defeat was Jensen's fourth in his last five. Ivanov was initially slated to face prospect Thiago Santos but the Brazilian was delayed with "visa issues" according to Bellator's Twitter.
The final tournament pairing aligns Abe Wagner (10-4) vs. Eric Prindle (7-1). Wagner is another TUF 10 contestant who lost to stifling wrestler Jon Madsen by decision in his first fight. He drew some attention when he knocked out Tim Sylvia in the first at Titan Fighting Championships 16. In his last nine, Wagner's only two losses are to UFC heavyweights Travis Browne and Aaron Rosa.
Eric Prindle is a gargantuan heavyweight who cuts a significant amount of weight to hit the 265-pound limit. His only loss is a 2008 submission to former King of the Cage Super-Heavyweight champion Jimmy Ambriz.
Poll
Winner of this season's heavyweight tournament?
Neil Grove
Mike Hayes
Blagoi Ivanov
Zak Jensen
Abe Wagner
Eric Prindle
Ron Sparks
Mark Holata
0 votes | Results
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, tournament, grove, jensen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 52 Live Results and Play-by-Play (6 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the L’Auberge du Lac Casino and Resort in
Lake Charles, La., at approximately 6:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 52, which features the quarterfinals of Bellator's Season 5 heavyweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, tournament, lake charles, lake
Read the full article at SherdogBellator FC weigh in results
The Bellator 52 weigh-ins have been completed from L’Auberge du Lac Hotel Resort in preparation for Bellator’s Saturday night event at the...
Posted in: night, bellator, &rsquo, bellator fc, weigh-in
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBellator CEO: Thiago Santos' Bellator 52 tourney scratch due to 'bureaucratic hurdles'
A bureaucratic nightmare will keep Thiago Santos out of Saturday's Bellator 52 event and the organization's eight-man heavyweight tournament.
Santos was slated to fight Blagoi Ivanov in an MTV2-televised main-card bout at Saturday's event at L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort.
However, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney today told MMAjunkie.com Radio that "Big Monster" couldn't leave Brazil because of "bureaucratic hurdles."
Posted in: bellator, event, mmajunkie.com radio, hurdles '., bellator ceo
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 52 Weigh-In Results
The Bellator 52 weigh-ins took place earlier this afternoon in Jack Daniel’s Bar & Grill in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
All heavyweight tournament participants made weight, however Zak Jensen has unexpectedly replaced Thiago Santos in the tourney due to visa issues.
The weigh-in results:
Neil Grove (265.5) vs. Mike Hayes (228)
Blagoi Ivanov (244) vs. Zak Jensen (265)
Eric Prindle (265.5) vs. Abe Wagner (247.5)
Mark Holata (258) vs. Ron Sparks (263)
Genair da Silva (150.4) vs. Bryan Goldsby (144.4)
Cosmo Alexander (157) vs. Josh Quayhagen (156)
Justin Frazier (263) vs. Liron Wilson (227.4)
Nick Nichols (213.6)* vs. Matt Van Buren (204.2)
Fighters in non-title fights are allowed to weigh in one pound over the weight class limit.
Bellator 52 takes place tomorrow night at the L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana and will air live on MTV2.
Posted in: bellator, vs, lake charles, non-title fights, zak jensen
Read the full article at MMA ConvertHeavyweight Quarterfinalists on Point for Bellator 52
Bellator Fighting Championships moved one step closer to finding a No. 1 contender for Cole Konrad’s heavyweight title, as all eight Season 5 heavyweight tournament participants hit their contracted weights
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, weight, point, heavyweight quarterfinalists
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 52 weigh-in results: Tourney fighters on weight, Jensen tapped replacement
All eight fighters competing in the opening round of Bellator's season-five heavyweight tournament today successfully made weight.
Today's Bellator 52 weigh-ins took place at Jack Daniel's Bar & Grill in Lake Charles, La.
However, the festivities did provide a surprise: Thiago Santos was forced out of the tournament, and "The Ultimate Fighter 10" cast member Zak Jensen has taken his spot.
Posted in: bellator, fighter, lake charles, opening round, tourney fighters
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBen Askren vs. Jay Hieron on Tap for Bellator 56
Bellator fans have been waiting for this fight for a long time, and one of the biggest fights in the promotion's short history is finally on the calendar. Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren will defend his title against season four welterweight tournament winner Jay Hieron on at Bellator 56 on October 29th in Kansas City. This will be Askren's first title defense.
Askren won the season two welterweight tournament and dominated Lyman Good to take a unanimous decision and the welterweight title back at Bellator 33 last October. He defeated Nick Thompson in a non-title match at Bellator 40 in April. Hieron, as mentioned above, won the season four welterweight tournament by winning close decisions over Brent Weedman in the semi-finals and Rick Hawn in the finals. He is currently on an eight-fight winning streak.
It is well known that these two men do not like each other, and have traded jabs on twitter for months now. It is a bit curious that Bellator would book this fight for the same night as UFC 137 though. With two of the most anticipated welterweight fights of the year on that UFC card, which directly compete with it with their welterweight title fight? Either way, October 29th will be a great night for 170 pound MMA action.
Posted in: fight, bellator, title, welterweight, askren
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowThe Bellator Season Five Heavyweight Tournament Competitors
Man, Bellator is seriously churning out the tournaments, eh? Thus far the organization’s fifth season has brought us new fields of welterweights, middleweights and bantamweights, and this Saturday night it will be the heavyweights. Next week, it’ll simply be guys named “Joe”, and the week after that it’ll be a tournament of fancy coffee drinkers. But anyway, the heavyweight quarterfinals. They’re on deck. Last time around we got to witness the pugilistic stylings of Neil Grove smothered by the affectionate grasp of wrestler and human blanket Cole Konrad, so now that Konrad is the champ the competitors are vying for a shot at usurping him. Who are these dudes? And do any of them stand a chance of avoiding the reigning Bellator heavyweight champ’s tender cuddles? The answer to the second question is likely “no”, but read on for a more detailed breakdown to question number one.
-Neil Grove – He hits hard, which is a plus, and he’s fought in the UFC and Cage Rage – the latter proving to be where he’s done some of his best work. I like Grove’s odds in making it to the end of this tournament, as he’s got just enough explosiveness to be exciting and just enough experience to know when to use it. Unfortunately, if he wins, Konrad is going to exploit his comparative wrestling weakness by making “sweet lurv” to him once more.
-Mike Hayes – Hailing from the Northwest circuit, Hayes is durable as hell and can hit hard like Grove (he once KO’d UFC vet Fabiano Scherner). Facing Grove in the quarterfinals means we’re going to see either a sudden smashing or a long, protracted battle that leaves a dozen spectators dead from collateral damage. But don’t worry, you and I are watching this thing go down from the safety of our homes, so we’ll be safe.
-Thiago Santos – Santos is a big Brazilian monster. In fact, his nickname is “Big Monster”, mostly because he used to hide under beds and eat children in the middle of the night, but he has fought in MMA too. His one loss came to Alexey Oleinik via submission at an event in Russia, yet he’s beaten dudes by sub himself – as well as knockout – so watch for him to lumber around a lot and be somewhat dangerous everywhere.
-Blagoi Ivanov – This is all you need to know about this Bulgarian: he beat Fedor Emelianenko at a sambo tournament back in 2008. Enough said.
-Abe Wagner – Hey, remember TUF 10 when Kimbo Slice was on the SpikeTV show? Yeah, Wagner was there, too. He lost early on, and has since been toiling in the minor leagues. However, he did land the money shot by KOing Tim Sylvia in 32 seconds (maybe it was a questionable stoppage, but so what?), so the dude has got that going for him.
-Eric Prindle – Prindle kicked ass while boxing in the Army (FYI: the Army has internal boxing tournaments), so it’s safe to say he has a firm grasp of the mechanics of a jab, cross and hook. He is pretty green, though, and his lone loss in eight fights has been via submission to Jimmy Ambriz – and Ambriz is not a sub guy. That sort of speaks volumes as to where Prindle is at on the food chain.
-Ron Sparks – Sparks needed less than a minute to score a knockout in his Bellator debut, and the heavy hitter knows at least enough about grappling to avoid Jonathan Ivey’s infamous rolling kneebar assault. But his perfect 7-0 record means he’s a bit lacking in the experience department, and that could be an issue if he makes it past quarterfinal opponent Mark Holata – which isn’t exactly a given.
-Mark Holata – In two Bellator outings Holata has punched his way to convincing victories. He’s taking a step up in competition by competing in this tournament, and he’ll likely have trouble when faced with some of the more salty veterans. But it should be fun watching him slug it out until then, right?
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, tournament, grove, ’ll
Read the full article at MMA ConvertPick a Card: Bellator 52
You know, part of me still wonders why Bellator believes Saturday is THE must-have night for MMA. They usually have some pretty worthwhile fights, but they’re largely unseen because they seem to coincide against one of the bigger promotions’ big cards.
Take last week for example. Fantastic card, with tons of considerations for “Knockout of the Year” but it ran up against UFC 135. As a result, the ratings weren’t deserving of a card of that stature. This weekend, it runs up against UFC on Versus.
At some point, I’ll stop sympathizing if Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney doesn’t re-think the gameplan and maybe start moving the events to Fridays or Sundays (Bellator would have a better ratings shot if it were up against say, Strikeforce Challengers (or, well, nothing) but for now all I can do is urge you fans watching UFC to check out Bellator and give it a shot.
Keep supporting MMA on all stages. It needs our support as much as we need its entertainment.
Let’s go quick pick with the feature fight/prelim card of Bellator 52, and then we’ll look in better depth at the main card (starting at 9:00 PM EST on MTV2/EPIX) for a breakdown of the Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament quarterfinals.
Preliminary Fights (streaming through Spike.com at 6:30 PM EST):
Matt Van Buren vs. Nick Nichols
Prediction – Nick Nichols def. Matt Van Buren via Submission
Liron Wilson vs. Justin Frazier
Prediction – Justin Frazier def. Liron Wilson via TKO
Josh Burns vs. Zak Jensen
Prediction – Zak Jensen def. Josh Burns via TKO
Cosmo Alexandre vs. Josh Quayhagen
If any prelim, I’d say to watch this one. Quayhagen and the debuting Alexandre (his first MMA fight after years of K-1) will probably just stand and trade shots until someone goes down and calls it a night. Should be a fun and quick fight.
Prediction – Cosmo Alexandre def. Josh Quayhagen via TKO
Genair Da Silva vs. Brian Goldsby
This is also a good prelim to keep an eye on. Both are Bellator vets that have taken some of the fed’s best to their limits. Goldsby has a win over Jeff Curran and Da Silva took Marlon Sandro the distance.
Prediction: Genair Da Silva def. Brian Goldsby via TKO
Main Card Fights / Bellator Season Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinals:
Mark Holata vs. Ron Sparks
Holata and Sparks are both 2X Bellator vets, which Sparks winning both his fights in a combined 2:48 and Holata in even less. Holata has won eight straight and has not lost a fight in nearly three years. Both fighters have a preference to keeping their fights standing, though they both have wrestling backgrounds. The fighter to keep an eye on here is Sparks, who has one punch knockout power that he isn’t afraid to utilize. You’ll probably see him swing for the fences a few times as a result. This is a tough one to call because this will probably be the biggest test for either fighter to date. This may be over very quick.
Prediction – Mark Holata def. Ron Sparks via TKO
Eric Prindle vs. Abe Wagner
How many fighters can say their fighting lives got BETTER after the UFC cut them? Abe Wagner has gained more spotlight outside the UFC than inside after Ultimate Fighter, defeating Tim Sylvia in short order, and recording 3 stoppages in as many victories.
If you’ve never seen Prindle, picture Butterbean with muscle definition. Prindle’s HUGE, and has fought at Super Heavyweight in the past. He also trains with the likes of Pat Barry, Cole Konrad, and Brock Lesnar. Prindle won his Bellator debut via doctor’s stoppage, and his 7-1 record is hardly a reflection of his wrestling skill, which he’s not had many chances to use. Wagner’s best bet is to try to keep it standing, as Prindle will have his number on the ground. Expect this one to go into the third round, as both fighters will probably respect each others’ skills enough to make sure they aren’t diving into the wrong things.
Prediction – Eric Prindle def. Abe Wagner via TKO
Blagoi Ivanov vs. Thiago Santos
Ivanov gets the night’s “Balls of Steel” award. It’s amazing knowing Demetrious Johnson fought for ten minutes with a broken leg against Miguel Torres. It’s just as jaw-dropping knowing Ivanov broke BOTH HANDS against Kaz Fujita and kept going to the decision. Santos is largely unknown outside of his Native Brazil, and sets foot into Bellator with a very tough test. Ivanov is a former Sambo World champion who had to go through Fedor Emelianenko to get his championship in 2008. He was also part of a fight in 2008 that had to be stopped because THE RING BROKE. THE RING BROKE. How intense does your match have to be (or how crappy does the ring have to be) to break mid-match?
Unlike the fight two fights that I expect will be standups, this match will probably go to the ground and be there for the majority of it, if not the whole thing. Based on his track record in his short MMA career, I deem Ivanov the coolest dude in the history of ever.
Predicition – Blagoi Ivanov def. Thiago Santos via TKO
Neil Grove vs. Mike Hayes
The 80s wrestling fan in me is still disappointed Hayes’ nickname isn’t “The Freebird.” Grove is likely the “name” favorite entering the tournament. He’s fought all over the world, and is starting to now make a name for himself in Bellator. Grove is also the oldest competitor in the tournament at age 40, and looks to make his way back to the top of the Bellator heavyweight mountain, where Konrad awaits a possible rematch. (Konrad has only fought once since he beat Grove in last year’s tournament final, a candidate for sleep aid of the year against Paul Buentello back in August). Hayes comes back to Bellator after 3 wins in his home state of Washington following his early tournament exit last year. The three wins (all stoppages) were good shows of Hayes’ striking power and BJJ, and those are tools he’ll use to counter Grove’s boxing and dominant standup prowess. On the feet, this isn’t even a contest. Grove is far too technical a striker, and far too powerful of a puncher. If Hayes even considers getting into a slugfest, this fight could be over faster than the ring intros. Hayes’ only hope is to try to take Grove down and keep him there, lest he see a repeat of the Jensen fight. Hayes will have to find a way, however, to keep the South African down. Grove’s upper body strength is second to none amongst all Bellator heavyweights, and he can power out of any openings he’s given. His submission defense, however, has been lacking in past fights, and this is where Hayes will have to try to catch him off guard. The question is whether Hayes remains disciplined enough to execute a gameplan that doesn’t get broken by the urge to stand and trade punches. Too often, this ends up being the case. The fight should be Grove’s as a result, sliding him into the next round.
Prediction: Neil Grove def. Mike Hayes via TKO
Really, this should be a decent event, and all Bellator and MMA fans should come in expecting and then receiving a night full of fireworks.
Enjoy the fights, and see you cageside!
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Posted in: fight, bellator, vs, haye, grove
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 52's Neil Grove on lost broadcasting gig, UFC falling out, camp overhaul
Neil Grove wasn't thinking much about fighting when Bellator officials called him to participate in their next heavyweight tournament.
Because during that call, the promotion also told him they had decided to bring back commentator Jimmy Smith, whom Grove had been groomed to replace in the booth.
Commentary had been something Grove had fallen in love with until that point. But, of course, fighting was what he loved too, and he was being given a chance to win the tournament and get a second shot at the man who defeated him to take the first-ever Bellator heavyweight title.
Posted in: bellator, grove, neil grove, broadcasting gig, camp overhaul
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 52 weigh in results for 'Grove vs Hayes' on Sept. 30
The official weigh-in for Bellator 52's Saturday evening event takes place today (September 30, 2011) at the L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Bellator 52 will be the continuation of the promotion's fifth season as eight heavyweights square off in the quarterfinals for the right to challenge for the title and earn a cool $100,000.
Returning to the tournament will be former season three runner-up Neil Grove and season three tournament participant Mike Hayes, who's won three fights in the past year to earn an invite.
They will be joined by the a group of tournament newcomers which includes Ultimate Fighter season 10 competitor Abe Wagner, undefeated prospect Ron Sparks, tough Brazilian Thiago Santos, Sambo champion Blagoi Ivanov, knockout artist Eric Prindle and gritty Oklahoman Mark Holata.
Complete Bellator 52 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
265 lbs.: Neil Grove () vs. Mike Hayes ()265 lbs.: Blagoi Ivanov () vs. Thiago Santos ()265 lbs.: Eric Prindle () vs. Abe Wagner ()265 lbs.: Mark Holata () vs. Ron Sparks ()
Local Feature Fights (Spike.com)
145 lbs.: Genair da Silva () vs. Bryan Goldsby ()155 lbs.: Cosmo Alexandre () vs. Josh Quayhagen ()265 lbs.: Josh Burns () vs. Zak Jensen ()265 lbs.: Liron Wilson () vs. Justin Frazier ()205 lbs.: Matt Van Buren () vs. Nick Nichols ()
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 52, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 9 p.m. ET tomorrow night (October 1).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: bellator, season, vs, lb, tomorrow night
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVila: If You Stand with Me, You’ll Get Knocked Out
Alexis Vila did something no one else had been able to do when he knocked out Joe Warren on Sept. 24 at Bellator Fighting Championships 51
Posted in: bellator, joe warren, alexi, alexis vila, vila
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 57 Fight Card Rumors
Bellator Fighting Championships 57 at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada, on November 12, 2011, rumored fight card and bouts.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fight card, card, casino rama
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyAskren Meets Hieron At Bellator 56
A welterweight contest between champion Ben Askren and top contender Jay Hieron is likely for Bellator 56 in Kansas City this October.
Posted in: bellator, kansas city, welterweight contest, askren, hieron
Read the full article at Heavy MMAZoia Gurgel vs. Carina Damm Featured at Bellator 57 in Canada
Bellator Fighting Championships on Thursday announced it will once again travel north of the border to Casino Rama in Ontario for Bellator 57.
Posted in: bellator, canada, casino rama, carina damm, ontario
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyBellator returns to Canada on Nov. 12
Bellator Fighting Championships is returning to Canada, with Bellator 57 set for Nov. 12 at Casino Rama at Rama, Ont.
Posted in: bellator, canada, casino rama, rama, bellator returns
Read the full article at sportsnet.caHollet-Hawk Added to Bellator 57 in Canada
The Bellator Fighting Championships 57 fight bill continues to develop, as the promotion on Thursday announced plans to return to Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada on Nov. 12
Posted in: bellator, championship, canada, casino rama, rama
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 57 official with welterweight tourney finale, Gurgel-Damm, Hollett-Hawk
As expected, Bellator women's 115-pound champion Zoila Gurgel has signed to fight recent Strikeforce fighter Carina Damm in a non-title fight at Bellator 57.
Bellator officials today announced event, which takes place Nov. 12 at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
Other announced fights slated for the card include the finale of the season-five welterweight tournament, as well as Canadian light heavyweight Roger Hottell vs. John Hawk.
Posted in: fight, bellator, place nov, casino rama, bellator women
Read the full article at MMA JunkieHieron-Askren, Heavyweight Semifinals Ticketed for Bellator 56
A long-anticipated welterweight title scrap between Ben Askren and Jay Hieron is now set, as the bout will go down Oct. 29 at Bellator 56
Posted in: bellator, ben askren, heavyweight semifinals, jay hieron, askren
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 57 booked for Casino Rama on Nov. 12 in Canada
CHICAGO, Ill. (September 29, 2011) - Bellator Fighting Championships announced today that the promotion will once again travel north of the border to Casino Rama in Ontario for Bellator 57 on November 12. The night will feature the finals of Bellator's Season 5 Welterweight Tournament, with the winner earning $100,000 and a guaranteed shot at the Bellator Welterweight Title.
Bellator 57 will also mark the return of Bellator Women's Champion Zoila Gurgel as she takes on Brazilian submission ace Carina Damm in a non-title affair LIVE on MTV2 and The Score in Canada as well as in commercial-free HD on EPIX, starting at 7 p.m. ET. The first fight of the night will begin at 5 p.m. ET and will be streamed free and around the world LIVE on Spike.com. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com and the Casino Rama Box Office.
Also, husband and wife have a chance of fighting on the same card as Damm, who is married to Bellator Season 5 welterweight Luis "Sapo" Santos, could have a chance of watching her husband vie for the tournament championship that night if Santos gets by Ben Saunders at Bellator 53 on October 8 at Buffalo Run Casino & Resort in Miami, Oklahoma.
"We had a tremendous night of fights at our last event at Casino Rama, and I'm excited for another magical night on November 12 LIVE on MTV2, EPIX in HD and The Score in Canada," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney.
Two of the top welterweights in the sport will square off to determine who has truly earned a title shot for the Bellator Welterweight Championship. The tournament field currently stands at four, with Saunders taking on Santos and "The Cleveland Assassin" Chris Lozano fighting Douglas Lima at Bellator 53. Two will make it to Bellator 57, and be fighting for $100,000 and the chance to be called "champion."
Gurgel will look to keep her spotless Bellator record intact as "The Warrior Princess" holds a perfect 5-0 record with Bellator, including a Championship victory over the previously undefeated Megumi Fujii. While Gurgel secured the split-decision victory, she admits she was still a one-dimensional fighter at that point in her career.
"I haven't fought for a few months, but in my down time I feel like I've finally become a real mixed martial arts fighter," said Gurgel. "It was never a secret that my ground game was lacking and I liked to stay on my feet. That just isn't the case anymore, and my training has made me a much more complete fighter."
Both women will have very strong corners as Gurgel is married to former UFC fighter Jorge Gurgel and Damm's husband is the aforementioned Santos.
With both fighters having live-in coaches, Gurgel admits that having a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in her corner and her home has helped her career immensely.
"Jorge is one of the best coaches in the sport," said Zoila of her husband. "Mentally and physically, he just gets it, and I listen to him so closely. He's an amazing individual, and has helped me across the board."
Damm will have plenty of experience in her corner as well with husband Luis "Sapo" Santos.
"I train with Luis every day, and he has brought my Muay Thai skills to a whole new level," Damm said. "It's been a dream to train with Luis, and he has made me a better fighter."
"She is an amazing fighter," Santos said. "I would have never dreamed for my wife and I to both be fighting for Bellator, so this really is a great chance for us."
The night will also see Nova Scotia native Roger "The Hulk" Hollett make his Bellator debut against Ohio's own John Hawk in a light heavyweight affair. A true finisher, Hollett will be looking to move his win streak to five, and should have the hometown crowd behind him for the explosive matchup.
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: night, bellator, fighter, gurgel, casino rama
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChamp Ben Askren vs. Jay Hieron booked for Bellator 56 title fight in Kansas City
One of the biggest title fights in Bellator history now has a date.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed with sources close to the event that undefeated Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren will meet recent tournament winner Jay Hieron at Bellator 56.
The event takes place Oct. 29 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kan.
Posted in: bellator, mmajunkie.com today, kansas city, title fights, bellator history
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBest of Bellator Video: Neil Grove vs. Eddie Sanchez at Bellator 24
Later this week, Bellator Fighting Championships' season-five heavyweight tournament kicks off at Bellator 52.
One of the early favorites in the eight-man field is Neil Grove, who
suffered a loss to Cole Konrad in the finals of the organization's first
heavyweight tournament.
In our latest Best of Bellator Video installment, we take a look at one
of Grove's earliest Bellator fights: a Bellator 24 clash with fellow UFC
vet Eddie Sanchez.
Posted in: bellator, grove, neil grove, heavyweight tournament, cole konrad
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 51: Despite stellar show, ratings near all-time low
Bellator Fighting Championships turned up the heat this past weekend with one of the most exciting and evenly matched events in the promotion's history with the debut of the stacked season five bantamweight tournament.
Too bad it aired at the same time as UFC 135, the night of a much-hyped UFC light heavyweight title bout.
The upstart promotion was likely hoping that they would be a free alternative to the UFC pay-per-view event, but instead it appears that many MMA fans simply chose to ignore them.
MMANation brings the word that this past Saturday's Bellator 51 garnered just 158,000 viewers -- the fourth worst showing since the promotion partnered with MTV2.
Granted, that's at least an improvement over last week's abysmal 114,000 viewers which was an all-time record low for the promotion.
We'll compare how these ratings stack up to past events after the jump.
Bellator 44: 325,000 viewersBellator 47: 277,000 viewersBellator 45: 264,000 viewersBellator 49: 235,000 viewersBellator 36: 230,000 viewersBellator 48: 226,000 viewersBellator 40: 218,000 viewersBellator 35: 200,000 viewersBellator 42: 199,000 viewersBellator 46: 185,000 viewersBellator 43: 182,000 viewersBellator 39: 174,000 viewersBellator 37: 173,000 viewersBellator 51: 158,000 viewersBellator 38: 150,000 viewersBellator 41: 132,000 viewersBellator 50: 114,000 viewers
Bellator set a ratings record this past May with the season four lightweight tournament finals which also featured a "superfight" for middleweight champion Hector Lombard. Ratings were strong this offseason with the special featherweight "Summer Series" and things looked great for them when season five debuted with 235,000 viewers.
The recent run of weekly UFC events airing simultaneously as Bellator will end after October 8, so the promotion may finally be able to catch a break, but until then, they're likely in store for similar results.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, promotion, rating, viewersbellator
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 52: What to Watch For - HW Tournament 1st Round
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: bellator, st, tournament, mattyblayze, hw
Read the full article at RedditBellator 51: 158,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Bellator 51 held Saturday night drew an average of 158,000 viewers on MTV2. The results were up from last week but still an overall disappointing rating.
The opening of the bantamweight tournament for Bellator featured a highlight reel knockout of Joe Warren by Alex Vila. But, it faced stiff competition from UFC 135 as well as the usual slate of college football.
Payout Perspective:
According to MMA Junkie, the 158,000 viewers were ranked 14th out of 17 Bellator shows on MTV2. Its a tough spot for Bellator considering it went up against UFC 135. If you consider the fact that the UFC 135 prelims had strong ratings, you can infer that most MMA fans were going to be focused on the UFC Saturday night.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, mma, viewer, alex vila
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBellator 51 ratings: Audience size up 39 percent but just 158,000 viewers
Ratings for this past weekend's Bellator 51 event were up 39 percent from the week prior, but the Sept. 24 event still drew just 158,000 viewers, ranking it 14th out of 17 events that have aired on MTV2 to date.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the ratings with an industry source.
Bellator 51, which took place at Ohio's Canton Memorial Civic Center, faced stiff competition from UFC 135, one of the biggest MMA pay-per-view events of the year.
Posted in: bellator, event, mmajunkie.com today, canton memorial, industry source
Read the full article at MMA JunkieWelterweight Semis, Mann-Foster Slated for Bellator 53 in Oklahoma
Bellator Fighting Championships has undergone a change of plans for its Oct. 8 offering, as Bellator 53 will no longer take place at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino. Instead, the event will emanate from the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla.
Posted in: bellator, palace, welterweight semis, casino, emanate
Read the full article at SherdogKendall Grove vs Jay Silva booked for theScore Fighting Series on Oct. 14
There is life after UFC.
Former ZUFFA middleweights Kendall Grove and Jay Silva have been tapped to hook 'em up at theScore Fighting Series on Oct. 14 at the Hamilton Place Theatre in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
MMA Die Hards brought word of the pending match-up earlier today.
Grove (13-9) was able to snap a two-fight losing streak, one that earned him a UFC pink slip, by strangling Joe Riggs at the ProElite event held in Hawaii just last month. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 3 champion has been consistently inconsistent since graduating from the Spike TV reality show and could boost his stock with a string of victories on the regional circuit.
But first he must get past the heavy hands of Silva.
After back-to-back decision losses to Chris Leben and C.B. Dollaway, Silva (7-4) was bounced from the UFC roster and immediately picked up by Bellator -- where he was promptly pasted by middleweight champion Hector Lombard.
Undaunted, the Reign MMA product got back on his horse and was able to string together consecutive wins for Tachi Palace Fights and Bellator, respectively.
Can he make it three in a row against "Da Spyder?"
theScore Figthing Series will feature a main event pitting "El Dirte," Joe Doerksen, against hard-hitting Bellator veteran Brett Cooper in a middleweight headliner.
Two other bouts slotted for the main card feature Lyndon Whitlock taking on Tristan Johnson while Eric Moon tests his might against Rory McDonell.
For more on theScore Fighting Series click here.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, silva, series, thescore
Read the full article at MMA ManiaRyan Contaldi in, Jamall Johnson out against Bellator 54's Tim Carpenter
One of the featured preliminary-card bouts at next month's Bellator 54 event has undergone a change.
Bellator officials have told MMAjunkie.com that Jamall Johnson has been scratched and replaced by Ryan Contaldi, who now meets fellow light heavyweight Tim Carpenter.
Bellator 54 takes place Oct. 15 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
Posted in: bellator, ryan contaldi, jamall johnson, tim carpenter, preliminary-card bouts
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator TV numbers continue rollercoaster ride
There has been much talk lately of Bellator FC moving over to Spike TV and judging by the figures it is drawing on MTV 2, that move could not come soon...
Posted in: bellator, figure, spike tv, tv, bellator fc
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyReminder: Bellator Put On Another Great Show Last Saturday
The UFC's stranglehold on the market has overshadowed another rock-solid offering from the Bellator promotion. Precariously aligned head to head with the UFC 135 clamor last weekend, Bellator 51 rolled out the 2011 Bantamweight Tournament with exciting results.
Joe Warren, the top ranked featherweight champion, entered the 135-pound brackets, endeavoring to carve through the tournament for an opportunity to add Zach Makovsky's belt to his collection. Instead, former Cuban Olympic wrestler and undefeated American Top Team fighter Alexis Vila walked his scathing pre-fight talk by flattening Warren with a first round knockout (highlights below).
Preceding the headliner, Eduardo Dantas chalked up the first jaw-dropping finish of the broadcast with a vicious flying knee on Wilson Reis. The pair tangled to a back and forth stalemate in the first frame, which could have been scored for either fighter, but "Dudu" clenched an electrifying win with his violent outburst early in the second (second video below).
Perpetually under-rated Nova Uniao bantamweight Marcos Galvao also advanced by defeating former WEC champion Chase Beebe by split-decision in a three round dogfight. "Louro", who nearly upset Warren in a controversial decision at Bellator 41, laid into Beebe early with a takedown and immediate back control. Though his pace slowed a little in the third round, he cracked Beebe with low kicks and stiff punches throughout a contest that wasn't as close as the split decision would have you believe.
Another series of questionable scores were turned in for the Luis Alberto Noguiera versus Ed West fight. "Betao" is a fiercely aggressive gamer who camped out on the fringe of striking range and showered West with a litany of strikes. Flying knees, hooks to the body and high velocity kicks were delivered by Nogueira, but West showed fervent determination in weathering the storm to snare a unanimous decision. The action was undoubtedly evenly contested but I scored the first two for Nogueira.
Recap videos of the two memorable finishes and full event results are posted after the break.
SBN coverage of Bellator 51
Bellator 51 Preliminary Card Results
Joey Bernard Holt defeats Clint Musser by KO (Flying Knee) in Round One
John Hawk defeats Allan Weickert by TKO (Retirement) in Round Two
Dan Spohn defeats Dane Bonnigson by KO (Knee) in Round One
Jessie Riggleman defeats Farkhad Sharipov by Split Decision
Jessica Eye defeats Casey Noland by Split Decision
Frank Caraballo defeats Dustin Kempf by TKO (Knee Injury) in Round One
Bellator 51 Bantamweight Tournament Results
Ed West defeats Luis Alberto Nogueira by Unanimous Decision
Marcos Galvao defeats Chase Beebe by Split Decision
Eduardo Dantas defeats Wilson Reis by KO (Flying Knee and Punches) in Round Two
Alexis Vila defeats Joe Warren by KO (Punch) in Round One
Video highlights via Bellator's Youtube Page
Posted in: bellator, round, decision, defeat, knee
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 55 slated for Oct. 22, features Vila-Galvao, Dantas-West tourney semifinals
Following their victories at Saturday's Bellator 50 event, the organization's four bantamweight-tournament winners have been slotted for their next fights.
Bellator 55 plays host to the tourney-semifinal matchups of Alexis Vila vs. Marcos Galvao and Eduardo Dantas vs. Ed West.
Bellator officials today confirmed the matchups with MMAjunkie.com.
Posted in: bellator, marcos galvao, tourney-semifinal matchups, ed west, bantamweight-tournament winners
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 51 Video Highlights
Video highlights from Bellator 51.
Read the full article at MMA Convert
Bellator 54 main card adds Makovsky-Roberts non-title fight, prelims booked
A bout between Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky and former UFC fighter Ryan Roberts is among the additions to next month's Bellator 54 card.
The non-title fight will be contested over three rounds.
Bellator 54 takes place Oct. 15 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. The night's main card airs on MTV2 (and in high-definition on EPIX), and the prelims stream on Spike TV.
Posted in: bellator, card airs, card, prelims stream, epix ),
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMMAjunkie.com Radio: Bellator champ Zach Makovsky, weekend MMA recap
MMAjunkie.com Radio today welcomes to the show Bellator bantamweight champion Zach Makovsky, who helps us recap Saturday's Bellator 51 event and the opening round of the 135-pound tournament.
We also discuss UFC 135 and Strikeforce Challengers 19.
MMAjunkie.com Radio airs from noon to 2 p.m. ET (9-11 a.m. PT) live from
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Listen to and
watch a video stream of the two-hour show at www.mmajunkie.com/radio, or watch it live on select television markets as part of Fight Now TV.
Posted in: bellator, radio, video stream, mmajunkie.com, television markets
Read the full article at MMA JunkieAlexis Vila knockout over Joe Warren at Bellator 51 (Video)
They call Alexis Vila "The Exorcist" which is unintentionally funny since Joe Warren was speaking in tongues after bouncing his melon off the canvas.
MMAmania's own Brian Hemminger busts out the caps lock in his Bellator 51 live blog:
Vila opens with a nice head kick attempt that's blocked. Both men bouncing around the catch full of energy. Warren trying to stay on the outside early and use his reach. Villa connects with a right hand and stuns Warren early but drops for a takedown instead of following up. Warren creates distance and throws a big right hook but Vila counters with a left hook that knocks Warren COMPLETELY OUT COLD! Warren is stiff on the canvas and Vila throws one hammer fist before the ref tackles him off.
For more Bellator 51 results and fight highlights click here and here.
Posted in: bellator, joe warren, warren, vila, hammer fist
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 51 results: Vila, Dantas, Galvao, West punch tickets to bantamweight semis (MMAJunkie.com)
Undefeated Bellator newcomer Alexis Vila dashed Joe Warren’s hopes of multiple titles in emphatic fashion...
Posted in: bellator, result, vila, bantamweight semis, fashion
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsUFC Won't Buy Library Rights, Believes Spike TV Is Being Dishonorable
In an interview with MMAFighting.com's Ariel Helwani on Wednesday of last week, UFC President Dana White updated fans on the current situation with Spike TV. As of right now, Spike TV owns UFC programming rights through 2012, putting a thorn in the UFC's back as they move forward with their new television partner Fox. There is an option for the UFC to buy back the rights, but it will eliminate a clause in the deal that stops Spike TV from bringing in another promotion to fill the void.
Spike TV hasn't hidden the fact that they would like to move Bellator Fighting Championships over from MTV2 to their network. Both channels are under the Viacom umbrella, and despite Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney's past comments that they are pleased with MTV2 and will stay there -- Spike TV has already put the wheels in motion. One such piece of evidence came on September 10th when Spike TV's website, Spike.com, began broadcasting live prelims for Bellator.
White was pressed by Helwani about the library rights, and he responded to questions revolving around Spike TV broadcasting Bellator's preliminary card on their website. FightOpinion.com's Zach Arnold has the transciption:
The most intriguing insider baseball segment of the interview is when Ariel asked Dana whether or not it's true that Spike can't air Bellator on TV in 2012 unless UFC buys the rights (picks up the option) to their video library to stop it from airing on Spike in 2012. Dana says that UFC has no intentions on buying the library rights, so Spike is stuck with UFC programming in 2012 as their only contractual choice.Ariel then pressed Dana on Spike airing Bellator fights on their web site.
"If you really look at what I call the spirit of the deal... it's the wrong thing to do.""In my opinion, it's Spike not being honorable.""I've been nothing but honorable with them.""That is not the spirit of the deal and they're being 100% not honorable."
It will be an interesting year for the UFC in 2012. They will be counter programmed by their own content on Spike TV, and it will more than likely affect their ratings. Spike TV believes that fans are morons however. They'll be confused by the UFC's switch to Fox because Spike TV is the home of the UFC. In reality, Fox's broader reach and bevy of secondary channels should inform the fanbase of the move, along with the UFC's own advertising during pay-per-views.
Dana White has stated all along that Spike TV has been an honorable partner that helped them grow for years and years. It would seem that White is now finding out the hardships of playing chess in the landscape of television. Spike TV, however dishonorable you may believe they are being by airing Bellator's prelims, is a business. In my mind, the move was a precursor to bringing Bellator over to the network.
Unfortunately for Spike TV, the UFC won't be opting to buy back the library rights. Spike TV will have to wait a year to move Bellator over to their network, and the UFC and Fox will have to spend a little extra money getting the word out about upcoming events. A minor trade-off to stop their primary competitor from stabilizing. Will Bellator survive the year? Will Spike TV hurt the UFC's ratings on Fox? Only time will tell, but it should be a fascinating business story buried beneath the pugilism.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, spike tv, tv, spike
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBest of the Rest: highlights of this weekend’s non-UFC action
While most of the MMA world’s attention this past weekend was directed at UFC 135 and the dominant display of MMA skill displayed by UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, there was a glut of fights spread amongst multiple organizations. Strikeforce, Bellator, DREAM, and Titan Fighting Championships all hosted cards this past weekend. MMAFrenzy is here to honor the best (and worst) of a packed MMA weekend outside of the UFC.
Fight of the Weekend
Tatsuya Kawajiri defeats Joachim Hansen – DREAM 17
Tatsuya “Crusher” Kawajiri made his featherweight debut this weekend against elite grappler Joachim Hansen. Kawajiri and Hansen went to war this weekend in a physical battle that lived up to its billing as the two put on an impressive display of grappling. Each of the first two rounds ended with a fighter in trouble with Hansen taking back mount at the end of the first, while Kawajiri tried to pound out Hansen at the end of the second. In the third, both fighters went toe-to-toe again before Kawajiri scored a takedown and sunk in a deep arm triangle that Hansen valiantly attempted to fight off before eventually tapping.
While Bellator had some spectacular battles as well, the impressive display of grappling skills, in my opinion, made the Kawajiri-Hansen the best fight of the weekend.
Honorable mentions: Ed West defeats Luis Nogueira – Bellator 51, Marcos Galvao defeats Chase Beebe – Bellator 51, Ryan Couture edges Maka Watson – Strikeforce Challengers 19
Knockout of the Weekend
Alexis Vila crushes Joe Warren – Bellator 51
Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren had been billed as “going for history” by attempting to win a title at bantamweight in addition to his current belt. His first round tournament opponent, Alexis Vila (pictured courtesy of Bellator.com), had other plans. Vila, the more decorated wrestler by far, was sick of Warren’s brash talk and annoyed by the many naming Warren the favorite to win the tournament. Warren had a habit of living on the edge in fights but had always managed to find a way to pull out a victory. That run ended in brutal fashion Saturday, when Vila landed a left that separated the featherweight champion from consciousness.
At 40, Vila is unlikely to make a long run with any promotion but the elite wrestler is extremely talented and sure to ruffle any organization he fights with. With that said, a “knock out of the year” candidate always helps a fighter’s cause.
Honorable mentions: “Lion” Takeshi Inoue blasts Caol Uno – DREAM 17, Andrew Whitney’s flying knee on Laramie Shaffer – TFC 20, James Terry destroys Magno Almeida – Strikeforce Challengers 19
Submission of the Weekend
Bibiano Fernandes chokes out Takafumi Otsuka – DREAM 17
This one was pretty much between the DREAM fighters with Fernandes edging out Kawajiri and the two grappling sociopaths in Masakazu Imanari and Shinya Aoki. While DREAM having spectacular submissions would likely surprise no one, with this lineup it was hard to pick just one. Fernandes took the fight in my opinion based solely on how he went about. Fernandes speed and quickness were frightening as it took him merely 41 seconds to put Takafumi Otsuka to sleep with a technical submission. The only thing Fernandes forgot to do in that fight was give his opponent a pillow. It was just another dominant win for the talented Brazilian bantamweight.
Honorable Mentions: Shinya Aoki adjusts Rob McCullough’s spine via neck crank – DREAM 17, Masakazu Imanari armbars Abel Cullum – DREAM 17, Kawajiri arm triangle on Hansen – Dream 17
Most Impressive Prospect
Jason High crushes Todd Moore – Strikeforce Challengers 19
Jason High handled Todd Moore in impressive fashion this past Friday. High displayed a well-rounded assault that had Moore in trouble from start to finish. While Moore displayed heart in the fight, High’s grappling and striking nearly finished Moore multiple times. While it could be argued High is no longer a prospect after losses with DREAM, the UFC, and Affliction, it is important to remember that fighters all develop at different speeds and the “Kansas City Bandit” has evolved a lot with each fight.
Honorable Mentions: Eduardo Dantas – Bellator 51, Alexis Vila – Bellator 51, Dakota Cochrane – TFC 20
Worst of the Worst
While there were a lot of highlights outside the UFC this weekend there were several poor performances as well.
For all the talk about Joe Warren, I found it odd no one seemed to acknowledge how reckless he had been in his fights or the fact that Vila was actually the better wrestler. Warren, like his teammate Chael Sonnen, was the perfect example of a fighter who marketed himself beyond his previous performances. While Sonnen improved in some aspects, Warren’s recklessness finally caught up to him when he ran into a true monster in Vila.
There was a time when I got excited to see Kazushi Sakuraba on a card but now all I feel is dread. Saku is arguably one of the best Japanese fighters of all-time but after his devastating and horrific loss to Ricardo Arona in ’05 he never was the same fighter. The Saku that fights now is but a shell of the once great fighter and watching him now is sad. As someone with a medical background, it is hard to imagine that he would be allowed to fight in the US due to accumulation of damage (he already shows signs of Dementia pugilistica). So for DREAM to keep giving him fights is irresponsible. It is time for him to retire, before he likely becomes a very high profile in-fight casualty. Same could be said for Caol Uno.
I cannot remember any fighter having such an accelerated rise and precipitous fall as Brett Rogers. Rogers looked terrible against Eddie Sanchez this past weekend and it is likely the only time someone has been able to say “my only losses are to Josh Barnett, Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, and Eddie Sanchez. If that does not make you think of a Sesame Street song, I do not know what will. Maybe the “Fedor curse” is not just a fluke…
Jamie Varner, I really do not know what to say about the former WEC champion. Maybe injuries have caught up to him or maybe the drama outside the cage has distracted him, but losing (and losing badly) to late-replacement Dakota Cochrane was shocking to say the least. I am not sure where Varner will go after a one-sided loss at TFC 20, and it is likely he does not know either.
Bellator 51 was supposed to mark the debut of talented Russian fighter Rasul Mirzaev. Mirzaev is currently being held until his next court appearance (due in October). Mirzaev was arrested in the death of a Russian student after an altercation at a nightclub outside Moscow. Political and religious factors tied to Mirzaev’s ethnicity and training have caused the case to take on a life of its own in Russia.
Posted in: fight, bellator, fighter, dream, weekend
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyStealing UFC Thunder Proves Tough Sledding for Bellator
CANTON, Ohio -- Bellator Fighting Championships 51 resulted in three knockouts from well-timed knees, two of them of the flying variety.
Posted in: bellator, championship, well-timed knees, ufc thunder, well-timed
Read the full article at SherdogNight of upsets at Bellator 51 as Joe Warren and Wilson Reis fall to defeat
Last night Bellator set up camp in the home of the NFL Hall of Fame – Canton, Ohio – and delivered an evening of action featuring enough hard-hits to even make the gridiron greats proud!
Among the night’s numerous finishes were a couple of surprising outcomes in the form of knockout losses to long-time Bellator fighters Wilson Reis and the promotion’s reigning featherweight champion, Joe Warren.
Warren Wants to Become Bellator’s First Two-Division Title-Holder
Reis has been a part of the Bellator since the organization’s first season but has lost his last two fights via strike-based stoppage. The latest instance came after rising 22-year old prospect Eduardo Dantas landed a flying knee, then finished things off with a few shots from above, to improve his record to 11-2.
Stopping Warren’s dream of being a double-divisional champion was former Olympic wrestler Alexis Vila who is now 10-0 in his MMA career. The two talented grapplers didn’t have time to test each other on the ground after Vila landed a powerful left hook sending an already-snoozing Warren to the mat only a minute into their headlining clash.
Joining Vila and Dantas in the Bellator Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament semifinal round were Ed West and Marcos Galvao who both won by way of decision. The four men will meet in a month to determine who moves one step closer to a shot at 135-pound champion Zach Makovsky and a $100,000 payday.
Check below for a full rundown of Bellator 51 results:
Frank Caraballo def. Dustin Kempf via TKO Round 1 (Knee Injury)
Joey Holt def. Clint Musser via Knockout Round 1 (Strikes)
John Hawk def. Allan Weickert via TKO Round 2 (Retirement)
Dan Spohn def. Dane Bonnigson via Knockout Round 1 (Knee)
Jessie Riggleman def. Farkhad Sharipov via Split Decision
Jessica Eye def. Casey Noland via Split Decision
Ed West def. Luis Alberto Nogueira via Unanimous Decision
Marcos Galvao def. Chase Beebe via Split Decision
Eduardo Dantas def. Wilson Reis via Knockout Round 2 (Knee/Strikes)
Alexis Vila def. Joe Warren via Knockout Round 1 (Strikes)
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Posted in: bellator, round, joe warren, warren, knockout
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator newcomer Alexis Vila brutally knocks out Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren in the...
Bellator newcomer Alexis Vila brutally knocks out Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren in the main event of Bellator 51 last night (September 24, 2011). Vila quickly ended Warren's dream of being a multi-divisional champion.
Posted in: bellator, champion, warren, vila, multi-divisional champion
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 51 results and recap for 'Warren vs Vila' on Sept. 24 in Canton, Ohio
Bellator 51 took place last night (September 24, 2011) from the Canton Memorial Civic Center in Canton, Ohio and yours truly was there to personally cover it live.
The event marked the first round of the promotion's season five bantamweight tournament.
If you didn't know who Alexis Vila was before, you most certainly do now.
The former Olympic bronze medalist freestyle wrestler absolutely obliterated Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren with a first round knockout that made the self-proclaimed "Baddest Man on the Planet" go completely stiff.
Vila set up his knockout with a right hand that stunned Warren and when American dove in aggressively with a right hook in retaliation, he was met with a beautiful left hook counter that put his lights out. The 40 year old Cuban defector definitely made a statement in his Bellator debut.
The rest of the card was wildly entertaining as well.
Top-rated Brazilian prospect Eduardo Dantas went head-to-head with Bellator veteran Wilson Reis who was entering his fourth tournament for the promotion.
Reis put up a fight in the first round, keeping the pressure on the 22-year old but all it took was one mistake for the fight to be over.
Reis had been having issues getting inside of Dantas reach and early in the second round he threw a head kick that left him off balance. He backed away in a straight line and that gave Dantas all the opening he needed to throw a vicious flying knee that cracked Reis on the chin and sent him tumbling to the canvas. After some quick blows on the ground, it was all she wrote for Reis.
WEC veterans Marcos Galvao and Chase Beebe put on a tremendous display of mixed martial arts for the fans in a bout that featured multiple wild scrambles, sweeps and harshly delivered strikes. Galvao got the better of the exchanges in the first two rounds, bloodying up the former WEC bantamweight champ pretty badly but Beebe showed pure heart in round three, bouncing back and getting the better of the stand-up.
When it was all said and done, the work Galvao put in in the first two rounds was enough to carry him to a split decision victory and allowing him to advance to the semifinals.
The opening bout of the night featured previous Bellator bantamweight tournament runner-up Ed West against powerful Luta Livre fighter Luis Nogueira. West controlled the range well with a vast array of kicks including front kicks, side kicks and even some flashy switch kicks but when Nogueira got inside he landed the more significant punches.
West's wrestling was his downfall in the last tournament against champion Zach Makovsky and he showcased improved offensive and defensive grappling against Nogueira, avoiding nearly all of the Brazilian's takedown attempts and even scoring a couple of his own.
The judges were impressed enough with West to award him a unanimous decision.
In the post-fight press conference, it was announced that Ed West will face Eduardo Dantas and Alexis Vila will fight Marcos Galvao in the tournament semifinals to be held on October 22, 2011.
For complete Bellator 51 results and detailed round-by-round commentary of all the televised fights click here.
Was there any result last night that really shocked you, Maniacs? Who's your pick to win the whole thing now that you've had a chance to see these incredible bantamweights in action?
Speak up!
Posted in: bellator, round, tournament, west, rei
Read the full article at MMA ManiaJoe Warren suffers first ever stoppage at Bellator
For the first time in his Bellator career, Joe Warren not only lost a fight but was finished as former Cuban Olympian Alexis Vila put an exclamation mark...
Posted in: bellator, joe, joe warren, exclamation mark, bellator career
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBellator 51 results: Vila, Dantas, Galvao, West punch tickets to bantamweight semis
Undefeated Bellator newcomer Alexis Vila dashed Joe Warren's hopes of multiple titles in emphatic fashion Saturday night.
The fight served as the main event of Bellator 51, which took place at Ohio's Canton Memorial Civic Center as part of the MTV2-televised main card. The prelims streamed on Spike.com.
Warren, Bellator's current featherweight champion, was attempting a run at a second championship belt. However, the promotion did him no favors in the opening round by pairing him up against the 2006 Olympic freestyle-wrestling bronze medalist.
Posted in: bellator, joe warren, canton memorial, bantamweight semis, featherweight champion
Read the full article at MMA JunkieJoe Warren Stunned in Bellator Bantamweight Tournament
Filed under: Bellator, NewsJoe Warren's pursuit of a second Bellator title didn't get very far.
Warren, Bellator's featherweight champion, dropped to bantamweight to enter the promotion's Season 5 tournament, hoping to win the tourney and get a shot at bantamweight champ Zack Makovsky. But Alexis Vila had plenty to say about that Saturday at Bellator 51, and he said it with his left hand.
Vila dropped Warren with a big left in the main event, knocking him out before he hit the ground. The knockout came at just 1:04 of the first round. Vila advanced to the semifinals of the Bellator bantamweight tourney, as did Eduardo Dantas, Marcos Galvao and Ed West with their wins on Saturday in Canton, Ohio.
"This is what MMA is about," Vila said after the fight. "I think everyone's happy with my performance, so let's roll. I'm looking for the title. It's why I came here - to get a title."
Warren's loss snapped a five-fight winning streak, all in Bellator, since his last loss at Dream 11, a submission setback to Bibiano Fernandes in October 2009. Warren's featherweight title was not on the line. Vila, from Cuba, remained unbeaten at 10-0. It was his Bellator debut.
In the co-main event, Dantas, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, upset Wilson Reis with a first-round knockout. Dantas landed a big flying right knee to Reis' chin. Six shots on the ground later, Reis was in his second straight Bellator semifinals. He lost in the featherweight tournament's semis in the spring.
And in a pair of unanimous decisions to open the quarterfinals, Marcos Galvao beat former WEC bantamweight champion Chase Beebe with a close split decision. Galvao, a BJJ black belt, survived several first-round submission attempts from Beebe. And West beat Luis Nogueira, a Brazilian national wrestling champion, by unanimous decision.
The semifinal fights of the bantamweight tournament are expected to take place in a Bellator event next month. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, warren, vila, marcos galvao
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 51 Live Results: Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinals
Bellator 51 takes place tonight in Canton, Ohio featuring Bellator’s season five bantamweight tournament quarterfinals, including Joe Warren vs. Alexis Vila and Wilson Reis vs. Eduardo Dantas.
MMAFrenzy.com is on location and will have live results from Bellator 51 below starting at 9pm ET:
Joe Warren vs. Alexis Vila
Wilson Reis vs. Eduardo Dantas
Chase Beebe vs. Marcos Galvao
Ed West vs. Luis Nogueira
Posted in: bellator, vs, alexis vila, vila, eduardo dantas
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyVila Flattens Warren with Brutal Knockout at Bellator 51
CANTON, Ohio -- In Bellator 51’s battle of wrestling world champions, it was fists that made the difference inside the Canton Civic Center, where 1996 Olympic Games bronze medalist Alexis Vila knocked Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren out cold just 64 seconds into the opening round.
Posted in: bellator, warren, opening round, vila, world champions
Read the full article at SherdogSpectacular Knockouts Highlight Bellator 51 Undercard
CANTON, Ohio -- Taking a bout on less than two weeks notice usually is a detriment to a fighter once he steps into the cage. It proved not to be the case for Virginian bantamweight Jessie Riggleman, who upset Farkhad Sharipov to headline the Bellator 51 undercard at the Canton Civic Center.
Posted in: bellator, canton, weeks notice, farkhad sharipov, undercard
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 51 Live Play-by-Play and Results
As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results and commentary for Bellator 51. Our live blog will start with the beginning of the MTV2 broadcast (9 p.m. ET) so be sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event.
Tonight Bellator brings us the quarterfinal fights in the season 5 bantamweight tournament. The eventual winner of the tournament will win $100,000 and a shot at taking champ Zak Makovsky's belt from him.
An interesting twist for this tourney is that featherweight champ Joe Warren is participating, in a determined attempt to hold two belts in the promotion. He has a potentially tough first fight tonight, though, going up against Alexis Vila. Vila is an Olympic wrestler with an MMA record of 9-0 and should give Warren a real run for his money.
For the rest of the card, we have several veterans of this tourney back again for another try. We'll see Wilson Reis vs. Eduardo Dantas, Marcos Galvao vs. Chase Beebe, and Luis Alberto Nogueira vs. Ed West.
Bloody Elbow's own Dallas Winston has a good in-depth look at the card here. I highly recommend checking it out.
SBN coverage of Bellator 51
Posted in: bellator, vs, . , elbow, olympic wrestler
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBellator 51 Live Results
Bellator Fighting Championships is back once again with another quarterfinal round of tournament action with a group of eight bantamweights taking to the cage tonight in hopes of completing the first leg of their journeys towards a title-shot and six-figure paycheck.
Among the eight competitors who fight tonight at Bellator 51 on MTV2/EPIX starting at 9:00 PM EST are familiar face Wilson Reis, Olympian Alexis Vila, former WEC title-holder Chase Beebe, and current Bellator featherweight champ Joe Warren.
Preliminary fights can also be found on Spike.com starting a few hours earlier.
As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be here to bring results to readers live as they unfold from the arena.
Read below for a full list of Bellator 51 results:
Joey Holt vs. Clint Musser
John Hawk vs. Allan Weickert
Dane Bonnigson vs. Dan Spohn
Jessie Riggleman vs. Farkhad Sharipov
Frank Caraballo vs. Dustin Kempf
Jessica Eye vs. Casey Noland
Ed West vs. Luis Alberto Nogueira
Marcos Galvao vs. Chase Beebe
Wilson Reis vs. Eduardo Dantas
Joe Warren vs. Alexis VilaSimilar Posts:
Bantamweight Quarterfinals set as all fighters make weight for Bellator 51
Bellator targets late September for opening round of bantamweight tournament
Pairings announced for Bellator Season 5 Bantamweight Tournament
Undefeated Olympian Alexis Vila joins Bellator Season 5 Bantamweight field
Joe Warren aiming to become Bellator’s first double-divisional champion
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Posted in: bellator, vs, joe, bantamweight, alexi
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator 51: Bantamweight Tournament Preview
Airing tonight at 9 p.m. ET on MTV2 and Epix, Bellator 51 unfolds the opening quarterfinal round of this year's bantamweight tournament. The eventual winner earns a crack at current Bellator 135-pound champion Zach Makovsky.
Vying for the strap in two different weight classes, reigning featherweight champion Joe Warren joins the bantamweight ranks to take on undefeated Cuban Olympic wrestler Alexis Vila. Marcos Galvao, the Nova Uniao scrapper who gave Warren a run for his money at Bellator 41, returns to face former WEC bantamweight champion Chase Beebe.
On the back side of the brackets, BJJ black belt Wilson Reis draws the second Nova Uniao rep in Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas and Renovacao Fight Team standout Luiz Nogueira will meet Ed "Wild" West.
The undercard shapes up like this:
Jessica Eye vs. Casey NolandFrank Caraballo vs. Dustin KempfJohn Hawk vs. Allan WeickertJessie Riggleman vs. Farkhad SharipovDane Bonnigson vs. Dan SpohnJoey Holt vs. Clint Musser
Alexis Vila's Olympic wrestling pedigree presents Joe Warren with the rare circumstance of facing someone with superior credentials. Warren was a 2006 Pan Am champion and Greco-Roman Olympic hopeful. Vila, an American Top Team product, amplified the excitement of his debut by stirring the pot on his Twitter account:
Gifs and analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of Bellator 51
Joe Warren (7-1) vs. Alexis Vila (9-0)
The appeal of Vila's potential is that Warren thrives on having his way in the clinch.
The sequence to the right versus Galvao is a fitting example of Warren's grinding and overwhelming style.
Warren lays out the jab to set up his rifling overhand right, epitomizing the Team Quest philosophy by following closely behind the big punch to tangle against the cage.
Warren had one of the most memorable MMA debuts in history, clipping Chase Beebe for a TKO and upsetting Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto in Dream circa 2009.
Here we see a carbon copy of Warren's go-to technique.
It's the type of rugged advance that's difficult to stop even if you know it's coming. The overhand right has enough heat to require your full attention and basic human nature suggests you pull your head back from the missile.
This puts the defender quite literally on his heels, and Warren is always clever enough to steer them against the cage wall, further limiting their options for escape.
The options to counter this onslaught are either to circle hard away from Warren's power hand or confront the bull-rush head on.
To the right, Galvao takes the ballsy approach of the latter.
Galvo turned the tide by whittling his selection of strikes down to those that rend upward through the pocket to discourage aspiring takedown artists: heavy uppercuts, the short, spearing knee and the flying knee. Galvao executes each in sequential order here.
Obviously, Alexis Vila's lofty wrestling accolades endow him with a base like a battleship anchor and overpowering clinch and takedown skills. He's meshed that foundation with simple and nasty dirty boxing, ground and pound and clinch knees.
If anything, the pattern Vila has shown has been the opposite of Warren's: he encroaches in a lower stance as if ready to shoot, then pelts the body with knees and the head with punches as his opponent crouches down to defend. Like Warren, his striking rhythm in free movement is a little awkward and his preferred zone is at close range or tied up.
These are two vastly talented and aggressive grapplers who thrive on man-handling their adversaries, so expect an enormous collision when they lock horns. This is Vila's first taste of the elite level and his submission game is slightly more advanced, but Warren's hands might be a nudge sharper and he'll be motivated to defend his home turf.
Marcos Galvao (9-4-1) vs. Chase Beebe (19-7)
I consider "Louro" one of the most overlooked bantamweights. Losing only one of his first seven fights earned him a shot in the WEC.
He was utterly throttled by sluggers Brian Bowles (#3 ranked bantamweight) and Damacio Page (#18 ranked bantamweight), both by knockout, relegating Galvao to "Oh, that guy?" status.
In between those two performances he drew with Masakatsu Ueda (#10 ranked bantamweight) and almost upset Warren in his last outing at Bellator 41.
Like just about every fighter under the great Andre "Dede" Pederneiras, Galvao is a BJJ black belt.
His true potential shines through in these animations, not only holding his own in the clinch with an Olympic-rate Greco-Roman wrestler, but dragging him to the floor on multiple occasions.
In standing tangles and scrambles on the floor, Galvao is a hard-nosed technician with suffocating tendencies.
He has a longer and thinner frame to apply massive leverage and boasts spidery guard passing wit.
His weakness is striking, both offensively and defensively, thus the brutal knockouts to power punchers in Bowles and Page.
Chase Beebe was a four-time high school state wrestling champion and WEC lightweight title holder. He has explosive takedowns and a relentlessly unforgiving top game, chalking up sixteen career victories by submission.
In a shocking statistic, all but one of those sixteen catches were either a rear-naked choke (9 total) or guillotine choke (10 total). This signifies the way his wrestling -- particularly his dominant positions and excellent head control -- sparks the openings where he snatches submissions.
Beebe has a balanced blend of takedowns and submission grappling with exceptional quickness and decent boxing. His quickly sprung, straight punches, though not quite his specialty, could cause problems for Galvao's defense.
Luiz Alberto "Betao" Nogueira (11-1) vs. Ed West (16-5)
The Renovacao Fight Team in Brazil is a Luta Livre specialty school run by the respected Marcio "Cromado" Barbosa.
In addition to their submission wrestling proficiency, RFT has a rep for breeding ferociously aggressive strikers such as former Pride fighter Luciano Azevedo and Genair da Silva, who is better known as "Junior PQD" or the unknown kickboxer that almost defeated Marlon Sandro at Bellator 46.
"Betao" also embodies that purely tenacious style.
Making his promotional debut at Bellator 42, Nogueira battered Jerod Spoon on the feet for all three rounds.
Fans who appreciate a fighter that throws caution to the wind and is willing to take risks in order to inflict great bodily harm should gravitate to Nogueira.
With half of his wins coming by way of decision, his nonstop and frenetically paced pursuit while whirling every strike in the book is his most feared trait.
His stand up game drowns his retreating foe under unending waves of violence that never stop coming.
As with any other striker who prioritizes raw aggression over eveherything else, he's open to accurate counters on occasion. However, his chin has been resilient so far and needling a counter-strike means stepping directly inside his wheelhouse.
Ed West's only loss in his last seven fights was to Bellator champ Zach Makovsky in a title fight at Bellator 32. Reputable names like Savant Young and Chris Horodecki dot his resume. He scored consecutive decisions over Jose Vega and Bryan Goldsby before facing Makovsky.
West will probably have the strength and wrestling advantage over Nogueira but will be hard-pressed to match him standing.
Wilson Reis (12-3) vs. Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas (10-2)
Dantas is the second Nova Uniao black belt on the card who was also defeated by the aforementioned Masakatsu Ueda. The gist of his career was spent in the Shooto promotion where he defeated fellow tournament participant "Betao" by armbar and heralded flyweight Shinichi Kojima by decision. Half of Dantas' wins are submissions while the remaining four are split evenly between TKO and decision.
Wilson Reis matches the black belt credentials of Dantas and is no stranger to Bellator. In fact, all three of his career losses were registered in the promotion (Joe Soto by decision and Patricio Freire by decision and knockout). Reis also holds a win over current champ Makovsky on a 2008 ShoXC card.
Dantas is not terrible standing, but the difference-maker here should be the adept striking of Reis. Based on his performance against the ever-game "Pitbull", I expect Reis to have comparable ground and scrambling abilities while taking control with his adequate Thai game.
All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com
Posted in: bellator, vs, warren, vila, galvao
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowOnce competing 12 times a day, Bellator 51's Chase Beebe welcomes tourney format
He may already have a WEC bantamweight title to his credit, but Chase Beebe remains a relative unknown in the Bellator world.
A victory tonight in the opening round of Bellator's eight-man bantamweight tournament would be a step in the right direction.
Beebe faces Marcos Galvao on the MTV2-televised main card of Bellator 51, which takes place at Canton Memorial Civic Center in Canton, Ohio.
Posted in: bellator, chase beebe, bellator world, marcos galvao, right direction
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 51 results and LIVE fight coverage for 'Warren vs Vila' TONIGHT (Sep. 24) in Canton
Bellator Fighting Championships returns TONIGHT (Sept. 24, 2011) to the Canton Memorial Civic Center in Canton, Ohio. The main card will air live on MTV2, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 51 below, beginning with the MTV2 telecast at 9 p.m. ET. In addition, we'll deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the undercard action much earlier in the evening.
Bellator 51 will be the debut of the promotion's season five bantamweight tournament. The talented field is headlined by a thrilling bantamweight tournament bout between Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren and Olympic freestyle wrestling bronze medalist Alexis Vila.
Also on the card, Bellator veteran Wilson Reis takes on top prospect Eduardo Dantas, former WEC champion Chase Beebe battles tough Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelt Marcos Galvao and Bellator season three bantamweight runner-up Ed West battles luta livre fighter Luis Nogueira.
Completely Bellator 51 results and play-by-play are after the jump:
Main Card
135 lbs.: Joe Warren vs. Alexis Vila 135 lbs.: Wilson Reis vs. Eduardo Dantas 135 lbs.: Chase Beebe vs. Marcos Galvao 135 lbs.: Ed West vs. Luis Nogueira
Undercard (Spike.com)
128 lbs.: Jessica Eye vs. Casey Noland 205 lbs.: Dane Bonnigson vs. Dan Spohn 205 lbs.: Allan Weickert vs. John Hawk 155 lbs.: Joey Holt vs. Clint Musser 155 lbs.: Frank Caraballo vs. Dustin Kempf135 lbs.: Farkhad Sharipov vs. Jesse Riggleman
135 lbs.: Joe Warren vs. Alexis Vila
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final result:
-end-
135 lbs.: Wilson Reis vs. Eduardo Dantas
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final result:
-end-
135 lbs.: Chase Beebe vs. Marcos Galvao
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final result:
-end-
135 lbs.: Ed West vs. Luis Nogueira
Round one:
Round two:
Round three:
Final result:
-end-
Posted in: bellator, result, round, vs, lb
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator CEO Bjorn Rebney Breaks Down Bellator 51 Bantamweight Tournament
Filed under: MMA Fighting Exclusive, BellatorUFC 135 might be taking all the attention away from Bellator 51, but Saturday's Bantamweight Tournament opening round lineup is arguably one of Bellator's strongest main cards on paper.
I recently caught up with Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney to talk about the storylines heading into Saturday's card. Check out the Q&A below.
Quarterfinal #1: Alexis Vila vs. Joe Warren
RH: Both men hold world-class wrestling credentials. Do you see one outwrestling the other or do you think the fight ends up being determined on the feet?
BR: You'd be hard pressed to think one of these two guys will outwrestle the other. Warren is a two-time world champion; Vila's got an Olympic bronze medal. My natural assumption would be that their wrestling will cancel each other out and it's going to be a striking battle. I think it's going to be the question of the evolution of Joe Warren's striking.
RH: There are certain variables, though, that could potentially give Warren the edge. Warren, the 145-pound champ, is looking for a two-division reign, while Vila arguably belongs in the 125-pound weight class. Another factor is that Vila is 40 years old, an age where fighters tend to be far removed from their explosive peak.
BR: Man, that's a tough call. If you've watched Vila's fights, he has been wildly explosive. The funny thing is that a lot of wrestlers rely on their takedowns to set up their punches. He hasn't. He's looked like a wickedly great in-shape puncher with a ton of gas. I don't know. It's an interesting question. He's an interesting specimen. None of these guys are young by any stretch of the imagination, but on the scale of not being young, Vila is a little bit more north of young than Joe Warren, but who knows? I wouldn't want to bet on any specific direction in this fight. We could both be wrong. Warren could be too big and too powerful and could he utilize his relentless style to take Vila down?
Quarterfinal #2: Eduardo Dantas vs. Wilson Reis
RH: At 22, the Shooto South American champion Dantas could be one of the hottest prospects, but he hasn't really faced top flight competition under Shooto Brazil. With an always gamer in Reis, I think this fight is Dantas' first big league test. Would you agree with that assessment?
BR: I would except for the long sitdown I had with Marlon Sandro talking about this and what Jose Aldo had to say about him. Sandro and Aldo are two of the greatest featherweights in the earth and both said this kid is absolutely a phenom.
I asked Sandro, "Where do you think he matches up?" And Sandro's answer was, "I don't know anyone in the world right now who could beat him."
The confidence his team has in him is at an elite, elite level. Now, has he faced world-class competition yet? No, he hasn't and Wilson dropping back down to 135 where he was at an elite level and this is the weight where he's enjoyed the vast majority of his success as a jiu-jitsu player. It's be a great test for Dantas and it'll be a real eye-opener for us in terms of where Dantas matches up.
If Dantas can beat Reis at this weight, it speaks to the fact that all of the accolcates that have been bestowed on Dantas are accurate. If Reis can beat Dantas, then Reis has found his right weight and perhaps can accomplish all that which he hasn't been able to accomplish under the Bellator banner at 145.
The Future of Joe Soto
RH: Wilson Reis stepped in for Joe Soto, originally slated to fight in this tournament. I know Soto is coming off losses, but since it was on a short notice fight on a lesser known show and after a serious eye injury. Still, I figured with his name value, he would still be an intriguing name in the bracket. Can you talk about the decision-making process to ultimately replace Soto with Reis?
BR: The fight that Joe took out of Tachi [Palace Fights] wasn't short notice. Tom called his manager and said to me, "Look, Joe is coming off of a serious eye injury, he hasn't been in the cage in a long time, I want to get him a fight before he comes in the tournament," and really handpicked the guy he wanted to fight, really hand-picked. He wanted Joe to get comfortable back in the cage. And unfortunately, because I'm a huge Joe Soto fan, Joe got dominated in that fight. For whatever reason, it was a very bad night for Joe. And given the amount of time he had to prep and given that his management really handpicked his opponent, we talked. It was kind of a team decision between Joe's management and us; it's not the right time to put him in this tournament.
RH: Do you have any current plans for Soto? Perhaps as an alternate?
BR: Right now, what we got to do with Soto is determine where his head is and what he wants to do with his career. If his decision is to press forward at 135, we'll get him some off-TV fights and get his feet back under him and not force him into deep waters.
Quarterfinal #3: Luiz Nogueira vs. Ed West
RH: Of the four fights, I found this one the most ambiguous. I don't really know at what level these guys are at and I'm curious to see how the winner performs in the semfinals. Do you have any inkling how this fight might transpire?
BR: I think ambigous is a very good way to put it. There's no one way to look at this fight and say, "If this happens then this will be the result."
From the day we signed Ed West, he's been amazingly athletic. He's constantly moving for submission, he has no lay-and-pray in him at all. He's a very exciting fighter. We haven't seen an awful lot of striking out of Ed except Ed seems to be able to seamlessly move from one aspect of the game to the other. Ed West prides as a true martial artist. Maybe striking Nogueira would have a little edge on Ed, but I don't know. Ed's never been forced to strike because everybody we've had in the other 135-pound tournament, Ed mowed down until he ran up against Zach (Makovsky].
Quarterfinal #4: Chase Beebe vs. Marcos Galvao
RH: Galvao looked tremendous against Warren and many feel he should have won the decision at Bellator 41 in April. Fighting another wrestling-based opponent, what do you think Galvao needs to do this time around to ensure a victory?
BR: I would do very little from the last time he fought. The flying knees, the strikes, the grappling, the ground and pound, everything looked good. There was no part of his game that didn't look great when he last fought under our banner and it was up against our 145 pound champion. In terms of doing anything differently, I wouldn't do too much differently if I were him. Chase comes from a wrestling background, I don't know if I would suggest that Marcos change anything much different.
Bellator's Quiet Champion
RH: Out of all the Bellator champions, the least recognized would have to be Zach Makovsky. As a promoter, how do you handle the challenge of making him a "name" alongside guys like Eddie Alvarez and Hector Lombard.
BR: I think what we've got to do as a company is we've got to provide him with the kind of platform and the kind of fighters that he's deserving of and that's what we're doing here. When this tournament ends, if Zach can beat the guy that comes out of this tournament and retains his title, then we'll be able to complement that with the support mechanism for Zach we've got: Putting him on Impact Wrestling on Spike, get him out there and really try to powerfully support Zach. Just the qualitative level of the guys that are in the tournament will justify a top 3 or 4 ranking on earth and then we'll be able to put the entire power of the machine behind him so that people can go, "Whoa! That's Zach." And it couldn't happen to a better guy. It'll be a pleasure to put that power behind him. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, bellator, joe, tournament, warren
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 51 Live Results and Play-by-Play
Sherdog.com will report from the Canton Civic Center in Canton, Ohio, at approximately 6:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 51, which features the quarterfinals of Bellator's Season 5 bantamweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, quarterfinal, canton, center
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 51 Live Results and Play-by-Play (6 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the Canton Civic Center in Canton, Ohio, at approximately 6:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 51, which features the quarterfinals of Bellator's Season 5 bantamweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, quarterfinal, canton, center
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 51 Live Results and Play-by-Play (7 p.m. ET)
Sherdog.com will report from the Canton Civic Center in Canton, Ohio, at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET with play-by-play and live results of Bellator 51, which features the quarterfinals of Bellator's Season 5 bantamweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, result, bantamweight, canton, center
Read the full article at SherdogBantamweight Qualifiers on Target for Bellator 51
All eight Bellator Fighting Championships Season 5 bantamweight tournament competitors hit their contracted weights at Friday’s Bellator 51 weigh-in
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, weigh-in, bantamweight qualifiers, competitor
Read the full article at SherdogBellator 51 weigh-in results: Bantamweight-tourney fighters all on weight
All fighters competing at Saturday's Bellator 51 event today made weight for the show.
Today's weigh-ins took place at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The nearby Canton Memorial Civic Center hosts Saturday's event.
The night's main card, which features all eight fighters in Bellator's season-five bantamweight tournament, airs on MTV2. The prelims stream on Spike.com.
Posted in: bellator, fighter, football hall, bantamweight-tourney fighters, prelims stream
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 51 Live Weigh-In Results
Two weeks down, two tournaments with a semifinal field set, Bellator FC has started out Season 5 with a bang and will look to continue the trend tomorrow night at 9:00 PM EST on MTV2/EPIX.
This go-round a group of bantamweights will attempt to move on to the next round and get one step closer to a $100,000 payday and shot at Zach Makovsky’s divisional title. Among the competitors at Bellator 51 are champions past and present, as well as Olympic level talent, such as Chase Beebe, Alexis Vila, and current Bellator 145-pound champion Joe Warren.
Before battling on tomorrow night’s card the twenty fighters slated for action will fight a weight-based war with results coming this afternoon at 5:00 PM EST. As always, Five Ounces of Pain will be on hand and ready to relay information back to readers.
Read below for a full listing of Bellator 51 weigh-in results:
Jessica Eye ( lbs) vs. Casey Noland ( lbs)
Frank Caraballo ( lbs) vs. Dustin Kempf ( lbs)
John Hawk ( lbs) vs. Allan Weickert ( lbs)
Jessie Riggleman ( lbs) vs. Farkhad Sharipov ( lbs)
Dane Bonnigson ( lbs) vs. Dan Spohn ( lbs)
Joey Holt ( lbs) vs. Clint Musser ( lbs)
Ed West ( lbs) vs. Luis Alberto Nogueira ( lbs)
Wilson Reis ( lbs) vs. Eduardo Dantas ( lbs)
Marcos Galvao ( lbs) vs. Chase Beebe ( lbs)
Joe Warren ( lbs) vs. Alexis Vila ( lbs)Similar Posts:
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All featherweights on target for opening round of Bellator “Summer Series” tournament
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Posted in: bellator, vs, lb, chase beebe, opening round
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainGurgel-Damm Non-Title Bout Ticketed for Bellator 57 in Ontario
Bellator Fighting Championships 115-pound women’s titleholder Zoila Gurgel will return to the circular cage on Nov. 12, as she will square off with Carina Damm in a 125-pound catchweight contest at Bellator 57
Posted in: bellator, pound, carina damm, non-title, gurgel-damm
Read the full article at SherdogZoila Gurgel vs. Carina Damm non-title fight slated for Bellator 57
Bellator women's 115-pound champion Zoila Gurgel has signed to fight recent Strikeforce fighter Carina Damm in a non-title fight at Bellator 57.
Gurgel today confirmed the bout via Twitter following an initial report from MMARising.com.
Bellator 57 takes place Nov. 12 at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
Posted in: fight, bellator, place nov, gurgel, casino rama
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 51 Weigh-In Results
Filed under: Bellator, NewsJoe Warren's attempt to simultaneously hold two Bellator championships begins on Saturday night with entry into Bellator's bantamweight tournament.
On Friday night, Warren and the seven other tournament entrants successfully made weight, paving the way for Bellator 51's Canton (Ohio) Civic Center event.
"I'm bringing some fury in the cage," Warren said after tipping the scales at 135 pounds during the weigh-in event at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
His opponent Alexis Vila was just one-half pound lighter than Warren. While the two have traded barbs in recent weeks leading up to bout, they shook hands and had a routine staredown photo.
Vila and Warren share impressive wrestling pedigrees. Vila won a bronze medal in his weight category for his native Cuba during the 1996 Summer Games, while Warren was a U.S. favorite for the 2008 Summer Games before failing a drug test and missing out.
Warren captured the Bellator featherweight championship in Sept. 2010. He's 7-1 overall while Vila is 9-0.
While Warren and Vila played down their rivalry, Luis Nogueira and Ed West shared a heated staredown, shoving each other around the stage before being separated. Meanwhile, Marcos Galvao was so dehydrated from his weight cut, he declined to answer event MC Jimmy Smith's question and left the stage before the usual staredown photo opportunity.
Main Card
Alexis Vila (134.5) vs. Joe Warren (135)
Luis Nogueira (134) vs. Ed West (134)
Marcos Galvao (135) vs. Chase Beebe (135)
Wilson Reis (135.5) vs. Eduardo Dantas (134.5)
Preliminary Fights
Clint Musser (154.4) vs Joey Holt (153.5)
John Hawk (204) vs Allan Weickert (200)
Dane Bonnigson (203) vs Dan Spohn (201.5)
Farkhad Sharipov (135) vs Jesse Riggleman (135.5)
Frank Caraballo (142.5) vs Dustin Kempf (143.5)
Casey Noland (127.5) vs. Jessica Eye (125) Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: bellator, vs, warren, weight, vila
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator, Dream Highlight Big Weekend Outside UFC
Bellator featherweight champ Joe Warren and Japanese standout Shinya Aoki headline this weekend's action outside the Octagon.
Posted in: bellator, headline, aoki, weekend, standout
Read the full article at Heavy MMAThe Bellator Season Five Bantamweight Tournament in a Nutshell
Bellator 51 will no doubt get short shrift on Saturday night – some cat named Jon Jones is defending his belt against BA Baracus of the A-Team on pay-per-view at the same time – but that doesn’t mean the organization’s bantamweight tournament quarterfinals isn’t worth at least some DVR love (or VCR if you’re old school). Why? Well, consider this: the field is stocked with four Brazilians, a Cuban and three Americans, which translates into less-than-favorable odds that someone from the US of A is going to be snagging 135-pound gold when all is said and done. And boo on that! USA! USA! Anyway, here are the competitors.
Joe Warren – The funny thing about Bellator 145-pound champ Warren is that, like clockwork, he gets his butt kicked in the first round and then kicks ass every round after that. Patricio Freire blitzed him in their match, but the wrestler endured, and Joe Soto clobbered him and Warren came back and smoked him as well. So yeah, keep an eye on how bad Warren gets mauled in the early going on Saturday night – is opponent Alexis Vila going to rip off his arm? Detach his head from his body? Then be amazed when the American takes that severed limb (or head) and beats him with it.
Alexis Vila – Cuban Olympic wrestler, veteran of the Florida MMA circuit, green as hell. That’s Vila. I personally saw him at the TUF 14 tryouts get stuck in a local fighter’s half-guard and look clueless as to finding a way out (granted, that local fighter was a Ring of Combat champ, but still). Vila may get one or two decent takedowns on Warren, but that will be it. Bellator’s reigning 145-pound king is going to smoosh him.
Wilson Reis – Jiu-jitsu master Reis has participated in so many Bellator tournaments, I’m starting to wonder if he’s holding Bjorn Rebney’s cat hostage in a cage in his basement. Anyway, the fifth season’s got a heavyweight tournament on tap and a bantamweight, so this 145-pounder wisely chose to cut ten pounds instead of trying to gain sixty, and here we are. How good is Reis? Considering he was an EliteXC champ and he’s had some success in Bellator, he’s definitely at least somewhat good. But come on, give someone else a chance.
Eduardo Dantas – Shooto’s got two strong circuits: the one in Japan, which is huge, and the one in Brazil, which isn’t as big but has a lot of tough and skilled guys. Dantas is a veteran of both, and after racking up wins in the venerable organization, this Nova Uniao representative is coming to American to kick butt and take names. By the way, Nova Uniao is THE place for cultivating the best “little” fighters, so everyone – including quarterfinal opponent Reis – needs to watch out. Dantas is going to be a monster on the ground and a dangerous striker.
Marcos Galvao – Galvao is another Nova Uniao fighter (great jiu-jitsu, capable striking, etc.), and he’s got experience in Shooto and the WEC. The biggest thing to note about him, however, is that he already fought Warren at bantamweight at Bellator 41 and lost an extremely controversial decision. So if oddsmakers are favoring the Bellator 145-pound champ in this tournament, remember: Galvao pretty much had his number when they fought.
Chase Beebe – Oh, Mr. Beebe. You once wore the WEC crown, but a bad streak saw you rack up losses in that organization and in DREAM, so you had to go back to the minor leagues to recalibrate and get back on track. Now? Now is your chance at big(ish) show glory. Will you be ready? Too many competitors in this tournament are good where Beebe is weakest (submissions), so he may be trouble.
Luiz Nogueira – We saw Nogueira beat on some kid at Bellator 42, so we know he’s capable of bringing the pain. Unfortunately, the Brazilian isn’t the best in any one department compared to the rest of the competitors in this tournament. Heck, he might not even get past his quarterfinal opponent, Ed West…
Ed West – West is a Bellator repeat customer, and his greatest attributes are his staying power and submission defense. You pretty much have to shoot him to stop him. And while he, too, isn’t the best at any one thing – he can be outmaneuvered and out-positioned – he will force opponents to go the distance whether they like it or not.
Posted in: bellator, pound, ’t, tournament, warren
Read the full article at MMA ConvertDana White's Recent Declaration Likely Means No Bellator on Spike in 2012
Filed under: Fighting, MMA Media Watch, UFC, Bellator, News, Sports Business and MediaLost in the shuffle of a big event weekend, we may have gotten our answer about whether or not Bellator would move from MTV2 to Spike in 2012. And suffice it to say, it's not looking good.
During a Wednesday interview with MMA Fighting, UFC president Dana White briefly spoke about what should be the dying days of UFC-Spike relationship. While their deal for new programming expires at the end of 2011, Spike retains use of the UFC library for an additional year. That one-year spillover clause also precludes the cable network from televising a competing MMA product. For that to happen and for both sides to be free and clear of each other, the UFC would have to buy out the remaining 2012 rights. But according to White, that's not going to happen.
"UFC programming will be on Spike in 2012," White said. "It will continue there."
As long as those rights stay in place, the UFC will have no concerns about a competing promotion quickly replacing it on Spike.
But those rights can also work as a double-edged sword. Once UFC's live programming is exclusive to FOX-owned networks, Spike could attempt to counterprogram new UFC content with shows from its own UFC library.
That exact scenario isn't unprecedented. Just a few months ago in June as negotiations between the two sides stalled out and Comcast seemed to be the frontrunner for future UFC television rights, Spike scheduled a Nate Marquardt marathon on the same night the UFC scheduled a live Versus card highlighted by a Marquardt vs. Rick Story main event. As it turned out, Marquardt was a late scratch due to the sudden "Nategate" hormone replacement therapy issue that popped up, and Story fought Charlie Brenneman instead.
Surprisingly, a 9 pm Spike rebroadcast of UFC Fight Night 22: Marquardt vs. Palhares (an event that had occurred nine months earlier) out-rated the live event, drawing 793,000 viewers compared to 744,000 for the Versus show.
Those numbers show that potential confusion among casual MMA viewers is a real concern. While White seemed adamant that the UFC would not buy back the '12 library rights, it is still possible that FOX will insist upon a deal to ensure they are the exclusive home of UFC content. The two sides recently inked a 7-year deal worth around $700 million, and may not be willing to risk confusion while establishing their channels as UFC headquarters for TV viewers.
Meanwhile, Spike continues to expand its relationship with Bellator, recently announcing it will stream live undercard fights throughout the 12-week Bellator season that began on September 10.
That development seemed to irk White, who called it "not honorable."
"If you really look at what I call the spirit of the deal, it's the wrong thing to do," he said.
So the waiting game continues. With three months left in the year, there is no urgency on either side to negotiate, and there is still time for UFC executives to change their minds and buy back library rights, thereby ending their obligation but also opening up the Spike airwaves to Bellator. Or, they can let the deal run its course, and make them wait. In that case, Bellator will stay on MTV2 one more year and likely move to Spike in 2013. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, bellator, right, deal, spike
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseWatch today's Bellator 51 fighter weigh-ins live on MMAjunkie.com at 5 p.m. ET
The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, plays host
to today's official Bellator 51 fighter weigh-ins and pre-fight press
conference, and we're providing a live video stream of the
proceedings at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT).
The nearby Canton Memorial Civic Center plays host to Saturday's event, which airs on MTV2 and
features the four opening-round bouts of Bellator's season-five bantamweight tournament.
In addition to the live weigh-ins and pre-fight press conference, we'll have full text results posted after the proceedings.
Posted in: bellator, video stream, football hall, text results, opening-round bouts
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 51 weigh in results for 'Warren vs Vila' on Sept. 23
The official weigh-in for Bellator 51's Saturday evening event takes place today (September 23, 2011) at the Canton Memorial Civic Center in Canton, Ohio.
Bellator 51 will be the continuation of the promotion's fifth season as eight bantamweights square off in the quarterfinals for the right to challenge for the title and earn a cool $100,000.
Returning to the tournament will be curren Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren who is dropping down a weight class to try and become a multi-divisional champion. He'll be joined by season three runner-up Ed West and three-time featherweight semifinalist Wilson Reis who's also making the drop.
Tournament newcomers Alexis Vila, an Olympic bronze medalist in freestyle wrestling, top Brazilian prospect Eduardo Dantas, WEC veteran Marcos Galvao, tough Brazilian luta livre fighter Luis Nogueira and former WEC bantamweight champion Chase Beebe will be looking to crash the party.
Complete Bellator 51 weigh in results after the jump:
Main Card
135 lbs.: Joe Warren (7-1) vs. Alexis Vila (9-0)135 lbs.: Wilson Reis (12-3) vs. Eduardo Dantas (12-2)135 lbs.: Chase Beebe (19-7) vs. Marcos Galvao (9-4-1)135 lbs.: Ed West (16-5) vs. Luis Nogueira (11-1) Undercard (Spike.com)
125 lbs.: Jessica Eye (3-1) vs. Casey Noland (3-1)205 lbs.: Dane Bonnigson (1-1) vs. Dan Spohn (5-0)205 lbs.: Allan Weickert (6-8) vs. John Hawk (5-3)155 lbs.: Joey Holt (1-0) vs. Clint Musser (1-0)155 lbs.: Frank Caraballo (6-4) vs. Dustin Kempf (6-4)135 lbs.: Farkhad Sharipov (13-3) vs. Jesse Riggleman (10-2)
Remember that MMAMania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of Bellator 51, beginning with the MTV2 telecast starting at 9 p.m. ET tomorrow night (September 24).
It's going to be a great night of fights so don't miss it, and remember to check us out for all the post-fight coverage after tomorrow night's card is wrapped up.
See you then!
Posted in: bellator, vs, lb, tomorrow night, official weigh-in
Read the full article at MMA ManiaExpect To See The UFC, Not Bellator On Spike TV In 2012
There was a rather important note I missed from Dana White’s interview with Ariel Helwani yesterday.
Remember how the UFC was caught in a pickle with Spike TV over the rights to its library in 2012? Basically, the UFC could either buy the rights back from Spike and risk Bellator gaining traction on Spike TV in 2012 or they could do nothing and risk Spike counter-programming them with their own content for the next year.
Well in the interview yesterday, Dana White made it crystal clear that they’re going with the latter.
AH: Spike says you need to buy back the UFC rights library that they own for 2012 for them to broadcast other events. If not, they can’t broadcast the Bellators of the world. Will you do that or will UFC programming be on Spike in 2012?
DW: UFC programming will be on Spike in 2012. It will continue to air, yeah.
Ariel then asked Dana if it bothered him that Spike is streaming Bellator undercards on Spike.com. As expected, Dana isn’t happy about it. He repeatedly stated that it’s not the “honorable” thing to do.
If you look at what I call ‘the spirit of the deal’, it’s the wrong thing to do. In my opinion, it’s Spike not being honorable. They’re not being honorable. And they know. Kevin knows. Brian and all the guys I’ve dealt with at Spike TV know I’ve been nothing but honorable with them. Everything that I did was to build the UFC and Spike TV. I’ve been a fantastic partner. Whatever they’ve needed from me, I’ve done for them and helped them get to where they are today just like they’ve helped us get to where we are today. And what they’re doing if that’s the case, running these things on Spike.com, that is not the spirit of the deal and they’re being 100% not honorable.
So basically, Spike is stuck with airing UFC content for the next 15 months. That’s not really a bad thing in of itself, but it doesn’t let them consummate a relationship with Bellator either. Both Spike and the UFC suffer as a result, but funny enough, the real loser in this bitter divorce is Bellator.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, spike tv, tv, spike
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBellator 51 preview and predictions for 'Warren vs Vila' on Sept. 24
Bellator Fighting Championships will return to "The Buckeye State" this Saturday night (September 24, 2011) at the Canton Memorial Civic Center in Canton, Ohio, live on MTV2.
The main card will air live on the basic cable network, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
Bellator 51 will be the continuation of the promotion's fifth season as eight bantamweights square off in the quarterfinals for the right to challenge for the title and earn a cool $100,000.
Returning to the tournament will be former season three runner-up Ed West, three-time featherweight semifinalist Wilson Reis and the current Bellator featherweight champion Joe Warren.
They will be joined by the a group of tournament newcomers which includes Olympic wrestling medalist Alexis Vila, hotshot prospect Eduardo Dantas, WEC veteran Marcos Galvao, tough Brazilian wrestler Luis Nogueira and former WEC bantamweight champion Chase Beebe.
Our complete Bellator 51 preview and predictions after the jump:
135 lbs.: Joe Warren (7-1) vs. Alexis Vila (9-0)
This is a battle of tremendous wrestling credentials. Both men have been successful on the world stage, Warren with Greco Roman for the United States and Vila with freestyle for Cuba.
Warren has slowly improved his striking since making his Bellator debut, culminating in his second round knockout of Joe Soto to win the Bellator featherweight title last year. He's definitely ambitious, dropping down to bantamweight for this tournament, but he may be spreading himself out a bit too thin.
Alexis Vila is an extremely talented wrestler who has kept himself in peak physical shape after making the transition to MMA. He trains out of American Top Team, one of the best fight camps in the business and a team that is well represented in the Bellator ranks. His age (40) could be a factor though.
Both Warren and Vila have elite capabilities of taking this fight to the ground and they could also cancel each other out. This could potentially become a striking battle which would favor Warren. I've got a nagging feeling though, that Warren has bitten off more than he can chew. He hasn't faced an elite level wrestler yet in his fighting career and Vila has a very real chance of pushing him to his limits.
Final Prediction: Alexis Vila via split decision
135 lbs.: Wilson Reis (12-3) vs. Eduardo Dantas (10-2)
This is a battle of two incredibly gifted Brazilian MMA talents. One, Reis, has had moderate success in the United States already, winning the EliteXC bantamweight championship and making it to the semifinals three times as a featherweight. The other, Dantas, is one of the highest ranked prospects in the world at bantamweight and will be making his United States debut.
Reis is an elite Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and mixes in solid wrestling and striking abilities. He's very well-rounded and should be incredibly dangerous now that he's finally fighting at 135 pounds after three seasons of competing out of his weight class for Bellator.
Dantas is young (22), hungry and with 12 fights under his belt, already has plenty of experience against high level competition. His only real loss thus far in his career was via unanimous decision to top-ranked Japanese bantamweight Masakatsu Ueda. He also trains out of the famed Nova Uniao camp alongside top lighter weight fighters like Jose Aldo and Marlon Sandro in Brazil.
This will be a very interesting battle. Both men are very high level competitors are are capable of dazzling fans with their skills. This could come down to endurance and at 135, Wilson Reis is capable of outlasting just about anyone. I think the Brazilian by way of Philadelphia can pull this one off.
Final Prediction: Wilson Reis via unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Chase Beebe (19-7) vs. Marcos Galvao (9-4-1)
This is yet another incredibly intriguing bantamweight battle as former WEC bantamweight champion Chase Beebe battles veteran Marcos Galvao, a man who many felt got robbed in his "super fight" against Joe Warren earlier this year.
Beebe possesses high level MMA wrestling and a strong arsenal of chokes on the ground. He's capable in the stand-up but that's not his specialty. What he really wants to do is take his opponent down and physically dominate them on the ground, eventually wearing them out and earning a submission victory.
Marcos Galvao is a decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who trains out of a satellite gym of Nova Uniao in New York. Galvao is highly skilled on the ground, showcased solid takedown defense against Warren and is a competent striker. He will likely want to keep this bout standing, but he is just as capable of going for submissions on the ground.
This will be a battle of Beebe trying to put Galvao on his back and make him uncomfortable with relentless pressure while Galvao will try to find some space to either go for submissions or stand with Beebe and knock him out there. I have a feeling this one could turn into a stalemate.
Final Prediction: Chase Beebe via unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Ed West (16-5) vs. Luis Nogueira (11-1)
Ed West was the runner-up of the last bantamweight tournament, losing via unanimous decision to Zach Makovsky in the finals. Luis Nogueira is a highly decorated Brazilian wrestler with a luta livre background.
West has a strong arsenal of strikes, capable of blasting his opponent an assortment of punches, kicks and other flashy maneuvers. He's also very dangerous on the ground and loves to attack limbs with armbars and leg locks. His biggest weakness thus far has been his defensive wrestling against elite ground fighters.
Nogueira is a very scrappy young fighter. He pushed himself to the limit in his tournament qualifier match against Jared Spoon, repeatedly taking the wrestler down and working to pass guard, ground and pound and go for submissions. He's also a very patient fighter.
The outcome of this bout will hinge on whether West can stay off his back, stuff takedowns and punish Nogueira for trying. This should be an exciting bout no matter where it goes because West doesn't stop fighting once taken down, although he'll have a hard time finishing his opponent unless he can wear him down over the course of three rounds.
Final Prediction: Ed West via TKO in round three
So Maniacs, who's your pick to take it all the way in this Bellator season five bantamweight tournament? Do you agree with most experts that believe this is the most talented of the four tournament fields? Can any of these eight fighters threaten Bellator champion Zachovsky for the title?
Speak up!
Posted in: bellator, bantamweight, ground, warren, vila
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFriday's Bellator 51 weigh-ins at Pro Football Hall of Fame, fight card finalized
Fans are invited to Friday's Bellator 51 fighter weigh-ins and pre-event press conference, which take place at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
The festivities begin at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT) and also stream live on MMAjunkie.com.
Bellator 51 takes place the following day at Canton Memorial Civic Center and features the opening round of the season-five bantamweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, fight card, opening round, football hall, canton memorial
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator champ Hector Lombard and 'Babalu' discuss potential fight, origin of feud
As the days go by, the buzz continues to snowball regarding a potential showdown between Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard and free agent Renato "Babalu" Sobral.
Details began to trickle out late this past week regarding the possibility of the non-title "super fight" consummating at 205 pounds. The Nov. 19 Bellator 58 event in Hollywood, Fla., was floated as the target date.
But despite the chatter in recent days - and what appears to be the endorsement of all stakeholders - the fight is not yet set in stone.
Posted in: fight, bellator, agent renato, target date, fla .,
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBest of Bellator Video: Chase Beebe vs. Jose Vega at Bellator 43
In our latest Best of Bellator Video installment, we look back at a Bellator
43 fight between former WEC champ Chase Beebe and Jose Vega.
Prior to each new event, Bellator Fighting Championships and MMAjunkie.com dig into the video archives for a classic fight.
Beebe, of course, competes Saturday at Bellator 51 in the opening round
of the season-five bantamweight tournament. In this fight, we see how he
earned his tourney berth.
Posted in: bellator, jose vega, video archives, tourney berth, opening round
Read the full article at MMA JunkieBellator 52 preliminary card set for Oct. 1 in Lake Charles
CHICAGO, Ill. (September 21, 2011) - Bellator Fighting Championships makes its return to Louisiana on Saturday, October 1st as the promotion hosts Bellator 52 from L'Auberge Du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles. The action begins at 7 p.m. ET with a stacked undercard streaming LIVE on Spike.com. The televised portion of the event will feature the quarterfinals of Bellator's Season 5 Heavyweight Tournament and will begin at 9 p.m. ET LIVE on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX.
Lightweight sensation Cosmo "Good Boy" Alexander will make his MMA debut against Lake Charles native Josh Quayhagen, who will also be making his professional debut. Alexander enters Bellator with an incredible resume in Muay Thai, as the 29-year-old striker has over 50 professional kickboxing fights under his belt, along with several of the sport's most notable championship titles. The Miami resident is one of the most highly-coveted prospects in all of MMA and looks to put on a show for Bellator fans. To see video of Cosmo's devastating striking in competition, please click HERE.
Bellator featherweights collide as Genair da Silva takes on Bellator veteran Bryan Goldsby. For Silva, the Brazilian striker is looking to get back into the win column after suffering a close split-decision loss at the hands of fellow Brazilian Marlon Sandro in Bellator's Summer Series Featherweight Tournament.
Undefeated light-heavyweight Matt Van Buren joins Bellator looking for victory over Alexandria, La. resident Nick Nichols. At 25 years old, the Virginia based Van Buren will look to impress Bellator brass with a dominating win.
There are also two intriguing heavyweight fights on the ledger as Josh Burns battles former The Ultimate Fighter competitor Zak Jensen, and Liron Wilson takes on the undefeated Justin Frazier, who will put his 4-0 record on the line.
The Season 5 heavyweight tournament will feature an eight-man field that boasts a dominating 73-15-2 record along with 41 combined knockouts. Undefeated Ron Sparks takes on Oklahoma native Mark Holata, Season 3 finalist Neil Grove faces 15-win veteran Mike "300" Hayes; and in other quarterfinal action, Thiago "Big Monster" Santos looks to be the first man to put a blemish on Blagoi Ivanov's 4-0 record and Army veteran Eric Prindle will test Abe Wagner, the man who beat former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia in the first round earlier this year.
"L'Auberge Du Lac has been an incredible venue partner for us, and we should have a great night of fights on October 1st LIVE on MTV2 and EPIX, as well as on Spike.com," said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "There are some first-time Bellator fighters on this card that I can't wait to watch and see what they can do in the cage."
For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator
Posted in: bellator, heavyweight, lake charles, liron wilson, kickboxing fights
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 52 prelims finalized with five matchups
The preliminary card for next month's Bellator 52 event is set.
In the featured prelim, world kickboxing champion Cosmo Alexander fights veteran amateur lightweight Josh Quayhagen in a lightweight bout.
Bellator 52 takes place Oct. 1 at L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La. The night's main card airs on MTV2 (and in high definition on EPIX).
Posted in: bellator, card airs, place oct, josh quayhagen, lake charles
Read the full article at MMA JunkieEddie Alvarez withdraws from Bellator 54 due to injury
Bellator 155-pound champ Eddie Alvarez hasn’t fought since successfully defending his belt against Pat Curran this past April. However, though he was scheduled to make his long overdue return to the ring next month at Bellator 54, it now appears the 26-year old will now be sidelined for a bit longer due to an undisclosed injury.
“Alvarez has a huge heart and if there was any way for him to fight on the fifteenth I know he would,” explained company-head Bjorn Rebney in a press release before ending on a note of hope, saying, “Ed’s in spectacular condition, so both of us are hopeful that this fight can potentially still occur later this fall.”
The Philly-based fighter was scheduled to face Season 4 tournament winner Michael Chandler at the October 15 event, an undefeated former All-American out of Xtreme Couture with six stoppages in his eight total victories.
Chandler Comes Out of Season 4 with Tournament Crown
Alvarez is considered by most to be a “Top 5” lightweight given his record of 22-2 including nineteen finishes and past wins over the likes of Curran, Josh Neer, Joachim Hansen, Tatsuya Kawajiri, and Roger Huerta.
While the removal of Alvarez vs. Chandler is certainly a blow to the Bellator 54 lineup the show still boasts 135-pound champion Zach Makovsky in non-title action against Octagon alum Ryan Roberts and the final four fighters from the promotion’s ongoing middleweight tournament hoping to earn one of two coveted spots in the final.
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Posted in: bellator, chandler, alvarez, tournament, press release
Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator 50 receives MTV 2 low of 114,000 viewers
MMA Junkie reports that Saturday night’s Bellator 50 received an all-time low of 114,000 viewers. Although it tried a special start time (7pm ET/PT) to avoid conflicting with other events, the ratings reflect otherwise.
A re-airing of the card on the same night garnered just 94,000 viewers although the rebroadcast occurred during Mayweather-Ortiz.
Payout Perspective:
Bellator 50 was the first card where Spike.com streamed its prelims worldwide. It would be interesting to see the viewership for those fights. Despite its efforts, its clear that the busy night of fights and football contributed to the low number. Certainly, Bellator hopes that the ratings will bounce back but going up against Rampage-Jones this Saturday may not be the weekend for the rebound.
Posted in: night, bellator, rating, viewer, payout perspective
Read the full article at MMA PayoutBrazilian Muay Thai star Cosmo Alexander debuts at Bellator 52
Bellator Fighting Championships makes its return to Louisiana on Saturday, October 1st as the promotion hosts Bellator 52 from L'Auberge Du Lac Casino...
Posted in: bellator, saturday, muay, return, du
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyBellator trying to book “Babalu” Sobral vs. Hector Lombard
Never afraid to back down from potentially putting together a “super-fight”, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney recent mentioned his interest in having middleweight champion Hector Lombard square off against Strikeforce light heavyweight Renato Sobral.
In fact, Sobral’s camp apparently even initiated talks between the sides but has backed off recently after Lombard (and Bellator) agreed to their terms.
“I’ve been a big ‘Babalu’ fan for a lot of years,” explained Rebney in an interview with MMAJunkie, before adding, “(He wasn’t) really on our radar, but then (his team) reached out to us and opened the door and asked for a few things. We agreed to all of them. … But now we’re sitting back and waiting.”
Lombard has competed as a light heavyweight in the past but is seen by most as an undersized 185er as is. However, size is not an issue as far as the explosive Cuban is concerned, as he’s purely interested in the challenge and marketability of the match-up. “Babalu” is the second UFC veteran Lombard has expressed interest in as of late with the other being Nate Marquardt.
Lombard Wants Marquardt but Rebney Feels “Nate the Great” Isn’t the Right Fit for Bellator
In terms of records, Lombard is 30-2-1 and hasn’t been beaten in five years while Sobral is 36-9 with past wins over Robbie Lawler, Chael Sonnen, and Mauricio Rua.
PHOTO CREDIT – BELLATOR
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Posted in: lombard, bellator, sobral, rebney, wasn ’t
Read the full article at Fighters.comEddie Alvarez Injured, Bellator Title Defense Postponed
This is a guest post by Josh Nason.
Fans of Eddie Alvarez will have to wait a bit longer before seeing the Bellator Lightweight Champion in action as the promotion announced Tuesday that Alvarez has suffered an injury that will take him off the October 15th event in Atlantic City, NJ, Bellator 54. He was scheduled to defend his title against Michael Chandler.
The injury was undisclosed and there was no rescheduled date announced. In the release that Bellator put out, CEO Bjorn Rebney said that he's hopeful the fight can still happen this fall.
On Twitter, Alvarez said the following:
@EdAlvarezFightEddie Alvarez Guys I apologize , I sincerely don't want to self myself short or anybody watching, this won't be long most likley a 30 day postponementSep 20 via Twitter for AndroidFavoriteRetweetReply
After October 15, Bellator has five more Saturday events remaining in their fifth season, including a November 26th return date in Atlantic City, NJ, that might prove attractive for the Philadelphia, PA-based Alvarez.
Alvarez (22-2) is the only Bellator 155-pound champion in the promotion's history, having won the title in June 2009. He's only defended the title once in an April decision win over Pat Curran, but has wins over Roger Huerta and Josh Neer in non-title bouts.
Chandler (8-0) earned his shot by winning Bellator's lightweight tournament earlier this year, taking a decision win over Patricky "Pitbull" Freire in the May finale.
Posted in: bellator, title, alvarez, eddie alvarez, atlantic city
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowKnow your Bellator: MMAmania interview exclusive with bantamweight Chase Beebe
Chase Beebe knows what it takes to be a champion.
The 26 year old used to sit atop the WEC's bantamweight throne just three an a half years ago before losing his belt to Miguel Torres.
After a brutal two-year stretch from 2008-2009 that saw him drop bouts to Torres, Joe Warren, Yoshiro Maeda and an incredibly controversial split decision loss to Mike Easton in Sherdog's 2009 "Robbery of the Year", Beebe is finally back on track after spending some time training at Greg Jackson's alongside his good friend Clay Guida.
Since 2010, he's won seven of eight fights, five in a row including an impressive first round stoppage of Bellator season three bantamweight semifinalist Jose Vega earlier this year to punch his ticket to the season five bantamweight tournament.
Beebe is slated to take on Marcos Galvao this Saturday night (September 24, 2011) at Bellator 51 in the tournament quarterfinals and he's planning on taking no prisoners.
He spoke with MMAmania.com in part two of this Bellator bantamweight series about how his losses molded him as a fighter, staying active and how badly he wants to smash Joe Warren in a rematch.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): What did it mean for you to sign for a top promotion like Bellator and to get a chance to fight in this tournament against some of the most talented bantamweights in the world?
Chase Beebe: It's amazing man. This is a kind of a dream come true for me and kind of a second opportunity to prove myself. It's kind of in between where I wanted to pursue a job like the rest of my family does, working at Chicago Port Trade with my uncles but with fighting, it's a real test of ups and downs. I'm still young and I don't even really compare to those other guys who are older and still think they can be champ, still trying to do what I'm doing but it's been hard.
I'm here now though and I feel amazing. I feel better than ever and that I've overcome a lot of obstacles to get where I'm at. This opportunity is huge. Bellator is amazing and I love fighting for this organization and I can't wait to show them what I got.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You've talked about the obstacles and I hope you don't mind going back and reliving some of that. You had a really tough stretch of five fights, one of them was a horrible robbery, you had trouble fighting overseas in Japan. Can you talk about how that stretch of fights kind of molded you and how you came back and have been terrific ever since?
Chase Beebe: Just like you said man, it molded me. That experience, I know everyone says it in this sport, but you really can't really measure what it does for you. I fought in Japan a bunch of times and I lost there. I could find every excuse in the book as to why I lost but I really think I was just getting complacent there in my career. I was making some big money just to show up and I didn't care as much about winning. That's not what being a fighter is all about and that's not the type of fighter I am.
After that robbery against Mike Easton, I fought in Japan a couple weeks after and my head wasn't even there. I was just so pissed off and distraught about what happened at the UWC fight and after that, I just kinda snapped in my own head. I had to sit around for a couple months and look at a YouTube clip of me losing and it's pretty miserable especially when you know you're capable of so much more.
The thing I took away from that experience more than anything is that I will always leave it in the cage and it's just like wrestling. I used to do the same thing when I was a kid and I shouldn't have had to relearn that lesson but that's life and I can't wait because all those trials and tribulations have made me 10 times the fighter I was and everybody will see it come this weekend.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): This will be your second fight with Bellator. You had a tournament qualifier match against season three semifinalist Jose Vega and you smashed him in the first round. Can you talk about the confidence level that you have coming in now that you've got all this momentum behind you?
Chase Beebe: I've got huge confidence. Confidence is such an important part of the game and it's not only just the wins but what I've been doing for my training. I've been going out to Greg Jackson's to prepare for this fight and to help my buddy Clay Guida get ready for his fight. I was at Jackson's for a couple weeks to train for this fight with the best in the world out there. I come home at Gilbert Grappling, one of the best wrestling training facilities and then the Midwestern Training Center, one of the best stand-up/jiu-jitsu places in the country. I live with Clay Guida in his RV down there when I visit in New Mexico and it's amazing. All you do is wake up, eat, sleep and train. Keeping up with that machine is something else.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): How long ago was it that you started splitting some of your training camps at Greg Jackson's?
Chase Beebe: Just recently. I started pretty soon after Clay did it. I saw the results of what he did, he's on a four fight winning streak and I'm on a five fight win streak and that pretty much started when we started going to that camp. He told me to come down and it's been a huge success ever since and it's not something I plan on changing any time soon.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): It seems like almost every single fighter in this tournament is a world class wrestler or an extremely competent Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. The whole tournament is loaded with terrific ground fighter. That almost seems like exactly what you want isn't it?
Chase Beebe: Oh yeah, for sure man. I think there's a lot of really tough competition, a lot of depth in this tournament but almost all the guys are older. I'm thinking I'm one of the youngest in the tournament but I still have more experience than nearly all of these fighters combined. My record is 20-6 and not only that, I've been fighting the best in the world since I was 21. I've been through the grind.
I've been through a lot of stuff and a lot of things have happened to me in this sport and I think it really has made me into a different fighter and I kinda showed a hint of that in my Jose Vega fight, my first fight with Bellator. Even in that fight I was a little disappointed because I had some slight cage jitters before that one. In this fight, my pace will be better and it will be even more impressive and I just wait to show the world what all this hard work and dedication, this time and sacrifice can do.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): One of those "older guys" is Joe Warren. You fought him before in Japan and he beat you during your rough stretch. How much would it mean to you to get a chance to redeem yourself and fight him again?
Chase Beebe: Obviously, you can't understand as a fighter, but my competitive spirit is so intense and it just grows more intense the older I get. Man, I've been counting down the days until I can redeem myself against him. I hate excuses, but for that fight with Warren I didn't know there was a 10 minute first round until the day before the fight and if you watch that fight I was doing real well against him, kinda beating him up pretty good for the first seven minutes and he didn't even come close to taking me down. I actually took him down twice and took his back briefly. He got really lucky in that one to be honest with you because he caught me with a knee in the last 20 seconds and in Japan they don't allow you to use Vaseline because they want more submissions and he just barely grazed me.
That was extremely embarrassing. It really opened my eyes when I came home and my mom looked at it, she more made me show her and the plane ride made the swelling all the worse and it was just a great lesson to take away. I've taken away a lot of lessons in my career and no lessons are greater than losses. You can beat 100 guys in a row and one loss will give you more experience and more to learn from than any of that. Every time I lose I'm right back in the gym the next day training my butt off 10 times as hard to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Since that happened three years ago, I've been busting my butt and I want to show him that not only have I worked harder, but I've worked more intelligently due to my experience. I believe I'm more well-rounded than anybody in my weight class in the world. I can take anybody down and I can't wait to outwrestle Joe Warren. I want to beat him in every aspect. It's all words until I do it. I'm stoked man. I can't wait for that fight. It'll be the accumulation of a lot of hard work.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): And before you get a chance to potentially fight Joe Warren, you've got to get through Marcos Galvao, a guy that a lot of people, including myself, thought he beat Joe in that superfight earlier this year. What are your thoughts on Galvao?
Chase Beebe: A lot of people have seen his fights in the WEC but he's been looking far more impressive as of late. I've actually been training with some guys at Jackson's and I've got some inside word that Galvao's out there training with Jose Aldo. He's looking tough and he looked good against Warren but, like I told the Bellator production guys, I wasn't as impressed with Galvao as I was unimpressed with Joe Warren. I'm not saying that to be disrespectful in any way but I think Warren just tried to force things on him and didn't have any respect for his game. He put himself in compromising positions. I remember thinking that Galvao definitely won that fight. It's a great first match for me to make a statement. I wouldn't have it any other way. I don't care if I fight the best in the tournament first or the worst. I'm gonna have to fight the to guys anyways if I plan on winning this thing. I'm not gonna underestimate him by any means.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): After your victory against Jose Vega this past May, you took another fight in England just two months later while waiting for this tournament to start. How much did it mean to you to stay active and get another fight?
Chase Beebe: It's huge. It's so huge for me. I think that's another factor going back to my stretch of losses. I was competing on the big stage and every fight I fought was high profile either in Dream or WEC for a long time and those breaks in between my fights, those six months really take a toll on me. I'm training my butt off every day, and it's like you're putting in the work and time but you're not fighting, you're not getting paid. I'm a fighter. I want to fight. I love to compete and that's what I think is perfect for me in this tournament. I fight every month and it goes back to my wrestling days.
I'm used to competing. At one point I wrestled in a tournament and competed 12 times in one day in Ohio. I'd make it to the finals every year, wrestling every 45 minutes. That's the mentality I like to bring to MMA. I feel sharper every time I step in the cage so the next day after that Vega fight I was trying to find another fight and even more than one fight but Bellator had to tell me to ease off. I had to go through a laundry list of opponents before I even got the opponent I got because they didn't want to risk anything for this tournament.
In my opinion, I'm fighting some of the best in the world in this tournament so if I can't beat some of these guys outside the tournament then I don't belong in the tournament. Obviously that argument doesn't work with a big organization though. (laughs) This is going to be a great format for me to show the world how great of a fighter I can be.
Brian Hemminger (MMAmania.com): You've got the confidence that you'll make it all the way through this tournament. How do you think you'd match up against the current champion Zach Makovsky?
Chase Beebe: I haven't seen much tape on him. I know he's a good wrestler but I think he's kind of, not to be disrespectful, but I think this tournament is too deep for him. As long as I can make my way through these opponents, he shouldn't be my main concern at the end. I've got to make it through such tough guys and I've got a long road ahead of me before then and a lot of tough, tough competition.
I'm excited because he's a wrestler and I love to fight wrestlers. I think I can put on a show against him and I don't think he could outwrestle me. I train with the best wrestlers and I think that's the perfect fight for me, the perfect match-up. MMA wrestling is different than regular wrestling and I think my MMA wrestling is the best.
Chase would like to thank all his sponsors MIO Fight Gear, Fist First and his gym Jackson's Martial Arts, Midwest Training Center, Gilbert Grappling and his parents for everything they did to help him along the way. Also his Facebook fans and you can follow him on Twitter @ChaseBeebeMMA
So Maniacs, is Beebe's confidence going to be a driving force that allows the former WEC champ to power through this tournament? Or is he looking past Marcos Galvao at Joe Warren?
Sound off!
Be sure to check out these other interviews from our Bellator bantamweight introductory series:
Ed West interview
Posted in: fight, bellator, tournament, beebe, chase
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator 50 rating: Event scores MTV2-worst 114,000 viewers
This past weekend's Bellator 50 event scored just 114,000 viewers, which ranks it dead last in MTV2-Bellator's 16-event history.
MMAjunkie.com today confirmed the ratings with an industry source.
Bellator 50 event took place this past Saturday, Sept. 17, at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. The MTV2-televised main card featured the opening round of the season-five middleweight tournament.
Posted in: bellator, event, mtv, mmajunkie.com today, rock hotel
Read the full article at MMA JunkieInjured Eddie Alvarez Withdraws From Bellator 54, Lightweight Title Fight Delayed
Eddie Alvarez has withdrawn from his upcoming lightweight title defense against Michael Chandler at Bellator 54.
Bellator sent out a press release today stating that Alvarez sustained an undisclosed injury and won’t be ready to go by Oct. 15.
“Eddie suffered an injury that will keep him out of our Oct. 15 show at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City,” Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney stated. “Eddie Alvarez has a huge heart, and if there was any way for him to fight on the 15th, I know he would. Ed’s in spectacular condition, so both of us are hopeful that this fight can potentially still occur later this fall.”
At this point, the fight has merely been delayed and may still happen before the end of the year, but right now it’s still up in the air.
Image via Bellator
Posted in: fight, bellator, alvarez, eddie alvarez, eddie
Read the full article at MMA ConvertEddie Alvarez out of October title-defense against Michael Chandler
One of the many “treats” lined up for MMA fans in October has turned into a “trick”, as Bellator lightweight title-holder Eddie Alvarez will no longer be able to fight at Bellator 54 as originally planned against Season 4 tournament winner Michael Chandler.
The disappointing news was revealed earlier today through a press release where Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney commented, “Alvarez has a huge heart and if there was any way for him to fight on the fifteenth, I know he would.”
Rebney also added that the cancelled championship clash could still take place during Season 5, saying, “Ed’s in spectacular condition, so both of us are hopeful that this fight can potentially still occur later this fall.”
Chandler earned his shot at the 22-2 Alvarez by beating Marcin Held, Lloyd Woodard, and Patricky Freire earlier this year and has yet to taste defeat eight fights into his career after an All-American run as an amateur wrestler in college.
Bellator 54 will still feature the “final four” of the Season 5 middleweight tournament as well as 135-pound champ Zack Makovsky taking on 16-9-1 Ryan Roberts in non-title action.
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Posted in: fight, bellator, chandler, alvarez, eddie
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainAlvarez Injured; Chandler’s Bellator 54 Title Shot Postponed
Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez has suffered an injury that will prevent him from defending his title next month against Michael Chandler, the promotion announced Tuesday.
Posted in: bellator, title, chandler, alvarez, michael chandler
Read the full article at SherdogEddie Alvarez injured and removed from Bellator 54 headliner on Oct. 15
Looks like Bellator Season 4 Lightweight Tournament winner Michael Chandler won't be cashing in on his 155-pound title shot just yet.
That's because reigning division champion Eddie Alvarez has been injured and forced to withdraw from their Bellator 54 headliner on Oct. 15 from the Boardwalk Hall Ballroom in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
From today's announcement:
"Eddie suffered an injury that will keep him out of our October 15th show at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Eddie Alvarez has a huge heart and if there was any way for him to fight on the 15th, I know he would. Ed's in spectacular condition, so both of us are hopeful that this fight can potentially still occur later this fall."
Bellator 54 will now feature the semifinals of the promotion's middleweight tournament, as well as Bellator Bantamweight Champion Zack Makovsky in a non-title super fight against former UFC veteran Ryan Roberts.
Alvarez, widely considered the world's best 155-pounder not competing inside the Octagon, was last seen defending his strap in a five round unanimous decision win over current featherweight tournament finalist Pat Curran at Bellator 39 back in April.
Chandler, an accomplished wrestler out of Xtreme Couture, blew through the Bellator lightweight tournament with wins over Marcin Held, Lloyd Woodard and Patricky Freire.
The promotion is hopeful it can reschedule this 155-pound title fight before year's end.
Bellator 54 begins at 7 p.m. ET on Oct. 15 and can be seen live via Spike.com. The televised portion of the event will air at 9 p.m. ET on MTV2 and in commercial-free HD on EPIX.
Posted in: bellator, alvarez, tournament, eddie alvarez, atlantic city
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBellator Champ Eddie Alvarez Injured, Title Fight with Michael Chandler Off Bellator 54
Bellator announced today that lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez has suffered an undisclosed injury that will prevent him from defending his title against season four lightweight tournament winner Michael Chandler at Bellator 54 on October 15 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
“Eddie suffered an injury that will keep him out of our October 15th show at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Eddie Alvarez has a huge heart and if there was any way for him to fight on the 15th, I know he would. Ed’s in spectacular condition, so both of us are hopeful that this fight can potentially still occur later this fall.”
Bellator 54 still features the season five middleweight tournament semifinals pitting Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brian Rogers and Bryan Baker vs. Vitor Vianna, as well at bantamweight champ Zach Makovsky in a non-title fight against Ryan Roberts.
For the latest Bellator news stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
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Read the full article at MMA FrenzyEddie Alvarez Out of Title Fight at Bellator 54
Filed under: Bellator, NewsBellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez has suffered an injury that will prevent him from his scheduled title defense against Michael Chandler at Bellator 54 on Oct. 15 in Atlantic City, N.J.
Bellator says the fight will be rescheduled and possibly for later in the season.
"Eddie Alvarez has a huge heart and if there was any way for him to fight on the 15th, I know he would," Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said in a statement. "Ed's in spectacular condition, so both of us are hopeful that this fight can potentially still occur later this fall."
Alvarez (22-2), who has won seven straight fights, competed once this year, making a successful title defense against Pat Curran at Bellator 39 in April. Chandler (8-0) earned his shot against Alvarez by beating Patricky Freire at Bellator 44 in May to win the season four lightweight tournament.
At the Bellator 54 event, bantamweight champion Zack Makovsky will remain on the card in a non-title fight against UFC veteran Ryan Roberts. In tournament action will be the two middleweight semifinals between Alexander Shlemenko vs. Brian Rogers and Bryan Baker vs. Vitor Vianna.
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Posted in: fight, bellator, alvarez, title defense, eddie alvarez
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse(EXCLUSIVE) Gil Martinez: “Mike Chandler is going to really test Eddie Alvarez”
Mike Chandler came out of nowhere earlier this year to win the Bellator season four lightweight tournament. The tournament featured well-respected Patricky Freire, veteran Rob McCullough, highly-touted Marcin Held, and Bellator stand-out Toby Imada among others. In the end though, it was Chandler who stood tall by taking out Held, Lloyd Woodard, and Freire.
By defeating those three men and winning the tournament, Chandler earned a Bellator lightweight title shot against champion, and top-ranked 155 fighter Eddie Alvarez on October 15.
Helping Chandler prepare for the biggest fight of his life is boxing and MMA coach at Xtreme Couture, Gil Martinez, one of the most knowledgeable and respected coaches in the sport.
“Mike is a pleasure to work with,” said Martinez in an interview with FiveOuncesofPain.com. “He’s one of the hardest working athletes I’ve ever worked with. He’s in there day in and day out and doesn’t complain.”
Martinez has never doubted Chandler, saying, “He could have done anything. He could have done well in any sport. I could see that Chandler really wanted to be a force in MMA, that he wanted to go far, and next thing you know he won the Bellator tournament.”
A student of MMA and boxing, Martinez has worked with some of the best strikers in the world, including Vitor Belfort. So what’s it like training a veteran striker with quick hands and explosive power like Belfort and training someone like Chandler, who comes from a wrestling background?
“The biggest difference is that Vitor is seasoned and well-rounded. You can work on new things and teach him different things to help him improve. But with a wrestler like (Gray) Maynard or Chandler, you have to start from scratch, but they’re so motivated to learn,” said Martinez.
Chandler’s opponent on October 15 is not only the Bellator lightweight champion, but he’s also only lost twice in his career and has won seven straight bouts in the Bellator cage.
Despite that winning streak, Gil doesn’t believe that Alvarez has fought anyone like Chandler. “Mike is going to really test Alvarez. No disrespect to Alvarez’ last few opponents, but everyone he’s fought recently has been on the way down or not in a good place or time in their life. But with Mike, he’s young, talented, tough, and hungry.”
Considered to be one of the best boxers in MMA, with a wrestling background to go along with his hands, Alvarez is a tough match-up for anyone in the sport. But Martinez knows that his fighter stacks up well against the champion.
“Alvarez is the more experienced striking but Chandler is the better wrestler and his striking is getting better every day,” said Martinez. “Everyone thought Pitbull (Patricky Freire) was going to out-strike Chandler and he proved them wrong. And now we’ve had even more time to improve that striking.”
Maybe it’s just a coach believing in his fighter, but under the guidance of Gil, don’t be shocked if there’s a new Bellator champion on October 15 in New Jersey.
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Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBellator Signs Unbeaten Matt Van Buren, Debuts at Bellator 52
Bellator has inked undefeated light-heavyweight Matt Van Buren to a contract, and he will be debuting on October 1's Bellator 52 event, MMA Fighting has learned.
The 25-year-old, Viriginia-based athlete, who is 3-0, will be facing Nick Nichols, according to sources close to the fighter.
The 6-foot-5 Van Buren turned pro just over a year ago after a strong amateur run, and since then has earned wins over Brandon Saling, Aaron Johnson and Manny Okorie to earn his shot in the promotion.
With no light-heavyweight tournament in season five, Van Buren will look to elevate his standing with stand-alone wins. His first opponent Nichols will be making his pro debut after going 5-0 as an amateur.
Bellator 52 will feature the season five heavyweight tournament quarterfinals, which includes fighters like Neil Grove, Mike Hayes, Thiago Santos and Abe Wagner, among others. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: bellator, van, buren, van buren, aaron johnson
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBellator 50 Video Highlights
Video highlights from Bellator 50…
Read the full article at MMA Convert
Alexander Shlemenko returns to semis with Bellator 50 tournament win
Bellator Season 2 finalist Alexander Shlemenko showed again this past Saturday night why he is the man to beat in Bellator’s ongoing hunt to determine the next man in line for a shot at middleweight champ Hector Lombard’s title. The 27-year old Russian not only beat DREAM veteran Zelg Galesic less than two minutes into their Bellator Season 5 tournament bout at Bellator 50 but did so in especially impressive fashion after abandoning his powerful stand-up for a standing Guillotine Choke finish.
Shlemenko improved his overall record to 41-7 with the victory with 25 of his wins coming via TKO. He has emerged with his hands raised ten of the last eleven times he’s entered the ring with the only exception being a five-round decision loss to Lombard. In addition to Galesic, “Storm” holds past wins over Sean Salmon and Brett Cooper.
Shlemenko Victorious in Bellator 44 Thriller
Joining Shlemenko in the semifinal round are Vitor Vianna, Brian Rogers, and Bryan Baker. Vianna held off Sam Alvey in a tough three-round battle that could have gone either way, while Rogers and Baker both found strike-based success in their respective scraps against Victor O’Donnell and Jared Hess.
Read below for a full rundown of Bellator 50 results:
J.P. Reese def. Martin Brown via Unanimous Decision
Cristiano Souza def. John Kelly via Unanimous Decision
Ailton Barbosa def. Ryan Keenan via Rear-Naked Choke Round 1
Rad Martinez def. Brian Van Hoven via Unanimous Decision
Brett Cooper def. Valdir Araujo via TKO Round 3
Shah Babonis def. Marcos da Matta via TKO Round 3
Marcelo Goncalves def. Dietter Navarro via Armbar Round 1
Vitor Vianna def. Sam Alvey via Split Decision
Alexander Shlemenko def. Zelg Galesic via Submission Round 1 (Standing Guillotine Choke)
Brian Rogers def. Victor O’Donnell via TKO Round 1 (Strikes)
Bryan Baker def. Jared Hess via TKO Round 3 (Strikes)
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Read the full article at Fighters.comBellator champ Hector Lombard willing to move to 205 pounds for "Babalu" fight (MMAJunkie.com)
As far as Bellator middleweight champion Hector Lombard (30-2-1 MMA, 7-0 BFC) understood it, Renato...
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Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsBellator 49 Results and Post-Event Quick Thoughts
Bellator was back at it again with its tournament style format, as four fighters advanced to the welterweight semifinals. During Bellator 49 last night at Caesars Atlantic City, each fighter looked to climb one step closer towards a welterweight title shot against current champion Ben Askren.
Here are the full results from the Bellator welterweight quarter final bouts:
Chris Lozano def. Brent Weedman via unanimous decision
Ben Saunders def. Chris Cisneros via TKO at 0:29 Round 3
Luis Santos def. Dan Hornbuckle via unanimous decision
Douglas Lima def. Steve Carl via unanimous decision
“That was a war,” Lozano noted in a press statement. “I was ready for a war, and Brent brought it, so I have to thank him for the toughest fight of my life.”
Meanwhile, Saunders is a better known MMA fighter with legit skills, and it’s good for Bellator to see him advance in the tournament. In his Bellator debut, Saunders was able to finish the fight and controlled tempo everywhere the fight went — and came close to ending it in the first round.
There were also a handful of local feature fights, and here are the results:
Joel Roberts def. Brylan Van Artsdalen via submission (triangle choke) at 1:47 Round 2
Giedrius Karavackas def. LeVon Maynard via TKO in Round 3
Alexandre Bezerra def. Scott Heckman via TKO in Round 2
Lester Caslow def. James Jones via TKO at 0:15 Round 2
Azunna Anyanwu def. J.A. Dudley via TKO at 4:16 Round 2
Posted in: fight, bellator, round, tko, bellator debut
Read the full article at MMA Opinion