All posts by FNU47
PATRICIO “PITBULL” FRIERE SINKS IN A REAR NAKED CHOKE ON DANIEL STRAUS TO RETAIN FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
AND STILL!!
GEORGI KARAKHANYAN GETS NEXT TITLE SHOT WITH WIN OVER BUBBA JENKINS
TEMECULA, CALIF. (Jan. 16, 2015) – Bellator MMA Featherweight World Champion Patricio Pitbull (23-2) was pushed to the limit by tenacious challenger Daniel Straus (22-6), but in the end, the Brazilian showed a ton of heart and retained his title with a gutsy fourth-round submission win.
The contest headlined Friday’s “Bellator: Pitbull vs. Straus” at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif.
Known for his wrestling, Straus showed improved striking skills throughout the bout, as he used his reach and quickness to frustrate Pitbull and open a cut over the champ’s right eye. But Pitbull refused to relent his title and used a late fourth-round takedown to work himself on to his opponent’s back, where he sunk in a rear-naked choke that ended the fight with just 11 second left in the round.
“I knew he’d come out striking,” Pitbull said after the win. “He’s a former world champion and one of the best strikers on the planet.
“I stuck to my gameplan and showed why I’m the champion. AND STILL!”
Pitbull already knows his next opponent, as Georgi Karakhanyan (24-4-1) picked up an incredibly impressive win over top featherweight prospect Bubba Jenkins (8-2).
The two-time D1 All-American Jenkins went quickly to his preferred attack, looking for the takedown, but Karakhanyan was waiting with the perfect counter: a guillotine choke.
Karakhanyan missed on his first attempt at the hold, but when they returned to the feet, Jenkins again looked for the takedown but left his neck behind. Karakhanyan happily cinched up the hold and put Jenkins to sleep with a spectacular finish at the 1:49 mark of the first.
Karakhanyan said he looks forward to the opportunity to erase the frustration of a 2011 loss to Pitbull.
“I’m very excited that I’m getting a title shot,” Karakhanyan said. “I’d love to fight Patricio and get my revenge.”
About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
About Spike TV:
UFC Fight Night Boston: Embedded Vlog, Episodes 1, 2 & 3
EXCITING PROSPECTS DIEGO DE LA HOYA, TAISHAN, NICK ARCE, AND OSCAR NEGRETTE HEAD UP RANDY CABALLERO VS. ALBERTO GUEVARA UNDERCARD AT FANTASY SPRINGS RESORT CASINO ON FEBRUARY 27
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Stiverne vs. Wilder: Press Conference Highlights – SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
Watch the best moments of the intense press conference featuring Heavyweight World Champion Bermane Stiverne and unbeaten challenger Deontay Wilder. And Do. Not. Miss the U.S.’s most anticipated heavyweight fight in nearly a decade, hmo no, Hnub vas xaum, Lub ib hlis ntuj 17 at 10p ET/7p PT live on SHOWTIME.
Sugar Ray Robinson-Tiger Jones this Sunday on Fight Network
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GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TEAMS UP WITH EYE OF THE TIGER MANAGEMENT AND SIGNS DEAL WITH DAVID LEMIEUX
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Monroe Jr. – Vera weigh in video plus interviews
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RUMFORD WRESTLING ROYALTY SET TO SCUFFLE AT “NEF XVI”
Lewiston, Maine (Lub ib hlis ntuj 16, 2015) –New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, presents its sixteenth mixed martial arts (MMA) event, “NEF XVI,” on Lub ob hlis ntuj 7, 2015 in Lewiston, Maine. The event is scheduled to originate from the Androscoggin Bank Colisee. Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of three more bouts to the fight card including a professional heavyweight bout between Mike “Dragon Foot” Hansen (1-1) thiab Artie “The Fearless One” Mullen (1-13); an amateur heavyweight bout between Ryan Glover (0-0) thiab Jason Field (0-0); and an amateur featherweight bout between Jimmy Jackson (1-2) thiab Kris Welch (0-0). Hansen, Glover and Welch are all former wrestling champions from Mountain Valley High School located in Rumford, Maine.
Mike Hansen won a state championship as a heavyweight wrestler for Mountain Valley in 2004. After graduating high school that same year, Hansen began training and competing in the sport of mixed martial arts. Hansen made his successful MMA debut in 2005 when he defeated Eric Brown (5-7) via submission in the first round. Shortly thereafter, Hansen enlisted in the Army where he served as a Combat Engineer. Now retired from the Army, Hansen, who recently signed a long-term contract with NEF MMA, is excited to return to his competitive roots in the NEF cage on Lub ob hlis ntuj 7thand to represent his hometown.
“Rumford-Mexico, especially MVHS [Mountain Valley High School], and Dixfield—we’re all a proud, hardworking breed of people. It is my responsibility and others to go out and show what we are capable of,” said Hansen when reached for comment. “Be true to our region. We are an athletic community and always have been. I will show up [rau Lub ob hlis ntuj 7th] and do my best and I will win.
“Wrestling has played a huge role in my fighting career, but even more so was wrestling here in Rumford, Maine. My first wrestling coach was Jamie Dolloff, then Jason Dolloff, then Gary Dolloff—notice a pattern? I owe a lot to these guys and so doesn’t the area. Wrestling for the Dolloff’s created a foundation for fighting and life. Without wrestling, there is no way I would be where I am or have done the things I’ve done.
“Fighting next to local boys always gets me excited. Knowing that MVHS will have some state champions in the cage that night is awesome.”
Kris Welch won back-to-back state championships for Mountain Valley in 2000 thiab 2001 and amassed a high school career record of 120-17. Now, Welch is focused on making his MMA debut and representing his community in combat sports.
“I want to put on a good show for my town, family, and friends,” said Welch when reached for comment. “We have a great community here in Rumford-Mexico and they do a great job supporting local fighters. Having a solid wrestling background will play a key role in my transition to MMA. Taking your opponent down is a big part of this sport. It feels great to compete on the same card as Ryan Glover and Mike Hansen and getting a chance to work with these guys has been great. This area has a lot of unseen talent that will be delivered to the cage on Lub ob hlis ntuj 7th.”
Ryan Glover was a state runner-up in wrestling in 2010 before winning a state championship as a heavyweight in 2011 for Mountain Valley High School, where he was also a standout football player and named the “2010 Sun Journal Football Player of the Year.” The two-sport state champion athlete has now turned his attention toward the sport of MMA and plans on making a name for himself in NEF.
“[Fighting for NEF] is a great opportunity and I’m hoping it opens some eyes and brings more fighters to the area to train with us,” stated Glover when reached for comment. “My wrestling background has helped me with my ground game and left me more time to brush-up on my boxing.”
“Our Matchmaker, Matt Peterson, attends wrestling tournaments across Maine and New England on a regular basis scouting for new talent,” stated NEF promoter and co-owner Nick DiSalvo. “We’re proud to feature such a compelling set of matchups between some familiar faces and new names to NEF and are confident these bouts will deliver extreme excitement.”
NEF’s next MMA event, “NEF XVI,” takes place on Lub ob hlis ntuj 7, 2015with an all-star lineup of fights scheduled. Ray “All Business” Wood (5-0) returns that night to defend the NEF MMA Featherweight Title against Bellator and WEC veteran Anthony “Cheesesteak” Morrison (16-9). NFL and UFC The Ultimate Fighter veteran Tyler King (7-2) puts the NEF MMA Heavyweight Title on the line against Terry “The Polar Bear” Blackburn (5-2). In the feature bout of the evening, UFC, Bellator and Strikeforce veteran Nah-Shon Burrell (10-5) makes his NEF MMA debut against Ryan Hodge (6-9). Tickets start at just $25 and are on sale now at www.TheColisee.com or by calling The Colisee box office at 207.783.2009 x 525. For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. tsis tas li ntawd, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
About New England Fights
New hais Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.
“BIG” DAVE ABRAHAM SIGNS WITH GOODWIN AND HEADS TO VEGAS
28-year-old Heavyweight “Big” Dave Abraham from Watford is the latest prospect to ink a three year deal with Steve Goodwin.
Abraham spent some of 2014 working as a sparring partner with current World Heavyweight Champion Bermaine Stiverne and this week went off to Las Vegas as Bermaine’s guest to see his friend defend his world title against Deontay Wilder this weekend.
“It is a dream for me one day to fight in Vegas rather than just watching” said Abraham before his departure this week.”
I met Steve in the latter part of 2014 and then met several other interested parties. However it was an easy decision to make once I had met everyone and I am confident Steve is the best man to guide my career.”
Abraham will make his debut on the Olivia Goodwin promoted “Best of Enemies” card at York Hall on 21st March and wants to keep very active in 2015. “I am still young for a Heavyweight and have plenty to learn but ring experience is crucial and Steve will provide plenty of that for me.”
Steve Goodwin finished by saying “We are delighted to have signed Dave. Heavyweight boxing is a very exciting division and we are looking forward to navigating Dave through to hopefully some major titles.”
Watch Dave’s interview here: