WRESTLING PRODIGY JOEY DAVIS MATCHED WITH KEITH CUTRONE FOR HIS PROFESSIONAL DEBUT
סאַנטאַ מאָניקאַ, קאַליף. (ויגוסט 1, 2016) – The announcement of his Bellator MMA arrival had “Baby Slice” Kevin Ferguson Jr. trending on social media for two-straight days, and today, Bellator Officials have confirmed that his first challenge as a professional mixed martial artist will be Jonathan Tomasian in a welterweight attraction at “בעללאַטאָר 160: הענדערסאָן ווס. Pitbull.”
דערצו, Ferguson’s teammate at “Body Shop Gym," Joey Davis will also make his professional debut, ווען ער נעמט אויף Keith Cutrone (1-0) at 170-pounds.
The stacked event takes place on ויגוסט 26 at Honda Center in Anaheim, קאַליף., and will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 10 פּ.ם. און/9 פּ.ם. קאָרט. Tickets start at just $30 and can be purchased now on טיקקעטמאַסטער and at the Honda Center Box Office. Doors for “בעללאַטאָר 160: הענדערסאָן ווס. Pitbull”עפענען בייַ 4:45 פּ.ם. פּט local time and the first preliminary bout – which streams live on Bellator.com און די בעללאַטאָר מאָביל אַפּ — הייבט בייַ 5:00 פּ.ם. פּט.
These two welterweight matchups join a card that features a stellar 155-pound main event between בענסאָן הענדערסאָן (23-6) און Patricio “Pitbull” (25-3). אַדדיטיאָנאַללי, two standout featherweight fights have also been announced, seeing the young and undefeated אַ.דזש. מאַקי (4-0) meet former KOTC titlist הענרי קאָרראַלעס (12-3) and NCAA National Champion Wrestler באַבאַ דזשענקינס (11-2) אָננעמען Georgi “Insane” Karakhanyan (24-6-1).
Signed to a developmental deal in April, “Baby Slice” makes his pro debut on the event’s Bellator.com-streamed preliminary card. The son of the late, great “Kimbo Slice,” Ferguson Jr. broke onto the scene very quietly earlier this year in an amateur bout in Western Massachusetts, where he scored a knockout victory just 83 סעקונדעס אין די ערשטער קייַלעכיק. MMA reporter Chuck Mindenhall was on-site to cover the story. ‘Baby Slice’ trains at Antonio McKee’s “Body Shop Gym” in Long Beach alongside other “Bellator 160” competitors McKee, Jenkins and Davis.
Tomasian makes his professional debut under Bellator’s bright lights in a high profile situation that he hopes to make the most of. The 20-year-old Santa Clara, קאַליף., native has slightly more cage time than Slice, winning both of his amateur outings, once by knockout and the other by decision. Tomasian is currently training with Manny Rocha at Strive Jiu Jitsu Academy in Lodi Calif., where he has earned a purple belt in the art.
Davis is a 21-year-old standout wrestler who competed at Notre Dame College, where he accumulated an incredible undefeated 131-0 record and four consecutive NCAA Division II Championships during his college tenure, becoming the only Division II wrestler to ever win four national titles and go unbeaten in a career. איצט, Davis looks to parlay his wrestling success in the mixed martial arts cage on Aug. 26 in the Anaheim, where Davis will have plenty of hometown fans in attendance.
Amassing an 8-1 record on the amateur circuit, Cutrone has previously gotten his feet wet professionally, winning his pro debut via stoppage this past March. “The Bone” is a Strikeforce veteran, competing at the promotion’s “Challengers 11” card in 2010. With a strong base in wrestling and jiu-jitsu, Cutrone held a regional title at 185-pounds before permanently moving to welterweight as a professional.
"בעללאַטאָר 160: הענדערסאָן ווס. Pitbull” SPIKE-Televised Main Card:
Lightweight No. 1 Contender Main Event: בענסאָן הענדערסאָן (23-6) ווס. פּאַטריסיאָ "פּיטבולל" פרעירע (25-3)
Lightweight Feature Bout: איר אַוואַד (19-7) ווס. דערעק אַנדערסאָן (13-2)
Featherweight Feature Bout: אַ.דזש. מאַקי (4-0) ווס. הענרי קאָרראַלעס (12-3)
Featherweight Feature Bout: באַבאַ דזשענקינס (11-2) ווס. געאָרגי קאַראַכאַניאַן (24-6-1)
Bellator.com-Streamed Preliminary Card:
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Joey Davis (פּראָ דעבוט) ווס. Keith Cutrone (1-0)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Kevin Ferguson Jr. (פּראָ דעבוט) ווס. Jonathan Tomasian (פּראָ דעבוט)