Tom, Tony and Rich are back this week with a great show! We feature lots of engaging discussion about mixed martial arts and boxing, from Connor McGregor’s slapping a Bellator official to Deontay Wilder wanting to end Anthony Joshua’s career. We also chat about Dana White getting into boxing and Bellator’s 8 Man Heavyweight tournament. Again we get back to the nagging question of where are the legends in MMA, and we also cross over to where are the legends in boxing?
WHAT: Limited-Edition Kimbo Slice Bobblehead Giveaway
The world lost an icon in June of 2016 with the passing of Kimbo Slice. The unmistakable backyard brawler and mixed martial artist will be commemorated, along with his signature golden smile and chain, with a limited-edition bobblehead.
The giveaway will take place Saturday, Jan. 20, and will be limited to the first 5,000 fans in attendance for Bellator 192: Lima vs. MacDonald at The Forum in Los Angeles.
The bobblehead giveaway is limited to one per person and will only be available to ticketholders upon entry into the arena.
***Bobblehead giveaway is exclusively for Bellator 192 ticketholders***
***Bobbleheads distributed at venue points of entry, only while supplies last at each entry***
WHERE: The Forum
WHEN: Saturday, January 20
Kimbo Slice (5-2, 1 NC)
A native of the Bahamas, the late Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson was one of the most recognizable figures in all of combat sports. After making a name for himself in the infamous world of street fighting, where he was labeled “The King of the Web Brawlers” by Rolling Stone, the internet sensation left underground fighting to become a professional mixed martial artist. The street brawler found the same success inside the cage that he had in his backyard in South Florida, collecting victories in each of his first three professional fights. Slice would go onto compete on season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter, where his bout with Roy Nelson on Spike TV set a viewership ratings record for the series that still stands today. Slice also made a flawless transition into professional boxing, where he earned seven consecutive victories. The multi-dimensional mixed martial artist, boxer and actor debuted inside the Bellator cage in 2015, where he collected his final win over Ken Shamrock at Bellator 138. A fan-favorite throughout his career, Slice was known just as much for his entertaining personality and signature look, as he was for his knockout power. Kimbo’s legacy in MMA is carried on by his son, Kevin “Baby Slice” Ferguson Jr.
FIGHT INFO: Bellator 192: Lima vs. MacDonald will be broadcast LIVE and FREE on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased at Bellator.com, as well as Ticketmaster.com.
Updated Bellator 192: MacDonald vs. Lima Fight Card:
Welterweight World Title Main Event: Douglas Lima (29-6) vs. Rory MacDonald (19-4)
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TICKETS FOR BELLATOR 193 GO ON SALE THIS FRIDAY AT 3 P.M. PST
LOS ANGELES – Bellator returns to Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif. for Bellator 193 on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. The card will be headlined by Riverside, California-native Lorenz Larkin (18-7, 1 NC) against Menifee, California’s Fernando Gonzalez (27-14) in a 180-pound catchweight bout.
Tickets for this event start at $39 and are available at the Pechanga Box Office and Pechanga.com. Doors for the event open at 4 p.m. PST, while the preliminary card will kick-off at 5 p.m. PST. The event will be broadcast live and free on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and the newly updated Bellator Mobile App. Additional bouts for Bellator 193: Larkin vs. Gonzalez will be announced shortly.
Larkin enters his main event matchup against Gonzalez following must-see bouts against Douglas Lima and Paul Daley in 2017. Now, “Da Monsoon” looks to add to his impressive resume – which includes marquee wins over Robbie Lawler, Santiago Ponzinibbio, Jorge Masvidal and Neil Magny and stoppages in 11 out of 18 victories – by adding the name of a competitor that has nearly 50-fights as a professional. A short trek from Larkin’s hometown of Riverside, Calif. the Millenia MMA-product will represent his nearby hometown proudly on Jan. 26.
Hailing from Menifee, Calif., 33-year-old Fernando Gonzalez will enter the Bellator cage for the ninth time in his nearly 15-year professional career. Gonzalez has seen a great deal of success since joining forces with Bellator MMA, having collected seven victories over an eight-fight, four-year span.Gonzalez has come on strong as of late, tallying 10 wins over his last 13 bouts, including a pair of first round knockouts. With 17 of his 27 career victories coming by way of knockout or submission, “The Menifee Maniac” will look to see his win-streak continue following his recent success against Brennan Ward at Bellator 193.
Updated Bellator 193: Larkin vs. Gonzalez Fight Card:
Catchweight (180 lbs.) Main Event: Lorenz Larkin (18-7, 1 NC) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (27-14)
Complete Photos Here — (c/o Office of Israel Prime Minister)
JERUSALEM – Earlier today, Bellator 188 competitors Noad Lahat (11-3) and Haim Gozali (7-4), along with Bellator heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko (36-5, 1 NC) and Bellator brand ambassador Royce Gracie, met with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu at the nation’s Parliament in Jerusalem.
During the visit, Netanyahu expressed his support for the upcoming Bellator event in Tel Aviv later this week. This event marks Bellator’s second show in Israel and features two prominent Israeli fighters at the top of the card, as Lahat headlines and Gozali competes in the co-main event. Additionally, the preliminary bouts feature many of Israel’s best up-and-coming regional talent.
Bellator 188: Lahat vs. Labiano takes place Thursday, Nov. 16 at the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv and airs free on Spike this Friday, Nov. 17 at 9 p.m. EST/8 p.m. CST. Full card details can be found below.
Watch video of the meeting here, via The Prime Minister of Israel’s Official YouTube account:
Direct Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfFWS8cAbmQ
Complete Bellator 188: Lahat vs. Labiano Fight Card:
Featherweight Main Event: Noad Lahat (11-3) vs. Jeremiah Labiano (11-5)
Welterweight Co-Main Event: Haim Gozali (7-4) vs. Arsen Faitovich (4-1)
Middleweight Feature Bout: John Salter (14-3) vs. Jason Radcliffe (12-4)
Women’s Flyweight Feature Bout: Denise Kielholtz (0-1) vs. Jessica Middleton (2-2)
Preliminary Card:
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Kiril Medvedovsky (11-5) vs. Luiz Rocha (3-1)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Mor Attias (Debut) vs. Assaf Batan (Debut)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Erik Sianov (0-1) vs. Matan Levi (2-0)
Catchweight (128 lbs.) Preliminary Bout: Nadim Kablan (Debut) vs. Raz Bring (2-1)
Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Moshe Ben Chimol (1-0) vs. Ivan Solomatov (Debut)
Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Adam Keresh (Debut) vs. Roman Kushnir (Debut)
Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Or Eliov (Debut) vs. Natanial Parisi (Debut)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Gad David Abisror (Debut) vs. Alexander Trofimov (1-0)
Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Anthony Nisim Mor (Debut) vs. Shay Almog (2-1)
Catchweight (187 lbs.) Preliminary Bout: Rami Abuhav (Debut) vs. Alexander Nikulin (2-0)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Julian Maloku (Debut) vs. Oron Kahlon (2-0)
Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Joana Filipa (Debut) vs. Olga Rubin (3-0)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Francisco Silva (1-0) vs. Shimon Gosh (5-2)
WINNER TO BE CROWNED NEW BELLATOR HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
LOS ANGELES – Bellator has announced plans to host a year-long grand prix heavyweight tournament in 2018 featuring eight of the roster’s biggest stars with the winner becoming the new Bellator world heavyweight champion. The Bellator MMA World Grand Prix 2018 Heavyweight Tournament will air on the soon-to-launch Paramount Network.
The star-studded list of participants includes newly signed Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (37-12), Roy Nelson (23-14), Chael Sonnen (30-15-1),Frank Mir (18-11), “King Mo” (21-6, 1 NC), Fedor Emelianenko (36-5, 1 NC), Matt Mitrione (12-5) and Bellator light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader (24-5).
Spanning multiple events and locations throughout 2018, the three-round tournament allows for matchups never before thought possible and will ultimately crown a new Bellator heavyweight champion. Previously, Bellator President Scott Coker orchestrated the most recent successful heavyweight tournament in mixed martial arts with the STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight Grand Prix that spanned from 2011-12.
Matchups, dates and locations for the single-elimination grand prix will be determined shortly, as will tournament alternates who will be available to fill in due to any unforeseen circumstances.
A five-fight veteran of Bellator MMA, “Rampage’s” legendary career has seen him compete against some of the top names in the sport, generating a loyal army of fans along the way. The former PRIDE and UFC champion is the proud owner of many epic highlight reel slams and knockouts that he has racked up throughout his epic battles with the likes of Chuck Liddell, Dan Henderson, “King Mo,” Kevin Randleman and, perhaps most-notably, his trilogy with fellow Bellator athlete Wanderlei Silva.
Fighting out of Las Vegas, Roy Nelson made his Bellator debut earlier this year with a hard-fought victory over Javy Ayala following an eight-year, 19-fight run with UFC that saw him earn wins over Mirko Cro Cop, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, “Bigfoot” Silva and Cheick Kongo. “Big Country” also memorably defeated the late Kimbo Slice and later went on to win season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter. With 19 of his 22 career wins coming by way of knockout or submission, the long-time fan-favorite looks to add a championship to his impressive resume.
Chael Sonnen spent a majority of his 44-fight career with the UFC and WEC, a run that saw him defeat former middleweight champion Michael Bisping, and compete against the likes of Jon Jones, Anderson Silva (twice), Rashad Evans, “Shogun” Rua, Demian Maia and Brian Stann. In addition to his in-ring action, the West Linn, Ore. native has mastered the art of being in front of the camera, having done broadcast work for both ESPN and Fox Sports. Following a three-year hiatus from active MMA competition, Sonnen returned to the cage against Tito Ortiz at Bellator 170 in January and then went on to defeat Wanderlei Silva in the main event of Bellator: NYC.
Frank Mir joined Bellator earlier this year following 15 years under in the UFC where he became a two-time world champion, collected 16 victories and defeated the who’s who of heavyweight contenders, including Brock Lesnar, “Bigfoot” Silva, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Roy Nelson. Fighting out of Las Vegas, Mir set numerous records while competing with his former promotion, highlighted by the most fights (27), victories (16), and submissions (8) in heavyweight history. With 14 of his 18 career wins coming by way of knockout or submission, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt will now try his hand in Bellator’s heavyweight division.
“King Mo” will again fight at heavyweight and look to build off his success within the division following recent wins against Satoshi Ishii and Cheick Kongo. A winner in nine out of his last 11 fights, the 36-year-old will look to claim heavyweight gold in 2018 and add to his championship collection that already includes a STRIKEFORCE light heavyweight title. The “Moneyweight” fighter owns additional wins over Linton Vassell, Gegard Mousasi, Roger Gracie and has split a pair of bouts with “Rampage” Jackson with their series tied at one win each.
A former PRIDE champion, “The Last Emperor” is one of the most revered and respected heavyweight fighters the sport has seen. Stone-faced and quiet, Emelianenko boasted one of the most impressive unbeaten streaks in the history of MMA, not losing a bout between 2001 and 2009. A multi-time world champion in MMA and Sambo, Fedor recently returned to the sport after a brief hiatus, accumulating two decisive wins since his return to action and competing against Matt Mitrione in an instant classic at Bellator: NYC.
Matt Mitrione remains poised to make an impact in the Bellator heavyweight division following three knockout wins since signing with Bellator in 2016, including a first-round KO of Fedor Emelianenko at Bellator NYC this June. The Illinois native and standout defensive end at Purdue University earned All-Big Ten honors in 2000 and subsequently earned his way into the NFL where he played six seasons as a member of the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings. Mitrione ultimately found his way into MMA where he became a high-level competitor, defeating the likes of the late Kimbo Slice, Derrick Lewis and Gabriel Gonzaga.
Bader will make his third appearance for Bellator and first since defending his light heavyweight championship at Bellator 186. Fighting out of Tempe, Ariz., Bader began his professional career on an impressive run, steamrolling the competition en route to a 12-fight winning streak and winning one of the most competitive seasons of The Ultimate Fighter in franchise history on Spike in 2008. “Darth” continued his path of dominance by collecting 15 over some of the 105-pound division’s top talent, including victories over former world champions Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Rashad Evans, as well as two wins over Phil Davis. Currently riding a four-fight winning streak with victories in nine of his past ten bouts, the former two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler from Arizona State University will look to become a current two-division champion in Bellator MMA.
Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix Participants:
Bellator World Light Heavyweight Champion Ryan Bader (24-5)
Fedor Emelianenko (36-5, 1 NC)
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (37-12)
“King Mo” Lawal (21-6, 1 NC)
Frank Mir (18-11)
Matt Mitrione (12-5)
Roy Nelson (23-14)
Chael Sonnen (30-15-1)
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LOS ANGELES – Bellator is pleased to announce that it has reached a multi-fight, multi-year deal with Jake Hager, who was formerly known as “Jack Swagger” during his nearly nine-year run with WWE. The deal will see Hager make his MMA debut inside a Bellator cage.
Hager will compete at heavyweight and is expected to debut in 2018.
A native of Perry, Okla., Hager would go on to be a collegiate wrestler at the University of Oklahoma, where he was an All-American and set the school record for most pins at the 285-pound weight class in a single season with 30. Following graduation and a conversation with legendary pro wrestling announcer and fellow Oklahoma Sooner, Jim Ross, Hager made the transition to professional wrestling and signed with WWE.
While in WWE, Hager would go on to claim multiple coveted professional titles during his time with the organization, including the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, ECW Championship and WWE United States Championship.
After ending his run with the WWE earlier this year, Hager turned his sights toward another avenue, fully focusing on his mixed martial arts skillset and testing himself against some of the best athletes in the world.
“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. It’s something that’s a part of me, so it makes sense. I’m very happy with the deal. I’ve felt a lot of love from Bellator,” said Hager. “I think there are certain types of guys who need to be punched in the face and taste blood. I’ve always been a fan of MMA, I’ve been wrestling since I was five-years-old. It’s awesome to be with Bellator. They’re really going to put 100 percent towards it!”
“I’m excited to see Jake Hager debut for Bellator in 2018,” Bellator President Scott Coker said. “When I heard he was seriously interested in competing in MMA and when you look at what he did at the collegiate level, I was very interested in having him on our roster. I think Jake will expose new fans to Bellator from his previous run with WWE and he will be given every opportunity to prove that he’s the real deal inside the cage.”
Hager is the latest in a long line of high-profile signings Bellator has made recently and joins a heavyweight division that will crown a champion in 2018 through the recently announced eight-man Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix.
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“Psychic” Tom Padgett and “Rabble Rousin'” Rich Bergeron catch up after a three-week hiatus. Tony “The Tornado” Penecale will join us again next week for the broadcast. This week we cover as much as we can jam into the show to make up for lost time. From GSP’s triumphant return to McGregor’s conditions to come back to the cage, we cover it all. Finally, Tom asks a very important question: Where are the legends of MMA?
LOS ANGELES – Bellator is pleased to announce that it has reached a multi-fight deal with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (37-12), exclusively securing the talents of one of the most well-known and fan-favorite competitors in MMA history. This multi-fight deal was the result of a lengthy negotiation with Jackson’s manager Tiki Ghosn from Arsenal Sports Agency, and it promises to deliver to the Bellator fans more of the signature MMA action “Rampage” is known for.
“Rampage” is expected to return to the Bellator cage in early 2018.
Fighting out of Irvine, Calif., “Rampage” has made five appearances with Bellator, accruing an impressive mark of 4-1. His legendary career has seen him compete against some of the top names in the sport, generating a loyal army of fans along the way due to his exciting fighting style and unique personality. The former PRIDE star and UFC champion is the proud owner of epic highlight-reel slams and knockouts earned throughout his epic battles with the likes of Chuck Liddell, Dan Henderson, “King Mo,” Kevin Randleman and, perhaps most-notably, his trilogy with fellow Bellator athlete Wanderlei Silva.
The Memphis, Tenn.-native was also a coach on one of the most memorable and successful seasons of The Ultimate Fighter on Spike in 2010. Coaching opposite Rashad Evans, the season featured multiple future Bellator stars, including Matt Mitrione, Roy Nelson and the late Kimbo Slice.
“I am excited for this new beginning and looking forward to an action packed 2018,” Jackson said. “I can’t wait to get back in the cage and put on exciting fights for both the ‘Rampage’ and Bellator fans.”
“With ‘Rampage’ Jackson, you know what you’re going to get every time he steps inside the Bellator cage – an exciting fight and interest from fans all over the world,” Bellator President Scott Coker said. “I knew that keeping ‘Rampage’ with Bellator was integral to our continued growth as a promotion and I’m pleased that we were able to come to an agreement that allows us to plan some great future matchups for him.”
An avid user of the video platform and community for gamers, Twitch, via his channel “RampageIsHuman,” Jackson has managed to connect with his fans in a yet another unique way. Whether on the silver screen, in the Bellator cage or the pro wrestling ring, the 39-year-old remains one of the most-recognized stars in the sport’s history.
The addition of Jackson adds depth to an ever-growing Bellator roster, which has recently seen free agents Gegard Mousasi, Rory MacDonald, Frank Mir, Roy Nelson, Michael McDonald and current Bellator light heavyweight champ Ryan Bader join the Viacom-owned promotion.
Check out this highlight-reel featuring some of “Rampage’s” top Bellator moments: https://youtu.be/0eSzSVe8q2g
Also, Appearances by Fan-Favorite and Monster Energy Athlete ‘Rampage’ Jackson and MMA Legend Dan Henderson
LOS ANGELES – The Monster Energy Bellator MMA Fight Series closes its 2017 season with a fourth and final stop at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. on Sunday, Nov. 19. Set to take place during Ford Championship Weekend, fighters will take to the cage Sunday morning ahead of the final race of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs that will determine the next Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion.
Just hours prior to the start of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 on Sunday, Nov. 19, the Monster Energy Bellator MMA Fight Series will feature MMA action throughout the morning beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET at the Monster Energy Fan Zone at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the display area on the north side of the track. Admission to the event is free and open to fans.
Additionally, on Saturday, Nov. 18 from 1-2 p.m. ET, fans will have the opportunity to meet former world champ and Monster Energy athlete Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, as well as former PRIDE and STRIKEFORCE titleholder Dan “Hendo” Henderson, at the Monster Energy Fan Zone at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the display area on the north side of the track. Admission to the event is free and open to fans.
“The Monster Energy Bellator MMA Fight Series has been a huge success this year and I’m looking forward to heading to Homestead-Miami Speedway during NASCAR’s championship weekend for another great event to end 2017,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “This is a monumental weekend for Monster Energy, including Hans Molenkamp, Tom Norwood, Cody Dresser, Mitch Covington and their entire team, as they close out their first season with NASCAR, and I’m excited to once again make Bellator MMA a part of the fan experience.”
Through Bellator MMA, alongside longstanding partner Monster Energy, mixed martial arts will be included as a pre-race activation exclusively for fans in attendance. The lineup on Sunday will consist of four MMA bouts featuring some of the best regional up-and-coming talent, with the main event prospects in consideration to be signed to a multi-fight Bellator MMA contract.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway takes place Sunday, November 19 at 2:30 p.m. ET. Tickets to the race are available at www.Homestead-MiamiSpeedway.com or by calling 305-230-5255.
Updated Monster Energy Bellator MMA Fight Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway Fight Card:
Featherweight Main Event: Matt Wagy (10-4, Delray Beach, Fla.) vs. Kester Mark (5-4, Hollywood, Fla.)
Middleweight Bout: Johnny Eblen (2-0, Boca Raton, Fla.) vs. Emmanuel Verdier (3-1, Miami, Fla.)
Women’s Strawweight Amateur Bout: Thais Souza (0-1, Deerfield Beach, Fla.) vs. Ashley Samples (0-2, Athens, Ga.)
Featherweight Bout: Landon Stewart (Pro Debut, Miami, Fla.) vs. Rudial Mora (Pro Debut, Miami, Fla.)
Please visit Bellator.com for details.
*Event schedule subject to change.
Ryan Bader (24-5) defeated Linton Vassell (18-6, 1 NC) via TKO (punches) at 3:58 of round two
Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hx0r62nfbc8y2ql/AABxoV96f8xO-PA6cKykGLCxa?dl=0
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (7-0) defeated Emily Ducote (6-3) via verbal submission (arm bar) at 3:42 of round five
Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/s7b7l5wfa27nvi8/AAA4YdcUjaoAJcMGyzNCb8jba?dl=0
Phil Davis (18-4, 1 NC) defeated Leo Leite (10-1) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/76ipvbxw3r1v660/AABQ-Tg_EQpxsW0F7FiGsoT1a?dl=0
Ed Ruth (4-0) defeated Chris Dempsey (11-6) via KO (punch) at :27 of round two
Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/185k0c5hl9wh7m2/AACIEShWpmwRdgFOW8jAWqmOa?dl=0
Saad Awad (21-9) defeated Zach Freeman (9-3) via TKO (punches) at 1:07 of round one
Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/h8r8f5gixl91luv/AACa8tdrvMVwwUHt2EFYd-8ra?dl=0
Preliminary Card Results:
Tywan Claxton (1-0) defeated Johnny Bonilla-Bowman (1-1) via knockout (flying-knee) at 1:29 of round one
Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wbn0zv5dxry7n8q/AACBqdJ3F7GdInsklCwGrFLta?dl=0
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VirSoFoCUYE
Logan Storley (7-0) defeated Matt Secor (9-5) via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6y7cftw9kn32g1v/AAD1sI8H4qzSkzGGwFr9DbYsa?dl=0
Mike Wilkins (8-4) defeated Brett Martinez (6-5) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:09 of round two
Frank Buenafuente (8-4) defeated Francis Healy (7-5) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Dominic Mazzotta (13-2) defeated Matt Lozano (8-6) via TKO (doctor stoppage) at 2:37 of round one
Michael Trizano (5-0) defeated Mike Otwell (3-2) via submission (D’arce Choke) at 2:07 of round two
Scott Clymer (1-0) defeated Mike Putnam (1-2) via TKO (punches) at
Andrew Salas (4-1) defeated Ethan Goss (3-4) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Josh Fremd (2-0) defeated Ryan Parker (0-1) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:25 of round two