Category Archives: CBS Sports Network

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OFFICIAL RESULTS & PHOTOS FOR BELLATOR 252: PITBULL VS. CARVALHO

COMPLETE EVENT PHOTOS HERE
 
COMPLETE POST-FIGHT VIDEO INTERVIEWS
 
Bellator 252: Pitbull vs. Carvalho Main Card: 
Patricio “Pitbull” (31-4) defeated Pedro Carvalho (11-4) via KO (punch) at 2:10 of round one
Yaroslav Amosov (25-0) defeated Logan Storley (11-1) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Emmanuel Sanchez (20-4) defeated Daniel Weichel (40-12) via unanimous decision (48-46, 49-46, 49-45)
 
Preliminary Card: 
Aaron Pico (7-3) defeated John de Jesus (13-9) via KO (punch) at 4:12 of round two
Keri Taylor Melendez (5-0) defeated Emilee King (4-4) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:02 of round one
Manny Muro (12-6) defeated Devin Powell (10-5) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Jornel Lugo (5-0) defeated Schyler Sootho (4-1) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Lucas Brennan (4-0) defeated Andrew Salas (6-5) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Roman Faraldo (4-0) defeated Pat Casey (6-4) via (TKO) punches at 2:30 of round two
Trevor Gudde (2-1) defeated Khonry Gracie (2-2) via TKO (knee) at 3:28 of round three
  
Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.

OFFICIAL FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS & PHOTOS FOR BELLATOR 250: MOUSASI VS. LIMA

COMPLETE EVENT PHOTOS
 
Bellator 250: Mousasi vs. Lima Main Card:
Gegard Mousasi (47-7-2) defeated Douglas Lima (32-8) via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46)
Henry Corrales (18-5) defeated Brandon Girtz (16-10) via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 30-27)
Dalton Rosta (4-0) defeated Ty Gwerder (5-2) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
 
Preliminary Card:
Jake Hager (3-0, 1 NC) defeated Brandon Calton (2-1) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Sabah Homasi (14-8) defeated Bobby Voelker (33-14) via knockout (punches) at :20 of round two
Johnny Eblen (7-0) defeated Taylor Johnson (6-2) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Adam Borics (15-1) defeated Erick Sanchez (9-6) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Cody Law (1-0) defeated Orlando Ortega (0-1) via submission (D’Arce Choke) at 2:41 of round one
 

BELLATOR MMA CHAMPION ILIMA-LEI MACFARLANE DEFENDS FLYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE AGAINST UNDEFEATED JULIANA VELASQUEZ ON THURSDAY, DEC. 10

LOS ANGELES – On Thursday, December 10, Bellator MMA presents a long-awaited world title bout featuring a clash of undefeated flyweights, as champ Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (11-0) defends her 125-pound championship belt against Brazil’s Juliana Velasquez (10-0) at Bellator 254. The event airs live on CBS Sports Network from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
 
CBS Sports Network will air Bellator 254: Macfarlane vs. Velasquez LIVE in all U.S. markets, while preliminary matchups will stream on CBSSports.com and Bellator MMA’s YouTube channel. Additional bouts will be announced at a later date.
 
Returning to the Bellator cage for the first time since a victory over Kate Jackson in her hometown of Honolulu last December, Macfarlane will look to continue her dominance over Bellator’s elite woman’s flyweight division as she defends her title against Julianna Velasquez on December 10. The inaugural Bellator flyweight champion, Macfarlane enters the contest with a perfect professional record of 11-0, including eight coming by way of stoppage. Adding to her impressive resume, “The Ilimanator” has the most victories amongst women in the Bellator cage (10) and has no plans of slowing down, as she seeks to add to her legacy inside the cage with her fifth successful title defense at Bellator 254.
 
With a professional record of 10-0, Rio de Janeiro’s Juliana Velasquez looks to remain perfect in her first chance at Bellator gold. The black belt judoka will attempt to become the second women’s flyweight champion in Bellator history when she looks to extend her promotional winning streak to six. With prior stoppage wins over Rebecca Ruth and Kristina Williams, Velasquez also defeated former 125-pound title challenger Alejandra Lara en route to her upcoming title shot. Much like Macfarlane, the 34-year-old Team Nogueira-product will be competing for the first time in 2020, nearly a year removed from her Bellator 236 unanimous decision victory over Bruna Ellen.
 
Updated Bellator 254: Macfarlane vs. Velasquez Main Card:
CBS Sports Network | DAZN
 
Flyweight World Title Bout: Ilima-Lei Macfarlane (11-0) vs. Juliana Velasquez (10-0)
 
*Card subject to change.
 
Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.

OFFICIAL BELLATOR 249: CYBORG VS. BLENCOWE FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS & PHOTOS

Complete Event Photos Here
 
Bellator 249: Cyborg vs. Blencowe Main Card:
Cris “Cyborg” (23-2) defeated Arlene Blencowe(13-8) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:46 of round two
Leandro Higo (20-5) defeated Ricky Bandejas(13-5) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:32 of round two
Steve Mowry (8-0) defeated Shawn Teed (6-3-1) via TKO at 4:22 of round one
Saad Awad (23-13, 1 NC) and Mandel Nallo(7-1, 1 NC) ended in a no contest (unintentional low blow)
Preliminary Card:
Andrew Kapel(16-7) defeated Joseph Creer(7-2-1) via TKO (doctor’s stoppage – cut) at 5:00 of round two
Kemran Lachinov(10-2) defeated Kyle Crutchmer(6-1) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Christian Edwards(4-0) defeated Hamza Salim(5-4) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:38 of round two
Da’mon Blackshear (8-3) defeated Mike Kimbel (3-3) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:14 of round two 
Aviv Gozali(5-0) defeated Logan Neal(1-1) via submission (kimura) at 3:22 of round one
Albert Gonzales(2-2) defeated Kastriot Xhema(3-5, 1 NC) via TKO (fighter retirement) at 5:00 of round two

BELLATOR MMA FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD GRAND PRIX RESUMES LIVE ON CBS SPORTS NETWORK BEGINNING NOV. 12

CHAMP PATRICIO ‘PITBULL’ DEFENDS HIS TITLE IN QUARTERFINAL MATCHUP AGAINST PEDRO CARVALHO, WHILE DANIEL WEICHEL FACES EMMANUEL SANCHEZ

PLUS, DARRION CALDWELL MEETS UNDEFEATED AJ MCKEE IN SEMIFINALS ON NOV. 19


 
LOS ANGELES — The Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix resumes Thursday, Nov. 12 with two quarterfinal matchups set to take place, as champ Patricio “Pitbull” (30-14) defends his title against Pedro Carvalho (11-3), while Daniel Weichel (40-11) and Emmanuel Sanchez (19-4) square off in a battle of former title contenders. Additionally, the first semifinal bout is set for Thursday, Nov. 19, when former titleholder Darrion Caldwell (15-3) squares off with undefeated AJ McKee (16-0) for a spot in the tournament finals. All the action airs LIVE on CBS Sports Network at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
 
In the main event of Bellator 252 on Nov. 12, fans will see a featherweight world title bout with two-division Bellator champion Patricio “Pitbull” defending his 145-pound crown against SBG Ireland’s Carvalho. In addition to the five-round championship headliner, a second Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix quarterfinal will go downas two former title challengers in Weichel and Sanchez meet again following a razor-thin split decision-victory for Weichel in 2016. The winners of these two bouts can expect to see each other in the next semifinal matchup.
 
The Bellator 253 headliner on Nov. 19 sees former bantamweight world champion Caldwell go toe-to-toe with rising prospect McKee on the other side of the bracket in the first semifinal. The winner earns a guaranteed spot in the finals and a shot at the Bellator world title and a chance to take home one million dollars.
 
All three Featherweight World Grand Prix bouts were initially slated to take place at the postponed Bellator 241 and Bellator 244 events prior to the COVID-19 pandemic effectively putting the yearlong tournament on hiatus.
 
CBS Sports Network will air Bellator 252: Pitbull vs. Carvalho and Bellator 253: Caldwell vs. McKee LIVE in all U.S. markets at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, while preliminary matchups will stream on CBSSports.com and Bellator MMA’s YouTube channel. Additional bouts will be announced at a later date.
 
Hailing from Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, two-time featherweight champ Patricio “Pitbull” will enter the Bellator cage for a promotional record 23rd time on Nov. 12. With impressive wins to his credit over Michael Chandler, Daniel Straus (x3), Daniel Weichel (x2) and Pat Curran, the 33-year old continues on in the Featherweight World Grand Prix not far removed from his lightweight championship victory in May of last year. Having earned a finish in 21 of his 30 wins as a professional, the simultaneous two-division champion most recently bested current bantamweight champion Juan Archuleta on the scorecards in an exciting opening round World Grand Prix matchup and fans can certainly expect more fireworks when he finally sets his sights on Carvalho.   
 
Portuguese submission specialist Pedro Carvalho will be entering the Bellator cage for just the fifth time in his eight-year professional career, looking for his seventh consecutive victory and his first world title victory. With victories in nine of his last 11 contests, including against Derek Campos, Daniel Crawfordand a face crank-submission over Sam Sicilia in the opening round, the 25-year-old SBG Ireland-product is on the cusp of greatness – and winning the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix would be the perfect way to solidify it. 
 
With over 50 professional fights to his name, Germany’s Daniel Weichel is ready to make his 2020 debut in a highly anticipated World Grand Prix quarterfinal bout with Sanchez, a fighter Weichel got the better of four years ago at Bellator 159. Following his Bellator debut in 2014, “Drake” has enjoyed an impressive promotional mark of 9-3, including pivotal victories over Sanchez, Pat Curran, Georgi Karakhanyan and Saul Rogers.  
 
On the heels of yet another masterful performance that ended in a submission victory over Tywan Claxton in the opening round of the World Grand Prix, “El Matador” is ready for another title run as he prepares for the 50-fight veteran and the man who beat him once before, Daniel Weichel. Since joining forces with Bellator in 2014, the Milwaukee, Wisc.-resident has collected 11 victories over a 14-fight stint, including key wins over the likes of Claxton, Daniel Straus, Marcos Galvao and Georgi Karakhanyan (2x). 
 
Having needed just one round to put away his last opponent via submission in the quarterfinals of the World Grand Prix, Darrion Caldwell is on a mission to regain Bellator gold. “The Wolf,” a former North Carolina State University NCAA National Champion wrestler, has looked unstoppable since moving up to the featherweight division, having defeated Adam Borics, as well as Henry Corrales in the opening round of the tournament. Now, the former bantamweight champ sits only two victories away from holding a title in his second division – a feat very few athletes can claim.
 
Touted by ESPN as the best fighter in MMA under the age of 25, AJ McKee looks to back up the lofty expectations often held by the public for second generations-athletes. Undefeated in his career, “The Mercenary” has made himself known to the world through his flashy persona and trash talk, but most importantly, his work inside the Bellator cage. With every one of his pro bouts taking place with Bellator, the Long Beach-native can achieve what he set out to do beginning at Bellator 146 in 2015 and become world champion with just two more wins.
 
Also announced for Bellator 252…is a third main card bout featuring the always-exciting Aaron Pico (6-3) of Jackson-Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, N.M., who returns for his second appearance inside Bellator’s “FightSphere, having previously defeated Solo Hatley Jr. in impressive fashion at Bellator 242. He will take on Pittsburgh’s John de Jesus (13-8), who was most recently victorious at Bellator 244 against Vladyslav Parubchenko, in what promises to an explosive featherweight contest.
 
For further information, please visit Bellator.com
 
Updated Bellator 252: Pitbull vs. Carvalho Fight Card:
CBS Sports Network | DAZN
7 p.m. ET

Featherweight World Title Bout/FWGP Quarterfinal: Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (30-4) vs. Pedro Carvalho (11-3)
Featherweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal: Daniel Weichel (40-11) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (19-4)
Featherweight Main Card Bout: Aaron Pico (6-3) vs. John de Jesus (13-8)
 
 
Updated Bellator 253: Caldwell vs. McKee Fight Card:
CBS Sports Network | DAZN
7 p.m. ET

Featherweight World Grand Prix Semifinal: Darrion Caldwell (15-3) vs. AJ McKee (16-0)
 
 
*Card subject to change.
 

COREY ANDERSON MAKES BELLATOR MMA DEBUT AGAINST COMBAT SPORTS LEGEND MELVIN MANHOEF IN BELLATOR 251 HEADLINER

MASSIVE EVENT AIRS LIVE ON CBS SPORTS NETWORK THURSDAY, NOV. 5

LOS ANGELES – Bellator MMA is back in primetime on Thursday, Nov. 5 with a card headlined by an exciting battle featuring one of the promotion’s newest free agent acquisitions in Corey Anderson (13-5), who will make his highly anticipated Bellator debut against Dutch combat sports legend Melvin Manhoef (32-14-1, 2 NC) in the stacked light heavyweight division. The action emanates from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., where Bellator has held all its domestic shows since the promotion’s return to live events.
 
CBS Sports Network will air Bellator 251: Manhoef vs. Anderson LIVE in all U.S. markets, while preliminary matchups will stream on CBSSports.com and Bellator MMA’s YouTube channel. Additional bouts will be announced at a later date.
 
Legendary Dutch fighter Melvin Manhoef is one of the most feared and violent striking specialists in all of combat sports. With 29 of his 32 career victories coming by way of knockout, “No Mercy” boasts one of the highest knockout percentage rates of any MMA fighter with at least 15 victories. Manhoef has collected victories over iconic names in the sport, including Mark Hunt and Kazushi Sakuraba, throughout an illustrious career dating back to 1995, when he earned the first of many knockout victories at only 18 years of old. After stacking together two consecutive victories, including a TKO over Yannick Bahati in his last outing, Manhoef looks to spoil the much-hyped Bellator debut of Anderson in the main event of Bellator 251.
 
Rockford, Illinois’ Corey Anderson joined Bellator’s light heavyweight division this past August after opting to depart the UFC. The winner of The Ultimate Fighter season 19 was ranked fourth in the UFC’s 205-pound division at the time of his departure, having defeated top opponents, including current champion Jan Blachowicz, Johnny Walker, Ilir Latifi and Glover Teixeira. Prior to honing his MMA under world-renowned BJJ ace Ricardo Almeida, the 31-year-old became a two-time NCAA All-American wrestler and earned his degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. “Overtime” will look to ascend to the top of a crowded Bellator light heavyweight class that includes champion Vadim NemkovPhil DavisRyan BaderLyoto Machida, newcomer Christian Edwards and former LFA champ Alex Polizzi.
 
For further information, please visit www.Bellator.com.
 
Updated Bellator 251: Manhoef vs. Anderson Fight Card:
CBS Sports Network

Light Heavyweight Main Event: Melvin Manhoef (32-14-1, 2 NC) vs. Corey Anderson (13-5)
 
 
*Card subject to change.

BELLATOR MMA CONFIRMS FULL FIGHT CARD FOR FIRST EVENT ON CBS SPORTS NETWORK

 
BELLATOR 247, HEADLINED BY PAUL DALEY AGAINST DEREK ANDERSON, AIRS LIVE THURSDAY, OCT. 1 AT 4 P.M. ET
 
PRELIM BOUTS TO STREAM ON CBSSPORTS.COM

LOS ANGELES – Bellator MMA has today confirmed the full fight card for Bellator 247: Daley vs. Anderson, which takes place Thursday, Oct. 1 at Allianz Cloud in Milan, Italy.

Bellator 247: Daley vs. Anderson kicks off the new partnership between Bellator MMA and CBS Sports Network, which will air the event LIVE Thursday, Oct. 1 (4 p.m. ET) from Italy’s fashion capital. Beginning with this event, CBS Sports Network will televise Bellator MMA events, both domestic and international, LIVE in all U.S. markets, while preliminary matchups will stream on CBSSports.com and Bellator MMA’s YouTube channel.

In addition to the exciting welterweight main event between veteran Paul Daley (42-17-2) and Derek Anderson (16-3, 1 NC), three other main card bouts are now confirmed, with the additions of Norbert Novenyi Jr. (5-0) taking on Laid Zerhouni (7-5) at middleweight, a flyweight matchup between former title challenger Kate Jackson (11-4-1) and current Bellator Kickboxing flyweight champion Denise Kielholtz (5-2), as well as a lightweight contest pitting Ilias Bulaid (2-0) against Ivan Naccari (Pro Debut) in an explosive opening bout.

On the preliminary card, Ireland’s Brian Moore (12-7) will make his return to the Bellator cage following injury against Italy’s Simone D’anna (7-2) at 145-pounds. Also, four welterweight bouts are official, when undefeated Justin Burlinson (5-0) faces fellow unbeaten foe Bobby Pallett (5-0), Lewis Long (17-6) meets former Bellator headliner Gianni Melillo (13-5), Walter Gahadza (18-5) returns against the undefeated Uros Jurisic (10-0) and Kywan Gracie (1-0) continues his young MMA career against Moldova’s Constantin Gnusariev (3-0-1).

Originally slated to face Liz Carmouche prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, flyweight Mandy Bohm (6-0, 1 NC) gets a new assignment and welcomes Griet Eeckhout (5-3-1) to the Bellator cage in the first of two women’s preliminary bouts at Bellator 247: Daley vs. Anderson. The second pits Jade Jorand against Monika Tochlikova in an atomweight contest that will serve as both fighters’ professional debuts.

Additionally, two Bellator veterans welcome two new athletes to the Bellator cage, when Lee Chadwick (25-15-1) goes to battle with London Shootfighters-product Ederson Cristian Macedo(10-5) at light heavyweight and SBG Ireland’s Blaine O’Driscoll (8-3) tests his skills against France’s Salah Elkas (6-6) in a flyweight affair. Lastly, a 160-pound contract weight bout has been booked, as undefeated Chris Duncan (6-0) meets Iamik Furtado (6-3).

A proud Hungarian, Norbert Novenyi Jr. enters the Oct. 1 contest boasting a perfect professional mark of 5-0, including a trio of submissions and two first-round finishes. The middleweight will be making his fourth appearance for Bellator MMA, collecting decisive wins in each of the previous three contests. Another decisive finish at Bellator 247 could place the London Shootfighters-product into the mix at the top of the 185-pound division. Hailing from Montpellier, France, Zerhouni will be making his first appearance of 2020 and first fight on a Bellator card, where he will be searching for his fourth win over his last five fights. With each of his five career victories coming by way of knockout or submission, including four in the opening round, the 24-year-old finisher will look for yet another early stoppage in the co-main event of Bellator 247.

Fighting out of Amsterdam, 31-year-old Denise Kielholtz will be making her second MMA appearance of her 2020 campaign and seventh since joining Bellator MMA in 2017. With 47 career kickboxing wins, including a Bellator Kickboxing women’s flyweight championship, the multi-dimensional Dutch Muay Thai fighter hopes to extend her current three-fight winning streak when she enters the cage in Milan. “Miss Dynamite” also enters the contest riding a successful streak that includes five victories in six contests, highlighted by a trio of first-round finishes. With victories in four of her past six contests and nine of her last 12, Kate Jackson comes into the bout riding one of the hottest streaks in the women’s flyweight division. Hailing from Cornwall, England, the former Bellator flyweight No. 1-contender will be looking to add to her six career knockouts, a total that includes five in the first round. The 34-year-old Jackson is hoping a win over Kielholtz puts her right back into the 125-pound world title conversation.

For further information, visit Bellator.com.  

Bellator 247: Daley vs. Anderson Fight Card:

CBS Sports Network

4 p.m. ET


Welterweight Main Event: Paul Daley (42-17-2) vs Derek Anderson (16-3, 1 NC)

Middleweight Co-Main Event: Norbert Novenyi Jr. (5-0) vs. Laid Zerhouni (7-5)

Flyweight Feature Bout: Kate Jackson (11-4-1) vs. Denise Kielholtz (5-2)

Lightweight Feature Bout: Ilias Bulaid (2-0) vs. Ivan Naccari (Pro Debut)

Preliminary Card:

CBSSports.com | Bellator MMA’s YouTube Channel

12:15 p.m. ET

Featherweight Bout: Brian Moore (12-7) vs. Simone D’anna (7-2)
Welterweight Bout: Justin Burlinson (5-0) vs. Bobby Pallett (5-0)
Welterweight Bout: Lewis Long (17-6) vs. Gianni Melillo (13-5)
Flyweight Bout: Mandy Bohm (6-0, 1 NC) vs. Griet Eeckhout (5-3-1)

160-pound Contract Weight Bout: Chris Duncan (6-0) vs. Iamik Furtado (6-3)
Welterweight Bout: Walter Gahadza (18-5) vs. Uros Jurisic (10-0)
Welterweight Bout: Kywan Gracie (1-0) vs. Constantin Gnusariev (3-0-1)
Light Heavyweight Bout: Lee Chadwick (25-15-1) vs. Ederson Cristian Macedo (10-5)
Flyweight Bout: Blaine O’Driscoll (8-3) vs. Salah Elkas (6-6)
Atomweight Bout: Jade Jorand (Pro Debut) vs. Monika Tochlikova (Pro Debut)

*Card subject to change.

****

BELLATOR MMA AND CBS SPORTS NETWORK TEAM UP ON NEW TELEVISION PARTNERSHIP

COVERAGE KICKS OFF THURSDAY, OCT. 1 WITH BELLATOR 247 LIVE FROM MILAN, ITALY
 
PLUS, CHAMPION CRIS ‘CYBORG’ AND ARLENE BLENCOWE MEET IN EPIC WORLD TITLE BOUT IN PRIMETIME ON OCT. 15

LOS ANGELES – Bellator MMA, a leading mixed martial arts promotion owned by ViacomCBS, and CBS Sports Network have announced an exciting new partnership that will see the organization’s live events featured on the 24-hour home of CBS Sports beginning this fall.

CBS Sports Network will televise Bellator events, both domestic and international, LIVE in all U.S. markets, while preliminary matchups will stream on CBSSports.com and Bellator MMA’s YouTube channel. Additional details will be announced at a later date.

To kick off the new partnership, CBS Sports Network will air Bellator events live from Europe, including Bellator 247 on Thursday, Oct. 1 (4 p.m. ET) in Milan, Italy, as well as the monumentalBellator Paris event on Saturday, Oct. 10 (11:30 a.m. ET) in France. Bellator 247 is headlined by a welterweight battle between veteran Paul Daley (42-17-2) and Derek Anderson (16-3, 1 NC), while Bellator Paris sees “MVP” Michael Page (17-1) take on Ross Houston (8-0, 1 NC) at welterweight and Cheick Kongo (30-10-2, 1 NC) face Tim Johnson (14-6) in a heavyweight bout.

The first primetime event live from the U.S. takes place Thursday, Oct. 15 (9 p.m. ET) with a massive card anchored by the first world title defense of current champion Cris “Cyborg” (22-2, 1 NC), who takes on Australia’s Arlene Blencowe (13-7), at Bellator 249 from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

“We’re excited to have CBS Sports Network serve as the new home of live Bellator MMA events. It’s a great opportunity to showcase some of the best events and biggest names in the sport,” said CBS Sports Executive Vice President of Programming Dan Weinberg. “Adding Bellator MMA to the CBS Sports portfolio will allow for greater promotion, engagement and exposure across all our platforms and assets including CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports HQ as well as our various social accounts.”

“I am thrilled that Bellator live events will be coming to CBS Sports Network beginning on Oct. 1, as well as the unique opportunities the partnership creates across all CBS Sports platforms,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “CBS Sports is synonymous with iconic sports broadcasting and it is incredible to now have Bellator MMA included in that family. I would like to thank Paramount Network, formerly Spike TV, for the years of support that helped build Bellator into the organization that it is today, and this news marks yet another exciting relationship between two ViacomCBS properties. I look forward to bringing the biggest fights, featuring the top athletes in the world, live to CBS Sports Network and introducing Bellator to an entirely new audience this fall.”

CBS Sports Network, the 24-hour home of CBS Sports, is available through all major cable, satellite and telco distributors as well as via OTT streaming service providers YouTube TV, fuboTV, DirecTV and Hulu.

Bellator will continue to produce all of its own live events, led by Executive Producer Scott Fishman.

The second Bellator woman’s featherweight champion in the company’s history, Cris “Cyborg” is coming off of a dominant performance over Julia Budd in January to win the 145-pound world title. Already an MMA legend at 35-years-old, “Cyborg” will be looking to further her legacy as the greatest woman’s mixed martial artist of all-time when she meets Arlene Blencowe on Oct. 15. After winning the Bellator belt in her 12th career title fight, “Cyborg” made history by becoming a world champion in her fourth major promotion, previously holding belts in both the UFC and Strikeforce. With a professional record of 22-2, 1 NC, including 18 wins by way of finish, the Brazilian-born fighter holds victories over tough competition such as Budd, Holly Holm, Felicia Spencer and Gina Carano.

With wins in six of her last seven fights, including five knockouts, “Angerfist” has put herself in position to challenge for the women’s featherweight title. Coming off a unanimous decision victory over Leslie Smith, the former two-time boxing world champion will look to keep her momentum rolling and claim her first MMA title. Tied for the most knockouts in Bellator woman’s featherweight history, the fighter out of New South Wales, Australia aims to claim sole possession of that record, as she takes on her toughest challenge to date in Cris “Cyborg.”

A longtime MMA veteran, Paul Daley has competed professionally since 2003, amassing over 60 career fights. Throughout his tenure, “Semtex” has been one half of some of the most memorable bouts in MMA history, including a knockout of the year over Brennan Ward in 2017. Most recently, the Nottingham, England native notched consecutive wins over Erick Silva and Saad Awad, running his record in Bellator MMA to 8-4. Fighting out of San Diego, Calif., the 30-year-old Derek Anderson will be making his 11th appearance for Bellator MMA in search of his third consecutive victory. With 11 of his 16 career wins coming by way of finish, “The Barbaric” hopes to earn his eighth promotional victory and first of his 2020 campaign.

Currently riding a three-fight win streak, Michael “Venom” Page, better known to fans as “MVP,” returns with the intention of spoiling the debut of European welterweight prospect, Ross Houston. Holding a career record of 17-1, with 14 wins coming by way of stoppage, the pride of London Shootfighters looks to remind people why he is one of the most exciting strikers in all of MMA. After signing with Bellator in February, Scotland’s Houston will make his promotional debut against one of Bellator’s biggest stars in Page. “The Hitman” plans on keeping his 8-0, 1 NC undefeated record intact and improve on the three submission victories already to his name by using his known Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills.

Holding an impressive MMA record of 30-10-2, 1 NC, France’s Cheick Kongo returns to action following a title fight against heavyweight champion Ryan Bader last September. The former kickboxer remains unbeaten since 2015 and will enter the Bellator cage on home soil for a rematch against a familiar opponent in heavyweight contender in Tim Johnson. Coming off a dominant TKO victory over veteran Matt Mitrione at Bellator 243 in August, Johnson is set to compete for the third time in 2020 seeking revenge in a rematch from 2018 against Kongo. Now training out of Las Vegas, Johnson has quickly earned his place near the top of the Bellator heavyweight division with his recent wins, including a viral knockout over top prospect Tyrell Fortune in February.

*Fight cards subject to change.

Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.

FFC and Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Ink Deal That Packs a Powerful Punch!

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Final Fight Championship Makes History, With Multi-Year Combat Sports Agreement Involving, Rio Las Vegas and CBS Sports Network

LAS VEGAS, NV, (Sept. 14, 2018) – One of the fastest growing combat sports promotion companies in the world, Final Fight Championship (FFC), and Caesars Entertainment’s Rio Las Vegas, will deliver a weekly combat sports series called, “Fight Dome”, which debuts on Friday, Sept. 28, and will air live on CBSSN (CBS Sports Network).

The groundbreaking announcement marks the first time in the history of Las Vegas that a combat sports promotion company has established residency inside of a resort casino to deliver a weekly show involving multi-disciplines including, Boxing, Kickboxing and MMA.

“History will be made on Friday, Sept. 28,” said Orsat Zovko, President and Founder of Final Fight Championship. “We (FFC) are thrilled to be a part of this landmark agreement with Rio Las Vegas and CBS Sports Network.”

Fight Dome events will broadcast live on CBS Sports Network, Friday at 7 p.m. (PST) and 10 p.m. (EST) with the first official event, “Night of Champions”, debuting on Friday, Sept. 28. “Night of Champions”, will feature all three disciplines (Boxing, Kickboxing and MMA) and every fight will be for the FFC World Championship Belt!

All of the heart-pounding FFC action will take place inside of the all-new, Fight Dome Las Vegas, which is an intimate venue located inside of Rio Las Vegas that delivers combat sports fans, the experience of a lifetime.

“Our fans will literally be right on top of the action the entire time,” said Zovko. “This is every combat sports fan’s dream… You’ll be sitting so close, you’ll feel like you’re the one in the ring fighting!”

General ticket prices begin at $69. Tickets are available at any Las Vegas Caesars Entertainment Box Office, by calling 702-777-2782 or 855-234-7469 or online at Ticketmaster.com. For groups of 10 or more call 866-574-3851 or email EntertainmentGroupSales@Caesars.com.

About Final Fight Championship

Respected international combat sports promoter, Orsat Zovko, launched Final Fight Championship® (FFC®) in 2013. FFC has since held 30 successful dual-discipline events comprised of professional kickboxing and world class mixed martial arts. Featuring marquis athletes such as Satoshi Ishii, Mirko Cro Cop, Mladen Brestovac and Robin van Roosmalen. FFC presents live sports broadcasts in more than 50 countries around the world, across four continents, appearing on CBS Sports Network, Fight Channel Worldwide, among other sports and media properties.

For more information, please visit FinalFightChampionship.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Follow @FFCFighting