Category Archives: mixed martial arts

Pib xyaum ua MMA, mixed martial arts, MMA, Tshiab England Fights

BAMFORD & GULLIVER: A FIRST CLASS FRIENDSHIP FORGED THROUGH FIRE

Cia ib saib

Lewiston, Maine (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 21, 2016) – Bryce Bamford (1-0) and Nick Gulliver (2-0) share a bond that was built by spilling blood and sweat together in Brazilian Jit Jitsu gyms across Maine and New England. When they enter the NEF cage together nyob rau hnub Saturday night in Lewiston at “NEF 22: TAG NRHO txoj kev ua tau NTAWM NO,” it will be the culmination of a combat sports friendship that goes back almost a decade.

 

“Let’s just call him ‘The Hulk,’ since he is a machine on the ground and strong as an ox,” Gulliver, a police officer by trade, joked when asked about his gym partner and confidant, Bamford. “’The Hulk’ and I have been training together for a long time… He is a one of a kind training partner. If I look at him and say that I need help with something, he will help me in any way that he can. He has everything you want in a training partner and a friend. He is a great guy and I’m so happy I can train with someone like Bryce.”

 

Bamford and Gulliver first met several years ago at Fitness Styles, originally located in Livermore Falls, Maine. “It was more just ‘go and punch each other’ and it was a little wild,” Gulliver recalled. Soon after, Bamford moved his training over to The Foundry in Farmington, Maine where he began focusing on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) in earnest. Before long, Bamford recruited Gulliver to join him at The Foundry where the two have remained loyal training partners. “Best thing I could have done,’ Gulliver stated. “I’ve been training with Bryce ever since.”

 

Xyoo tas los, Gulliver, who currently holds the rank of purple belt in BJJ, began cross-training at John Raio’s First Class MMA in Topsham and returned the favor to Bamford by pulling him over to Raio’s gym where the two began supplementing their BJJ studies with rigorous mixed martial arts (MMA) kev kawm. Immediately finding that the sport was a fit for both of them, Gulliver was the first to test his MMA skills in the NEF cage. He made his debut last June at “NEF 18: MADE IN AMERICA” and finished Ora Spratt (0-2) ntawm cuav nyob rau hauv thawj puag ncig.

 

“One of the most memorable moments that I have of Bryce was after my first MMA fight,” Gulliver recalled. “Bryce came down to speak with me and he congratulated me on my first win. I looked at him and thanked him for all the help that he has given me over the past few years. Then I said to him: ‘Now it’s your turn.’ He looked at me and shook his head. I could tell he was hooked at that moment. But he said, ‘My mom came and watched you and loved it, but I don’t think she can handle watching me fight.’ I laughed because I knew that it wouldn’t be long before he would be in the cage fighting next to me.”

 

Gulliver was right.

 

Bamford, 40, a dedicated father and family man, runs a slasher at Palletone in Livermore Falls during his day job. The soft spoken, yet charismatic heavyweight currently holds the rank of Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. As complimentary as Gulliver is of him, Bamford equally values Gulliver’s work ethic and the deep bond that the two share. “When Nick sets a goal, he doesn’t stop until he gets there,” Bamford stated. “He is relentless.”

 

After witnessing Gulliver’s stellar debut in the NEF hexagon, Bamford felt the itch to follow his friend’s lead and challenge himself in the ultimate proving ground. “I blame Nick for the fact that I am stepping into the cage and not sitting up in the stands drinking cold beer with everyone else,” laughed Bamford.

 

Bamford made his NEF debut in November 2015 at “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE.” He needed only 19 seconds to stop his opponent that night.

 

“Bryce is 40 xyoo, but that number means nothing—just ask anyone who has grabbed ahold of him,” Gulliver stated. “If he would have got involved in this sport 20 lub xyoos dhau los, no one would have touched him if he was training the way he trains today. He’s the first guy in the gym and the last guy out. That is why his age means nothing. He has heart and a lot of it. I respect a guy with the outlook on life like Bryce Bamford has. He can teach us all something.”

 

This weekend, Bamford and Gulliver are set to take to the cage again. Bamford is scheduled to face a man ten years younger than him in Joe Krech (0-1) and Gulliver is set to take on his biggest challenge to date when he faces former multiple-time state champion wrestler Dave Smith (2-1) from Beserkers MMA in Rumford, Maine.

 

“’All Roads Lead Here’ is a title so fitting for a story like the one between Bryce and I,” Gulliver stated. “Every day we have been training—every time we make each other bleed or sweat or tired—it all leads up to April 23rd. This is why we push each other—for opportunities like this.”

 

Leading into this weekend’s blockbuster event, there are strong rumors that this could be Bamford’s last MMA fight. At 40-years old and with a loving wife and child at home, there are other interests that the camping and motorcyclist enthusiast is passionate to pursue. If NEF 22 is in fact the last time that the two storied training partners take to the cage together, they intend to capitalize on the opportunity to solidify their martial arts history with a pair of wins nyob rau hnub Saturday.

 

"Nyob rau hauv 20 xyoo from now, I can see Bryce and I talking about this fight, drinking a beer,” Gulliver stated in closing. “We won’t talk about how much work we put into the fight, or how many hours we trained, or how many times we kicked each other’s asses—but we will talk about the fun time we had in that moment. Some things in life, you don’t forget. Times like this upcoming weekend are one of those moments. I’m glad I can share that with Bryce.”

 

Tshiab hais Fights 'tom ntej no cov kev tshwm sim, "NEF 22: TAG NRHO txoj kev ua tau NTAWM NO,” takes place this Saturday, Plaub Hlis Ntuj 23, 2016 nyob rau Androscoggin txhab nyiaj Colisée nyob rau hauv Lewiston, Maine. Tickets for “NEF 22” start at just $25 thiab yog muag tam sim no nyob www.TheColisee.com los yog los ntawm hu rau Colisée chaw ua hauj lwm ntawm 207.783.2009 x 525. Yog xav paub ntxiv nyob rau hauv cov kev tshwm sim thiab kev sib ntaus card tshiab, thov mus saib cov qib lub website ntawm www.NewEnglandFights.com. Nyob rau hauv tas li ntawd, koj yuav saib NEF yeeb yaj duab ntawm www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, ua raws li lawv nyob rau Twitternefights thiab koom nrog cov nom Facebook pab pawg neeg "New England Fights."

 

Hais txog Tshiab England Fights

 

Tshiab England Fights ("NEF") yog ib tug sib ntaus txheej xwm promotions lub tuam txhab. NEF lub hom phiaj yog los tsim lub siab tshaj plaws zoo txheej xwm rau Maine lub tua hluav taws thiab cov kiv cua zoo tib yam nkaus. NEF lub thawj pab neeg no muaj nws kim heev kev nyob rau hauv nqe ntaus rog kev ua si tswj, txheej xwm ntau lawm, xov xwm kev sib raug zoo, marketing, kev cai lij choj thiab advertising.

 

M-1, M-1 sib tw, mixed martial arts, MMA

M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Viktor Nemkov to defend title vs. Rashid Yusupov

Cia ib saib
Stephan Puetz returns vs. Andrey Seledtspv
M-1 sib tw 66, Tej zaum 27 in Orenburg City, Russia
ST. Petersburg, Russia (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 19, 2016) – M-1 kev sib tw teeb heavyweight zusViktor Nemkov yuav tiv thaiv nws title Tej zaum 27tiv thaiv challenger Rashid Yusupov, headlining M-1 sib tw 66, in Orenburg City, Russia.
M-1 sib tw 66 will be streamed live from Moscow in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Cas rau cov neeg yuav tsum tau mus saib qhov ua nteg fights thiab cov ntsiab card los txiav rau sau npe rau hauv www.M1Global.TV.Kiv cua yuav saib tag nrho cov ntawm qhov kev txiav txim nyob rau hauv lawv cov computers, raws li tau zoo raws li nyob rau hauv thiab kua ntse xov tooj thiab cov ntsiav tshuaj.
M-1 Global also announced that former M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Stephan “T-800” Puetz will also return to action against M-1 Global-debuting Andrey Seledtsov.
Nemkov (23-5-0, M-1: 14-4-0) captured the coveted M-1 Challenge light heavyweight title this past December, taking a hard-fought 5-round decision from defending champion Puetz, who had won a 5-round split decision April, 2014 against Nemkov for the title. Nemkov (pictured mus rau sab laug) is a two-time M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion having defeated Vasily Babich(WSUB3 – txhais caj npab-lock) for the vacant title that he then lost in his first title defense to Puetz.
A native of Kazakhstan who fights out of Russia, Nemkov will be making his initial title defense of his second championship belt against Yusopov.
Nemkov (L) and Puetz (R)
The 23-year-old Yusupov (6-2-0, M-1: 3-1-0), fighting out of Sochi, Russia, has won four fights in a row to put himself into title contention. A former Russian, European and World Amateur MMA champion, unlike many of his fellow countrymen from the North Caucasus, Yusupov (pictured below) is a dangerous striker whose signature moves are powerful kicks. He is also a top-notch wrestler, evident by his M-1 Challenge victories against Charles Andrade thiab Martin Zawada.
Puetz (13-2-0, M-1: 4-1-0), fighting out of Munich, Lub teb chaws yelemees, successfully defended his M-1 Challenge title twice, after beating Nemkov in their original championship match, tiv thaiv Luis Fernando Miranda (SUB2 – zawm caj pas yog) Lub yim hli ntuj 15, 2014 ntawm M-1 sib tw 50, thiab Valery Myasnikov (KO/TKO2 – punches) Kaum Ob Hlis Ntuj 17, 2014 ntawm M-1 sib tw 54. In a non-title fight this past May, Puetz stopped then M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Marcin Tybura in the third round due to severely damaged broken nose.
The 28-year-old Seledtsov (5-1-0, M-1: 0-0-0) is a former Spetsnev solider who has a solid boxing, combat samba and MMA background. The powerful Russian is the local White-Rex promotion champion.
Ntaub ntawv

www.M1Global.tv

Twitter & Instagram:
@ M1GlobalNews
VFinkelchtein
@ M1Global
Facebook:
M-1, M-1 sib tw, mixed martial arts, MMA

M-1 sib tw 65 Bonus Performances Announced

Cia ib saib

M-1 sib tw 65 Sib ntaus ntawm cov Hmo ntuj: Artem Frolov vs. Kristijan nyiaj
MOSCOW (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 19, 2016) – M-1 Global recently announced its M-1 sib tw 65 bonus performances, highlighted by the Fight of the Night award, along with Submission of the Night and KO of the Night.
Lub M-1 sib tw 65 Fight of the Night was between Russian middleweight prospect Artem Frolov (6-0-0, M-1: 2-0-0) tiv thaiv Kristijan “Klitschko” Nyiaj (8-3-1, M-1: 0-2-1), in which Frolov won by way of an opening-round submission by way of an arm-bar.
M-1 sib tw Middleweight champion Ramadan Emeev (14-3-0, M-1: 8-1-0) was awarded the Submission of the Night. The reigning M-1 Challenge middleweight champion, who advanced to the M-1 Global Grand Prix Middleweight Championship versusAlexander “Cua daj cua dub” Shlemenko (51-9-0, M-1: 2-0-0), used a choke hold on his Brazilian opponent, Maiquel “Big Rig” Facao (35-9-0, M-1: 0-1-0), midway through the first round to win the main event.
M-1 sib tw 65 Cuav ntawm hmo ntuj: Ramadan Emeev
Former M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Max Divnich (12-1-0, M-1: 6-1-0) captured KO of the Night honors with an impressive second-round stoppage (punches) ntawm Robert “TQ” Turnquest (5-2-0, M-1: 0-1-0).
M-1 sib tw 65 KO ntawm lub hmo ntuj: Max Divnich
Ntaub ntawv

www.M1Global.tv

Twitter & Instagram:
@ M1GlobalNews
VFinkelchtein
@ M1Global
Facebook:
Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Ntsia hlau loj TV

BRANDON HALSEY & JOHN SALTER JOIN MAIN CARD OF ‘BELLATOR 156’ IN MIDDLEWEIGHT SHOWDOWN

Cia ib saib

Raug Monica, California. (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 19, 2016) – A middleweight matchup between Brandon "Phaw" Halsey (9-1) thiab John Salter (11-3) has been added to the main card of "Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2 " Lub rau hli ntuj 17 hauv Txuag Mart Center nyob rau hauv Fresno, California.

The fight joins a main card that features two of Bellator MMA’s top welterweights, nyob rau hauv Chidi “Chidi Bang Bang” Njokuani (14-4) thiab Douglas “The Phenom” Lima (26-6), and a rematch between Marcos "Loro" Galvao (17-6-1) thiab Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas (17-4), where the Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title will be on the line. Nyob rau hauv tas li ntawd, eight preliminary contests have been added to the event.

"Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2 " airs nyob rau ntsia hlau loj ntawm 9 p.m. THIAB/8 p.m. I, thaum ua ntej bouts yuav kwj nyob rau Bellator.com thiab Lub Bellator Mobile App. Ntxiv fights yuav muab tshaj tawm sai.

Daim pib rau cov kev tshwm sim pib tom xwb $25 and are currently on sale at the Save Mart Center Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.

Halsey will be making his ninth appearance under the Bellator MMA banner, and be looking to add to his impressive promotional mark of 7-1. The former Fresno State Bulldog began his professional career 9-0 before recently surrendering his first loss against the present Bellator MMA Middleweight titlistRafael Carvalho ntawm "Bellator 144: Halsey vs. Carvalho. " The 29-year-old will look to start another long streak of victories when he challenges John Salter in main card action at "Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2 " Lub rau hli ntuj 17.

Salter comes into his bout with a professional record of 11-3 and is currently in the midst of a three-fight winning streak. In his Bellator MMA debut, Salter put an end to Dustin Jacoby’s night with a second-round, rear-liab qab caj pas cuav ntawm “Bellator 132.” A native of Tennessee, Salter has stopped his opponent in all 11 of his victories and has only lost once in his last seven fights as a professional. With five knockout victories coming in the opening frame, look for the 31-year-old to come out swinging inside Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

Tshiab “Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas” Fight Card:

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title Bout: Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) vs. Eduardo Dantas (17-4)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Co-Main Event: Chidi Njokuani (14-4) vs. Douglas Lima (26-6)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Feature Bout: Brandon Halsey (9-1) vs. John Salter (11-3)

Preliminary Card:

Bellator MMA teeb Heavyweight Yam ua ntej Bout: Jermaine McDermott (2-0) vs. Blake Watkins (5-0)

Bellator MMA 140lb. Preliminary Bout: Paul Ruiz (6-4) vs. Chris Buron (5-0)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Javy Ayala (8-5) vs. Josue “J.R.” Lugo (7-3)

Bellator MMA Hnav Yam ua ntej Bout: Nick Bustamante (5-1) vs. Antoine Smith (3-5)

Bellator MMA Hnav Yam ua ntej Bout: C.J. Keith (8-3) vs. Carrington Banks (4-0)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Yam ua ntej Bout: Justin Smitley (10-7) vs Chris Avila (4-2)

Bellator MMA teeb Heavyweight Yam ua ntej Bout: John Paul Elias (3-0) vs. TBA

Bellator MMA teeb Heavyweight Yam ua ntej Bout: Chris Lewis (0-0) vs. Ernest James (0-0)

 

pib xyaum ua mixed martial arts, Pib xyaum ua MMA, mixed martial arts, MMA, WMMAA

Ntiaj teb MMA Association 2016 Asian Championship May 27-30 nyob rau hauv South Kauslim

Cia ib saib
Monte Carlo, Monaco (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 19, 2016)- The second annual World MMA Association (WMMAA) Asian Championship will be held Tej zaum 27-30 at Hwasoon Culture and Sports Center in the Republic of South Korea.
The Asian MMA Championship will feature the top amateur MMA fighters in six different weight classes.
“This year’s Asian MMA Championship is a significant milestone for our association,” WMMAA president Vadim Finkelchtein hais tias. “We strive to educate people from each country in which we hold regional championships. This time will be no different with more people learning the beauty of Mixed Martial Arts. We’re also organizing a judges and referee seminar within a certification process. We are looking forward to this event and hope to have as many Asian countries participating as possible.”
An international judges’ seminar will be held Tej zaum 24-27, to certify and accredit judges. Only accredit judges will be allowed to work during the Asian MMA Championships. Preliminary and semifinal matches will be May 28, followed by the championship final matches.
The official weigh-ins and competition draws will be conductedTej zaum 27,
The Asia Division Congress: Battle of the Nomads of the WMMAA Pro Asian Division will be held Tej zaum 29.
Individual team competition will be held in accordance with the “Official Rules of Mixed Martial Arts Competition, subject to WMMAA approval. Including revisions, additions and clarifications of certain clauses. Matches will held in accordance with the Olympic system with two third-places in each of the six weight divisions.
Team scoring is awarded by the maximum amount of points scored by individual team members on the following basis: 1st – 10, 2nd – 8, 3rd – 6, 4th – 5, 5th – 4, 6th – 3, 7th – 2, 8th – 1.
All individual first-place winners will be awarded special championship belts and medals, second and third-place finishers will receive a medal and certificate. Teams finishing among the top three in the final standings will be awarded cups and certificates.
In addition to the host, South Kauslim, other eligible countries to compete in the Asian MMA Championship include Afghanistan, Tuam Tshoj, Chinese Taipei, Is Nrias teb, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Singapore and Tajikistan
Ntaub ntawv
Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Ntsia hlau loj TV

BELLATOR MMA SET FOR ACTION AT O2 ARENA IN LONDON ON JULY 16 WITH KIMBO SLICE-JAMES THOMPSON, JOSH KOSCHECK-PAUL DALEY IN TOW

Cia ib saib

MICHAEL ‘VENOM’ PAGE, LINTON ‘THE SWARM’ VASSELL ALSO SET TO COMPETE

Raug Monica, California. (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 18, 2016) – It was the most-watched fight in the history of mixed martial arts with 7.28 lab cas rau cov neeg, thiab on Sunday night Bellator MMA President Scott Coker joined ESPN’s SportsCenter to officially announce that Kimbo Hlais (6-2) thiab James Thompson (20-16) are going to run it back inside the world famous O2 Arena in London on July 16 during the main event of "Bellator 158: London.” The tentpole event also features another highly anticipated rematch in the co-main event — when a grudge match nearly six years in the making boils over as Josh Koscheck (17-10) yuav siv sij hawm nyob rau hauv Paul "Semtex" Daley (38-13-2).

 

In the United Kingdom, the event will be broadcast free on SPIKE UK and Channel 5, while in America, the card will air free on SPIKE. Exact broadcast details for "Bellator 158: London” will be revealed in the near future.

 

Daim pib rau "Bellator 158: London," go on sale this Friday, Plaub Hlis Ntuj 22, with a Bellator Nation presale running thisThursday, Plaub Hlis Ntuj 21. Tickets starting at £40.00 will be available at TheO2.co.uk or The O2 Box Office.

 

Nyob rau hauv tas li ntawd, a pair of English natives will also be in action on July 16, thaum Michael "lom" Nplooj ntawv (9-0) thiab Linton “The Swarm” Vassell (16-5) face yet-to-be-announced opponents. London’s Page, also known as “MVP,” will be competing during the main card of "Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson " no hnub Friday, live and free on Spike at 8 p.m. THIAB/7 p.m. I.

 

Fresh off his performance in the main event of "Bellator 149: Shamrock vs. Gracie," the record-shattering card that generated 3.5 lab cas rau cov neeg, Slice returns to action against the man he previously defeated back in 2008. It’s without question that Slice, a member of American Top Team in his home state of Florida, is one of the most must-see competitors in the sport of mixed martial arts, as it’s become increasingly clear fans can never truly expect what will happen when the brawler enters the Bellator cage.

 

“The Colossus” will likely have a sold-out O2 Arena strongly in his corner, being that he hails from Bristol, England and hasn’t fought on home turf since 2010. Thompson, 37, has been calling for a rematch with Slice since their infamous meeting nearly eight years ago and would like nothing more than to bounce back from a recent string of bad luck with a win against a name the likes of the former YouTube sensation. Thompson’s resume already features wins against Dan Severn, Don Frye and Bobby Lashley, nrad lwm tus.

 

In the card’s co-main event, Koscheck will make his promotional debut a little over a year after signing with Bellator MMA. Its pained the Fresno native to be out of action for so long, especially after being forced to withdraw from a headlining spot in his hometown against Matt Secor ntawm “Bellator 148,” a card that “Semtex” went on to main event. It was there that the seeds for a rematch were cemented even further, as Daley trashed “Kos” in front of his partisan fans, pushing the 38-year-old to return.

 

While Daley may have the results as of late to upstage his foe, Koscheck owns a victory over the Brit in their first meeting, which Daley followed with an infamous punch after the bell that changed the trajectory of his career. Tam sim no, with nine wins in his last ten fights, Daley returns home to put an end to a moment in his profession that has cast a shadow over most of his success, while Koscheck looks to prove that their first meeting was no fluke.

 

These two momentous matchups are set to take place on Lub Xya hli ntuj 16 at the legendary 20,000-seat O2 Arena, as Kimbo Slice-James Thompson II and Josh Koscheck-Paul Daley II emanate from the United Kingdom, and there’s no other place to watch the action unfold than FREE on Spike.

 

Tshiab "Bellator 158: London” Fight Card

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main kev tshwm sim: Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson (6-2) vs. James Thompson (20-16)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Co-Main Event: Josh Koscheck (17-10) vs. Paul Daley (38-13-2)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Bout: Michael Page (9-0) vs. TBA

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. TBA

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Ntsia hlau loj TV

PATRICKY ‘PITBULL’ FREIRE EARNS SHUTOUT VICTORY IN BELLATOR’S HISTORIC, FIRST-EVER INTERNATIONAL EVENT

Cia ib saib

 

ALL OF ITALY GOES WILD FOR THEIR HERO ALESSIO SAKARA AFTER KNOCKOUT VICTORY

Credit: Bellator MMA

TORINO, LTALIS. (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 15, 2016) – An electric, packed house was on hand Saturday night to bear witness to Bellator MMA’s inaugural international event, "Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza," at Italy’s largest indoor arena, The Pala Alpitour. The venue, which housed several events during the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, provided an incredible atmosphere for the historic card.

Nyob rau hauv lub ntsiab kev tshwm sim ntawm yav tsaus ntuj, Patricky "Pitbull" Freire (16-7) welcomed Kevin Souza (15-5) to Bellator MMA with a unanimous decision loss (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). The matchup between the two Brazillians was well contested, as Souza took the fight on short notice after replacing Derek Liaj tebbecause of injury only a week ago. “Pitbull” spent much of the bout trying to figure out his opponent’s unorthodox style, but in the third and final round, “Pitbull” was able to score a couple solid shots and a takedown to cement his position on the scorecards.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

Few fighters can inspire a nation the way that Rome’s Alessio Sakara (18-11) had his Italian countrymen rooting for him tonight. The support paid off, as “Legionarius” got the better of Brian Rogers (12-9) in a slugfest for the ages. Crisp, precise, power-punches connected with Rogers putting him on the canvas, forcing the TKO stoppage at 2:29 of round two and making Sakai’s Bellator debut one to remember.

DIVISION ON LOCK? MCKEE’S GOT THE KEY

One of MMA’s hottest prospects, A.J. McKee (4-0) defeated Milan’s Danilo Belluardo (5-2) in front of his home crowd on Friday. Although the audience was raucous in support for Belluardo, they cheered with great appreciation for McKee’s performance and sportsmanship following his victory. During his fight against J.T. Donaldson at "Bellator 147: Thomson vs. Villaseca," McKee was cut above the eye, the sight of his own blood seemed to cause the 20-year-old to hit the turbo button. Similarly tonight, McKee was on the wrong side of an accidental low blow and after a short resting period, “Mercenary” came out swinging with a torrid pace, ultimately connecting with a left kick to the ribs of Belluardo that sent him falling to the mat. The referee gave him a moment to defend himself but McKee rained down an efficient flurry of ground and pound, earning the TKO at 2:44 of the very first frame. Sending a message to Scott Coker and the heev deep Bellator featherweight division that he means business, McKee said in his post-fight interview: “If you ain’t got the belt, I ain’t got my eye on you.”

A STAR IS BORN IN ANASTASIA YANKOVA

Anastasia Yankova (3-0) quickly fought her way into a full mount against Anjela Pink (0-1) and applied a slick armbar submission to hand Pink a loss in her professional debut at 1:35 ntawm cov lus qhib puag ncig. The young Russian striker has had the Italian fans clamoring to see her in action all week long, and had them on their feet celebrating her first-round victory. Yankova has now finished all of her professional MMA fights via submission and after the bout made it clear that she will be in action sooner, es tsis tom qab, “I promise to come back soon and have my second fight in Bellator, Yankova said. “It is really great to be a part of Bellator, I feel really happy.”

HOMETOWN HEROES IMPRESS IN BELLATOR DEBUT

Two Italian competitors who regularly compete with Oktagon, Daniele Scatizzi (7-2) thiab Daniele Miceli (2-1) kicked things off at "Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza” with a fast paced featherweight scrap. Scatizzi was able to secure a dominant position on Miceli’s back, sinking his hooks in and raining down unanswered strikes, forcing referee “Big John” McCarthy to call a stop to the action at 3:20 of round one and declaring Rome’s Scatizzi victorious by TKO.

 

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Ntsia hlau loj TV

THE WAIT IS OVER – ‘PITBULL’ & SOUZA ARE READY FOR ACTION AT ‘BELLATOR 152’ TOMORROW

Cia ib saib

 

Complete Weigh-In Photos Here

 

TORINO, LTALIS. (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 15, 2016) – After Friday’s weigh-ins at the Turin Palace Hotel, all of the "Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza” competitors are set to enter the cage inside of Italy’s largest indoor arena, The Pala Alpitour. The event airs on SPIKE tag kis, Saturday, Plaub Hlis Ntuj 16 ntawm 10 p.m. THIAB/PT.

 

The mixed martial arts portion of Bellator MMA’s first event overseas will also include the promotional debut of Italian fan-favorite Alessio Sakara (17-11), uas ntsib Brian Rogers (12-8) in a light heavyweight matchup and one of MMA’s most promising young prospects, A.J. McKee (3-0), uas fights Danilo Belluardo (5-1) at 145-pounds.

 

Tsis tas li ntawd, Anastasia Yankova (2-0) will make her promotional debut against Anjela Pink in MMA flyweight action and Oktagon competitorsDaniele Miceli (2-0) thiab Daniele Scatizzi (6-2) will round out the MMA card with a featherweight showdown.

 

Main Card: (Live on SPIKE – 10 p.m. THIAB/PT)

Kevin Souza (70.3 kg / 155.2 lbs.) vs. Patricky Freire (70.5 kg / 155.2 lbs.)

Alessio Sakara (92.25 kg / 203.9 lbs.) vs. Brian Rogers (93.05 kg / 205.3 lbs.)

Danilo Belluardo (66.05 kg / 145.4 lbs.) vs. A.J. McKee (65.95 kg / 145.5 lbs.)

Anjela Pink (58.65 kg / 129.3 lbs.) vs. Anastasia Yankova (59.35 kg / 130 lbs.)

Daniele Miceli (76.10 kg / 167.5 lbs.) vs. Daniele Scatizzi (76.2 kg / 168.2 lbs.)

mixed martial arts, MMA, NBC, Lub ntiaj teb no Series ntawm Sib ntaus

WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND MAIN CARD COMPLETE WITH ADDITION OF THREE NEW, STAR-STUDDED MATCHUPS

Cia ib saib

WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND
MAIN CARD COMPLETE WITH ADDITION

OF THREE NEW, STAR-STUDDED MATCHUPS

WELTERWEIGHT: JOHN HOWARD VS. THIAGO MELLER
FEATHERWEIGHT: LUIS PALOMINO VS. SHEYMON MORAES
Heavyweight: CHRIS “HUGGY BEAR” BARNETT VS. JUSTIN WILLIS

LIVE ON NBCSN AT 9 P.M. THIAB
FROM MASHANTUCKET, Conn. RAU Friday, RAU HLI 17

Las Vegas (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 12, 2016) -World Series ntawm Sib ntaus (WSOF.com) today announced the addition of three star-studded matchups to complete the main card for its WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland world heavyweight championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) kev tshwm sim, nyob rau NBCSN ntawm 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. los ntawm Foxwoods Resort Twv txiaj yuam pov nyob rau hauv Mashantucket, Conn. on Friday, Lub rau hli ntuj 17.

In a second heavyweight matchup, dynamic, nce lub hnub qub Chris "Huggy Xyooj" Barnett (14-2) will make his World Series of Fighting debut against Team AKA prodigy Justin Willis (4-1).

Also stepping in the decagon cage for the first time, battle-tested warrior John “Doomsday” Howard (23-12) will collide with submission expert Thiago “Minu” Meller (20-7) nyob rau hauv ib tug welterweight (170 phaus) yi.

In a featherweight (145 phaus) scrap between two prolific strikers, Luis "liab pam tsab" Palomino (24-12) will face off with former world championship challenger Sheymon Moraes (8-1).

Nyob rau hauv lub ntsiab kev tshwm sim, reigning world heavyweight champion Blagoy Ivanov (13-1) will risk his title against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-1) thaum lub sij hawm, in the lightweight (155 phaus) co-ntsiab kev tshwm sim, superstars Jason "Lub Kansas City Bandit" High (19-5) thiab Mike "Lub Martian" Ricci (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

Chris Barnett vs. Justin Willis

After spending the last year and a half making waves in Japan, lub 5-ko taw-9, 29-year-old Barnett of Tampa, Fla. will suit up as “Huggy Bear,” and make his way onto a major stage in the U.S. for the first time in his career.

With heavy hands and tremendous agility for a fighter of his massive stature, Barnett has notched 12 ntawm nws 14 hauj lwm yeej los ntawm txoj kev ntawm (T)KO, and has celebrated his wins in flamboyant fashion, with everything from cartwheels to breakdancing to hand stands.

Like Barnett, the stocky, 6-foot-3, 28-muaj tseeb tiagr-old Willis, a training partner of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) greats Ka-ees Velasquez thiab Daniel Cormier, has been enjoying success in Japan under the promotion of Inoki Genome Federation (IFG).

Willis will make his first start of 2016, and look to extend his win streak to four consecutive bouts. In his last effort on August 29, he earned a unanimous decision over Rizvan Kuniev nyob rau hauv Tokyo.

Luis Palomino vs. Sheymon Moraes

The 5-foot-8, 35-year-old Palomino of Miami, Fla. via Lima, Peru is coming off an epic year in which he engaged in twlub, all-out wars with reigning, undefeated ntiaj teb Series ntawm Sib ntaus sib tua sib zus Justin "Lub Highlight" Gaethje, both of which earned "Fight of the Month” honors.

After closing out 2015 with a gutsy appearance in World Series of Fighting’s first-ever, ib-hmo ntuj, eight-man tournament in which he scored a devastating, thawj round (4:55) LEEJ TWG (punches) rau Rich Patishnock in the event’s quarterfinal stage, before being stopped in the semifinal stage of battle via second round (4:19) LEEJ TWG (punches) at the hands ntawm eventual tournament winner Brian Foster, Palomino will return to the featherweight division where he has held two world titles.

The 5-foot-8, 25-year-old Moraes of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil returned to form in his last bout, decimating fellow knockout artist Robbie "Teeb meem" Peralta by way of TKO (punches) nyob rau hauv lub thib ob puag ncig (3:21) of their matchup at WSOF26.

A seasoned Muay Thai stylist, Moraes ran to seven straight victories in his first seven starts as a professional MMA competitor before being handed his first career defeat by way of third round (3:46) cuav (rear-liab qab caj pas) in a title bid against reigning bantamweight (135 phaus) champion Marlon Moraes.

John Howard vs. Thiago Meller

Following his second stint with the UFC that spanned seven bouts and included victories over Uriah Hall, Siyar Bahadurzada thiab Cathal Pendred, lub 5-foot-7, 33-year-old Howard of Boston, Pawg. will aim to rebound from a second round (:21) KO (punches) tsis rau Tim Means rau hlis ntuj nqeg 10.

Rau hnub tim, Howard has notched 15 ntawm nws 23 hauj lwm yeej los ntawm txoj kev ntawm (T)KO los yog cuav. During his initial run with the UFC between January 2009 and June 2011, Howard scored a memorable, peb puag ncig (4:55) KO (punches) on submission ace Dennis "Superman" Hallman rau hlis ntuj nqeg 5, 2009, marking his third consecutive conquest in the league.

Meller of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil will look to collect his second win in a row, following his first round submission (rear-liab qab caj pas) ntawm Leonardo Rodriguez Lub rau hli ntuj 26, 2015.

The 5-foot-10, 33-year-old Meller, a near 13-year veteran of the sport, has emerged victorious in 14 ntawm nws 20 career wins, los ntawm txoj kev ntawm kev mloog lus.

The preliminary bout card lineup for WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland will be announced soon.

Luv nqi los ntawm $39.99, tickets for the event are on sale at WSOF.com and Foxwoods.com.

Doors at The Grand Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Casino will open for WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland, ntawm 5 p.m. THIAB, thiab cov thawj ua ntej card bout yuav pib thaum 6 p.m.
Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Ntsia hlau loj TV

BOTH ‘PITBULL BROTHERS’ RECEIVE NEW OPPONENTS AHEAD OF BELLATOR 152 & Bellator 153

Cia ib saib

 

Raug Monica, XWS LI. (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 11, 2016) – Injuries to both Derek Liaj teb thiab John Teixeira have forced Bellator MMA to find replacements to compete against brothers Patricky "Pitbull" Freire (15-7) thiab Patricio "Pitbull" Freire (24-3) on Plaub Hlis Ntuj 16 thiab 22 feem.

Raws li ib tug tshwm sim, the Scott Coker-led promotion has put its newest free agent acquisition to work immediately, with the news that Kevin Souza (15-4) will compete against Patricky at 155-pounds, in the first fight of his freshly inked multi-fight contract during the main event of "Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza.”

Meanwhile, in the co-main event of "Bellator 153: Henderson vs. Koreshkov," Patricio will now fight the tenacious Henry Corrales (12-2), who agreed to face the former Bellator MMA Featherweight Champion on less than two weeks notice.

"Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza” will also include the promotional debut of Italian fan-favorite Alessio Sakara (17-11), uas ntsib Brian Rogers (12-8) in a light heavyweight matchup, while one of MMA’s most promising young prospects, A.J. McKee (3-0), fights Danilo Belluardo (5-1) at 145-pounds. Tsis tas li ntawd, Anastasia Yankova (2-0) will make her promotional debut against Anjela Pink in MMA flyweight action and Oktagon competitors Daniele Miceli (2-0) thiab Daniele Scatizzi (6-2) will round out the MMA card with a featherweight showdown.

"Bellator 153: Henderson vs. Koreshkov” is also brimming with must-see mixed martial arts action as well, with the promotional debut of Benson Henderson (23-5), who challenges Andrey Koreshkov (18-1) for the 170-pound strap, Brennan Ward (13-3) goes to battle tiv thaiv “Cyborg” Santos (20-16), Michael "lom" Nplooj ntawv (9-0) ntsej muag Jeremie Holloway (7-1), thiab Brent Primus (6-0) meets “Toninho Furia” (27-5).

"Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza” airs on SPIKE Saturday, Plaub Hlis Ntuj 16 ntawm 10 p.m. ET / PT, thaum lub sij hawm "Bellator 153: Henderson vs. Koreshkov” airs at a special start time of 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. I, which is immediately followed by the debut of "Bellator kickboxing: Torino " ntawm 11:00 p.m. ET / PT.

Fresh off an emphatic knockout of Ryan Couture ntawm "Bellator 148: Daley vs. Uhrich” to kickoff 2016, Patricky “Pitbull” will look to extend his current winning streak when he takes on the debuting Kevin Souza.

A member of the Blackzilians, the 31-year-old has been victorious in 10 ntawm nws lub xeem 11 fights as a professional and put together an impressive 3-1 run with the UFC. The multi-time, post-fight bonus award winner has a knack for the spectacular, nrog 10 finishes coming in the opening round and 13 tawm ntawm 15 victories ending before reaching the judges’ scorecards. The Salvador native has competed exclusively at 145-pounds, but due to the fight being on short notice, Souza will step up and compete against “Pitbull” ntawm khaub-ncaws nyias.

Henry Corrales continues his run of never turning down a fight in Bellator MMA, after agreeing to fight Patricio “Pitbull.” The fight will be Corrales’ third in the Viacom-owned promotion, after bouts against current featherweight titlist Daniel Straus and newly re-signed contender Emanuel Sanchez. A former King of the Cage bantamweight champion, “OK” has finished 10 ntawm nws 12 wins as a pro.

Sau kom tiav "Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza” Main Card:

Bellator MMA Lightweight Main Event: Patricky "Pitbull" Freire (15-7) vs. Edimilson “Kevin” Souza (15-4)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Alessio Sakara (17-11) vs. Brian Rogers (12-8)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: A.J. McKee (3-0) vs. Danilo Belluardo (5-1)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Feature Bout: Anastasia Yankova (2-0) vs. Anjela Pink (Debut)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: Daniele Miceli (2-0) vs. Daniele Scatizzi (6-2)

Sau kom tiav "Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” Main Card:

Bellator MMA Welterweight ntiaj teb Title Bout: Andrey Koreshkov (18-1) vs. Benson Henderson (23-5)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Co-Main kev tshwm sim: Patricio "Pitbull" Freire (24-3) vs. Henry Corrales (12-2)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Brennan Ward (13-3) vs. Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos (20-16)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Michael Page (9-0) vs. Jeremie Holloway (7-1)

Bellator MMA Hnav Feature Bout: Brent Primus (6-0) vs. Gleristone "Toninho Furia" Santos (27-5)

Hais txog Bellator MMA:

Bellator MMA yog ib tug uas Mixed Martial Arts lub koom haum featuring ntau ntawm qhov zoo tshaj plaws neeg tua hluav taws nyob rau hauv lub ntiaj teb no. Nyob rau hauv cov kev coj ntawm qub tub rog sib ntaus pab txhawb Scott Coker, Bellator yog muaj rau ze li ntawm 500 lab tsev thoob ntiaj teb nyob rau hauv dhau 140 lub teb chaws. Nyob rau hauv lub tebchaws United States, Bellator yuav pom nyob rau hauv ntsia hlau loj, lub MMA TV thawj coj. Bellator MMA yog dub ntawm ib tug thawj pab neeg uas muaj xws li kev lag luam sab saum toj cov tub txawg nyob rau hauv TV lawm, nyob kev tshwm sim orchestration, fighter txoj kev loj hlob / kev sib raug zoo, venue ceev, sponsorship creation / kev loj hlob, thoob ntiaj teb daim ntawv tso cai, marketing, advertising, tshaj tawm thiab commission kev sib raug zoo. Bellator yog raws li nyob rau hauv Santa Monica, California thiab uas los ntawm kev lom zem loj heev Viacom, lub tsev mus rau lub ntiaj teb premier lom zem hom uas txuas nrog audiences los ntawm yuam cov ntsiab lus nyob rau hauv TV, tsab ntawv tsa suab duab, hauv internet thiab mobile platforms.

Hais txog ntsia hlau loj:

Ntsia hlau loj yog muaj nyob rau hauv 98.7 lab tsev thiab yog ib tug faib ntawm Viacom Media tes hauj lwm. Ib tug unit ntawm Viacom (Nasdaq: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media tes hauj lwm yog ib tug ntawm lub ntiaj teb uas creators ntawm programming thiab cov ntsiab lus nyob rau tag nrho tawm platforms. Spike’s internet address is spike.com thiab mus txog-rau-tus-feeb thiab archival xovxwm ntaub ntawv thiab duab, mus saib cov ntsia hlau loj tus xovxwm site ntawm spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @SpikeTVPR for the latest in breaking news updates, qab-lub-scenes cov ntaub ntawv thiab cov duab.

About Oktagon:

Carlo Di Blasi created Oktagon in 1996. At its beginning the show was dedicated to free fight, the name that was given initially to MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Other disciplines such as Kickboxing, Muay Thai and Savate were gradually added from the early 2000’s onwards. During the last 20 years Oktagon has reached a huge popularity, both in Italy and abroad, creating many superstars in the process including Bellator welterweight Paul Daley as well as The Petrosyan brothers (Giorgio thiab Armen), Robin Van Roosmalen, Valentijn Overeem, Rico Verhoeven thiab Artem Levin.