Category Archives: mixed martial arts

LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA RETURNS TO DALLAS  WITH  CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER

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LFA 55 – JOHNS vs. YANEZ
 
 
MAIN EVENT:
TOP UNDEFEATED PROSPECT
MILES JOHNS
vs.
KNOCKOUT ARTIST

ADRIAN YANEZ

BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE 
 

CO-MAIN EVENT:
 
REGIONAL QUEENPIN
SARAH “TOO SWEET” ALPAR
vs.
PANAMANIAN SUPERSTAR
JOSELYNE “LA PANTERA” EDWARDS

WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE 
 
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30th LIVE on AXS TV

THE BOMB FACTORY in DALLAS, TEXAS
Tickets are on sale NOW through TheBombFactory.com

 

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – LFA CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will crown a bantamweight king and queen with a championship doubleheader when the promotion returns to Dallas in November.

 

 

The main event of LFA 55 will feature a bantamweight title fight when top undefeated prospect Miles Johns battles fellow top contender Adrian Yanez for the vacant title. The co-headliner will feature a women’s bantamweight title fight when regional queenpin Sarah “Too Sweet” Alpar” faces Panamanian superstar Joselyne “La Pantera” Edwards for the inaugural title. LFA 55 – Johns vs. Yanez takes place this Friday, November 30th at The Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT

 

 

“I am excited to bring a championship doubleheader to the birthplace of LFA,” stated Soares. “We will crown a bantamweight king and queen when we return to Dallas on November 30th. Miles Johns and Adrian Yanez are two of our most talented prospects. They will meet for the vacant bantamweight title in the main event of LFA 55.  We will also crown the inaugural women’s bantamweight champion when Sarah Alpar faces Joselyne Edwards in the co-headliner of LFA55.”

 

 

 

Tickets for LFA 55 – Johns vs. Yanez are available for purchase NOW at TheBombFactory.com.

 

 

 

Johns (7-0) heads into this title fight looking to punctuate what has been a sterling career to this point. The Kansas native, who now calls Dallas home, will get the chance to win LFA gold and run his record to 8-0. That would position him as the undisputed top bantamweight prospect in the world. The powerhouse known as “Chapo” earned his fearsome nickname for his ruthless demeanor inside the Octagon. The 24-year-old Fortis MMA standout has won his last three fights for LFA and Legacy FC (before the merger), which includes a statement submission win over fellow top undefeated prospect Eric Ellington at LFA 40. Johns will now up the ante looking for a title winning performance in his first headlining bout for the promotion at LFA 55.

 

 

 

Yanez (7-2) is a Houstonian and fellow LFA standout that will be looking to play spoiler in a long sporting rivalry between Dallas and Houston, which is known as the I-45 Rivalry. Yanez, like Johns, gew up in the promotion. After enjoying a fantastic amateur career for Legacy FC (before the merger), Yanez continued his success as a pro. That includes winning his last two fights for LFA in emphatic fashion. They were the types of fights that coaches, fans, and promoters recognize as special moments in a young fighter’s career. The moments where a fighter transforms from a once promising prospect into a legit title contender. The 24-year-old Metro Fight Club standout now looks to take the next obvious step by becoming champion at LFA 55.

 

 

 

Alpar (7-4) has been a force in women’s MMA since making her professional debut seven and a half years ago. The Oklahoman known as “Too Sweet” has been anything but sweet to her opposition. The 27-year-old most recently earned a regional title by stopping top Paraguayan prospect Pamela Boveda Aguirre via first round TKO. The win gave Alpar two regional titles to go along with a marquee win over Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger earlier in her career. Jones-Lybarger went on to fight for the UFC after wining RFA gold. Alpar will now look to pave a similar path. That journey begins with a shot at the inaugural LFA women’s bantamweight title at LFA 55.

 

 

 

Edwards (8-1) is widely considered the top women’s bantamweight prospect in Latin America. “La Pantera” has been unbeatable over the last three years, which includes seven consecutive wins. The 23-year-old has seven stoppage victories in her eight career wins, which includes a 57-second TKO win over Bellator vet Jessica Middleton in May and a second round armbar win over RFA vet Brenda Gonzales last month. The two wins also earned her a pair of regional titles. Now that Edwards and Alpar are both champ-champs on the regional scene, they will look to go all-in with the inaugural LFA women’s title and #1 women’s bantamweight prospect status on the line.

 

 

 

Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):

 

 

 

Main Event | Bantamweight Title Bout (135 lb)

– Miles Johns (7-0) vs. Adrian Yanez (7-2)

 

 

 

Co-Main Event | Women’s Bantamweight Title Bout (135 lb)

– Sarah Alpar (7-4) vs. Joselyne Edwards (8-1)

 

 

 

Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)

– Raufeon Stots (10-1) vs. Levi Mowles (10-3)

 

 

 

Welterweight Bout (170 lb)

– Ramiz Brahimaj (7-1) vs. Justin Patterson (10-4)

 

 

 

In 2017, RFA and Legacy FC merged to form LFA, the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts. The combined forces of LFA launched the careers of over 150 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.  In May 2018, the promotion joined the London Trust Media Holdings group of companies.

 

 

 

LFA 55 will be the seventh LFA event to take place in the City of Dallas. It will also be the fourteenth time that LFA has traveled to “The Lone Star State” of Texas. The entire main card of LFA 55 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

 

 

 

Please visit LFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. LFA is on Facebook at Legacy Fighting Alliance. LFA is also on Instagram at @LFAfighting and Twitter at @LFAfighting.

LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA CELEBRATES YEAR-END EVENT IN MINNESOTA WITH LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT

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LFA 56 – HUBBARD vs. MOTA
MAIN EVENT:
MIDWEST POWERHOUSE
AUSTIN HUBBARD
vs.
UNDEFEATED BRAZILIAN PHENOM
KILLYS MOTA
LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7th LIVE on AXS TV
LIVE at the NEW 
MYSTIC LAKE CENTER
PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA
Tickets are on sale NOW through MysticLake.com

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – LFA CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will celebrate its year-end event in Minnesota by crowning a new lightweight champion at LFA 56. This event will conclude a stellar 2018 for LFA, which consisted of 27 events that took place cost-to-coast, across all four contiguous U.S. time zones, and were televised live and nationwide on AXS TV.

 

 

 

The main event of LFA 56 will feature a lightweight title fight when Midwest powerhouse Austin Hubbard faces top undefeated Brazilian prospect Killys Mota for the vacant strap. LFA 56 – Hubbard vs. Mota takes place Friday, December 7th at the new Mystic Lake Center in Prior Lake, Minnesota. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

 

 

 

“I am excited to bring our year-end event at the world-class Mystic Lake Center in Minnesota”, stated Soares. “LFA has enjoyed two incredible years since the merger of RFA and Legacy created our promotion. LFA 56 will punctuate year number two in style. It will be the fourth nationally televised MMA event to take place inside Mystic Lake’s new world-class facility in 2018. Mystic Lake has been a wonderful partner and it will now host the LFA lightweight world title fight between Austin Hubbard and Killys Mota on December 7th.”

 

 

 

Tickets for LFA 56 – Hubbard vs. Mota are available for purchase NOW at MysticLake.com.

 

 

 

Hubbard (9-2) returns to the LFA Octagon fresh off the most impressive win of his career. That win took place in his LFA debut in May against fellow top prospect Harvey Park. The fight took place at LFA 39 in Vail, Colorado. The resort town is over 8,000 feet above sea level and the event broke AXS TV’s record for the highest elevated event in network history. The 26-year-old Illinois native, that currently trains at Elevation Fight Team in Denver, was able to withstand the thin air and won a war of attrition against the talented New Mexico based Sheriff’s Deputy, who was riding a 7-fight win streak. Hubbard earned a shot at the vacant title with that gritty performance and will now travel back home to the Midwest with his sights set on becoming LFA’s second lightweight champion.

 

 

 

Mota (11-0) will get his LFA title shot after doing what every fighter dreams of achieving after their first 11 pro fights. That would be attaining a perfect 11-0 record. During the course of that streak, Mota famously knocked out UFC and PRIDE legend Akihiro Gono in his native Brazil. However, it was his most recent win that was his most important win. That came in his LFA debut in June against fellow top prospect Bobby Lee. The 27-year-old Glover Teixeira protégé stopped Lee just 21-seconds into the second round of their fight at LFA 41. The win came via Guillotine Choke after Mota battered Lee with his impressive Muay Thai arsenal. The win also came four weeks after Hubbard’s LFA debut win. Now their paths will finally meet at LFA 56 with the LFA lightweight title on the line.

 

 

 

 

 

Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):

 

 

 

Main Event | Lightweight Title Bout (155 lb)

– Austin Hubbard (9-2) vs. Killys Mota (11-0)

 

 

 

 

 

In 2017, RFA and Legacy FC merged to form LFA, the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts. The combined forces of LFA have launched the careers of over 150 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.  In May 2018, the promotion joined the London Trust Media Holdings group of companies.

 

 

 

LFA 56 will be the ninth LFA event to take place in the state of Minnesota. RFA and Legacy FC hosted a combined nine events in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” before the merger. Six of those events took place under the RFA banner inside the Mystic Lake Casino Hotel. The entire main card of LFA 56 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

 

 

 

 

Please visit LFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. LFA is on Facebook at Legacy Fighting Alliance. LFA is also on Instagram at @LFAfighting and Twitter at @LFAfighting.

 

LFA, mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA BRINGS WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT  TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

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LFA 54 – MAZO vs. YARIWAKI

MAIN EVENT:

LFA WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION
SABINA “COLOMBIAN QUEEN” MAZO
vs.
LFA WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT TITLE CHALLENGER
CAROLINE “JAPA” YARIWAKI
WOMEN’S FLYWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16th LIVE on AXS TV
LIVE at COSTA MESA HALL
OC FAIR & EVENT CENTER
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA
Tickets are on sale NOW through LFAtix.com

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – LFA CEO Ed Soares announced today that LFA will return to southern California in November with a women’s flyweight title fight headlining LFA 54.

 

 

 

The main event of LFA 54 will bring a highly-anticipated women’s world title fight to Orange County. The headliner will see undefeated LFA women’s flyweight champion Sabina “Colombian Queen” Mazo defend her title against BJJ black belt and Brazilian stalwart Caroline “Japa” Yariwaki. LFA 54 – Mazo vs. Yariwaki takes place Friday, November 16th at Costa Mesa Hall at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

 

 

 

“I am excited to bring the LFA women’s flyweight championship to southern California”, stated Soares. “This will be our sixth show in my home state of California.  Sabina Mazo is excited to defend her title in her adopted hometown after she recently had an opponent pull out just a few days before her last fight. Mazo will now face top Brazilian prospect Caroline “Japa” Yariwaki at LFA 54.”

 

 

 

Tickets for LFA 54 – Mazo vs. Yariwaki are available for purchase NOW at LFAtix.com.

 

 

 

Mazo (5-0) is the 21-year-old LFA women’s flyweight champion. The Colombian wunderkind signed with LFA when she was 19-years-old and took the MMA world by storm in 2017. She burst on to the global scene three weeks after her 20th birthday at LFA 9. This happened when she knocked out 82nd Airborne Army veteran Jamie Thorton with a jaw-dropping head kick that went viral on mainstream media and MMA media outlets alike. The Kings MMA product doubled-down in her sophomore appearance for LFA by knocking out Minnesota National Guard member Linsey Williams with a nearly identical first round head kick at LFA 23. The “Colombian Queen” finally received her crown this past April. The title winning performance came courtesy of a unanimous decision over Shannon Sinn at LFA 37, which saw Mazo provide a brilliant display boxing and clinch work, as well as her signature Muay Thai skills. The Medellín, Colombia native now looks to begin her reign as champion with another masterful performance at LFA 54.

 

 

 

Yariwaki (7-2) will be making her highly-anticipated international MMA debut after building a name for herself in her home country of Brazil. The 31-year-old is a second degree black belt in Jiu-Jitsu that just celebrated seven years of being a black belt in her country’s most famous martial art on October 7th. Her head coach is her husband Werique Silva, who is a black belt in the Chinese martial art of Sanda. Yariwaki has a purple belt in Sanda and has used her well-rounded skill set to gain a reputation as a relentless finisher in her native Brazil. The Strong Team co-founder made her professional debut in 2016 and has earned 7 wins in her career, while finishing 86% of those opponents. Yariwaki is known by her nickname “Japa”, because she was born in Brazil to Japanese descendants just like fellow Belém, Brazil native Lyoto Machida. Yariwaki will look to follow her fellow Belemense’s success in the sport by capturing LFA gold. History will also be made at LFA 54 as Mazo vs. Yariwaki will be the first women’s bout to headline and LFA event.

 

 

Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT):

 

 

 

 

 

Main Event | Women’s Flyweight Title Bout (125 lb)

– Sabina Mazo (5-0) vs. Caroline Yariwaki (7-2)

 

 

 

 

 

In 2017, RFA and Legacy FC merged to form LFA, the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts. The combined forces of LFA launched the careers of over 140 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC. In May 2018, the promotion joined the London Trust Media Holdings group of companies.

 

 

 

LFA 54 will be the sixth LFA event to take place in the state of California. RFA hosted eight events inside “The Golden State” before the merger. The entire main card of LFA 54 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

 

 

 

Please visit LFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. LFA is on Facebook at Legacy Fighting Alliance. LFA is also on Instagram at @LFAfighting and Twitter at @LFAfighting.

Combate Americas, mixed martial arts, MMA

COMBATE AMERICAS ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF MARCELO “PITBULL” ROJO VS. JESSE STRADER IN GUADALAJARA, MEXICO ON FRIDAY, OCT. 26 LIVE ON DAZN AND UNIVISION DEPORTES NETWORK

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Previously announced lightweight main event bout:
Enrique “Wasabi” Marin vs. Marco Antonio “La Roca” Elpidio

Tickets for “Combate Americas: La Batalla de Guadalajara” on sale

NEW YORK – October 17, 2018 – Combate Americas today announced an additional, featured bantamweight (135 pounds) bout pitting Marcelo “Pitbull” Rojo (14-5) against undefeated rising star Jesse Strader (3-0) for its debut Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, live in English in the U.S. and Canada on DAZN (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT), and in Spanish in the U.S. on Univision Deportes Network (UDN) (12 a.m. ET/9 p.m. PT) on Friday, October 26.

 

The star-studded live event at Complejo Nissan de Gimnasia will be headlined by a previously announced lightweight (155 pounds) showdown between knockout artist Marco Antonio “La Roca” Elpidio (7-2-1) and Spanish MMA pioneer Enrique “Wasabi” Marin (11-5).

 

Fighting out of Cordoba, Argentina, the 30-year-old Rojo has collected an astounding 12 of 14 career victories by way of (T)KO or submission, and was a semi-finalist in the 2017, inaugural “COPA COMBATE” one-night, eight-man tournament.

 

In his last start at “Combate Estrellas II” on April 20, Rojo scored a highlight reel, first round (2:34) knockout (punch) on Fabian Galvan.

 

The 27-year-old Jesse Strader of Lancaster, Calif., USA is a ferocious striker who made his promotional debut with a unanimous decision over Nate Diaz-protégé José Aguayo at “Combate Americas: USA vs. Mexico” in Sacramento, Calif. on May 11.

 

Priced from 220.00$ MXN, tickets for “Combate Americas: La Batalla de Guadalajara,” are on sale at Superboletos.com.

 

Monster Energy® for first time will be the official sponsor of Combate Americas; both properties share the same passion and enthusiasm that MMA fans possess. This alliance provides Monster Energy the possibility to expand its commitment to the MMA category.  Monster Energy will have activations next Saturday at the capital of Jalisco with several surprises for the attendees.

 

Doors at Complejo Nissan de Gimnasia will open at 6 p.m. local time on October 26, and the first preliminary bout will begin at 7 p.m.

 

UPDATED “COMBATE AMERICAS: LA BATALLA DE GUADALAJARA” FIGHT CARD

 

LIGHTWEIGHT MAIN EVENT:
Marco Antonio Elpidio vs Enrique Marín

 

FLYWEIGHT CO-MAIN EVENT:
Édgar Chairez vs Axel Osuna

 

FEATURED BANTAMWEIGHT BOUT:
Marcelo Rojo vs. Jesse Strader

 

Preliminary Bout Card:

 

Bantamweight: Cristian Quiñónez vs Víctor Madrigal
Atomweight: Brenda Enríquez vs Alitzel Mariscal
Catchweight (150 pounds): Alejandro Martínez vs Jordan Beltrán
Lightweight: Leo Rodríguez vs Ramón López
Heavyweight: Mike Villareal vs Alejandro Solórzano
Bantamweight: Mahatma García vs Federico Betancourt
Featherweight: Luis Cerón vs José Alberto Martínez
Bantamweight: Guillermo Torres vs Mario Tena
Lightweight: Bryan Arreaga vs Marco Messi Domínguez
# # #

M-1, M-1 Challenge, mixed martial arts, MMA, Russia

In The Rage……   Urs Pablo Ortmann

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SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (October 16, 2018) – Undefeated Swiss welterweight prospect Urs Pablo Ortmann (8-0-0, M-1: 2-0-0) steps up in class November 2 to challenge Russian veteran Sergey Romanov (14-3-0, M-1: 5-2-0) at M-1 Challenge 98 in Chelyabinsk, Russia.

 

 

 

Undefeated M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Artem Frolov (11-0-0, M-1: 9-0-0) takes on Brazilian challenger Bruno Blindado Silva (18-6-0, M-1: 1-0-0) in the M-1 Challenge 98 main event.

.

 

 

M-1 Challenge 98 will be live-streamed from Russia in high definition onwww.M1Global.TV. Viewers will be able to watch the preliminary fights and main card by logging on to register at www.M1Global.TV. Fans may watch all the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets. M-1 Challenge 97 will also be is available onwww.FITE.TV (preliminary card is free, $7.99 for the main card).

 

 

 

Ortmann, a Muay Thai specialist, recently stepped into The Rage to discuss his ascending mixed-martial-arts career, including his fight versus Romanov:

 

 

 

Urs Pablo, you’ve got a double name, how do your friends call you?

 

 

 

UPO: “My friends call me just Urs and Pablo is my fight name. Earlier there was a difference between the real me and my fighting alter ego; stepping into the cage I used to go wild. Today it’s different, now I do my best to stay calm when I fight. My goal now is to stay effective and demonstrate techniques in the clearest way possible.”

 

 

 

How did you start your MMA career and what do you like the most about fighting?

 

 

 

UPO: “Actually, I started my martial arts career only when I turned 21. Before that I played basketball.  At 21, Gabriel Sabo helped me join the fighting world. Initially, I was not going to compete, but my trainer, Zyber Ruday, had seen my potential and helped me grow. I love both striking and grappling. In my career I have more submission victories, only because of the fact that I felt I was better on the ground than my opponents.”

 

 

 

What can you tell us about MMA in Switzerland? Who is the most noticeable fighter?

 

 

 

UPO: “Yasubey Enomoto is a role model in MMA for me and a good friend of mine. MMA has been developing in Switzerland rapidly lately, but still it’s popularity can’t be compared to what we see in Russia. Anyway, there are MMA gyms in almost every city and they have many fighters with potential.”

 

 

 

How did you get to M-1 Global and how do you like fighting in Russia?

 

 

 

UPO: “Before joining M-1 Global I’d already been to Russia once at Battle in the Mountains in Ingushetia, I loved it and it became my goal to fight in front of this amazing crowd against some top opponents.

 

 

 

“I worked very hard and I won all my MMA, K-1 and Muay Thai fights, so First MMA Management got interested in me, and very soon after signing with them I got my first fight in M-1 Global. I find it excellent that MMA has so much respect in Russia and that it is supported at such a high level that you can even see the President at some events. I have a great experience with Russian fans, who are very respectful. After my fights I’ve seen that they understand this sport really well, so I love fighting in Russia.”

 

 

 

Who would you like to fight the most in M-1 Global?

 

 

 

UPO: “I would love to fight Alexey Kunchenko. I’ve seen many fights of his and it would be a tough challenge for me. I’m happy that he signed with the UFC and I hope one day I can follow him.”

 

 

 

What do you think about your upcoming fight against Sergey Kunchenko?

 

 

 

UPO: “Sergey Romanov is one of the most dangerous welterweights on the M-1 Global roster. In his last fight he made some mistakes and I would say just defeated himself. M-1 Global fans will love our fight and I’m sure that the winner should become the next title contender. I suppose the winner will face Maxim Grabovich in the fight for the vacant title.

 

 

 

 

“I know this is going to be a tough fight. A knockout victory would be awesome, but I’m open to any opportunity to finish this fight. As always, I’ll start pushing my opponent from the opening bell.”

 

 

 

INFORMATION:

 

 

 

www.M1Global.tv

www.mixfight.ru

www.wmmaa.org

 

 

 

Twitter & Instagram:

 

 

@M1GlobalNews

@M1Global

 

 

 

Facebook:

 

 

 

www.facebook.com/M-1-GlobalNews

 

 

 

Upcoming M-1 Challenge Events:

 

 

Nov. 2 – M-1 Challenge 98: Frolov vs. Silva in Chelyabinsk, Russia

boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA

Heavyweight MMA Title Bout Headlines FFC 32THIS FRIDAY IN LAS VEGAS

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Shelton Graves takes on Tony Johnson for the FFC MMA Heavyweight Championship

LAS VEGAS, NV, (Oct. 16, 2018) – Final Fight Championship follows up its historical Las Vegas debut (on Oct. 12th) with a Heavyweight MMA title fight on Oct. 19th. “FFC 32” will be an all-MMA fight card featuring some of the most talented mixed martial artists in the country, and beyond.

 

 

 

In a clash between two hungry heavyweight sluggers, Shelton “The Gravedigger” Graves (8-3-0), Baltimore, MD will face Tony “Hulk” Johnson (11-4-1), Nashville, TN in the main event of “FFC 32”, which takes place Friday, Oct. 19th at Fight Dome Las Vegas located at Rio Las Vegas. Graves and Johnson will fight for the vacant FFC MMA Heavyweight Title.

 

 

 

In the night’s Co-Main Event, it will be another heavyweight bash between experienced wrestler, Rodney Wallace (26-16-1), Bamberg, SC, and Carl Seumanutafa (11-8-0), San Francisco, CA, a veteran muay thai competitor and the quintessential knockout artist.

 

 

 

In the welterweight division, Edmilson Freitas (7-2-0), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil takes on Austin Vanderford (5-0-0), Portland, OR. Branko Busick (2-1-0), Steubenville, OH battles Ivan Erslan (6-0-0), Zagreb, Croatia in the light heavyweight division, and in the lightweight division, Adam Smith (11-9-0), Langley, WA fights Brandon Ricetti (8-2-0), Chico, CA, to round out the main card.

 

 

 

“FFC 32” will air on CBS Sports Network, Friday evening, Oct. 19, check your local listings for more information.

 

 

 

During the undercard portion of the evening, welterweight Javahn Matthews, West Linn, OR will make his pro debut when he faces Jordan Christensen, Las Vegas, NV.

 

 

 

In their most recent event, “FFC 31 Night of Champions”, Final Fight Championship made history becoming the first combat sports promotion company to feature three different disciplines (boxing, kickboxing and MMA) in one fight card, all fights were for the title.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

For more information about Final Fight Championship, please visit finalfightchampionship.com, Facebook at Facebook.com/FFCFighting, and Follow on Instagram/Twitter @FFCFighting.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA

FEDOR EMELIANENKO AND RYAN BADER COLLIDE FOR THE BELLATOR WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

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BELLATOR HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD GRAND PRIX FINALS SET FOR JAN. 26 AT THE FORUM IN INGLEWOOD, CALIF.

 

 cid:image002.jpg@01D46547.C51BBDC0

 

TICKETS FOR BELLATOR: FEDOR VS. BADER ON SALE THIS FRIDAY, OCT. 19

 

LOS ANGELES – The Finals of the Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix will see the greatest heavyweight of all time Fedor Emelianenko (38-5, 1 NC) meet current light heavyweight champ Ryan Bader (26-5) for the Bellator world heavyweight title. The dream matchup takes place on Saturday, January 26 at the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, Calif.

 

 

 

Tickets for Bellator: Fedor vs. Bader go on sale to the general public starting Friday, Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased at the Forum box office, as well as Bellator.com and Ticketmaster.com. A special Bellator Nation presale will take place Wednesday, Oct. 17 and Thursday, Oct. 18. The event will be broadcast live and free on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and will be simulcast live on DAZN. Preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

 

 

Fighting out of Stary Oskol, Belgorod Oblast, Russia, Fedor Emelianenko enters the Heavyweight World Grand Prix Finals on the heels of consecutive first-round knockouts over Chael Sonnen and Frank Mir in the tourney’s semifinals and opening round, respectively. A former PRIDE FC Heavyweight Champion and PRIDE 2004 Heavyweight World Grand Prix Champion, “The Last Emperor” is now one win away from claiming Bellator gold. Often referred to as “The GOAT” by fans around the world, his career resume stands as one of the most impressive in the history of the sport with victories over AntônioRodrigo Nogueira, Mirko Cro Cop, Mark Hunt, Mark Coleman and Andrei Arlovski, to name a few. With 29 career victories ending via finish, the punching power and world-class Sambo of the stoic Russian could result in yet another accolade in his illustrious career.

 

 

 

Attempting to become a simultaneous two-division titleholder, Ryan Bader’s path to the rare achievement is nearly complete. In his quest to earn the moniker of “Champ-Champ” and cement his status in the pound-for-pound standings, the Reno, Nev.-native KO’d “King Mo” Lawal in 15 seconds and later dominated Matt Mitrione in the Semifinals of the Heavyweight World Grand Prix. Fighting out of Gilbert, Ariz., the former two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler from Arizona State University began his professional career with a 12-fight unbeaten streak and by winning season eight of The Ultimate Fighter. “Darth” continued his path of dominance by collecting victories over some of the 205-pound division’s top talent, including wins over former world champions “Rampage” Jackson, Rashad Evans, Phil Davis and Rafael “Feijão” Cavalcante, as well as Ovince Saint Preux, Vinny Magalhães and Linton Vassell.

 

 

 

Updated Bellator: Fedor vs. Bader Fight Card: 

 

 

 

Heavyweight World Grand Prix Finals Main Event: Fedor Emelianenko (38-5, 1 NC) vs. Ryan Bader (26-5)

 

 

 

*Card subject to change

 

 

 

Please visit Bellator.com for more information.

 

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

NEF MAKES HISTORY WITH NEW WEIGHT DIVISION AND TITLE FIGHT

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Portland, Maine (October 15, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) will hold its final mixed-martial-arts event of 2018, “NEF 36: Battle for the Gold,” on Saturday, November 17 at Aura in Portland, Maine. Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of a professional cruiserweight championship bout to the card.  “The Jamaican Shamrock” Ras “Rasquatch” Hylton(3-1) will meet undefeated Yorgan De Castro (2-0) to crown the first-ever NEF Professional Cruiserweight Champion.

 

 

 

The fight will officially give birth to the brand-new NEF cruiserweight division.  This bout, as well as future bouts in the weight class, will take place at the 225-pound limit.  The division, which sits between light-heavyweight and heavyweight, was approved as an official weight class for MMA by the Association of Boxing Commissions at their annual conference in July 2017.  NEF will be one of the first promotions in the country to institute a cruiserweight division.

 

 

 

“The adoption of new weight classes at the highest levels of the sport in order to account for the wide gaps in the current championship class structure is inevitable—we’re just getting there first,” said NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson.  “There’s no more perfect way to usher in this new era of the 225-pound weight class than with a championship fight on the year-end “Battle for the Gold” show between two high-caliber, hungry opponents that NEF fans are very familiar with. This action-packed event was tailor made to include this breakthrough bout – it’s just one more element to an already blistering card. Fans can be certain that they will get their money’s worth on November 17th.”

 

 

 

Ras Hylton will return to the NEF cage after nearly a year-and-a-half absence.  He is a five-fight veteran of the NEF cage where he is undefeated with three wins as an amateur and two as a professional.  Last August, Hylton knocked out veteran Eric Bedard (6-8) in Rhode Island with a single elbow strike after absorbing a barrage of shots from Bedard that had little-to-no effect.  Standing at a towering 6’6,” Hylton holds a black belt in Taekwondo.  He trains with both First Class MMA in Brunswick, Maine and Dragon Fire Martial Arts of South Portland.

 

 

 

“I’m ecstatic about the response to my FaceTime call to action, and that I get to kick off my cruiserweight run back home,” said Hylton.  “I’ve spoken at length about my dream to elevate the draw and excitement to see the heavier divisions, so I thank (NEF owners) Matt Peterson and Nick DiSalvo for working with me again, and launching the title here with NEF! Yorgan is a good strong fighter with heavy hands that I saw work against my best friend Nick Gulliver in another belt war. Now I move to follow ‘The Guardian’s’ example, and keep the inaugural strap right here in Maine. Thanks for staying with us everyone!”

 

 

 

As Hylton noted, this will not be the first time Yorgan De Castro has come to Maine looking to take gold back with him to Massachusetts.  De Castro faced Hylton’s teammate Nick Gulliver for the NEF Amateur Heavyweight Title in a losing effort at “NEF 26” almost two years to the day he will fight Hylton.

 

 

 

“I’m very excited to become the first 225-pound NEF champion,” said De Castro. “We will be sure to put on a great show for the fans.  I’ve been through some very dark moments in my all life and on November 17 I’ll make sure I bring all my demons with me and Ras will have to deal with them. This fight will be absolutely epic.”

 

 

 

A native of Portugal now residing in the fighting city of Brockton, Massachusetts, De Castro has had success to date in his professional career.  He has finished both of his previous opponents via technical knockout at light-heavyweight.  For fighters like De Castro and Hylton, the creation of a cruiserweight division in NEF opens a new realm of career possibilities that did not exist before.  De Castro was one of the first individual to respond positively to Hylton’s Face Time video calling for the creation of a cruiserweight division.

 

 

 

“I’m excited to make my NEF debut as a professional fighter in the inaugural cruiserweight division,” De Castro continued. “This is a huge opportunity for fighters and I’m looking to make my mark in that division.  I have nothing but respect for Ras—he’s a class act man and very tough—but he has never faced a more dedicated and focused Yorgan and on November 17, I’ll be victorious and write my name in NEF history.”

 

 

 

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 36: Battle for the Gold,” will see the company make its return to Aura in Portland, Maine.  The event is scheduled to take place Saturday, November 17, 2018 with a bell time of 7 pm.  Tickets are on sale now at www.AuraMaine.com.

 

Bellator, DAZN, mixed martial arts, MMA, Paramount Network

BELLATOR 208: FEDOR VS. SONNEN RESULTS & PHOTOS

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Full Fight Photos Here | Video Highlights Here

 

Complete Bellator 208 Main Card:

               Fedor Emelianenko (38-5, 1 NC) defeated Chael Sonnen (30-16-1) via TKO (punches) at 4:46 of round one

Benson Henderson (26-8) defeated Saad Awad (23-10) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)

Cheick Kongo (29-10-2) defeated Timothy Johnson (12-5) via KO (punches) at 1:08 of round one

Anatoly Tokov (27-2) defeated Alexander Shlemenko (56-12, 1 NC) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Henry Corrales (16-3 defeated Andy Main (12-4-1, 1 NC) via KO (punches) at 2:08 of round three

 

Preliminary Card:

Jeremy Puglia (1-1) defeated Eric Olsen (0-2) via TKO (punches) at 3:16 of round one

Dennis Buzukja (1-0) defeated Ryan Castro (0-2) via KO (punches) at 2:53 of round one

Andrews Rodriguez (1-0) defeated Mike Diorio (1-3) via unanimous decision (30-27, 20-27, 30-27)

Zarrukh Adashev (1-1) defeated Christian Medina (0-2) via TKO (strikes) at 1:08 of round one

Jennifer Chieng (1-0) defeated Jessica Ruiz (0-1) via TKO (punches) at 1:22 of round one

David Meshkhoradze (1-0) defeated Shaquan Moore (0-1) via split decision (30-27, 30-27, 28-29)

Tommy Espinosa (6-1) defeated Sukhrob Aydarbekov (5-4) via submission (armbar) at 1:27 of round one

Nick Fiore (3-3) defeated Jerome Mickle (3-7) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA

BRESTOVAC KO’S DINIZ & EGLI   CHOKES OUT NEVES AT FFC 31  

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FFC 31 NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS
OFFICIAL RESULTS
FFC FIGHT DOME ARENA
(all pictures courtesy of Final Fight Championship)

LAS VEGAS, NV, (Oct. 14, 2018) – The debut of the all-new Fight Dome Las Vegas delivered an explosive night of fireworks at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino on Friday night.  “FFC 31 Night of Champions” was certainly a night to remember.

 

 

 

“The Scorpion Sting” Mladen Brestovac delivered the knockout of the night, with a blistering high left kick to the head of Jhonata Diniz at the two-minute mark of Round 3.

 

 

 

The trademark left head kick of Brestovac sent Diniz crashing to the canvas.  With the victory, Brestovac retains the FFC Heavyweight Kickboxing title and improves his record to (55-14-1.). Diniz, who was the aggressor for most of the fight and showcased his exciting come-forward style, falls to (16-6-0.)

 

 

 

Brestovac Retains FFC Kickboxing Heavyweight Title

 

 

 

Shkodran “The Albanian Warrior” Veseli (83-18-1) won the FFC Welterweight Kickboxing Title with a 4th Round KO stoppage vs. Francois “Bang Bang” Ambang (18-8-1).  A series of solid punches from Veseli rocked Ambang and sent him to a kneeling position at the 1:23 mark of the Round number four.

 

 

 

In the boxing portion of the evening, Shawn Miller, of Troy, NY (19-4-1) won a unanimous decision victory in his ten round title fight with Dennis “Mongoose” Morris (14-3-1). Miller won by the scores of 100-90, 97-93, 97-93, earning him the WBU Cruiserweight Championship.

 

 

 

In the FFC MMA Welterweight Championship, Ben Egli lived up to his reputation as an expert submission artist by choking out Roberto Neves at the 3:21 mark of the first round. Egli won the fight by rear naked choke, something he has done a total of five times in his pro MMA career.  The championship victory brings Egli’s record to (11-2-0) while Neves falls to (10-3-0).

 

 

 

“FFC 31 Night of Champions” was broadcast live on CBS Sports Network and the event made history as Final Fight Championship, one of the fastest growing combat sports promotion companies in the world, became the first promotion company to hold a multi-discipline event (Boxing, Kickboxing and MMA) in Las Vegas history.

 

 

 

Complete “FFC 31 Night of Champions” results below:

 

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULTS

 

 

 

FFC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (MMA)

Ben Egli (11-2-0), Portland, Oregon

Win by Submission Rear Naked Choke, 3:25 Rd 1

Roberto Neves (10-4-0), Sao Palo, Brazil

(Egli wins FFC Welterweight Title)

 

 

 

WBU CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (BOXING)

Shawn Miller (19-4-1, 7 KOs), Troy, NY

Win by UD 10 Rds (100-90, 97-93, 97-93)

Dennis Morris (14-3-1, 12 KOs), Milwaukee, WI

(Miller wins WBU Cruiserweight Title)

 

 

 

FFC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (KICKBOXING)

Mladen Brestovac (55-14-1), Champion, Zagreb, Croatia

Win by KO (Head Kick), 2:00 Rd 3

Jhonata Diniz (16-6-0), Curitiba, Brazil

(Brestovac retains FFC Heavyweight Title)

 

 

 

FFC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (KICKBOXING)

Shkodran Veseli (83-18-1), Zurich, Switzerland

Win by KO (Punches), 1:23 Rd 4

Francois Ambang (18-8-1), Mechanicsville, VA

(Veseli wins FFC Welterweight Title)