Category Archives: mixed martial arts

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights, women's MMA

THIRD WOMEN’S MMA FIGHT ADDED TO NEF 34 CARD IN PORTLAND

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Portland, Maine (April 27, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to Aura in Portland, Maine with its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 34: Home of the Brave,” on Saturday night, June 16, 2018.  Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of an amateur women’s catchweight bout to the card.  Chelsea Tucker (0-2) will return to the NEF cage to take on the debuting Glory Watson (0-0) at a fight weight of 130-pounds.

 

 

 

Chelsea Tucker, a member of First Class MMA of Brunswick, Maine, is a native of Williamsburg, Virginia.  She has served her country as a veteran of the United States Coast Guard.  Tucker has twice entered the NEF cage to compete in MMA bouts.  She lost to Sarah Matulis (1-0) via TKO last fall at “NEF 31.”  She returned to meet Catie Denning (1-0) in February at “NEF 32.”  Tucker forced Denning to a decision, but lost on the judges’ scorecards.  Earlier this month, Tucker entered the NEF cage for a third time to grapple Carol Linn Powell (0-1) on the opener of “NEF 33.”  Tucker and Powell went to a five-minute draw. 

 

 

 

“I look forward to stepping into the cage with Glory,” said Tucker.  “It’s always an honor to step into the cage with anyone who puts in the time and work. She comes from a very good gym and so do I.  I have some great sparring partners and coaches. I’m excited to show what I have learned every time I make an appearance.”

 

 

 

“NEF 34” will be the debut of Glory Watson in the MMA cage.  Watson is a product of Young’s MMA of Bangor, Maine where she is a teammate of Catie Denning who defeated Chelsea Tucker earlier this year.  She is eager to test the skills she has picked up from her team in the cage this June.

 

 

 

“I’m looking forward to stepping into the cage to represent Young’s MMA,” said Watson.  “I love this sport, and am excited to show what I can do. I am thankful to the NEF for this opportunity to put the skills I have learned to the test.”

 

 

 

 

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 34: Home of the Brave,” will take place at Aura in Portland, Maine on Saturday, June 16, 2018.  Tickets are on-sale now online at www.AuraMaine.com.

 

Bellator, boxing, FNU Combat Sports Show, mixed martial arts, MMA, Rich Bergeron, Tom Padgett, Tony Penecale

FNU Combat Sports Show: Lee vs. Barboza Recap, Wilder Camp Offers $50 Million to Joshua for Boxing Superfight, etc.

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This week Tom, Tony and Rich recap last week’s UFC Fight Night, all the boxing action from last Saturday, and all the biggest combat sports stories of the week, including the funeral of Wrestling Legend Bruno Sanmartino. We also preview upcoming events, with Tom and Rich making a push-up bet on Fedor vs. Mir in this Saturday’s Bellator Main Event.

Listen to the whole broadcast below:

 

Combate Americas, mixed martial arts, MMA, women's MMA

COMBATE AMERICAS KNOCKS OUT THE COMPETITION WITH RECORD RATINGS

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Over 4.6 Million Television Viewers Tune In For “Combate Estrellas I” Across Univision And Univision Deportes Network In The U.S. And Azteca 7 in Mexico

 

U.S. Television Ratings Increase By 10 Percent with “Combate Estrellas II”
 On Friday, April 20

 

Sponsors Included Anheuser-Busch’s Estrella Jalisco, Advanced Auto Parts, Double Cross Vodka, Hot 6 Energy Drink and Battle Boom Gaming

 

 

NEW YORK– April 26, 2018– Combate Americas today announced ratings for its first two live, 2018 events – “Combate Estrellas I” and “Combate Estrellas II” – which also marked the historic, first-ever live Univision and Univision Deportes Network (UDN) televised Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events, on Friday, April 13 and Friday, April 20, respectively.

 

Despite its start time of midnight ET in the United States, “Combate Estrellas I” delivered a total of 583,000 persons 2+, including 296,000 adults in the coveted 18-49 age group, on the Univision and Univision Deportes Network simulcast, beating Bellator 197, which aired in primetime on the Paramount Network.

 

In Mexico, the event delivered over 4 million live broadcast television viewers on Azteca 7.

 

The Facebook LIVE stream of the “Combate Estrellas I” preliminary bout card, which immediately preceded the 90-minute live television airing of the main card, delivered over 294,000 streams.

 

“The amazing growth of our TV ratings confirms we are the hottest MMA promotion in the world,” said Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren.

 

Airing exclusively on UDN in the midnight ET slot the following Friday, April 20, “Combate Estrellas II” delivered another 200,000 total viewers, a 10 percent increase from the first installment of the two-part, “Combate Estrellas” live event series.

Of the total UDN viewers for “Combate Estrellas II,” 67 percent were in the 18-49 age group.

 

The Facebook LIVE stream of the “Combate Estrellas II” preliminary bout card garnered over 630,000 streams, more than doubling the online audience from one week earlier.

 

Like Combate Americas, advertisers also emerged victorious from the record-ratings.

 

“We were thrilled to partner with Anheuser-Busch’s Estrella Jalisco, Advanced Auto Parts, Double Cross Vodka, HOT 6 Energy Drink and Battle Boom Gaming for the event, which allowed them to engage with the consumer on location, as well as reaching millions of consumers through multi-platforms with respective key brand messaging,” said Combate Americas CRO, Mike Pine. “Combate Americas is the only MMA engine in existence today that serves 100 percent a Hispanic demographic, allowing brands to streamline and reach the fastest growing population in the world and a consumer set that will spend close to $1.7 trillion in 2018.”

 

The bantamweight (135 pounds) main event of “Combate Estrellas I” at The Shrine in Los Angeles, Calif. saw Jose “Pochito” Alday (11-3) of Mexico edge out a split decision over superstar John “Sexi Mexi” Castaneda (16-4) of the U.S., while the flyweight (125 pounds) co-main event featured the MMA debut of five-division world boxing champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (0-0-1) who, representing Puerto Rico, valiantly fought Corina Herrera (3-4-1) of the U.S. to a draw.

 

In the first live televised fight of the night, ferocious, featherweight (145 pounds) rising star Jose “Froggy” Estrada (5-1) of the U.S. score a second round (1:43) TKO (knees and punches) on “Ruthless” Rudy Morales (5-6) of Guatemala.

 

Amongst the celebrities who took in the action at The Shrine were Diego Boneta, Camila, Cynthia Olavarria, Victoria La Mala, Flor de Toloache and Forggie.

 

In the bantamweight main event of “Combate Estrellas II” at Gimnasio Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico, world-ranked superstar and Monterrey native Erik “Goyito” Perez (18-6) avenged a previous defeat at the hands of David “D.J.” Fuentes (13-10) of McAllen, Texas, U.S., scoring a third round (1:22) KO (punches) on Fuentes while, in the bantamweight co-main event, Marcelo “Pitbull” Rojo (14-5) of Cordoba, Argentina decimated Fabian Galvan (8-3) of Monterrey via first round (2:34) knockout (punch).

 

Leading off the live telecast, 20-year-old sensation Melissa “Super Melly” Martinez (4-0) extended her unbeaten run by earning a dominant, unanimous decision over Ivanna Martinenghi (4-2) of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

 

Combate Americas returns to UDN on Friday, April 27, beginning at 12 a.m. ET/9 p.m. PT, with “Combate Estrellas III,” a compilation of the best, non-televised fight action from the “Combate Estrellas I” and “Combate Estrellas II” preliminary bout cards.

 

Source: Nielsen, NPM, L+SD data

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION RETURNING TO NEF CAGE IN PORTLAND

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Portland, Maine (April 26, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to Aura in Portland, Maine with its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 34: Home of the Brave,” on Saturday night, June 16, 2018.  Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of a professional lightweight bout to the card.  Reigning NEF MMA Professional Lightweight Champion “The” Ryan Sanders (15-9) will face Vince McGuiness (5-7) in a non-title bout at a fight weight of 155-pounds.

 

 

 

Ryan Sanders has had a storied career in the NEF cage.  He competed in, and won, the main event of the very first NEF card in February 2012 over veteran Dan Keefe (7-3).  Sanders fought on ten of the first fifteen NEF cards, including the company’s co-promotion with Bellator in the spring of 2013.  After more than a two-year absence from NEF, Sanders returned to the promotion in August 2016 and went on a five-fight win-streak over the course of the next year – the longest streak of his career.  During that stint, Sanders captured his first gold in NEF – the coveted professional lightweight title – with a victory over Jon Lemke (7-8) last spring.  The bout with McGuiness will be Sanders’ first in the NEF cage since August 2017.  He will be looking to bounce back from a loss in Massachusetts last month.  Sanders is a longtime member of Bangor, Maine’s Young’s MMA fight team.

 

 

 

“I’m ecstatic to be back fighting for the NEF, it has been too long,” said Sanders. “I’m back to show the fans that I’m the best lightweight in the region, and that I’m on the road to be the best lightweight in the world. I really appreciate Vince taking this fight. I look forward to showing my improvements and the work that I’ve been putting in while away from the cage. I have great coaches, teammates, and an amazing wife in my corner that makes me truly feel unstoppable. Come watch me take another step towards my destiny on June 16 in Portland.”

 

 

 

A native of Brooklyn, New York and current head coach of Bang Muay Thai in Tampa, Florida, Vince McGuiness is no stranger to the New England MMA scene.  His two most recent fights have been in Massachusetts, and McGuiness has even competed previously on a Portland fight card in 2015.  He will be looking to rebound against Sanders after losing his last four bouts in the cage.

 

 

 

“I’m excited to be back in New England fighting again,” said McGuiness. “I always get love up there. I’m ready to put on a scrap!”

 

 

 

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 34: Home of the Brave,” will take place at Aura in Portland, Maine on Saturday, June 16, 2018.  Tickets are on-sale now online at www.AuraMaine.com.

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

SECOND WOMEN’S MMA BOUT ANNOUNCED FOR NEF 34 IN PORTLAND

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Portland, Maine (April 25, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to Aura in Portland, Maine with its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 34: Home of the Brave,” on Saturday night, June 16, 2018.  Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of an amateur women’s bantamweight bout to the card.  Carol Linn Powell (0-1) is scheduled to face Sarah Matulis (1-0) at a fight weight of 135-pounds.

 

 

 

 

Powell is the wife of current UFC signee and former NEF MMA Professional Lightweight Champion Devin Powell (8-3). Together, the couple owns and operates Nostos MMA & Conditioning Facility in Somersworth, New Hampshire.  The gym earned the “Best Martial Arts Gym” designation in the 2017 “Best of the Seacoast” awards.  Carol Linn made her in-cage debut last November in Portland against Francesca Morabito (1-0), losing a hard-fought decision on the judges’ scorecards.  Earlier this month, Powell grappled Chelsea Tucker to a draw to open “NEF 33″ in Portland.

 

 

 

 

“Words can’t describe how excited and thankful I am to be partaking in the third NEF event in Portland after competing in the first and second,” said Powell when reached for comment. “Both times I’ve been in the cage have been very entertaining—the first of which ended in me getting my contacts knocked out and looking like Sloth after—and this time will be no different, I just plan on getting the job done quicker. I am looking forward to getting back in there and testing myself again and getting to witness how much better I have gotten at the sport. Sarah and I both made our debuts at ‘NEF 31’ in November, and I can’t wait to overcome the new challenges she has for me and to get my first win in the cage.”

 

 

 

 

Like Powell, Sarah Matulis did indeed make her cage debut at “NEF 31” last November in Portland.  That evening she was victorious over Chelsea Tucker with a first-round technical knockout.  By day, Matulis is a mother and nurse practitioner who studied nursing at Pace University in New York.  She is a member of The Outlet based in Dexter, Maine and regularly competes in grappling events throughout the New England region.

 

 

 

 

“I’m thrilled to be competing again for NEF,” said Matulis.  “Carol Linn and I are both budding amateur fighters.  I know she’s hunting for her first win, but I plan to remain undefeated. NEF fans are accustomed to seeing spectacular WMMA bouts, and I fully expect this fight will keep to that standard.”

 

 

 

 

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 34: Home of the Brave,” will take place at Aura in Portland, Maine on Saturday, June 16, 2018.  Tickets are on-sale now online at www.AuraMaine.com.

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

“Storm” Warning! Star middleweight Alexander Shlemenko To headline M-1 Challenge 93

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Plus, Artem Frolov vs. Joe Riggs title fight
 
June 1 in Chelyabinsk, Russia

Alexander Shlemenko (R) is as tough as they come

 

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (April 24, 2018)) – One of the greatest middleweights in mix martial arts history, Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko, returns to The Rage on June 1 to headline M-1 Challenge 93 versus Brazilian power-puncher Bruno Silva (17-6-0, M-1: 0-0-0), at Chelyabinsk, Russia.

 

 

 

A hand-to-hand combat sports and kickboxing specialist, Shlemenko (56-10-0, 1 NC, M-1: 6-0-0) is a former Bellator champion, who took top honors in the 2016 M-1 Grand Prix, using a choke hold for a second-round submission of Vyacheslav Vasilevsky in the M-1 Challenge 68 Fight of the Night.

 

 

 

In his last M-1 action, “Storm” needed only 25 seconds to stop Brandon Halsey, avenging his Bellator title-fight loss, last June at M-1 Challenge 79.

 

 

 

An aggressive striker who has had registered 56 career pro victories, Shlemenko is known as a crowd pleaser, and the gifted Russian star still shines bright.

 

 

 

Silva, who will be making his M-1 debut, has stopped 14 of his 17 victims to date. The Shlemenko vs. Silva match-up is a guaranteed crowd pleaser, and few figures it will go the complete distance.

 

 

 

In the co-featured event, undefeated M-1 Challenge middleweight champion Artem Frolov(10-0-0, M-1: 7-0-0) makes his first title defense against former UFC fighter Joe “Diesel” Riggs (47-17-1, M-1: 2-0-1). The 26-year-old Frolov, of Russia, captured the M-1 Challenge title last October at M-1 Challenge 84, when he won a five-round unanimous decision over Caio Magalhaes, of Brazil. Riggs is a seasoned MMA fighter from America, who is an extremely dangerous, battle-tested opponent with as much experience as any fighter in the world.

 

 

 

M-1 Challenge 93 will be live-streamed from Russia in high definition on www.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 93 will also be available on www.FITE.TV (preliminary card is free, $7.99 for the main card)

 

 

 

All fighters and fights are subject to change. Main and full preliminary card bouts will soon be announced.

 

 

 

INFORMATION:

 

 

 

 

www.M1Global.tv

www.mixfight.ru

www.wmmaa.org

 

 

 

 

Twitter & Instagram:

 

 

@M1GlobalNews

@VFinkelchtein

@M1Global

 

 

 

Facebook:

 

www.facebook.com/M-1-GlobalNews

 

 

 

Upcoming M-1 Challenge Events:

May 12 – M-1 Challenge 91: Doskalchuk vs. Ashimov in Shenzhen, China.

 

 

May 24 – M-1 Challenge 92: Kharitonov vs. Vyazigin in Saint Petersburg, Russia

 

 

June 1 – M-1 Challenge 93: Shelemnko vs. Siva in Chelyabinsk, Russia

mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights, women's MMA

FIRST WOMEN’S MMA BOUT ANNOUNCED FOR PORTLAND FIGHT CARD

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Portland, Maine (April 24, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to Aura in Portland, Maine with its next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 34: Home of the Brave,” on Saturday night, June 16, 2018.  Earlier today, the fight promotion announced the addition of an amateur women’s bantamweight bout to the card.  Brianne Genschel (0-1) will return to take on Amanda Gallo (1-1) at a fight weight of 135-pounds.

 

 

 

Genschel made her MMA debut at “NEF 26” in the fall of 2016 in a losing effort to a much more experienced Jessica Borga who already had five amateur fights to her credit.  Despite the disadvantage in cage experience, Genschel held her own for a full three rounds and forced Borga to the judges’ scorecards.  Genschel is the owner and operator of the Farmington branch of The Foundry Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) school.  She has practiced BJJ for more than a decade and holds a black belt in the martial art.  Genschel is also a member of First Class MMA based in Brunswick, Maine.

 

 

 

“I’m really excited to get back in the cage,” said Genschel. “I have a feeling Amanda Gallo will be a great opponent, and certainly won’t make this an easy fight. I’m up for the challenge, and definitely respect anyone who puts in the time and dedication it takes to get out there. Thank you to Amanda for committing to this fight, and I plan to leave it all in the cage putting on a good show in the process!”

 

 

 

Amanda Gallo, like Genschel, is a one-fight veteran of the NEF cage.  In February of this year, she stunned the Maine fight community by handing top-prospect Jayda Bailey (1-1) her first loss in dominant fashion.  Gallo will make her second trip to Maine to fight on June 16 from her home state of Florida where she trains at the Tampa branch of Robson Moura Nations United (RMNU).

 

 

 

“Thank you to NEF for allowing me to fight for them again,” said Gallo. “I had a lot of fun fighting Jayda at NEF 32 – she was a tough opponent. I’m sure Brianne will also be a fun match. I’m looking forward to putting on a good show for Maine and hopefully bringing home another win to Florida.”

 

 

 

NEF’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 34: Home of the Brave,” will take place at Aura in Portland, Maine on Saturday, June 16, 2018.  Tickets are on-sale now online at www.AuraMaine.com.

Combate Americas, mixed martial arts, MMA

COMBATE AMERICAS ANNOUNCES “MEXICO VS USA” MMA SHOWDOWN IN SACRAMENTO, CALIF. ON FRIDAY, MAY 11

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Below: Kyra Batara (left) will face off with Lisbeth Lopez Silva (right) in the atomweight main event of “Combate Americas: Mexico vs. USA” in Sacramento, Calif. on Friday, May 11.

MAIN EVENT:
LISBETH LOPEZ SILVA (MEXICO) VS. KYRA BATARA (USA)

CO-MAIN EVENT:
HORACIO GUTIERREZ (MEXICO) VS. CHRIS AVILA (USA)

TICKETS ON SALE AT TICKETON.COM 

 

 

NEW YORK – April 23, 2018 – Combate Americas today announced an epic, live Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event that will feature fighters representing Mexico against combatants representing the U.S., beginning with a much-anticipated women’s atomweight (105 pounds) matchup pitting world ranked stars Lisbeth “Coneja” Lopez Silva (5-3) and Kyra “Mogwai” Batara (7-4) against one another, at McClellan Conference Center in Sacramento, Calif. on Friday, May 11.
 

Also announced today for “Combate Americas: Mexico vs. USA” was a featherweight (145 pounds) co-main event between Horacio “The Punisher” Gutierrez (4-3) and Nate Diaz protégé Chris Avila (5-6).

 

Priced from $40, tickets for “Combate Americas: Mexico vs. USA” are on sale atTicketon.com.

 

“’Mexico vs. USA is the best of Combate Americas, with ‘soccer style,’ country vs. country competition,” said Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren.  “Lisbeth and Kyra are the top two atomweights in the world, and there is going to be an atomic explosion when these atoms collide.”

 

Ranked as high as 20 in the world in the women’s atomweight division, Lopez Silva, a 21-year-old native of Mexico City, Mexico is aiming for her sixth straight victory after defeating Sheila Padilla of the U.S. by way of TKO (punches) in the second round (3:24) of their bout at the inaugural “COPA COMBATE” extravaganza in Cancun last November 11.

 

Lopez Silva recently joined forces with the Guadalajara, Mexico-based Team Grasso, the home of MMA superstars Alexa Grasso and Irene Aldana.

 

The 23-year-old Batara, who fights out of Las Vegas, Nev. and is ranked as high as 19 in the world, is coming off her second consecutive win, a unanimous decision over long-standing rival Paulina “Firefox” Granados in the main event of “Combate Americas: Queen Warriors” last December 1.

 

Prior to that, Batara, a grappling expert schooled by famed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Eddie Bravo, defeated 12-time national Judo champion Vanesa Rico of Spain via second round (3:46) submission (armbar).

 

Gutierrez is an aggressive-minded, 27-year-old, rising star out of Guadalajara, aiming to make noise in what will be his Combate Americas promotional debut.

 

In his last effort on May 12, 2017, Gutierrez scored a first round (2:37) knockout (punch) on Antonio Suarez.

 

Representing the U.S., the 25-year-old Avila fights out of Lodi, Calif. is looking to return to his past form that saw him notch victories in five of his first seven professional starts, four of which came by way of (T)KO or submission inside of two rounds.

 

Live television programming details, as well as additional bouts for “Combate Americas; Mexico vs. USA” will be announced soon.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Paramount Network

JULIA BUDD DEFENDS HER WORLD TITLE AGAINST UNDEFEATED TALITA NOGUEIRA AT BELLATOR 202 FRIDAY, JULY 13 ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK

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cid:image002.jpg@01D3DAE9.FA49C4D0

MICHAEL MCDONALD CHALLENGES FORMER BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION EDUARDO DANTAS IN CO-MAIN EVENT

 

 

 

LOS ANGELES – On Friday, July 13, Julia Budd (11-2) will defend her featherweight world title against Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Talita Nogueira (7-0), in the main event of Bellator 202 at WinStar World Casino and Resort. In addition, the co-headliner will feature former Bellator world champion Eduardo Dantas (20-5) taking on Michael McDonald (18-4) in a bantamweight clash of top contenders.

 

 

 

Bellator 202: Budd vs. Nogueira will be broadcast live and free on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.comand globally on the Bellator Mobile App. Tickets for the event go on sale this Friday, April 20 and can be purchased at the WinStar World Casino and Resort box office, as well as through Ticketmaster and Bellator.com. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

 

 

Julia Budd, the only fighter to sit atop Bellator women’s featherweight division, has bested Germaine de Randamie, Arlene Blencowe and Marloes Coenen amongst other names over the course of her eight-year mixed martial arts career. “The Jewel” is also the only woman to defeat Gina Carano in Muay-Thai competition. Now, the Canada-native and former STRIKEFORCE competitor, returns to Oklahoma, where she makes her second title defense since winning the belt last year at Bellator 174.

 

 

 

Talita Nogueira had already been crowned a world champion in jiu-jitsu prior to testing her hand in MMA. “Treta” went undefeated in six MMA contests in her home town of Sao Paulo, Brazil between 2009 and 2013, before signing to compete with Bellator. Originally slated to fight Budd at Bellator 133, Nogueira suffered an injury that forced her to withdraw from the contest. Her highly-anticipated promotional debut ultimately took place at Bellator 182, where the 32-year-old scored a first-round submission over Amanda Bell. The Demain Maia-trained fighter now gets a second chance to compete against Budd, and this time, the world championship is on the line.

 

 

 

Former two-time world champion Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas has proven himself a perennial top-10 bantamweight fighter with impressive performances over Joe Warren, Marcos Galvao (x2), Wilson Reis and Zach Makovsky. The Bellator Season 5 tournament champion has strung together an impressive 10-2 record with Bellator during his seven-year tenure with the promotion. The 29-year-old trains alongside the likes of Jose Aldo at the famed Nova Uniao team in his home town of Rio de Janeiro and is looking for another shot at Bellator gold.

 

 

 

Fighting professionally since the age of 16, McDonald has been a mainstay in the bantamweight rankings for the better part of 11 years. The exciting Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has amassed an astonishing finishing rate, reaching the judges’ scorecards only three times in his 22 fights. “Mayday” made his Bellator debut in 2017, scoring a victory over Peter Ligier, despite fracturing his hand early in the fight. Now that his hand has fully healed, the former world title challenger from Modesto, Calif. will look to defeat Dantas July 13 on Paramount Network.

 

 

 

Updated Bellator 202: Budd vs. Nogueira Fight Card:

 

 

Women’s Featherweight World Title Bout: Julia Budd (11-2) vs. Talita Nogueira (7-0)

Bantamweight Main Card Bout: Eduardo Dantas (20-5) vs. Michael McDonald (18-4)

 

 

 

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

Heavyweight star Sergei Kharitonov To headline M-1 Challenge 92  

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May 24 at M-1 Arena in
Saint Petersburg, Russia

Sergei Kharitonov (R)

SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (April 23, 2018)) – Russian heavyweight star Sergei Kharitonov returns to The Rage on May 24 to headline M-1 Challenge 92 at M-1 Arena in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

 

 

 

Kharitonov (27-6-0, M-1: 5-0-0) faces his fellow countryman, upset-minded Anton Vyazigin(9-2-1, M-1: 4-1-0), in this Heavyweight SuperFight.

 

 

 

M-1 Challenge 92 will be live-streamed from Russia in high definition on www.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 92 will also be available onwww.FITE.TV(preliminary card is free, $7.99 for the main card)

 

 

 

The 6′ 4″, 258-pound Kharitonov is undefeated in five M-1 Challenge events having defeated Geronino dos Santos (SUB1 – ankle lock), Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (KO1 – punch), former M-1 Challenge heavyweight champion Kenny “Deuce” Garner twice, at M-1Challenge 59 in 2015 at Kazakhstan (WTKO1 – punches) and M-1 Challenge 53 in 2013 at China, (KO/TKO3 – injury), and to Alexei Kudin at M-1 Challenge 43 in 2013 Russia (KO2).

 

 

 

The 37-year-old Kharitonov, has defeated some of the greatest heavyweight MMA fighters of all-time, including Alister Overeem, Andrei Arlovski, Fabricio Werdum and Pedro Rizzo. Kharitonov has also fought in Strikeforce, K-1, Bellator and PRIDE.

 

 

 

Vyazigin, who stands 6′ 5″ and weights 250-pounds, is coming off a sensational 16-seconds knockout of Zaur Gadzhibabayev this past March at M-1 Challenge 89.

 

 

 

One other main card fight has been announced as striker Giga Kukhalashvili (9-3-0, M-1: 2-0-0) meets undefeated Khadis Ibragimov (3-0-0. M-1: 1-0-0) in a battle of undefeated Russian light heavyweights.

 

 

 

On the preliminary card, French lightweight Mickael “Ragnar” Lebout (17-8-2, 1 NC, M-1: 1-0-0) meets rising Russian prospect Pavel Gordeev (10-1-0, M-1: 4-0-0). Lebout vs. Gordeev was scheduled to happed at M-1 Challenge 87, but Lebout was injured during training camp, forcing the Frenchman out of that fight. Lebout’s M-1 debut at M-1 Challenge 89 resulted in a win by first-round knockout of Sergey Faley. Gordeev is riding a three-fight win streak, all ending in unanimous decisions.

 

 

 

All fighters and fights are subject to change. Additional main and preliminary card bouts will soon be announced.

 

 

 

INFORMATION:

 

 

www.M1Global.tv

www.mixfight.ru

www.wmmaa.org

 

 

 

Twitter & Instagram:

@M1GlobalNews

@Vadim_finkelchtein

@M1Global

 

 

 

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Upcoming M-1 Challenge Events:

May 12 – M-1 Challenge 91: Doskalchuk vs. Ashimov, in Shenzhen, China.

May 24 – M-1 Challenge 92: Kharitonov vs. Vyazigin, in Saint Petersburg, Russia