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Category Archives: mixed martial arts
Solid M-1 Challenge 70 main card set Eduardo Ramon new opponent for Alexey Kunchenko in non-title fight headliner
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This Saturday in Syktyvkar, Russia
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 ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (September 8, 2016) – M-1 Global has put together a solid main card, headlined by M-1 Challenge welterweight champion Alexey Kunchenko against late replacement Eduardo “Camelo” Ramon (11-2-0, M-1: 0-0-0), for this Saturday’s (Sept. 10) M-1 Challenge 70in Syktyvkar, Russia.
M-1 Challenge 70 will be streamed live 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 of the action on their computers, as well as on Android and Apple smart phones and tablets.
Kunchenko (13-0-0, M-1: 6-0-0), fighting out of Tyumen, Russia, will put his undefeated professional record on the line against Ramon in their non-title fight. Kunchenko captured the coveted M-1 Challenge welterweight titl belt in his last fight, when defending M-1 Challenge welterweight champion Murad Abdulaev retired during the fourth round this past April at M-1 Challenge 65.
Ramon is a late replacement for an injured Maxin Grabovich. The talented Brazilian will be making his M-1 debut.
Russian Andrey Seledtsov (5-2-0, M-1: 0-1-0) takes on undefeated German Rene Hoppe (5-0-0), who will be making his M-1 debut, in a light heavyweight clash with future title fight implications at stake.
In another match-up that could very well lead to a title fight, former M-1 Challenge lightweight champion Maxim Divnich (12-1-0, M-1: 6-1-0), fighting out of Saint Petersburg, Russia by way of Ukraine, takes on former M-1 Challenge lightweight title challenger Artem Damkovsky (20-1-0, M-1: 10-7-0), of Belarus.
Round out the M1 Challenge 70 main card are two more potentially explosive fights as Russian featherweights Timur Naginbin (7-1-0, M-1: 3-0-0) and Alexey Nevzorov (9-2-0, 4-1-0) throw-down, while French bantamweight Moktar “Le Kabyle” Benkaci (11-6-0, M-1: 0-1-0) faces Vadim “Bad Santa” Maygin (6-1-1, M-1: 0-0-1), of Russia.
The preliminary bouts include undefeated Russian middleweight Artem Frolov (6-0-0) vs. Brazilian Rafael “Kratos” Xavier (3-1-0), Ukrainian middleweight Artem “Shockwave” Shokalo (17-14-1) vs. Russian Roman “War” Yarynkin (6-1-0), Russian middleweight Khabib Isaev (1-0-0) vs. countryman Artur Potekaylov (2-1-0) and Russian bantamweight Sergey Voloshin (2-0-0) vs. pro-debuting countryman Vitaly Chesnokov.
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FNU Combat Sports Show: CM Punk’s Debut, UFC Fight Night Recap, Brrok vs. Golovkin Preview
Tom, Tony and Rich discuss the week in Combat Sports, focusing on the recent UFC Fight Night in Hamburg, Germany, the UFC debut of Phil Brooks (A.K.A. CM Punk) and the upcoming battle between Kell Brook and Gennady Golovkin.
COMBATE AMERICAS HITS NEW YORK WITH FIRST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT IN HISTORY, LIVE ON BEIN SPORTS EN ESPAÑOL AND UFC FIGHT PASS® ON FRIDAY, OCT. 14
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FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO A SHOT AT THE GOLD, JACKSON AND VELADO TAKE MMA CAREERS TO A NEW LEVEL AT NEF 25
By: Kalle Oakes
Humility is the undertone for any conversation with Jimmy Jackson about his mixed martial arts career. It was a humbling experience that twisted Rafael Velado’s arm into the world of combat sports in the first place.
One of the men will depart Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston wielding a source of pride – the New England Fights amateur lightweight championship belt – after their clash at “NEF 25: Heroes and Villains” this Saturday, September 10.
Mention the idea of his earning a title shot in the hexagon and Jackson (3-2) almost can’t withhold a laugh.
“It’s a big opportunity for someone like me,” Jackson said. “I never thought I would be fighting for a title. I’ve had a ton of teammates come up to me and say, ‘You deserve this! Way to go!’ I just never thought of myself as that top-tier fighter. I’ve always been the guy kind of behind the scenes.”
Easy enough for the Bangor fighter to blend in, considering that he trains at Young’s MMA with the likes of Aaron “Relentless” Lacey, “The” Ryan Sanders, and Josh “Hook On” Harvey.
Fighting for the belt vacated by stablemate Harvey isn’t an endeavor that would have entered Jackson’s mind back in 2012, when he accepted a fight in Vermont on a relative lark. He won via submission, with a choke, in 96 seconds.
“My training started out as me and a few other guys messing around in a basement,” Jackson said. “My first fight was spur of the moment. I won and it sort of got the adrenaline going, like, ‘I can do this. I did pretty good.’”
Through a co-worker, he connected up with Young’s MMA.
After a learning curve that included back-to-back losses in 2013, Jackson steadily improved and defeated two consecutive opponents to earn his title opportunity.
“It’s a blessing and a curse. It’s truly a family. These are guys who truly stand by each other, in hard times, bad times, in and out of the gym,” Jackson said of wearing Young’s colors. “But on the flip side, everybody’s watching you, expecting a certain amount of entertainment from you. I want to perform at such a level that people are excited to watch me fight.”
While most fighters go through the drudgery of training in order to bask in the glory of fight night, Jackson contends that it’s the training he loves most. And entering the cage, he claims, is not about him.
“Fighting, to me, is just what I can do to show everybody what my coaches have accomplished,” Jackson said. “They sacrifice so much to give us fighters the recognition and they get very little recognition in return. The only reason I get in the cage is to represent them.”
Jackson gravitated to MMA with minimal experience in combat sports. Velado, of Norridgewock, brought a decade of jiu-jitsu and a black belt to the table.
That journey had less glamorous beginnings, however.
“In July 2005, I was playing basketball and a guy on my own team, if you can believe it, punched me in the face. He took exception to something and he messed me up pretty good,” Velado said. “From watching UFC, I thought I knew what to do to defend myself, and I pulled him down with an arm bar. Pathetically, but I pulled him down.”
Velado called it a reality check, one that led him to enroll in jiu-jitsu classes taught by Aaron Blake in Boothbay Harbor.
“I think all guys think they will be able to defend themselves in a situation, and most of those guys are wrong,” Velado said.
In more than three years of tournament competition, Velado said he fought more than 50 times and lost only three matches.
He grew restless and sought a new challenge. It led him to John Raio’s First Class MMA in Topsham. Velado was primed for his debut, but a sparring session with heavyweight teammate Nick Gulliver led to a torn MCL in his knee.
“That took about six to eight months before I fully recovered,” Velado said. “I dropped in on John again in April 2015, and we got a plan together. He got me in there with a lot of good wrestler types, including himself. He let me train with Marcus Davis and some other guys to expand my skill set.”
Velado has won three times in NEF, capped by a split decision over Mike Peitersen of Young’s.
“You’re in for a war. Young’s guys, they’re great. They’re all respectful. They train like savages,” Velado said. “Look who he’s training against…Those guys could fight anywhere in the United States and do well. You can’t not get better training against guys like that. You can’t not be a stud.”
Jackson, who said that MMA has lowered his stress level while reminding him that there is nothing else in life he can’t handle, hinted that he is the underdog on paper.
“He went three rounds with Mike Pietersen, and Mike is a tough dude. I know he’s a black belt in jits,” Jackson said. “I’m taking a realistic approach. I’m more focused on what I need to do and can’t worry about what he’s going to do. I don’t think he’s going to show me anything that I can’t handle.”
The question, Velado said, is whether or not Jackson’s modesty suggests any level of uncertainty.
“The difference between us is that I know I have jiu-jitsu in my tool box. He doesn’t have anything like that in his tool box that I know of,” Velado said. “He’s going to see what level he’s at in this fight. He’s going to find a way to get past me, or he’s going to take a step back and say is this something I really want to be doing? He definitely has to have confidence if he wants to beat me.”
The opening bell on this Saturday, September 10 is set for 7 p.m. The current docket for “NEF 25: Heroes and Villains” includes three professional boxing matches, five pro mixed martial arts bouts and five amateur MMA scraps. Tickets start at $25 and are available at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009, extension 525.
For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
BELLATOR TO HOST THE FIRST MAJOR MMA EVENT IN TEL AVIV, ISRAEL ON NOVEMBER 10
WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION ANDREY KORESHKOV TO FACE DOUGLAS LIMA IN MAIN EVENT
ALSO: ISRAELI ARMY VETERAN NOAD LAHAT SET FOR BELLATOR MMA DEBUT AGAINST SCOTT CLEVE
SANTA MONICA, CALIF (Sept. 7, 2016) – Bellator MMA Welterweight Champion Andrey Koreshkov (19-1) will make the second defense of his belt against the man he took it from more than a year ago, Douglas Lima (27-6), in the main event of the promotion’s historic debut at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv on November 10.
In addition, the card will feature one of Israel’s own in the co-headliner, when newly signed Bellator MMA featherweight Noad Lahat (9-2) meets Scott Cleve (15-5). Additional main card and preliminary fights will be announced in coming weeks.
The Viacom-owned fight promotion’s historic event will air in America on SPIKE Friday, November 11 at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT. Bellator has partnered with Ananey Communications, an Israeli television conglomerate boasting 14 channels, several of which showcase Viacom content including the EGO and EGO TOTAL channels which have broadcast Bellator in Israel since 2012.
Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased at Bellator.com or Eventim.co.il/mma.
Currently sitting atop Bellator MMA’s welterweight division, the 26-year-old champion Koreshkov most recently dismantled former world champion Benson Henderson for 25 minutes in his first-ever title defense. 19-1 as a professional, “Spartan” hasn’t tasted defeat since 2013 and has finished 13 of his opponents by either knockout or submission. It’s worth noting that Koreshkov trains under the leadership of former middleweight championAlexander Shlemenko.
Coming off of a dominant victory over top contender Paul Daley, “The Phenom” Lima has earned the right to challenge for the promotion’s 170-pound title, which he once held. The American Top Team standout has a knack for winning fights in spectacular fashion before reaching the judges’ scorecards, which he has accomplished in 23 of his 27 wins as a professional. Born in Brazil, the 28-year-old has secured victories over top competition since starting his career in 2006, tallying wins against Ben Saunders (2x), Ryan Ford, Steve Carl and Olympic competitor Rick Hawn. Now fully healthy, Lima looks to fight twice in a calendar year for the first time since 2013.
A black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, Lahat made his professional debut in 2008, where he began an impressive streak of seven consecutive victories. The 32-year-old “Neo” then decided to take his talents to the UFC, where he tacked on two more wins, rounding out his current professional record of 9-2. Hailing from Alfei Menashe, Samaria Israel, Lahat was also a soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces before transitioning to his now promising MMA career. He will look to compete in a strong Bellator MMA Featherweight class that includes current titleholder Daniel Straus, Pat Curran, Patricio “Pitbull,” Daniel Weichel, and Georgi Karakhanyan.
At 34 years of age, Scott Cleve is set for his fifth appearance under the Bellator MMA banner, the Colorado native has a knack for ending fights early, stopping his opponent in 11 of his 15 victories. Notable victories on the “Pariah MMA” standouts resume include wins over UFC veteran Abel Trujillo, along with Bellator competitors Derek Campos and Matt Bessette.
“Bellator MMA in Tel Aviv” Main Card:
Welterweight World Title Bout: Andrey Koreshkov (19-1) vs. Douglas Lima (27-6)
Featherweight Feature Bout: Noad Lahat (9-2) vs. Scott Cleve (15-5)
HALL AND CRAFTS PREPARE FOR ONE LAST AMATEUR SCRAP BEFORE THE PROS
By: Kalle Oakes
It is hard to believe that Caleb Hall and Johnny Crafts’ paths have not crossed in the New England Fights mixed martial arts hexagon before now.
Separated by only two years in age and only a handful of pounds on the scale, the two former high school athletes made the transition to the cage from other combat pursuits at around the same time. Hall was a champion wrestler, while Crafts was a decorated grappler in the jiu-jitsu realm.
They are even considering a jump to the professional ranks at the same time … after one final stop to stand toe-to-toe with one another in a clash of amateur champions at “NEF 25: Heroes and Villains.”
NEF amateur featherweight champion Hall (7-3) of Portland by way of Dixfield will collide with NEF amateur bantamweight titleholder Crafts (4-0) of Lisbon this Saturday, September 10.
“I’d say my days in the amateur ranks are numbered,” Hall said. “I feel at this point, as tough as the fights are getting, I might as well be a pro. I just didn’t want to do it too early. I wanted to be a legitimate pro athlete.”
Hall took a measured approach to his ascent through the ranks. Not many fighters stick around for a double-digit number of amateur bouts before either taking prize money or returning to the safety of spectator-hood.
Then again, not many debut in the sport as early as Hall. He remembers getting his first recruiting call from NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson while helping a friend, Josh Thornton, train for an NEF appearance.
“He called me out of nowhere and tried to get me a fight on short notice. Then he saw me filling out the information sheet and noticed that I was still only 17,” Hall said, noting that the rules prohibit minors from entering the fray. “So I ended up fighting in September, a month after my 18th birthday. I was hooked from the first time I watched it. I knew it was something I wanted to do.”
Hall won his first three fights, largely on the strength of his wrestling acumen, while bouncing between his hometown in the Western mountains of Maine and Plymouth State University in New Hampshire.
While sparring at First Class MMA in Topsham, Hall heard NEF mainstay John Raio rave about the merits of the Choi Institute in Portland. Hall took the advice and quickly discovered a place where his boxing and striking skills improved exponentially.
“Most of my training has been stand-up. I’ve tried to improve on it,” Hall said. “I figure that I’ve wrestled so long that I can kind of put it down when it comes to training and put more effort in the areas where I need to improve my skills.”
Hall carries a two-fight winning streak. The latter victory was a second-round submission over Erik Nelson for the vacant 145-pound strap in April.
He has stayed busy, rarely skipping back-to-back NEF cards during his time with the organization. By contrast, Crafts had been out of the cage for a year prior to his third-round TKO of Henry Clark for the 135-pound title in February.
“Injuries are what have screwed me over. I should have a lot more fights for as long as I’ve been at it,” Crafts said. “If I’m healthy, win or lose, I think this is probably my last fight as an amateur. I’m 24. I don’t want to drag it on too long.”
Crafts agreed with Hall’s assessment that whichever of the two fighters is able to step out of his comfort zone on the mat will gain the upper hand.
“Caleb is a really good wrestler. I never wrestled in high school, just jiu-jitsu. But with jiu-jitsu, you learn how to wrestle,” Crafts said. “I think people are going to be surprised by my wrestling, and I think everybody’s going to be impressed with my boxing. I feel more confident. I think he’s going to be surprised when I punch him in the face.”
Hall has fought all but two of his fights at 145 pounds and said that he considers that weight class “home.” Crafts dismissed any disadvantage in having to step up, noting that his walking-around weight is in the 160s.
“This is my first time fighting at 145. I’m really excited about it. Getting down to 135 is a really big cut for me. I felt it in the last fight. I could just tell. I really shouldn’t have been as tired as I was,” Crafts said. “And Henry was a good opponent. I was working on things, using more of my stand-up. That kind of prolonged it.
“He’s definitely the best at 145 in my opinion,” Crafts added in reference to Hall. “He’s one of the most experienced amateurs out there. He’s definitely the best guy for me to fight.”
The opening bell this Saturday, September 10 is set for 7 p.m. The current docket for “NEF 25: Heroes and Villains” includes three professional boxing matches, five pro mixed martial arts bouts and six amateur MMA scraps. Tickets start at $25 and are available at www.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009, extension 525.
For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”
About New England Fights
New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.
Event Details: Cage Warriors 78, Echo Arena, Liverpool, England. Sept 10, 2016
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Meet MMA Superstar Frankie “The Answer” Edgar at Autism Radio Casino Night Saturday, September 24 in Totowa, NJ
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Autism Radio also offer discounts on tools for the ASD population by selling Snap-Laces and Autism Parenting Magazine at TRAHAN AND DENNING IN SEARCH OF A MUCH-NEEDED WIN IN THE MMA CAGE
Lewiston, Maine (September 5, 2016) – Taylor Trahan is a statistical oddity.
A native of Littleton, New Hampshire, now living in East Concord, Vermont, the 25-year-old pursued mixed martial arts seven years ago, soon as he was legally old enough to do so. He has entered the cage a total of 20 times in professional and amateur competition.
All that experience in this neck of the woods, yet his featherweight bout against Matt Denning at “NEF 25: Heroes and Villains” on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Androscoggin Bank Colisee will be his debut with New England Fights.
Trahan (5-6) is not buying the underdog or bad-guy label, even though he will walk into the historic arena in a city that Denning (3-3) calls home.
“This is only a two-hour trip (each way) for most of my fans,” Trahan said. “Most of them are used to traveling four hours or more to watch me fight. They’re like, ‘Oh, sweet.’”
Both fighters hope the matchup will reverse their recent career fortunes. Trahan has lost five consecutive fights since a red-hot start to his pro docket, while Denning has dropped three of his last four contests.
Denning is quick to point out that the results are deceiving on both sides.
“He fought a guy named Joe Pingitore. Beat him the first time with a rear naked choke and then lost to him in the rematch,” Denning said. “That’s a guy who is one of the best 145-pounders in New England.”
If anyone has the right to consider himself an expert in ranking those middle weight classes, it’s Denning.
The local favorite known as “Ken Doll” has never shied away from fighting the best that NEF has to offer fighters in the neighborhood of 145. Denning twice defeated Derek Shorey. He inched upward in weight, unsuccessfully, against Jon Lemke at 150 and Josh Harvey at 155. Most recently, Brandon Bushaw beat him by submission at “NEF 24: Promised Land” in June.
“You think about Lemke and Harvey, and I train with Jesse Erickson (at Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu),” Denning said. “The only one really missing is Devin Powell. I feel like I’ve fought and trained with the best group of guys around.”
Jiu-jitsu is the go-to for both fighters. Trahan is a brown belt, while Denning is a purple belt.
In other areas, their styles clash. Three of Trahan’s pro wins have come by decision. Denning, meanwhile, has never gone the distance as a pro. He only went to the cards once as an amateur – a loss to Dom Cofone in his cage debut.
Trahan stopped short of a prediction but said that he expects to prevail by submission.
“I see it being a slow first round for at least the first couple minutes,” he said. “Then once I get my timing down and start doing the things I want to do, I don’t see it going into the third round.”
Denning has prepared for a lengthy encounter. He confessed that he smoked through most of his career but has quit.
Couple that with a renewed commitment to road work and Denning forecasts that his fans will be pleased with his readiness for the relatively unknown foe.
“I believe the longest fight I’ve had was two minutes left in the third round,” Denning said. “I feel good conditioning-wise. I’m a shorter guy, so I’ve got to stay at 145.”
He said that sparring against Erickson has prepared him for the taller Trahan.
Denning believes that his striking and wrestling are superior to Trahan’s repertoire, but he complemented his rival by adding that he considers him another in a line of rugged opponents.
“I wanted to pick someone hard to fight. This is my fourth fight in six months,” Denning said. “Before that I took a year off. The last time I won in Lewiston was September of last year. I’m hoping the hometown advantage will help a little bit this time.”
Given the unpredictable nature of MMA, pro fighters must have short memories while applying the hard lessons they learn from losses. Trahan, like Denning, thinks he has achieved that.
“I’ve learned that I have to stick to what I know, and don’t do what’s not me,” Trahan said. “I think that in order for me to win, I have to take it to the ground. I favor the ground style. He’s excellent on the ground, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve seen some things I think I can exploit.”
The opening bell this Saturday, September 10 is set for 7 p.m. The current docket for “NEF 25: Heroes and Villains” includes three professional boxing matches, five pro mixed martial arts bouts and five amateur MMA scraps. Tickets start at $25 and are available atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisee box office at 207.783.2009, extension 525.
For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com. In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”