Category Archives: MMA

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA

SECOND EVENT IN MONSTER ENERGY BELLATOR MMA FIGHT SERIES SET FOR BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY’S NASCAR RACE WEEKEND SATURDAY, AUGUST 19

Leave a comment

 

Also, Appearances by Former Bellator Champ and Monster Energy Athlete Phil Davis and MMA Legend Dan Henderson

LOS ANGELES – Following the successful debut of the Monster Energy Bellator MMA Fight Series at the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race in May, the series returns for its second event on Saturday, August 19 next to Bristol Motor Speedway, located at the Earhart Campground, in Bristol, Tenn.

Prior to the start of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race, the Monster Energy Bellator MMA Fight Series will feature exciting MMA action throughout Saturday afternoon from 4–5:30 p.m. ET. Admission to the event is free to fans.

Additionally, fans will have the opportunity to meet former Bellator light heavyweight champion and Monster Energy athlete Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis, as well as former PRIDE and STRIKEFORCE titleholder Dan “Hendo” Henderson, at the Monster Energy display in the Fan Zone on Friday, August 18 from 3-4 p.m. ET.

“Bellator’s partnership with Monster Energy has opened the door for many new and exciting opportunities,” Bellator President Scott Coker said. “The Monster Energy Bellator MMA Fight Series allows us to share our brand of entertainment with an entirely different fan base. Following the success and feedback of the first event in May, we are thrilled to work together with Hans Molenkamp, Aaron Quesada and the entire Monster Energy team again to bring Bellator MMA action to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in Bristol.”

Through Bellator MMA, alongside longstanding partner Monster Energy, mixed martial arts will be included as a pre-race activation exclusively for fans in attendance. The lineup on Saturday will consist of four MMA bouts featuring some of the best regional up-and-coming talent, with the main event prospects in consideration to be signed to a multi-fight Bellator MMA contract.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race takes place Saturday, August 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET.. Tickets to the race are available at NASCAR.com/tickets, BristolMotorSpeedway.com/tickets or by calling Bristol Motor Speedway at 1-866-415-4158.

Situated beside Bristol Motor Speedway, Earhart Campground has become a full-service facility offering spectacular camping opportunities, daily parking and tailgating sites, retail vending, corporate marketing and sponsor-hosted hospitality sites. Race fans looking to make camping reservations can visit EarhartCampground.com for more information.

Updated Monster Energy Bellator MMA Fight Series at Bristol Motor Speedway Fight Card:

Welterweight Main Event: Ben Sergent (7-0, Nashville, Tenn.) vs. Brandon Bell (7-6, Johnson City, Tenn.)

Lightweight Bout: Nick Gehrts (7-2, Knoxville, Tenn.) vs. Ken Beverly (5-2, Hazard, Ky.)

Lightweight Bout: Damir Ferhatbegovic (3-1, Knoxville, Tenn.) vs. Jonathan Pearce (4-3, Johnson City, Tenn.)

Featherweight Amateur Bout: Ahva Mayi (4-1, Nashville, Tenn.) vs. Preston Schick (6-0, Johnson City, Tenn.)

Please visit Bellator.com for details.

*Event schedule subject to change.

****

mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA HEADS TO MISSOURI WITH A  LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT WAR

Leave a comment
LFA 21 – NOBLITT vs. BRANJÃO

 MAIN EVENT:
UNDEFEATED LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT PROSPECT
KYLE NOBLITT
vs.
UNDEFEATED LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT PROSPECT
ANTÔNIO PAULO BRANJÃO
LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT WAR
PLUS:
TOP WOMEN’S PROSPECT
KATY “RED DRAGON” COLLINS
and
LIGHTWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
T.J. BROWN vs. TREY OGDEN
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st LIVE on AXS TV
BRANSON CONVENTION CENTER in BRANSON, MISSOURI
Tickets are on sale NOW through CombatTickets.com
HOUSTON, Texas – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will feature the sport’s top two light-heavyweight prospects when the LFA makes its first visit to Missouri on the first day of September.

The main event of LFA 21 will feature a light-heavyweight war between undefeated American prospect Kyle Noblitt and undefeated Brazilian prospect Antônio Paulo “Montanha” Branjão. LFA 21 – Noblitt vs. Branjão takes place Friday, September 1st at the Branson Convention Center in Branson, Missouri. 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 the LFA to Missouri in September,” stated Soares. “RFA hosted four shows all over Missouri and it has proven to be one of the most talent-rich states in the country. We look forward to building on that success at LFA 21 on September 1st. Kyle Noblitt is the top light-heavyweight prospect in Missouri and he will face one of the top light-heavyweight prospects in Brazil, when he faces Antônio Paulo Branjão in the main event of LFA 21.”
Tickets for LFA 21 – Noblitt vs. Branjão are available for purchase NOW at Combattickets.com
Noblitt (8-0) is widely considered one of the top prospects in the United States at both heavyweight and light-heavyweight. After making his pro MMA debut in 2015, Noblitt unleashed a path of destruction in both weight classes much to the delight of fans in his home state and MMA pundits alike. The Missouri mauler has finished seven of the eight men he has faced, six inside of round one, and two in the same night. Noblitt was sitting cageside when the RFA visited his hometown in December and now the 27-year-old is set to headline LFA 21 in front of his home crowd as he looks to solidify his claim as the top light-heavyweight prospect in the world.
Branjão (4-0) is ready to make his highly-anticipated international MMA debut after making a name for himself in his home country of Brazil.  After dispatching his first three opponents via KO or TKO in less than a round, the man known as “Montanha” moved up to heavyweight to participate on the third season of the UFC’s hit reality television show The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil (TUF: Brazil 3). Branjão reached the quarter-finals on the show before returning to 205-pounds where he continued his winning ways against Stefano Alves. The 29-year-old now looks for his fifth stoppage win in his fifth fight when he travels to the United States to headline LFA 21.
The co-main event of LFA 21 will feature the LFA debut of the 2016 RFA Fans’ Choice Awards “Prospect of the Year” winner Katy Collins (7-2). “Red Dragon” made a spectacular RFA debut this past December at RFA 46, which was the final RFA event before RFA and Legacy FC merged to form LFA. Collins is currently ranked in the Top 5 of the AXS TV Fights Women’s Pound-For-Pound Rankings and looks to build on the momentum of a dominant win she earned last month at Bellator 181. She will make her LFA debut in her hometown of Branson, Missouri inside the same venue where she won her RFA debut eight months ago.
In the lightweight division, “Downtown” T.J. Brown (9-4) will make his LFA debut after competing three times inside the RFA Octagon. The Arkansas native is a fan favorite regardless of which state he fights in due to his wildly entertaining, all-action, style of fighting. Brown will need that experience when when he faces Trey Ogden (8-1) in the featured lightweight bout at LFA 21. The Bellator vet Ogden is a surefire prospect that trains alongside UFC stars and RFA greats James Krause and Tim Elliott in Kansas City, Missouri.
Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):
Main Event | Light-Heavyweight Bout (205 lb)
– Kyle Noblitt (8-0) vs. Antônio Paulo Branjão (4-0)
Co-Main Event | Women’s Flyweight Bout (125 lb)
– Katy Collins (7-2) vs. TBD
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
– T.J. Brown (9-4) vs. Trey Ogden (8-1)
In September 2016, RFA and Legacy FC officials announced that they would be merging to form the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) starting in January 2017. RFA and Legacy FC have launched the careers of over 100 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.
LFA 21 will be the first LFA event to take place in the state of Missouri. RFA visited the “Show Me State” four times before the merger. Further information about LFA 21 will be announced soon. The entire main card of LFA 21 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.
Bellator, boxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, PFL, Rich Bergeron, Tom Padgett, Tony Penecale, UFC

FNU Combat Sports Show: Mayweather vs. McGregor, UFC 214 Preview

Leave a comment

This week’s show features lots of Mayweather vs. McGregor discussion and a look back at the last two weeks in combat sports. We preview this weekend’s fights as well. Tune in to find out what Rich’s new favorite Conor McGregor insult is…and why it applies to Dana White as well. Psychic Tom gives his valuable insight and Tony the Tornado breaks down all the boxing angles in this episode.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

SPIKE PRESENTS AN ENCORE PRESENTATION OF BELLATOR’S BIGGEST EVENT EVER – BELLATOR NYC: SONNEN VS SILVA

Leave a comment

Special Broadcast on Friday, July 28 from 9-11:30pm ET/PT

 

 

LOS ANGELES – From a wild and rare double-knockdown featuring an MMA icon, to a back-and-forth battle for the lightweight title fight, to an even more shocking upset of an MMA prodigy – Bellator NYC: Sonnen vs. Silva was certainly entertaining, exciting and often unpredictable.

 

For those who missed the Pay-Per-View telecast on June 24, Spike will present a special encore presentation of this memorable event onFriday, July 28 from 9-11:30 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Emanating from Madison Square Garden in in the heart of New York, Bellator’s biggest fight card featured a double main event between fierce rivals Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva, while Matt Mitrione stood toe-to-toe with the iconic Fedor Emelianenko in a heavyweight showdown for the ages. In addition, two explosive title fights took place, as Douglas Lima looked to defend his welterweight crown against Lorenz Larkin and lightweight champ Michael Chandler took on the undefeated Brent Primus. Rounding out the action, Aaron Pico made his long-awaited MMA debut against Zach Freeman in a lightweight bout and Brazilian jiu-jitsu aceNeiman Gracie put his skills on display against New York’s Dave Marfone.

mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA RETURNS TO MINNESOTA IN AUGUST

Leave a comment
LFA 20 – CURRY vs. BARNES

MAIN EVENT:
 
CHAD “BLITZ” CURRY
vs. 
NICK “THE PHOENIX” BARNES
 
WELTERWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
 
 
CO-MAIN EVENT:
 
BOBBY “THE WOLFMAN” MOFFETT
vs.
“NASTY” NATE JENNERMAN
 
FEATHERWEIGHT WAR
 
 
PLUS:
 
Women’s MMA Pioneer
KELLY “BLOOD RED” KOBOLD
vs.
Knockout Artist
CHRISTINE “KNUCKLES” STANLEY
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25th LIVE on AXS TV
LIVE at the MYSTIC SHOWROOM in PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA
Tickets are on sale NOW through MysticLake.com
HOUSTON, Texas – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced today that the LFA will make its third trip to Minnesota at the end of August with a welterweight headliner and the return of two revered Minnesotans.
The main event of LFA 20 will feature a welterweight war between rising star Chad “Blitz” Curry and former RFA title challenger Nick “The Phoenix” Barnes. LFA 20 – Curry vs. Barnes takes place Friday, August 25th at the Mystic Lake Showroom 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’m happy to bring the LFA back to Minnesota for a third time this year”, stated Soares. “We have a great history of bringing exciting fights to the area, and this card will continue that tradition.  Both Curry and Barnes have shown to be aggressive, physical fighters, and I really want to see how this match up plays out. Mystic Lake has been a great partner and we look forward to bringing LFA 20 to the Mystic Lake Showroom on August 25th.”
Tickets for LFA 20 – Curry vs. Barnes are available for purchase NOW at MysticLake.com.
Curry (9-1) has transformed himself from one of Minnesota’s most popular fighters to one of the sport’s most exciting and promising prospects. The man aptly known as “Blitz” has decimated his last two opponents since moving up to welterweight. In fact, all nine men that he has defeated, never saw the final round. Curry is able to do this by utilizing a unique blend of technical grappling and stout ground-and-pound. The 27-year-old Minnesotan now faces a huge test as he gets set to headline his first televised event at LFA 20.
Barnes (11-2) makes his LFA debut roughly twelve months after competing for the RFA welterweight world title. The Wyoming native, who now calls San Diego, California home, has taken the time since that fight to strengthen his already formidable skill set. After coming up short in that title fight to a man who was then immediately signed to the UFC, the 26-year-old known as “The Phoenix” will look to live by the famous words of S.A. Sachs: “Hope rises like a Phoenix from the ashes of shattered dreams.” The Phoenix will look to rise again at LFA 20.
The co-main event of LFA 20 will feature a highly-anticipated match-up between two of the promotion’s top featherweightcontenders. Bobby “The Wolfman” Moffett (9-2) and “Nasty” Nate Jennerman (9-2) will face off in a high-stakes affair as the two contenders jockey for position at the top of the division. The pair of featherweight standouts share more than just identical records. They both have roots in the famed RFA promotion. Moffett who trains at The MMA LAB in Glendale, Arizona competed three times for the RFA. Meanwhile, Jennerman who trains at Roufusport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin finished his amateur career for the promotion.
The main card of LFA 20 will also feature the return of women’s MMA pioneer Kelly “Blood Red” Kobold. After a six and a half year hiatus from the sport, she will take on knockout artist Christine “Knuckles” Stanley.
Kobold (18-3-1) is one of the most respected women in the sport. She has enjoyed an illustrious professional MMA career that dates back fifteen years. A true pioneer in women’s MMA, the warrior known as “Blood Red” has been there moving behind the scenes, cutting a bloody path through the ages until suddenly, just like that, she up and disappeared in 2011. Now she is back at 125-pounds, ready to stake a claim at the top of the division.
Stanley (5-3) will be the woman waiting to welcome Kobold back to the sport she helped pioneer. The San Diego native has built a career around an explosive striking base that has earned her a reputation as one of the most feared knockout artists in the division. The RFA vet holds one of the fastest knockouts in combat sports. That knockout came in 5-seconds with a highlight reel Flying Spinning Hook Kick back in 2014. “Knuckles” has earned four of her five wins by way of KO or TKO and now looks to pick up the biggest win of her career at LFA 20.
Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):
Main Event | Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Chad Curry (9-1) vs. Nick Barnes (11-2)
Co-Main Event | Featherweight Bout (145 lb)
– Bobby Moffett (9-2) vs. Nate Jennerman (9-2)
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
– Travis Perzynski (21-9) vs. Carl Wittstock (9-1)
Women’s Flyweight Bout (125 lb)
– Kelly Kobold (18-3-1) vs. Christine Stanley (5-3)
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
– Bobby Lee (6-1) vs. Ashkan Morvari (13-6)
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
– Jeff Peterson (7-4) vs. Brandon Jenkins (10-4)
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
Mitch White (3-1) vs. Jesse Wannemacher (3-1)
In September 2016, RFA and Legacy FC officials announced that they would be merging to form the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) starting in January 2017. RFA and Legacy FC have launched the careers of over 100 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.
LFA 20 will be the third 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 Showroom. The entire main card of LFA 20 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.
Bellator, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

EXPLOSIVE WELTERWEIGHT BOUT PITTING PAUL DALEY AGAINST LORENZ LARKIN ADDED TO BELLATOR 183 ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 IN SAN JOSE

Leave a comment

 

LIGHTWEIGHT MATCHUP PITTING UNDEFEATED ADAM PICCOLOTTI AGAINST GOITI YAMAUCHI ALSO ADDED TO MAIN CARD

LOS ANGELES – An exciting welterweight contest between British slugger Paul Daley (39-15-2) and California’s Lorenz Larkin (18-6, 1 NC), as well as a compelling lightweight bout pitting Adam Piccolotti (9-0) against Goiti Yamauchi (21-3) have been added to Bellator 183: Henderson vs. Pitbull on Saturday, September 23 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

That evening, SAP Center in San Jose will also play host to Bellator Kickboxing 7, which features a welterweight world title main event with current champ Karim Ghajji (97-13-1) set to defend his title against Raymond Daniels (11-3).

Bellator 183: Henderson vs. Pitbull will be broadcast live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App. Bellator Kickboxing 7: Ghajji vs. Daniels will air on SPIKE immediately following Bellator 184: Dantas vs. Caldwell on October 6. Tickets for the event are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com.

A veteran of 56 professional fights, Paul “Semtex” Daley will look to once again showcase his explosive and dangerous power against Lorenz Larkin. With nine of his last 10 wins coming by way of knockout, including an emphatic flying knee KO against Brennan Ward at Bellator 170 in January, Daley will look to re-establish himself as a top contender in Bellator’s stacked welterweight division with a win on September 23.

 

Larkin enters the bout against Daley with an equally impressive arsenal of strikes and power. With 11 of 18 wins coming by way of knockout, the Riverside, Calif. native comes into the event following a must-see title bout against Douglas Lima at Bellator NYC in June, a fight that marked “The Monsoon’s” promotional debut. With marquee wins over Robbie Lawler, Santiago Ponzinibbio, Jorge Masvidal and Neil Magny to his name, Larkin will look to add Paul Daley to his long list of defeats on his way to reaffirming his status as the division’s top contender.

 

Fighting out of Half Moon Bay, Calif., Piccolotti will enter the cage for the first time in 2017 following his unanimous decision victory over Brandon Girtz last November at Bellator 165. The 28-year-old lightweight began his professional career on the regional MMA scene where he collected four consecutive victories, including a trio of finishes before joining forces with the Viacom-owned promotion. “AP” has continued his success with Bellator MMA, earning five straight wins over competitors in the stacked lightweight division, including three submission finishes.

 

Coming off a win against Valeriu Mircea at Bellator 168, the 24-year-old Yamauchi, who trains out of Anjo, Japan, will continue his run in the lightweight division after making the jump to 155-pounds in 2016. In his career, the Yamauchi has an incredible 17 submission victories among his 21 career victories and holds wins against Ryan Couture, Isao Kobayashi and Mike Richman.

Updated Bellator 183: Henderson vs. Pitbull Fight Card

Lightweight Main Event: Benson Henderson (24-7) vs. Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (17-8)

Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Roy Nelson (23-14) vs. Javy Ayala (10-5)

Welterweight Main Card Bout: Paul Daley (39-15-2) vs. Lorenz Larkin (18-6, 1 NC)

Lightweight Main Card Bout: Adam Piccolotti (9-0) vs. Goiti Yamauchi (21-3)

Lightweight Main Card Bout: Aaron Pico (0-1) vs. TBA

Updated Bellator Kickboxing 7: Ghajji vs. Daniels Fight Card

Welterweight Kickboxing World Title Main Event: Karim Ghajji (97-13-1) vs. Raymond Daniels (11-3)

 

****

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

Alexander Volkov: Mikhail Zayats is now hungry for battles, I’m looking forward to his triumphant victory.

Leave a comment
M-1 Challenge 82, Aug. 5, in Helsinki, Finland
(MMA heavyweight star Alexander Volkov recently spoke about the preparation of his teammate, Mikhail Zayats (22-8-0, M-1: 12-5-0), for his M-1 Challenge 82 main event fight vs. Marcus “Caveman” Vanttinen (24-6-0, M-1: 2-2-0), August 5,  in Helsinki, Finland.  This Q & A story appeared online at mixfight.ru.)

 (L-R) — World-class Russian MMA fighters Sergei Kharitonov, Mikhail Zayats and Alexander Volkov from a recent training session

You have been training on the same team for so many years. How would you describe Mikhail as an athlete?

Volkov: “He works very hard as a fighter, completes all workouts to the end, and is among the last to leave the gym.”
 
What did you learn from him during sparring and training sessions?
Volkov: “How to work to the utmost extent, both in training and in combat. When I watch Mikhail train, he inspires me to work harder and not to be lazy.. We always have small competitions while training and we push each other to work even harder.”
 
Which of you is more helpful to preparing for battle?
Volkov: “When Michael had no fights, he helped me a lot, of course. In my training camp, he was like a wrestling coach, helping me work on physical exercises as well. I would say that during these last few years, he was more involved in my training than I was in his. But, now he has an upcoming fight and I’m fully involved in his preparations. Moreover, his future opponent is 6 ft. 4 inches tall. So, I imitate his opponent’s style to help Misha prepare for the fight.”
 
What prediction do you have Mikhail Zayats’ upcoming fight?
Volkov: “I personally hope for the best. I expect him to end his fight with a bright victory, by knockout or submission. Although this won’t be an easy fight for him because his last fight was a while ago (Feb. 28, 2014,). I know from my own experience that even a one-year gap between two fights can make it very hard to show your best fighting qualities. Mikhail has a huge motivation now. He is very hungry for battles and victories too. So, I’m waiting for the triumphant victory of Mikhail Zaytz.”
.

INFORMATION:

www.M1Global.tv

Twitter & Instagram:
@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein
@M1Global
Facebook:
M-1 CHALLENGE EVENT CALENDAR:
M-1 Challenge 82: August 5, 2017 in Helsinki, Finland
mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA RETURNS TO MMA HOTBED IN SOUTH DAKOTA WITH LFA 19: MICHAUD vs.RODRIGUES

Leave a comment

 MAIN EVENT:
“BULLDAWG”
DAVID MICHAUD
vs.
“BAD BOY”
CIRO RODRIGUES
 
WELTERWEIGHT WAR
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18th LIVE on AXS TV
SANFORD PENTAGON in SIOUX FALLS, SD
 
Tickets are on sale NOW through Ticketmaster.com
HOUSTON, Texas – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will continue its tradition of MMA excellence in South Dakota at LFA 19. This is a rich and exciting history that began three years ago at RFA 17, which served as the state’s first sanctioned MMA event.
The main event of LFA 19 will feature a welterweight war between three-time UFC vet David “Bulldawg” Michaud and Brazilian powerhouse Ciro “Bad Boy” Rodrigues. LFA 19 – Michaud vs. Rodrigues takes place Friday, August 18th at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
“LFA 19 will add to an exciting MMA history in South Dakota that began three summers ago with the RFA,” stated Soares. “We brought the first sanctioned MMA event to the state at RFA 17, we hosted the first MMA world title fight in the state, and ten of the fighters that competed for us in South Dakota have gone on to fight in the UFC.”
Tickets for LFA 19 – Michaud vs. Rodrigues are available for purchase NOW at Ticketmaster.com. You can also support your favorite fighter by purchasing your tickets at CombatTickets.com.
Michaud (11-3) is one of the most beloved and successful fighters to hail from the state of South Dakota. Born and raised in Pine Ridge, South Dakota on the western side of the state, Michaud won a state title in wrestling for Pine Ridge High School during his senior season. He went on to wrestle at the NCAA Division I level for South Dakota State University (SDSU) before crossing over into MMA. The man known as “Bulldawg” has competed at the highest level of MMA as well. Michaud was a contestant on the sixteenth season of the UFC’s hit reality show The Ultimate Fighter (TUF 16) and fought three times for the UFC. Since leaving the UFC, Michaud has earned dominant wins for the RFA and LFA. The MMA LAB product now returns to his home state in the main event of LFA 19.
Rodrigues (20-7) has run roughshod over the MMA scene in Brazil for the past 11 years. The Brazilian known as “Bad Boy” made his professional MMA debut when he was only 17-years-old. He has since made an indelible mark on the fight scene in his home country. The Nova União trained fighter won one of Brazil’s most prestigious titles, when he captured the Jungle Fight world title in 2015. That win came during an impressive streak, which has seen Rodrigues win seven of his last eight fights over the past four years. Rodrigues is now looking to make his name known on a global scale when makes his highly-anticipated international debut on August 18th. That will happen when he faces his toughest and most accomplished opponent to date in the main event of LFA 19.
LFA 19 will continue a rich and fascinating history of MMA greatness in the state of South Dakota. This history began three summers ago at RFA 17. That event was the first sanctioned MMA event in the state’s history. RFA 17 hosted the first two world title fights in South Dakota history and also served as the first MMA event in the state that was televised worldwide. RFA 37 was the final RFA event in the state of South Dakota and it was featured on UFC President Dana White’s hit reality show Dana White: Lookin’ For A Fight. Five fighters from that event were signed to the UFC and another two signed with Bellator. That includes every fighter that won on the main card and another fighter that won on the undercard.
RFA visited South Dakota a total of four times and produced an incredible amount of talent at those four events. Ten fighters went on to compete for the UFC and five more would go on to fight for Bellator. Christos Giagos, Luke Sanders, Devin Clark, Geane Herrera, Khalil Rountree, Matthew Lopez, Terrion Ware, Jordan Johnson, Joe Gigliotti, and Brian Camozzi are the ten fighters that competed for the RFA in South Dakota before signing with the UFC. Justin Lawrence, Mark Dickman, Francisco France, Leandro Higo, and Logan Storley are the five fighters that competed for the RFA in South Dakota before signing with Bellator.
Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT):
Main Event | Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– David Michaud (11-3) vs. Ciro Rodrigues (20-7)
Feature Bout | Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Clarence Jordan (9-3-1) vs Marcus Edwards (12-5)
In September 2016, RFA and Legacy FC officials announced that they would be merging to form the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) starting in January 2017. RFA and Legacy FC have launched the careers of over 100 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.
LFA 19 will serve as the second LFA event to take place in the state of South Dakota. RFA visited “The Mount Rushmore State” four times before the merger. That includes RFA 17, which was the first sanctioned MMA event to take place in the state of South Dakota. Further information about LFA 19 will be announced soon. The entire main card of LFA 19 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.
M-1, M-1 Challenge, mixed martial arts, MMA, Russia

Undefeated Movsar Evloev New M-1 Challenge Bantamweight Champion

Leave a comment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Sergei Kharitonov defeats Geronimo Dos Santos
 
Joe Riggs wins M-1 Global debut
 
M-1 CHALLENGE 81 RESULTS

INGUSHETIA, Russia (July 23, 2017 – Undefeated Movsar Evloev is the new M-1 Challenge bantamweight champion after he defeated defending champion Pavel Vitrukin the M-1 Challenge 81: Battle in the Mountains 6 main event, last night in the Republic of Ingushetia.

The international MMA event – fighters represented 11 different countries — coincided with the 25th anniversary celebration of the Republic of Ingushetia.
(L-R) — M-1 Global promoter Vadim Finkelchtein &
new M-1 Challenge bantamweight champion Movsar Evloev.

Evloev (8-0-0, M-1: 8-0-0), who was the interim M-1 Challenge bantamweight champion, is a Russian fighter whose entire pro career has been in M-1 Global competition. Last night, he won a five-round decision over defending M-1 Challenge bantamweight titlist Vitruk (14-3-0, M-1: 8-3-0), the Ukrainian-born fighter who fights out of Russia.
Movsar Eloev (R) defeated Pavel Vitruk
In the co-featured event, Russian heavyweight star Sergei “The Paratrooper” Kharitonov (26-6-0, M-1: 5-0-0) continued his M-1 dominance, using an ankle lock to force Brazilian veteran Geronimo “Mondragon” Dos Santos (39-19-0, M-1: 0-1-0) into a submission.
Sergei Kharitonov (R) was too much for Geronimo Dos Santos

American middleweight Joe “Diesel” Riggs (44-17-0, M-1: 1-0-0), fighting out of Phoenix (AZ), won his M-1 debut in impressive fashion, using his ground-and-pound attack for powerful third-round knockout of Russian Samoilov (19-11-1, M-1: 10-6-0).

The M-1 debut of Canadian welterweight Spencer “Judge” Jebb (12-6-0, M-1: 0-1-0) wasn’t successful as Russian Ingishhan Ozdoev (5-3-0, M-1: 4-3-0) used a spinning wheel kick to KO Jebb midway through the opening round.

In the main card opening fight, Brazilian heavyweight Kleber “Orgulho” Raimundo Silva (14-7-0, M-1: 1-0-0) won a three-round decision over Konstantin “Lacplesis” Gluhuv (31-17-0, M-1: 2-6-0), of Latvia.

On the preliminary card, Russian welterweight Khamzat Sakalov (7-2-0, M-1: 6-0-0) took a decision from French welterweight Charles-Henri Tchoungui (9-6-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Kazakhstan bantamweight Arman Ashimov (9-2-1, M-1: 1-0-0) punched out previously undefeated Russian Gadzhimurad Aliev (6-1-0, M-1: 1-1-0) in the second round, and unbeaten Russian welterweight used knees and punches to stop SpaniardAlberto Vargas (4-3-0, M-1: 0-1-0) in the first round.

Georgian light heavyweight Giga Kukhalashvile (7-3-0, M-1: 1-0-0) knocked out previously unbeaten Nurbek Islailov (3-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0), of Kyrgyzstan, in the first round on punches, while Russian welterweight Movsar Bokov (2-1-0, 2-1-0) took out Ukrainian Igor Onoprienko (1-2-0, M-1: 0-1-0) with punches in the opening round.

Russian lightweight Alik Albogahiev (3-0-0, M-1: 3-0-0) and Georgian welterweightAmiran Gogoladze (4-1-0, M-1: 1-0-0) both used first-round, rear naked choke holds to defeat their respective opponents, Russian Filip Narizhny (6-3-0, M-1: 0-1-0) and Russian Ibrahim Sagov (1-1-0, M-1: 1-1-0).

Complete results below:

MAIN CARD
MAIN EVENT – M-1 CHALLENGE BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Movsar Evloev (8-0-0, M-1: 8-0-0), Russia
WDEC5
Pavel Vitruk (14-3-0, M-1: 8-3-0), Russia
(Evloev won M-1 Challenge bantamweight title)
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Sergei Kharitonov (26-6-0, M-1: 5-0-0), Russia
WSUB1 (2:13 – ankle lock)
Geronimo Dos Santos (39-19-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Brazil
MIDDLEWEIGHTS
Joe Riggs (44-17-0, M-1: 1-0-0), USA
WTKO3 (0:24 – punches)
Dmitry Samoilov (19-11-1, M-1: 10-6-0), Russia
WELTERWEIGHTS
Ingiskhan Ozdoev (5-3-0, M-1: 4-3-0), Russia
WKO1 (2:25 – spinning wheel kick)
Spencer Jebb (12-6-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Canada
HEAVYWEIGHTS
Kleber Raimundo Silva (14-7-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Brazil
WDEC3
Konstantin Gluhuv (31-17-0, M-1: 2-6-0), Latvia
PRELIMINARY CARD
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS
Giga Kukhalashvili (8-3-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Georgia
WTKO/KO1 (0:59 – punches)
Nurbek Islailov (3-1-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Kyrgyzstan
WELTERWEIGHTS
Khamzat Sakalov (6-3-0, M-1: 6-0-0), Russia
WDEC3
Charles-Henri Tchoungui (9-6-1, M-1: 0-1-0), France
Akhmadkhan Ozdoev (4-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0), Russia
WTKO1 (2:45 – knees & punches)
Alberto Vargas (4-3-0, M-1: 0-1-0), Spain
Movsar Bokov (2-1-0, M-1: 2-1-0), Russia
WTKO1 (3:43 – punches)
Igor Onoprienko (1-2-0, M-1: 0-1-0, Ukraine
Amiram Gogoladze (4-1-0, M-1: 1-0-0), Georgia
WSUB1 (0:53 – rear naked choke)
Ibrahim Sagov (1-1-0, M-1: 1-1-0), Russia
LIGHTWEIGHTS
Alik Albogahiev (2-0-0, M-1: 2-0-0), Russia
WSUB1 (1:36 – rear naked choke)
Filip Narizhni (6-3-0, M-1: 0-0-0), Russia
BANTAMWEIGHTS
Arman Ashimov (9-2-1, M-1: 1-0-0), Kazakhstan
WKO2 (1:08 – punch)
Gadzhimurad Aliev (6-1-0, M-1: 1-1-0), Russia
        
INFORMATION:

www.M1Global.tv

Twitter & Instagram:
@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein
@M1Global
Facebook:
M-1 CHALLENGE EVENT CALENDAR:
M-1 Challenge 82: August 5, 2017 in Helsinki, Finland
mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

RUMBLE IN BANGOR FIGHT CARD FILLED WITH MAINE FAN-FAVORITES

Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Bangor, Maine (July 21, 2017) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to the Cross Insurance Center on Saturday night, August 5, 2017 with the fight promotion’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 30: Rumble in Bangor.”  Earlier today, NEF announced the full fight card for the event.

In the main event of the evening, Bangor’s own CJ Ewer (2-0) will meet Mike Hansen (5-5) of Rumford, Maine in a five-round contest to crown a new NEF MMA Pro Middleweight Champion.  Ewer is a member of local gym Young’s MMA while Hansen represents Berserkers MMA based in the River Valley region of the state.  Ewer had a highlight-reel knockout over Ruben Redman (0-1) in his last bout at the Cross – exactly one year to the day he will meet Hansen.

The co-main event of the evening will see Ewer’s Young’s teammate, undefeated Bangor prospect Aaron Lacey (4-0) take on Bellator veteran Bryan Goldsby (17-16).  Goldsby will represent Lacey’s most-seasoned challenge to date.  Lacey has been nothing short of “Relentless” – his nickname – since turning pro.  He has submitted three of his four opponents in the first round.  Only John Santos (3-5) was able to survive three full rounds with Lacey last summer in Bangor.  Lacey won that fight via split decision in a rugged, back-and-forth, “fight of the night” performance.

Rounding out the pro card will be another Young’s cornerstone, “The” Ryan Sanders (14-8), who will meet Milwaukee, Wisconsin veteran Jay Ellis (14-68) in a welterweight contest.  Sanders is the reigning NEF MMA Pro Lightweight Champion, having defeated Jon Lemke (6-8) in a tournament final last April to claim the title.  The bout with Ellis will be a non-title affair.  Sanders is riding a four-fight win streak which began one year ago to the day at the Cross.

Headlining the amateur portion of the fight card will be an NEF MMA Amateur Bantamweight Title fight.  Fred Lear (5-2) of Bangor will do battle with Jefferson, Maine’s Walt Shea (2-0) for the vacant 135-pound championship.  Lear and Shea will continue a competitive rivalry that has developed in the amateur ranks in recent years between Lear’s camp Young’s MMA and Shea’s team of First Class MMA based in Brunswick, Maine.

Opening the night will be a women’s fight between Angela Young (2-2), wife of Young’s MMA founder and head coach Chris Young, and Florida’s Jessica “The Black Widow” Borga (5-2).  The scrap is expected to be an exciting one.  Young, a Registered Nurse at Eastern Maine Medical Center (EMMC), has put on several “fight of the night” performances that have sent audiences into a frenzy.  Borga will make her third trip to Maine in the past year to compete in the NEF cage.

The full “NEF 30” fight card (subject to change):

PROFESSIONAL MMA

185*TITLE C.J. Ewer 2-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Mike Hansen 5-5 (Berserkers MMA)

170 Ryan Sanders 14-8 (Young’s MMA) vs Jay Ellis 14-68 (Team Knockout)

145 Aaron Lacey 4-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Bryan Goldsby 17-16 (Jorge Gurgel)

 

AMATEUR MMA

135*TITLE Fred Lear 5-2 (Young’s MMA) vs Walt Shea 2-0 (First Class MMA)

265 Roger Ewer 0-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Dustin Freeman 0-0 (Independent)

185 Josh Jones 2-0 (First Class MMA) vs Carlton Charles 0-0 (Charles Family Fighting/Fire&Iron Athletics)

170 Anthony Lapointe 0-1 (Titan Athletics) vs Jesse Hutchinson 0-0 (CMBJJ)

160 Zachary Faulkner 0-0 (Titan Athletics) vs David Hart 0-0 (Kenney’s MMA)

145 Robbie Kiah 1-0 (Young’s MMA) vs Robert H. Norris III (Independent)

135 Nate Boucher 1-0 (CMBJJ) vs Jeremiah Barkac 0-0 (Independent)

135 Angela Young 2-2 (Young’s MMA) vs Jessica Borga 5-3 (Champions MMA)

“NEF 30: Rumble in Bangor” will be held at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine on Saturday, August 5, 2017. Tickets are on sale now atwww.CrossInsuranceCenter.com.

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.