Category Archives: MMA

mixed martial arts, MMA

LFA RETURNS TO OKLAHOMA WITH ANOTHER WORLD TITLE

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LFA BRINGS 
FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT
 TO THE “SOONER STATE” IN AUGUST
LFA 18 – AGUILAR vs. RADER

MAIN EVENT:
LFA FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION
KEVIN “ANGEL OF DEATH” AGUILAR
vs.
LFA #1 CONTENDER
JUSTIN “DARTH” RADER
FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE
CO-MAIN EVENT:
BRENDAN ALLEN
vs.
CHRIS HARRIS
MIDDLEWEIGHT SHOWDOWN
SPECIAL ATTRACTION:
UFC VET
MIKE “THE TRUTH” JACKSON
vs.
Cris Cyborg’s older brother
RAFAEL “JACKAL” JUSTINO
WELTERWEIGHT WAR
FRIDAY, AUGUST 4th LIVE on AXS TV
FIRELAKE ARENA in SHAWNEE, OKLAHOMA
Tickets are on sale NOW through StubWire.com
HOUSTON, Texas – Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) CEO Ed Soares announced today that the promotion will be bringining a featherweight world title fight to Oklahoma to kick off a busy August schedule.
The main event of LFA 18 will feature the return of LFA featherweight champion Kevin “The Angel of Death” Aguilar. He will put his title on the line against LFA featherweight #1 contender Justin “Darth” Rader in one of the most highly-anticipated featherweight title fights of the year. LFA 18 – Aguilar vs. Rader takes place Friday, August 4th at the FireLake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
“LFA is bringing a featherweight world title fight to Oklahoma at LFA 18,” stated Soares. “Kevin Aguilar is the LFA featherweight world champion and one of the most exciting prospects in the sport. He won the title with one of the best knockouts of the year at LFA 4. Aguilar will defend his title for the first time against Justin Rader, who is a world-class grappler and the #1 contender. Rader earned his shot at the title with his big win at LFA 15.”
Tickets for LFA 18 – Aguilar vs. Rader are available for purchase NOW at StubWire.com.
Aguilar (12-1) has long been considered one of the top pound-for-pound prospects in MMA. In February, the final Legacy FC featherweight champion strengthened that argument by capturing the inaugural LFA featherweight title against his longtime rival Damon Jackson with one of the most talked about knockout victories of the year. The proud Texan trains alongside LFA welterweight champion Derrick Krantz in Longview, Texas, but will have his first title defense on the road. Aguilar will put his title on the line when he heads into enemy territory to face one of the most revered fighters in the state of Oklahoma.
“I’ve been training nonstop and getting ready for defend my title. Now I get to show everyone what I’ve been working on,” Aguilar explained. “I’m looking forward to fighting in enemy territory, because that is the life of a champion. I will win over the crowd with an exciting fight. Justin Rader is a world-class grappler and I’m excited that he signed the paperwork. He has earned his shot. I have been training harder than I have ever trained before and I can’t wait to defend my title at LFA 18.”
Rader (7-2) is one of the most decorated grapplers to hail from a state that is synonymous with grappling. The proud Oklahoman is a two-time IBJJF no-gi jiu-jitsu world champion as a black belt, he is a 2013 ADCC Submission Grappling World Championship bronze medalist, and he was the runner-up in the Oklahoma high school wrestling championship in 2005. Rader also holds the distinct honor of being Rafael Lovato Jr.’s first black belt in jiu-jitsu. Rader will now look to add the biggest piece of hardware to his massive trophy case when he vies for the LFA featherweight title.
“I’m fighting The Angel of Death. His nickname says it all,” Rader exclaimed. “Kevin Aguilar is without a doubt, the best fighter I have ever faced. He is extremely dangerous, seasoned, and his fight demeanor is second to none. He stays at home and doesn’t force anything. The best opponents always pull the best out of me.  I just fought a little over a week ago, so to be able to turn around and fight for the title four weeks later is a great opportunity. When opportunity knocks, I answer.”
The co-main event of LFA 18 will feature a high-stakes middleweight showdown between two of the most popular middleweight prospects in the promotion. Brendan Allen (7-2) returns to the LFA Octagon after engaging in a five-round war with Eryk Anders for the inaugural LFA middleweight title in the main event of LFA 14. He came up short on the judge’s score cards, but won over a large new fan base due to the entertaining title contest that is a front-runner for “Fight of the Year”. Allen now looks to bounce back into title contention when he faces Chris Harris (9-1) in the co-main event of LFA 18. Harris is coming off a dominant win over Cortez Coleman in the co-main event of LFA 15 last month. He utilized his impressive striking skills throughout the contest and is eager to do the same next month in the co-main event of LFA 18.
LFA 18 will also feature a special attraction at welterweight. Rafael “Jackal” Justino (2-1) will make his LFA debut just six days after his younger sister Cris “Cyborg” Justino fights for the UFC women’s featherweight tile at UFC 214. He will meet UFC vet and wildly popular media personality Mike “The Truth” Jackson (0-1) who holds the impressive distinction of being one of only a handful of fighters to make their professional MMA debut in the UFC.
 
Currently Announced Main Card (Televised on AXS TV at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT)
Main Event | Featherweight Title Bout (145 lb)
– Kevin Aguilar (12-1) vs. Justin Rader (7-2)
Co-Main Event | Middleweight Bout (185 lb)
– Brendan Allen (7-2) vs. Chris Harris (9-1)
Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Braden Smith (8-1) vs. Chancey Foxworth (6-4)
Welterweight Bout (170 lb)
– Rafael Justino (2-1) vs. Mike Jackson (0-1)
Bantamweight Bout (135 lb)
– Tyler Shinn (8-3) vs. Chris Kelades (9-3)
Lightweight Bout (155 lb)
– Daryl Wilson (6-1) vs. Jarrod Card (16-8-1)
In September, Legacy FC and RFA officials announced that they would be merging to form the premier developmental organization in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) starting in January 2017. Legacy FC and RFA have launched the careers of over 100 athletes that have reached the pinnacle of MMA by competing in the UFC.
LFA 18 will serve as the third LFA event to take place in the state of Oklahoma after the merger. Legacy FC visited “The Sooner State” seven times before the merger. Further information about LFA 18 will be announced soon. The entire main card of LFA 18 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

M-1 Challenge: Markus “Caveman” Vanttinen Promo Video

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia (July 18, 2017) – Finnish MMA star Markus “Caveman” Vanttinen will headline the first M-1 Global show held in Finlandin nine years, August 5, at M-1 Challenge 82, at Hatwall Arena in Helsinki. .
M-1 Challenge 82 will be streamed live from Helsinki, Finland, 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.
Vanttinen (24-6-0, M-1: 2-2-0), will take on  Russian light heavyweight prospect Mikhail Ragozin (8-2-0, M-1: 1-0-0).  in the M-1 Challenge 82 main event.
INFORMATION:

www.M1Global.tv

Twitter & Instagram:
@M1GlobalNews
@VFinkelchtein
@M1Global
Facebook:
 
M-1 CHALLENGE EVENT CALENDAR:
 
M-1 Challenge 81: July 22, 2017 in Ingushetia, Russia
M-1 Challenge 82: August 5, 2017 in Helsinki, Finland
M-1 Challenge 82, August 5, in Helsinki
Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

GEGARD MOUSASI TO DEBUT AT BELLATOR 185 AGAINST ALEXANDER SHLEMENKO ON OCTOBER 20

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‘KING MO’ MEETS LIAM MCGEARY IN LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CO-MAIN EVENT AT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA

LOS ANGELES – On the heels of his recent Bellator signing, Gegard Mousasi (42-6-2) will make his promotional debut against former champ Alexander Shlemenko (56-9, 1 NC) on Friday, October 20 at Bellator 185: Mousasi vs. Shlemenko, an event that takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

In addition, the co-main event of Bellator 185: Mousasi vs. Shlemenko will feature a light heavyweight contest pitting “King Mo” Lawal (21-6, 1 NC) against former titleholder Liam McGeary (12-2). Additional main and preliminary card bouts will be announcing in the coming weeks.

The event 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. Tickets for this massive event start at $30, with an exclusive Bellator Nation Presale offer on Wednesday, July 19 at 10 a.m. ET through Thursday, July at 10 p.m. ET. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, July 21 at 10 a.m. ET and are available at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster and Bellator.com.

Long-considered to be one of the elite two-division threats in MMA, Mousasi is set for his Bellator debut and is currently riding a five-fight win streak that includes recent knockout victories over two former world champions in Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort. Prior to his UFC tenure, Mousasi captured the STRIKEFORCE light heavyweight title, as well as the DREAM light heavyweight and middleweight titles in Japan. “The Dreamcatcher,” who currently trains out of The Netherlands, has earned victories over some of the sports’ biggest names, including Dan Henderson, “Jacare” Souza, Mark Hunt, Ovince Saint-Preux, Melvin Manhoef, Hector Lombard and “Babalu” Sobral.

 

Shlemenko, a former middleweight champion, has competed under the Viacom-owned promotion’s umbrella since Bellator 16 in 2010. Known for his vicious finishing ability, “Storm” ruled with an iron fist over Bellator’s 185-pound division, defending his belt on three occasions. One of the most dominant champions in Bellator history and currently riding a five-fight win streak, which includes a TKO victory over Kendall Grove at Bellator 162, Shlemenko has his sights set on earning a shot at once again becoming world champion.

 

It was only a matter of time before “King Mo” Lawal and Liam McGeary squared off inside the Bellator cage. On the heels of a unanimous decision victory over “Rampage” Jackson at Bellator 175, the king of Bellator’s “money-weight” division returns to meet Britain’s McGeary. Never one to shy away from a fight, the former STRIKEFORCE champion, has stepped inside the Bellator cage on 14 separate occasions and was also victorious during RIZIN’s first open-weight tournament in 2015.

 

Widely regarded as one of the top light heavyweights in the world, McGeary will enter his bout with Lawal looking to once again stake his claim on the division he once sat atop of. A member of Team Renzo Gracie in New York, McGeary brings his renowned jiu-jitsu skills to the table against an opponent who has yet to be submitted in 27-fights as a professional. Of the 34-year-old’s 12 wins, 11 have come before reaching the judges’ scorecards, a feat McGeary hopes to continue in the co-main event of Bellator 185: Mousasi vs. Shlemenko.

 

Updated Bellator 185: Mousasi vs. Shlemenko Fight Card:

Middleweight Main Event: Gegard Mousasi (42-6-2) vs. Alexander Shlemenko (56-9, 1 NC)

Light Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (21-6, 1 NC) vs. Liam McGeary (12-2)

 

****

 

About Bellator:

Bellator is a leading mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 1 billion people worldwide in over 160 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on SPIKE, the combat sports television leader. Bellator is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

 

About Spike:

Spike  is available in 98.7 million  homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  Spike’s internet address is  www.spike.com  and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter  @spiketvpr  for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

OFFICIAL BELLATOR 181: CAMPOS VS. GIRTZ 3 RESULTS & PHOTOS

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Derek Campos (18-6) defeated Brandon Girtz (14-6) via TKO (doctor stoppage) at 5:00 of round two

Photos Here

John Salter (14-3) defeated Kendall Grove (23-17) via technical submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:37 of round one

Photos Here

Emily Ducote (6-2) defeated Jessica Middleton (2-2) via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Photos Here

Joe Warren (15-6) defeated Steve Garcia (7-2) via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Photos Here

Preliminary Card Results:

Jonathan Gary (13-8-2) defeated Will Florentino (5-5)via unanimous decision (29-27 x3)

Romero Cotton (1-0) defeated Aaron Rodriguez (0-1) via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28)

Logan Storley (6-0) defeated Kemmyelle Haley (7-5) via TKO (elbows) at 1:44 of round one

Andre Fialho (19-1) defeated A.J. Matthews (8-7) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Amanda Bell (5-4) defeated Brittney Elkin (3-4) via TKO (punches) 4:56 of round two

E.J. Brooks (11-5) defeated Guilherme Bomba (9-4) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Rafael Lovato Jr. (6-0) defeated Mike Rhodes (10-5) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:59 of round one

Justin Lawrence (10-4) defeated Treston Thomison (10-6) via TKO (doctor stoppage) 3:34 of round one

Valentin Moldavsky (6-1) defeated Carl Seumanutafa (10-8) via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)

Katy Collins (7-2) defeated Bruna Vargas (2-2) via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

Jordan Howard (10-3) defeated Johnny Marigo (4-1) via KO (punches) 1:26 of round one

Guillermo Gomez (0-0) vs. Fernando Trevino (1-0) – Scratched

Preliminary Card Photos Here

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT BETWEEN EDUARDO DANTAS AND DARRION CALDWELL TO HEADLINE BELLATOR 184 ON OCTOBER 6 AT WINSTAR WORLD CASINO AND RESORT

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PLUS, FORMER BELLATOR FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION DANIEL STRAUS MEETS EMMANUEL SANCHEZ IN CO-MAIN EVENT

LOS ANGELES – Bellator returns to WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Okla. for the third time in 2017 on Friday, October 6 for Bellator 184: Dantas vs. Caldwell.

The main event of Bellator 184 will feature Bellator’s two-time bantamweight champion Eduardo Dantas (20-4) defending his belt against Darrion “The Wolf” Caldwell (10-1). In addition, the co-feature pits former featherweight titleholder Daniel Straus (24-7, 1 NC) competing against Emmanuel “El Matador” Sanchez (15-3). The event 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. Tickets for Bellator 184: Dantas vs. Caldwell are on sale now and can be purchased at the WinStar World Casino and Resort box office, as well as Ticketmaster and Bellator.com. Additional main and preliminary card bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

Originally, Dantas and Caldwell were scheduled to compete for the title at Bellator 177; however, when Caldwell was forced to withdraw due to injury, “Dudu” went on to defeat Leandro Higo, besting his opponent on short notice. Hailing from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, the flashy 27-year-old is widely known as one of the most dynamic competitors in the division, recording victories in 13 of his last 15 bouts. Currently in the midst of his second stint as Bellator’s bantamweight world champion, Dantas will look to stop Caldwell’s meteoric rise to the top of the 135-pound division.

Coming off a victory over Joe Taimanglo at Bellator 167, the 29-year-old Caldwell will be competing for promotional gold for the first time in his career on October 6. “The Wolf” was able to avenge his earlier loss to Taimanglo, earning his 10th career victory. Caldwell has collected five wins by way of first-round knockout or submission, making him one of the most dangerous competitors at 135-pounds. Hailing from Rahway, N.J. and training alongside Bellator stars Phil Davis and Justin Lawrence at Alliance MMA in San Diego, Calif., Caldwell has quickly put together an impressive professional resume inside the cage, highlighted by a remarkable first-round finish over former multi-division champion Joe Warren.

One half of some of the greatest fights to ever take place inside the Bellator cage, Daniel Straus returns to action following his featherweight title bout against Patricio “Pitbull” at Bellator 178 this past April. A longtime member of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla., the 32-year-old will be competing for the second time in 2017. The two-time champion returns to action with redemption on his mind, as he looks to climb back up the 145-pound ranks and earn a shot for the title that he still considers to be his.

Since debuting with Bellator MMA in 2014, the 26-year-old Sanchez has gone about his business by taking on the top competitors that Bellator’s featherweight division has to offer, fighting Pat Curran, Georgi Karakhanyan, Justin Lawrence and Marcos Galvao en route to his meeting with Straus at Bellator 184. Proclaiming that he hopes to eventually become the “Oscar De La Hoya of MMA,” Sanchez is well on his way, earning six victories since 2015. Training at Roufusport in Milwaukee, Wis., “El Matador” trains alongside some of the world’s elite fighters, making his matchup with Straus that much more intriguing.

 

Updated Bellator 184: Dantas vs. Caldwell Fight Card:

Bantamweight World Title Main Event: Eduardo Dantas (20-4) vs. Darrion Caldwell (10-1)

Featherweight Co-Main Event: Daniel Straus (24-7, 1 NC) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (15-3)

 

****

 

About Bellator:

Bellator is a leading mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 1 billion people worldwide in over 160 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on SPIKE, the combat sports television leader. Bellator is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About Spike:

Spike  is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike’s Internet address is  www.spike.com  and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at  http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter  @spiketvpr  for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

Bellator, boxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Rich Bergeron, Tom Padgett, Tony Penecale, UFC

FNU Combat Sports Show: July 13, 2017

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Mayweather and McGregor lead off tonight’s show as Tony and Rich tease Psychic Tom about not wanting to watch the August 26th “superfight.” We also recap the TUF 25 Finale and UFC 213 cards. We preview the Bellator and UFC cards coming up this weekend and all the incredible boxing action from the UK to New York.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

DEREK CAMPOS-BRANDON GIRTZ MEET FOR TRILOGY REMATCH DURING MAIN EVENT OF BELLATOR 181TOMORROW NIGHT

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Complete Weigh-In Photos Here

THACKERVILLE, OKLA. — The official weigh-ins for Bellator 181: Campos vs. Girtz 3 took place this evening at the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, OKLA. The competitors are now ready for action tomorrow, with the event airing LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

Main Card: (Live on SPIKE – 9 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT)

Catchweight Main Event: Derek Campos (155.4) vs. Brandon Girtz (157.7)

 

Welterweight Co-Main Event: Kendall Grove (185.7) vs. John Salter (185)

 

Women’s Flyweight Feature Bout: Emily Ducote (124.4) vs. Jessica Middleton (125.9)

 

Bantamweight Feature Bout: Joe Warren (135.9) vs. Steve Garcia (134.5)

Preliminary Card: (Bellator.com – 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Will Florentino (170.9) vs. Jonathan Gary (169.1)

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Aaron Rodriguez (184.8) vs. Romero Cotton (185.1)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Kemmyelle Haley (170.1) vs. Logan Storley (170.3)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Andre Fialho (169.9) vs. A.J. Matthews (169.9)

Women’s Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Brittney Elkin (146) vs. Amanda Bell (144.2)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: E.J. Brooks (170.9) vs. Guilherme Bomba (169.2)

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Mike Rhodes (185.2) vs. Rafael Lovato Jr. (185.6)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Treston Thomison (145.9) vs. Justin Lawrence (145.6)

Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Valentin Moldavsky (234.8) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (263.6)

Women’s Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Katy Collins (124.2) vs. Bruna Vargas (125)

Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Jordan Howard (135) vs. Johnny Marigo (135.1)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Guillermo Gomez (169.4) vs. Fernando Trevino (170.5)

Combate Americas, mixed martial arts, MMA

Retired Women’s MMA Star Named Combate Americas Fight Director

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Retired, former Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) world champion Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc has been appointed Combate Americas Fight Director.  Photo credit: Fred Siegel/Combate Americas, LLC

COMBATE AMERICAS NAMES
NICDALI RIVERA-CALANOC
FIGHT DIRECTOR

Former MMA world champion becomes the first Mexican American woman In history to lead matchmaking efforts for a combat sports franchise

NEW YORK – July 13, 2017 – Combate Americas has named retired, former women’s Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) world champion Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc, a Fight Director for the Hispanic sports and media franchise.

The appointment makes Rivera-Calanoc the first Mexican American woman in history to be charged with leading recruitment and matchmaking efforts for a combat sports organization.

Based in Las Vegas, Nev., Rivera-Calanoc, a training partner of former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) world champion Miesha Tate, will be responsible for managing the rapidly expanding field of women athletes that compete for the Combate Americas live television event series, both in the U.S., and internationally in Latin America.

She will also participate in the recruiting and matchmaking processes for the Combate Americas men’s division.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc to our fast-growing and robust team of executives,” said Combate Americas CEO and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) co-founder Campbell McLaren.

“Throughout her involvement in the sport,” continued McLaren, “Nicdali has been the consummate professional both in and out of competition, and we are confident that her vast experience as a professional athlete, will be a conduit to success working with the new generation of the sport that Combate Americas is investing in.”

Rivera-Calanoc has made history with Combate Americas twice before, competing in both the franchise’s first-ever, live televised U.S. event in Las Vegas in 2015, as well as its first live televised event in Mexico last January with Tate in her corner.

A 10-year veteran of professional MMA competition, Rivera-Calanoc was ranked amongst the top 10 fighters in the world in three different weight classes – flyweight (125 pounds), strawweight (115 pounds) and atomweight (105 pounds) – at three different points in her career.

On August 23, 2008, Rivera-Calanoc was crowned a world champion after defeating Shawn Tamaribuchi by way of unanimous decision in a flyweight contest in Shawnee, Okla.

Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Rivera-Calanoc immigrated to the U.S. at age 5 with her family, and was raised in Tulsa, Okla.  She returned to her roots in Chihuahua annually until her latter teenage years.
Amateur MMA, Combate Americas, mixed martial arts, MMA

COMBATE AMERICAS ADDS FIVE NEW BOUTS TO STACKED “COMBATE CLÁSICO” LINE UP IN MIAMI ON THURSDAY, JULY 27

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Combate Americas superstar Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios (right) returns to action at “Combate Clascio” at Mana Wynwood in Miami on July 27.  Palacios will face his biggest test to date in Nate Diaz protege Chris Avila. Photo credit: Scott Hirano/Combate Americas LLC

COMBATE AMERICAS ADDS FIVE NEW BOUTS TO STACKED “COMBATE CLÁSICO” LINE UP IN MIAMI ON THURSDAY, JULY 27

Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios returns for a featherweight showdown
opposite Chris Avila

Plus:
Bantamweight: Marcelo “Pitbull” Rojo vs. Billy Molina
Featherweight: Alberto Montes vs. Jonathan Quiroz
Bantamweight: Irvin “The Beast” Rivera vs. Chino Duran
Bantamweight: Joey “El Cazador” Ruquet vs. Vinney “The Instigator” Pantaleon

NEW YORK – July 11, 2017 – Combate Americas and Relevent Sports, a division of RSE Ventures, today announced five new marquee bouts to its upcoming “Combate Clásico” professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event in Miami, Fla., on Thursday, July 27.

Making his return to the Combate Americas cage La Jaula is top-ranked bantamweight (135 pounds) star Ricky “El Gallero” Palacios (8-1), who will move up to the featherweight (145 pounds) division for the second time in his Combate Americas career to face his toughest test to date – two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran and Nate Diaz protégé, Chris Avila (5-4) of Stockton, Calif.

“This is shaping up to be our most stellar fight card, from top to bottom, to date. With the matchup between Ricky Palacios and Chris Avila, we are destined for another memorable night of electrifying action in La Jaula,” Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren said.

Fresh off his triumphant victory over another former UFC star Roman “El Gallito” Salazar at Combate 13 on April 20, the hard-hitting 30-year-old Palacios of Mission, Texas, also an unbeaten professional boxer, looks to extend his five-fight winning streak.

The 24-year-old Avila of the famed Cesar Gracie Fight Team makes his debut in La Jaula following a pair of hard-fought decisions under the UFC.

In bantamweight action, the red-hot Marcelo “Pitbull” Rojo (11-4) aims for his fourth consecutive win and second straight inside La Jaula following his blistering, technical knockout win over Ivan Hernandez “Brasil” Flores at Combate 12 last March in Tijuana, Mexico.

The 29-year-old Argentinian will be paired off against Puerto Rican sensation Billy Molina (5-3), 30, making his Combate Americas debut after last month’s return to action in Bayamon.

Joining the featherweight (145 pounds) division for “Combate Clásico” is undefeated Venezuelan finisher Alberto Montes (3-0). Fighting out of the MMA Masters gym in Miami, the 23-year-old prospect locks horns with 30-year-old Combate Americas veteran Jonathan Quiroz (2-2) of Long Beach, Calif.

Grizzled veteran Irvin “The Beast” Rivera (5-3), best known for his thrilling, back-and-forth wars with Jose “Ghost” Ceja, looks to get back to his winning ways at the expense of prolific bantamweight wrestler Chino Duran (8-9), who makes his return to Combate Americas after a torrid run on the Florida MMA circuit.

Rounding out the newest additions to “Combate Clásico” is 24-year-old Joey “El Cazador” Ruquet (4-1), coming off consecutive wins in La Jaula and ready to make a run at the top of the bantamweight division by tangling with Florida’s own Vinney “The Instigator” Pantaleon (1-1).

Tickets for “Combate Clásico” are on sale online at Ticketon.com. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming days.

The “Combate Clásico” live MMA event will join a nearly week-long extravaganza that begins with a match between marquee soccer clubs Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain at Hard Rock Stadium on July 26 as well as concerts, parties and other interactive events prior to El Clásico Miami on July 29.

For more information on El Clásico Miami fans can visit elclasicomiami.com and internationalchampionscup.com.

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Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

BELLATOR MMA SIGNS TOP-RANKED MIDDLEWEIGHT GEGARD MOUSASI TO EXCLUSIVE MULTI-FIGHT CONTRACT

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PROMOTIONAL DEBUT TO BE ANNOUNCED IN COMING DAYS

LOS ANGELES — Bellator MMA is proud to announce the signing of perennial top contender Gegard Mousasi to an exclusive, multi-fight contract.

 

Long-considered to be one of the elite two-division threats in MMA, Mousasi joins Bellator currently riding a five-fight win streak that includes recent knockout victories over two former world champions in Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort. Prior to his UFC tenure, Mousasi captured the STRIKEFORCE light heavyweight title, as well as the DREAM light heavyweight and middleweight titles in Japan. The signing sees Mousasi rejoin Bellator President Scott Coker following his successful run with STRIKEFORCE from 2009-2013.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Gegard to the growing Bellator family,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “He’s one of the most well-rounded fighters in all of MMA and can compete in multiple divisions, so that really opens up some exciting matchmaking opportunities for us and for the fans. We’re looking forward to having him compete on Spike very soon.”

“I am looking forward to fighting in Bellator,” added Mousasi. “I have a long-standing relationship with Scott Coker that goes back many years. Be ready, I am coming after the Bellator middleweight championship.”

The Iranian-born Mousasi, who currently trains out of The Netherlands, has amassed an overall career record of 42-6-2 and has earned victories over some of the sports’ biggest names, including Dan Henderson, “Jacare” Souza, Mark Hunt, Ovince Saint-Preux, Melvin Manhoef, Hector Lombard and “Babalu” Sobral. The addition of Mousasi adds depth to an ever-growing Bellator roster, which has recently seen free agents Rory MacDonald, Lorenz Larkin, Michael McDonald and current Bellator light heavyweight champ Ryan Bader join the Viacom-owned promotion.