Category Archives: Spike TV

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Spike TV

Undefeated Bantamweight Emmanuel Rodriguez Takes On Mexico’s Alberto Guevara in Co-Main Event of  Premier Boxing Champions on Spike Friday, June 3 From Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida

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Plus! Top Rising Prospects Gervonta Davis & Caleb Plant in Separate Bouts as Part of Action Packed Undercard
 
HOLLYWOOD, FL. (June 1, 2016) – Undefeated bantamweight Emmanuel Rodriguez (14-0, 10 KOs) will battle experienced Mexican Alberto “Metro” Guevara(24-2, 9 KOs) in the 10-round co-main event of Premier Boxing Champions on Spike Friday, June 3 from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida with televised coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
An exciting undercard of action will feature rising undefeated knockout artist Gervonta “The One” Davis (15-0, 14 KOs) in a 10-round lightweight showdown with Mexico’s Mario Macias (28-18, 14 KOs) and unbeaten prospect Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant(12-0, 9 KOs) against Columbia’s Carlos Galvan (12-4-1, 11 KOs) in a middleweight bout.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Kings Promotions, Mayweather Promotions, and Panther Promotions, are priced at $130, $80, $60, and $35 (additional fees may apply) and are on sale now. All seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.myhrl.com,www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the first fight set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Additional undercard action features Homestead, Florida’s Courtney Jackson in a four-round super lightweight contest against Anthony Woods of the Bahamas, Miami’s Steven Geffrard taking on veteran Samuel Miller in a six-round light heavyweight battle and veteran Dyah Davis against Leosvy Mayedo in a six-round super middleweight contest.
Rounding out the night of fights is Vero Beach, Florida’s Dat Nguyen in a six-round featherweight bout against Jesus Lule, super featherweight prospect Antonio Williams in a four-round contest against Puerto Rico’s Hector Fernandez and Las Vegas prospect LaTondria Jones (3-0, 2 KOs) in a four-round middleweight bout against Latoya Burton.
At just 23-years-old, Rodriguez has been on a fast track towards a world title fight since turning pro in 2012. He made his U.S. debut in November by stopping Eliecer Aquino after previously taking down Gabor Molnar, Luis Hinojosa and Alex Rangel in 2015. The Manati, Puerto Rico-born fighter will bring his exciting style into the ring against another tough opponent on June 3. He will be opposed by the 25-year-old Mexican Guevara. The Sinaloa-native has challenged for world titles against Leo Santa Cruz and Shinsuke Yamanaka and has won six fights in a row entering June 3.
A highly-regarded prospect who won the 2012 National Gloves championship, the 21-year-old Davis recorded five victories inside of the distance in 2015. The Baltimore-native stopped former world champion Cristobal Cruz during that streak and most recently recorded a TKO victory over Guillermo Avila in April. He takes on the veteran Macias out of Distrito Federal, Mexico.
A 2011 National Golden Gloves champion, Plant has begun to make his name in the professional ranks since turning pro in 2014. Last year, the 23-year-old picked up six victories including hard fought triumphs over Jamar Freeman in September and Tyrone Brunson in October. Fighting out of Nashville, he kicked off his 2016 campaign by stopping Adasat Rodriguez in January and will return to battle the Colombian Galvan who most recently knocked out William Moreno Anaya in April.
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Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

DARRION CALDWELL LOOKS TO SOLIDIFY HIMSELF AS NO. 1 CONTENDER AGAINST JOE TAIMANGLO DURING MAIN EVENT OF ‘BELLATOR 159: CALDWELL VS. TAIMANGLO’ – FRIDAY, JULY 22 – LIVE AND FREE ON SPIKE

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HOMETOWN HERO DAVE RICKELS SET FOR ACTION AGAINST MELVIN GUILLARD IN CO-HEADLINER

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 1, 2016) – Bellator MMA returns to Kansas with a pivotal matchup between undefeated phenom, Darrion “The Wolf” Caldwell (9-0) and Joe Taimanglo (22-6-1) to determine the No. 1 contender for the Bantamweight Title in the main event of “Bellator 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo” on July 22 inside Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kansas.

In the co-main event of the evening, local hometown hero Dave “Caveman” Rickels (17-4) will meet Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard (32-16-2) in a lightweight matchup that will surely provide fireworks. Additional contests will be announced shortly.

“Bellator 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo” airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

Tickets for the event start at just $27 and go on sale Saturday, June 4, and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, KansasStarEventCenter.com. Doors for the event open at 5:30 p.m. CT local time and the first preliminary bout will commence one hour later.

At 28 years old, “The Wolf” may very well be the brightest young star in Bellator MMA’s deep bantamweight division. The New Jersey native has begun his career with nine consecutive victories, including five blistering first round finishes. Caldwell will be tasked with the headlining role for the second consecutive time after an impressive first outing at “Bellator 151: Warren vs. Caldwell” in which he had his way with former two-division Bellator champion Joe Warren, winning via rear-naked choke submission. The former NC State standout wrestled to a National Championship and two All-American accolades before joining the Bellator MMA fray in 2014. The undefeated Caldwell is reinvigorated after recently re-signing a seven-fight contract with the Scott Coker-led promotion. For a closer look at Caldwell’s most recent technical submission victory over Joe Warren in the main event of“Bellator 151,” click here.

A native of Yona, Guam, Taimanglo has emerged as one of the most prolific bantamweight fighters in MMA. Having gone 13-2 over his last 15 bouts dating back to 2009, it’s difficult to find a fighter more consistent than “The Juggernaut.” Since signing with Bellator in 2013, Taimanglo has accumulated a 5-2 record including a current string of three consecutive victories. Standing at 5’4,” Taimanglo will once again be squaring off against a much taller opponent in the 5’10’’ Caldwell. Click here to see exclusive footage of Taimanglo’s unanimous decision win over Sirwan Kakai at “Bellator 151.”

As is usually the case when Bellator rolls through Kansas, Rickels will be the center of attention when he fights Guillard on July 22. “The Caveman” delivered the proverbial “Fight of the Night” back in February with a first-round knockout of Bobby Cooper during the co-main event of “Bellator 150: Kongo vs. Spartan.” A native of Derby, Kansas, Rickels will be making his 17th appearance under the Bellator MMA banner, a promotion with which he has accrued 11 victories over the course of a six-year period. The 27-year-old recently re-signed with the Scott Coker-led promotion, ensuring his exciting fighting style will be seen exclusively in the Bellator cage for years to come.

With 52 career fights under his belt, 33-year-old Melvin Guillard will have a lot to prove when he takes on “The Caveman.” Guillard seems to have made a full recovery from his brutally broken hand that occurred during his Bellator MMA debut last year. Throughout his MMA tenure, “The Young Assassin” has displayed a knack for ending fights early, with 23 of his 32 professional victories coming before reaching the judges’ scorecards. On July 22 the New Orleans native will have an opportunity to take down another experienced lightweight in Rickels and reassert himself as a top 155-pounder.

Updated “Bellator 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo” Card:

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Main Event: Darrion Caldwell (9-0) vs. Joe Taimanglo (22-6-1)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Co-Main Event: Dave Rickels (17-4, 1 NC) vs. Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 2 NC)

Preliminary Card:

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Manny Meraz (8-2) vs. Trey Ogden (4-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Chris Harris (6-0) vs. Matt Foster (6-8)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

THREE EXPLOSIVE CONTESTS COMPLETE STACKED ‘BELLATOR 156’ EVENT ON JUNE 17 IN FRESNO

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SANTA MONICA, Calif. (May 26, 2016) – Three contests have been added to “Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” on June 17 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., with the news that Chris Honeycutt (7-1) will move up to middleweight to face Mikkel Parlo (13-2) in main card action, while Ben Reiter(16-1) versus A.J. Matthews (8-4) and Ricky Rainey (11-4) against Thiago Jambo (18-4) will take place during the preliminary stream.

 

The fights complete a card that features a Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title matchup pitting Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) against Eduardo Dantas (17-4). In addition, welterweights Chidi Njokuani (14-4) and Douglas Lima (26-6) will duke it out in the evening’s co-main event and Brandon Halsey (9-1) meets John Salter (11-3) in an intriguing middleweight scrap.

“Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App at 5:00 pm PST. Tickets for the event start at only $25 and are currently on sale at the Save Mart Center Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.

A Fresno native, Honeycutt, will return home after a one-fight hiatus when he faces Parlo in a middleweight bout on June 17. “The Cutt” is coming off of an impressive unanimous decision victory over Matt Secor at “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson,” his third win since joining Bellator MMA and the seventh of his young career. The 27-year-old began his occupation undefeated with four knockouts and three first round finishes, earning the distinction of being one of the welterweight division’s rising stars. Now, in a new weight class, it will be interesting to see how Honeycutt performs.

Parlo will return to the Bellator fray for the first time in nearly two years, riding a two-fight winning streak and a stretch of four victories in his last five bouts. After beginning his career undefeated, the Danish middleweight posted a 4-2 record for the Viacom-owned promotion, which was highlighted by a ferocious knockout win in his promotional debut at “Bellator 78.” With fights against competitors the likes of Brennan Ward already under his belt, Honeycutt will continue the trend of Parlo facing stiff competition.

A native of New York, Reiter began his career on a spectacular hot streak, recording 16 wins in his first 17 professional fights. The 28-year-old middleweight made 15 appearances under the direction of regional promotions before signing with Bellator MMA in 2014, where he has since strung together a 2-1 record with impressive victories over Benji Radach and Shamir Garcia. Standing at 6’3’ Reiter will have a slight height advantage over the 5’11’ Matthews when the two step into the cage on June 17.

Matthews also delivered a successful start to his flourishing career, earning wins in each of his first four bouts before joining Bellator MMA. A six fight veteran of the Scott Coker-led promotion, “The Mercenary” has posted a 4-2 record under the promotion’s umbrella, including two first round knockouts and one highlight reel soccer kick knockout over Charlie Rader at “Bellator 70.” The 28-year-old Calif. native now returns following a stint in Japan with hopes of creating havoc at 185-pounds when he challenges Reiter at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif.

Since making his professional debut in 2011, the 32-year-old Rainey has put together a stellar career, including multiple four-fight winning streaks and memorable victories over Jesse Juarez and Andy Murad. After collecting wins in eight of the first 10 fights of his career, the North Carolina native has made five appearances under the Bellator MMA banner, three of which ended in knockout victories for the man many refer to as “The Sniper.” The welterweight knockout artist will be searching for another explosive finish when he enters the cage next.

A native of Brazil, Jambo will look to continue his recent success when he makes his Bellator MMA debut on June 17 at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif. The 35-year-old Jambo has put together an impressive career, recording wins in six of his last seven fights dating back to 2010. With 11 of his 18 victories going to the judges’ table, we can expect Jambo to bring a similar game plan to the cage, as he will try to outlast the knockout specialist standing in front of him.

Complete “Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” Card:

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title Bout: Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) vs. Eduardo Dantas (17-4)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Co-Main Event: Chidi Njokuani (14-4) vs. Douglas Lima (26-6)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Feature Bout: Brandon Halsey (9-1) vs. John Salter (11-3)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Feature Bout: Chris Honeycutt (7-1) vs. Mikkel Parlo (13-2)

Preliminary Card:

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: A.J. Matthews (8-4) vs. Ben Reiter (16-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Ricky Rainey (11-4) vs. Thiago Jambo (18-4)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Jermaine McDermott (2-0) vs. Blake Watkins (5-0)

Bellator MMA 140lb. Preliminary Bout: Paul Ruiz (6-4) vs. Christian Navarro (5-0)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Javy Ayala (8-5) vs. TBD

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Nick Bustamante (5-1) vs. Antoine Smith (3-5)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: C.J. Keith (8-3) vs. Carrington Banks (4-0)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Justin Smitley (10-7) vs Chris Avila (4-2)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: John Paul Elias (3-0) vs. Jose Cabesas (5-8)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Chris Lewis (0-0) vs. TBD

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Luis Jauregui (3-2) vs. Ryan Tobar (3-2)

 

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Spike TV

Rances Barthelemy & Mickey Bey Ramp Up Training Camp Ahead of Friday, June 3 World Championship Showdown That Headlines Premier Boxing Champions on Spike from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida

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Click HERE For Photos From Premier Boxing Champions
HOLLYWOOD, FL. (May 24, 2016) – Lightweight world champion Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy and former world champion Mickey “The Spirit” Bey are deep into training camp and closing in on their main event battle on Premier Boxing Champions on Spike Friday, June 3 from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida

Both fighters have been training in Las Vegas before they head to southern Florida for their world title battle. Barthelemy trains with Ismael Salas at the Salas Boxing Academy while Bey works with his longtime trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. at the Mayweather Boxing Club.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Kings Promotions, Mayweather Promotions and Panther Promotions, are priced at $130, $80, $60 and $35 (additional fees may apply) and are on sale now. All seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.myhrl.com,www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open at 5:30 pm, with the first fight set to begin at 6:30 p.m.

Here is what the fighters had to say about training camp, their matchup and more:

What advantages do you believe you have because of your training team?

Rances Barthelemy: “To me, Ismael is the best trainer in the world. He was the lead trainer of the Cuban National Team at the time that Cuban amateur boxing was having its most success. He is truly underrated and I do not know why.

“Having gone through different trainers throughout my career, I am glad that I found Salas. We clicked right off the bat, and him being a Cuban and having a successful background both in the Cuban amateur system and in the pros, he’s been able to incorporate the best from both worlds in his training methods. He has also been able to bring out abilities in me that others were not able to and it has made me a completely different fighter.”

Mickey Bey: “Floyd Sr. has been my trainer for about 12 years. We’ve been together since I was a teenager and before I turned pro. He is an old school trainer and he knows the science of boxing.

“Being around the other Mayweather Promotions fighters provides a lot of energy to training because everybody is striving to be the best they can be. Whenever that’s the case it’s always a positive thing because the trainers know that’s what you’re after. Floyd Sr. and Floyd are the reason I moved to Las Vegas. It’s been a blessing to be able to train with him for so long. We gelled from the beginning and I have definitely grown a lot as a fighter.”

What does fighting for this belt mean to you?

RB: “I don’t really focus on this being another title defense. I just focus on it being another fight that I must win impressively so that I can get to the big fights. There is no added pressure from it being a title defense. I just want everyone to see the boxing ability that I have so that I can get the big fights that I want and deserve.”

MB: “Winning back this belt is really important to me. I still feel like it’s mine. He’s just been keeping it warm for me. I had to deal with the injuries but now I don’t have to worry about babying my hand or anything like that.”

What do you think this fight will be like stylistically?

RB: “I plan on this being a great fight between two great boxers. He has a great amateur and pro background, as do I, and hopefully that makes for a great show.”

MB: “You never really know until you’re in the ring but it’s going to be a fight between two skilled boxers. I have seen some footage but not too much because I don’t really watch much tape. I saw him fight for my vacant belt but I can’t get caught up in that because I’m different than anybody he’s ever fought. I’m a lot more difficult than he probably thinks.”

What skill advantages do you believe you have over your opponent?

RB: “I feel I am the better all-around fighter. I have the reach, height and power over him. I feel he has shown in the past that he can’t take a good punch, so we will see if he can take mine.”

MB: “I bring it all. I can do everything that can be done in the ring. Every single department, period. I do think he’s a good fighter, I give him his props, he’s a two-time world champion, but I don’t think he can do one thing better than me.”

What did you learn from your fight with Denis Shafikov?

RB: “It was a really tough fight and definitely a great learning experience. I made it tougher than it should have been but I had never been in a war like that before and adrenaline kicked in. The blood made me want to dig down and trade with him in the center of the ring and beat him at his own game. It was the first time I had to go down to the trenches and engage in a fight like that but I wanted to do it to show that not all Cubans are boring and only box around.”

What did you learn from your fight with Miguel Vazquez?

MB: “I found out how good I was because I was able to beat a guy that good with one hand. Going into it I already knew I was going to be fighting with one hand since it had been giving me problems. I couldn’t let both hands go, so I had to strategically land more accurate shots. I couldn’t let it become a high volume fight because I knew I wouldn’t be able to respond with both hands. This is my first fight in four or five years with two good hands, so it’s going to be a completely different ball game.”

What does it mean to you to fight in south Florida in front of your Cuban fans?

RB: “That’s my backyard and it’s another advantage for me. It is like being in a free Cuba pretty much and I don’t think I’ll ever feel as comfortable fighting anywhere else with the majority of the people being there to support me. It means the world to me to be able to fight in front of my fans and my closest friends. It’s the closest thing to being able to fight in my country.”

Are you concerned about fighting on the road in front of a crowd that is expected to be for your opponent?

MB: “They can’t get in the ring for him. It’s just going to be me and him. Nobody can get in the ring and help him. It doesn’t add any pressure. I grew up hard, in a rough neighborhood and I’ve been through a lot so I’m numb to any pressure. I’m just ready to get in the ring with him.”

What are your plans after this fight?

RB: “I will be headed straight to the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C. after the fight to try to obtain a visa so I can finally return to Cuba and visit my family that I have not seen since my defection eight years ago. I thought I would never be able to return but now I will be returning as a two-time world champion with grand dreams of one day headlining the first pro boxing event in Cuba.”

MB: “After this fight I’ll be looking for another big competitive fight. I’m always looking for a challenge. That’s why I’m in this fight.”

Why do you believe you’ll be victorious on June 3?

RB: “I feel I am levels above Mickey Bey in all aspects of the game. I am comfortable with my training and I plan on returning to Miami with my second world title. The adrenaline of fighting in front of my Cuban people will add fuel to my fire and propel me to victory. I am on a mission to be great and leave an imprint in the sport and Mickey Bey is in the way.”

MB: “I’m a better fighter. It’s that simple.”

Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @RealKidBlast, @MickeyBeyTMT, @SpikeTV, @SpikeSports, @KingsBoxing, @MayweatherPromo, @PantherPromo and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and
www.facebook.com/MayweatherPromotions. Highlights available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions.
boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Spike TV

Undefeated Middleweight Caleb Plant returns to the ring June 3 PBC on Spike TV

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Photo By Suzanne Teresa / Premier Boxing Champions
(NASHVILLE, TN) May 24, 2016 – Nashville’s unbeaten middleweight prospect,Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant (12-0, 9 KOs) is scheduled to return to the ring on June 3, 2016 against Colombia’s Carlos Galvan (12-4-1, 2 KOs).  The scheduled 8-round bout will be televised on the undercard of Barthelemy vs. Bey at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida as Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike TV goes live at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
In his last bout on January, 22 of this year, Plant dominated his opponent, winning by way of a 6th-round TKO.  He’ll look to continue his winning ways on June, 3rd.
“I’m always looking to get better with each fight,” said Caleb Plant. “Every fight brings on a different challenge and I’m ready for any style that comes my way.  Galvan has a lot of knockouts so I have to be aware of his power shots.  I will control the action from the opening bell and make my adjustment as the fight goes on.  If I get him hurt, I’m going for the knockout.”
After turning pro in May of 2014, Caleb has rapidly made his presences felt in the middleweight division by winning all twelve of his bout, nine of which came by way of knockout.  Plant feels grateful about his career as it is headlining in the right direction.
“To be in the position I am this early in my career is a blessing.” Plant continued. “My management team and trainers are doing a fantastic job with everything and I couldn’t be any happier.  I know fighting on television is very important for my fan base, so I want to come out and put on a great show.  This will be my first time fighting on Spike TV and I want to leave a lasting impression.  Expect to see some fireworks.”
boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Spike TV

Rances Barthelemy & Mickey Bey Ramp Up Training Camp Ahead of Friday, June 3 World Championship Showdown That Headlines Premier Boxing Champions on Spike from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida

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Training Camp Quotes & Photos
 
Click HERE For Photos From Premier Boxing Champions
 
HOLLYWOOD, FL. (May 24, 2016) – Lightweight world champion Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy and former world champion Mickey “The Spirit” Bey are deep into training camp and closing in on their main event battle on Premier Boxing Champions on Spike Friday, June 3 from Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida
Both fighters have been training in Las Vegas before they head to southern Florida for their world title battle. Barthelemy trains with Ismael Salas at the Salas Boxing Academy while Bey works with his longtime trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. at the Mayweather Boxing Club.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Kings Promotions, Mayweather Promotions and Panther Promotions, are priced at $130, $80, $60 and $35 (additional fees may apply) and are on sale now. All seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.myhrl.com,www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open at 5:30 pm, with the first fight set to begin at 6:30 p.m.
Here is what the fighters had to say about training camp, their matchup and more:
What advantages do you believe you have because of your training team?
Rances Barthelemy: “To me, Ismael is the best trainer in the world. He was the lead trainer of the Cuban National Team at the time that Cuban amateur boxing was having its most success. He is truly underrated and I do not know why.
“Having gone through different trainers throughout my career, I am glad that I found Salas. We clicked right off the bat, and him being a Cuban and having a successful background both in the Cuban amateur system and in the pros, he’s been able to incorporate the best from both worlds in his training methods. He has also been able to bring out abilities in me that others were not able to and it has made me a completely different fighter.”
Mickey Bey: “Floyd Sr. has been my trainer for about 12 years. We’ve been together since I was a teenager and before I turned pro. He is an old school trainer and he knows the science of boxing.
“Being around the other Mayweather Promotions fighters provides a lot of energy to training because everybody is striving to be the best they can be. Whenever that’s the case it’s always a positive thing because the trainers know that’s what you’re after. Floyd Sr. and Floyd are the reason I moved to Las Vegas. It’s been a blessing to be able to train with him for so long. We gelled from the beginning and I have definitely grown a lot as a fighter.”
What does fighting for this belt mean to you?
RB: “I don’t really focus on this being another title defense. I just focus on it being another fight that I must win impressively so that I can get to the big fights. There is no added pressure from it being a title defense. I just want everyone to see the boxing ability that I have so that I can get the big fights that I want and deserve.”
MB: “Winning back this belt is really important to me. I still feel like it’s mine. He’s just been keeping it warm for me. I had to deal with the injuries but now I don’t have to worry about babying my hand or anything like that.”
What do you think this fight will be like stylistically?
 
RB: “I plan on this being a great fight between two great boxers. He has a great amateur and pro background, as do I, and hopefully that makes for a great show.”
MB: “You never really know until you’re in the ring but it’s going to be a fight between two skilled boxers. I have seen some footage but not too much because I don’t really watch much tape. I saw him fight for my vacant belt but I can’t get caught up in that because I’m different than anybody he’s ever fought. I’m a lot more difficult than he probably thinks.”
What skill advantages do you believe you have over your opponent?
RB: “I feel I am the better all-around fighter. I have the reach, height and power over him. I feel he has shown in the past that he can’t take a good punch, so we will see if he can take mine.”
MB: “I bring it all. I can do everything that can be done in the ring. Every single department, period. I do think he’s a good fighter, I give him his props, he’s a two-time world champion, but I don’t think he can do one thing better than me.”
What did you learn from your fight with Denis Shafikov?
RB: “It was a really tough fight and definitely a great learning experience. I made it tougher than it should have been but I had never been in a war like that before and adrenaline kicked in. The blood made me want to dig down and trade with him in the center of the ring and beat him at his own game. It was the first time I had to go down to the trenches and engage in a fight like that but I wanted to do it to show that not all Cubans are boring and only box around.”
What did you learn from your fight with Miguel Vazquez?
MB: “I found out how good I was because I was able to beat a guy that good with one hand. Going into it I already knew I was going to be fighting with one hand since it had been giving me problems. I couldn’t let both hands go, so I had to strategically land more accurate shots. I couldn’t let it become a high volume fight because I knew I wouldn’t be able to respond with both hands. This is my first fight in four or five years with two good hands, so it’s going to be a completely different ball game.”
What does it mean to you to fight in south Florida in front of your Cuban fans?
RB: “That’s my backyard and it’s another advantage for me. It is like being in a free Cuba pretty much and I don’t think I’ll ever feel as comfortable fighting anywhere else with the majority of the people being there to support me. It means the world to me to be able to fight in front of my fans and my closest friends. It’s the closest thing to being able to fight in my country.”
Are you concerned about fighting on the road in front of a crowd that is expected to be for your opponent?
MB: “They can’t get in the ring for him. It’s just going to be me and him. Nobody can get in the ring and help him. It doesn’t add any pressure. I grew up hard, in a rough neighborhood and I’ve been through a lot so I’m numb to any pressure. I’m just ready to get in the ring with him.”
What are your plans after this fight?
RB: “I will be headed straight to the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C. after the fight to try to obtain a visa so I can finally return to Cuba and visit my family that I have not seen since my defection eight years ago. I thought I would never be able to return but now I will be returning as a two-time world champion with grand dreams of one day headlining the first pro boxing event in Cuba.”
MB: “After this fight I’ll be looking for another big competitive fight. I’m always looking for a challenge. That’s why I’m in this fight.”
Why do you believe you’ll be victorious on June 3?
 
RB: “I feel I am levels above Mickey Bey in all aspects of the game. I am comfortable with my training and I plan on returning to Miami with my second world title. The adrenaline of fighting in front of my Cuban people will add fuel to my fire and propel me to victory. I am on a mission to be great and leave an imprint in the sport and Mickey Bey is in the way.”
MB: “I’m a better fighter. It’s that simple.”
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Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

RAFAEL CARVALHO STEALS SPLIT DECISION, RETAINING MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE IN ‘BELLATOR 155’ MAIN EVENT

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Complete Event Photos Here

BOISE, IDAHO (May 20, 2016) – Rafael Carvalho (13-1) defended his middleweight belt in controversial fashion at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho on Friday night, taking home a split decision win over at the expense of Melvin Manhoef (30-13).

The packed house was less than enthusiastic with the judges’ decision, which amounted to two 48-47 scores for Carvalho, while Manhoef took home one of the same tally.

With the victory, the 29-year old Brazilian is now 4-0 under the Bellator MMA umbrella and continues to ride his remarkable 13-fight winning streak.

BELLATOR KICKBOXING: ST. LOUIS ANNOUNCED

The first fight for “Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” has been announced in a rematch of sorts, pitting Joe Schilling against Hisaki Kato. When the two first met at “Bellator 139: Kongo vs. Volkov,” Kato stunned Schilling with a “Superman punch” knockout that many pundits considered to be the “2015 Knockout of the Year.” That was MMA, and this time the two will fight in a kickboxing match. A world champion kickboxer, “Stitch ‘Em Up” Schilling  will look for revenge against Kato, a karate striker.

Additional fights, including a main event matchup will be announced shortly.

The second event for the brand new Bellator Kickboxing promotion will take place on June 24, immediately following “Bellator: Dynamite 2” at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, and will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE.

Featherweight Co-Main Event Ends in Unanimous Decision Victory for Pat Curran

It took all three rounds to determine a winner in the evening’s co-main event, but in the end, former two-time Bellator champion Pat Curran (22-7) emerged victorious with a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) win over Georgi Karakhanyan (24-6-1). “Paddy Mike” connected with a great left hook that dropped Karakhanyan to the mat. The Chicago native relied heavily on his ground game in this one, consistently forcing Karakhanyan into uncomfortable positions and ultimately leading to the featherweight’s 12th win under the Bellator MMA fray.

Heavyweight Slugfest Ends in Draw for Dan Charles and Augusto Sakai

The evening’s second heavyweight feature fight was heavily overshadowed by multiple low blows from the foot of Augusto Sakai (9-0-1), leaving Dan Charles (10-3-1) curled over the canvas and gasping for air. In a bout that took every bit of 15 minutes, the judges’ scorecard concluded a majority draw (30-26 Charles, 28-28, 28-28), making it just the ninth in Bellator MMA history. Although the Brazilian Sakai remains undefeated, his nine-fight winning streak came to an end with the bittersweet finish at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho. For Charles, it was the third time in his five-year career that a fight went the distance and the first of his 14 bouts to end in a majority draw.

Alexis Dufresne Shocks MMA World With Submission Victory Over Marloes Coenen

In a highly-anticipated female catchweight bout, Alexis Dufresne (6-2) delivered one of the largest upsets of the year by finishing Dutch superstar Marloes Coenen (23-7) with an armbar submission 4:33 into the first round. Along with Miesha Tate, “Sneaky Zebra” becomes just the second fighter ever to force Coenen to tap out. Not far removed from the birth of her first child, the 25-year-old Dufresne was able to impress in her Bellator MMA debut, despite being a +500 underdog.

Gormley Outlasts Beltran in Heavyweight Opener

During the opening contest at “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef,” Joey Beltran (17-13) and Chase Gormley (13-5) traded blows in what was a heavyweight dogfight that took all three rounds to claim a victor. In the end, it was Gormley that came out on top with the split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) win over “The Mexicutioner.” Gormley, a 32-year-old native of Los Angeles is now 7-0 when his fights go to the judges table. The win is his first with the Bellator MMA promotion and sixth of his last seven bouts.

Preliminary Card Results:

Vince Morales (4-1) defeated Hamilton Ash (3-2) via KO at 2:32 of round three

Joe Hamilton (4-0) defeated Tyler Freeland (3-1) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:22 of round one

Casey Johnson (5-0) defeated Brendon Raftery (4-3) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:16 of round two

Marcin Held (22-4) defeated Dave Jansen (20-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 2x)

Jesse Brock (22-8) defeated Olly Bradstreet (39-13) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:57 of round three

Will Noland (16-6) defeated Sean Powers (9-6) via KO (punches) at 3:29 of round one

Scott Thometz (10-5) defeated Josh Tyler (7-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 30-25)

Veta Arteaga (2-0) defeated Jackie Vandenburgh (0-2) via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-27, 29-28)

 

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

ILIMA MACFARLANE SET TO FACE REBECCA RUTH DURING MAIN CARD OF ‘BELLATOR: DYNAMITE 2’

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IN ADDITION, GUILHERME ‘BOMBA’ MAKES PROMOTIONAL DEBUT AGAINST JORDAN DOWDY DURING STACKED PRELIMINARY CARD

 

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (May, 20) – A women’s flyweight showdown between Ilima Macfarlane (3-0) and Rebecca Ruth (6-1) has been added to the main card of “Bellator: Dynamite 2” on June 24, at Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

The bout joins a main event that features a heavyweight bout between “Rampage” Jackson (36-11) and Satoshi Ishii (14-5-1), in “Rampage’s” first fight for the Scott Coker-led promotion since 2014. The evening’s co-main event will feature a lightweight title fight between former titlist Michael Chandler (14-3) and Patricky “Pitbull” (16-7). Also the main card, former NFL playerMatt Mitrione (9-5) makes his debut for Bellator MMA agaisnt Carl “Badwater” Seumanutafa (10-6).

MMA coach to stars the likes of entertainer Demi Lovato and New England Patriots tight end Martellus Bennett, Guilherme “Bomba” (7-3) makes his promotional debut when he takes on Shamrock FC standout Jordan Dowdy (3-1) on the Bellator.com-streamed prelims.

Tickets for “Bellator: Dynamite 2” are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the Ford Box Office at Scottrade Center. Doors for the event open at 5 p.m. CT local time, and the first contest takes place one hour after.

“Bellator: Dynamite 2” airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App.

Exactly like the groundbreaking inaugural “Dynamite” event this past September in San Jose, both a mixed martial arts cage and kickboxing ring will cover the floor at Scottrade Center, in St. Louis, giving fans in attendance the opportunity to see both iterations of combat sports on the same night.

Macfarlane enters this bout on a high note, earning victories in her first three professional fights. “The Ilimanator” has taken care of business since joining Bellator MMA, winning her first two fights with the promotion, including a first round armbar submission against Amber Tackett at “Bellator 148: Daley vs. Uhrich” in January. The 26-year-old San Diego native hopes to keep her winning streak alive against the more experienced Rebecca Ruth.

Hailing from Robertsville, Missouri, the elusive Rebecca Ruth went undefeated in 2015, winning all three of her matchups by technical knockout under the Shamrock Fighting Championships banner. Now, after emerging victorious in her 2016 and Bellator MMA debut, “Ruthless” enters the cage with a 6-1 career record and four-fight winning streak. Of her six career wins, five have come by way of knockout, with three of those knockouts delivered by Ruth in the first round. The 37-year-old flyweight will have her hands full when the much younger Ilima Macfarlane joins her in the cage on June 24.

 

Updated “Bellator: Dynamite 2” Fight Card:

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main Event: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (36-11) vs. Satoshi Ishii (14-5-1)

Bellator MMA Lightweight World Title Bout: Michael Chandler (14-3) vs. Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (16-7)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Matt Mitrione (9-5) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (10-6)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Feature Bout: Ilima-Lei Macfalane (3-0) vs. Rebecca Ruth (6-1)

 

Preliminary Card:

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Guilherme “Bomba” Vasconcelos (7-3) vs. Jordan Dowdy (3-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Kevin Engel (5-0) vs. Chel Erwin-Davis (3-1)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Jordan Howard (9-3) vs Justin Robbins (14-17-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Joaquin Buckley (5-0) vs Chris Heatherly (9-3-1)

Bellator MMA 130-pound Preliminary Bout: Michelle Royer (1-0) vs Katy Collins (3-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Brad Jones (5-4) vs Tyler Claussen (2-0)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Jason Christeson (1-0) vs Jarrod Thomas (0-0)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Lee Burns (2-0) vs. Byron Stevens (0-0)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Steven Mann (11-4) vs. Mike Estus (7-4)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Rashard Lovelace (3-0) vs. Garret Mueller (2-1)

Bellator MMA Strawweight Preliminary Bout: Nikki Smith (1-0) vs. Ashley Cummins (3-3)

Bellator Kickboxing Preliminary Bout: Elmir Kulosman (3-0) vs. Darryl Cobb (2-1)

Bellator Kickboxing Preliminary Bout: Tara Walker (4-3-1) vs. Mimi Kutzin (3-2)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

GET READY FOR SOME KICKBOXING WITH SMALL GLOVES!

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MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD TITLE BOUT BETWEEN RAFAEL CARVALHO AND MELVIN MANHOEF HEADLINES ‘BELLATOR 155’ TOMORROW NIGHT – LIVE AND FREE ON SPIKE

 

Complete Weigh-In Photos Here

 

BOISE, IDAHO. (May 19, 2016) –The official weigh-ins for “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef”took place this afternoon in front of a packed house at the Knitting Factory here in Boise, ID. All competitors are now ready for action tomorrow at CenturyLink Arena, with the event airing LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

 

Middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho (12-1) will defend his title against Dutch striking ace Melvin Manhoef (30-12-1) in the main event of a fantastic night of fights that also includes a co-main event between Pat Curran (21-7) and Georgi Karakhanyan (24-5-1), who square off in a featherweight scrap that has future title-shot implications written all over it. The main card also includes a women’s catchweight showdown between slick Dutch veteran Marloes Coenen (23-6) and Alexis Dufresne (5-2). Dufresne, who returns to action after a recent pregnancy and on short notice, missed the 146-pound weight limit, but the fight will proceed as planned.

 

“Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” will also feature a duo of heavyweight matchups with Joey Beltran (17-12) challenging Chase Gormley (12-5) and Dan Charles (20-3) looking to put an end to Augusto Sakai’s (9-0) unblemished record.

 

An undercard bout between Ricky Steele (5-0) and Eric Cronkhite (2-1) was cancelled when Cronkhite missed weight by nine pounds.

 

Very few tickets for the event remain, and are available at Bellator.com, the CenturyLink Arena Box Office or CenturyLinkArenaBoise.com.

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

 

Bellator MMA Middleweight World Title Fight: Rafael Carvalho (184.3) vs. Melvin Manhoef (185)

 

Bellator MMA Featherweight Co-Main Event: Pat Curran (145.6) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (145.1)

 

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Dan Charles (242.2) vs. Augusto Sakai (262.5)

 

Bellator MMA Catchweight Feature Bout: Marloes Coenen (145.6) vs. Alexis Dufresne (150.7)

 

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Joey Beltran (236.8) vs. Chase Gormley (264.5)

 

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

 

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Tyler Freeland (137.4) vs. Joe Hamilton (135.4)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Dave Jansen (155.9) vs. Marcin Held (155.9)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Veta Arteaga (127.1) vs. Jackie Vandenburgh (122.7)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Hamilton Ash (145.8) vs. Vince Morales (144.9)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Brendon Raftery (134) vs. Casey Johnson (134.9)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Scott Thometz (155.7) vs. Josh Tyler (155.7)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Sean Powers (182.4) vs. Will Noland (185.6)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Jesse Brock (135.7) vs. Olly Bradstreet (135.7)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND PRELIMINARY BOUT CARD COMPLETE WITH SEVEN MATCHUPS

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PRELIMINARY BOUTS STREAM LIVE AT 6 P.M. ET
ON AN EMBEDDABLE VIDEO PLAYER ON WSOF.COM

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MAIN CARD
AIRS LIVE ON NBCSN AT 9 P.M. ET
FROM MASHANTUCKET, CONN. ON FRIDAY, JUNE 17

LAS VEGAS (May 19, 2016) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) today announced a complete, seven-bout preliminary fight card for its WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland world heavyweight championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event, live on NBCSN at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT from Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. on Friday, June 17.

The WSOF31 undercard lineup includes the promotional debut of heavyweight knockout artist Lorenzo Hood (9-3), who will square off with fellow finisher Tyler “The Marauder” King (10-4).

The 6-foot-3, 27-year-old Hood of Chicago, Ill. is a former professional football player turned MMA wrecking machine who has notched all 9 of his professional victories by way of (T)KO in the first round of battle.

King, a 6-foot-5, 35-year-old resident of North Attleboro, Mass. has earned 8 of his 10 career wins via (T)KO or submission.  He is coming off a 51-second submission (heel hook) of Eric Bedard on April 16.

In another heavyweight contest, Juliano “Banana” Coutinho (7-2) of Cape Cod, Mass. via Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will look to secure his second straight victory when he faces off with Team AKA product Justin Willis (3-1) of San Jose, Calif.

Willis, who is riding a three-fight win streak, was originally slated to face Chris “Huggy Bear” Barnett on the main card portion of the bill.

Returning to the decagon cage for the fourth time, submission specialist Tom “Tommy Gunnz” Marcellino (7-4) of Amsterdam, N.Y. will take on Devin Powell (6-1) of South Berwick, Maine in one of three lightweight (155 pounds) matchups on the WSOF31 preliminary bout card.

Powell boasts won four straight fights, three by way of (T)KO or submission.

In welterweight (170 pounds) action, Robert Fonseca (10-3, 1 NC) of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil will seek his fourth consecutive victory when he squares off with Sean Lally (4-2) of Orleans, Mass.

Saul “The Spider” Almeida (18-6) of Boston, Mass. will make his third start in the decagon cage in a lightweight matchup with prolific power striker Bruce “Pretty Boy” Boyington of Bangor, Maine.

Thirty-year-old rising star Rodrigo “The Young Lion” Almeida of Woburn, Mass. will do battle with Ben Pierre-Saint (9-4) of Superior, Wisc. at bantamweight (135 pounds).

In the leadoff preliminary card fight, unbeaten Sam Watford (2-0) of Mount Vernon, N.Y. will face Christian “The Terminator” Torres (0-0) of Endicott, N.Y.

Priced from $39.99, tickets for WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland are on sale at WSOF.com and Foxwoods.com.

Doors at The Grand Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Casino will open at 5 p.m. ET, and the first preliminary card bout will begin at 6 p.m.

In the live NBCSN televised main event, reigning world heavyweight championBlagoy Ivanov (13-1) will risk his title against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (13-1) while, in the lightweight co-main event, superstars Jason “The Kansas City Bandit” High (19-5) and Mike “The Martian” Ricci (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

Elsewhere on the live NBCSN telecast, John “Doomsday” Howard (23-12) will make his highly-anticipated World Series of Fighting debut against submission expert Thiago “Minu” Meller (20-7) at welterweight.

In a featherweight (145 pounds) tilt between two prolific strikers, Luis “Baboon” Palomino (24-12) will battle former world championship challenger Sheymon Moraes (8-1).

ABOUT WORLD SERIES OF FIGHTING
“World Series of Fighting” (WSOF) is a worldwide premier professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fight promotion dedicated to delivering the best action-packed fights for fight fans by producing the best possible match-ups between elite fighters from around the world. For more information please visit WSOF.com and follow “World Series of Fighting” on Twitter @MMAWorldSeries.  WSOF and World Series of Fighting are registered trademarks of MMAWC, LLC.