Category Archives: Spike TV

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Spike TV

Andre Dirrell Wins Unanimous Decision over Blake Caparello in Premier Boxing Champions on Spike Live from the Taj Mahal Casino & Hotel in Atlantic City

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Anthony Dirrell Scores First Round Knockout Over Caleb Truax
 
Jonathan Guzman Stops Daniel Rosas in Title Eliminator
 
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Credit: Dave Nadkarni/Premier Boxing Champions
 
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (April 30, 2016) – Olympic Bronze Medalist Andre Dirrell (25-2, 16 KOs) defeated Australia’s Blake Caparello (22-2-1, 6 KOs) by unanimous decision (98-91 X 3) in a 10-round super middleweight attraction in the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike main event from the Taj Mahal Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
In a bout that started off with a lot of back and forth action, Caparello struck first with a left in the second round that sent Dirrell to the canvas.
“The knockdown I got in the second round felt good,” said Caparello. “I knew I had him hurt, but I wasn’t able to capitalize on it.”
Caparello again got Dirrell against the ropes and seemingly into a bit of trouble with a similar left in round three, but eventually Dirrell settled in and managed to gain control of the fight.
Dirrell said, “My focus, determination and my drive got me the win tonight. I know I’ve got more work to do, but I never stopped grinding in there tonight.”
Caparello continued to go to work and battle, but it was clear who the ring general was from the close of the third round and until the final bell rang.
Dirrell exclaimed, “I wanted to send the boxing world and this whole division a message. I’m coming for anyone with a belt. I’ll take on anyone who’s a champion. I know I’ll be a world champion. I have to be a champion. I don’t slow down for anyone. I’m going to keep pushing to get where I’m going.”
On his struggles in the later rounds, Caparello said, “I continued to look for the same left hand all night, it just didn’t come again. Andre has a lot of tricks, he is both good and fast. I am not happy with my performance.”
Dirrell concluded, “Tonight my brother and I were both able to display our talents in front of a national audience on Spike. Anthony is strong as an ox and got the win quickly tonight. I got the win on determination and heart. I had to use my toughness in this fight, and I pushed myself as hard as I could to get the win.”
In the second televised bout of the evening, former world champion Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (29-1-1, 23 KOs) met former world title challenger Caleb “Golden” Truax (26-3-2, 16 KOs) in a 10-round super middleweight affair.
The former 168-pound titleholder Dirrell got off to a quick start, scoring two knockdowns in the first round, causing referee Harvey Dock to stop the fight at just 1:49 into the first round.
Dirrell said of the dominating performance, “What helped me tonight was landing my shots early. I was right on top of him with combinations and controlling my jab and that set the tone. I showed tonight that I work hard in the gym, and it paid off. If I work like I did this time leading up to the fight, then I know nobody can beat me.”
A stunned Truax said, “Everything was great leading up to the fight. I don’t know what happened tonight. He just caught me early. I think it was an overhand right.”
Reflecting on what the victory means for his struggling hometown of Flint, MI, Dirrell said, “My work tonight inside the ring made a big statement for what my brother and I are doing outside of the ring. A lot of people were watching tonight, and now they know a little bit more about what’s going on with the Flint Water Crisis back home.”
The opening televised bout featured undefeated knockout artist Jonathan Guzman (21-0, 21 KOs) continuing his hot streak in a 12-round super bantamweight title eliminator against Mexico’s Daniel Rosas (20-3, 12 KOs).
Guzman, an unbeaten fighter out of the Dominican Republic and now training in Massachusetts, stabilized early and easily controlled the action in the second half of the fight.
Guzman said, “I used a lot of concentration early and let him make errors so I could see what he was planning to do. Once I saw the mistakes he was making I let my hands go.”
Rosas was stunned in the third round, but Guzman was unable to close on the wobbled fighter. In the fifth round, Guzman landed a left that knocked Rosas back and followed it with another, dropping Rosas just before the bell.
“I wanted to let him throw some punches early. It helped me gain confidence and learn his tendencies,” said Guzman. “I saw him dropping that right hand, and I knew it would open up the opportunity for me to land my left.”
Rounds six and seven saw Rosas take a pummeling, but miraculously stay on his feet. At the end of the eighth frame, Guzman dropped Rosas for a second time, and again Rosas was saved by the bell.
However, referee Benjy Esteves had seen enough and stopped the fight following the close of round eight.
When asked about the stoppage, Rosas said, “The ref stopped the fight. I thought the fight should have continued, but he decided to stop it.” Rosas continued, “(Guzman) knocked me down, but I kept on fighting. I was never hurt. Guzman is a strong fighter, but I felt I could have continued and come back in the rest of the rounds.”
 
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The fight card was promoted by King’s Promotions.
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com and www.spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions. Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AndreDirrell, @BlakeCaparello, @AnthonyDirrell, @GoldenCalebT, @SpikeTV, @SpikeSports, @KingsBoxing_and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions. Highlights available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on Spike is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Spike TV

Lightweight World Champion Rances Barthelemy Battles Former World Champion Mickey Bey in Main Event of Premier Boxing Champions on Spike Friday, June 3 From The Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hotel & Casino In Hollywood, Florida

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Plus! Unbeaten Bantamweight Prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez
                          Takes on Mexican Brawler Victor Proa                         
 
Tickets on Sale Now!
 
HOLLYWOOD, FL. (April 29, 2016) – Undefeated lightweight world champion Rances “Kid Blast” Barthelemy (24-0, 13 KOs) will make his first title defense against former world champion Mickey “The Spirit” Bey (22-1-1, 10 KOs) in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike Friday, June 3 at the Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT as unbeaten Puerto Rican prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez (14-0, 10 KOs) takes on hard-hitting Mexican Victor “Pitufo” Proa (28-1-2, 21 KOs) in a 10-round bantamweight affair.
“There were rumors that a fight between me and Mickey Bey was on the brink of happening prior to my fight against Denis Shafikov, so now that it is here, I know it was destined to happen,” said Barthelemy.  “I’m not a rookie anymore. I’m not going into this worried or nervous about it being my first title defense at 135. I’m comfortable enough now to see every fight as just another challenge I need to execute my game plan the most effectively and with the least amount of errors.”
“Barthelemy won my title, I had to vacate it due to a hand injury, so all he is doing is keeping it warm for me,” said Bey. “Training camp is going great. I have been training hard for over a month. I have the best team in the business, with the most knowledgeable trainers. I’m looking forward to the challenge with him being undefeated and a two-time world champion. We both have a lot of skills, so it will make an entertaining fight for sure.”
“I want to challenge all of the bantamweight champions to fight me so they can see a real athlete in the ring,” said Rodriguez. “I have been training hard. This is a lifestyle for me. I have been training since December and on June 3, I am going to deliver a knockout.”
“I’m excited about this opportunity against a good young fighter,” said Proa. “I’ve been training hard and feel like this is my time. I’m going to come forward and see what this guy can do.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Kings Promotions, Mayweather Promotions and Panther Promotions, are priced at $130, $80, $60 and $35 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. *Additional fees may apply.
“This will be a tremendous night of boxing on Spike TV,” said Marshall Kauffman of King’s Promotions. “Barthelemy is an up-and-coming star in the sport and he is facing a former world champion who never lost his belt in the ring. This will be a great fight and there should be a great atmosphere with a lot of Cuban boxing fans there to support their world champion.”
“We’re looking forward to bringing a great night of boxing to the State of Florida. We’re giving the fans another treat come June 3rd. The card is stacked with matchups that will undoubtedly be crowd pleasers,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions.   “Both Mickey Bey and Rances Barthelemy have world titles under their belts, so they will bring in the experience of being able to perform, and match it up against one another to see who will come out the best man standing at the end of the night.”
“We at Panther Promotions are very excited for this June 3rd card at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino,” said Elliot Alvarado, CEO, Panther Promotions. “We are proudly joining forces with both Mayweather and Kings Promotions, which are featuring PBC on Spike TV. This is going to be a sensational evening of boxing featuring Cuban Lightweight Champion Rances Barthelemy vs. Cleveland’s own former champion, Mickey Bey. Our goal is to bring back the classic fights to the Seminole Hard Rock Live in South Florida.”
A Cuban amateur national champion, 29-year-old Barthelemyhas yet to taste defeat since turning pro in 2009. Born in Cuba but now fighting out of Las Vegas, he won a super featherweight world title in July 2014 by defeating Argenis Mendez in impressive fashion, and followed that up with a second round TKO victory over Angino Perez. After dominating former champion Antonio DeMarco in June, he won a world title in a second division when he impressively defeated Denis Shafikov in December.
Bey won his world title in 2014 with a decision victory over long reigning champion Miguel Vasquez. The 32-year-old vacated his title due to inactivity and injuries but returned in December to defeat previously unbeaten Naim Nelson by decision to earn himself a shot at the very title he vacated. Bey’s previous victories include defeats against Alan Herrera, Carlos Cardenas and Hector Velazquez.
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.
Fighting out of Monterrey, Mexico, Proa will be fighting in the U.S. for the third time when he takes on Rodriguez on June 3. The 31-year-old was unbeaten in his first 28 pro starts and has won his last two bouts, including most recently a first round stoppage of Oswaldo Delgado in February.
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
boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Spike TV

Andre Dirrell, Blake Caparello, Anthony Dirrell, Caleb Truax, Jonathan Guzman & Daniel Rosas Media Roundtable Quotes

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PBC on Spike Friday, April 29 at 9 p.m. ET/PT
From Taj Mahaj Casino & Hotel in Atlantic City
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (April 28, 2016) – With just two days until they enter the ring, Premier Boxing Champions on Spike fighters participated in media roundtables Wednesday in Atlantic City and discussed their respective Friday, April 29showdowns taking place at Taj Mahal Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City.

The card is headlined by the return of the Dirrell brothers as Olympic Bronze medalist Andre “The Resurrected” Dirrell battles Australia’s Blake Caparello and former world champion Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell takes on Minnesota’s Caleb “Golden” Truax. Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT with knockout artist Jonathan Guzman against Mexico’s Daniel Rosas in a 122-pound eliminator.

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions, are priced at $100, $75 and $50, are available at all Ticketmaster outlets and are on sale now.

Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:

ANDRE DIRRELL

“I can tell that Caparello is coming from Australia to prove a point. He’s hungry for a victory and It’s my job to make sure he doesn’t get that. I take this as a championship fight.

“The blessing in having a layoff is that my body is in great shape. I feel 25-years-old not 32.

“I don’t see myself as the smaller man. I suppose he can take a few shots but I am going to display my skill and show that it will lead to a world championship.

“I feel I am at the championship level. I’ll have an eye on the 168-pound title fightsSaturday. I’m looking to get that championship as soon as I can. I am ready and I want DeGale. I don’t care if it’s in his hometown, backyard, basement, living room or kitchen. I want to make sure that fight happens.

“I worked really hard and I can’t wait to get in the ring on Friday night.”

BLAKE CAPARELLO

“It’s good to be back in Atlantic City. I took a lot from my fight against Sergey Kovalev. Being in the ring with him taught me a lot about ring composure. This is my Atlantic City redemption.

“Dirrell is a very difference fighter. Andre is very quick and slick. I can’t afford to make minor mistakes. I didn’t make the 20-hour flight for a loss. I was small for 175 pounds which made the move to 168 very comfortable.

“The plan is to win and fight one of the champions but fighting Andre is a world title for me.

“People don’t think that I can punch, but I’m coming to win and put on a show. I’m looking to bring a victory back to Australia.”

ANTHONY DIRRELL

“It means a lot to share this card with my brother. We share everything. He is my big brother and this is a great moment for both of us.

“I will be watching the super middleweight title fights Saturday night, but I am not looking past Caleb Truax.

“I know Truax has fought some good competition in Daniel Jacobs and Jermain Taylor. I have my hands full but I prepared to have my hand lifted in Victory.

“I think the loss made me a better fighter because I know what it takes to get there. I am just looking for the next shot. When I get it, I’m going to capitalize and not let the title go.

“I’m going to stick to my game plan and try to get Truax out of there. Then I can start thinking about Badou Jack. I definitely want a rematch.”

CALEB TRUAX

“I have to make the most of this opportunity. This is a huge fight for me. I can get another shot at a world title with a win.

“Dirrell is a good fighter. I’ve seen a lot of his fights and we’ve fought on the same card before. You have to respect that he is a former world champion.

“I have to draw from all the experiences I’ve had in my career. I have to use my experience and be on top of my game.

“Most of my fights have been around super middleweight. I don’t have to struggle to make weight as much and I couldn’t turn down this opportunity.”

JONATHAN GUZMAN

“Rosas is a typical Mexican fighter who will come forward and be in great condition. I’m ready for him and I feel I know him well.

“I want a world title and we’re happy that if we get this win we can compete for a belt next time out.

“We are excited to put on a great show Friday night. I will break him in half.”

DANIEL ROSAS

“We know our opponent is very good, but we trained 100 percent to get the victory.

“We’ve been waiting and putting in the work. If the knockout comes, it comes.

“I know this is an elimination bout. We came to win and we’re prepared for anything that comes. I’m ready to be a world champion.”
boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Spike TV

Unbeaten Knockout Artist Jonathan Guzman Takes On Mexican Brawler Daniel Rosas in Title Eliminator Friday, April 29 On Premier Boxing Champions On Spike Live from the Taj Mahal Casino & Hotel in Atlantic City

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Plus! Top Prospects Eddie Ramirez, Titus Williams & Local Favorites Featured On Loaded Undercard
 
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (April 25, 2016) – Undefeated knockout artist Jonathan Guzman(20-0, 20 KOs) will battle Mexico’s Daniel Rosas (20-2, 12 KOs) in a 12-round super bantamweight title eliminator in the opening bout of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike on Friday, April 29 from the Taj Mahal Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and features the return of the Dirrell brothers as Andre “The Resurrected” Dirrell (24-2, 16 KOs) takes on Minnesota’s Caleb “Golden” Truax (26-2-2, 6 KOs) while Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell (28-1-1, 22 KOs) battles Australia’s Blake Caparello (22-1-1, 6 KOs) in a pair of 10-round super middleweight bouts. Guzman and Rosas will fight for the number two contender spot for the world title currently held by Carl Frampton.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by King’s Promotions, are priced at $100, $75 and $50, are available at all Ticketmaster outlets and are on sale now.
A trio of exciting prospects highlight the undercard action as unbeaten New York Golden Gloves champion Titus Williams takes on Indiana’s DeWayne Wisdom in a six-round featherweight bout, unbeaten 23-year-old Eddie Ramirez enters the ring in an eight-round super lightweight contest and Brooklyn’s Chordale Booker battles Virginia’s Rogue Zapata in a four-round super welterweight fight.
Addition bouts features New Jersey talent including welterweight Anthony Young of Atlantic City against Juan Rodriguez in a six-round battle, Little Egg Harbor’s Brendan Barrett in a four-round heavyweight bout against Alando Pugh, Toms River’s Hafiz Montgomery against fellow unbeaten Darnell Pierce in a four-round cruiserweight affair and Atlantic City’s Chris Thomas taking on Jessie Singletary in a four-round middleweight fight.
Rounding out the action is unbeaten heavyweight Luther Smith in a four-round battle withSolomon Maye, Antonio Magruder in a six-round super lightweight contest againstVictor Vasquez and the pro debut of Abraham Nova as he faces Weusi Johnson in a four-round super lightweight bout.
An unbeaten fighter out of the Dominican Republic and now training in Massachusetts, Guzman is nearing a world title fight thanks to his extreme power and ability to stop opponents. The 26-year-old has won all of his fight by knockout and since making his U.S. debut in 2014 he has stopped Ernesto Guerrero, Juan Guzman, Christian Esquivel and most recently Danny Aquino.
An experienced 26-year-old who has fought professionally since 2007, Rosas came up just short in his last title opportunity, when he dropped a decision to Alejandro Hernandez in 2014. Rosas has won his last three fights in a row since then and the Mexico City-native will look to make a splash in his U.S. debut on April 29.
 
Follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AndreDirrell, @BlakeCaparello, @AnthonyDirrell, @GoldenCalebT, @SpikeTV, @SpikeSports, @KingsBoxing_and @Swanson_Comm and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions.
Highlights available to embed at www.youtube.com/premierboxingchampions. PBC on Spike is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.
Bellator, kickboxing, Spike TV

KARIM GHAJJI BECOMES THE FIRST KICKBOXING CHAMPION IN PROMOTIONAL HISTORY AT INAUGURAL ‘BELLATOR KICKBOXING: TORINO’ EVENT

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Complete Fight Night Photos Here

 

TORINO, ITALY. (April 22, 2016) – Italy’s largest indoor arena, The Pala Alpitour was packed with over 13,000 fans for the historic, inaugural “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” event. The kickoff event was one for the ages with fierce competitors making a name for themselves with their world-class kickboxing on display. The card aired tonight on SPIKE through a delayed broadcast following “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson.”

Melvin Manhoef (37-13) was upset by Milan’s Alexandru Negrea (9-2) via decision in the evening’s main event. Negrea, also known as “The Volcano,” erupted in the second round, scoring a knockdown that forced an eight-count for Manhoef. The closely contested bout resulted in a decision victory for the Romanian-born fighter (30-25, 29-26, 29-26).

Mustapha Haida (40-5-2) and Karim Ghajji (96-12) battled it out for five hard-fought, exciting rounds of action for the ISKA and Bellator Kickboxing World Titles. At the culmination of the bout, France’s Ghajji emerged victorious with the scorecards reading (50-44, 50-44, 46-48).

Los Angeles native Raymond Daniels (11-3) has a knack for producing highlight-reel finishes, and he was back at it again during the “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” event, flooring Francesco Moricca (15-3-1) with a spinning heel liver kick just 30 seconds into round one.

Here is the answer to a future trivia question: Veronica Vernocchi (31-7-1) was the first fighter to ever step into a Bellator Kickboxing ring. Denise Kielholtz (44-2), however, was all business from the very beginning. The Dutch striker made her historic walk to the ring to Rihanna’s hit song, “B*tch Better Have my Money,” and she fought as though her opponent showed up with empty pockets, winning a decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 28-29). With the win, Kielholtz became the first fighter to have their hand raised in a Bellator Kickboxing contest.

 

About Bellator:

Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA 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 Santa Monica, California 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.

 

About Oktagon:

Carlo Di Blasi created Oktagon in 1996. At its beginning the show was dedicated to free fight, the name that was given initially to MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Other disciplines such as Kickboxing, Muay Thai and Savate were gradually added from the early 2000’s onwards. During the last 20 years Oktagon has reached a huge popularity, both in Italy and abroad, creating many superstars in the process including Bellator welterweight Paul Daley as well as The Petrosyan brothers (Giorgio and Armen), Robin Van Roosmalen, Valentijn Overeem, Rico Verhoeven and Artem Levin.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

ANDREY KORESHKOV RETAINS WELTERWEIGHT CROWN IN EMPHATIC FASHION, DEFEATING BENSON HENDERSON BY UNANIMOUS DECISION

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Complete Fight Photos Here

UNCASVILLE, CONN. (April 22, 2016) — While many will be surprised by the news that Andrey Koreshkov (19-1) defeated Benson Henderson (23-6) in the main event of “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson,” the Russian champion made it clear following the bout that he intended to win each and every round inside the cage at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday night, and according to the judges scoring the bout at cage side, he did exactly that (50-45, 50-45, 50-45).

Over the course of 25 minutes, Henderson, a longtime lightweight competitor, had difficulty closing the distance of the larger “Spartan,” and sustaining damage in the process. “Smooth” was unable to secure takedowns and was upset with his performance, making it clear that he hopes for a quick return to the Bellator MMA cage; whether it’s at 170 or 155-pounds.

“Spartan” makes his first successful defense of the title he took from Douglas Lima in this very arena last year, and has his sights set on fighting one of the main contenders that the Scott Coker-led currently promotion has on its welterweight roster. In addition to the victory, Koreshkov also takes home the newly designed Bellator championship belt.

Patricio “Pitbull” Freire’s Showcases Nasty Guillotine in Co-Main Event

 

Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (25-3) went all-in with a beautiful guillotine choke 4:09 into the second round of his co-main event fight, forcing Henry Corrales (12-3) to tap out. Since making his Bellator MMA debut back in April of 2010, “Pitbull” has now collected 13 victories with the promotion, including wins in eight of his last nine bouts. It has been a great week for the “Pitbull” brothers, after older brother Patricky “Pitbull” came out victorious in the main event of “Bellator 152: Freire vs. Souza” last Saturday in Torino, Italy. The loss is only Corrales’ third of his career, two of which have now come via guillotine choke.

“Cyborg” Santos Spoils Ward’s Hometown Reunion With First Round Win

 

In his Bellator MMA debut, Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (21-16) defeated New London’s own Brennan Ward (13-4) with an ankle lock submission just 30 seconds into the opening round. The victory is Santos’ fourth career win in 30 seconds or less and 16th first round finish. The former Strikeforce competitor has now strung together back-to-back wins and has left an impressive first impression for Bellator fans, aside from the ones in attendance at Mohegan Sun Arena. For Ward, the loss puts an end to a promising streak of four consecutive wins, all of which came in his dominant 2015 campaign.

 

Primus Squeaks Past “Toninho Furia” In Catchweight Marathon

 

Brent Primus (7-0) remained undefeated with a split decision victory over “Toninho Furia” (27-6) on Friday taking home scores of (28-29, 29-28, 29-28). The Portland, Oregon native connected on several heavy blows and two pivotal takedowns leading him to his seventh career win. The three-round thriller was just Primus’ second fight that went past the first round and was left to the judges’ discretion.

“MVP” Makes Quick Work Of Holloway In Explosive Opening Bout

 

During the opening contest at “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson,” Michael “Venom” Page (10-0) finished Jeremie Holloway (7-2) with multiple hammerfists and an impressive toe hold submission at 2:15 in the opening round of action. The 28-year-old British phenom, “MVP,” remains undefeated after recording his tenth career win and sixth victory under the Bellator MMA banner. “Venom” now directs his attention to a return home when he meets Fernando Gonzalez on July 16 at “Bellator 158: London.”

Preliminary Card Results:

 

Djamil Chan (12-2) defeated Richard Patishnock (6-4) via knockout (punches) at 3:09 of round one

Chris Honeycutt (7-1) defeated Matt Secor (7-3) via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27 x2)

Mike Zichelle (8-4) defeated Joe Cronin (2-4) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:25 of round one

Matt Bessette (18-7) defeated Keith Richardson (14-7) via TKO (cut) at 3:14 of round two

Chris Foster (9-4) defeated Vovka Clay (3-1) via unanimous decision (29-28 3x)

Sam Watford (2-0) defeated Dean Hancock (2-1) via submission (armbar) at 1:24 of round one

Tim Caron (4-0) defeated Justin Sumter (0-1) via TKO (punches) at 3:38 of round two

Blair Tugman (8-6) defeated Jay Perrin (2-2) via split decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

MATT MITRIONE SET FOR PROMOTIONAL DEBUT AGAINST CARL SEUMANUTAFA AT ‘BELLATOR: DYNAMITE 2’

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SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (April 22, 2016) – A heavyweight showdown between Bellator MMA’s high profile free agent acquisition Matt Mitrione (9-5) and Carl “Badwater” Seumanutafa (10-6) will serve as the co-main event of “Bellator: Dynamite 2” on June 24, at Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

The bout joins a main card that features a catchweight main event between “Rampage” Jackson (36-11) and Satoshi Ishii (14-5-1) in Jackson’s first fight for the Scott Coker-led promotion since 2014. Additional MMA and kickboxing contests will be announced shortly.

Tickets for “Bellator: Dynamite 2,” which start at just $30, are onsale 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, giving fans in attendance the opportunity to see both iterations of combat sports on the same night.

Matt Mitrione originally took his talents to the football gridiron, signing as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants in 2002. After brief stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings, Mitrione entered the MMA cage and hasn’t looked back since. The 14-time UFC veteran began his professional career with victories in his first five fights, four of which came by way of knockout. Known as one of the top finishers in the sport, the 37-year-old Indianapolis native recently finished his run with his former employer, making the decision to test free agency. Mitrione will now look to duplicate the success that he found throughout his career, when he makes his much-anticipated Bellator MMA debut against Seumanutafa on June 24.

At only 26 years of age, Carl “Badwater” Seumanutafa will face the stiffest test of his career when he takes take center stage at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Similar to Mitrione, all but one of his wins has come by way of knockout, including five first-round finishes. Looking to continue building momentum in the heavyweight division, the former Strikeforce competitor was victorious in his Bellator debut, when he finished Javy Ayala with a vicious second round TKO at “Bellator 148: Daley vs. Uhrich.” A native of San Francisco, Seumanutafa has been competing professionally since 2007, making his pro debut at only 18-years-old.

Updated “Bellator: Dynamite 2” Fight Card:

 

Bellator MMA 215 lb. Main Event: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (36-11) vs. Satoshi Ishii (14-5-1)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Matt Mitrione (9-5) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (10-6)

 

Preliminary Card:

 

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 180-pound Preliminary Bout: Brad Jones (5-4) vs Clay Mitchell (1-2)

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 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

‘MVP’ LOOKING TO SQUASH BEEF WITH FERNANDO GONZALEZ AT THE O2 IN LONDON ON JULY 16

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LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT BETWEEN LINTON ‘THE SWARM’ VASSELL AND FRANCIS ‘LIMITLESS’ CARMONT ALSO OFFICIAL

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (April 22, 2016) – The recently announced international tentpole event, “Bellator 158: London,” now features two additional mouth-watering matchups during the event’s main card, with today’s addition of Michael “Venom” Page (10-0) versus Fernando Gonzalez (25-13) in a welterweight bout at The O2 in London. “MVP” is fresh off a first-round submission during the main card of “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” tonight and now sets his sights on impressing in his home country.

In addition, the stacked main card now also features a light heavyweight pairing between Linton “The Swarm” Vassell (16-5) and Francis “Limitless” Carmont (24-11). The two new contests join an event that already features Kimbo Slice (6-2) taking on James Thompson (20-16) and Josh Koscheck (17-10) against Paul “Semtex” Daley (38-13-2). Additional contests will be announced shortly.

In the United Kingdom, the event will be broadcast free on SPIKE UK and Channel 5, while in America the card will air FREE on SPIKE. Exact broadcast details for “Bellator 158: London” will be revealed in the near future. Tickets for the event are on sale now and start at only ￡40.00. They are available at TheO2.co.uk or The O2 Box Office.

As was showcased tonight at “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson,” mixed martial arts fans and pundits alike would be hard-pressed to find a striker — or submission specialist — as dynamic as Page. Other than his win against Jeremie Holloway, look no further than his previous outings against Charlie Ontiveros, or his 65-second knockout of Rudy Bears for explosive examples. But, now “Venom” looks to strike against Gonzalez, who is no stranger to being the underdog when he enters the Bellator MMA fray. A proud son of London, England, the 29-year-old Page has only reached the judges’ scorecards once in his nine professional outings. “MVP” will enter the cage at The O2 in London with an unblemished record, hometown support and momentum, all on his side.

Gonzalez, a 32-year-old Menifee, Calif. is looking to build upon his split decision victory over Gilbert Smith at “Bellator 151: Warren vs. Caldwell” and add to his impressive five-fight winning streak. A veteran of the Scott Coker-founded Strikeforce promotion, as well as World Extreme Cagefighting, Gonzalez has been competing professionally since 2003 and was originally slated to fight “MVP” in March, but the fight fell through when the Englishman withdrew due to injury. Now, Gonzalez looks to solidify himself as the No. 1 contender to the crown at 170-pounds and prove that he truly is the stiffest test Page has faced in his 10-fight career.

Vassell is fresh off of a victory over Bellator’s Emanuel Newton in a bout that went the distance at the record-shattering event that was“Bellator 149: Shamrock vs. Gracie.” Vassell has now won 11 of his last 13 fights and will be chomping at the bit to get back in the cage in front of his hometown fans. Vassell joins Thompson, Daley and Page on a card that features a strong contingent of British talent as the card continues to grow.

Hailing from Paris, France, the 34-year-old Carmont will enter the cage for the first time in 2016 and fourth under the Bellator MMA umbrella. In his most recent appearance, at the tournament-style “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1,” Carmont replaced an injured Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, who was forced to drop out after suffering a rib injury earlier in the event. After winning his first bout of the evening, “Limitless” surrendered a loss to Phil Davis in the final round of the tournament-style contest. Now, “Limitless” looks to upset the hometown faithful during the main card of “Bellator 158: London.”

Updated “Bellator 158: London” Fight Card:

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main Event: Kimbo Slice 6-2) vs. James Thompson (20-16)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Co-Main Event: Josh Koscheck (17-10) vs. Paul Daley (38-13-2)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Bout: Michael Page (10-0) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (25-13)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (24-11)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

ANDREY KORESHKOV LOOKS TO SPOIL HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED BELLATOR MMA DEBUT OF BENSON HENDERSON AT ‘BELLATOR 153’ ON SPIKE TOMORROW

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Complete Weigh-In Photos Here

 

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (April 21, 2016) – Following weigh-ins for “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” competitors on Thursday, all fights are set to take place inside the cage at the Mohegan Sun Arena tomorrow on Spike.

Headlined by a welterweight world title bout between Andrey “Spartan” Koreshkov (18-1) and Benson “Smooth” Henderson (23-5), the main card is primed to entertain. The card is loaded with young talent, including 28-year-old welterweight star Michael “Venom” Page (9-0), who will put his unblemished record on the line against Jeremie Holloway (7-1).

In addition, “Bellator 153: Henderson vs. Koreshkov” also features Brennan Ward (13-3) going to battle against “Cyborg” Santos (20-16), Patricio “Pitbull” Friere (24-3) versus Henry Corrales (12-2) and Brent Primus (6-0) meeting “Toninho Furia” (27-5).

“Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” takes place at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., and airs live and free on Spike at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App. In addition, stay tuned immediately following the event, the debut of “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” takes place at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Tickets for the event start at just $30 and remain on sale now at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster.com and the Mohegan Sun Box Office.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

BRANDON HALSEY & JOHN SALTER JOIN MAIN CARD OF ‘BELLATOR 156’ IN MIDDLEWEIGHT SHOWDOWN

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SANTA MONICA, Calif. (April 19, 2016) – A middleweight matchup between Brandon “Bull” Halsey (9-1) and John Salter (11-3) has been added to the main card of “Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” on June 17 inside Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif.

The fight joins a main card that features two of Bellator MMA’s top welterweights, in Chidi “Chidi Bang Bang” Njokuani (14-4) and Douglas “The Phenom” Lima (26-6), and a rematch between Marcos “Loro” Galvao (17-6-1) and Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas (17-4), where the Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title will be on the line. In addition, eight preliminary contests have been added to the event.

“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. Additional fights will be announced shortly.

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.

Halsey will be making his ninth appearance under the Bellator MMA banner, and be looking to add to his impressive promotional mark of 7-1. The former Fresno State Bulldog began his professional career 9-0 before recently surrendering his first loss against the present Bellator MMA Middleweight titlistRafael Carvalho at “Bellator 144: Halsey vs. Carvalho.” The 29-year-old will look to start another long streak of victories when he challenges John Salter in main card action at “Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” on June 17.

Salter comes into his bout with a professional record of 11-3 and is currently in the midst of a three-fight winning streak. In his Bellator MMA debut, Salter put an end to Dustin Jacoby’s night with a second-round, rear-naked choke submission at “Bellator 132.” A native of Tennessee, Salter has stopped his opponent in all 11 of his victories and has only lost once in his last seven fights as a professional. With five knockout victories coming in the opening frame, look for the 31-year-old to come out swinging inside Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif.

Updated “Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas” Fight 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)

Preliminary Card:

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. Chris Buron (5-0)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Javy Ayala (8-5) vs. Josue “J.R.” Lugo (7-3)

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. TBA

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Chris Lewis (0-0) vs. Ernest James (0-0)