UNDEFEATED LIGHTWEIGHTS JAKE ROBERTS-CARRINGTON BANKS READY FOR ACTION IN PRELIMINARY CONTEST
SANTA MONICA, CALIF (Octombrie 19, 2016) – The anticipated mixed martial arts debut of flyweight Keri Melendez will come against Sheila Padilla (2-0) during the main card of "Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson " la Centrul SAP în San Jose, Calif. pe Nov. 19.
În plus, a lightweight bout pitting Carrington Banks (5-0) împotriva Jake Roberts (7-0) has been added to the Bellator.com-streamed preliminary card.
The bouts join action-packed fights highlighted by a lightweight world title main event featuring Michael Chandler (15-3) împotriva Benson Henderson (24-6). În plus, a welterweight clash between undefeated British striker Michael "Venom" Page (11-0) and California’s own Fernando Gonzalez (25-13) will also be the card’s co-main event. Rounding out the televised action, a lightweight showdown pitting Adam Piccolot (8-0) împotriva Brandon Girtz (14-4) and a light heavyweight matchup pitting Linton “The Swarm” Vassell (16-5) contra Francis Carmont (14-4) were added earlier this week.
"Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson " will take place on Noiembrie 19, airing LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 9 p.m ET/ 8 p.m. CT. Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased at Bellator.com, as well as SAP Center Box Office and Ticketmaster.
The queen of the infamous Skrap Pack in Northern California, Melendez made her first appearance in a victory during the kickboxing portion of "Bellator: Dynamite 1, " and followed up with another win at “Dynamite 2.” Melendez tallied a 4-1 amateur mark before taking her talents to the professional circuit, în cazul în care ea deține în prezent o 4-1 înregistrare Kickboxing. The 32-year-old flyweight will now make the transition to MMA, an iteration of combat sports that her husband, Gilbert Melendez has plenty of success in. Living up to her promise of making her debut in 2016, Melendez will compete on the main card of "Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson " la Centrul SAP în San Jose, Calif. pe Noiembrie. 19.
Fighting out of Visalia, Calif., Padilla will enter the Bellator MMA fray following two successful wins on the regional scene, both coming in 2016. Training under Bellator MMA veteran Doug Marshall at Team Elite, this will be Padilla’s opportunity to truly make a name for herself against Melendez, when she competes LIVE on SPIKE.
Just like his opponent, Banks enters the cage undefeated and ready to make another splash in his second fight since joining the Scott Coker-led promotion. The Peoria, Illinois native has finished two of his five victims and dominated all three of his decision victories, earning each by unanimous variety. “Jetsetter” will look to use Roberts as his runway for success as the Blackzilian product hopes to couple his Bellator MMA debut triumph with yet another feat and continue his climb up the lightweight ranks. After competing professionally in Kansas, Texas, and Iowa, the trip to Connecticut will mark Banks’ first on the East Coast. Tune in to Bellator.com’s live-streaming preliminary action to find out if the long journey will have any effect on “Jetsetter” and his performance.
“The North County Nightmare” hasn’t the slightest idea what it’s like to lose, as the 25-year-old enters his eighth professional contest at an admirable 7-0. Having won all five amateur bouts and each of his first four professional fights by way of first round submission, it is Roberts’ ground game that keeps his opponents up at night. Totuși, Roberts’ 2016 campaign has been all about power, after recording back-to-back knockout finishes, highlighted by an emphatic first round knockout in his Bellator MMA debut at "Bellator 160: Henderson vs. Pitbull.” Roberts hopes to haunt Banks’ dreams when the two clash in the bright lights of SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.
Complet "Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson” Main Card:
Lightweight World Title Main Event: Michael Chandler (15-3) vs. Benson Henderson (24-6)
Co-Main Event Welterweight: Michael Page (11-0) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (25-13)
Light Heavyweight Feature Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (25-11)
Funcție ușoară: Adam Piccolot (8-0) vs. Brandon Girtz (14-4)
Combaterea caracteristicii greutății muște: Keri-Anne Taylor-Melendez (Debut) vs. Sheila Padilla (2-0)
Complete Preliminary Card:
Atac preliminar ușor: Carrington Banks (5-0) vs. Jake Roberts (7-0)
Atac preliminar pentru greutate medie: Diego Herzog (3-2) vs. Nick Pica (5-0)
Atac preliminar pentru greutatea bantamă: Gabe Carrasco (7-0) vs. Rolando Velasco (10-4)
Atac preliminar pentru greutatea welter: James Terry (17-9) vs. Justin Baesman (19-10-1)
Atac preliminar pentru greutatea plumii: Jose Perez (2-1) vs. J.T. Donaldson (2-1)
Atac preliminar ușor: J.J. Okanovich (2-1) vs. Luis Vargas (Debut)
Atac preliminar ușor: Hugo Lujan (0-1) vs. Cesar Gonzalez (Debut)
Welterweight “VOW” Preliminary Bout: Dominic Sumer (Debut) vs. Justin Roswell (1-0)
Atac preliminar pentru greutatea welter: Danasabe Mohammed (5-0) vs. Dwight Grant (6-1)
Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Sarah D’Alelio (10-6) vs. Jaimelene Nievera (4-1)