Tom, Tony and Rich are back this week to chat a bit about the Philadelphia Eagles winning their first SuperBowl and eventually the latest happenings in Combat Sports. We go through the boxing schedule for this week first, then recap the last week’s biggest match-ups. Then we dive into the MMA scene and look back on another UFC Fight Night event and ahead to UFC 221. Listen to the whole broadcast below:
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BOK HALL TO HOST BELLATOR MMA AND KICKBOXING EVENTS
LOS ANGELES – Bellator will hold its third event in Budapest, Hungary on Friday, April 6, bringing along a battle of young guns looking to remain undefeated early in their mixed martial arts careers. The pride of Strabane, Northern Ireland, James Gallagher (7-0) meets Budapest’s Adam Borics (10-0) in an exciting Bellator 196 featherweight main event matchup.
A women’s flyweight bout will serve as the co-main event of the card, when the Bellator women’s 125-pound kickboxing champion Denise Kielholtz (1-1) takes on Lena Ovchynnikova (12-5, 1 NC). In addition, the April 6 card at BOK Hall will also feature world-class kickboxing action, as Bellator Kickboxing returns for another great night of fights. A main event for the kickboxing portion of the card will be announced in the coming days.
Bellator 196: Gallagher vs. Borics will be broadcast Friday, April 6 free on Paramount Network (formerly Spike) at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App. Bellator Kickboxing 9 will air immediately following at 11 p.m. ET/10 p.m. CT. Additional bouts will be announced in coming weeks.
Tickets for the event go on sale Friday, Feb. 9 and are available at www.Bellator.hu.
There are few mixed martial artists that invoke the type of polarizing reaction “The Strabanimal” does when entering the Bellator cage. A longtime training partner of Conor McGregor under the tutelage of world-renowned coach John Kavanagh at SBG Ireland, the 21-year-old has been on a tear since signing with Bellator in 2016, racking up four wins in four contests. With each victory, Gallagher has showcased a growing skillset, culminating in a first-round submission of Chinzo Machida at Bellator 180 last June. Now fully recovered from injury, Gallagher has a tough test ahead in the undefeated Hungarian.
Adam Borics made his Bellator debut at Bellator 177, finishing Anthony Taylor via submission in the opening frame. Known as “The Kid,” Borics has competed exclusively throughout his four-year career in Europe, and this time will be no different. Having won over plenty of fans over on the heels of his promotional debut in April of last year, Borics will definitely have the home field advantage on April 6.
Bellator women’s kickboxing flyweight champ Denise Kielholtz is riding high following her first MMA victory over Jessica Middleton earlier this year at Bellator 188, while Lena Ovchynnikova will enter the Bellator cage on April 6 looking to duplicate the success she had the last time she competed in Hungary, a TKO victory over Helen Harper. When the pair of flyweights compete at Bellator 196, look for both to keep the fight on their feet, making for an exciting standup battle.
Updated Bellator 196: Gallagher vs. Borics Fight Card:
Featherweight Main Event: James Gallagher (7-0) vs. Adam Borics (10-0)
Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: Denise Kielholtz (1-1) vs. Lena Ovchynnikova (12-5, 1 NC)
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Former Olympian Lenin Castillo (17-1-1, 12 KO’s) from the Dominican Republic has signed with new Puerto Rican management company, Spartan Boxing Club, on his mission to be part of the big stages in boxing.
Spartan Boxing Club President Raul Pastrana stated that “We are already planning to put Castillo on April 7 card in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Angel Acosta will defend his WBO world title, and we are currently in the process of looking for a quality opponent together with a regional title to rank Castillo in the top positions in order to get a greater fight by the end of the year”.
“I signed with Spartan Boxing because they have an incredible platform and a work plan that I understand will be effective for my long-term career. I’m crazy to get back the ring to show that I deserve to be on the big stages and what better way to start this new path in front of my dear Puerto Rican people whom make me feel at home every time I go there” said Castillo who at the amateur boxing level won gold medals at the Jr. Pan American Games and José ‘Cheo’ Aponte International Tournament, and competed at the Olympic Games at welterweight category in Beijing, China.
In his last fight, held in the month of November at the Hotel Jaragua in Santo Domingo, Castillo defeated by brutal knockout in the first round over power puncher, Andy Perez (20-7, 19 KO’s).
Spartan Boxing Club is composed of the decorated fighters: Super Bantamweight Yenifel Vicente (31-3-2, 23 KO) of the Dominican Republic who is ranked in the WBO & WBC, former members of the Puerto Rican National Amateur Boxing Team: Bernard ‘Bimbo’ Lebrón (9-0, 4KO’s), John ‘La Bestia’ Correa (3-0, 3KO’s) and Wilfredo ‘Bimbito’ Méndez (9-0, 4KO’s), among others boxers.
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Portland, Maine (February 8, 2018) – New England Fights (NEF) returns to Aura in Portland on April 14, 2018 with the fight promotion’s next mixed-martial-arts event, “NEF 33: Riptide.” Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of an amateur catchweight bout to the card. Nate Boucher (2-2) will face Walt Shea (2-1) at a fight weight of 130-pounds.
Nate Boucher will be looking to bounce back from back-to-back losses in the NEF cage. The former wrestler from Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, Maine lost very close split decisions at both “NEF 31” and “NEF 32″ recently. The first was an amateur flyweight title fight against Justin Witham (4-4) in Portland. Last weekend, Boucher dropped his second split decision in as many events to Ryan Burgess (3-2) in a number-one-contender’s fight. Prior to those two losses, Boucher had been undefeated in the NEF cage. He currently trains with Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) in Lewiston, Maine.
“I’m coming off of two close back-to-back losses, but I’m still committed to my goal of one day winning the NEF championship belt,” said Boucher. “Rather than sit on the sidelines, I’m getting right back in there in April. Walt Shea is coming off of his title fight loss to Fred Lear last August, so I know he will be motivated to get back in the win column too. Two motivated guys that are hungry to get back to their winning ways are the ingredients for an awesome battle. I can’t wait!”
Like Boucher, Walt Shea was undefeated prior to his last loss in the NEF cage. Shea had defeated Joel Downing (0-1) at “NEF 25” and then Alan Bustamante (0-1) at “NEF 27.” Both victories came by way of unanimous decision. Shea earned himself a shot at the NEF amateur bantamweight strap, but lost to Fred Lear (6-2) by TKO in the second round at “NEF 30” last summer. Shea is a member of First Class MMA in Brunswick, Maine.
“I’m excited to be finally making my return to the cage at ‘NEF 33,'” said Shea. “I was live for my opponent Nate’s last two fights – both razor close decisions that could have gone his way, but didn’t. I’m expecting a technical battle with a chance for some exciting grappling exchanges. I’m hoping to put on a show for the fans.”
NEF returns to Portland, Maine, at Aura on Saturday, April 14, 2018. Tickets are on sale now at www.AuraMaine.com. For more information on the event, please visit www.NewEnglandFights.com.
About New England Fights
New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.
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