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49-year-old pro boxer “Irish” Chuck Shearns Hanging up gloves January 19th
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WMMAA Celebrated Banner 2016
World MMA Championships team champion Russia on left, host team China on right
MONTE CARLO, Monacó (Eanáir 5, 2017)- In only its fifth year of existence, the World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA) celebrated a banner year in 2016, as membership expansion approached 50 countries around the world.
The WMMAA sanctioned countries in five divisions – Pan-Am, An Afraic, Áise, Europe and Oceania – include Afghanistan, An Airgintín, Airméin, Aruba, An Astráil, Asarbaiseáin, Bhealarúis, An Bheilg, Bhrasaíl, Canada, An tSín, Chinese Taipei, Costa Rica, Chróit, Cúba, Poblacht na Seice, France, Georgia, An Ghearmáin, An Ghréig, Guatemala, An Ungáir, An India, Iran, An Iodáil, Chasacstáin, An Chirgeastáin, An Laitvia, Mexico, Moldova, Monacó, Mongolia, Maracó, Ísiltír, Nicearagua, Paraguay, An Phortaingéil, An Rómáin, Rúis, An tSeirbia, Singeapór, An tSlóvaic, An Chóiré Theas, Spáinn, Táidsíceastáin, An Úcráin, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.
The highlight of the 2016 WMMAA season was the World MMA Championships, in which powerhouse, Team Russia completely dominated, as it also did in the European Championships, sweeping all seven weight classes in Studio City, Macau, An tSín.
Beagnach 100 fighters competed, a ionadaíonn 23 tíortha: Rúis, Chasacstáin, Spáinn, An Astráil, Belgian, An tSín, Colombia, France, Poblacht na Seice, Hong Kong, Táidsíceastáin, An Ghearmáin, An Ungáir, Macao, Nepal, An India, An Chóiré Theas, An Úcráin, An Chirgeastáin, Moldova, Úisbéiceastáin, Chinese Taipei and Italy.
MBoston Rúisis Gamzat Hiramagomedov agus trom éadrom Magomed Ankalayev were repeat world champions.
Asian team champion Kazakhstan won two Silver and four Bronze medals in team scoring, followed in order by Ukraine with two Silver and two Bronze, Czech Republic captured one Silver and two Bronze, Chinas one Silver and two Bronze, Kyrgyzstan two Bronze, and one Bronze each for France, An India, Spain and Moldova.
Below find results from each World MMA Championships weight classes:
DIVISION bantamweight: -61.2 kg (135 lb..)
1. Omar Nurmagomedov (Rúis)
2. Artur Mykytenko (Poblacht na Seice)
3. Mirat Bekishev (Chasacstáin)
3. Chun Bo Yuan (An tSín)
RANNÁN featherweight: -65.8 kg (145 lb..)
1. Kurban Taigibov (Rúis)
2. Elnur Valiev (An Úcráin)
3. Uulu Mustafa Rakhmatilla (An Chirgeastáin)
3. Roman Molodij (France)
DIVISION ÉADROMA: -70.3 kg (154 lb..)
1. Murad Ramazanov (Rúis)
2. Sheng Liu (An tSín)
3. Altynbek Bakhtygeldinov (Chasacstáin)
3. Leos Brichta (Poblacht na Seice)
DIVISION welterweight: -77.1 kg (170 lb..)
1. Alibeg Rasulov (Rúis)
2. Goyta Dazaev (Chasacstáin)
3. Syed Abdul Nazzeur Ibrahim (An India)
3. Uula Tologon Rakhmanberdi (An Chirgeastáin)
DIVISION mBoston: -84 kg (185 lb..)
1. Gamzat Khiramagomedov (Rúis)
2. Idris GHezalov (An Úcráin)
3. Murad Abdurahmanov (Chasacstáin)
3. Rong Fan (An tSín)
DIVISION SOLAS Heavyweight: -93 kg (205 lb..)
1. Magomed Ankalayev (Rúis)
2. Robert Lau (An Ghearmáin)
3. Erkinbek Inzhel (Chasacstáin)
3. Darwing Rodriguez (Spáinn)
DIVISION Heavyweight: +93 kg (+205 lb..)
1. Amirhan Isagadjiev (Rúis)
2. Alimanov Suleimanov (Chasacstáin)
3. Viktor Pavlichek (Poblacht na Seice)
3. Nicolae Scorohod (Moldova)
Go here to watch all the World MMA Championships final fights:
In other major WMMAA news from 2016, it was announced that the 2017 European Championships will be held September in Germany, 2017 Asian Championships will be October in Kazakhstan, exact dates and cities to be determined.
Chomh maith leis sin, Viktor Frolov was elected president of the European Division at the last Congress, held last November.
EOLAS:
Twitter: @theWMMAA
Instagram: @worldmmaa
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tarraingt siar óna chéad troid teidil
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M-1 Dúshlán 75, Márta 3 i Moscó, Rúis
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| ST. PETERSBURG, Rúis (Eanáir 5, 2017) – tarraingt siar óna chéad troid teidil Sergey “a bhuaigh Craobh Meánmheáchain M-1 an Grand Prix anuraidh” a bhuaigh Craobh Meánmheáchain M-1 an Grand Prix anuraidh tarraingt siar óna chéad troid teidil Magomed “An Mac Tíre Bán” Sultanakhmedov tarraingt siar óna chéad troid teidil Márta 3 ag M-1 Dúshlán 75 sa Rúis.
An M-1 Dúshlán 75 imeacht is mó, tarraingt siar óna chéad troid teidil Alexey Kunchenko (15-0-0, M-1: 7-0-0), na Rúise, tarraingt siar óna chéad troid teidil Shaukat Rakhmonov (7-0-0, M-1: 4-0-0),tarraingt siar óna chéad troid teidil.
M-1 Dúshlán 75 will be streamed live from Moscow in high definition on www.M1Global.TV. Beidh Amharcáin in ann féachaint ar na troideanna réamh-agus is mó cártaí trí logáil isteach ar chlárú ar www.M1Global.TV. Is féidir le lucht leanúna féachaint ar an gníomh ar a gcuid ríomhairí, chomh maith le ar Android agus Apple fóin cliste agus táibléad.
tarraingt siar óna chéad troid teidil, tarraingt siar óna chéad troid teidil (18-5-0, M-1: 10-1-0) tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas, tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas 2011 troid in M-1 Dúshlán 24.
tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas, tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas. tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas, tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas, tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas, tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas agus tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas, i measc na notables níos mó.
tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas, tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas “tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas, tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas” tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas. tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas, tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas, tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas.
tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas, tá sé neamhghníomhach le cúig bliana anuas.
Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1, Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1 Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1 Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1 M-1 Dúshlán 71, Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1 Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1 Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1 M-1 Dúshlán 68.
“Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1,” Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1, “Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1, Alexey Kunchenko, Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1. Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1. Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1, Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1, mar sin, Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1. Ceart anois, Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1, Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1.
“Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1, Bhí buanna suntasacha ag Romanov sa chomórtas Dúshlán M-1. Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile (Ú. Petersburg) Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile. Ansin, Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile. Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile, Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile. Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile, Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile, Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile.
“Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile. Anois, Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile. Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile’ Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile, Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile, Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile. Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile. Anois, Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile, 32, Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile. Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile, Tá mé ag traenáil sa bhaile”
 a bhuaigh Craobh Meánmheáchain M-1 an Grand Prix anuraidh (R) Is trodaire MMA soladach uile-thimpeall é
EOLAS:
Twitter & Instagram:
@ M1GlobalNews
VFinkelchtein
@ M1Global
Facebook:
M-1 CHALLENGE EVENT CALENDAR:
M-1 Dúshlán 74 – Feabhra. 18, 2017 – Ú. Petersburg, Rúis
M-1 Dúshlán 75 – Márta 3, 2017 – Moscó, Rúis
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GERVONTA “TANK” DAVIS: TRAINING CAMP QUOTES
Tionscnaimh Mayweather’ Budding Superstar Risks Unblemished Record Against Undefeated, Respected IBF Junior Lightweight World Champion Jose Pedraza Dé Sathairn, Jan. 14, Ó Barclays Ionad i Brooklyn & Beo ar Showtime
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(Photo Creidmheasa: Amin Peters/Mayweather Promotions)
World Champions Badou Jack and James DeGale Clash
In Super Middleweight World Title Unification in Main Event
In Super Middleweight World Title Unification in Main Event
Cliceáil ANSEO for Training Camp Photos from
Dornálaíocht Seaimpíní Premier
BALTIMORE (Jan. 4, 2017) – Highly regarded Mayweather Promotions rising starGervonta “Umar” Davis (16-0, 15 Kos) is wrapping up training for his challenge of super featherweight world champion Jose “The Sniper Pedraza (22-0, 12 Kos) in the opener of a Showtime CHAMPIONSHIP Dornálaíocht world championship doubleheader on Dé Sathairn, Jan. 14, ó Barclays Center i Brooklyn beo ar Showtime (9:30 p.m. AGUS/6:30 p.m. PT).
The 12-rounder between the unbeaten challenger (Davis) and world champion (Pedraza) will precede an eagerly awaited 168-pound world title unification showdown between WBC Super Middleweight World Champion Badou Jack (20-1-2, 12 Kos)andIBF Super Middleweight World Champion James DeGale (23-1, 14 Kos).
Tickets for the event promoted by Mayweather Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, tosú ag $25. Is féidir iad a cheannach ar líne (www.ticketmaster.com,www.barclayscenter.com) nó trí ghlaoch ar 1-800-745-3000.
Davis, 22, overcame a childhood filled with hardships to become a prolific amateur and has been virtually unstoppable as a professional. Mar amaitéarach (idir 2006-2012), he entered nine tournaments and came away with gold medals in all but one. He won gold in his last four tourneys, lena n-áirítear an 2012 National Golden Gloves Championship at 123 punt.
Since going pro in February 2013, the strong, aggressive-minded southpaw has played smash-mouth against mostly outclassed opponents, bhuaigh 13 de chuid 15 knockouts inside four rounds. To many, Davis resembles a young, smaller version of Mike Tyson in the way he walks down foes, gets on the inside and unloads lethal hooks and uppercuts. He’s gone into the ninth round once and into the sixth round twice. A winner of six straight by knockout, Davis’ lone fight to go the distance came in his ninth outing, a six-round nod over German Meraz, who went down twice, i mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2014. Davis is coming off a 0:41, first-round KO over Mario Macias last Meitheamh 3.
Although powerful, very fast and determined, the talented Davis is taking a significant leap in class and he may enter the ring as a slight underdog to Puerto Rico’s Pedraza, 27, a solid switch-hitter with first-rate skills, gluaiseacht agus punching cumhachta. This will be Pedraza’s third defense of the IBF 130-pound title. He’s gone the 12-round distance four times in a row and five times since his pro debut in February 2011. At 5-feet-8½, he is two-and-a-half inches taller than Davis.
Davis, the IBF’s No. 8-ranked super featherweight, who was born and resides in Baltimore, shared thoughts on his upcoming fight from the Uptown Boxing Center in Baltimore:
You’ve been a professional for less than three years, yet you’re less than two weeks away from getting a crack at a world title. What are your thoughts about that?
“It’s been my goal to fight for a world title. Tá mé an-dóchasach. I’ve worked hard in the gym for over two months for this fight. I’ve put in the hours. I’ve had a great camp with great sparring. I’m not surprised the fight is almost here. This is perfect timing for me.”
Have you done anything differently in this camp?
“Maybe some little things, but not really. We take training seriously. We take all our opponents very seriously. But I have to treat it as just another fight, against another opponent. We know Pedraza is a world champion, a great fighter that comes to fight and we give him his respect as a world-class fighter. I know he’s going to be ready. He’s always ready when it’s time to get in there and do his job. But I’m prepared for him. He doesn’t know what we bring to the table.”
Are you surprised you’re not favored? When was the last time you were an underdog?
“I’m the underdog because he’s the world champion, that’s the reason. Other than that, I feel deep inside that he’s the underdog, but that’s just my assessment. He won’t be showing me anything I haven’t already seen before.
“I’ve never been the underdog in a fight, so this is a first for me.”
When’s the last time you lost a fight?
“I’m competitive all around and don’t like losing. I can’t remember exactly the last time I lost a fight, maybe it was three years ago. All I know for sure is that my mind entering this fight is all about winning.”
Critics talk of your level of competition, or lack of. What’s your opinion of the fighters Pedraza’s successfully defended against lately?
“I’m not taking anything away from Pedraza; he’s beat Stephen Smith and Edner Cherry but those guys don’t bring the power, luas, elusiveness and angles that I do. I’m not downgrading anybody, but they’re mostly average.”
Are you looking at this as an opportunity to showcase your overall skills, durability, srl?
“A lot of people don’t realize the skills and talent that I have. They see me just going in there like a little Tyson or someone like that. But I have all the tools. I know how to box, how to move my feet. I have good hand speed. I work my angles and things like that. I’m an overall sound fighter, Boxer-pollaire.
“I think this will be a wakeup call for boxing, a chance to show that I’m the one. But I’m not coming to be just the top guy. I want to be a superstar and bring joy and entertainment to the sport. Pedraza will bring out the best in me and I will steal the show.”
How do you manage to stay in the moment, and not look back, or can you?
“I’m so thankful that I am part of a strong team, and that I have such a great team. I believe we have the greatest team in boxing. They keep me grounded, focused. They keep me from getting distracted. We all know what the main goal is. I can’t do it all myself, my coach can’t do it all himself, my manager can’t do it all himself. We believe totally in each other as a team. I listen to everything they say.”
How much is your past a motivation, or is it? When you look back at your life do you have memories or nightmares?
“I believe I’ve accomplished a lot. Me just being alive today, me not being in jail or in trouble outside the ring, it’s hard from where I come from. But it’s all helped me handle situations well. I’m so used to dealing with situations. I’m older and know what’s right from wrong. There’s never any pressure when I fight. I’ve won so many fights already I know what to do when I get in the ring.”
How long have you known Floyd? When did you meet him and how would you describe your relationship? What does it mean for Floyd to be your promoter?
“The first time I talked to Floyd (at length) was at the Adrien Broner-Shawn Porterfight (Meitheamh 20, 2015). Me and Adrien, we’re friends and he flew me out to Las Vegas for the fight. I worked out at the Mayweather gym and Floyd liked the way I fought, my heart. But the first time I actually met and talked to him came when one of Floyd’s press tours came to Washington, D.C.
“Floyd has always had a major impact on me and my career. I grew up around him. All of us wanted to be like him. Like Tyson and Ali were to the generations of boxers before me, Floyd was our superstar. For him to bring me under his wing, to fight for him, is unbelievably great.”
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Tá ardán cláir BROOKLYN Dornálaíocht ™ Barclays Ionad i láthair ag AARP. Chun cuairt tuilleadh eolais a fháil www.SHO.com/Sports
Undefeated Welterweight Prospects Miguel Cruz & Alex Martin Battle in Premier Boxing Champions on Spike Action Friday, Eanáir 13 ó Hialeah Páirc Rásaíocht & Casino i Miami
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End of Year Accolades Add To Excitement For Carl Frampton vs. Leo Santa Cruz Featherweight World Championship Rematch
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HEAVYWEIGHT BRAWL PITTING CHEICK KONGO AGAINST OLI THOMPSON ADDED TO ‘BELLATOR 172’ ON FEB. 18
BATTLE OF UNDEFEATED ADAM PICCOLOTTI AND BRENT PRIMUS ALSO ADDED TO MAIN CARD
SANTA MONICA, CALIF - (Eanáir 4, 2017) - Cheick Kongo (25-10-2) will challenge Oli Thompson (17-9) during the main card of "Bellator 172: Fedor vs. Mitrione” ar Feabhra 18, 2017 ag SAP Center i San Jose, Calif. Chomh maith leis sin, undefeated lightweights Adam Piccolot (9-0) agus Brent Primus(7-0) are also set to face off during the Spike-televised card.
Sa an imeacht is mó de "Bellator 172: Fedor vs. Mitrione," Fedor Emelianenko (36-4, 1 NC) will compete on American Soil for the first since 2011, nuair a bhuaileann sé Matt Mitrione (11-5). The event will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 9 p.m. AGUS/8 p.m. CT. Ticéid le haghaidh an ócáid tosú ag amháin $30 and are available at SAP Center Box Office, Bellator.com and Ticketmaster.com. Additional fights will be announced in coming weeks.
Ó tháinig an fray Bellator MMA i 2013, Kongo has strung together an impressive run that has seen him emerge victorious in seven of nine contests, including three consecutive victories. Le 37 career fights under his belt, the Frenchman has tallied 25 professional wins, Lena n-áirítear 12 by way of knockout. The knockout artist hopes to build off his victory over Tony Johnson at "Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson," when he welcomes British sensation Oli Thompson back into the Bellator cage.
Hailing from East Sussex, Sasana, Thompson enters the matchup in search of his first career win under the direction of the Scott Coker-led promotion. Dating back to 2015, “The Spartan” collected wins in five of his last six bouts, including a pair of brutal first round knockouts. Of his 17 career wins, the 36-year-old powerhouse has finished 13 acu, including seven knockouts. A former title-holder of Britain’s Strongest Man competition, Thompson will now look to add to that total when he and Kongo faceoff at SAP Center in San Jose.
Fighting out of Half Moon Bay, Calif., the undefeated Piccolotti is set to return to San Jose, where he has dominated competition over the past few years. Since signing with Bellator MMA, the 28-year-old lightweight has won all five of his bouts, including four consecutive victories in the “Capital of Silicon Valley.” Piccolotti dazzled in his most recent win over Brandon Girtz, ending the veteran’s three-fight winning streak while once again displaying his lethal combination of flawless jiu-jitsu and striking. Piccolotti has finished his opponent in six of nine career wins and three of his past four, making him one of the most dangerous weapons in the 155-pound division.
Primus also carries with him an undefeated target on his chest, as the battle to remain an unbeaten lightweights goes through SAP Center in 2017. Similar to Piccolotti, Primus saw immediate success in the world of mixed martial arts, recording first round finishes in each of his first five fights to begin his professional career. The five-time Bellator MMA veteran hopes to keep the ball rolling, as a win over the fan-favorite Piccolotti would certainly open a lot of doors. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, the 31-years-old Primus hopes to build off of a 2016 campaign that was highlighted by a key win over Brazilian veteran “Toninho Furia.”
Nuashonraithe "Bellator 172: Fedor vs. Mitrione” Main Card:
Heavyweight Main Event: Fedor Emelianenko (36-4, 1 NC) vs. Matt Mitrione (11-5)
Heavyweight Feature Bout: Cheick Kongo (25-10-2) vs. Oli Thompson (17-9)
Lightweight Feature Bout: Adam Piccolot (9-0) vs. Brent Primus (7-0)
Preliminary Bouts:
Welterweight Prelim Bout: James Terry (18-9) vs. David Douglas (9-6)
Lightweight Prelim Bout: Nikko Jackson (1-1) vs. Cesar Gonzalez (0-1)
Featherweight Prelim Bout: Juan Cardenas (1-0) vs. Luis Vargas (0-1)
Welterweight Prelim Bout: Danasabe Mohammed (5-1) vs. Carlos Rocha (9-4)
Flyweight Prelim Bout: Anthony Do (4-1) vs. Bobby Escalante (4-5)
Flyweight Prelim Bout: Matt Ramirez (1-2) vs. Jeremy Murphy (3-3)
Lightweight Prelim Bout: J.J. Okanovich (3-1) vs. Paradise Vaovasa (5-1)
Featherweight Prelim Bout: Justin Tenedora (Tús) vs. Roque Reyes (0-3)
Maidir Bellator:
Bellator is a leading Mixed Martial Arts and Kickboxing organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Faoi stiúir an veteran tionscnóir troid i Scott Coker, Is Bellator ar fáil do beagnach 500 milliún tithe ar fud an domhain i níos mó ná 140 tíortha. Sna Stáit Aontaithe, Is féidir Bellator le feiceáil ar Spike, the combat sports television leader. Bellator comhdhéanta d'fhoireann feidhmiúcháin go n-áirítear daoine gairmiúla tionscail is fearr i léiriú teilifíse, orchestration ócáid beo, Forbairt Trodaire / Caidreamh, soláthar ionad, cruthú urraíochta / forbairt, ceadúnú idirnáisiúnta, margaíochta, fógraíocht, caidreamh poiblíochta agus coimisiún. Bellator lonnaithe i Santa Monica, California agus úinéireacht ag fathach siamsaíochta Viacom, baile chun an domhain brandaí premier siamsaíochta a nascadh le lucht féachana tríd an ábhar láidre ar fud an teilifís, pictiúr reatha, ardáin ar líne agus soghluaiste.
Former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes officially retires
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'Bellator 170: ORTIZ VS. SONNEN’ OFFICIAL CONFERENCE CALL QUOTES FROM TITO ORTIZ, CHAEL SONNEN, BRENNAN WARD, PAUL DALEY AND SCOTT COKER
SANTA MONICA, CALIF. — (Eanáir 3, 2017) – Before the cage door closes at the Forum in Los Angeles, the main and co-main event fighters from "Bellator 170: Ortiz vs. Sonnen” participated in a media conference call. If you weren’t on the line, you can listen to it anseo, or read a couple of the quotes below.
Sa chás is mó de na tráthnóna, Tito Ortiz (18-12-1) Bíonn ar Chael Sonnen (28-14-1). Chomh maith leis sin, Ralek Gracie (3-0) agus Hisaki Kato (7-2) will meet in a middleweight feature fight, cé go Georgi Karakhanyan (26-6-1) agus Emmanuel Sanchez (13-3) cath. Ar deireadh, a fantastic welterweight co-main event pitting Paul Daley (38-14-2) aghaidh Brennan Ward (14-4) is also set for the Spike-televised main card.
Limited tickets for the mega-event start at $36 and are on sale at Bellator.com, as well as Ticketmaster.com. The event will be broadcast live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT. The “Bellator 170: Ortiz vs. Sonnen” undercard, streams live on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App beginning at 6:50 p.m. AGUS / 3:50 p.m. PT.
Q: For Paul Daley…We had a chance to talk before you were schedule to fight Derek Anderson at ‘Bellator 163.’ He made the weight, but the fight didn’t happen. Mar sin,, what’s going to change this time? Are you going to do anything different in your preparation and what do you expect from Brennan Ward?
Paul Daley: Things didn’t go according to plan at the last event that I was scheduled to compete in. I made the weight, but it was what happened after that was the problem. Those problems have been ironed out and we should have everything back on track and I’m ready to compete in what is going to be the most exciting fight on the card.
Q: For Brennan Ward…Both of you have definitely delivered exciting knockouts in recent performances, so I want to know what your expectation of the fight is and if you think it will be a quick showcase.
Brennan Ward: They don’t just line two guys up like Paul and I for no reason — on a card like this, that is probably the biggest card of the year and one of the biggest Bellator cards of all-time == They’re putting our matchup on there for a reason. They know fireworks are going to go off and they know this fight isn’t going the distance. Paul and I end fights, it’s what we do. Like he said, we’re going to put on the most exciting fight of the night for sure.
Q: I know that clip of you and Tito wrestling in college has been going around, so what do you expect from Tito this time around compared to the Tito you saw back then?
Chael Sonnen: Féach, Tito’s a great fighter. He was a hell of a wrestler…I caught him in one position in that match, I’m not hanging my hat on that. I’m pumped to be in there and compete against a Hall of Famer like Tito. I’m going to do everything I can to beat him, but I don’t dismiss how good this guy is.
Q: It’s been a while since we saw you in there with Liam McGeary in that title fight. Mar sin,, from then to now, what’s changed and what are you going to show us?
Tito Ortiz: I’ve been at work now for three years. I came from the UFC and Bellator gave me a chance to reinvigorate my career and I want to leave on my own terms. I want to leave respectfully. Scott Coker has done an amazing job with the company already and I sat back, thinking about what would be my last fight. All of a sudden, I’m watching Bellator on Spike TV and Chael Sonnen comes screaming out, calling me a coward and saying that he wants to fight me and I swear there has never been a bigger smile on my face. I was already getting ready to fight in November. I wasn’t sure who my opponent was going to be, but I was getting in shape. I’ve been training now for almost four months and this is probably one of the longest camps I’ve had and it’s time to showcase my skills. Chael says he’s fighting because he’s jealous and that’s the wrong way to come into a fight. I’m going in to get redemption and to me Chael is my enemy. This is no game, this is nothing fun, this is what I do for a living. I train and I go out to try and hurt my opponent. I know what I need to do. I need to defend the takedown, I need to watch out for the punches, I need to watch out for the guillotine. I know all of the moves that Chael has done and my job is to go in and destroy him. Ar Eanáir 21, two days before my birthday, I want to get the ‘Fight of the Night.’ I hope Chael’s in great shape because when I’m on top of him, he’s going to shit himself. I’m going to throw my elbows through his face and like I said, this is no joke. This is serious to me because my family’s watching, my kids are watching, and all of my fans are watching. I’ve given so much for this and I’ve sacrificed everything. I sacrificed my Thanksgiving, Christmas, and my New Year’s for this.
Q: Of all the guys you’ve verbally dueled with in your career, how would you size up where Tito stands? How does he compare to other guys that you’ve gone back and forth with verbally?
Chael Sonnen: Man, it’s painful. It was painful just listening to him read through that list of notes. He just rattled off all of his bullets right there in one answer and I think he asked to go to the bathroom during it, which was a little weird. I don’t care, I never thought about Tito Ortiz. I didn’t come to this organization to fight Tito Ortiz. I’ve been chasing Wanderlei Silva around, but Wanderlei is busy until the summer. They called me and asked if I’d fight Tito on Eanáir 21 and I didn’t have anything else going on, so I said yes.
Q: Beyond this fight, what are your goals in Bellator?
Chael Sonnen: I want to compete at Bellator. I want to be a champion, get to the top, and compete with all the guys. I want to find a weight class. I’d like to do it at 205-pounds, but I think there’s an opportunity at 185 and now we have some big signings at heavyweight and catchweight too. I just think there’s a lot of opportunity over here. I can tell you as far as training, working hard and being prepared, that’s what I do. I do it every day. I will bring my skills to the fight and if they’re enough I’ll win; If they’re not, I won’t. That’s just the way that this sport is played and I’m just looking forward to competing with these guys.
Q: Coming back to compete in California, with your history with that athletic commission, you’ve already taken an out-of-competition test. How do you look at that process? Were you surprised by the test? Was there an understanding that it was going to be a part of the deal to get you back in California?
Chael Sonnen: I was surprised by it. That’s why the test works. I was not ready to be tested and I didn’t know that I was going to be tested and I haven’t thought about it a whole lot. You have to understand that when you’re a guy with my background that’s just coming off of a suspension, that’s the way it goes. You’re going to have more tests than other guys and that’s just fair.
Q: Ar deireadh, can you just size up the marketplace since you left UFC and since they’ve been purchased?
Chael Sonnen: Féach, I’m brand new. I only know a few guys at Bellator. I know three people, that’s how new I am. I’ve been to two Bellator shows; one at Mohegan Sun Arena and one in San Jose. Both events were sold out! When I was in San Jose, I was sitting there and down the ramp comes the greatest heavyweight of all time, Fedor Emelianenko. Coker signed him and didn’t even say anything to anybody. The place was packed and the ratings were going higher. I wanted to come to Bellator when I saw Ken Shamrock walk the ramp and I thought this is awesome. Connecticut and then California, both sides of the country and both sold out. The household name that Bellator has become is amazing. I used to have to explain to people what UFC and what MMA was. When I tell people I’m with Bellator, they know exactly what it is. When Tito and I met in that college wrestling match, there was 80 people there tops, nobody cared. It was a big sacrifice just to show off in front of 80 daoine. To show off in front of a sold out arena, a record-breaking show, is fun. We get Paul Daley and Brennan Ward to entertain us before we have to go out and take care of business.
Q: Tito, do you have any comment to Chael’s comments earlier about you reading from a script and all?
Tito Ortiz: This guy knows that he bit off a little more than he can chew. I’ve been through 20 years of competition, won world titles, and stepped into that cage over and over again. Is é an cruthúnas sa maróg. I’m sitting here listening to the tone that Chael has and it sounds like he’s drowning and on Eanáir 21, he’s going to be drowning in his own blood.
Chael Sonnen: I told you he was out of bullets! I warned you ahead of time!
Q: Chael, congratulations on Celebrity Apprentice last night…great to see you on the debut there. How difficult is it for you to balance the Celebrity Apprentice, ESPN, your podcast, and training all together?
Chael Sonnen: I hate days off. I hate it more than anything. When I look at my calendar before I go to bed, I hate seeing gaps in there. So as far as training goes, I’m in the gym three hours a day. It’s an hour in the morning, maybe even less, two hours in the afternoon, I’m out the door in three in a half hours tops. Mar sin,, that leaves me with another 20 hours in the day and I like to fill it. I don’t like to sleep a lot and that’s just the way it goes. I like to stay busy, but nothing interferes with preparation for the competition. I haven’t missed a practice, a run, a workout, a sparring session; I go every day. I go to practice every day no matter what, dhá uair sa lá. There are parts when I’ll pick up the intensity and work a little harder and then there are parts when I’ll take a break to get a drink of water, but it doesn’t change for me. Tá mé réidh le dul, go bhfuil sé.
Q: Chael, I know you said that you had a little more of a looser camp, where you’ve trained with a lot of different fighters, especially due to all of the traveling. How has it been, having access to some elite fighters in other parts of the country?
Chael Sonnen: I love working out in other parts of the country and I love going to different gyms. And that’s something new to me, because I didn’t used to travel. I was just locked at home in Portland, Oregon, but we had a hotbed out there, with guys like Randy Couture and Evan Tanner, I could name drop for you and it would really impress. We had a really great system out there, but it dried up and some of those guys retired. Some of them moved away and some of the gyms closed down, so all of these new traveling has been great. I’ve got a lot of rounds in and worked out with Georges St-Pierre and a bunch of hammers out there that you’ve never heard of yet, but you will. I’m getting good work in and I’m learning from these guys. The one thing that I try to do, and I copied Randy Couture on this, is always train with the kids. He would be in high school workout rooms doing some wrestling practice and it was very hard for the next generation to ever get ahead of him because he always trained with that younger generation. Mar sin,, I spend a lot of time with those kids and I have my own practices on top of that. I’m not positive that I can take Tito down, I’m not positive that I can out-box him; everything has to get better. I have to get stronger, níos tapúla, better with more technique and better strategy and it all takes time.
Comhlánaigh "Bellator 170: Ortiz vs. Sonnen” Main Card:
Solas Heavyweight Main Imeacht: Tito Ortiz (18-12-1) vs. Chael Sonnen (28-14-1)
Welterweight Co-Main Event: Paul Daley (38-14-2) vs. Brennan Ward (14-4)
Middleweight Príomh Cárta Bout: Ralek Gracie (3-0) vs. Hisaki Kato (7-2)
Featherweight Príomh Cárta Bout: Georgi Karakhanyan (26-6-1) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (13-3)
Lightweight Príomh Cárta Bout: Derek Réimsí (17-6) vs. Derek Anderson (14-2, 1 NC)
Bellator.com-Streamed Preliminary Card:
Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Chinzo Machida (4-2) vs. Jamar Ocampo (2-0)
Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Jack May (8-3) vs. Dave Cryer (11-2)
Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Henry Corrales (12-3) vs. Cody Bollinger (19-6)
Middleweight Réamh Bout: Kevin Casey (9-5-1, 2 NC) vs. Keith Berry (15-13)
Welterweight Réamh Bout: Guilherme “Bomba” Vasconcelos (8-3) vs. John Mercurio (8-7)
Welterweight Réamh Bout: Gabriel Green (3-0) vs. Jalin Turner (2-2)
Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Christian Gonzalez (2-0) vs. Daniel Rodriguez (2-0)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Jacob Rosales (4-2) vs. Ian Butler (3-2)
Welterweight Réamh Bout: Johnny Cisneros (9-5) vs. Curtis Millender (9-3)
Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Mike Segura (4-4) vs. Tommy Aaron (2-1)
Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Rob Gooch (4-3) vs. James Barnes (6-2)
Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Rebecca Ruth (6-2) vs. Colleen Schneider (10-7)