MARK DICKMAN-DANIEL PINEDA SET FOR FEATHERWEIGHT CLASH & MIDDLEWEIGHTS GREGORY BABENE-‘KIKO’ FRANCE READY FOR BATTLE ON SEPTEMBER 16
SANTA MONICA, CALIF (Agosto 30, 2016) – A female flyweight bout pitting Kenya Miranda (2-2) against Emily Ducote (3-1) has been added to the preliminary portion of “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson,” which takes place on September 16 at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, Texas.
Adicionalmente, featherweights Mark Dickman (11-2) and Daniel Pineda (21-12) have agreed to slug it out while Gregory Babene (17-11-1) y Francisco “Kiko” Francia (13-4-1) square off in a middleweight bout that will also be featured on the Bellator.com-streamed preliminary card.
The fights join a heavyweight main event pitting Cheick Kongo (24-10-2) against Tony Johnson (10-2) and a bantamweight showdown pitting Joe Warren (13-5) against Sirwan Kakai (12-4). Adicionalmente, a lightweight feature fight featuring Derek Campos (16-6) against Djamil Chan (12-2) and a female flyweight battle between Anastasia Yankova (3-0) and Veta Arteaga (2-0) will also highlight an electric main card.
"Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson” will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET / 8 pm. Connecticut. Las entradas para el evento desde sólo $25 and can be purchased at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster, or the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park Box Office.
En 28, Miranda will be making her Bellator MMA debut when she steps into the cage on September 16. Since begining her professional career in 2014, Miranda has recorded a pair of wins, both of which came at the expense of opponent Natalia Cristina Silva. In her first career victory, the Brazilian prospect finished her challenger with a second round knockout and followed up the impressive performance with an equally splendid first round rear-naked choke submission. A native of Belo Horizonte, Brasil, Miranda will look to prove she belongs with the world’s best when she meets her “Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson” opponent.
Ducote burst onto the Bellator MMA scene following a second-round rear-naked choke finish of Bruna Vargas at “Bellator 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo.” The win earned the the 23-year-old Oklahoma native an exclusive contract with the Scott Coker-led promotion, and was her third straight win in 2016 since dropping the opening bout of her young mixed martial arts career. Training out of American Top Team’s affiliate in OKC, “Gordinha” will look to keep the momentum going when she takes on another top Brazilian prospect on September 16.
At 32-years-old, Dickman has quietly climbed the ranks as one of MMA’s most consistent featherweights. After beginning his professional career 5-0, the Las Vegas native continued his hot start, emerging victorious in nine of his first 10 extremos. The knockout artist will be making his second appearance under the Bellator MMA umbrella, after defeating Thomas Diagnevia brutal third round knockout at “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo.” Of his 11 professional victories, seven have come by way of KO, punctuated by three first round finishes. “Tricky” enters this fight having won six of his last seven bouts and his last two, as he tries to add to his career total and remain unbeaten since joining the Bellator MMA circuit.
Best known as a submission specialist, the 30-year-old Pineda has spent time with multiple local promotions as well as the UFC during his 33-fight career. Nicknamed “The Pit,” Pineda enters the cage having won three of his last four bouts and the opportunity to earn his first victory since joining the Bellator MMA fray. Hailing from Houston, Pineda will have the hometown edge over his opponent as the Scott Coker-led promotion will take its talented roster to Cedar Park and the H-E-B Center for the first time. Dating back to 2012, each of his last six wins has come by way of submission, with five of them occurring in the opening round of action. It’s worth noting that all 21 of Pineda’s wins have come by way of knockout or submission.
Proveniente de París, Francia, 29-fight veteran Babene will be making his second appearance under the Bellator MMA banner. The 32-year-old “Blade” emerged victorious in his promotional debut earlier this year, when he defeated Brandon Farran with a first round rear-naked choke submission at “Bellator 150: Kongo vs. Spartan.” The French middleweight has amassed 17 career wins thus far, 14 of which have come by way of knockout or submission. Babene will face one of the stiffest tests of his career, as he prepares to face rising middleweight “Kiko” France.
France will be fighting for the third time under the direction of Bellator MMA, after earning a victory over Ben Reiter in his Bellator debut at “Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef.” The 33-year-old nicknamed “Kiko” will also be making his 19th overall appearance in the cage, where he has accrued 13 victorias profesionales; 12 of which have come by way of submission. The Gilbert, Arizona native is currently riding a hot streak, claiming victories in six of his last eight fights (including one draw). The veteran submission specialist will have his hands full, as he prepares to enter enemy territory and challenge Babene in his home state of Texas on September 16th.
Actualizado "Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson” Main Card:
Evento Principal de peso pesado: Cheick Kongo (24-10-2) vs. De Tony Johnson (10-2)
Característica de peso gallo Bout: Joe Warren (13-5) vs. Sirwan Kakai (12-4)
Característica de peso mosca Bout: Anastasia Yankova (3-0) vs. Veta Arteaga (2-0)
Combate de funciones ligeras: Derek Campos (16-6) vs. Djamil Chan (12-2)
Bellator.com-Streamed Preliminary Card:
Peso mosca preliminar Bout: Kenya Miranda (2-2) vs. Emily Ducote (3-1)
Peso pluma preliminar Bout: Marcos Dickman (11-2) vs. Daniel Pineda (21-12)
Mediano preliminar Bout: Gregory Babene (17-11-1) vs. Francisco Francia (13-4-1)
Acerca de Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA es una organización mixta líder Artes Marciales con muchos de los mejores boxeadores del mundo. Bajo la dirección del veterano promotor de lucha, Scott Coker, Bellator está disponible para casi 400 millones de hogares en todo el mundo en más de 120 países. En los Estados Unidos, Bellator se puede ver en Spike, el líder de la televisión MMA. Bellator MMA está formado por un equipo ejecutivo que incluye a profesionales de la industria superior en producción de televisión, orquestación de eventos en vivo, desarrollo luchador / relaciones, obtención de locaciones, creación / desarrollo de patrocinios, licencias internacionales, mercadeo, publicidad, publicidad y comisión de relaciones. Bellator tiene su sede en Santa Mónica, California y propiedad del gigante del entretenimiento Viacom, el hogar de marcas de primera clase de entretenimiento del mundo que se conectan con el público a través de un contenido atractivo a través de la televisión, película, plataformas en línea y móviles.
Acerca de Spike:
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