BRAZILIAN PHENOM BRUNA ELLEN ALSO ADDED TO STACKED UNDERCARD

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIE. — (Jan. 13, 2017) – A pair of heavyweight fights featuring undefeated blue chip prospects Jarod Trice(1-0) et Tyrell Fortune (1-0) have been added to the Bellator.com-streamed preliminary card of Bellator 171 at the Kansas Star Arena on Jan. 27.

Also added to the preliminary portion of Bellator 171 est brun Ellen (2-1), qui prendra en Carmella James (Début) in a female flyweight clash. The new additions join a competitive undercard that is highlighted by a middleweight fight pitting the undefeated Chris Harris (7-0) contre Jordan Young (5-0), avec Gaston Reyno (6-1, 2 Caroline du Nord) contre Justin Overton (3-2).

A catchweight bout putting Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 3 Caroline du Nord) against knockout artist Chidi Njokuani (16-4, 1 Caroline du Nord) will serve as the evening’s main event, while fans will have the opportunity to see the return of “The King of Kansas” David Rickels (17-4, 2 Caroline du Nord) in a lightweight co-main event fight with Aaron Derrow (14-8). Phénomène invaincu A.J. McKee (6-0) va prendre Brandon Phillips (6-2) in a featherweight feature fight and Kansas’ own Jessica Middleton (1-0) défis Alice Yauger (4-4) in a female flyweight bout on the SPIKE-televised main card.

Les billets pour Bellator 171: Guillard vs. Njokuani commence à $24 et sont en vente dès maintenant auKansasStarEventCenter.com, ainsi que Ticketmaster.com. The event will be broadcast live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App.

A highly touted wrestling prospect out of Detroit, Michigan, Jarod Trice will make his second appearance inside of the Bellator MMA cage and is looking to build off of an impressive professional debut. The 27-year-old standout was awarded three All-American honors, as well as a National Title at 120 kg et deux titres nationaux gréco-romains, prior to joining the Bellator MMA fray in 2016. Now Trice is looking to make a name for himself in the world of MMA, after delivering an exceptional performance in his first career win over Tommie Britton at Bellator 167 just over one month ago. Kansas’ Kevin Woltkamp (1-2) will challenge Trice, and will look to play the role hometown spoiler when he competes in front of thousands of friends and family.

After earning state championships in nearly every national age-group in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling during high school, Fortune went on to compete at Grand Canyon University’s highly acclaimed program, where he was named the 2013 Division II Wrestler of the Year, taking home a NCAA Division II championship in the process. The Portland, Minerai. native began his career under the direction of Bellator MMA last year, earning a sensational first round knockout victory in his debut at Bellator 163. The 26-year-old now hopes to preserve his unblemished record when he enters the cage for the second time against Will Johnson, who will be making his professional debut.

Originaire de Sao Paulo, Brésil, Ellen enters the bout looking to build off the momentum she came into Bellator with after signing with the Viacom-owned promotion last year. The flyweight prospect began her professional career with back-to-back victories in 2015, including one victory coming after a brilliant knockout win in the opening round of action. Maintenant, the 20-year-old Brazilian makes her second appearance under the Scott Coker-led promotion in the same venue where she made her debut.

Achevée Bellator 171: Guillard vs. Njokuani Carte principale:

175 lb. Catchweight Main Event: Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 3 Caroline du Nord) vs. Chidi Njokuani (16-4, 1 Caroline du Nord)

Lightweight Feature Fight: Dave Rickels (17-4, 2 Caroline du Nord) vs. Aaron Derrow (14-8)

Lutte plume métrage: A.J. McKee (6-0) vs. Brandon Phillips (6-2)

Flyweight Feature Fight: Jessica Middleton (1-0) vs. Alice Yauger (4-4)

Carte préliminaire:

Bout moyen préliminaire: Chris Harris (7-0) vs. Jordan Young (5-0)

Poids plume Preliminary Combat: Gaston Reyno (6-1, 2 Caroline du Nord) vs. Justin Overton (3-2)

Weltereweight Combat préliminaire: Will Lavine (Début) vs. Domo Garcia (Début)

Welters préliminaire Bout: Chance Rencountre (8-2) vs. Jake Lindsay (11-5)

Bout préliminaire des poids coq: Johnny Marigo (2-0) vs. Joe Fulk (4-4)

Welters préliminaire Bout: Manny Meraz (8-3) vs. Scott Heston (4-1)

Bout léger préliminaire: Craig Farley (Début) vs. Mike Breeden (Début)

Poids lourd préliminaire Bout: Jarod Trice (1-0) vs. Kevin Woltkamp (1-2)

Poids lourd préliminaire Bout: Tyrell Fortune (1-0) vs. Will Johnson (Début)

Masselotte préliminaire Bout: brun Ellen (2-1) vs. Carmella James (Début)

 

KANSAS’ OWN JESSICA MIDDLETON MAKES SPIKE DEBUT DURING FLYWEIGHT BOUT AGAINST ALICE YAUGER

GASTON REYNO ADDED TO STACKED PRELIMINARY CARD

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIE. - (Jan. 12, 2017) – A featherweight feature fight pitting A.J. McKee (6-0) contre Brandon Phillips (6-2) a été ajouté à la carte principale SPIKE-télévisée de Bellator 171 at the Kansas Star Arena on Jan. 27.

En outre, Kansas’ own Jessica Middleton (1-0) va prendre Alice Yauger (4-4) in a female flyweight clash, while Uruguayan knockout artist Gaston Reyno (6-1, 2 Caroline du Nord) highlights a stacked preliminary card when he meets Justin Overton (3-2).

The evening’s main event features a 175-pound catchweight showdown between MMA veteran Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 3 Caroline du Nord) et spécialiste du KO Chidi Njokuani (16-4, 1 Caroline du Nord). “The King of Kansas” David Rickels (17-4, 2 Caroline du Nord) also returns to the Bellator cage, as he will take on Aaron Derrow (14-8) in a lightweight feature fight.

Les billets pour Bellator 171: Guillard vs. Njokuani commence à $24 et sont en vente dès maintenant au KansasStarEventCenter.com, ainsi que Ticketmaster.com. Additional main and preliminary card bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.The event will be broadcast live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and the Bellator Mobile App.

McKee enters the Bellator MMA cage undefeated and continues to prove that he is one of the top young prospects in the sport of MMA. With each of McKee’s six professional fights coming under the direction of Bellator MMA, the 21-year-old Team BodyShop product has made a name for himself from day one, showing both exceptional power and elusiveness every time he steps into the cage. After finishing each of his first five opponents with opening round victories, “Mercenary” was finally taken the distance in his most recent bout with Ray Wood, earning a hard-fought unanimous decision win atBellator 166. Originaire de Long Beach, Calif., McKee will return to the Midwest in search of his first win of 2017.

Taking his ninth professional fight, 27-year-old Brandon Phillips will participate in the main card action for the first time in his Bellator MMA career. Phillips began his professional career with a bang, delivering five consecutive victories, avec quatre coups de grâce, and earning well-deserved attention from the Scott Coker-led promotion. Phillips made his Bellator MMA debut in 2016, collecting a unanimous decision victory over Chuka Willis à Bellator 159. After recording finishes in five of six career wins, the Oklahoma City native will make the short trip up North to Kansas Star Arena, where he will have the opportunity to add to that impressive total.

Fighting out of Wichita, Kansas, 28-year-old Jessica Middleton will look to add to her impressive professional debut, a clutch victory over brun Ellen at last year’s Bellator 159 when she competes on Jan. 27. Following an undefeated amateur career, the hometown favorite now hopes to preserve her unblemished professional mark in a flyweight fight with Alice Yauger. An eight-fight veteran of MMA, Yauger enters the bout having won each of her last two contests and three of her past four. Hailing from Arlington, Texas, the 38-year-old Yauger hopes to use her experience advantage when she makes her promotional debut against the younger Middleton.

Making his fourth appearance under the Bellator MMA banner, Reyno enters the bout in search of his third win under the promotion and second in a row. A native of Montevideo, Uruguay, Reyno has delivered finishes in each of his six career victories, including five straight first round stoppages to begin his professional career. “Tonga” will now direct his attention to Kansas Star Arena and Jan. 27, where he will look to build off of an impressive knockout win over L.J. Hermreck at Bellator 159.

Mise à jour Bellator 171: Guillard vs. Njokuani Carte principale:

175 lb. Catchweight Main Event: Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 3 Caroline du Nord) vs. Chidi Njokuani (16-4, 1 Caroline du Nord)

Lightweight Feature Fight: Dave Rickels (17-4, 2 Caroline du Nord) vs. Aaron Derrow (14-8)

Lutte plume métrage: A.J. McKee (6-0) vs. Brandon Phillips (6-2)

Flyweight Feature Fight: Jessica Middleton (1-0) vs. Alice Yauger (4-4)

Mise à jour Carte préliminaire:

Bout moyen préliminaire: Chris Harris (7-0) vs. Jordan Young (5-0)

Poids plume préliminaire Bout: Gaston Reyno (6-1, 2 Caroline du Nord) vs. Justin Overton (3-2)

Weltereweight Preliminary Bout: Will Lavine (Début) vs. Domo Garcia (Début)

Welters préliminaire Bout: Chance Rencountre (8-2) vs. Jake Lindsay (11-5)

Bout préliminaire des poids coq: Johnny Marigo (2-0) vs. Joe Fulk (4-4)

Welters préliminaire Bout: Manny Meraz (8-3) vs. Scott Heston (4-1)

Bout léger préliminaire: Craig Farley (Début) vs. Mike Breeden (Début)