ADDITIONAL PHOTOS – CREDIT BELLATOR/LUCAS NOONAN

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY -

Official Bellator 177: Dantas vs. Fig Hua Kāri Main & Quotes:

Eduardo Dantas (20-4) patua Leandro Higo (17-3) mā te whakatau ritua (30-27, 30-27, 28-29)

Eduardo Dantas Quote:

“It was tough to stay motivated for this fight once he missed weight. There was nothing to gain whether I beat him fast or slow. It wasn’t for the belt, it wasn’t going to change my ranking in Bellator,” Dantas said. “A, no te [Darrion] Caldwell got injured, I asked Scott Coker to bring in tough bantamweights and they brought in a tough fighter, but you have to make weight. I train hard for several months, I don’t go out, Whakangungu ahau. It’s the very minimum you can do. You have to make weight. Be a professional. I don’t think Caldwell is injured. I think he just doesn’t want to fight out of America. I am looking forward to getting my hands on him.”

Daniel Weichel (39-9) patua John Macapa (21-2) mā te whakatau ritua (29-28, 29-28, 28-29)

Daniel Weichel Quote:

“Macapa is definitely a tough opponent. He was almost undefeated coming into this with only one loss and I took him as seriously as I can take an opponent. At this time I treat everyone I fight as if it’s a championship fight. I think he is one of the top featherweight opponents that I could face so I’m pretty happy that I was able to beat him,” Weichel said. “I have to give a big shout out to all of my friends and family that drove 17-18 hours from Frankfurt and Cologne to be here and support me. They’ve been there for me and believed in me since day one and it’s difficult for me to even put into words how much it means to have them in my corner. I have to thank Bellator for putting me on this card and giving them the opportunity to come and watch me fight. I’m hoping that Bellator brings me to Mohegan Sun next week and puts me cage side so I can see who I will get to beat up next when (Daniel) Straus and (Patrick) ‘Pitbull’ whawhai.

Lena Ovchynnikova (12-4) patua Helen Harper (4-2) via doctor stoppage at 5:00 o te a tawhio noa e rua

Lena Ovchynnikova Quote:

“Before the fight I was a little bit nervous, and I felt that my first round wasn’t quite as good as I would of liked. But when the second round started she was going to feel my power and I knew that I would win,” Ovchynnikova said. “When the judges stopped the fight I couldn’t believe it. I was ready for a third round and I wanted to win with a knockout but we have what we have.”

Adam Borics (6-0) patua Anthony Taylor (1-3) mā tāpaetanga (kowaowaotia iho muri-tahanga) i 4:12 o te tetahi a tawhio noa

Adam Borics Quote:

“When the fight started, I felt a great deal of pressure from the crowd and I was in a bit of a rush. It took me a while to settle down and regain my composure, but once I did that I was able to see the fight much better. I’ve been working on my striking with Henri Hooft and I really was hoping to win with a knockout, but I saw my opening for a submission and I was able to end the fight with the choke,” Borics said. “I’m very happy that I was given this great opportunity to represent Hungary in MMA. This is very important for me to support the development of this sport in Hungary. It is my plan to continue to be an ambassador for the sport here and to continue to bring victories like this in the future.”

Brian Moore (10-5) patua Michal Horejsi (5-3) via TKO at 3:57 o te a tawhio noa e rua

Brian Moore Quote:

“Au tino ahau, really happy that I got the call back from Bellator. To be honest I begged for the call back because Bellator is where I want to be. I want to be signed with Bellator, I want to be a household name. I really believe I’m one of the better featherweights in this division. I was given a guy who is very unpredictable. I was patient in my approach but I cut him down and was able to finish him. I teie pô, I wanted to make a statement with a knockout because my dream is to fight at Madison Square Garden. I want to open up the show. My teammate James (Gallagher) is already on the card and we’d put on a super camp together and we’d tear that place apart,” Moore said. “My hero, Sugar Ray Robinson used to own the Garden. I’ve watched every bit of footage I can get my hands on of Sugar Ray, he’s my idol. So to fight in the same arena as he has – and obviously my teammate Conor (McGregor) has fought there too – it would be a dream come true. But I want to open up the card and set the tone for the night because when you see a fighter that is as exciting as I am that’ll set the tone. Give me anyone, I don’t give a f-ck.”

Mate Kertesz (3-0) patua Patrick Szombat (1-3) via TKO at 4:37 o te a tawhio noa e rua

Los Angeles — (March 14, 2017) – Following an undisclosed injury to Darrion Caldwell, budding superstar Leandro “Pitbull” Higo (17-2) will now challenge current champion Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas (19-4) in a bantamweight world title fight at Bellator 177: Dantas vs. Figinside the Budapest Sports Arena on April 14.

I tua atu, John “Macapa”(21-1-2) Ka fehangahangai Daniel Weichel (38-9) in a featherweight contest and Lena Ovchynnikova (11-4) tutaki Helen Harper (4-1) at 125-pounds. Rounding out the Spike-televised MMA action will be a featherweight matchup pitting Hungarian-born Adam “The Kid” Borics (5-0) ki Anthony “Pretty Boy” Taylor(1-2).

Bellator 177: Dantas vs. Figwill be broadcast on SPIKE at 9 p.m. AND/8 p.m. CT, ia Bellator Kickboxing 6 will air immediately following the MMA portion of the event, timata i 11pm ET/10pm CT.

Complete Bellator 177: Dantas vs. Fig Kāri Main:

Bantamweight World Title Bout: Eduardo Dantas (19-4) vs. Leandro Higo (17-2)

Featherweight Feature Bout: Daniel Weichel (38-9) vs. John “Macapa”Teixeira (21-1-2)

Flyweight Feature Bout: Lena Ovchynnikova (11-4) vs. Helen Harper (4-1)

Featherweight Feature Bout: Anthony Taylor (1-2) vs. Adam Borics (5-0)

Kāri hukihuki:

Taumekehiko Whakatekau Mua: Brian Moore (9-5) vs. Ludovit Klein (6-0)

Kōmāmātanga Tuhinga o mua: Mate Kertesz (3-0) vs. Adam Polgar (10-8)