Leli viki Tom, Tony and Rich recap last week’s UFC Fight Night, all the boxing action from last Saturday, and all the biggest combat sports stories of the week, including the funeral of Wrestling Legend Bruno Sanmartino. Siphinde kuqala imicimbi ezayo, with Tom and Rich making a push-up bet on Fedor vs. Mir in this Saturday’s Bellator Main Event.
Listen to the whole broadcast below:
MICHAEL MCDONALD CHALLENGES FORMER BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION EDUARDO DANTAS IN CO-MAIN EVENT
I-LOS ANGELES – On Friday, July 13, Julia Budd (11-2) will defend her featherweight world title against Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Talita Nogueira (7-0), kwenzeka main of Bellator 202 at WinStar World Casino and Resort. Ngaphezu kwalokho, the co-headliner will feature former Bellator world champion Eduardo Dantas (20-5) ukuthatha on Michael McDonald (18-4) in a bantamweight clash of top contenders.
Bellator 202: Budd vs. Ziyadliwa will be broadcast live and free on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.comand globally on the Bellator Mobile App. Amathikithi alo mcimbi aqala ukudayiswa ngalo Lwesihlanu, April 20 and can be purchased at the WinStar World Casino and Resort box office, as well as through Ticketmaster and Bellator.com. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.
Julia Budd, the only fighter to sit atop Bellator women’s featherweight division, has bested Germaine de Randamie, Arlene Blencowe futhi Marloes Coenen amongst other names over the course of her eight-year mixed martial arts career. “The Jewel” is also the only woman to defeat Gina Carano in Muay-Thai competition. Manje, the Canada-native and former STRIKEFORCE competitor, returns to Oklahoma, where she makes her second title defense since winning the belt last year at Bellator 174.
Talita Nogueira had already been crowned a world champion in jiu-jitsu prior to testing her hand in MMA. “Treta” went undefeated in six MMA contests in her home town of Sao Paulo, Brazil between 2009 futhi 2013, before signing to compete with Bellator. Originally slated to fight Budd at Bellator 133, Nogueira suffered an injury that forced her to withdraw from the contest. Her highly-anticipated promotional debut ultimately took place at Bellator 182, where the 32-year-old scored a first-round submission over Amanda Bell. The Demain Maia-trained fighter now gets a second chance to compete against Budd, and this time, the world championship is on the line.
Former two-time world champion Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas has proven himself a perennial top-10 bantamweight fighter with impressive performances over Joe Warren, Marcos Galvão (x2), Wilson Reis and Zach Makovsky. The Bellator Season 5 tournament champion has strung together an impressive 10-2 record with Bellator during his seven-year tenure with the promotion. The 29-year-old trains alongside the likes of Jose Aldo at the famed Nova Uniao team in his home town of Rio de Janeiro and is looking for another shot at Bellator gold.
Fighting professionally since the age of 16, McDonald has been a mainstay in the bantamweight rankings for the better part of 11 Eminyakeni. The exciting Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has amassed an astonishing finishing rate, reaching the judges’ scorecards only three times in his 22 ukulwa. “Mayday” made his Bellator debut in 2017, scoring a victory over Peter Ligier, despite fracturing his hand early in the fight. Now that his hand has fully healed, the former world title challenger from Modesto, Calif. will look to defeat Dantas July 13 on Paramount Network.
Kubuyekeziwe Bellator 202: Budd vs. Ziyadliwa Fight Card:
Women’s Featherweight World Title Bout: Julia Budd (11-2) vs. Talita Nogueira (7-0)
Bantamweight Main Card Bout: Eduardo Dantas (20-5) vs. Michael McDonald (18-4)
Michael Chandler (18-4) wanqoba Brandon Girtz (15-8) via technical submission (head & arm choke) at 4:00 eyodwa round
A.J. McKee (11-0) wanqoba Justin Lawrence (11-5) nge isinqumo ngazwilinye (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Logan Storley (8-0) wanqoba Joaquin Buckley (8-2) nge isinqumo ngazwilinye (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
Baby Slice (2-1) wanqoba Devon Brock (1-1) via ukuzithoba (okukhulisa-naked binda) at :34 eyodwa round
Juliana Velasquez (7-0) wanqoba Rebecca Ruth (6-3) via TKO (body kick) at :19 round ezintathu
Derek Anderson (15-3) wanqoba Zak Bucia (18-10) nge isinqumo ngazwilinye (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Dominic Mazzotta (14-2) wanqoba Josh Sampo (11-6) nge isinqumo ngazwilinye (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Eric Ellington (5-0) wanqoba Jordan Howard (10-5) nge isinqumo uqhekeko (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Adam Cella (9-8) wanqoba DeWayne Diggs (2-2) via TKO (punches) at 4:27 eyodwa round
Cort Wahle (3-3) wanqoba Joe Roye (1-5) via ukuzithoba (guillotine) at :21 eyodwa round
Jordan Dowdy (5-4) wanqoba Jeff Crotty (1-1) via ukuzithoba (okukhulisa-naked binda) at :29 eyodwa round
A.J. Siscoe (3-2) wanqoba Justin Robbins (14-19) via ukuzithoba (okukhulisa-naked binda) at 4:34 round amabili
This week’s show features Tom, Tony and Rich chatting about the circus atmosphere surrounding UFC 223, starting with Conor McGregor’s hand cart throwing incident. We also recap the past week’s boxing and MMA events, and we even briefly discuss Ronda Rousey’s Wrestlemania performance and the news that Brock Lesnar recently signed an extension to stay with the WWE. Listen to the broadcast below:
EVENT AIRS ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK AT 9 P.M. KANYE / 8 P.M. CT
Bellator 197: Chandler vs. Ebhince ithatha indawo kusasa, Friday, April 13 at The Family Arena in St. Charles MO. The event will be broadcast live and free on Paramount Network (phambilini obuwaziwa Spike) at 9 p.m. KANYE/8 p.m. CT, ngenkathi isinyathelo kwangaphambilini ziyogelezela ku Bellator.com nasemazweni omhlaba phezu Bellator Mobile App.
Complete Bellator 197: Chandler vs. Ebhince Weigh-in Results:
Lightweight Main Event: Michael Chandler (155.3) vs. Brandon Girtz (156)
Featherweight Co-Main Event: Justin Lawrence (145.8) vs. A.J. McKee (145.8)
Welterweight Main Card Bout: Devon Brock (160) vs. Baby Slice (159.8)
Welterweight Main Card Bout: Joaquin Buckley (168.3) vs. Logan Storley (170.6)
141-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: A.J. Siscoe (140.6) vs. Justin Robbins (135.6)
Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Jeff Crotty (170.8) vs. Jordan Dowdy (170.3)
Women’s Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Juliana Velasquez (126) vs. Rebecca Ruth (125.3)
165-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Zak Bucia (164.9) vs. Derek Anderson (164.2)
Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Josh Sampo (135.4) vs. Dominic Mazzotta (135.4)
Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Eric Ellington (135.4) vs. Jordan Howard (136)
189-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: DeWayne Diggs (186.8) vs. Adam Cella (189)
Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Cort Wahle (144.9) vs. Joe Roye (151)*
PATRICIO ‘PITBULL’ DEFENDS FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST DANIEL WEICHEL, WHILE ITALY’S ALESSIO SAKARA RETURNS TO ACTION
IL CENTRALE LIVE ROMA – FORO ITALICO ALSO HOSTS BELLATOR KICKBOXING 10, WHERE TWO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE ON THE LINE
I-LOS ANGELES – Bellator is primed for a summer return to Italy, this time in the country’s capital city of Rome at the Il Centrale Live Roma – Foro Italico on Saturday, July 14.
In a double main event, the card sees a rematch between Patricio “Pitbull” (26-4) futhi Daniel Weichel (39-9) for the featherweight title, as well as Italy’s most famous mixed martial artist, Alessio Sakara (19-12), ukuthatha on Jamie Sloane (8-3) at wesibhakela ukukhanya. Bellator Romewill air on Paramount Network and marks the promotion’s first trek to Rome, after hosting multiple events in both Torino and Florence.
Kickboxing will also be on display, njengoba Giorgio Petrosyan (85-2-2) seeks to become the inaugural Bellator Kickboxing lightweight champ when he meets Chingiz Allazov (53-2), while Bellator Kickboxing’s featherweight champion, Kevin Ross (45-13), will defend his crown against Gabriel Varga (21-6).
Bellator Rome will be broadcast Saturday, July 14 free on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT, while details about Bellator Kickboxing 10, including additional matchups will be announced in the coming days. Tickets are on sale now at Bellator.com and Oktagon.it.
“From the beginning of Bellator’s international expansion, Italy has always played an integral role in our growth,” Bellator President Scott Coker said. “Following successful events in the gorgeous cities of both Florence and Torino, it only made sense to bring a card to Rome, the home of the Colosseum, a city that has seen warriors do battle since 80 AD.”
“Pitbull” reclaimed the 145-pound championship by defeating Daniel Straus via unanimous decision in April of last year, notching his 14thBellator victory and becoming the winningest athlete in promotional history in the process. On July 14, the 30-year-old Natal, Brazil-native will bring into the Bellator cage his impressive record of 19 stoppages in 25 opportunities against a man he has defeated once already, coming from behind on the judges’ scorecards to knockout Daniel Weichel at Bellator 138.
Quietly running rampant through Bellator’s featherweight division during his nine-fight promotional tenure, Daniel Weichel’s only Bellator defeat took place at the hands of his upcoming Bellator Rome Umphikisi. Since the loss, Weichel has climbed the ranks once again, besting notable fighters within the division such as Emmanuel Sanchez, Georgi Karakhanyan and John “Macapa” en route to his current number one contender status. Manje, with an opportunity to right the loss, “Drake” will take the two-hour flight from Germany to Rome, with the hopes of winning championship gold on his mind.
The pride of Italy, Alessio Sakara is set to make his fourth appearance for Bellator, a promotion where he has already defeated both Joey Beltran and Brett Rogers via knockout, as well as challenged for the Bellator middleweight title. Prior to joining the Viacom-owned organization, “Legionarius” spent the majority of his career with UFC, where he built his reputation as a powerful knockout artist. With 33 fights as a professional, Sakara has collected 19 career ngokunqoba, okubala 15 finishes and 10 first-round knockouts.
Sloane will be making his Bellator debut when he looks to play the role of spoiler in Sakara’s home country. With a winning record of 8-3, the BAMMA veteran has also made appearances at heavyweight and middleweight since beginning his professional career in 2014.
Referred to by his fans as “The Doctor,” Petrosyan is one man you do not want an appointment with. The top-ranked Armenian-Italian striking ace has put together an incredible 46-fight unbeaten streak, cultivating an extensive trophy case that includes multiple championship belts as well as “Kickboxer of the Year” accolades in both 2011 futhi 2012.
Currently in the midst of a 27-fight winning streak of his own, the 24-year-old Allazov has not suffered defeat since 2014, winning the K-1 super middleweight championship along the way. Hailing from Belarus, Allazov brings a Thai boxing style to the Bellator Kickboxing ring, a discipline that has helped him defeat fighters the likes of Bellator Kickboxing veteran Mustapha Haida, phakathi kokunye.
With four wins under the Bellator Kickboxing umbrella, Kevin Ross recently added the promotion’s inaugural featherweight belt to his already impressive list of accolades. Throughout his 58-fight career, Ross has previously held the WBC Muay-Thai USA welterweight, WBC Muay-Thai International super lightweight and Lion Fight super lightweight titles.
A two-time Glory featherweight champion, Gabriel Varga signed with Bellator in March of 2017, immediately making it clear that his sights were clearly set on competing against Ross. Italian fans may remember the 32-year-old Canadian from his Bellator Kickboxing 8 ukubukeka, where he stopped Roberto Gheorghita in the second round of action.
Kubuyekeziwe Bellator Rome IKhadi Main:
Featherweight World Title Bout: Patricio “Pitbull” (26-4) vs. Daniel Weichel (39-9)
Light Heavyweight Feature Bout: Alessio Sakara (19-12, 2 NC) vs. Jamie Sloane (8-3)
Kubuyekeziwe Bellator Kickboxing 10 Card:
Lightweight World Title Bout: Giorgio Petrosyan (85-2-2) vs. Chingiz Allazov (53-2)
Featherweight World Title Bout: Kevin Ross (45-13) vs. Gabriel Varga (21-6)
*Card subject to change
Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.
****
COMPLETE PHOTOS FROM BOTH EVENTS HERE
Complete Bellator 196: Henderson vs. Huerta Ezenye:
Benson Henderson (25-8) wanqoba Roger Huerta (24-10-1, 1 NC) via ukuzithoba (guillotine) at :49 round amabili
Adam Borics (7-0) wanqoba Teodor Nikolov (11-2) via KO at 1:30 round amabili
Denise Kielholtz (2-1) wanqoba Petra Castkova (3-3) nge isinqumo ngazwilinye (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Brian Moore (11-6) wanqoba Giorgio Belsanti (7-7-1) via ukuzithoba (guillotine) at 2:46 eyodwa round
Futhi Ruth (5-0) wanqoba Ion Pascu (17-8) nge isinqumo ngazwilinye (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
IKhadi Preliminary:
Norbert Novenyi (2-0) wanqoba Mehmet Yueksel (2-4) via ukuzithoba (okukhulisa-naked binda) at 4:42 eyodwa round
Complete Bellator Kickboxing 9 Ezenye:
Raymond Daniels (34-3) wanqoba Djibril Ehouo (38-10-2) nge isinqumo ngazwilinye (50-44, 50-44, 50-43)
Alexey Ignashov (86-21) wanqoba Dzevad Poturak (53-31-3) nge isinqumo uqhekeko (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Sabriye Sengul (13-1) wanqoba Renata Rakoczi (17-4) nge isinqumo uqhekeko (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Eder Lopes (12-2) wanqoba John Wayne Parr (99-33) nge isinqumo ngazwilinye (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Jorina Baars (45-0-3) wanqoba Athina Evmorfiadi (10-4) via TKO at 2:28 round amabili
IKhadi Preliminary:
Enrico Carrara (38-2-2) wanqoba Csaba Gyorfi (25-7) via TKO at 2:06 eyodwa round
Antoine Habash (31-5) wanqoba Salvatore Cicerone (12-9-1) nge isinqumo ngazwilinye (30-27 X3)
Najib Idali (39-30) wanqoba Adam Pokorni (28-7) nge isinqumo ngazwilinye (30-27 X3)
Tony takes Tom and Rich backstage on the set of the newest Rocky movie, Creed 2, the sequel to the breakout performance from Michael B. Jordan as Appollo Creed’s son. We also discuss Anthony Joshua’s cruise to victory over Joseph Parker and the ESPN boxing card in Quincy, Massachusetts. Then we preview the return of some big MMA events this weekend with UFC 223 and a Bellator MMA and kickboxing event.
BOTH EVENTS TAKE PLACE KUSASA NIGHT ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK BEGINNING AT 9 P.M. KANYE/8 P.M. CT
Complete Bellator 196: Henderson vs. Huerta Weigh-in Results:
Lightweight Main Event: Benson Henderson (153) vs. Roger Huerta (154)
Featherweight Co-Main Event: Adam Borics (146) vs. Teodor Nikolov (146)
Women’s Flyweight Main Card Bout: Denise Kielholtz (125) vs. Petra Castkova (125)
Featherweight Main Card Bout: Brian Moore (145) vs. Giorgio Belsanti (143)
175-Pound Catchweight Main Card Bout: Futhi Ruth (174) vs. Ion Pascu (173)
Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Norbert Novenyi (185) vs. Mehmet Yueksel (184)
Complete Bellator Kickboxing 9 Weigh-in Results:
Welterweight World Title Bout: Raymond Daniels (170) vs. Djibril Ehouo (168)
Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Alexey Ignashov (252) vs. Dzevad Poturak (236)
Women’s Flyweight Main Card Bout: Sabriye Sengul (127)* vs. Renata Rakoczi (125)
163-Pound Catchweight Main Card Bout: John Wayne Parr (162) vs. Eder Lopes (162)
Women’s Featherweight Main Card Bout: Jorina Baars (142) vs. Athina Evmorfiadi (144)
165-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Csaba Gyorfi (164) vs. Enrico Carrara (165)
144-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Antoine Habash (140) vs. Salvatore Cicerone (144)
187-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Adam Pokorni (184) vs. Najib Idali (186.5)
VALERIE LETOURNEAU RETURNS TO ACTION AGAINST BRUNA ELLEN
I-LOS ANGELES – Bellator returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. ngoba Bellator 201 ngolwesihlanu, June 29. The card will be headlined by the San Diego-based Ilima-Lei MacFarlane (7-0), who defends her undefeated record and newly won flyweight crown against Columbia’s Alejandra “Azul” Lara (7-1).
In addition to the women’s flyweight championship being up for grabs on June 29, Valerie Létourneau (9-6) will look to improve to 2-0 inside the Bellator cage, when she meets the always-tough Bruna Ellen (4-1) at 125-pounds. Additional bouts, including the co-main event for Bellator 201: Macfarlane vs. Lara, will be announced in the coming days.
Amathikithi alo mcimbi aqala ukudayiswa ngalo Lwesihlanu, April 6 and start at $39. Tickets will be available at the Pechanga box office and Pechanga.com. Lezivalo umcimbi evuliwe 3:30 p.m. PT, while the preliminary card will kick-off at 4:30 p.m. PST. The event will be broadcast live and free on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the newly updated Bellator Mobile App.
Ilima-Lei Macfarlane has been proving naysayers wrong since her viral MMA debut in 2015, defeating every opponent placed in front of her en route to becoming the inaugural Bellator women’s flyweight champion this past November by defeating Emily Ducote. Born in Honolulu, “The Ilimanator” was a high school wrestler at Punahou School, where she was also a classmate of pro golfer Michelle Wie. Primarily focusing on her academics, Macfarlane went on to attend San Diego State University, where she studied cultural anthropology and went on to earn her master’s degree in liberal arts and sciences. Following that, the 27-year-old dove headfirst into MMA, splitting time between Team Hurricane Awesome and 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu, where she remains to this day. Ezingakanqotshwa njengoba pro, Macfarlane now looks to keep her undefeated record intact and the title around her waist.
Hailing from Medellin, Colombia, Alejandra Lara made a statement in Bellator’s flyweight division when she finished Lena Ovchynnikova via rear-naked choke at Bellator 190. The 23-year-old knockout artist has earned seven victories in eight outings since making her professional debut in 2011 and has shown tenacity in her fights thus far, showcasing a pair of first round knockouts and multiple submissions. On the heels of her impressive promotional debut, Lara earned a shot at the championship on June 29.
The Canadian-born Létourneau, a former UFC strawweight title challenger, carries an impressive track record of thrilling fights, highlighted by a world title contest against former champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk. Since signing with Bellator, “Trouble” has moved up to her more natural weight class, impressively defeating Kate Jackson in her promotional debut. At Bellator 201, the American Top Team-product will look to improve upon her nine victories as a professional, a tally that includes five finishes, with four coming by way of knockout.
At only 21-years-old, Ellen has already made three appearances for Bellator, competing against the likes of Veta Arteaga and Jessica Middleton. The Campinas, Brazil native and Team Nogueira-product has won four out of five fights to begin her professional career and will now look to continue her upward trajectory when she meets the former title challenger in a battle of top contenders.
Kubuyekeziwe Bellator 201: Macfarlane vs. Lara Fight Card:
Women’s Flyweight Title Main Event: Ilima-Lei MacFarlane (7-0) vs. Alejandra Lara (7-1)
Women’s Flyweight Feature Bout: Valerie Létourneau (9-6) vs. Bruna Ellen (4-1)
*Card subject to change.
Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.