Tag Archives: Bellator

boxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Rich Bergeron, UFC

FNU Combat Sports Show: UFC 205 & Bellator 164 Previews, Trump’s Win, Jones Suspended and Stripped of Title, Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Rematch Talks

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Tom, Rich and Tony break down the week’s combat sports news, recap last week’s fight cards and look forward to the huge events happening this weekend. UFC 205 features three world title fights while Bellator makes a historic debut in Israel on Friday. Danny Garcia will also take on Samuel Vargas to headline one of Premier Boxing Championships’ final blockbuster cards of 2016. We start off the broadcast with some political discourse about the election of Donald Trump as the 45th United States President.

 

 

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

WEIGH IN RESULTS FROM ‘BELLATOR 164: KORESHKOV VS. LIMA’ – GROUNDBREAKING EVENT FROM ISRAEL AIRS TOMORROW NIGHT ON SPIKE AT 9 P.M. ET/8 P.M CT

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TEL AVIV, ISRAEL. (Nov. 10, 2016) – All fighters successfully made weight for Israel’s first major mixed martial arts event “Bellator 164: Koreshkov vs. Lima” which takes place inside of Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel. The historic event airs FREE on SPIKE Friday, November 11 at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

 

The stacked main card is headlined by a must-see welterweight world title main event pitting current champion Andrey Koreshkov (19-1) against Douglas Lima (27-6). In addition, a pair of featherweight matchups pitting hometown favorite Noad Lahat (9-2) against Scott Cleve (15-5) and Georgi Karakhanyan (25-6-1) against Kirill Medvedovsky (6-1) will also be featured on the Spike-televised main card. Lastly, Ukrainian sensation Lena Ovchynnikova (10-4) returns in a  female flyweight contest with Karla Benitez (13-9-1).

 

Scott Coker on the groundbreaking Bellator event in Israel: “This event started about 18 months ago when we came over here to say hello to our international partners Annaney Communications and EGO TOTAL. We sat down with them and they said ‘Hey, there are a lot of great martial artists here. Why don’t we go meet with some of the gyms?’ So, we went to some of the gyms across Tel Aviv where they hosted a nice tryout. We had about 60-70 athletes participate and Royce (Gracie) would say ‘I think this guy could be good. I think this girl could be good. I think that these are some of the talented fighters that you could bring into Bellator.’ From there we started talking about the venues, and talking about the infrastructure of how we could pull of an event of this magnitude here in this city. We have put together an amazing team of people out here that have done a great job helping make this possible. I’ve been in the fight business for 31 years now, promoting fights all over the world, but this is one that is really a big feather in our cap. I’m really, really excited to be here in Israel promoting our inaugural event, and we already have a date set for next year. We will be back, and we’d like to make this an annual stop for the company.

 

Main Card: (Free on SPIKE – 9 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. CT)

 

Welterweight World Title Fight: Andrey Koreshkov (169.8 lbs.) vs. Douglas Lima (170 lbs.)

 

Featherweight Co-Main Event: Noad Lahat (145.8 lbs.) vs. Scott Cleve (145.8 lbs.)

 

150 lb, catchweight Feature Bout: Georgi Karakhanyan (149.5 lbs.) vs. Kirill Medvedovsky (151 lbs.)

 

Flyweight Feature Bout: Lena Ovchynnikova (123.5 lbs.) vs. Karla Benitez (124.5 lbs.)

 

Preliminary Card

 

Welterweight Preliminary Fight: Joaquin Buckley (170.5 lbs.) vs. Jackie Gosh (170.8 lbs.)

Light Heavyweight Preliminary Fight: Chen Shhori (205 lbs.) vs. Kfir Eittan (205 lbs.)

Welterweight Preliminary Fight: Haitham Kiuof (170.3 lbs.) vs. Moshe Rand (173 lbs.)

Lightweight Preliminary Fight: Rob Becker (155.5 lbs.) vs. Ejargew Tariku (155.2 lbs.)

Welterweight Preliminary Fight: Sol Renato (170.5 lbs.) vs. Alex Trofimov (170.3 lbs.)

Bantamweight Preliminary Fight: Almog Shay (136 lbs.) vs. Vitaly Khmeinytsky (136 lbs.)

Lightweight Preliminary Fight: Olga Rubin (145.8 lbs.) vs. Laurita Cibirite (140.5 lbs.)

Bantamweight Preliminary Fight: Raz Bring (134.8 lbs.) vs. Maor Kazalkopy (135.5 lbs.)

Middleweight Preliminary Fight: Alexander Nikulin (183.8 lbs.) vs. Avi Baron (182.8 lbs.)

Bantamweight Preliminary Fight: Onor Keles (137.5 lbs.) vs. Omri Barel (135 lbs.)

Welterweight Preliminary Fight: Zane Clerk (170.8 lbs.) vs. Haim Gozali (170 lbs.)

Featherweight Preliminary Fight: Igor Postnikov (144.5 lbs.) vs. Itai Gayer (143 lbs.)

 

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

WELTERWEIGHT GOLD ON THE LINE FRIDAY NIGHT AT ‘BELLATOR 164’ INSIDE MENORA MIVTACHIM ARENA IN TEL AVIV, ISRAEL

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TEL AVIV, ISRAEL. (November 8, 2016) – Bellator MMA has invaded the “Holy Land” for the first time in the history of the promotion and is ready to deliver a plethora of great matchups, including a welterweight world title fight pitting Andrey Koreshkov (19-1) against Douglas Lima(27-6).

 

With “Bellator 164: Koreshkov vs. Lima” only a few days away, Bellator’s digital team has put together a collection of exclusive new content to preview the stacked event at Menora Mivtachim Arena. Join us as we dive into a behind-the-scenes look at the competitors’ journey to Fridaynight’s big show. For more in-depth footage of our enticing contests coming your way, look no further than Bellator’s amazing YouTube page.

 

BELLATOR MMA WELTERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE BOUT

Over a year ago, current division champ Andrey Koreshkov defeated Douglas Lima for the welterweight world title. Now, the two meet again and it’s Lima who will be seeking revenge. Don’t miss this incredible Bellator MMA title fight in Tel Aviv, Israel, this Friday night!

 

What to Watch: Lima vs. Koreshkov

Let’s take a look at some of Jimmy Smith’s keys to victory in a welterweight world title rematch between Lima and Koreshkov.

 Champions: Andrey Koreshkov

Koreshkov is about as dominating of an opponent as you can find in the world of MMA today. Join us as we take a closer look at what makes this welterweight supreme.

 

Sitdown with Georgi Karakhanyan

Georgi Karakhanyan’s specialty in the cage? Guillotine. What about outside of the cage? We sit down with the featherweight superstar and discuss the mental preparation behind mixed martial arts competition.

 5 Rounds: Lena Ovchynnikova

Ukrainian powerhouse Lena Ovchynnikova gives us an inside look on her life outside of the cage as she prepares to make her promotional debut.

 

Event Info

A welterweight world title main event will headline the first ever Bellator MMA event in Israel, as current division champion Andrey Koreshkov(19-1) will attempt to protect his belt against the man who he took it from over a year ago, Douglas Lima (27-6). In addition, Noad Lahat (9-2) will challenge Scott Cleve (15-5) in the evening’s featherweight co-main event and Georgi Karakhanyan (25-6-1) will replace James Gallagher to face Israel’s own Kirill Medvedovsky (6-1) in a featherweight feature fight. Finally, a female flyweight bout pitting Ukrainian star Lena Ovchynnikova (10-4) against Karla Benitez (13-9-1) rounds out the SPIKE-televised main card action.

 

The preliminary portion of the event features a welterweight clash between Joaquin Buckley (6-0) and hometown favorite Jackie Gosh (6-0). In addition, over a dozen local competitors will be making their professional debut on the preliminary card of the Scott Coker-led promotion’s first event in the Middle East.

 

“Bellator 164: Koreshkov vs. LIma” takes place at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel, and will air in America on SPIKE Friday, November 11 at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT. Bellator has partnered with Ananey Communications, an Israeli television conglomerate boasting 14 channels, several of which showcase Viacom content including the EGO and EGO TOTAL channels which have broadcast Bellator in Israel since 2012.

 

Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased at Bellator.com or Eventim.co.il/mma.

 

“Bellator 164: Koreshkov vs. Lima” Fight Card

Welterweight World Title Bout: Andrey Koreshkov (19-1) vs. Douglas Lima (27-6)

Featherweight Feature Bout: Noad Lahat (9-2) vs. Scott Cleve (15-5)

Featherweight Feature Bout: Georgi Karakhanyan (25-6-1) vs. Kirill Medvedovsky (6-1)

Flyweight Feature Bout: Lena Ovchynnikova (10-4) vs. Karla Benitez (13-9-1)

 

Bellator.com-Streamed Preliminary Card

Welterweight Preliminary Fight: Joaquin Buckley (6-0) vs. Jackie Gosh (6-0)

Light Heavyweight Preliminary Fight: Chen Shhori (Debut) vs. Kfir Eittan (2-0)

Welterweight Preliminary Fight: Haitham Kiuof (Debut) vs. Moshe Rand (3-2)

Lightweight Preliminary Fight: Rob Becker (Debut) vs. Ejargew Tariku (1-0)

Welterweight Preliminary Fight: Sol Renato (Debut) vs. Alex Trofimov (Debut)

Bantamweight Preliminary Fight: Almog Shay (Debut) vs. Vitaly Khmeinytsky (Debut)

Lightweight Preliminary Fight: Olga Rubin (Debut) vs. Laurita Cibirite (Debut)

Bantamweight Preliminary Fight: Raz Bring (Debut) vs. Maor Kazalkopy (Debut)

Middleweight Preliminary Fight: Alexander Nikulin (Debut) vs. Avi Baron (Debut)

Bantamweight Preliminary Fight: Onor Keles (Debut) vs. Omri Barel (Debut)

Welterweight Preliminary Fight: Zane Clerk (Debut) vs. Haim Gozali (6-3)

Welterweight Kickboxing Fight: Igor Postnikov (Debut) vs. Itai Gayer (Debut)

 

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA

BELLATOR MMA SIGNS THREE-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION ROMERO COTTON TO EXCLUSIVE MMA CONTRACT

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SANTA MONICA, Calif. (November 7, 2016) – Bellator MMA is proud to announce the signing of highly sought after wrestling prospect Romero Cotton to an exclusive, multi-fight contract.

The 26-year-old’s focus is currently set on finishing up his psychology degree at Nebraska Kearny University, but look for Cotton to make his professional MMA debut in 2017, where he will compete at 185-pounds.

“Having an opportunity to be part of a promotion like Bellator so early in my MMA career is one that I am thankful for. Being that I’m just starting out in the sport I thought it would be two or three years of grinding and working my way up the ladder before reaching a company of this magnitude,” Cotton said. “Having seen how Bellator’s recent string of wrestlers have been treated and performed, I’m honored to be the latest and there’s nothing I’m looking forward to more than showing the world my skills that I’ve acquired throughout my life not only as a wrestler, but as an athlete. Now, I move onto the next phase of my career and will continue to develop into a well-rounded fighter.”

A three-time NCAA Division II national champion at 197 lbs., Cotton is also a four-time All-American and is the first-ever three-time champion in the 111-year history of Nebraska Kearny University. He finished his collegiate career with a fantastic record of 66-10. Originally enrolled at Nebraska, Cotton also played football in college, redshirting his freshman year for the Cornhuskers, before tranferrring to UNK, where he played football for three years.

Cotton joins blue-chip amateur wrestling prospects: Aaron Pico, Joey Davis, Jarod Trice, Tyrell Fortuneand Ed Ruth on the roster and will compete in the middleweight division, which is currently championed byRafael Carvalho.

For more information on Romero Cotton, take a look at this article on FloWrestling.com.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

PROFESSIONAL DEBUT OF KEVIN ‘BABY SLICE’ FERGUSON JR. ADDED TO PRELIMINARY CARD OF “BELLATOR 165: CHANDLER VS. HENDERSON” AT SAP CENTER IN SAN JOSE

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SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Nov. 7, 2016) – One week ahead of “Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson” at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., Bellator MMA is pleased to announce the highly anticipated professional mixed martial arts debut of Kevin “Baby Slice” Ferguson Jr. will come against Aaron Hamilton in a welterweight bout during the preliminary portion of the card on Nov. 19.

The contest anchors an electric preliminary card and joins a Spike-televised main card that features a lightweight world title main event pitting current champion Michael Chandler (15-3) against Benson Henderson (24-6). In the evening’s co-main event, undefeated British phenom Michael “Venom” Page (11-0) and California’s own Fernando Gonzalez (25-13) duke it out in a welterweight thriller and Adam Piccolotti (8-0) takes on Brandon Girtz(14-4) in a lightweight clash. Lastly, a light heavyweight showdown pitting Linton “The Swarm” Vassell (16-5) against Francis Carmont (14-4) and female flyweight action pitting Keri Melendez (Debut) against Sheila Padilla (2-0) are also set for the main card.

“Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson” airs LIVE and FREE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on Spike and completes three consecutive weeks of championship fights on the Viacom-owned network. Tickets for the event remain on sale and can be purchased at Bellator.com, as well as SAP Center Box Office and Ticketmaster.

After originally being slated to make his professional debut at both “Bellator 160” and “Bellator 162,“ “Baby Slice” will now look to showcase his fine-tuned mixed martial arts repertoire on Nov. 19. The son of the late, great “Kimbo Slice,” made a splash in the world of MMA during an amateur contest in Chicopee, Massachusetts, where he delivered a brutal knockout punch just 1:23 into the first round. In what is unquestionably one of the most talked-about debuts in promotion history, Slice hopes to parlay his amateur success with a memorable performance on the professional circuit and carry on the legacy that his father let behind. Hailing from Miami, Florida, the Team Body Shop product now has his eyes set on joining teammate A.J. McKee as one of Bellator MMA’s top young prospects.

Hamilton will once again compete in his home state of California, after previous bouts against the likes of Max Griffin. “The Snake” will be making both his Bellator MMA debut and welterweight debut, as the 185-pound slugger attempts to trim down for what is surely the biggest fight of his career. Hamilton last competed in March and hopes to spoil the long-awaited debut of Slice.

 

Complete “Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson” Main Card:

Lightweight World Title Main Event: Michael Chandler (15-3) vs. Benson Henderson (24-6)

Welterweight Co-Main Event: Michael Page (11-0) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (25-13)

Light Heavyweight Feature Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (25-11)

Lightweight Feature Bout: Adam Piccolotti (8-0) vs. Brandon Girtz (14-4)

Flyweight Feature Bout: Keri-Anne Taylor-Melendez (Debut) vs. Sheila Padilla (2-0)

 

Complete Preliminary Card:

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Kevin Ferguson Jr. (Debut) vs. Aaron Hamilton (0-2)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Carrington Banks (5-0) vs. Jake Roberts (7-0)

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Diego Herzog (3-2) vs. Nick Pica (5-0)

Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Jeremiah Labiano (9-5) vs. Vince Murdock (8-2)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: James Terry (17-9) vs. Justin Baesman (19-10-1)

Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Alvin Cacdac (16-12) vs. Steve Ramirez (5-1)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: J.J. Okanovich (2-1) vs. Luis Vargas (Debut)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Victor Jones (0-2) vs. Beau Hamilton (1-7)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Hugo Lujan (0-1) vs. Cesar Gonzalez (Debut)

Welterweight “VOW” Preliminary Bout: Dominic Sumer (Debut) vs. Justin Roswell (1-0)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Danasabe Mohammed (5-0) vs. Dwight Grant (6-1)

Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Sarah D’Alelio (10-6) vs. Jaimelene Nievera (4-1)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, PHIL DAVIS TAKES HOME BELLATOR MMA TITLE WITH DOMINATING FIVE-ROUND VICTORY

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Complete Event Photos Here / Full Event Highlights Here

 

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (Nov. 4, 2016) – It’s a wonderful life for Phil Davis (17-3), who dethroned Liam McGeary (11-1) on Friday night at “Bellator 163,” taking home the light heavyweight championship.

As has been the case plenty of times throughout Davis’ illustrious career, his wrestling pedigree was the deciding factor, nullifying the world-class jiu-jitsu of the Renzo Gracie-trained former champion. For nearly 25-minutes, “Mr. Wonderful” maintained top pressure on the New York-native, frustrating McGeary and putting him into desperation mode in the fifth and final round. McGeary fought valiantly to both stop and submit the longtime Alliance MMA-product, but in the end, Davis took home the unanimous decision with scorecards of 50-43, 50-45, 50-44.

McGeary, who suffered the first loss of his young career, was humble in defeat, admitting that while Davis was the better man throughout their main event fight, he will be back to reclaim what he feels is rightfully his.

Returning home to Southern California with a new belt in tow, Davis now sets his sights on his pregnant wife, who is due to give birth to his second son on Monday.

Brennan Ward & Saad Awad Provide 90 Seconds of Pure Violence

In an absolute barnburner, Brennan Ward and Saad Awad went toe-to-toe for the 86 seconds they shared the Bellator MMA cage together, doing their best imitation of Rock Em’ Sock Em’ Robots until “Irish” caught “Assassin” with an uppercut that sent the Palestinian face first into the canvas. With the knockout, Ward moves into sixth place on the all-time list of KO’s under the promotion’s banner, and now sets his sights on a future matchup against the elite at 170-pounds.

Neiman Gracie Tells the MMA World, ‘Gracie Jiu-Jitsu’ is Back

After finding out they would be competing live on SPIKE less than 24 hours before entering the Bellator MMA cage, Neiman Gracie (5-0) made quick work of Rudy Bears (16-15), latching on to an arm bar 4:39 into the opening frame and forcing the tap from “Bad News.” Gracie was able to add to his impressive submission record, which has now been stretched to three victories in three Bellator MMA appearances, including a pair of first-round submissions. The 27-year-old was also able to please Royce Gracie, who was cornering his bout for the evening.

Javy Ayala Spoils Return of Sergei Kharitonov in 16 seconds

In what many people thought would be a triumphant return to the sport of MMA for Sergei Kharitonov (23-6), Javy Ayala (10-5) spoiled that, sending the Russian heavyweight to the canvas in a heap following an overhand right 16 seconds into the matchup. With the victory, “Eye Candy” immediately inserted himself into further big-time match-ups, namedropping both Bobby Lashley and Matt Mitrione during his post-fight interview. In his last two outings, the Northern California-native has finished his foe in the opening round via stoppage.

Preliminary Card Results:

Ed Ruth (1-0) defeated Dustin Collins-Miles (0-1) via TKO (punches) at 3:19 of round one

Tyrell Fortune (1-0) defeated Cody Miskell (0-1) via TKO (punches) at 2:22 of round one

Tim Caron (6-0) defeated Steve Skrzat (8-9) via TKO at 1:22 of round one

Hannah Regina (1-0) defeated Sarah Payant (1-4) via submission (arm bar) at 4:51 of round one

Tim Caron (6-0) defeated Steve Skrzat (8-9) via TKO at 1:22 of round two

Blair Tugman (9-6) defeated Walter Smith-Cotito (4-5, 1 NC) via unanimous decision (29-28)

Christopher Foster (10-4) defeated Thomas English (6-7) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Tyler King (12-4) defeated Josh Diekmann (15-8, 1 NC) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:39 of round two

Carlos Corriea (2-0) defeated Ilya Kotau (1-2) via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

Vinicius De Jesus (5-1) defeated James Boran (6-1) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:55 of round 2

boxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Rich Bergeron, Tom Padgett, Tony Penecale

FNU Combat Sports Show For November 3, 2016

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Tom, Tony and Rich get back to action this week to discuss upcoming fight cards, including two big MMA events: UFC Fight Night Dos Anjos vs. Ferguson and Bellator 163: McGeary vs. Davis. We preview both events and talk about the matchups. We then move to the boxing schedule where there are multiple belts on the line this week all over the globe. We spend a bit of time discussing the big Manny Pacquiao bout against Jessie Vargas. Is Manny fighting for the right reasons? Does he have enough left in the tank? We’ll know the answer Saturday night. Rich also breaks down his suspicions about vocal UFC fighters trending toward starting some type of powerful fighters union. Could the astronomical selling price of the UFC actually be the main handicap for the new owners? Did putting such a high premium on the UFC unintentionally give griping fighters more incentive to sue the company? Only time will tell.

 

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA

BELLATOR MMA LEGEND ROYCE GRACIE JOINS ‘BELLATOR 170’ MAIN EVENT HEADLINERS CHAEL SONNEN AND TITO ORTIZ AT EXCLUSIVE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING TO TAKE PLACE FRIDAY NIGHT PRIOR TO ‘BELLATOR 163’ MAIN CARD

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ALSO: ‘BELLATOR 170: ORTIZ VS. SONNEN’ PRESS RELEASE TO TAKE PLACE AT MOHEGAN SUN THURSDAY AFTER ‘BELLATOR 163: MCGEARY VS. DAVIS’ WEIGHINS

(MORE INFORMATION)

 

 

 

Who:              Bellator MMA Legend Royce Gracie (15-2-3)

                        “Bellator 170” Main Event Competitors Tito Ortiz (18-12-1) and Chael Sonnen (28-14-1)

 

What:             Fan Autograph Signing

*For “Bellator 163” Ticket Holders Only

 

When:            Friday, November 4

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

 

Where:           Mohegan Sun Arena Concourse

1 Mohegan Sun Blvd.

Uncasville, CT 06382

 

Event Info:    One of the true pioneers of mixed martial arts, Royce Gracie is synonymous with the sport and its growth over the years. The 20-fight veteran has been a part of some of the most memorable contests in MMA history during his tenure with the UFC and PRIDE Fighting Championships. Gracie also headlined his most recent bout, a main event clash with fellow legend Ken Shamrock (28-17-2) at the record-shattering “Bellator 149” event, where Gracie came out on top with a TKO victory. Royce’s nephew Neiman Gracie competes for Bellator Friday night at Mohegan Sun.

                        While with the UFC, the 43-fight veteran Chael Sonnen competed against powerful opponents the likes of Jon Jones, Anderson Silva (2x), Rashad Evans, “Shogun” Rua, Demian Maia, Brian Stann, and current middleweight champion Michael Bisping. For Ortiz, the phenom’s unmatched rivalries came at the expense of MMA legends Ken Shamrock, Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, and Randy Couture.

Before they face off on Jan. 21 at the Forum in Los Angeles, Tito Ortiz and Sonnen will host a once-in-a-lifetime meet and greet fan experience leading up to “Bellator 163” at Mohegan Sun Arena. Don’t miss this great opportunity to meet “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” and “The American Gangster” inside Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday night.

 

 

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

LIGHTWEIGHT REMATCH PITTING PATRICKY PITBULL AGAINST DEREK CAMPOS SERVES AS MAIN EVENT AT SECOND NIGHT OF BELLATOR DOUBLEHEADER INSIDE WINSTAR WORLD CASINO & RESORT

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JOHN TEIXEIRA GETS NEW OPPONENT JUSTIN LAWRENCE WHILE TOP WRESTLING PROSPECT JAROD TRICE MAKES HIS DEBUT AGAINST BRANDON LEE ON STACKED PRELIMINARY CARD

 

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (November 1, 2016) – An undisclosed injury to Pat Curran, who was originally scheduled to fight John Teixeira(20-1-2), has opened the door for a lightweight main event pitting Patricky Pitbull (16-8) against Derek Campos (17-6) on the second night of a special doubleheader inside WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, OK., on Saturday, December 3.

 

In lieu of the injured former featherweight champion, Teixeira will now face Justin Lawrence (9-3) in main card action. In addition, Bellator MMA is pleased to announce the professional debut of three-time All American wrestling prospect Jarod Trice, who will challenge Brandon Lee (4-1) during the Bellator.com-streamed preliminary card.

 

The second night of entertainment – “Bellator 167” – features a flyweight bout pitting undefeated budding superstar Ilima-Lei MacFarlane (4-0) against Emily Ducote (4-1), as well as Chidi Njokuani (15-4, 1 NC) versus Andre Fialho (7-0) in three rounds of welterweight action on the Spike-televised main card.

 

A bantamweight world title rematch pitting current champion Eduardo Dantas (18-4) against Joe Warren (14-5) and a featherweight bout pitting undefeated prospect A.J. McKee (5-0) against Emmanuel Sanchez (13-3) will highlight the first night of excitement at “Bellator 166.”Lastly, a bantamweight bout between Marcos Galvao (17-7-1) and L.C. Davis (23-7) will also be featured on the main card of the doubleheader’s opening night.

 

Tickets for the unique doubleheader event start at just $45 and can be purchased at the WinStar World Casino & Resort Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster and Bellator.com.

 

“Bellator 167: Pitbull vs. Campos 2” airs live and free on Saturday on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT., while “Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren 2”airs live and free on Friday on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. Preliminary bouts for both events will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App.

 

The 30-year-old Brazilian star originally caught the promotion’s attention following an electric start to his professional career, as he earned a victory in seven of his first eight fights. Now a 16-fight veteran of Bellator MMA, Freire enters the contest having won six of his last nine bouts, including knockout finishes over division powerhouses Ryan Couture, David Rickels, and most notably Derek Campos in the pair’s first brawl two years ago. The second round victory over Campos marked only the second time in his career that an opponent was able to finish him via knockout. Freire has already put together a stellar 2016 campaign, with wins over Couture and Kevin Souza, as well as a lightweight title shot against Michael Chandler. “Pitbull” will look to further cement his feet atop the division’s elite with a strong performance against the equally-tested veteran Campos.

 

Prior to an undisclosed injury, Campos was originally set for a rematch with “Pitbull” in Italy at “Bellator 152,” but now the 28-year-old Texan will have his shot at revenge even closer to home base. Hailing from Lubbock, Texas, “The Stallion” comes in having won eight of his last 11 bouts, including knockout victories over Melvin Guillard and Estevan Payan. With a professional record of 3-1 in Thackerville, including a KOTC Junior Welterweight Championship in 2012, Campos has clearly claimed WinStar World Casino & Resort his home away from home. Currently riding a recent string of success, Campos will look to add to his current two-fight winning streak and continue his dominance in OK.

 

The 29-year-old Teixeira continues to make a name for himself in Bellator MMA’s featherweight division, as he will make his fourth appearance under the promotion’s direction following three consecutive victories. Similar to his opponent, Teixeira also steps into the cage on a recent string of success, having won seven of his last eight bouts, including a trio of first round knockouts. Prior to his days with Bellator MMA, Teixeira began his professional career fighting exclusively in Brazil, posting an undefeated record of 12-0 with one draw. The upcoming bout marks only the fourth time in Teixeira’s nine year career that he will fight outside of his native Brazil. With 14 of his 19 career wins coming by way of knockout or submission, you can be sure to see “Macapa” go for the finishing blow early and often in this mouthwatering matchup.

 

Following the recent news of an undisclosed injury that forced Pat Curran to withdraw, Lawrence has agreed to fill in to face Teixeira. After beginning his professional career under the direction of Strikeforce, Lawrence has found a home in Bellator MMA’s formidable featherweight division. “The American Kid” has tallied a pair of highlight-reel knockouts since joining the Scott Coker-led promotion last year, including his most recent victory over Isao Kobayashi at “Bellator 157: Dynamite 2.” The emphatic finish was the fifth of his young career and fourth by way of knockout. Dating back to 2013, the 26-year-old striker has won five of his last six contests, three of which came by way of knockout. Hailing from Pacific, Missouri, the former UFC competitor will look to keep the ball rolling against another tough opponent in Teixeira.

 

Three-time All American wrestling prospect Jarod Trice will be making his highly anticipated professional debut, following his recent signing with the promotion earlier this year. Trice joins Aaron Pico, Ed Ruth and Tyrell Fortune as a few of the recent signees that make up the new wave of incredibly talented wrestling prospects to flock to Bellator MMA. The Detroit, Michigan native competed at Central Michigan University, where he has also earned a National Title at 120 kg and two Greco Roman National Titles, with one at 120 kg and another at 98 kg.The 27-year-old also saw a great deal of success following an impressive 50-pound weight-loss transformation, something that will surely come in handy in a sport that demands severe weight discipline.

 

Fighting out of Clinton, OK., Lee will not have to travel far when he makes his Bellator MMA debut inside WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, on December 3. The 41-year-old heavyweight has had a great deal of success to date, recording four wins over his five career bouts under the direction of regional promotions. “The Undertaker” has finished his opponent in the opening round of each of his four professional victories, including a brutal knockout in his most recent win earlier this year. Lee will drop down to the 205-pound division for his promotional debut, looking to crash the party that is top prospect Jarod Trice and his widely followed professional debut.

 

Complete “Bellator 167: Pitbull vs. Campos 2” Main Card:

Lightweight Main Event: Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (16-8) vs. Derek Campos (17-6)

Flyweight Feature Bout: Ilima MacFarlane (4-0) vs. Emily Ducote (4-1)

Welterweight Feature Bout: Chidi Njokuani (15-4, 1 NC) vs. Andre Fialho (7-0)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: John Teixeira (19-1-2) vs. Justin Lawrence (9-3)

 

Updated Preliminary Card:

Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Jarod Trice (Debut) vs. Brandon Lee (4-1)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Abdul Razak Al Hassan (5-0) vs. Dakota Cochrane (26-10)

Lightweight Preliiminary Bout: Jonathan Gary (11-6) vs. Aaron Roberson (5-4)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Brandon Philips (6-2) Stephen Banaszak (5-5)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Justin Patterson (7-1) vs. Codale Ford (11-8)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Fernando Gonzalez (Debut) vs. Chris Hicks (3-8)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

FORMER DIVISION CHAMP MARCOS GALVAO RETURNS TO FACE L.C. DAVIS DURING OPENING NIGHT OF BELLATOR MMA DOUBLEHEADER AT WINSTAR WORLD CASINO & RESORT

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CHRIS HONEYCUTT-BEN REITER MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT PUTS STAMP ON STACKED MAIN CARD

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (October 31, 2016) – A bantamweight feature fight pitting Marcos Galvao (17-7-1) against L.C. Davis (23-7) and a middleweight clash between Chris Honeycutt (8-1, 1 NC) and Ben Reiter (17-1-1) have been added to the main card of “Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren 2” inside WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, OK., on December 2.

The first night of entertainment – “Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren 2” — will feature a bantamweight world title rematch between current champion Eduardo Dantas (18-4) and former belt holder Joe Warren (14-5). In addition, a featherweight clash pitting undefeated prospect A.J. McKee (5-0) against Emmanuel Sanchez (13-3) will also air live and free on the SPIKE-televised card.

Tickets for the unique doubleheader event start at just $45 and can be purchased at the WinStar World Casino & Resort Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster and Bellator.com.

“Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren 2” airs live and free on Friday on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. “Bellator 167” airs live and free on Saturday on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. Preliminary bouts for both events will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

Brazilian superstar Marcos Galvao returns to action having won seven of his last nine and is ready for another push at the division’s belt. Hailing from Amazonas, Brazil, the illusive “Loro” has only been finished once in the past seven years, while conversely finishing his opponent in five of his 11 wins over that same period. Now Galvao returns to WinStar World Casino & Resort, the same venue where he fought and defeated Joe Warren for bantamweight gold at “Bellator 135.” Subsequently, Warren will also prepare to compete at “Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren 2,” as he and Eduardo Dantas will face off in the main event. Needless to say, the 34-year-old Galvao will have tremendous motivation to win, as the division he once championed dominates a stacked main card in Thackerville.

Davis enters the contest for the fifth time under the Bellator MMA banner, earning victories in three of his first four bouts with the promotion. The 35-year-old bantamweight has finished his opponent in 15 of his 23 career wins, including 11 in the opening round. A winner in seven of his last nine contests, the Kansas City, Missouri native consistently finds himself amid conversation with the division’s top contenders. Davis hopes to replicate the same success that he had in his most recent victory over Hideo Tokoro at “Bellator 135,” where his split decision win was labeled Yahoo! Sports’ “Best Fight of the Half-Year.” The former Pratt Community College wrestling coach now faces an opportunity to climb the ranks in a tasty matchup against one of the game’s best.

A six-fight veteran of Bellator MMA, Honeycutt made a lasting impression in his first two appearances under the promotion, recording back-to-back knockouts. Fighting out of Fresno, Calif., the 28-year-old knockout artist began his professional career with an impressive streak of six consecutive victories, including five finishes and four knockouts. “The Cutt” made a successful transition to the welterweight division in his Bellator MMA debut in 2014, before returning to the middleweight class in his most recent win over Mikkel Parlo at “Bellator 156.”

After making his professional debut in 2011, Reiter collected sixteen wins before surrendering his first career loss. The 29-year-old New Yorker competed mainly in Peru early in his career, fighting under the direction of Inka Fighting Championship, before joining the Bellator MMA fray in 2014. Since making his promotional debut for the Scott Coker-led organization, “The Hunter” has added three more victories to his already impressive résumé, as he quickly finds himself among the division’s elite. With nine of his 17 career wins coming by way of knockout or submission, Reiter hopes to add to that total with another finish in the first of a two-night special doubleheader in Thackerville, OK. Standing at six feet three inches, Reiter will look to expose his opponent Honeycutt with a significant advantage in both height and reach.

 

Complete “Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren 2” Main Card:

Bantamweight World Title Main Event: Eduardo Dantas (18-4) vs. Joe Warren (14-5)

Featherweight Co-Main Event: A.J. McKee (5-0) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (13-3)

Bantamweight Feature Bout: Marcos Galvao (17-7-1) vs. L.C. Davis (23-7)

Middleweight Feature Bout: Chris Honeycutt (8-1, 1 NC) vs. Ben Reiter (17-1-1)

 

Updated Preliminary Card:

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Treston Thomison (9-4) vs. Ray Wood (7-2)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Chris Jones (10-4) vs. Derrick Adkins (7-2)

Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Kennedy Nzechukwu (Debut) vs. Jon Lair (2-0)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Chance Rencountre (8-2) Levi Queen (8-3)

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Gregory Babene (17-11) vs. Emiliano Sordi (14-5)