Tag Archives: Bellator

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

EMMANUEL SANCHEZ-DANIEL WEICHEL PAIRING SET FOR MAIN CARD OF STACKED ‘BELLATOR 159’

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PHILIPE LINS-GUILHERME VIANA & THE PROMOTIONAL DEBUT OF BRUNA ELLEN COMPLETE STACKED MAIN CARD

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 29, 2016) – A gem of a featherweight contest pitting divisional standouts Emmanuel Sanchez (13-2) and Daniel “The Weasel” Weichel (36-9) has been added to the main card of “Bellator 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo” on July 22 inside Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kansas. Completing the televised card, Philipe Lins (9-1) will face Guilherme Viana (7-2) in light heavyweight action and Brazilian strawweight Bruna Ellen (2-0) will make her promotional debut against Jessica Middleton.

 

The fights join a main and co-main event that has the MMA world abuzz, featuring the undefeated Darrion Caldwell (9-0), who will meet Joe Taimanglo (22-6) in a 135-pound main event to determine the No. 1 contender for Bellator MMA’s Bantamweight Championship. In support, Kansas’ own Dave Rickels (17-4) will return to Mulvane’s Kansas Star Arena to face the always-exciting Melvin Guillard (32-16-2). In addition, multiple preliminary contests have also been confirmed, namely, the debut of recent strawweight signee Bruna Vargas (2-0) who will be facing Emily Ducote (2-1) and Uruguay’s favorite MMA superstar, Gaston Reyno (5-1), when he takes on L.J. Hermeck (3-1). Both of these preliminary bouts will stream live on Bellator.com andThe Bellator Mobile App beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

 

“Bellator 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo” airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. Tickets for the event start at just $27 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com,KansasStarEventCenter.com or the Kansas Star Arena box office. Doors for the event open at 5:30 p.m. CT local time and the first preliminary bout will commence one hour later.

 

“The Weasel” has shown great consistency as of late, recording wins in eight of his last nine fights dating back to 2012 over fighters the likes of Pat Curran and Georgi Karakhanyan. Since joining Bellator MMA in 2014, the German featherweight has posted a 5-1 record, proving time and time again that he belongs among the division’s elite. Of his 36 career wins, 21 have come by way of submission, making Weichel one of the most skilled athletes on the ground. The 31-year-old submission specialist will look to build off his deserving unanimous decision win against Karakhanyan at“Bellator 147: Thomson vs. Villaseca,” as he prepares to take on “El Matador” inside Kansas Star Arena on July 22.

 

Sanchez also enters this contest having won five of his first six bouts under the Bellator MMA banner. Hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and training at the world-renown Roufusport camp, “El Matador” has recently put together an impressive run, claiming wins in nine of his last 10 fights. The 25-year-old most recently defeated Daniel Pineda via split decision at the record-shattering “Bellator 149: Shamrock vs. Gracie”event in Houston. Sanchez will enter the cage riding a three-fight winning streak, all of which subsequently ended in split decision victories.

 

At only 30 years of age, Viana has impressed only nine fights into his professional career. Most recently, Viana put his unique skillset on full display against Houston Alexander at “Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef,” emerging victorious after a second-round knockout. The Brazilian light heavyweight now has seven career finishes to his name, including three in the first round, and will look to add to that total when he enters the cage with fellow Brazilian competitor Philipe Lins on July 22.

 

Hailing from Natal, Lins has consistently impressed through his first 10 professional bouts, recording nine wins, with four victories coming by way of knockout. After winning his first four professional fights, Lins decided to take an extended break from MMA from 2007 until 2011. After the hiatus, Lins rallied off five wins, including his first two bouts under the Bellator MMA umbrella. Now, “Monstro” will look to return to the cage for the first time since a brutal knee injury that he suffered against Kelly Anundson at “Bellator 122” back in 2014.

 

Undefeated to start her professional career, Bruna Ellen, 20, competed twice in 2015, winning both of her bouts. A member of Team Nogueira Campinas in Sao Paulo, Ellen recently did a stint of training at the world-renown Blackzilians gym in Florida, where she continued to hone her budding striking and skills on the mat. It’s also worth noting that Ellen’s listed on this year’s “Top-Ten Brazilian Prospects” compiled by MMAFighting.com.

 

Eight years the elder of Ellen, Middleton will be making her professional debut after a stellar 4-1 amateur record on the regional scene. If unfamiliar with her work, look no further than her spectacular finish of Holly Torrez via spinning-backfist here.

 

Complete “Bellator 159: Caldwell vs. Taimanglo” Fight Card:

 

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Main Event: Darrion Caldwell (9-0) vs. Joe Taimanglo (22-6)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Co-Main Event: Dave Rickels (17-4, 1 NC) vs. Melvin Guillard (32-16-2, 2 NC)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: Daniel Weichel (36-9) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (13-2)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Feature Bout: Philipe Lins (9-1) vs. Guilherme Viana (7-2)

Bellator MMA Strawweight Feature Bout: Bruna Ellen (2-0) vs. Jessica Middleton (Debut)

 

Preliminary Card:

 

Bellator MMA Strawweight Preliminary Bout: Bruna Vargas (2-0) vs. Emily Ducote (2-1)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Gaston Reyno (5-1, 1 NC) vs. L.J. Hermreck (3-1)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Manny Meraz (8-2) vs. Trey Ogden (5-1)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Chris Harris (6-0) vs. Matt Foster (6-8)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Marcio Navarro (14-12) vs. Fernando Martinez (14-10-1)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Johnny Marigo (1-0) vs. Andy Riley (2-1)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Josh Pfeifer (4-2) vs. Henry Lindsay (5-5)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Chuka Willis (8-2) vs. Brandon Phillips (5-1)

 

About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 400 million homes worldwide in over 120 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader.  Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.  Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

Bellator, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

‘RAMPAGE’ OWNS THE NIGHT–‘BELLATOR: DYNAMITE 2’ THRILLS FANS WITH MMA & KICKBOXING ACTION ON SPIKE

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Complete Event Photos Her

ST. LOUIS —(June 24, 2016) – In a highly-competitive heavyweight main event at“Bellator: Dynamite 2,” “Rampage” Jackson (37-11) edged out Satoshi Ishii (14-6-1) with a split decision victory (30-27, 28-29, 29-28) on Friday night inside Scottrade Center during an event that aired LIVE and FREE on SPIKE.

With the win, “Rampage” extends his current winning streak to five, proving once again why he is one of the most dangerous athletes on Bellator MMA’s roster. Jackson also improves his promotional mark to an undefeated 4-0, with multiple wins coming via first round knockout.

After the fight, “Rampage” made it clear he intends on returning to action sooner, rather than later. “I’m going to go home to Orange County, take a little vacation, then come back bigger and better than ever,” Rampage said.

Michael Chandler Claims Bellator MMA Lightweight Belt With Explosive Knockout win Over Patricky ‘Pitbull’

Missouri’s own “Iron” Michael Chandler (15-3) gave his hometown fans exactly what they came for, reclaiming the vacant lightweight belt with a ferocious first-round knockout punch. The new 155-pound kingpin finished Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (16-8) just 2:14 into the evening’s co-main event, giving him six total knockouts during his seven-year professional career. The loss is the eighth of “Pitbull’s” illustrious career and puts an abrupt end to his recent string of two consecutive victories. After the win, Chandler stuck a backflip in the center of the cage as St. Louis Cardinal’s legend Ozzie Smith looked on, emulating the famous celebration Smith made famous during his MLB career.

Kevin Ross Earns Unanimous Decision Victory Over Justin Houghton

In a featherweight kickboxing bout, Kevin Ross (32-9) took care of business with a unanimous decision victory (29-27, 29-27, 30-26) over Justin Houghton (7-3). Nicknamed “The Soul Assassin,” Ross was able to land 86% of his shots over the course of the fight, thoroughly dominating Houghton and tacking on another victory to an already historic 11-year career. Ross now remains undefeated under the Bellator Kickboxing banner, building upon his victory at “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino.”

MacFarlane Displays Phenomenal Ground Game En Route to Submission win Over Ruth

In the second MMA battle of the evening, Ilima-Lei MacFarlane (4-0) was able to continue her rapid ascension to the top of the women’s flyweight division and remain undefeated with an impressive rear-naked choke submission over Rebecca Ruth (6-2). MacFarlane’s remarkable ground game and jiu-jitsu skill set was on full display tonight, forcing the veteran Ruth to tap out three minutes into the second round. For Ruth, the loss is just the second of her career and first since 2014. The win is “The Ilimanator’s” third since joining the promotion and is her first submission victory of the rear-naked choke variety.

Gloria Peritore Takes Split Decision Victory From Denise Kielholtz

 

In the opening kickboxing bout of “Bellator: Dynamite 2,” Gloria Peritore (11-1-1) was able to edge out Denise Kielholtz (44-3), taking home a split decision victory. It was an even battle from start to finish, but in the end it was the judges’ scorecards that read 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 in favor of the Italian. The loss is just the third of Kielholtz’s career and left the Dutch powerhouse completely speechless in the center of the ring. For the 27-year-old Peritore, the win gives her 11 since making her professional debut only two years ago.

Matt Mitrione Ignites Full House in Opening Bout of “Bellator: Dynamite 2”

Matt Mitrione (10-5) was able to absorb an early blow from Carl Seumanutafa (10-7) just 20 seconds into round one and answered with a flash of brilliance 3:22 into the opening frame. The come-from-behind knockout victory is the ninth of that variety and tenth of Mitrione’s career. “Meathead” proved his ability to outlast yet another opponent in what will surely go down as one of the greatest Bellator MMA debuts of all time. Now, Mitrione sets his sights on returning to the cage as quickly as possible, with the goal of winning Bellator gold on his mind.

Preliminary Card Results:

Guilherme “Bomba” Vasconcelos (8-3) defeated Jordan Dowdy (3-2) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:59 of round one

Justin Lawrence (9-3) defeated Isao Kobayashi (18-4-4) via knockout at 2:11 of round two

About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 400 million homes worldwide in over 120 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader.  Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.  Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

 

About Spike:

Spike is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  Spike’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

About Scottrade Center:

Scottrade Center is a contemporary, 12-story glass and concrete structure located in the heart of downtown St. Louis. The home of the St. Louis Blues Hockey Club, Scottrade Center also features a full range of arena programming, including concerts, ice shows, family shows and other sporting events. Scottrade Center is consistently ranked by Pollstar Magazine as one of the top grossing arenas in the country.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

‘RAMPAGE’ JACKSON-SATOSHI ISHII & JOE SCHILLING-HISAKI KATO TOP STACKED ‘BELLATOR: DYNAMITE 2’ & ‘BELLATOR KICKBOXING: ST. LOUIS’ CARDS – LIVE AND FREE ON SPIKE STARTINGTOMORROW AT 8 P.M. ET

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Complete Weigh-In Photos Here — Re-Watch Today’s Weigh-Ins Here

  1. LOUIS —(June 23, 2016) –The official weigh-ins for “Bellator: Dynamite 2”and “Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” took place this afternoon in front of a packed house at Scottrade Center in St. Louis. All competitors are now ready for action tomorrow with both events starting LIVE and FREE on SPIKE starting at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.

A heavyweight slugfest pitting “Rampage” Jackson (36-11) against Satoshi Ishii (14-5-1) will headline the “Bellator: Dynamite 2” portion, which will feature both a mixed martial arts cage and kickboxing ring inside Scottrade Center. In the evening’s co-main event, Michael Chandler (14-3) will face Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (16-7) with the Lightweight World Title on the line. In addition, Carl Seumanutafa (10-6) challenges former NFL player Matt Mitrione (9-5) in heavyweight slugfest, while Ilima Macfalane (3-0) and Rebecca Ruth (6-1) round out the electric mixed martial arts portion of the main card.

In the kickboxing portion of “Bellator: Dynamite 2,” Kevin Ross (31-9) will meet Justin Houghton (7-2) at featherweight, while the woman with Dynamite in her nickname, Denise Kielholtz (44-2) will go to war with Gloria Peritore (10-1-1) at flyweight.

Immediately following the conclusion of “Bellator: Dynamite 2,” Joe Schilling (27-8) and Hisaki Kato (6-2 MMA) will kick-off “Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” in a rematch of sorts, while World Combat League veteran Raymond Daniels (11-3) takes on Italian knockout specialist Stefano Bruno (23-2-1). Finally, Sarah Howell will make her professional debut in a flyweight feature bout with Keri Melendez(3-1).

All of the action goes down at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, and airs LIVE and FREE on Spike beginning at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.

 

“Dynamite 2” Main Card: (Live on SPIKE – 8 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT)

 

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main Event: “Rampage” Jackson (225) vs. Satoshi Ishii (222.8)

Bellator MMA Lightweight World Title Bout: Michael Chandler (154.7) vs. Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (155)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Matt Mitrione (255.9) vs. Carl Seumanutafa (254.7)

Bellator Kickboxing Lightweight Feature Bout: Kevin Ross (145) vs. Justin Houghton (145.6)

Bellator Kickboxing Flyweight Feature Bout: Denise Kielholtz (124.1) vs. Gloria Peritore (122.6)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Feature Bout: Rebecca Ruth (124.9) vs. Ilima Macfarlane (126)

“Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” Main Card: (Live on SPIKE — Immediately After “Dynamite 2”

Bellator Kickboxing Middleweight Feature Bout: Joe Schilling (185) vs. Hisaki Kato (184.9)

Bellator Kickboxing Welterweight Feature Bout: Raymond Daniels (170.5) vs. Stefano Bruno (171)

Bellator Kickboxing Flyweight Feature Bout: Keri Melendez (120) vs. Sarah Howell (120)

 

Preliminary Card: (Bellator.com – 6:15 p.m. ET/5:15 p.m. CT)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Justin Lawrence (145.5) vs. Isao Kobayashi (145.2)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Jordan Dowdy (170) vs. Guilherme “Bomba” (169.4)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Kevin Engel (170.7) vs. Chel Erwin-Davis (170.6)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Matt Murphy (136.9) vs. Justin Robbins (135.4)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Joaquin Buckley (172.3) vs. Chris Heatherly (179.6)

Bellator MMA 130-pound Preliminary Bout: Michelle Pearce (129.9) vs. Katy Collins (129.8)

Bellator MMA 170-pound Preliminary Bout: Brad Jones (167.3) vs. Tyler Claussen (169.7)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Jason Christeson (185.6) vs. Dewayne Diggs (185.1)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Lee Burns (253.8) vs. Byron Stevens (263.7)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Steven Mann (170.6) vs. Mike Estus (177)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Rashard Lovelace (144.9) vs. Garret Mueller (145.9)

Bellator MMA Strawweight Preliminary Bout: Nikki Smith (110) vs. Ashley Cummins (109)

Bellator Kickboxing Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Elmir Kulosman (175.7) vs. Darryl Cobb (175.6)

Bellator Kickboxing Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Tara Walker (128.6) vs. Mimi Kutzin (124)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

JAMES GALLAGHER-MIKE CUTTING SET TO FACE OFF IN FEATHERWEIGHT MAIN CARD BOUT AT ‘BELLATOR: LONDON’ ON JULY 16

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LONDON — (June 20, 2016) – A featherweight matchup pitting top Irish MMA prospect James Gallagher (3-0) against Mike Cutting (6-5) has been added to the main card of “Bellator 158: London,” which emanates from the world’s most popular entertainment venue, The O2 in London, England, on July 16.

 

The fight adds to a main card that features a welterweight fight between Douglas Lima (26-6) and British superstar Paul Daley (38-13-2). In addition, British Phenom Michael “Venom” Page (10-0) will look to remain unbeaten in a welterweight slugfest when he takes on MMA veteran “Cyborg” Santos (21-17) and a light heavyweight bout pitting Linton Vassell (16-5) against Francis Carmont(24-11) round up the main card of what amounts to a stacked Bellator MMA international event.

 

In the United Kingdom, “Bellator 158: London” will be broadcast on SPIKE UK from 9 – 10 p.m. BST and Channel 5 from 10 p.m. – midnight BST. Meanwhile in America, the card will air live and free on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Tickets start at only £40.00 and are on sale now at TheO2.co.uk or The O2 Box Office. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

July 16 marks the Bellator MMA debut of Gallagher, a 19-year-old featherweight prospect, who recently joined the promotion in April. A native of Northern Ireland, the undefeated Gallagher is a teammate of Conor McGregor and has received consistent praise from many top athletes in his highly acclaimed gym of SBG Ireland. Gallagher has begun his professional career with three consecutive victories, all of which have concluded by way of submission in the opening frame. He will look to build on his budding young career when he challenges “Gip” next month at The O2 in London.

 

A native of Hampshire, England, Cutting will have a unique opportunity to put on a show in front of his fellow countrymen while also making his Bellator MMA debut on July 16. “Gip” began his career under the direction of a local promotion in 2010, emerging victorious with a first round rear-naked choke submission over Mike Taylor. A submission specialist, Cutting has since gone on to collect six professional wins, all of which have come by way of submission and three have ended in the opening frame. The British featherweight has his eyes set on putting an end to his opponent’s unblemished mark when the two square off at this highly anticipated event at The O2 this summer.

 

Updated “Bellator 158: London” Fight Card

 

Bellator MMA Welterweight Bout: Douglas Lima (26-6) vs. Paul Daley (38-13-2)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Bout: Michael Page (10-0) vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (21-17)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (24-11)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Bout: James Gallagher (3-0) vs. Mike Cutting (6-5)

 

Preliminary Card:

 

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Bout: Mark Godbeer (11-2) vs. James Mulheron (8-1)

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Michael Shipman (8-1) vs. Lee Chadwick (21-12-1)

Bellator MMA Prelim Flyweight Bout: Pietro Menga (12-0) vs. Spencer Hewitt (12-10)

Bellator MMA Prelim Bantamweight Bout: Luiz Tosta (9-2) vs. Dean Garnett (7-0)

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Jason Radcliffe (8-2) vs. Jack Mason (29-15)

Bellator MMA Prelim Featherweight Bout: Chase Morton (6-2) vs. Nathaniel Wood (8-3)

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Alex Reid (11-9-1) vs. Manuel Garcia (27-19)

Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: C.J. Meeks (4-1) vs. Danny Mitchell (17-7-1)

 

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

ONCE AGAIN, EDUARDO DANTAS DEFEATS MARVOS GALVAO, TAKING BACK THE BELLATOR MMA BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE PROCESS

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dantasbelt

COMPLETE EVENT PHOTOS HERE — VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS HERE

FRESNO, Calif. (June 17, 2016) — It was a rematch over three years in the making, it was a fight that was scheduled, cancelled and re-scheduled, andon Friday at “Bellator 156” inside Save Mart Center, Marcos Galvao (17-7-1) versus Eduardo Dantas (18-4) was also a barnburner of a main event with the Bellator MMA Bantamweight Championship on the line.

Galvao, 33, walked into the arena with the belt in tow, riding high on his memorable victory at the expense of Joe Warren in 2015. But over the course of 25 minutes, Dantas put a halt to any momentum “Loro” had, peppering his former training partner’s left-eye with punches, until it swelled shut. Galvao tried valiantly to slow the pace of “Dudu” through grappling, but the 27-year-old did enough to earn the nod from the California State Athletic Commission judges and take back the belt that he claimed was his all along.

With the defeat, Galvao’s four-fight winning streak was snapped, while Dantas has now pieced together two consecutive victories. The Nova Uniao product will now set his sights on the winner of Darrion Caldwell against Joe Taimanglo at “Bellator 159,” a bout that will determine the new No. 1 contender for Dantas’ freshly won title.

Chidi Njokuani ‘Bang Bangs’ His Way to Knockout Victory

The co-main event of the evening featured contrasting styles, with Chidi Njokuani (15-4) looking to keep the fight at length and utilize his height and reach advantage, while Thiago Jambo (18-5) worked hard to close the distance and compete on the inside. “Chidi Bang Bang” won out, cracking the gut of Jambo with a kick that folded the Brazilian to the mat. Njokuani pounced, landing left and right punches until referee Mike Beltran waved the fight off at2:39 of the final round, giving the Las Vegas native a knockout win. After the scrap, the 28-year-old made his interview concise, telling the welterweight division: “anyone can get it.”

John Salter Taps Brandon Halsey via Triangle Choke

Throughout the lead up to Friday’s event in Fresno, Brandon Halsey (9-2) made it clear that fans watching would see a new and improved “Bull,” and while the former Fresno State Bulldog did demonstrate a new array of striking, it was John Salter (12-3) who stole the show. The 31-year-old Wilmington, N.C. resident caught Halsey on the mat with a triangle choke submission, forcing him to tap out after 4:03 in the first round. Keeping with the trend of his career thus far, every fight Salter has won has been via submission, furthering his claim for a shot at the promotion’s 185-pound belt.

Honeycutt Impresses Hometown Crowd in Middleweight Debut

In the opening main card contest of “Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas,” Fresno’s own Chris Honeycutt (8-1) welcomed Mikkel Parlo (13-3) back to the Bellator MMA cage with a complete 15-minute performance, building upon the wrestling pedigree he’s known for with a newfound dynamic striking arsenal. Usually Parlo, a Danish fighter who had not competed for the Scott Coker-led promotion since 2014, gets the better of his opponents when the fight stays upright, but on Friday, it was “The Cutt” who got the better of the punching exchanges. In the end, it was the 27-year-old Honeycutt who walked away with a unanimous decision, pushing out his current winning streak to two bouts and improving to 4-1 under the Bellator umbrella.

Preliminary Card Results:

Jermaine McDermott (3-0) defeated Blake Watkins (5-1) via TKO at :20 of round one

Paul Ruiz (7-3) defeated Chris Buron (5-1) via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

Javy Ayala (9-5) defeated Roy Boughton (14-8) via TKO at 3:02 of round one

Nick Bustamante (4-1) defeated Antoine Smith (2-6-1) via majority decision (28-28, 29-27, 29-27)

Jose Cabezas (6-8) defeated John Paul Elias (3-1) via knockout at :25 of round one

Chris Lewis (1-0) defeated Myron Smith (2-3) via TKO at 4:48 of round one

Luis Jauregui (4-2) defeated Ryan Tobar (3-3) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Ben Reiter (17-1-1) defeated A.J. Matthews (8-5) via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)

Carrington Banks (5-0) defeated C.J. Keith (8-4) via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-26)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV

SAVE MART CENTER TO PLAY HOST TO BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE REMATCH TOMORROW AT ‘BELLATOR 156’

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FRESNO, Calif. (June 16, 2016) – Only one day separates us from the ultra-compelling “Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” event at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif. and Bellator’s digital team has yet again whipped up a fresh batch of exclusive new content in preparation of Friday’scompetition. For an inside look and more behind-the-scenes footage, tune in to Bellator’s YouTube page now.

 

Foundations with Marcos Galvao

After suffering a controversial loss to Joe Warren the first time they fought, Marcos “Loro” Galvao left no doubt who was the better fighter the second time around.

 Foundations with Eduardo Dantas

Jimmy Smith breaks down the fight that led to Dantas’ title shot with Galvao on Friday night.

 

What To Watch: Galvao vs Dantas

Two teammates clash, as Marcos Galvao and Eduardo Dantas meet again in the cage with another belt on the line.

 Slow Motion Kneebar

Marcos Galvão flashes his bantamweight belt in this week’s #‎SlowMoMonday

 

Foundations with Brandon Halsey

According to Jimmy Smith, “Brandon Halsey is the guy when he walks down the hallway, you get out of his way.” Can he walk his way to a win?

 Foundations with John Salter

John Salter doesn’t wait for the judges to decide the outcome of a fight. Jimmy Smith discusses Salter’s style and confidence.

 

Foundations with Chidi Njokuani

It’s hard to prepare and battle a fighter like Chidi Njokuani. Jimmy Smith talks about Chidi’s advantage in the cage.

 

The Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title will be on the line in a rematch pitting Marcos “Loro” Galvao (17-6-1) against former champion Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas (17-4) in the main event of“Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2” on June 17 inside Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif.

 

In addition, Thiago Jambo (18-4) will be making his Bellator MMA debut in a welterweight co-main event against Chidi Njokuani (14-4). The main card also includes a middleweight matchup between Calif. native Brandon Halsey (9-1) and knockout specialist John Salter (11-3). “Bellator 156” also features one of Fresno’s own, Chris Honeycutt (7-1), who will look to put on a clinic in front of thousands of his biggest fans when he challenges Mikkel Parlo (13-2) in a middleweight clash.

 

Be sure to tune in to the live streaming preliminary card of “Bellator 156,” beginning at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, where you can watch the highly-anticipated professional debut of California’s No. 1 ranked amateur heavyweight, Chris Lewis.

 

Very few tickets remain for “Bellator 156: Galvao vs. Dantas 2,” so secure your seat now by visiting the Save Mart Center Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com. The event takes place at Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif., and airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while the highly entertaining preliminary card will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA

KICKBOXING LEGEND DON “THE DRAGON” WILSON JOINS BELLATOR MMA ‘FAN FEST’ AT MARYLAND HEIGHTS’ DAVE & BUSTER’S ON THURSDAY, JUNE 23

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Wilson Joins Bellator MMA Moneyweight Fighter “King Mo” & Lightweight Contender Benson Henderson Join “Stitch” Duran as Well as MMA Legends Randy Couture, Wanderlei Silva at the Bellator MMA Fan Fest Prior toFriday’s “Bellator: Dynamite 2” Event at Scottrade Center

 

Event is exclusively for Bellator Nation members – Join Bellator Nation now

 

 

WHAT:                      Bellator Fan Fest at Dave & Buster’s

Fans of all ages are invited to Dave and Buster’s in Maryland Heights, MO. to meet and get autographs from some of the top names in all of mixed martial arts. Fans will also have the opportunity to win tickets and great prizes, as well as snap a photograph with the Bellator ring girls.

Fan Fest is exclusively for Bellator Nation Members only, becoming an official Bellator Nation Member is simple and FREE. Click here to register and RSVP to Fan Fest. If you are already a member of Bellator Nation you will receive an email invitation to RSVP.

 

WHERE:                   Dave & Buster’s

                                    13857 Riverport Dr.

Maryland Heights, Mo. 63043

 

WHEN:                      Thursday, June 23 at 8 p.m. CT

 

WHO:                        Widely considered the greatest kickboxing champion of all time, Don “The Dragon” Wilson is the only person to win 11 world kickboxing titles in three separate weight divisions. Along the way, he defeated 11 other world champions, 12 number one contenders, 15 champions on four continents and was the first kung-fu practitioner to become a kickboxing world champion. With a professional record of 72 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws — 48 coming by way of knockout — “The Dragon” parlayed his success in the ring to multiple high profile roles on the silver screen, notably the legendary “Bloodfist” series. Overall, Wilson has starred in 29 motion pictures and gained fans all across the globe with his tangible charisma. If you’re not familiar with some of the 5th-degree kickboxing black belt’s combat sports work, look no furtherthan this exciting highlight reel.

    

 

One of the most recognizable MMA fighters of all time, Hall of Famer Randy Couture transitioned nicely into the entertainment world after his fighting career, starring in several television shows and movies, most notably the Expendables franchise and Dancing with the Stars. Inside the cage, Couture was a fearless underdog, often defeating men with great size advantages. “The Natural” was a multi-time heavyweight and multi-time light heavyweight champion in the UFC.

 

“King Mo” has been a mainstay with Bellator MMA since 2013, fighting everyone both the light heavyweight and heavyweight division has to offer. This will be Lawal’s first appearance at one of Bellator MMA’s “Fan Fest” events, giving fans the opportunity to meet the explosive striker for the first time. After his recent main event bout with Phil Davis, “Mo” now sets his sights on other “Moneyweight” fights to satiate his thirst.

 

Benson Henderson has accomplished a great deal over the course of his 10-year professional career as a mixed martial artist.  A former WEC and UFC lightweight titlist, “Smooth” holds black belts in both Taekwondo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and also earned NAIA All-American honors in both 2005 and 2006. Multiple media outlets named Henderson the fighter of the year in 2012, and has been a part of several epic battles that have received “Fight of the Year” accolades: Donald Cerrone (2009), Anthony Pettis (2010), Frankie Edgar (2012), and Brandon Thatch (2015).

 

Having first fought in the sport almost twenty years ago, very few men have a more legendary resume than Wanderlei Silva. “The Axe Murderer” is a Pride and UFC veteran, who brings an intimidating and imposing presence with him every time he steps into the cage.  Currently one of the biggest free agents in the sport, Silva may soon return to action in hopes of adding to an already-impressive list of wins that include: Guy Mezger, Dan Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba, Ricardo Arona, Kazuyuki Fujita, Michael Bisping, Cung Le, Brian Stann and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson twice

 

When watching any combat sports event, it’s odd not to see Jacob “Stitch” Duran as the professional cutman on duty. Recently, Bellator MMA was pleased to exclusively secure his services as cutman for the foreseeable future, after “Stitch” signed a multi-year contract with the Scott Coker-led promotion. “Stitch” is seen everywhere combat sports events take place, and played a vital role in the recent smash blockbuster, “Creed.”

 

FIGHT INFO:           “Bellator: Dynamite 2” takes place on Friday, June 24, and airs LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT and features a heavyweight main event of “Rampage” Jackson versus Satoshi Ishii. Tickets start at just $30 and are on sale now at Ticketmaster, and the Scottrade Center Box Office.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Spike TV, wrestling

BELLATOR MMA SIGNS FOUR-TIME NCAA DIVISION II WRESTLING CHAMP JOEY DAVIS

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Newest Bellator MMA acquisition Joey Davis

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 15, 2016) – Bellator MMA is thrilled to announce the signing of NCAA Division II wrestling star Joey Davis, to an exclusive multi-year, multi-fight contract. The signing was first reported by FloWrestling.com’s Jeremy Botter.

 

Davis joins a string of recent signings by Bellator president Scott Coker including standout wrestlers the likes of three-time All-American Jarod Trice and Olympic contender Tyrell Fortune. The 21-year-old standout wrestler competed at Notre Dame College, where he accumulated an incredible undefeated 131-0 record and four consecutive NCAA Division II Championships during his college tenure, becoming the only Division II wrestler to ever win four national titles and go unbeaten in a career. Davis will look to compete in Bellator MMA’s stacked welterweight division and will make his professional debut before the end of this year.

 

“With God you can achieve anything, and I’m gonna do it with high fashion,” Davis said. “Joining Bellator is my latest achievement to date.  I don’t remember what it’s like to lose, and I’m not planning on finding out any time soon.”

(L to R) Joey Davis, Antonio McKee and A.J. McKee

 

Named 2016 “Man of the Year” by Wrestling USA Magazine, the Compton, Calif., native began his stretch of domination as early as the ninth grade, when he attended Sante Fe High School. Davis was crowned the California State champion at 152-pounds in his junior year and followed that impressive campaign with a second State Title at 160-pounds in his senior year.

 

Davis will train at Antonio McKee’s Body Shop Gym in Long Beach, Calif. alongside childhood best friend and Bellator featherweight wrecking machine AJ McKee. Davis joins a budding roster of Bellator MMA talent, with recent signings that include: Matt Mitrione, Benson Henderson, Jarrod Trice, Sergei Kharitonov, and recent re-signings the likes of Darrion Caldwell and Michael Chandler.

mixed martial arts, MMA, World Series of Fighting

MIKE ARRANT REPLACES INJURED THIAGO MELLER AGAINST JOHN HOWARD AT WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND LIVE ON NBCSN FROM MASHANTUCKET, CONN. ON FRIDAY, JUNE 17

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HOWARD VS. ARRANT TO BE CONTESTED AT MIDDLEWEIGHT

PLUS UNDEFEATED MARCUS SURIN TO BATTLE
CHRISTIAN TORRES IN WSOF31 PRELIMINARY BOUT
LIVE ON WSOF.COM

LAS VEGAS (June 15, 2016) –World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) announced today that Thiago Meller has withdrawn from his scheduled welterweight (170 pounds) contest against John “Doomsday” Howard (23-12), who will now face“Mad” Mike Arrant (15-10) in a middleweight (185 pounds) bout at the much-anticipated WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland world championship doubleheader Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event, live on NBCSN (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Conn. on Friday, June 17.

In addition, undefeated Marcus Surin (3-0) of Stamford, Conn. has been tabbed to step in for Sam Watford in the scheduled lightweight (155 pounds) preliminary card contest against Christian “The Terminator” Torres (0-0) of Endicott, N.Y.

Originally hailing from Orlando, Fla., the 5-foot-9, 28-year-old Arrant, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, resides in Las Vegas, where he is a member of legendary champion Randy “The Natural” Couture’s Xtreme Couture fight squad.

Arrant is looking to return to the win column following a unanimous decision defeat in his last start on August 7, 2015, at the hands of two-time UFC veteran Brock Jardine.

Prior to the loss, Arrant had reeled off six consecutive victories, five of which he produced in the first round, by way of (T)KO or submission.  To date, 12 of his 15 professional wins have been finishes.

During the six-fight win streak, Arrant seized his first championship – regional promotion SteelFist Fight Night’s welterweight title – with a first round (5:00) TKO (retirement) of Carl Dieckmann on July 12, 2013.

Like Arrant, the 5-foot-7, 33-year-old Howard boasts a phenomenal finish rate with 15 of his 23 professional victories having come by way of (T)KO or submission.

Howard will make his promotional debut with World Series of Fighting following a second stint with the UFC that spanned seven fights and included wins over Uriah Hall, Siyar Bahadurzada and Cathal Pendred.

Priced from $39.99, tickets for WSOF31: Ivanov vs. Copeland are on sale at WSOF.com and Foxwoods.com.

Doors at The Grand Theatre at Foxwoods Resort Casino will open at 5 p.m. ET, and the first of seven preliminary card bouts will begin at 5:45 p.m.

The entire preliminary fight card will stream live on an embeddable video player on WSOF.com.

In the main event of the five-bout, live NBCSN telecast, reigning World Series of Fighting heavyweight champion Blagoy Ivanov (13-1) will put his title on the line against Josh “Cuddly Bear” Copeland (12-3).

In the lightweight co-main event, superstars Jason “The Kansas City Bandit” High (19-5) and Mike “The Martian” Ricci (11-4) will square off with their division’s number one contender ranking at stake.

WSOF31: IVANOV VS. COPELAND

MAIN CARD (Live on NBCSN)

World Series of Fighting Heavyweight Championship Main Event:
Blagoy Ivanov (Champion) vs. Josh Copeland (Challenger)

Lightweight Co-Main Event:
Jason High vs. Mike Ricci

Middleweight:  John Howard vs. Mike Arrant
Featherweight:  Luis Palomino vs. Sheymon Moraes
Middleweight: Phil Hawes vs. Josh Key

PRELIMINARY CARD (Live on WSOF.com)

Lightweight: Tom Marcellino vs. Devin Powell
Heavyweight: Juliano Coutinho vs. Justin Willis
Heavyweight: Tyler King vs. Lorenzo Hood
Welterweight: Robert Fonseca vs. Sean Lally
Lightweight:  Bruce Boyington vs. Saul Almeida
Bantamweight:  Rodrigo Almeida vs. Ben Pierre-Saint
Lightweight: Marcus Surin vs. Christian Torres
Bellator, kickboxing, Spike TV

HUMAN HIGHLIGHT REEL RAYMOND DANIELS TAKES ON STEFANO BRUNO AT ‘BELLATOR KICKBOXING: ST. LOUIS’ ON JUNE 24 – LIVE & FREE ON SPIKE AT 11/10C

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IN ADDITION: KERI MELENDEZ-SARAH HOWELL SHOWDOWN COMPLETES DYNAMIC BELLATOR KICKBOXING CARD

 

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (June 14, 2016) – The SPIKE-televised “Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” event on June 24 at Scottrade Center is now complete, with the addition of two fights featuring Bellator Kickboxers Raymond Daniels (11-3) and Keri Melendez (3-1), who will take on Stefano Bruno (23-2-1) and Sarah Howell (debut) respectively.

 

The fights join a main event that features a middleweight rematch between Joe Schilling (27-8) and Hisaki Kato (6-2), who initially competed against one another in a mixed martial arts contest that saw Kato get the better of the kickboxing ace with a “Knockout of the Year” winning superman punch.

 

“Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” will air immediately following the highly anticipated “Bellator: Dynamite 2” event LIVE and FREE on Spike at 11 p.m. ET/10 p.m. CT. Tickets for the double feature event start at just $30 and are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the at Scottrade Center Box Office.

 

A native of California, Daniels is one of the most widely known kickboxers in America, having made a splash as both and amateur and professional. “The Real Deal” went 17-0 as an amateur, with nine knockouts, finishing all 17 bouts in the first round. Daniels made his professional debut in 2007, winning each of his first four fights, three of which ended in knockouts for the 36-year-old welterweight. Daniels was also a competitor at Bellator’s inaugural “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” event in Italy this year, earning his first career victory with the Scott Coker-led promotion. The win was the eighth of his professional career and it came spectacularly 30 seconds into the first round, giving him five first-round knockouts in total.

 

With a stellar record of 23-2-1, Italian kickboxer Stefano Bruno will have his hands full when he steps into the ring with Daniels on the 24th of June. One half of what many kickboxing pundits considered the fight of the year in 2015 against Hosam Radwan, Bruno has competed all around the globe and has truly made a name for himself in the welterweight division.

 

The queen of the infamous Skrap Pack in Northern California, Melendez made her first appearance with Bellator during the kickboxing portion of “Bellator: Dynamite 1,” recording a unanimous decision victory over Hadley Griffith in front of her home town faithful. Melendez tallied a 4-1 amateur mark before taking her talents to the professional circuit, where she currently holds a 3-1 kickboxing record. The 32-year-old flyweight will look to build off her impressive debut last year, when she takes on Sarah Howell in the kickboxing portion of Bellator’s “Dynamite 2” on June 24 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis.

 

Making your professional debut in anything is an arduous task, but making your debut against Melendez will be tougher than usual for Howell, who comes into the fight with no pro experience. Hailing from Washington – which coincidentally was the homestate of Melendez’s last opponent —  the proud mother has been documenting her road to “Dynamite 2” through her blog, which can be found here.

 

Complete “Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” Fight Card:

Bellator Kickboxing Middleweight Main Event: Joe Schilling (27-8) vs. Hisaki Kato (6-2)

Bellator Kickboxing Welterweight Feature Bout: Raymond Daniels (11-3) vs. Stefano Bruno (23-2-1)

Bellator Kickboxing Flyweight Feature Bout: Keri Melendez (3-1) vs. Sarah Howell (Debut)