LOS ANGELES – BELLATOR MMA announced this morning that the greatest heavyweight mixed martial artist of all-time, Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko (39-6, 1 NC) will take on number two ranked heavyweightTim Johnson (15-7) in the main event ofBELLATOR Moscow: Fedor vs. Johnson Rau hnub Saturday, Oct. 23 at the VTB Arena.
Tickets for the highly anticipated event are on sale now and can be purchased atKassir.ru. Additional matchups and SHOWTIME telecast details will be revealed soon.
Widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight in mixed martial arts history, Fedor Emelianenkoreturns to the BELLATOR cage for the first time since his dominant first-round TKO victory overQuinton “Rampage” Jackson nyob rau hauv 2019. With an illustrious career that has seen him earn 30 stoppages in his 39 victories over legendary opposition, the former PRIDE FC Heavyweight World Champion will be fighting in his home country of Russia for the first time in five years. A four-time combat sambo world champion, “The Last Emperor” put together an insane eight-year unbeaten streak on his way to becoming an international MMA icon. Emelianenko has established Team Fedor, which features several top Russian fighters including BELLATOR’s Light Heavyweight World Champion Vadim Nemkov and BELLATOR’s Interim Heavyweight Champion Valentin Moldavsky. With his last three victories coming by way of first-round finish, Fedor is looking to add another exciting chapter to his storied fighting career on October 23.
2020 was a huge year for Johnson, as the UFC vet notched three wins in as many fights with impressive first-round finishes overMatt Mitrionethiab Tyrell Fortuneand a decision victory overCheick Kongoduring the historic, first-ever major MMA event in France. The Xtreme Couture-product showed that he’s got the skill and stamina for championship rounds as he went the full five with Team Fedor’sValentin Modlavsky (11-1) this past June. Proudly hailing from North Dakota, Johnson is a current member of the United States National Guard who won two national championships while wrestling at Minnesota State University.
UpdatedBELLATOR Moscow: Fedor vs. JohnsonCard:
Heavyweight Main Event: Fedor Emelianenko (39-6, 1 NC) vs. #2-Tim Johnson(15-7)
Light Heavyweight World Champion Vadim Nemkov Set To Defend Title Against ‘Rumble’ Johnson, While Ryan Bader Goes Toe-To-Toe With Corey Anderson Live on SHOWTIME®tom 10 P.M. ET/7 P.M. PT
LOS ANGELES– BELLATOR MMA’s massive second half of 2021 keeps rolling on Saturday, October 16, when both of the high-profile semifinal matchups for the Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix take place at the Footprint Center, home of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury. Light heavyweight kingpinVadim Nemkov (14-2) defends his world championship against No. 4 rankedAnthony“Rumble” Johnson (23-6), while current BELLATOR Heavyweight World ChampionRyan Bader (28-6) facesNo. 2-ranked light heavyweightCorey Anderson (15-5) in the co-main event.
BELLATOR MMA: Light Heavyweight WorldGrand Prix Semifinalswill be televised live on SHOWTIME at10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The preliminary fights will stream live on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV beginning at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. Additional bouts and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
Team Fedor’s Vadim Nemkov looks to remain BELLATOR 205-pound champion on September 25, further cementing his status as the best light heavyweight fighter on the planet. In his last outing, Nemkov went five hard rounds with former championPhil Davis, earning a unanimous decision victory en route to punching his ticket to the semifinals. Should Nemkov defend his belt again and move on to the grand prix final, between Davis—a wrestler by trade—and the power-punching “Rumble,” Nemkov will have showcased his full repertoire as a mixed martial artist in the tournament. Nemkov has been perfect in BELLATOR to this point, winning all six of his contests including three knockouts and a submission.
“Rumble” Johnsonmade his BELLATOR MMA debut in the opening round of the grand prix, engaging in a back-and-forth affair with Jose Augusto before notching another signature “Rumble” knockout in the second round. Mob yeej, the 37-year-old made it clear his time away from the sport has not slowed him down, and with wins over the likes of Glover Teixeira, Alexander Gustafsson, Phil Davis and current BELLATOR heavyweight champion Ryan Bader, “Rumble” remains one of the most imposing forces in the entire sport.
A winner in eight of his last ten bouts, Arizona State University’s “Darth” Bader will have a home game as he looks to keep the ball rolling when he steps into the BELLATOR cage for the ninth time, on the road to re-capturing the 205-pound belt he once held. Bader—despite his participation in the Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix—remains the BELLATOR Heavyweight Champion, a title he plans on unifying with the interim-champValentin Moldavksyfollowing the conclusion of the 205-pound tournament. Bader’s storied career has earned him the moniker of a legend slayer, with wins over all-time greats likeFedor Emelianenko, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Rashad Evans, and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
Corey Anderson has made an excellent impression since his arrival in BELLATOR, reeling off two dominant victories over the likes of veteranMelvin Manhoefand former ACA ChampionDovletdzhan Yagshimuradov, both ending via TKO. The Rockton, Ill. product came to the promotion boasting an already impressive resumé, previously triumphing over Johnny Walker, Glover Teixeira and Jan Błachowicz amongst others. Anderson’s fight with Bader, his third under the BELLATOR banner, will be his first with the promotion while fans are in attendance.
BELLATOR MMA fans who are new subscribers to the SHOWTIME streaming service can sign up now for a limited time offer which includes a 30-day free trial, followed by a discounted monthly subscription fee of $4.99/month for the next six months. Viewers can sign up atSHO.com/BellatorMMA. Subscribers will be delivered two premier BELLATOR MMA events per month throughout 2021 and beyond, with all events scheduled to air live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT anywhere the SHOWTIME service is available.
BELLATOR MMA: Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix SemifinalsMain Card:
SHOWTIME
10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Light Heavyweight World Title Main Event: C-Vadim Nemkov (14-2) vs. #4-Anthony “Rumble” Johnson(25-0)
Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Semifinal Bout: #1-Ryan Bader (28-6) vs. #2-Corey Anderson (15-5)
BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR 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 Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
Showtime tes hauj lwm Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc., owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI ciaj uas muag thiab qhov nws distributes kev ua si thiab cov txheej xwm lom ze rau exhibition rau subscribers tus puav pay-per-view txog SHOWTIME PPV®. Xav paub ntau ntxiv, mus tomwww.SHO.com.
THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED REMATCH BETWEEN DOUGLAS ‘THE PHENOM’ LIMA AND MICHAEL “VENOM” PAGE TO HEADLINEBELLATOR LONDON: LIMA VS. MVP 2
TICKETS ON SALE THIS FRIDAY
LONDON, UK –Today, BELLATOR MMA announced it will be returning to The SSE Arena, Wembley in London on Friday, October 1, nrogBELLATOR London,a card headlined by a must-see rematch between No. 1 rankedDouglas “The Phenom” Lima (32-9) and No. 2 rankedMichael “Venom” Page (19-1).
Fans in attendance at The SSE Arena, Wembley and those tuning in from around the world can expect an explosive night of elite MMA action in the capital, with two of the world’s best welterweights going toe-to-toe in a high-stakes match-up. Lima and Page will be putting everything on the line in pursuit of a win, with the fighter who emerges victorious booking themselves a fast-track ticket to a title shot against newly crowned welterweight champion, Yaroslav Amosov.
For the first time since February 2020, BELLATOR MMA fans in Europe will be able to fill the arena for the event that features a showcase of top international and homegrown athletes.
Daim pib musBELLATOR London: Lima vs. MVP 2go on sale on Friday, Lub Xya hli ntuj 30, with a special pre-sale Thursday, Lub Xya hli ntuj 29 and can be purchased online fromaxs.com/uk thiabBELLATOR.com.
TusBELLATOR Londonmain card action will kick off at 9 p.m. BST/4 p.m. LI, while the preliminary card begins at 5:30 p.m. BST/12:30 p.m. LI. BELLATOR fans can watch the event live on SHOWTIME (US), BBC iPlayer (UK), as well as both Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Sport (Ireland).
Lima and Page first met inside the BELLATOR Cage in May 2019 tomBELLATOR 221in the semifinals of BELLATOR’s Welterweight World Grand Prix. After an even first round, Lima sent Page to the canvas with a sweeping leg kick, which he then followed up with a spectacular punch and ground and pound strikes to finish the fight.
Lima will be looking to cause an upset for the hometown faithful and stop Page for a second time, denying the Londoner his chance for gold, and earning himself an immediate shot at recapturing the welterweight title which he lost toYaroslav Amosovvia unanimous decision in June of this year.
“MVP has put together an impressive string of wins together, but when he gets back in the cage with me, the end result is going to be the same as the first time,” said Lima. “Right now, I’m on a mission to put the BELLATOR belt back around my waist. Anyone standing in my way will be dismantled.”
Widely regarded as the poster boy of MMA in the UK, Londoner Michael “Venom” Page, or ‘MVP’ as he is known to his fans, will step into the BELLATOR cage fresh off the back of his spectacular first round TKO victory overDerek “The Barbaric” Andersonthis past May. Currently riding a five-fight win streak full of highlight real knockouts, the only defeat on Page’s MMA record to date came at the hands of Lima, a loss that he is hungry to avenge.
“The comeback is always bigger than the setback. It was always gonna happen, it’s written in the stars,” said Page. “The one and only MVP is back, and I will have my redemption in front of my hometown the only way I know how – in venomous style.”
The current fight card is available below with additional bouts to be announced in the coming weeks.
BELLATOR London: Lima vs. MVP 2MainCard:
SHOWTIME (US) / BBC iPlayer (UK) / Virgin Media Two & Virgin Media Sport (IRELAND)
Hnub vas Xuv, October 1 – 9 p.m. BST/4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
Welterweight Main Event: #1-Douglas Lima (32-9) vs. #2-Michael Page (19-1)
Featherweight Bout: Robert Whiteford(16-4))vs.Andrew Fisher (18-8-1
LOS ANGELES –Today, BELLATOR officials confirmed a must-see main event pitting hard-hitting heavyweightsCheick Kongo (30-11-2) thiab Sergei Kharitonov(32-8) against one another topsBELLATOR MMA 265on Friday, Lub yim hli ntuj 20 from the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. and airs live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
The card has also confirmed top featherweights No. 3 Adam Borics (17-1) and No. 4 Jay-Jay Wilson(8-0) will meet for the right to face the winner of the BELLATOR Featherweight World Grand Prix Final betweenPatricio “Pitbull”(32-4) thiab AJ McKee (17-0), which takes place on Saturday, Lub Xya hli ntuj 31.
Tickets for the event go on sale this Thursday at 10 a.m. CT and are available at Sanford Pentagon Box Office & Ticketmaster.
The preliminary portion ofBELLATOR MMA 265: Kongo vs. Kharitonovcurrentlyfeatures a flyweight bout pitting No.5-rankedAlejandra Lara (9-4) againstDeAnna Bennett (10-7-1) and willbegin at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT and stream live on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV. Additional preliminary bouts will be announced in the near future.
Holding an impressive MMA record of 30-11-2, 1 NC, Tsis yog. 3-ranked Cheick Kongo returns to action for the first time since headlining the first-ever major MMA event in his native France last October. The former kickboxer remains a force to be reckoned with and holds records for the most fights (16) and wins (12) in BELLATOR heavyweight history. With high-profile victories overVitaly Minakov, Mirko Cro Cop, Antoni Hardonk, and Matt Mitrione, the Parisian is keen to pad his current promotional records, set new ones, and earn his shot at BELLATOR gold.
The man nicknamed “The Paratrooper,” Kharitonov is the owner of an equally notable MMA resume, with the Russian scoring vicious wins against some of the sport’s marquee names, such as Fabricio Werdum, Andrei Arlovski, Pedro Rizzo, Murilo “Ninja” Rua, Matt Mitrione, and Alistair Overeem. Now, fresh off two championship victories on the regional circuit, Kharitonov returns to the BELLATOR cage with the intention of climbing the heavyweight rankings and asserting himself as a BELLATOR title contender.
28-year-old Hungarian Adam “The Kid” Borics has won 17 of 18 fights to begin his professional career, bouncing back from his only loss with three straight victories. Training out of South Florida’s Sanford MMA gym, Borics has firmly established himself as a true threat to anyone in the 145-pound division, where he is currently ranked third.
Undefeated in his first eight fights as a professional, New Zealand’s Wilson has won in style, accumulating six finishes in those eight wins. Following a split decision win against Tywan Claxton, Wilson scored a violent knockout of Sergio DeBari, then followed that victory up with an equally vicious spinning backfist stoppage over SBG’s Pedro Carvalho in April. The Kiwi fighter will be looking to secure a high-stakes victory over Borics with a world title shot awaiting the winner.
# # #
BELLATOR MMA 265: Kongo vs. KharitonovMain Card: SHOWTIME Hnub vas Xuv, Lub yim hli ntuj 20 – 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
Heavyweight Main Event: #3-Cheick Kongo (30-11-2) vs. Sergei Kharitonov(32-8) Featherweight No. 1 Contender’s Bout: #3-Adam Borics(17-1) vs. #4-Jay-Jay Wilson (8-0)
Juliana Velasquez: “I think I would be clinching a bit more, her striking didn’t surprise me, but I felt that I did enough to retain the title.”
“I beat her with my jab, if you look at her face, it’s messed up, if you look at mine, my face is fine. I think people in the audience favor her because she has a kickboxing style and I counter, but I think it was my boxing that was the difference tonight.”
“When I come in here, I don’t think of myself as a champion, I think of myself as someone who needs to earn the belt and tonight I felt that I did that.”
#5–Tyrell Fortune(11-1, 1 NC) defeated #7-Matt Mitrione (13-9, 1 NC) via submission (strikes) tom 1:45 of round one Tyrell Fortune: “I feel great coming out of the fight. He stepped forward so I went for the shot instead of throwing the punch and I guess I made contact with my head. Besides that I was running through him for the takedown. As you saw, I finished on top, and the fight went from there.
“I didn’t feel it (the clash of heads), I can only go off of what he was saying at the time. Like I said, I was just looking to get on top and continue to fight so I didn’t really know what else to do. I thought if there was a contact that the ref would have saw and we would have stopped that’s why I paused for a second on top of him. I didn’t go right to punching. Once the ref said to continue, I was continuing to fight.
“I want Tim Johnson. I don’t want a title shot. I’d rather have Tim Johnson first. That’s really the only fight I’ve been training for since that loss. To me, with him taking that loss (against Valentin Moldavsky) and me getting this win, it should line us right up… I’m gonna’ try to knock his a– out just like he did me.”
Matheus Mattos (13-2-1) defeatedCee Jay Hamilton (15-9) via TKO (strikes) tom 1:33 of round two
Matheus Mattos: “He’s a wrestler. So, he could have done the boring game and taken me down. But he chose to go for the striking. Fortunately, he did it because it was a beautiful knockout. If Bellator could send more strikers to me, then they would be welcomed.”
“I feel great, perfectly strong. But I felt my knee go ‘thwack.’ And I stopped moving a lot. I didn’t do much footwork. I knew this was going to be on my hands, because my leg was painful. Hopefully, everything went well.
“My two losses were to two of the best in the world. So, I’ve been fighting at a high level a long time and I’m prepared for everyone. They can see that this fight welcomed me to Bellator, and now they know me. They know Matheus Mattos is a striker and he’s coming for us.
“I’m in my prime now so I’m prepared for everyone.”
#2–Arlene Blencowe(14-8) defeatedDayana Silva (9-6) via TKO (punches) tom 1:00 of round three
Arlene Blencowe: “I feel great. I want to give a shout out to my kids at home. I’ve been away from home for nine weeks and it’s the longest I’ve ever been without my kids. So, this win is for you.”
“I was just trying to gauge my distance. It was starting to be a little bit of a slow fight, so sorry about that fans. I could hear you yelling. But I was determined to keep my pace and not rush into anything. We knew that she swung with power and that the overhand right and the left hook came pretty quick. We’ve been working a lot on kicks, and I’m going to have a lot of bruises tomorrow. And hopefully her calves will be sore too.”
#5-Johnny Eblen(9-0) defeatedTravis Davis (10-5) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26) Johnny Eblen: “My coaches when I came back to the corner told me not to brawl. So, I took their advice and I thought I wrestled smart.”
“He was talking s— saying, ‘Hey, let’s brawl in the corner.’ I’m like, ‘Bro, that’s stupid.’ That’s why you’re not where I’m at. Because you don’t fight smart. You’re trying to come out here and brawl. You can do that all you want, but you’re not going to be a world champion like me.”
Preliminary Card: Said Sowma(7-2) defeatedRonny Markes (19-9) via KO (punches) tom 1:09 of round one Cody Law (4-0) defeatedTheodore Macuka(1-1) via TKO (punches) tom 1:54 of round one Diana Avsaragova (4-0) defeatedGabriella Gulfin (2-3) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Adil Benjilany(6-3, 1 NC) defeatedJohnny Soto (4-2) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Charlie Campbell (4-1) defeatedNicholas Giulietti(2-2) via TKO (punches) tom 1:30 of round two
About BELLATOR BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR 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 Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
LOS ANGELES– BELLATOR President Scott Coker announced today that Danny Brener has been named Vice President of Communications and Public Relations. Brener, who has been a member of the promotion’s PR team since 2014, will oversee all communications and media relations for BELLATOR effective immediately.
“I first worked with Danny [Brener] nyob rau hauv 2008 when he was a young and hungry publicist at BZA working as an account representative for the STRIKEFORCE brand,” BELLATOR President Scott Coker said. “Danny has consistently delivered results for us through the years with his hard work and dedication. This promotion is a testament to both of those things and makes sense as BELLATOR continues to grow and expand.”
During his time as Director of Communications for BELLATOR, Brener has helped promote some of the biggest spectacles in the sport of MMA, with massive events garnering press around the globe. In addition to his work on BELLATOR, Brener also maintained a leading role at BZA PR, where he worked on other key accounts including the NHL, NFL, and The Famous Group.
“I’ve been extremely fortunate to work in the combat sports industry for nearly 17 xyoo, and I’m grateful to Scott Coker for entrusting me with the opportunity to continue my journey in this field,” said Brener. “BELLATOR is home to many of the world’s very best athletes and I’m honored to be able to help share their incredible stories around the world.”
Beginning his MMA PR career printing credentials for UFC in 2004, Brener would go on to work with additional boxing and MMA companies including Goossen Tutor Promotions, Elite XC, and ultimately alongside Coker at STRIKEFORCE.
A second-generation publicist, Brener learned the craft of communications from his father Steve, the longtime PR executive for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He resides in the suburbs of Los Angeles with his wife Lauren and their two dogs, Gronk and Jules.
Brener will work with Senior Public Relations Manager C.J. Tuttle, as well as BZA PR, as they continue in their roles with BELLATOR. Brener can be reached at his new email: Danny.Brener@bellator.com.
UNDEFEATED FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION JULIANA VELASQUEZ AND NO. 3 RANKED DENISE KIELHOLTZ SQUARE OFF FOR 125-POUND STRAP WHILE TOP-10 HEAVYWEIGHTS TYRELL FORTUNE AND MATT MITRIONE MEET IN THE CO-MAIN EVENT.
LOS ANGELES – BELLATOR MMA has confirmed the full fight card forBELLATOR MMA 262: Velasquez vs. Kielholtzrau Hnub vas Xuv, Lub Xya hli ntuj 16at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The event airs LIVE on SHOWTIME at9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PTand is headlined by undefeated flyweight world championJuliana Velasquez (11-0) versus BELLATOR Kickboxing’s Flyweight World Champion and No. 3 rankedDenise Kielholtz(6-2) for the promotion’s 125-pound belt.
In addition to the must-see main event, four other exciting main card bouts are confirmed forBELLATOR 262on SHOWTIME, including No. 5 rankedTyrell Fortune (10-1, 1 NC) taking on former New York Giants football star and No. 7 rankedMatt Mitrione(13-8, 1 NC) at heavyweight, a women’s featherweight matchup between No. 2 ranked former title challengerArlene Blencowe (13-8) and Brazil’sDayana Silva(9-6), a men’s heavyweight contest pitting No. 4 rankedLinton Vassell (20-8, 1 NC)versus BELLATOR newcomerMarcelo Golm (8-3), and undefeated No. 5 rankedJohnny Eblen (8-0) facing off againstTravis Davis (10-4) in an explosive middleweight bout to open the main card.
The preliminary card is confirmed for six bouts and features a heavyweight slugfest between knockout artistRonny Markes (19-8) thiab Said Sowma (6-2), as well as a featherweight contest pitting undefeated top prospectCody Law (3-0) againstTheodore Macuka (1-0). tsis tas li ntawd, South Florida’sRoman Faraldo (5-0) welcomesJohn Ramirez (5-5) to the fray in a welterweight clash, while Team Pitbull Brothers-productMatheus Mattos (12-2-1) faces off againstCee Jay Hamilton (15-8) in a bantamweight battle. Lastly, Johnny Soto (4-1) thiab Adil Benjilany (5-3, 1 NC) square off in a 145-pound matchup and the undefeatedDiana Avsaragova (3-0) takes onGabriella Gulfin (2-2) in a flyweight showdown.
All prelims will stream live at6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PTon the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV. Full bout listings are below:
SHOWTIME streaming service is offering a 30-day free trial, followed by a discounted monthly subscription fee of $4.99/month for the next six months. Viewers can sign up atSHO.com/BellatorMMA. Subscribers will be delivered two live premier BELLATOR MMA events per month throughout 2021 and beyond, anywhere the SHOWTIME service is available.
# # #
BELLATOR MMA 262: Velasquez vs. KielholtzMain Card: Hnub vas Xuv, Lub Xya hli ntuj 16 – Live onSHOWTIME 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
Flyweight World Title Main Event: C-Juliana Velasquez (11-0) vs. #3-Denise Kielholtz(6-2) Heavyweight Bout: #5–Tyrell Fortune(10-1, 1 NC) vs. #7-Matt Mitrione (13-8, 1 NC) Heavyweight Bout: #4-Linton Vassell(20-8, 1 NC) vs. Marcelo Golm (8-3) Featherweight Bout: #2–Arlene Blencowe(13-8) vs. Dayana Silva (9-6) Middleweight Bout: #5-Johnny Eblen(8-0) vs. Travis Davis (10-4)
Preliminary Card: BELLATOR MMA YouTube Channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel | Pluto TV 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT Bantamweight Bout: Matheus Mattos (12-2-1) vs. Cee Jay Hamilton (15-8) Heavyweight Bout: Ronny Markes (19-8) vs. Said Sowma(6-2) Featherweight Bout:Cody Law (3-0) vs. Theodore Macuka(1-0) Welterweight Bout: Roman Faraldo (5-0) vs. John Ramirez(5-5) Flyweight Bout: Diana Avsaragova (3-0) vs. Gabriella Gulfin (2-2) Featherweight Bout:Johnny Soto (4-1) vs. Adil Benjilany(5-3, 1 NC) *Card subject to change.
For more information on upcoming BELLATOR MMA events, sib ntsib BELLATOR.com.
LOS ANGELES –The BELLATOR MMA Middleweight World Championship will be up for grabs on Friday, Lub yim hli ntuj 13 at Mohegan Sun Arena when current 185-pound titlistGegard Mousasi(47-7-2) defends his belt against No. 1-rankedJohn Salter (18-4).
The main card of BELLATOR 263: Mousasi vs. Salterairs live on SHOWTIME at9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, while the preliminary portion of the event will stream live at6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PTon the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV. Additional contests for the event will be announced shortly.
Tickets for the event go on sale next Thursday, Lub Xya hli ntuj 1 at BELLATOR.com and Ticketmaster.com with a pre-sale taking place on Wednesday, Rau hli ntuj 30.
Fighting out of Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands, Mousasi has cemented legendary status within the sport, having won titles with multiple promotions across a 56-fight career. Most recently, Mousasi defeated former BELLATOR Welterweight Champion Douglas Lima, clearing his path to a shot at a second middleweight title run. With victories in his storied career against Lyoto Machida, Rory MacDonald, Chris Weidman, Vitor Belfort, Jacare Souza, Dan Henderson and Mark Hunt, the Dutch MMA legend now faces a stiff challenge from John Salter.
North Carolina’s Salter enters his title shot on August 13 riding a three-fight winning streak with victories over Chidi Njokuani, Andrew Kapel and Mousasi’s teammate Costello van Steenis. The 36-year-old boasts a suffocating grappling and wrestling repertoire, ending six of his eight BELLATOR victories via submission. The bout will be Salter’s tenth with the promotion and his first opportunity to capture BELLATOR gold.
BELLATOR MMA 263: Mousasi vs. SalterMain Card: Hnub vas Xuv, Lub yim hli ntuj 13 – Live onSHOWTIME 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT Middleweight World Title Main Event: C-Gegard Mousasi(47-7-2) vs. #1-John Salter(18-4)
WATCH TODAY’S BELLATOR: MOSCOW ANNOUNCEMENT HERE PHOTOS FROM TODAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT HERE – PHOTO CREDIT: WILL FOX LOS ANGELES – It is with great pride that BELLATOR MMA announces that on Saturday, Oct. 23, the promotion will hold its first-ever event in Moscow, Zog ntawm Guj kuj, at the VTB Arena and that the historic card will be headlined by the greatest heavyweight mixed martial artist of all-time, Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko (39-6, 1 NC).
Emelianenko’s opponent, along with additional matchups, and SHOWTIME telecast details will be announced in the coming weeks.
“I have had the pleasure of working alongside Fedor for 12 years and nine of his fights during his time with BELLATOR and STRIKEFORCE,” said BELLATOR President Scott Coker. “It’s an honor to bring him home to compete in front of his fans who have followed his entire career. In addition to Fedor, we will showcase BELLATOR’s deep roster of Russian talent and put together a historic card for our first trip to Russia on Oct. 23.”
Tickets for Fedor’s highly anticipated return home are on sale now and can be purchased atKassir.ru.
Widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight in mixed martial arts history, Fedor Emelianenkoreturns to the BELLATOR cage for the first time since his dominant first-round TKO victory overQuinton “Rampage” Jackson nyob rau hauv 2019. With an illustrious career that has seen him earn 30 stoppages in his 39 victories over legendary opposition, the former PRIDE FC Heavyweight World Champion will be fighting in his home country of Russia for the first time in five years. A four-time combat sambo world champion, “The Last Emperor” put together an insane eight-year unbeaten streak on his way to becoming an international MMA icon. Emelianenko has established Team Fedor, which features several top Russian fighters including BELLATOR’s Light Heavyweight World Champion Vadim Nemkov and Valentin Moldavsky, who is fighting for the interim heavyweight title tonight. Already proving to be a formidable head coach, with his last three victories coming by way of first-round finish, Fedor is looking to add another exciting chapter to his storied fighting career on October 23.
BELLATOR returns to action later this evening as Team Fedor’sValentin Moldavsky (10-1) vies for the Interim Heavyweight Championship against No. 1 rankedTim Johnson (15-6) tom BELLATOR 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky. Tonight’s event will air live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT in America and live on OKKO Sport in Russia.
UpdatedBELLATOR: MoscowCard:
Heavyweight Main Event: Fedor Emelianenko (39-6, 1 NC) vs. TBA
COMPLETE WEIGH-IN PHOTOS UNCASVILLE, Conn. –BELLATOR 261: Johnson vs. Moldavskywill be broadcast tomorrow, Hnub vas Xuv, Rau hli ntuj 25 on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, while preliminary bouts will stream on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.
BELLATOR MMA 261: Johnson vs. MoldavskyMain Card: Hnub vas Xuv, Rau hli ntuj 25 – Live onSHOWTIME 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT Interim Heavyweight World Title Main Event: #1-Timothy Johnson(260) vs. #3-Valentin Moldavsky(234) Flyweight Co-Main Event: #2-Liz Carmouche (125.5) vs. #3-Kana Watanabe(125.25) Featherweight Bout: #6-Daniel Weichel (145.5) vs. Keoni Diggs (146) Lightweight Bout: #4-Myles Jury (156) vs. #6-Sidney Outlaw (156) Light Heavyweight Bout:Christian Edwards (206) vs. Simon Biyong(204.5)
Lightweight Bout:Soren Bak(156) vs. Bobby Lee (155.25) Lightweight Bout:Isaiah Hokit(155.75) vs. Corey Samuels(156) Bantamweight Bout: Jaylon Bates(136) vs. Cody Matthews(135) Middleweight Bout:Taylor Johnson(185.25) vs. Lance Wright(184.75) Featherweight Bout:John Macapa (144.75) vs. John de Jesus(145.5)
About BELLATOR BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR 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 Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
AboutSHOWTIME Showtime tes hauj lwm Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc., owns and operates the premium service SHOWTIME®, which features critically acclaimed original series, provocative documentaries, box-office hit films, comedy and music specials and hard-hitting sports. SHOWTIME is available as a stand-alone streaming service across all major streaming devices and Showtime.com, as well as via cable, DBS, telco and streaming video providers. SNI also operates the premium services THE MOVIE CHANNEL™and FLIX®, as well as on demand versions of all three brands. SNI ciaj uas muag thiab qhov nws distributes kev ua si thiab cov txheej xwm lom ze rau exhibition rau subscribers tus puav pay-per-view txog SHOWTIME PPV®. Xav paub ntau ntxiv, mus tom www.SHO.com.
