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Tag Archives: Bellator
MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL HIGHLIGHTS & DIGITAL VIDEO RECAP FOR ‘BELLATOR 155’
CARVALHO AND MANHOEF MEET WITH MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE ON THE LINE THIS FRIDAY AT ‘BELLATOR 155’ – LIVE AND FREE ON SPIKE
CONFERENCE CALL HIGHLIGHTS
Bellator President Scott Coker, along with “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” main and co-main event fighters Rafael Carvalho (12-1), Melvin Manhoef (30-12-1), Pat Curran(21-7) and Georgi Karakhanyan (24-5-1) all joined this afternoon’s official media conference call to promote this Friday’s event.
Scott Coker
“We’re excited to be in Boise, fighting at the Century Link Arena. I think this is a fight town that has been hungry for a big MMA promotion and we’re proud to be the first to do it. We’ve got a great middleweight world title fight between Carvalho and Manhoef… Carvalho is coming off of a big win with a KO over Brandon Halsey and undoubtedly this fight is going to have a bunch of fireworks between both of these guys.”
On the fight between Curran and Karakhanyan…
“I definitely think that this fight has some title implications but we always like to see how the fight pans out…honestly if this is something that’s exciting and a barn burner and if this fight can stand on its own feet, it very well could be.”
On if a Bellator bonus structure is going to come to fruition in the future…
“It is something we’re working on but we’re just a little bit different, because we’re a premium TV model so it’s something that has been considered, but right now it’s something that is still just in dialogue.”
Rafael Carvalho
“I am excited and really think this could be historical. It’s going to be a lot of strikes and it’s going to be a kickboxing fight with MMA gloves.”
“Every fight you’ve got to show what you got. In this fight, it’s going to be no different [now that I’m a champ]. I’m going to show everything I’ve got and I am always looking forward to the next fight.
“People recognize me more now and I have gained more respect now as the champion…Winning the belt for the first time is one thing, but the real deal is when you defend the belt and keep the belt. That’s when you become the real champion.
On overcoming challenges of living in Rio…
“There are good people as well as bad but the only thing that is going to dictate your future is you and how hard you work for it. It doesn’t matter where you live or what kind of clothing you wear, if you put your mind into it and are willing to work hard for it.
Melvin Manhoef
“I look forward to making a kickboxing with small gloves. I am prepared for anything so it doesn’t matter what’s going to happen. I am looking forward to being there and doing what I do best, which is the striking, so for me it’s very nice that he wants to do the kickboxing in the cage with me.
Do you feel like people are counting you out heading into this fight?
“I don’t know what people are thinking but it all depends on what me and my team think and the fans who are supporting me think. I feel like the fight is still in me and I showed it at my last fight. I trained real hard for this fight and my goal is to show it again that you cannot count me out… You know my fight style; I do everything to knock people out so I am glad if [Carvalho] wants to make a kick boxing fight out of it.”
What would winning the Bellator title mean to you?
“It means a lot, with all of the hard work and a lot of people writing me off, but I think this is like a new era or new beginning for me and I could become a world champion. I think that being a fighter that’s been in the business so long, it has been an achievement already.”
Pat Curran
“I am really excited to step in there on Friday and put on a dominant performance. I have made a lot of changes in my life, in my camp and everything is falling into place right now and I’m excited to showcase that on Friday.”
Do the stakes of this fight change for you as they would for a title?
“I feel like every fight at this point in your career, especially in this division is do-or-die and if you win you’re going to get that much pull-through coming or having the chance to fight for the title again and I feel like over and over George and I have been that much closer to another title shot.”
Georgi Karakhanyan
“I can’t wait for Friday night. I am going out there with nothing to lose, just going 100 percent and fighting my fight and come out with a victory.”
On this being a potential title eliminator and going up against two-time champ Curran…
“I know everybody is talking about the title but to me I don’t think about that, right now I have a good opponent in front of me with Pat Curran, a former champion and I can’t ask for a better opponent than him. I am very excited, I cannot wait and I am ready to put on a great show and I’m for sure coming out with my hands right.”
On coming back from surgery and making adjustments…
“I treat everything the same, I got about five surgeries last year and the last surgery was just a meniscus tear but after that, Bellator took good care of me. They put me in a very good rehab place and I’ve started my training and feel 100 percent.”
DIGITAL RECAP
“Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” emanates from CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho airs LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 9e/8c. In preparation for the event, Bellator’s digital team has put together captivating new content, which you can view by clicking on the images below. Tune in to Bellator’s YouTube page for an inside look and more exclusive footage at what’s still to come.
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Champions: Rafael Carvalho – The middleweight champion does NOT listen to the naysayers; he finds a way to win. Jimmy Smith breaks it down. |
Foundations: Melvin Manhoef – Melvin Manhoef only knows one way to fight…All in! Either way somebody is going lights out. Jimmy Smith breaks it down. |
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Foundations: Marloes Coenen – Marloes Coenen is a level above her competition, the MMA Pioneer show it every time she steps into the cage. Jimmy Smith explains. |
What to Watch: Carvalho vs. Manhoef – This is for the Middleweight Championship! Rafael Carvalho and Melvin Manhoef will be a battle between masters of two opposing disciplines. Jimmy Smith and Manny Rodriguez break it all down. |
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What to Watch: Held vs. Jansen – Marcin Heldis a monster on the mat and Dave Jansen will have to find a way to negate that submission game. Jimmy Smith breaks it down. |
What to Watch: Curran vs. Karakhanyan – There is a special energy in the Featherweight division. The competition is stiff and the winner will be in title contention while the loser may be put in the back of a long line of contenders. Jimmy Smith and Manny Rodriguez explain. |
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Rolling With Jimmy – The Bellator Featherweight takes a ride in Jimmy Smith’s 1969 Plymouth Barracuda. He shares how it feels to be in a stacked division and his desire to fight the best in the world. |
FIGHT INFO: A middleweight championship matchup between Rafael Carvalho (12-1) and Melvin Manhoef (30-12-1) will serve as the evening’s main event of “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho, Friday, May 20.
In addition, the main card features two of Bellator MMA’s top featherweights, with Pat “Paddy Mike” Curran (21-7) and Georgi “Insane” Karakhanyan (24-5-1) squaring off in the co-main event.Alexis “Sneaky Zebra” Dufresne (21-4) will make her promotional debut after agreeing to a late addition bout against Dutch submission specialist Marloes “Rumina” Coenen (23-6) in female featherweight action. There will also be multiple heavyweight bouts featured on the main card, with Dan Charles (10-3) taking on undefeated Augusto Sakai (9-0) and Joey Beltran (17-12) facing off against Chase Gormley (12-5).
Tickets for “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” are going fast and can be purchased at the CenturyLink Arena Box Office or CenturyLinkArenaBoise.com, as well as Bellator.com. The event airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while the can’t-misspreliminary card airs live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App.
CIVIL WAR IN THE UK AS NORTH VERSUS SOUTH IN A HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH BETWEEN MARK GODBEER & JAMES MULHERON AT ‘BELLATOR: LONDON’ AT THE O2 ARENA ON JULY 16!
MULTIPLE UNDERCARD BOUTS ANNOUNCED & SET TO SHOW OFF SOME OF UK’S TOP UP-AND-COMERS
TICKTES ON SALE NOW AT THEO2.CO.UK
LONDON (May 17, 2016) – A heavyweight match-up between Mark ‘The hand of’ Godbeer (11-2) and James Mulheron (8-1) will kick off the televised portion of the highly anticipated “Bellator: London” card when the promotion arrives at the O2 Arena in London on July 16. The collision course that the two big men are on will divide the British fans in attendance as the three-round attraction sees Northern UK go head to head with Southern UK, with both men looking for the big KO.
The newly-announced scrap joins a star-studded event that features Kimbo Slice (6-2) taking on James Thompson (20-16) and Josh Koscheck (17-10) against Paul “Semtex” Daley (38-13-2). Additional matchups include a light heavyweight pairing between Linton “The Swarm” Vassell (16-5) and Francis “Limitless” Carmont (24-11) and British welterweight highlight reel Michael “Venom” Page (9-0) versus Fernando Gonzalez (25-13).
Several preliminary matchups have been revealed, including former Big Brother winner Alex Reid (10-9-1-1), who has been scheduled to fight against an opponent to be announced later.
After scoring a TKO victory this past Saturday, Godbeer comes into this fight hot on a three-fight winning streak. The exciting heavyweight is known to leave it all on the line, as evidenced by the fact that he has never let a fight go to the judge’s scorecards. For Godbeer it is a welcome second chance with the Bellator promotion. “I personally think Bellator is one of the leading organisations there is today; it’s a great honour to fight for them once again. Last time I fought off of the back of an 18 month lay-off due to a big injury and feel I wasn’t myself, so I’m glad to get another chance to show them the real me.”
Both Godbeer and Mulheron are hard-hitting heavyweights with great cardio and athleticism and share a common fight strategy: knock the other guy out. Mulheron won a regional title with the M4TC promotion, and will be competing in Bellator for the first time. “I don’t really go into fights with a game plan,” said Mulheron. “I go in with an open mind. I think every fighter needs to be able to adapt in fights but everyone who watches me knows I come to fight and this fight will be no different.”
In the United Kingdom, the event will be broadcast free on SPIKE UK and Channel 5, while in America the card will air FREE on SPIKE. Exact broadcast details for “Bellator 158: London” will be revealed in the near future. Tickets for the event are on sale now and start at only £40.00. They are available at TheO2.co.uk or The O2 Box Office.
Updated “Bellator 158: London” Fight Card
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Main Event: Kimbo Slice (6-2) vs. James Thompson (20-16)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Co-Main Event: Josh Koscheck (17-10) vs. Paul Daley (38-13-2)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Bout: Michael Page (9-0) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (25-13)
Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Bout: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (24-11)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Bout: Mark Godbeer (11-2) vs. James Mulheron (8-1)
Preliminary Card:
Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Michael Shipman (8-1) vs. Chris Widmer (5-1)
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. TBD
Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: Bola Omoyele (8-4) vs. Lee Chadwick (21-12-1)
Bellator MMA Prelim Middleweight Bout: C.J. Meeks (4-1) vs. Danny Mitchell (17-7-1)
PHIL DAVIS REAFFIRMS HIMSELF AS LIAM MCGEARY’S NEXT CHALLENGER WITH WIN OVER KING MO
San Jose, Calif. (May 14, 2016) — In the main event of Bellator MMA’s return home to San Jose, Phil Davis and King Mo showcased why their widely regarded as two of the top light heavyweights on the planet. In the end, it was Davis who emerged victorious, taking home a unanimous decision with scores of 29-28, 30-27, 30-27.
The first ten minutes of action were razor thin, with both men using their strengths to gain the upper hand. For Lawal, the American Top Team standout relied heavily upon his power punching, throwing overhand rights with frequency. Davis used his lower limbs, keeping Mo at distance with leg kicks and short jabs. The tides really began to shift in the final frame though, as Davis clipped his opponent with a shot that he parlayed into a single-leg takedown, nearly finishing the bout with a kimura.
After his hand was raised, Davis was joined inside the cage by current Bellator 205-pound kingpin Liam McGeary who will likely face Davis in “Mr. Wonderful’s” next action. The two traded words and passed the eye test when it comes to a future Bellator MMA main event matchup.
Welterweight Bloodbath Ends in TKO Victory for Saad Awad
In the co-main event of “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo,” Saad Awad (19-7) provided one of the most entertaining performances of the night with a first round TKO win over “Cyborg” Santos (21-17). The knockout came just 4:31 into the bout, when Awad unleashed a flurry of hammer fists that left forced referee Jason Herzog to call a stop to the action. “Assassin” fought off a brutal toe hold earlier in the round and countered with relentless blows to the sides of Santos’ head, eventually opening a large cut that spilled blood onto the canvas. With victories in four of his last five bouts and now a victory at 170-pounds to boot, the options for Awad’s future with the promotion remain endless.
San Diego-Labiano Give it All in Swing Bout on SPIKE
With two quick stoppages to start the card, Bellator aired a swing bout between Josh San Diego (7-1) and Jeremiah Labiano (9-5). A native of San Jose, “JSD” took full advantage of his opportunity on the big stage, and capped off the fight with a rapid flurry of attacks to end the final frame, earning himself a unanimous decision (29-28) victory over Labiano in front of a loud, hometown crowd. The win is “JSD’s” second with the promotion, both of which ended via unanimous decision.
Piccolotti Continues to Submit Opponents, Finishes Wood on Short Notice
In a highly emotional bout, Adam Piccolotti (8-0) thoroughly dominated Ray Wood (7-2) over the course of their lightweight bout, sealing the deal after 3:17 with a standing rear-naked choke submission. The win was Adam “Bomb’s” second first-round finish and the quickest of his budding career. With the victory, the Half Moon Bay, Calif. native remains undefeated and has solidified himself as one of the company’s brightest young prospects. Piccolotti was originally slated to fight Jordan Parsons before his death, which Bellator instated a memorial scholarship fund in his honor earlier on in the day.
Fialho Remains Unbeaten With Monstrous Hammer Fist Knockout
In the opening bout of the main card on SPIKE, Andre Fialho (7-0) finished Rick Reger (7-2) with a vicious hammer fist knockout 2:11 into the first frame. Fialho was the aggressor from the get-go, setting the tone early and often with heavy fists and quick combinations. The 22-year-old Portuguese star continues to climb the ranks in a stacked Bellator welterweight division, as he remains undefeated with six consecutive knockouts and back-to-back first round finishes since joining the Bellator fray. At the conclusion of the fight, Fialho took a moment to acknowledge the significance of his win, dedicating the victory to his friend who had recently passed away.
Preliminary Results:
James Chapman (1-0) defeated Sean Tucker (0-1) via TKO (punches) at 4:41 of round two
Anthony Taylor (1-1) defeated Victor Jones (0-2) via KO at 0:27 of round one
Danasabe Mohammed (4-0) defeated Martin Sano (4-2) via KO (punches) at 1:18 of round one
Josh Paiva (8-1) defeated Steven Gruber (5-2) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:14 of round two
Sam Spengler (9-5) defeated Doyle Childs (2-2) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Joshua Hardwick (1-0) defeated Jorge Acosta (1-2) via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:21 of round one
Jamielene Nievara (4-1) defeated Stephanie Frausto (5-6) via TKO at 2:43 of round three
Mark Dickman (11-2) defeated Thomas Diagne (5-6-1) via TKO (punches) at 3:05 of round three
BELLATOR TO INSTATE THE ‘JORDAN PARSONS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND’
On May 4, the world lost an incredibly talented mixed martial artist and an even better human being with the passing of Jordan Parsons. Today, Bellator MMA has committed to ensuring that his legacy lives on in the form of a yearly scholarship to “Pretty Boy’s” favorite wrestling camp. With the newly-announced Jordan Parsons Scholarship Fund, Bellator will annually send a young wrestler to “The J Robinson Intensive Wrestling Camp” where Parsons honed his skills.
“Jordan Parsons was an integral part of the Bellator family and his devastating loss is one that we are all continuing to mourn,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “In collaborating with Jordan’s family, we are very proud to announce this scholarship program in his name. We are hopeful that the future recipients of this scholarship will be afforded a wrestling education and honor Parson’s name by embodying the passion and intensity that he had for this sport and life in general.”
In 2007, a 16-year-old Jordan Parsons spent two weeks at the J Robinson Intensive Wrestling Camp, which offers several locations across the country taught by University of Minnesota Head Coach J Robinson.
“We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Jordan Parsons,” said Robinson. “We are humbled and honored that the Parsons family and Bellator have committed to send a deserving wrestler to one of our Camps. We will work as hard as we can at helping that wrestler reach their goals and create a positive change in their life, while honoring Jordan’s memory.”
“I couldn’t be more grateful for all of the support that Scott Coker and Bellator are providing with this scholarship fund,” said Parson’s mother Anna Morsaw. “This camp really helped Jordan develop into a better wrestler, and more importantly a better young man. He came home with J Robinsons ‘Never Quit, Never Give up’ mentality engrained in him. he learned to set goals, reach his goals and then set new goals. Bellator is doing their part to make Jordan a legend, and that’s what he always wanted.”
Details on how to apply for the scholarship will be announced in the near future.
MONSTER ENERGY SIGNS EXTENSION AS BELLATOR’S OFFICIAL ENERGY DRINK PARTNER
DEAL CONTINUES STARTING WITH TOMORROW NIGHT’S ‘BELLATOR 154: DAVIS VS. KING MO’ – FEATURING MONSTER ENERGY ATHLETE PHIL DAVIS – ONLY ON SPIKE
PHOTO © HANS MOLENKAMP// MONSTER ENERGY/All Rights Reserved
Santa Monica, Calif. (May 13, 2016) – Bellator MMA is pleased to announce an extension with one of its major sponsors, Monster Energy. The new deal with the world’s leading energy drink company ensures that fans will see the iconic green “M” Monster logo in the Bellator cage for years to come.
Monster will continue to own highly visible inventory inside the Bellator cage and sponsor concourse activations during events as well as additional off-site promotional activations. To complement the live event experience, Monster and Bellator will look to engage in a multi-faceted activation plan intended to build customer loyalty and drive tune-in of the Bellator broadcasts on Spike. The sponsorship extension will also see Bellator MMA continue to put on fights during the “Monster Energy Cup” – an event that showcases the world’s top supercross riders in a head to-head battle for the coveted “Monster Energy Cup” award and the chance to win one million dollars.
“Monster Energy is the ultimate lifestyle brand that puts its fans first – which aligns perfectly with our philosophy at Bellator,” said Bellator President Scott Coker. “They are an ideal partner and we look forward to continuing to link our high-energy action-packed events with their world-class product.”
“Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo” on May 14 will be the promotion’s first event with the newly-renewed sponsorship deal, and features Monster Energy athlete Phil Davis in the main event. In addition to Davis, Monster sponsors several Bellator athletes including: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Joe Schilling, Michael Chandler, Joey Beltran and Brennan Ward.
Coker continued: “The ability for our athletes to procure their own sponsorships is something we take great pride in, and we look forward to giving our athletes an opportunity to represent the world’s largest energy drink brand for the foreseeable future.”
MARLOES COENEN RECEIVES NEW OPPONENT AHEAD OF ‘BELLATOR 155’ — ALEXIS DUFRESNE REPLACES JULIA BUDD
SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (May 10, 2016) – Due to injury, Julia Budd (8-2) has been forced to withdraw from her inaugural Bellator MMA Women’s Featherweight Championship Bout against Marloes Coenen (23-6). As a result, Alexis Dufresne (5-2) will take her place and challenge Coenen during the featured preliminary contest of “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho, on May 20.
The fight joins a card that already features a colossal Middleweight World Championship main event, in which Rafael Carvalho (12-1) defends his belt against the fiery Melvin “No Mercy” Manhoef (30-12-1). In addition, former Bellator MMA featherweight titlist Pat Curran (21-7) will return to action for the first time since June, when he faces the resilient Georgi Karakhanyan (24-5-1) in the card’s co-main event. The last two men to challenge for Will Brooks’ lightweight title, Marcin Held (21-4) and Dave Jansen (20-3) will also be in action. Rounding out the televised portion of the event will be two heavyweight fights, when Dan Charles (10-3) meets Augusto Sakai (9-0) and Joey Beltran (17-12) takes on Chase Gormley (12-5).
Tickets for “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” start at just $25 and are on sale now at Bellator.com, the CenturyLink Arena Box Office or CenturyLinkArenaBoise.com. The event airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while the can’t-miss preliminary card airs live on Bellator.comand The Bellator Mobile App.
A former Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion, Marloes Coenen, is riding a two-fight winning streak and undefeated record under the Bellator MMA fray into her bout with Dufresne. “Rumina” began her career winning eight consecutive fights and 13 of her first 14. The 35-year-old has been competing professionally since 2000 and has been an integral part of the progression of women’s mixed martial arts, challenging some of the best that the sport has to offer. Now, it’s back to the drawing board for the Dutch submission specialist when she looks to spoil the Bellator MMA debut of Alexis Dufresne.
The 25-year-old Alexis Dufresne began her career with a blazing start, earning victories in her first five scraps, all of which she ended in the first round. Born in Temecula, Calif., “Sneaky Zebra” has strung together an impressive resume, including three straight first round knockout wins dating back to her 2013-14 seasons and most recently two appearances for the UFC. Dufresne will be making her Bellator MMA debut next Friday and hopes to get back to her winning ways when she fills in for the absent Julia Budd on short notice.
Complete “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” Fight Card
Bellator MMA Middleweight World Title Fight: Rafael Carvalho (12-1) vs. Melvin Manhoef (30-12-1)
Bellator MMA Featherweight Co-Main Event: Pat Curran (21-7) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (24-5-1)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Dan Charles (10-3) vs. Augusto Sakai (9-0)
Bellator MMA Lightweight Feature Bout: Dave Jansen (20-3) vs. Marcin Held (21-4)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Joey Beltran (17-12) vs. Chase Gormley (12-5)
Preliminary Card
Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Marloes Coenen (23-6) vs. Alexis Dufresne (5-2)
Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Joe Hamilton (3-0) vs. Tyler Freeland (3-0)
Bellator MMA Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Veta Arteaga (1-0) vs. Jackie Vandenburgh (0-1)
Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Vince Morales (3-1) vs. Hamilton Ash (3-1)
Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Brendon Raftery (4-2) vs. Casey Johnson (4-0)
Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Scott Thometz (9-5) vs. Josh Tyler (7-3)
Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Sean Powers (9-5) vs. Will Noland (15-6)
Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Ricky Steele (5-0) vs. Erick Cronkhite (2-1)
Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Jesse Brock (21-8) vs. Olly Bradstreet (39-12)
Two Main Card Fights Complete ‘Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo’ on May 14
SAAD AWAD-‘CYBORG’ SANTOS & ADAM PICCOLOTTI-RAY WOOD ARE OFFICIAL
SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (May 5, 2016) – A welterweight matchup pitting “Cyborg” Santos (21-16) against Bellator MMA veteran Saad Awad (18-7) and a lightweight meeting featuring Adam Piccolotti (7-0) versus Ray Wood (6-1) have been added to the main card of “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo,” which airs LIVE and FREE on SPIKE and takes place on May 14 at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.
These matchups join an electric main event between light heavyweight phenoms “King Mo” (19-4, 1 NC) and Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis (15-3, 1 NC). In addition, a heavyweight bout between Sergei Kharitonov (23-5) and Josh Appelt (12-5) will serve as the evening’s co-main event and undefeated Andre Fialho (6-0) will face Rick Reger (7-1) in a welterweight feature fight.
The contests make up the televised portion of “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo,” which airs LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT while the preliminary card will stream live on Bellator.com and The Bellator Mobile App beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET. Tickets start at just $30 and are on sale now at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster, and the SAP Center Box Office.
After beginning his career with five consecutive victories, the 32-year-old Saad Awad has continued to put together an impressive resume, including significant wins over the likes of Joe Duarte, Sergio Rios, and most recently Rob Sinclair. A 10-time veteran of Bellator MMA, “Assassin” has three first-round knockout wins, two of which came in the first 45 seconds of the bout. In 2013, the California native handed Will Brooks the only loss of his career thus far, stopping hiim with a punch only 43-seconds into the fight.
“Cyborg” Santos has begun his 2016 campaign with a bang, recording victories in each of his first two bouts, including a crowd-silencing win over hometown favorite Brennan Ward in his Bellator MMA debut at “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson.” Of his 21 career wins, the 38-year-old welterweight has recorded 12 knockouts, 10 of which came in the opening frame of the bout. The heavy-handed Brazilian originally made four appearances under the Strikeforce banner from 2009 to 2011, before signing a multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA in March of 2016. “Cyborg” will look to add to his current winning streak when he challenges Saad Awad, who will be moving up in weight class to 170-pounds.
The 27-year-old Piccolotti has been flawless early in his young career, earning victories in all seven of his professional bouts, including three wins since joining the Bellator MMA team. A native of Northern California, he made his promotional debut against Andrew Ramm at “Bellator 133: Manhoef vs. Shlemenko,” with a unanimous decision win and then added to his admirable resume by finishing his 2015 campaign with a victory over Mario Soto at“Bellator 147: Thomson vs. Villaseca.” Making his 2016 debut, the submission specialist will have little time to prepare for his new opponent Ray Wood as the two look to square off on May 14 at the SAP Center.
Ray “All Business” Wood made a splash in his Bellator MMA debut, when he finished Chris Jones with a spinning-back fist that resulted in a first round knockout at “Bellator 151: Warren vs. Caldwell.” The 26-year-old Maine native has begun his professional career with a flashy 6-1 record, including four knockout victories and two first-round finishes. After beginning his career under the direction of regional promotions, Wood now has his eyes set on establishing himself among the top of Bellator’s always-competitive featherweight division. Watch the fight below.
Complete “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo” Fight Card:
Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Main Event: Phil Davis (15-3, 1 NC) vs. Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (19-4, 1 NC)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Sergei Kharitonov (23-5) vs. Josh Appelt (12-5)
Bellator MMA Lightweight Feature Bout: Adam Piccolotti (7-0) vs. Ray Wood (6-1)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Saad Awad (18-7) vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (21-16)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Andre Fialho (6-0) vs. Rick Reger (7-1)
Preliminary Card:
Bellator MMA (160 lb.) “VOW” Prelim Bout: Joshua Hardwick (Debut) vs. Jorge Acosta (1-1)
Bellator MMA Featherweight Prelim Bout: Victor Jones (0-1) vs. Anthony Taylor (0-1)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Prelim Bout: Danasabe Mohammed (3-0) vs. Martin Sano (4-1)
Bellator MMA Flyweight Prelim Bout: Josh Paiva (7-1) vs. Steven Gruber (5-1)
Bellator MMA Welterweight Prelim Bout: Sam Spengler (8-5) vs. Doyle Childs (2-1)
Bellator MMA Bantamweight Prelim Bout: Josh San Diego (6-1) vs. Jeremiah Labiano (9-4)
Bellator MMA (130 lb.) Catchweight Prelim Bout: Alvin Cacdac (16-12) vs. Darren Uyenoyama (10-5)
Bellator MMA Featherweight Prelim Bout: Thomas Diagne (5-5-1) vs. Mark Dickman (10-2)
Bellator MMA Strawweight Prelim Bout: Stephanie Frausto (5-5) vs. Jamielene Nievara (3-1)
Bellator MMA Middleweight Prelim Bout: Andres Alcantar (3-0) vs. Nick Pica (5-0)
Bellator MMA Heavyweight Prelim Bout: James Chapman (Debut) vs. Sean Tucker (Debut)
STARS FROM ALL WALKS OF MMA SET TO MEET FANS DURING BELLATOR MMA ‘FAN FEST’ AT SAN JOSE’S DAVE & BUSTER’S ONFRIDAY, MAY 13
Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Champ Liam McGeary Joins “Stitch” Duran as Well as MMA Legends Royce Gracie, Randy Couture, Cung Le, Mark Coleman at the Bellator MMA Fan Fest Prior to Saturday’s “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo” Event at SAP 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 Milpitas, CA 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
940 Great Mall Dr.
Milpitas, CA 95035
WHEN: Friday, May 13 at 8 p.m. PT
WHO: The first British World Champion in the history of MMA will always be Liam McGeary. At 6’6 the towering fighter has achieved notoriety around the world with his impressive skillset, which has seen him end fights with impressive knockout power as well as jiu-jitsu prowess. Currently undefeated at 11-0, the future is bright for the Bellator MMA Champion. Most recently, McGeary defeated Tito Ortiz in the main event of the groundbreaking “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1.”
The name Gracie is synonymous with MMA, and that is largely in part to Royce Gracie, the man who is considered to have invented the sport as we know it today. The winner of the first several UFC events, Gracie would dismantle multiple opponents in a single night, many of which were much larger than him. For many years there was no answer for the Gracie Jiu Jitsu technique that he brought into a fight. Today, it’s hard to find an MMA fighter who hasn’t trained in the art of jiu jitsu. Most recently, Gracie defeated Ken Shamrock in the main event of the record-breaking “Bellator 149.”
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.
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.”
If there is one legend in attendance who knows a thing or two about kickboxing and MMA, it’s Cung Le. Born in Vietnam, Le fought 17 times around the globe and never lost before making the leap from kickboxing to MMA, where he won the Strikeforce middleweight championship. From there, the San Jose, Calif. – based fighter would continue to expand his recognition past the world of combat sports, starring in multiple feature films. Le remained competitive into his 40’s, finishing Rich Franklin in what was unanimously considered the 2012 knockout of the year.
A legend in the heavyweight division, Mark Coleman was the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournament champion, the promotion’s first Heavyweight Champion, and the Pride Fighting Championships 2000 Open Weight Grand Prix champion. The accolades don’t stop there; Coleman represented the United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics and won gold medals at the Pan American Championships in freestyle wrestling in 1990, 91 and 92.
FIGHT INFO: “Bellator 154: Davis vs. King Mo” takes place on May 14, and airs LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT and features a light heavyweight main event of Phil Davis versus King Mo.
Tickets start at just $30 and are on sale now at Bellator.com, Ticketmaster, and the SAP Center Box Office.
BELLATOR MMA SIGNS THREE-TIME ALL-AMERICAN JAROD TRICE TO EXCLUSIVE MIXED MARTIAL ARTS CONTRACT
Photo Credit: Bellator MMA / Jarod Trice
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (May 2, 2016) – Bellator MMA is proud to announce the signing of three-time All American wrestling prospect Jarod Trice to an exclusive, multi-fight contract. The story was broken by Flo Combat and Flo Wrestling, who have chronicled a great deal of his wrestling career.
“We’re excited to be adding yet another world-class wrestling talent to our ever-growing roster of fighters here at Bellator,” said President Scott Coker. “I’ve always taken great pride in our ability to identify and build stars in this business, and I have great confidence that we’ve found a gem in Jarod Trice.”
In addition to his three All-American accolades, the 27-year-old Trice has an impressive trophy case that includes a National Title at 120 kg and two Greco Roman National Titles, with one at 120 kg and another at 98 kg. The above photo features Trice after winning the Outstanding Wrestler Award alongside 2012 Olympic Coach J.J. Johnson (left) and U.S. National Greco-Roman Coach Matt Lindland (right).
“Following in the footsteps of guys like [Ed] Ruth and [Tyrell] Fortune to Bellator MMA was a no brainer for me,” said Trice. “Scott Coker is a promoter that treats the fighters with so much respect, and dealing with him and his team through this signing process has been amazing. I’m really looking forward to fighting for Coker, the Bellator promotion, and for every wrestling and MMA fan out there before the end of the year. If you aren’t familiar with my name yet, you will be as soon as I get in that cage.”
Trice competed at Central Michigan University, where he achieved great success at both 120 kg (264.5 lbs.) and 98kg (216 lbs.) after an impressive 50 lb. weight-loss transformation. The standout wrestler will look to compete in Bellator MMA’s impressive light heavyweight division, and hopes to make his professional debut before the end of the year. The jury is out on whether he will keep his nickname, “Doughboy.”
Having trained literally all over the world, including stints at Iowa State University under Kevin Jackson and the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado before heading to Arizona, where he trains with other Bellator MMA stars with incredible wrestling pedigree’s like Darrion Caldwell and Bubba Jenkins. Trice credits Bellator MMA bantamweight Shawn Bunch with giving him the idea to pursue MMA.
Trice is the latest prospect from the world of wrestling to join Bellator MMA’s incredible recruiting class of prospects including:Aaron Pico, Ed Ruth and Tyrell Fortune.