Tag Archives: Bellator

BELLATOR MMA ANNOUNCES A LANDMARK EVENT IN COMBAT SPORTS HISTORY

 FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN AMERICA: MMA AND KICKBOXING APARATUS IN THE SAME ARENA, ON THE SAME NIGHT, FROM THE SAP CENTER IN SAN JOSE, CA. ON SEPTEMBER 19 ON SPIKE

B142_1920x1080_GLORY

 

Tito Ortiz Battles Liam McGeary for the Bellator Light Heavyweight Title

 

Four-Man, One-Night Light Heavyweight No. 1 Contender Tournament Featuring Phil Davis, Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal, Emanuel Newton, and Linton Vassell

 

In Addition, World-Class Kickboxing Action Featuring Bellator & Glory Fighters Joe Schilling and Paul Daley

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. – Bellator MMA will present a landmark event in American combat sports history on September 19 from the SAP Center in San Jose, which will air live on Spike. An event so big it will include two fields of battle – a Bellator cage and a Glory kickboxing ring.

 

“I’m so proud and honored to bring this truly amazing event to my hometown of San Jose,” said Scott Coker, President of Bellator MMA. “This mega-card will feature something for every combat sports fan- MMA legends, rising stars, a stacked tournament, plus many of the world’s best kickboxers. It will be an unforgettable night for the thousands in attendance and the millions watching at home.”

 

In the main event, MMA legend Tito Ortiz (18-11) will take on Bellator’s reigning light heavyweight king, Liam McGeary (10-0). This will mark McGeary’s first defense of his coveted title.

 

The epic evening will also showcase a four-man, one-night light heavyweight tournament to determine the No. 1 contender in the division. The participants include the return of Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (15-4, 1 NC), former champion Emanuel Newton (25-8-1), the always dangerous Linton Vassell (15-4-1) and Phil Davis (13-3), who makes his highly anticipated Bellator Debut.

 

First round pairings for the tournament, as well as further details on the tournament format will be announced shortly.

 

The event will also feature Glory Kickboxing bouts that will feature many of the best fighters in the world. Namely, Bellator MMA competitors Joe Schilling and Paul “Semtex” Daley. Opponents for Schilling and Daley, as well as additional kickboxing matchups will be announced shortly.

 

Tickets for “Bellator MMA: Dynamite” will go on sale Friday, June 26 with an exclusive presale taking place on Thursday, June 25th. With the announcement of “Bellator MMA: Dynamite!!!,” Coker is making his triumphant return to Northern California, a region where he pioneered the sport of mixed martial arts as owner of Strikeforce.

 

BMMA_dynamite_setup_2

OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS, PHOTOS AND INFORMATION FROM “BELLATOR MMA: UNFINISHED BUSINESS”

SAINT LOUIS (June 18, 2015)  After weigh-ins at Scottrade Center on Thursday, Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock will finally settle their “Unfinished Business.”

“Bellator MMA: Kimbo vs. Shamrock,” which airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT, features a main event between the aforementioned Slice and “The World’s Most Dangerous Man.” The fight is nearly seven years in the making, after a fluke accident caused the cancellation of their first planned meeting.

In the co-main event, a battle for the featherweight championship will go on as planned when Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (23-2) looks to defend his title against a streaking Daniel Weichel (35-8). On his second attempt, “Pitbull” hit the required mark of 145-pounds.

In a critical heavyweight scrap between two larger than life fighters, Bobby Lashley (12-2) looks to continue his undefeated ways in Bellator MMA against a very game Dan “The Man” Charles (9-2). Lashley was originally slated to face James Thompson, but an injury derailed the tilt.

One of MMA’s most promising prospects Henry Corrales (12-0), looks to keep his record unblemished against former featherweight champion Daniel Straus (22-6), who has only suffered three defeats in his last 22 bouts.

In the opening televised bout of the evening, Mike Chandler (12-3) will attempt to return to lightweight glory when he faces Derek Campos (15-4). The Missouri native has been involved in plenty of legendary wars inside the Bellator cage and if his comments at the weigh-ins were any indication, he plans on making his homecoming nothing short of special.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL WEIGH-IN PHOTOS

Main Card (9 p.m. ET)

Bellator Heavyweight Main Event: Kimbo Slice (232) vs. Ken Shamrock (204.4)

Bellator Featherweight Title Fight: Champ Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (144.9) vs. Daniel Weichel (144.5)

Bellator Featured Heavyweight Fight: Bobby Lashley (239) vs. Dan Charles (228)

Bellator Featured Featherweight Fight: Daniel Straus (144.4) vs. Henry Corrales (144.9)

Bellator Featured Lightweight Fight: Michael Chandler (155.6) vs. Derek Campos (152.8)

 

Preliminary Card (7:45 p.m. ET)

Bellator Bantamweight Fight: A.J. Siscoe (135.5) vs. Garrett Mueller (135.6)

Bellator Featherweight Fight: Kain Royer (184.6) vs. Enrique Watson (185.8)

Bellator 166 lb. Catchweight Fight: Rashard Lovelace (160.6) vs. Demagio Smith (164.8)

Bellator Featherweight Fight: Justin Lawrence (145.7) vs. Sean Wilson (145.8)

Bellator Welterweight Fight: Steve Mann (169.8) vs. Justin Guthrie (170.3)

Bellator Lightweight Fight: Garrett Gross (155.2) vs. Chris Heatherly (160)

Bellator Welterweight Fight: Adam Cella (170.3) vs. Kyle Kurtz (171)

Bellator Lightweight Fight: Eric Irvin (155.2) vs. Hugh Pulley (155.6)

Bellator Strawweight Prelim Fight: Dan O’Connor (115.3) vs. Miles McDonald (115.3)

SPIKE TV AND BELLATOR MMA PRESENT THE DEFINITIVE LOOK AT TWO OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN AND COMPLICATED FIGHTERS IN MMA HISTORY WITH “FINALLY: KIMBO vs. SHAMROCK”

B138_PR_header2

Spike TV and Bellator MMA present a compelling and insightful look at one of the most talked about fights of 2015 in “Finally: Kimbo vs. Shamrock.” Produced by Leigh Simons, the one-hour documentary debuts on Spike WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 at 11:00pm ET/PT.

 

 

Ken Shamrock and Kimbo Slice took very different paths to stardom. Kimbo Slice was an internet sensation thrust into the spotlight seemingly overnight while Ken Shamrock was an MMA pioneer who fought his way to the top with workman-like resolve and dedication.

 

Their two paths were supposed to cross in the cage seven years ago. However, on that fateful day of October 4, 2008, a freak accident robbed the MMA world of one of the most anticipated fights in the history of the sport. A fight of epic proportions that never was – now finally will be. On Friday, June 19, the infamous street fighting legend and YouTube sensation Kimbo Slice and “The World’s Most Dangerous Man,” Ken Shamrock will now meet in the main event of “Bellator: Unfinished Business.”

 

“FINALLY” will take an in-depth look at the events seven years ago and addresses the various conspiracy theories relating to the fight’s cancellation. The show travels to the gritty streets of Miami where Kimbo made a name for himself and to San Diego to visit Ken Shamrock’s unorthodox training facility. Viewers will get a rare glimpse of these complicated warriors outside of the cage with a first person account of their personal struggles and achievements.

 

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 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 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.

Injury to James Thompson derails ‘Bellator: Unfinished Business’ heavyweight rematch, Dan Charles steps up against Bobby ‘The Dominator’ Lashley on short notice

 

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 11, 2015) – While Kimbo Slice and Ken Shamrock are prepared to take care their “Unfinished Business” on June 19, Bobby Lashley and James Thompson’s score will need to be settled somewhere down the line.

 

Thompson has been forced off the main card due to an undisclosed injury suffered during training and as a result, Dan Charles(9-2) has agreed to fill-in on short notice against “The Dominator.” The fight will still take place on the main portion of the Spike-televised card.

 

Charles, will be making his fourth appearance for the Scott Coker-led promotion, last competing in the main event of 2014’s “Monster Energy Cup.” After dropping two fights, “The Man” has bounced back to with two straight wins to earn a shot against a heavyweight title contender the likes of Lashley. The 29-year-old Phoenix, Ariz. Native has ended seven of his nine victories before reaching the judges’ scorecards.

 

A 6-foot-3 wrestling standout, Bobby “The Dominator” Lashley (12-2) started training in the grappling arts at age 12 and would go on to win several titles including three National Championships at Missouri Valley College, an NAIA National Championship, a CISM World Championship Silver Medal and two Armed Forces Wrestling Championships during his time in the U.S. Army. In addition to a professional wrestling career with stints in the WWE, ECW and TNA, Lashley began his MMA career in 2008, and he’s built an impressive career mark that includes Bellator MMA submission wins over Karl Etherington and Josh Burns.

 

“Bellator: Unfinished Business”Friday, June 19, Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Mo.

 

Main Card (9 p.m. ET)

 

Bellator Heavyweight Main Event: Kimbo Slice (4-2) vs. Ken Shamrock (28-15-2)

Bellator Featherweight Title Fight: Champ Patricio Pitbull (23-2) vs. Daniel Weichel (35-8)

Bellator Featured Heavyweight Fight: Bobby Lashley (12-2) vs. Dan Charles (9-2)

Bellator Featured Featherweight Fight: Daniel Straus (22-6) vs. Henry Corrales (12-0)

Bellator Featured Lightweight Fight: Michael Chandler (12-3) vs. Derek Campos (15-4)

 

Preliminary Card (6:45 p.m. ET)

 

Bellator Strawweight Prelim Fight: Dan O’Connor (5-4) vs. Miles McDonald (0-1)

Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Justin Lawrence (7-2) vs. Sean Wilson (34-25)

Bellator Lightweight Prelim Fight: Eric Irvin (9-3) vs. Hugh Pulley (4-2)

Bellator Lightweight Prelim Fight: Rashard Lovelace (debut) vs. Demagio Smith (1-1)

Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Kain Royer (1-1) vs. Enrique Watson (1-0)

Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: A.J. Siscoe (0-1) vs. Garrett Mueller (1-0)

Bellator Welterweight Dark Prelim: Adam Cella (6-3) vs. Kyle Kurtz (3-0)

Bellator Welterweight Dark Prelim: Steve Mann (10-1) vs. Justin Guthrie (17-8)

Bellator Lightweight Dark Prelim: Garrett Gross (6-3) vs. Chris Heatherly (8-3)

 

Emmanuel Sanchez Replaces Injured Goiti Yamauchi; Plus Four Additional Preliminary Bouts Complete 13-Fight “Bellator: Kongo vs. Volkov” Card On June 26

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 8, 2015) – With an unfortunate injury forcing the withdrawal of Goiti Yamauchi, Emmanuel “El Matador” Sanchez (10-1) receives the call to step in against former featherweight champion Pat “Paddy Mike” Curran (20-7). With this change of opponent, and four newly announced matchups, “Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov” on June 26 is now complete with 13 total scraps to sink your teeth into.

 

The additional fights include heavyweight bouts between Alex Huddleston (5-1) vs. Javy Ayala (8-3) and Derek Bohi (5-4) vs. Frederick Brown (2-1) as well as featherweights Greg Scott (3-3) vs. Gaston Reyno (3-0) and lightweights Marcio Navarro (13-11) vs. Cody Carrillo (8-11).

 

“Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov” is headlined by a heavyweight clash between French striking specialist Cheick “The Darkness” Kongo (22-10-2) and former Bellator MMA Heavyweight World Champion Alexander “Drago” Volkov (24-5). The event takes place June 26 at Kansas Star Event Center Arena in Mulvane, Kan.

 

The night’s main card airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. CT. Tickets for “Bellator: Kongo vs. Volkov” start at just $17 and are currently available at Ticketmaster.com.

 

Additional announced pairings on the SPIKE-televised card include lightweights Dave “The Caveman” Rickels (16-3) vs.John “The Natural” Alessio (35-17) and a contest between middleweight sluggers with Joe “Stitch ‘Em Up” Schilling (2-4) vs. Hisaki Kato (4-1).

 

The 24-year-old Sanchez is an explosive featherweight, fighting with Duke Roufus out of the famed Roufusport gym in Milwaukee. The two-time Bellator veteran has shined throughout his current six-fight winning streak, most recently scoring a first-round rear naked choke over Stephen Banaszak at Bellator 128 followed by a dominant unanimous decision over Costa Rican standout Alejandro Villalobos at Bellator 135 this past March.  Sanchez faces stiff competition in former featherweight kingpin Curran, who has been involved in some of the most memorable Bellator fights of all time.

 

Huddleston, 28, is a key training has won four consecutive tilts since dropping the first fight of his professional career in 2011. Most recently, “The Shaved Gorilla” stopped Derek Bohl at Bellator 130. Standing opposite Huddleston inside the cage will be the 26-year-old Ayala, who is on a three-fight promotional winning streak of his own. The California native has stopped his last three foes before reaching the judges’ discretion.

 

In the second added heavyweight feature, Bohl will seek his first win for the Southern California-based promotion. “Marshmallow” has won his first two bouts in 2015 on the regional circuit. Brown will have his second opportunity at success for Bellator against Bohl. The hometown fighter was finished by Daniel Gallemore at Bellator 113, which was his last time in action.

 

Undefeated at 3-0, Reyno will bring the tenacity he has shown on the independent MMA scene to the Bellator cage. “Tonga” has finished every fight he has been involved in and will look to make a mark on the featherweight division with his debut. Scott, a Whichita native, made his Bellator MMA debut in 2011 and has had a mixed bag of success.

 

Lastly, a pair of experienced lightweights will round out the preliminary portion of the card when Navarro and Carrillo tangle inside the steel mesh. With 43 professional bouts between them, both veterans will attempt to string together some wins under the Bellator banner.

 

“Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov”Friday, June 26, Kanas Star Event Center Arena, Mulvane, Kansas

 

Main Card (9 p.m. ET)

 

Bellator Heavyweight Main Event: Cheick Kongo (22-10-2) vs. Alexander Volkov (24-5)

Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Dave Rickels (16-3) vs. John Alessio (35-17)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Pat Curran (20-7) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (10-1)

Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Joe Schilling (2-4) vs. Hisaki Kato (4-1)

 

Preliminary Card 

 

Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Bubba Jenkins (8-2) vs. Joe Wilk (18-10)

Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: Jeimeson Saudino (8-4) vs. Aaron Ely (4-2)

Bellator Lightweight Prelim Fight: Bobby Cooper (12-5) vs. Pablo Villaseca (9-0)

Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Daniel Gallemore (4-2) vs. Augusto Sakai (7-0)

Bellator Female Featherweight Prelim Fight: Iony Razafiarison (2-0) vs. Bryanna Fissori (1-0)

Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Alex Huddleston (5-1) vs. Javy Ayala (8-3)

Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Greg Scott (3-3) vs. Gaston Reyno (3-0)

Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Derek Bohi (5-4) vs. Frederick Brown (2-1)

Bellator Lightweight Prelim Fight: Marcio Navarro (13-11) vs. Cody Carrillo (8-11)

Bellator Knocks Out Four Additional Preliminary Bouts for Kansas Card On June 26

 B139_PR_Banner

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 3, 2015) – With a complete four-fight main card already announced for “Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov” on June 26, the promotion has turned its focus to the preliminary showcase with four new fights.

 

The newly announced bouts include bantamweights Jeimeson “The Minion” Saudino (8-4) vs. Aaron “The Cyborg” Ely (4-2), lightweights Bobby “Super Duper” Cooper (12-5) vs. Pablo Villaseca (9-0), as well as heavyweights Daniel “Big Kansas” Gallemore (4-2) vs. Augusto Sakai (7-0), and female featherweights Iony Razafiarison (2-0) and Bryanna “Pink Ranger” Fissori (1-0).

 

“Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov” is headlined by a heavyweight clash between French striking specialist Cheick Kongo (22-10-2) and former Bellator MMA Heavyweight World Champion Alexander “Drago” Volkov (24-5). The event takes place June 26 at Kansas Star Event Center Arena in Mulvane, Kan.

 

The night’s main card airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts stream on Spike.com at 6:45 p.m. ET/ 5:45 p.m. CT. Tickets for “Bellator: Kongo vs. Volkov” start at just $17 and are currently available at Ticketmaster.com.

 

Additional announced pairings on the SPIKE-televised card include lightweights Dave “The Caveman” Rickels (16-3) vs.John “The Natural” Alessio (35-17), former Bellator MMA featherweight champion Pat “Paddy Mike” Curran (20-7) vs. Goiti Yamauchi (18-2) and a contest between middleweight sluggers with Joe “Stitch ‘Em Up” Schilling (2-4) vs. Hisaki Kato (4-1) on the event’s featured portion.

 

In a bantamweight battle between two Kansas natives, Wichita’s Saudino is a scrapper who has won half of his eight professional victories without the judge’s help. He looks to improve to nine wins against Leavenworth’s Ely, a ground game specialist who has earned all four professional victories by submission. This 135-pound bout will be a must-see showcase of Midwest MMA talent.

 

RFA and Titan FC veteran Cooper has already earned two victories in the Bellator cage and will look to make his fight at Bellator 139 three in a row. He goes up against Villaseca, a Chilean MMA prospect with an unblemished professional record at 9-0, with three knockouts and three submission finishes.

 

Emporia’s “Big Kansas” Gallemore is a heavyweight who’s hands have earned all four of his victories, three of which have taken place under the Bellator banner. He will meet the undefeated Sakai, a dangerous Brazilian striker who has finished six of seven of his opponents with either his fists or knees.

 

Iony Razafiarison is a coming off of a unanimous decision victory in her professional debut this past January, and will look to make an immediate impact in her first fight with the Bellator promotion. She will take on Bryanna Fissori, who also makes her promotional debut at Bellator 139 after winning her first career victory by knockout last October.

 

“Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov”Friday, June 26, Kanas Star Event Center Arena, Mulvane, Kansas

 

Main Card (9 p.m. ET)

 

Bellator Heavyweight Main Event: Cheick Kongo (22-10-2) vs. Alexander Volkov (24-5)

Bellator Lightweight Feature Fight: Dave Rickels (16-3) vs. John Alessio (35-17)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Fight: Pat Curran (20-7) vs. Goiti Yamauchi (18-2)

Bellator Middleweight Feature Fight: Joe Schilling (2-4) vs. Hisaki Kato (4-1)

 

Preliminary Card 

 

Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Bubba Jenkins (8-2) vs. Joe Wilk (18-10)

Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Fight: Jeimeson Saudino (8-4) vs. Aaron Ely (4-2)

Bellator Lightweight Prelim Fight: Bobby Cooper (12-5) vs. Pablo Villaseca (9-0)

Bellator Heavyweight Prelim Fight: Daniel Gallemore (4-2) vs. Augusto Sakai (7-0)

Bellator Featherweight Prelim Fight: Iony Razafiarison (2-0) vs. Bryanna Fissori (1-0)

“Bellator MMA: Lima vs. Koreshkov” adds another welterweight blockbuster as Paul “Semtex” Daley faces Dennis Olson

B140_olson_daley_announce

Easy Tweet: “Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley faces Dennis Olson at #Bellator140 @mohegansun live and free on @spike!”

 

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 2, 2015) – Dynamic British slugger Paul “Semtex” Daley (36-13-2) makes his highly anticipated return to the Bellator MMA cage when he meets two-fight Bellator veteran Dennis Olson (14-8).

 

The 170-pound clash completes the all-welterweight Spike-broadcast main card of “Bellator MMA: Lima vs. Koreshkov.”

 

Featuring Bellator MMA World Champion Douglas “The Phenom” Lima (26-5) putting his title on the line against Russian knockout artist Andrey “Spartan” Koreshkov (17-1), “Bellator MMA: Lima vs. Koreshkov” takes place Friday, July 16 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

 

Additional featured contests include undefeated welterweight prospect Chris “The Cutt” Honeycutt (6-0) vs. former All-American wrestler and nine-year MMA veteran Paul “The Gentleman” Bradley (22-6), as well as the incomparable Michael “Venom” Page (7-0) vs. 29-fight veteran Rudy “Bad News” Bears (16-13) and “Irish” Brennan Ward (10-3) vs. Gavin “War Horse” Sterritt (6-1).

 

Tickets for “Bellator MMA: Lima vs. Koreshkov,” which start at just $25, are currently on sale at Ticketmaster.com.

 

“Once we nailed down our return to Mohegan Sun, we knew that we had to put together an amazing night of fights that would wow the fans,” said Bellator MMA President Scott Coker. “I really feel that we’ve succeeded in doing so by showcasing this wealth of welterweight talent. There are several bonafide stars in the division and we are excited to see several of them fighting on July 16.”

 

A 12-year veteran of the sport who has competed around the globe, the 32-year-old Daley will make his third appearance under the Bellator MMA banner after previously picking up wins over Andre Santos andRudy Bears. Known as “Semtex” for his explosive striking style, the Nottingham, England native boasts an incredible 26 career knockout victories.

 

Olson returns to the Bellator cage for the first time since 2010, riding a wave of momentum that he has accrued on the regional scene. With experience against the likes of David Branch, Rick Hawn and John Howard, the New Hampshire representative will not be unaccustomed to fighting a competitor with the track record of Daley. It’s safe to say that Olson meets the criteria to be referred to as a “submission specialist,” having racked up nine of his 14 professional wins by making his opponents tap.

 

Additional contests for “Bellator MMA: Lima vs. Koreshkov” will be announced shortly.

 

“Bellator MMA: Lima vs. Koreshkov”Friday, July 16, Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Conn. (click for press release)

 

Bellator Welterweight Title Fight: Champ Douglas Lima (26-5) vs. Andrey Koreshkov (17-1)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Chris Honeycutt (6-0) vs. Paul Bradley (22-6)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Michael Page (7-0) vs. Rudy Bears (16-13)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Brennan Ward (10-3) vs. Gavin Sterritt (6-1)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Paul Daley (36-13-2) vs. Dennis Olson (14-8)

Welterweight Duel Pitting Brennan “The Irish Bad Boy” Ward Against Gavin “War Horse” Sterritt Added to “Bellator MMA: Lima vs. Koreshkov”

Easy Tweet: “‘Irish Bad Boy’ @SwaggleBerryFin returns against the British “War Horse” @GavinSterritt at #Bellator140, live and free on @spike!”

 

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (May 27, 2015) – 26-year-old Connecticut native Brennan Ward (10-3) continues his run at 170-pounds when he meets Gavin Sterritt (6-1) on Friday, July 17 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

 

The contest serves as the fourth Spike TV-broadcast main card matchup of the blockbuster fight card. Additional contests for “Bellator MMA: Lima vs. Koreshkov” will be announced shortly.

 

The July 17 event is shaping up to be a tremendous showcase of welterweight talent, already featuring previously announced bouts between Bellator MMA Welterweight World Champion Douglas Lima (26-5) and Andrey Koreshkov (17-1), Chris Honeycutt (6-0) vs. Paul Bradley (22-6), as well as Michael “Venom” Page (7-0) taking on Rudy Bears (16-13).

 

Tickets for “Bellator MMA: Lima vs. Koreshkov,” which start at just $25, are on sale now and can be purchased at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office or Ticketmaster.com.

 

After winning the Bellator Season Nine middleweight tournament, Ward fell short in a bid for the championship against Alexander Shlemenko, who held the title at the time. This past February, Ward would bounce back on short notice in his debut as a welterweight with a first-round rear-naked choke submission victory over Curtis Millender at Bellator MMA: “British Invasion.”

 

The Waterford, Conn. native has an affinity for the finish, as he has ended nine of his ten professional tilts before reaching the judges’ scorecards. With his hometown a mere 10 miles away from the venue, “The Irish Bad Boy” is sure to have a strong home cage advantage over his opponent.

 

Nine years Ward’s senior at 35, Sterritt is a submission specialist fighting out of Liverpool, England who has held titles for multiple regional promotions. “War Horse” has competed twice under the Bellator MMA banner already, earning victories at Bellator 99 and Bellator 114.

 

“Bellator MMA: Lima vs. Koreshkov” – Friday, July 17, Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Conn.

 

Bellator Welterweight Title Fight: Douglas Lima (26-5) vs. Andrey Koreshkov (17-1)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Chris Honeycutt (6-0) vs. Paul Bradley (22-6)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Michael Page (7-0) vs. Rudy Bears (16-13)

Bellator Welterweight Feature Fight: Brennan Ward (10-3) vs. Gavin Sterritt (6-1)

 

BELLATOR MMA TO AIR ON AMERICAN FORCES NETWORK

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (May 25, 2015) – On a holiday when Americans take a moment to remember those who gave their lives serving in the country’s armed forces, Bellator MMA officials are honored to announce a new partnership with the American Forces Network.

 

With the new deal in place, the American Forces Network will now broadcast Bellator MMA events on its global networks to American servicemen and women, as well as U.S. Navy ships at sea.

 

“We at Bellator are always looking for ways to give back to our troops,” said Bellator MMA President Scott Coker. “We’re all extremely grateful for all that they do abroad to keep us safe, and we hope that they will enjoy some Bellator fights during any downtime they may have.”

 

Multiple Bellator athletes including Bobby Lashley and Mike Richman have served in the American Military.

 

“I’m personally thrilled for this new partnership,” said Bobby Lashley, who fights James Thompson on June 19. “AFN is providing a platform for me to be fighting for my brothers and sisters who are away from home, fighting for us.”

 

The new partnership commences with June’s dual Bellator MMA events.

 

On June 19, Bellator MMA visits St. Louis’ Scottrade Center for “Bellator MMA: Unfinished Business,” featuring one of the most anticipated fights in the history of the sport with Kimbo Slice vs. Ken Shamrock. Also, several current Bellator fighters as well as some of the sport’s biggest legends will pay a visit to Scott Air Force Base on Wednesday, June 17.

 

On June 26, the promotion touches down at Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kan., with “Bellator MMA: Kongo vs. Volkov,” which sees French striking specialist Cheick Kongo and Russian knockout artist and former Bellator MMA Heavyweight World Champion Alexander “Drago” Volkov stand toe-to-toe in the Bellator MMA cage.

 

Complete details of the new Bellator MMA-American Forces Network partnership will be available shortly.