Tag Archives: Dan Charles

RAFAEL CARVALHO STEALS SPLIT DECISION, RETAINING MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE IN ‘BELLATOR 155’ MAIN EVENT

 

Complete Event Photos Here

BOISE, IDAHO (May 20, 2016) – Rafael Carvalho (13-1) defended his middleweight belt in controversial fashion at the CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho on Friday night, taking home a split decision win over at the expense of Melvin Manhoef (30-13).

The packed house was less than enthusiastic with the judges’ decision, which amounted to two 48-47 scores for Carvalho, while Manhoef took home one of the same tally.

With the victory, the 29-year old Brazilian is now 4-0 under the Bellator MMA umbrella and continues to ride his remarkable 13-fight winning streak.

BELLATOR KICKBOXING: ST. LOUIS ANNOUNCED

The first fight for “Bellator Kickboxing: St. Louis” has been announced in a rematch of sorts, pitting Joe Schilling against Hisaki Kato. When the two first met at “Bellator 139: Kongo vs. Volkov,” Kato stunned Schilling with a “Superman punch” knockout that many pundits considered to be the “2015 Knockout of the Year.” That was MMA, and this time the two will fight in a kickboxing match. A world champion kickboxer, “Stitch ‘Em Up” Schilling  will look for revenge against Kato, a karate striker.

Additional fights, including a main event matchup will be announced shortly.

The second event for the brand new Bellator Kickboxing promotion will take place on June 24, immediately following “Bellator: Dynamite 2” at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, and will air LIVE and FREE on SPIKE.

Featherweight Co-Main Event Ends in Unanimous Decision Victory for Pat Curran

It took all three rounds to determine a winner in the evening’s co-main event, but in the end, former two-time Bellator champion Pat Curran (22-7) emerged victorious with a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) win over Georgi Karakhanyan (24-6-1). “Paddy Mike” connected with a great left hook that dropped Karakhanyan to the mat. The Chicago native relied heavily on his ground game in this one, consistently forcing Karakhanyan into uncomfortable positions and ultimately leading to the featherweight’s 12th win under the Bellator MMA fray.

Heavyweight Slugfest Ends in Draw for Dan Charles and Augusto Sakai

The evening’s second heavyweight feature fight was heavily overshadowed by multiple low blows from the foot of Augusto Sakai (9-0-1), leaving Dan Charles (10-3-1) curled over the canvas and gasping for air. In a bout that took every bit of 15 minutes, the judges’ scorecard concluded a majority draw (30-26 Charles, 28-28, 28-28), making it just the ninth in Bellator MMA history. Although the Brazilian Sakai remains undefeated, his nine-fight winning streak came to an end with the bittersweet finish at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho. For Charles, it was the third time in his five-year career that a fight went the distance and the first of his 14 bouts to end in a majority draw.

Alexis Dufresne Shocks MMA World With Submission Victory Over Marloes Coenen

In a highly-anticipated female catchweight bout, Alexis Dufresne (6-2) delivered one of the largest upsets of the year by finishing Dutch superstar Marloes Coenen (23-7) with an armbar submission 4:33 into the first round. Along with Miesha Tate, “Sneaky Zebra” becomes just the second fighter ever to force Coenen to tap out. Not far removed from the birth of her first child, the 25-year-old Dufresne was able to impress in her Bellator MMA debut, despite being a +500 underdog.

Gormley Outlasts Beltran in Heavyweight Opener

During the opening contest at “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef,” Joey Beltran (17-13) and Chase Gormley (13-5) traded blows in what was a heavyweight dogfight that took all three rounds to claim a victor. In the end, it was Gormley that came out on top with the split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) win over “The Mexicutioner.” Gormley, a 32-year-old native of Los Angeles is now 7-0 when his fights go to the judges table. The win is his first with the Bellator MMA promotion and sixth of his last seven bouts.

Preliminary Card Results:

Vince Morales (4-1) defeated Hamilton Ash (3-2) via KO at 2:32 of round three

Joe Hamilton (4-0) defeated Tyler Freeland (3-1) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:22 of round one

Casey Johnson (5-0) defeated Brendon Raftery (4-3) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:16 of round two

Marcin Held (22-4) defeated Dave Jansen (20-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 2x)

Jesse Brock (22-8) defeated Olly Bradstreet (39-13) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:57 of round three

Will Noland (16-6) defeated Sean Powers (9-6) via KO (punches) at 3:29 of round one

Scott Thometz (10-5) defeated Josh Tyler (7-4) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 30-25)

Veta Arteaga (2-0) defeated Jackie Vandenburgh (0-2) via unanimous decision (29-27, 30-27, 29-28)

 

GET READY FOR SOME KICKBOXING WITH SMALL GLOVES!

 

 

MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD TITLE BOUT BETWEEN RAFAEL CARVALHO AND MELVIN MANHOEF HEADLINES ‘BELLATOR 155’ TOMORROW NIGHT – LIVE AND FREE ON SPIKE

 

Complete Weigh-In Photos Here

 

BOISE, IDAHO. (May 19, 2016) –The official weigh-ins for “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef”took place this afternoon in front of a packed house at the Knitting Factory here in Boise, ID. All competitors are now ready for action tomorrow at CenturyLink Arena, with the event airing LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

 

Middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho (12-1) will defend his title against Dutch striking ace Melvin Manhoef (30-12-1) in the main event of a fantastic night of fights that also includes a co-main event between Pat Curran (21-7) and Georgi Karakhanyan (24-5-1), who square off in a featherweight scrap that has future title-shot implications written all over it. The main card also includes a women’s catchweight showdown between slick Dutch veteran Marloes Coenen (23-6) and Alexis Dufresne (5-2). Dufresne, who returns to action after a recent pregnancy and on short notice, missed the 146-pound weight limit, but the fight will proceed as planned.

 

“Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” will also feature a duo of heavyweight matchups with Joey Beltran (17-12) challenging Chase Gormley (12-5) and Dan Charles (20-3) looking to put an end to Augusto Sakai’s (9-0) unblemished record.

 

An undercard bout between Ricky Steele (5-0) and Eric Cronkhite (2-1) was cancelled when Cronkhite missed weight by nine pounds.

 

Very few tickets for the event remain, and are available at Bellator.com, the CenturyLink Arena Box Office or CenturyLinkArenaBoise.com.

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

 

Bellator MMA Middleweight World Title Fight: Rafael Carvalho (184.3) vs. Melvin Manhoef (185)

 

Bellator MMA Featherweight Co-Main Event: Pat Curran (145.6) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (145.1)

 

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Dan Charles (242.2) vs. Augusto Sakai (262.5)

 

Bellator MMA Catchweight Feature Bout: Marloes Coenen (145.6) vs. Alexis Dufresne (150.7)

 

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Feature Bout: Joey Beltran (236.8) vs. Chase Gormley (264.5)

 

Preliminary Card: (Bellator.com – 7:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. CT)

 

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Tyler Freeland (137.4) vs. Joe Hamilton (135.4)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Dave Jansen (155.9) vs. Marcin Held (155.9)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Veta Arteaga (127.1) vs. Jackie Vandenburgh (122.7)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Hamilton Ash (145.8) vs. Vince Morales (144.9)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Brendon Raftery (134) vs. Casey Johnson (134.9)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Scott Thometz (155.7) vs. Josh Tyler (155.7)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Sean Powers (182.4) vs. Will Noland (185.6)

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Jesse Brock (135.7) vs. Olly Bradstreet (135.7)

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

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)

 

PATRICKY ‘PITBULL’ FREIRE EARNS SHUTOUT VICTORY IN BELLATOR’S HISTORIC, FIRST-EVER INTERNATIONAL EVENT

 

 

ALL OF ITALY GOES WILD FOR THEIR HERO ALESSIO SAKARA AFTER KNOCKOUT VICTORY

Credit: Bellator MMA

TORINO, ITALY. (April 15, 2016) – An electric, packed house was on hand Saturday night to bear witness to Bellator MMA’s inaugural international event, “Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza,” at Italy’s largest indoor arena, The Pala Alpitour. The venue, which housed several events during the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, provided an incredible atmosphere for the historic card.

In the main event of the evening, Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (16-7) welcomed Kevin Souza (15-5) to Bellator MMA with a unanimous decision loss (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). The matchup between the two Brazillians was well contested, as Souza took the fight on short notice after replacing Derek Camposbecause of injury only a week ago. “Pitbull” spent much of the bout trying to figure out his opponent’s unorthodox style, but in the third and final round, “Pitbull” was able to score a couple solid shots and a takedown to cement his position on the scorecards.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

Few fighters can inspire a nation the way that Rome’s Alessio Sakara (18-11) had his Italian countrymen rooting for him tonight. The support paid off, as “Legionarius” got the better of Brian Rogers (12-9) in a slugfest for the ages. Crisp, precise, power-punches connected with Rogers putting him on the canvas, forcing the TKO stoppage at 2:29 of round two and making Sakai’s Bellator debut one to remember.

DIVISION ON LOCK? MCKEE’S GOT THE KEY

One of MMA’s hottest prospects, A.J. McKee (4-0) defeated Milan’s Danilo Belluardo (5-2) in front of his home crowd on Friday. Although the audience was raucous in support for Belluardo, they cheered with great appreciation for McKee’s performance and sportsmanship following his victory. During his fight against J.T. Donaldson at “Bellator 147: Thomson vs. Villaseca,” McKee was cut above the eye, the sight of his own blood seemed to cause the 20-year-old to hit the turbo button. Similarly tonight, McKee was on the wrong side of an accidental low blow and after a short resting period, “Mercenary” came out swinging with a torrid pace, ultimately connecting with a left kick to the ribs of Belluardo that sent him falling to the mat. The referee gave him a moment to defend himself but McKee rained down an efficient flurry of ground and pound, earning the TKO at 2:44 of the very first frame. Sending a message to Scott Coker and the very deep Bellator featherweight division that he means business, McKee said in his post-fight interview: “If you ain’t got the belt, I ain’t got my eye on you.”

A STAR IS BORN IN ANASTASIA YANKOVA

Anastasia Yankova (3-0) quickly fought her way into a full mount against Anjela Pink (0-1) and applied a slick armbar submission to hand Pink a loss in her professional debut at 1:35 of the opening round. The young Russian striker has had the Italian fans clamoring to see her in action all week long, and had them on their feet celebrating her first-round victory. Yankova has now finished all of her professional MMA fights via submission and after the bout made it clear that she will be in action sooner, rather than later, “I promise to come back soon and have my second fight in Bellator, Yankova said. “It is really great to be a part of Bellator, I feel really happy.”

HOMETOWN HEROES IMPRESS IN BELLATOR DEBUT

Two Italian competitors who regularly compete with Oktagon, Daniele Scatizzi (7-2) and Daniele Miceli (2-1) kicked things off at “Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza” with a fast paced featherweight scrap. Scatizzi was able to secure a dominant position on Miceli’s back, sinking his hooks in and raining down unanswered strikes, forcing referee “Big John” McCarthy to call a stop to the action at 3:20 of round one and declaring Rome’s Scatizzi victorious by TKO.

 

THE WAIT IS OVER – ‘PITBULL’ & SOUZA ARE READY FOR ACTION AT ‘BELLATOR 152’ TOMORROW

 

Complete Weigh-In Photos Here

 

TORINO, ITALY. (April 15, 2016) – After Friday’s weigh-ins at the Turin Palace Hotel, all of the “Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza” competitors are set to enter the cage inside of Italy’s largest indoor arena, The Pala Alpitour.  The event airs on SPIKE tomorrow, Saturday, April 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

 

The mixed martial arts portion of Bellator MMA’s first event overseas will also include the promotional debut of Italian fan-favorite Alessio Sakara (17-11), who faces Brian Rogers (12-8) in a light heavyweight matchup and one of MMA’s most promising young prospects, A.J. McKee (3-0), who fights Danilo Belluardo (5-1) at 145-pounds.

 

Also, Anastasia Yankova (2-0) will make her promotional debut against Anjela Pink in MMA flyweight action and Oktagon competitorsDaniele Miceli (2-0) and Daniele Scatizzi (6-2) will round out the MMA card with a featherweight showdown.

 

Main Card: (Live on SPIKE – 10 p.m. ET/PT)

 

Kevin Souza (70.3 kg / 155.2 lbs.) vs. Patricky Freire (70.5 kg / 155.2 lbs.)

Alessio Sakara (92.25 kg / 203.9 lbs.) vs. Brian Rogers (93.05 kg / 205.3 lbs.)

Danilo Belluardo (66.05 kg / 145.4 lbs.) vs. A.J. McKee (65.95 kg / 145.5 lbs.)

Anjela Pink (58.65 kg / 129.3 lbs.) vs. Anastasia Yankova (59.35 kg / 130 lbs.)

Daniele Miceli (76.10 kg / 167.5 lbs.) vs. Daniele Scatizzi (76.2 kg / 168.2 lbs.)

BOTH ‘PITBULL BROTHERS’ RECEIVE NEW OPPONENTS AHEAD OF BELLATOR 152 & BELLATOR 153

 

SANTA MONICA, CA. (April 11, 2016) – Injuries to both Derek Campos and John Teixeira have forced Bellator MMA to find replacements to compete against brothers Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (15-7) and Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (24-3) on April 16 and 22 respectively.

As a result, the Scott Coker-led promotion has put its newest free agent acquisition to work immediately, with the news that Kevin Souza (15-4) will compete against Patricky at 155-pounds, in the first fight of his freshly inked multi-fight contract during the main event of “Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza.”

Meanwhile, in the co-main event of “Bellator 153: Henderson vs. Koreshkov,” Patricio will now fight the tenacious Henry Corrales (12-2), who agreed to face the former Bellator MMA Featherweight Champion on less than two weeks notice.

“Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza” will also include the promotional debut of Italian fan-favorite Alessio Sakara (17-11), who faces Brian Rogers (12-8) in a light heavyweight matchup, while one of MMA’s most promising young prospects, A.J. McKee (3-0), fights Danilo Belluardo (5-1) at 145-pounds. Also, Anastasia Yankova (2-0) will make her promotional debut against Anjela Pink in MMA flyweight action and Oktagon competitors Daniele Miceli (2-0) and Daniele Scatizzi (6-2) will round out the MMA card with a featherweight showdown.

“Bellator 153: Henderson vs. Koreshkov” is also brimming with must-see mixed martial arts action as well, with the promotional debut of Benson Henderson (23-5), who challenges Andrey Koreshkov (18-1) for the 170-pound strap, Brennan Ward (13-3) goes to battle against “Cyborg” Santos (20-16), Michael “Venom” Page (9-0) faces Jeremie Holloway (7-1), and Brent Primus (6-0) meets “Toninho Furia” (27-5).

“Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza” airs on SPIKE Saturday, April 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, while “Bellator 153: Henderson vs. Koreshkov” airs at a special start time of 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT, which is immediately followed by the debut of “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Fresh off an emphatic knockout of Ryan Couture at “Bellator 148: Daley vs. Uhrich” to kickoff 2016, Patricky “Pitbull” will look to extend his current winning streak when he takes on the debuting Kevin Souza.

A member of the Blackzilians, the 31-year-old has been victorious in 10 of his last 11 fights as a professional and put together an impressive 3-1 run with the UFC. The multi-time, post-fight bonus award winner has a knack for the spectacular, with 10 finishes coming in the opening round and 13 out of 15 victories ending before reaching the judges’ scorecards. The Salvador native has competed exclusively at 145-pounds, but due to the fight being on short notice, Souza will step up and compete against “Pitbull” at lightweight.

Henry Corrales continues his run of never turning down a fight in Bellator MMA, after agreeing to fight Patricio “Pitbull.” The fight will be Corrales’ third in the Viacom-owned promotion, after bouts against current featherweight titlist Daniel Straus and newly re-signed contender Emanuel Sanchez. A former King of the Cage bantamweight champion, “OK” has finished 10 of his 12 wins as a pro.

Complete “Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Souza” Main Card:

Bellator MMA Lightweight Main Event: Patricky “Pitbull” Freire (15-7) vs. Edimilson “Kevin” Souza (15-4)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Alessio Sakara (17-11) vs. Brian Rogers (12-8)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: A.J. McKee (3-0) vs. Danilo Belluardo (5-1)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Feature Bout: Anastasia Yankova (2-0) vs. Anjela Pink (Debut)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: Daniele Miceli (2-0) vs. Daniele Scatizzi (6-2)

Complete “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” Main Card:

Bellator MMA Welterweight World Title Bout: Andrey Koreshkov (18-1) vs. Benson Henderson (23-5)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Co-Main Event: Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (24-3) vs. Henry Corrales (12-2)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Brennan Ward (13-3) vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (20-16)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Feature Bout: Michael Page (9-0) vs. Jeremie Holloway (7-1)

Bellator MMA Lightweight Feature Bout: Brent Primus (6-0) vs. Gleristone “Toninho Furia” Santos (27-5)

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 spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike’s press site at spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @SpikeTVPR for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.

About Oktagon:

Carlo Di Blasi created Oktagon in 1996. At its beginning the show was dedicated to free fight, the name that was given initially to MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). Other disciplines such as Kickboxing, Muay Thai and Savate were gradually added from the early 2000’s onwards. During the last 20 years Oktagon has reached a huge popularity, both in Italy and abroad, creating many superstars in the process including Bellator welterweight Paul Daley as well as The Petrosyan brothers (Giorgio and Armen), Robin Van Roosmalen, Valentijn Overeem, Rico Verhoeven and Artem Levin.

MATT MITRIONE AND SEAN GRANDE NAMED SPIKE’S ANNOUNCING TEAM FOR BELLATOR KICKBOXING: TORINO

 
New York, NY, April 7, 2016 – Matt Mitrione, a former NFL defensive lineman and current Bellator MMA heavyweight will join Bellator MMA play-by-play announcer and The Voice of the Boston Celtics, Sean Grande as the broadcast duo for Bellator’s inaugural kickboxing event, “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” on Saturday, April 16 from the historic Pala Alpitour in Torino, Italy. The announcement was jointly made today by Bellator President Scott Coker and Jon Slusser, Senior Vice President, Sports and Specials, Spike TV.
Mitrione joined Bellator MMA in early March after a stellar start to his career in the UFC. His 14-bout stint with that promotion began in 2009 on “The Ultimate Fighter,” airing on Spike. His list of formidable opponents included: Kimbo Slice, Gabriel Gonzaga, Ben Rothwell, Derrick Lewis, Brendan Schaub, Roy Nelson, Shawn Jordan, and Travis Browne among others.
Prior to competing in MMA, Mitrione earned a scholarship to play defensive tackle for the Purdue Boilermakers, not far from where he grew up in Springfield, Ill. After college, he played in the NFL for the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings until 2005.
Sean Grande has served as Bellator’s play-by-play announcer since July of 2015. Completing his 18th season in the NBA and 15th as the voice of the Boston Celtics, Grande’s epic account of the two-month run to the 2008 World Championship cemented his status as one of the nation’s elite play-callers.  He is joined by analyst Cedric Maxwell for all Boston Celtics games. Since shortly after their 2001 pairing, “Grande and Max” have become one of Boston’s most popular and iconic on-air combinations.
On May 20, 2013, Grande made his Major League Baseball debut, after being named the alternate play-by-play voice of the World Champion Boston Red Sox.  It completed his cycle of broadcasting major pro sports (NBA, NFL, NHL, WNBA and MLS). 
Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” will be televised Friday, April 22 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT, immediately following “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” on Spike.
Complete “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” Fight Card:
 
Bellator Kickboxing Middleweight Main Event: Melvin Manhoef (37-12) vs. Alexandru Negrea (8-2)
Bellator Kickboxing 165-Pound Feature Bout: Mustapha Haida (37-3-3) vs. Karim Ghajji (95-12)
Bellator Kickboxing Welterweight Feature Bout: Raymond Daniels (10-3) vs. Francesco Moricca (15-2-1)
Bellator Kickboxing Flyweight Feature Bout: Denise Kielholtz (43-2) vs. Veronica Vernocchi (31-6-1)
Bellator Kickboxing Bantamweight Feature Bout: Kevin Ross (30-9) vs. Matteo Taccini (24-3-1)
 

 

TWO NEW BOUTS COMPLETE ‘BELLATOR 155: CARVALHO VS. MANHOEF’ MAIN CARD IN BOISE ON MAY 20 – ONLY ON SPIKE

 

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. (March 24, 2016) – A lightweight bout pitting Marcin Held (21-4) against Dave Jansen (20-3) and a heavyweight contest pairing Chase Gormley (12-5) versus Joey Beltran (17-12), have been added to the main card of “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho on May 20.

 

The fights join a card that already features a colossal Middleweight World Championship main event, when 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.

 

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. An eight-fight preliminary card airs live on Bellator.com andThe Bellator Mobile App beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.

 

Held, a 13-fight Bellator MMA veteran, looks to begin another long winning streak after seeing his most recent six-fight string snapped at the hands of division champion Will Brooks during “Bellator 145: With A Vengeance.” The 24-year-old submission specialist has recorded wins in 11 of his last 13 fights, with six of the previous seven coming by way of knockout or submission. His juicy matchup with “The Fugitive” at “Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” marks his 2016 debut and first fight since November of 2015.

After a unanimous decision victory over the Polish native back in 2013 at “Bellator 93,” Dave Jansen will look to once again knock off Held in the evening’s lightweight feature bout. “The Fugitive” enters his ninth fight with Bellator MMA and looks to add to his impressive 7-1 record with the promotion. With winning streaks of seven and 13 fights over his illustrious nine-year career, the 36-year-old Oregon native will once again have his eyes set on starting a new stretch of wins when he steps into the cage on May 20.

 

In heavyweight action, Chase Gormley will look to build on an impressive three-year run that has seen him win five of his last six fights when he takes on Joey Beltran. The Titan Fighting Championship heavyweight kingpin won the promotion’s title with a unanimous decision win against Jon Madsen back in March of 2015.

 

Since entering the Bellator MMA fray in 2013, Beltran has competed against some of the top fighters the promotion has to offer, with matchups against:Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko, Emanuel Newton, and Brian Rogers. After transitioning to middleweight in April 2015, “The Mexicutioner” has won two of three fights, but now returns to the heavyweight division he once roamed.

 

Updated “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 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)

 

FIVE-FIGHT MAIN CARD NOW COMPLETE FOR INAUGURAL ‘BELLATOR KICKBOXING: TORINO’ EVENT ON APRIL 16 IN ITALY

KEVIN ROSS, RAYMOND DANIELS & DENISE KIELHOLTZ RECEIVE OPPONENTS

SANTA MONICA, CA. (March 18, 2016) – Bellator Kickboxing’s groundbreaking inaugural event, “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino,” has been finalized with the opponents for Kevin Ross (30-9), Raymond Daniels (10-3) and Denise Kielholtz (43-2). Ross will square off against Matteo Taccini (24-3-1), while Daniels takes on Francesco Moricca (15-2-1) and Kielholtz goes head to head with Veronica Vernocchi (31-6-1) at the historic Pala Alpitour in Torino, Italy on April 16.

The trio of Italy natives join a card that already features some of the top athletes in kickboxing, including one of the most accomplished knockout artists in all of combat sports, Melvin Manhoef (37-12), who takes on the always dangerous Alexandru Negrea (8-2). Also, a 165-pound ISKA title fight between Mustapha Haida(37-3-3) and Karim Ghajji (95-12) will take place in the co-main event slot. “No Mercy” is also scheduled to return to MMA when he challenges for the Bellator MMA middleweight title against Rafael Carvalho at“Bellator 155: Carvalho vs. Manhoef” on May 20.

The debut of “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” will take place on April 16 and be televised Friday, April 22 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT, immediately following “Bellator 153: Koreshkov vs. Henderson” on SPIKE. Meanwhile, “Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Campos” airs on SPIKE Saturday, April 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

American Muay Thai standout Ross is also referred to as “The Soul Assassin,” and he will look to live up to that name come April 16. Ross and his opponent, who is a 2014 ISKA Champion out of Rome are currently scheduled to be the very first fight in Bellator Kickboxing history. The two will undoubtedly look to kick off the promotion’s first event with an emphatic, memorable performance.

The pair of flyweights will come out swinging when Kielholtz and Vernocchi bring their impressive skill sets to the cage in an enticing matchup. Dutch striking specialist Kielholtz recently went “5 Rounds” in a Bellator digital piece.

In the welterweight division, Daniels, a 35-year-old American southpaw will be opposite Moricca, an Italian slugger and winner of the 2015 Ring Rules tournament, looking to impress in front of his home crowd. Daniels has made a name for himself as one of the top karate fighters in the USA and through his numerous knockouts by way of spinning-kick, translating to an instant fan-favorite wherever he fights.

For additional information about the “Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Campos” event, click here.

Complete “Bellator Kickboxing: Torino” Fight Card:

Bellator Kickboxing Middleweight Main Event: Melvin Manhoef (37-12) vs. Alexandru Negrea (8-2)

Bellator Kickboxing 165-Pound Feature Bout: Mustapha Haida (37-3-3) vs. Karim Ghajji (95-12)

Bellator Kickboxing Welterweight Feature Bout: Raymond Daniels (10-3) vs. Francesco Moricca (0-0)

Bellator Kickboxing Flyweight Feature Bout: Denise Kielholtz (43-2) vs. Veronica Vernocchi (31-6-1)

Bellator Kickboxing Bantamweight Feature Bout: Kevin Ross (30-9) vs. Matteo Taccini (0-0)

Complete “Bellator 152: Pitbull vs. Campos” Fight Card:

Bellator MMA Lightweight Main Event: Patricky Freire (15-7) vs. Derek Campos (16-6)

Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Alessio Sakara (17-11) vs. Brian Rogers (12-8)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: A.J. McKee (3-0) vs. Danilo Belluardo (5-1)

Bellator MMA Flyweight Feature Bout: Anastasia Yankova (2-0) vs. Anjela Pink (Debut)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Feature Bout: Daniele Miceli (2-0) vs. Daniele Scatizzi (6-2)