Tag Archives: Eduardo Dantas

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Ntsia hlau loj TV

EDUARDO DANTAS NULLIFIES WRESTLING OF JOE WARREN, RETAINS BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE IN ‘BELLATOR 166’ REMATCH

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Complete Event Photos Here

THACKERVILLE, OK. (Dec. 2, 2016) — Despite receiving a point-deduction for a low kick in the fifth and final round, Eduardo Dantas (19-4) was impeccable on the feet during his rematch with Joe Warren (14-6) ntawm “Bellator 166” on Friday, peppering Warren with jabs for 25-minutes and earning a majority decision (47-47, 49-44, 48-46) in front of a packed house at WinStar Resort and Casino.

With the loss, Warren’s bid for a third Bellator MMA title reign ended, as he was unable to secure a takedown throughout the main event bout. “The World’s Baddest Man” had never lost a fight that went to the judges’ scorecards until Friday, thaum lub sij hawm “Dudu” rectified the defeat he took against Warren at “Bellator 128.”

Tom qab kev sib ntaus, Dantas dedicated his victory to the families of those affected by the deadly plane crash suffered by the Chapecoense Soccer Team in Brazil last week. The victory now sets the stage for tag kis hmo “Bellator 167” kev tshwm sim, which pits Joe Taimanglo tiv thaiv Darrion Caldwell.

McKee Overcomes Adversity, Remains Undefeated with Impressive Ground-and-Pound Victory

In the evening’s featherweight co-main event, A.J. McKee (6-0) came from behind to defeat Ray Ntoo (7-3) with a unanimous decision triumph (29-27, 30-25, 30-27). McKee was tested early in the opening round, as Wood landed multiple blows that sent McKee flying to the canvas. Txawm li cas los, McKee was able to stay the course and answered the bell, convincingly dominating Wood during the final two frames. Wood becomes just the first of McKee’s six victims to make it out of the first round, forcing the 21-year-old “Mercenary” into his first-ever decision. Fighting out of Long Beach, California., McKee proclaimed his desire to compete on the upcoming "Bellator 170: Ortiz vs. Sonnen” super-card after the win, calling out his previously scheduled opponentEmmanuel Sanchez.

Galvao Edges Davis for Split Decision win in Bantamweight Thriller

 

In a night highlighted by a pair of phenomenal bantamweight matchups, Marcos Galvao (18-7-1) was able to squeak out a tightly fought contest with C.R.. Davis (23-8), emerging victorious with a split decision win (29-28 x2, 28-29). A 12-fight veteran of Bellator MMA, Galvao earned his eighth victory under the promotion’s direction and first of his 2016 phiaj los nqis tes. “Loro” seems to be finding his groove, tallying victories in five of his past six contests. For Davis, the loss is just his second since joining the Scott Coker-led promotion in 2014.

Chris Honeycutt Delivers Flawless Performance – Rewarded With Unanimous Decision Victory

 

Nyob rau hauv lub qhib kev nyuajsiab ntxhov plawv “Bellator 166,“ Chris Honeycutt (9-1, 1 NC) brought a rowdy Thackerville crowd to their feet throughout the course of a one-sided middleweight affair, defeating Ben Reiter (17-2-1) ntawm unanimous kev txiav txim siab (30-26, 30-25 x2). An early knee, coupled with a ruthless combination of blows opened a sizeable gash on the side of Reiter’s head, forcing the 29-year-old New Yorker to take some chances. The win is Honeycutt’s second consecutive victory at 185-pounds, opening the door in what is currently a wide open division. For Reiter, the loss is just the second of his career, the first of which also came at WinStar Resort and Casino.

Preliminary Card tau:

Gregory Babene (18-11) yeej Emiliano Sordi (14-6) ntawm cuav (Guillotine zawm caj pas yog) ntawm 3:11 ntawm puag ncig ib

Treston Thomison (10-4) yeej Dawond Pickney (10-6) ntawm cuav (Arm-bar) ntawm :51 ntawm puag ncig ib

Derrick Adkins (9-3) yeej Chris Jones (10-5) ntawm cuav (Brabo zawm caj pas yog) ntawm 4:09 ntawm round ob

Kinny Spotwood (3-2) yeej John King (4-4) ntawm unanimous kev txiav txim siab (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Ntsia hlau loj TV

LIGHTWEIGHT REMATCH PITTING PATRICKY PITBULL AGAINST DEREK CAMPOS SERVES AS MAIN EVENT AT SECOND NIGHT OF BELLATOR DOUBLEHEADER INSIDE WINSTAR WORLD CASINO & RESORT

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JOHN TEIXEIRA GETS NEW OPPONENT JUSTIN LAWRENCE WHILE TOP WRESTLING PROSPECT JAROD TRICE MAKES HIS DEBUT AGAINST BRANDON LEE ON STACKED PRELIMINARY CARD

Raug Monica, California. (Kaum Ib Hlis Ntuj 1, 2016) – An undisclosed injury to Pat Curran, who was originally scheduled to fight John Teixeira(20-1-2), has opened the door for a lightweight main event pitting Patricky Pitbull (16-8) tiv thaiv Derek Liaj teb (17-6) on the second night of a special doubleheader inside WinStar World Casino & Resort nyob rau hauv Thackerville, OK., rau Saturday, Kaum Ob Hlis Ntuj 3.

 

In lieu of the injured former featherweight champion, Teixeira will now face Justin Lawrence (9-3) in main card action. Nyob rau hauv tas li ntawd, Bellator MMA is pleased to announce the professional debut of three-time All American wrestling prospect Jarod Trice, who will challenge Brandon Lee (4-1) during the Bellator.com-streamed preliminary card.

The second night of entertainment – “Bellator 167” – features a flyweight bout pitting undefeated budding superstar Ilima-Lei MacFarlane (4-0) tiv thaiv Emily Ducote (4-1), raws li zoo raws li Chidi Njokuani (15-4, 1 NC) tiv tiag Andre Fialho (7-0) in three rounds of welterweight action on the Spike-televised main card.

 

A bantamweight world title rematch pitting current champion Eduardo Dantas (18-4) tiv thaiv Joe Warren (14-5) and a featherweight bout pitting undefeated prospect A.J. McKee (5-0) tiv thaiv Emmanuel Sanchez (13-3) will highlight the first night of excitement at “Bellator 166.”Lastly, ib tug bantamweight bout ntawm Marcos Galvao (17-7-1) thiab C.R.. Davis (23-7) will also be featured on the main card of the doubleheader’s opening night.

 

Tickets for the unique doubleheader event start at just $45 and can be purchased at the WinStar World Casino & Resort Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster and Bellator.com.

 

"Bellator 167: Pitbull vs. Campos 2” airs live and free on Saturday on SPIKE at 9 p.m. THIAB/8 p.m. CT., thaum lub sij hawm "Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren 2”airs live and free on Friday on SPIKE at 9 p.m. THIAB/8 p.m. I. Preliminary bouts for both events will stream live on Bellator.com thiab Lub Bellator Mobile App.

 

The 30-year-old Brazilian star originally caught the promotion’s attention following an electric start to his professional career, as he earned a victory in seven of his first eight fights. Now a 16-fight veteran of Bellator MMA, Freire enters the contest having won six of his last nine bouts, including knockout finishes over division powerhouses Ryan Couture, David Rickels, and most notably Derek Campos in the pair’s first brawl two years ago. The second round victory over Campos marked only the second time in his career that an opponent was able to finish him via knockout. Freire has already put together a stellar 2016 phiaj los nqis tes, with wins over Couture and Kevin Souza, as well as a lightweight title shot against Michael Chandler. “Pitbull” will look to further cement his feet atop the division’s elite with a strong performance against the equally-tested veteran Campos.

 

Prior to an undisclosed injury, Campos was originally set for a rematch with “Pitbull” in Italy at “Bellator 152,” but now the 28-year-old Texan will have his shot at revenge even closer to home base. Hailing from Lubbock, Texas, “The Stallion” comes in having won eight of his last 11 xaus, including knockout victories over Melvin Guillard and Estevan Payan. With a professional record of 3-1 nyob rau hauv Thackerville, including a KOTC Junior Welterweight Championship in 2012, Campos has clearly claimed WinStar World Casino & Resort his home away from home. Currently riding a recent string of success, Campos will look to add to his current two-fight winning streak and continue his dominance in OK.

 

The 29-year-old Teixeira continues to make a name for himself in Bellator MMA’s featherweight division, as he will make his fourth appearance under the promotion’s direction following three consecutive victories. Similar to his opponent, Teixeira also steps into the cage on a recent string of success, having won seven of his last eight bouts, including a trio of first round knockouts. Prior to his days with Bellator MMA, Teixeira began his professional career fighting exclusively in Brazil, posting an undefeated record of 12-0 with one draw. The upcoming bout marks only the fourth time in Teixeira’s nine year career that he will fight outside of his native Brazil. Nrog 14 ntawm nws 19 hauj lwm yeej los ntawm txoj kev ntawm knockout los yog kev mloog lus, you can be sure to see “Macapa” go for the finishing blow early and often in this mouthwatering matchup.

 

Following the recent news of an undisclosed injury that forced Pat Curran to withdraw, Lawrence has agreed to fill in to face Teixeira. After beginning his professional career under the direction of Strikeforce, Lawrence has found a home in Bellator MMA’s formidable featherweight division. “The American Kid” has tallied a pair of highlight-reel knockouts since joining the Scott Coker-led promotion last year, including his most recent victory over Isao Kobayashi ntawm "Bellator 157: Dynamite 2.” The emphatic finish was the fifth of his young career and fourth by way of knockout. Dating back to 2013, the 26-year-old striker has won five of his last six contests, three of which came by way of knockout. Hailing from Pacific, Missouri, the former UFC competitor will look to keep the ball rolling against another tough opponent in Teixeira.

 

Three-time All American wrestling prospect Jarod Trice will be making his highly anticipated professional debut, following his recent signing with the promotion earlier this year. Trice joins Aaron Pico, Thiab Ruth thiab Tyrell Fortune as a few of the recent signees that make up the new wave of incredibly talented wrestling prospects to flock to Bellator MMA. The Detroit, Michigan native competed at Central Michigan University, where he has also earned a National Title at 120 kg and two Greco Roman National Titles, with one at 120 kg and another at 98 kg.The 27-year-old also saw a great deal of success following an impressive 50-pound weight-loss transformation, something that will surely come in handy in a sport that demands severe weight discipline.

 

Fighting out of Clinton, OK., Lee will not have to travel far when he makes his Bellator MMA debut inside WinStar World Casino & Resort nyob rau hauv Thackerville, rau Kaum Ob Hlis Ntuj 3. The 41-year-old heavyweight has had a great deal of success to date, recording four wins over his five career bouts under the direction of regional promotions. “The Undertaker” has finished his opponent in the opening round of each of his four professional victories, including a brutal knockout in his most recent win earlier this year. Lee will drop down to the 205-pound division for his promotional debut, looking to crash the party that is top prospect Jarod Trice and his widely followed professional debut.

 

Sau kom tiav "Bellator 167: Pitbull vs. Campos 2” Main Card:

Lightweight Main Event: Patricky "Pitbull" Freire (16-8) vs. Derek Liaj teb (17-6)

Flyweight Feature Bout: Ilima MacFarlane (4-0) vs. Emily Ducote (4-1)

Welterweight Feature Bout: Chidi Njokuani (15-4, 1 NC) vs. Andre Fialho (7-0)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: John Teixeira (19-1-2) vs. Justin Lawrence (9-3)

 

Updated Preliminary Card:

Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Jarod Trice (Debut) vs. Brandon Lee (4-1)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Abdul Razak Al Hassan (5-0) vs. Dakota Cochrane (26-10)

Lightweight Preliiminary Bout: Jonathan Gary (11-6) vs. Aaron Roberson (5-4)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Brandon Philips (6-2) Stephen Banaszak (5-5)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Justin Patterson (7-1) vs. Codale Ford (11-8)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Fernando Gonzalez (Debut) vs. Chris Hicks (3-8)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Ntsia hlau loj TV

FORMER DIVISION CHAMP MARCOS GALVAO RETURNS TO FACE L.C. DAVIS DURING OPENING NIGHT OF BELLATOR MMA DOUBLEHEADER AT WINSTAR WORLD CASINO & RESORT

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CHRIS HONEYCUTT-BEN REITER MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT PUTS STAMP ON STACKED MAIN CARD

Raug Monica, California. (Lub kaum hli ntuj 31, 2016) – A bantamweight feature fight pitting Marcos Galvao (17-7-1) tiv thaiv C.R.. Davis (23-7) and a middleweight clash between Chris Honeycutt (8-1, 1 NC) thiab Ben Reiter (17-1-1) tau ntxiv rau lub ntsiab card ntawm "Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren 2” inside WinStar World Casino & Resort nyob rau hauv Thackerville, OK., rau Kaum Ob Hlis Ntuj 2.

The first night of entertainment – "Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren 2” — will feature a bantamweight world title rematch between current champion Eduardo Dantas (18-4) and former belt holder Joe Warren (14-5). Nyob rau hauv tas li ntawd, a featherweight clash pitting undefeated prospect A.J. McKee (5-0) tiv thaiv Emmanuel Sanchez (13-3) will also air live and free on the SPIKE-televised card.

Tickets for the unique doubleheader event start at just $45 and can be purchased at the WinStar World Casino & Resort Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster and Bellator.com.

"Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren 2” airs live and free on Friday on SPIKE at 9 p.m. THIAB/8 p.m. I. “Bellator 167” airs live and free nyob rau hnub Saturday on SPIKE at 9 p.m. THIAB/8 p.m. I. Preliminary bouts for both events will stream live on Bellator.com thiab Lub Bellator Mobile App. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

Brazilian superstar Marcos Galvao returns to action having won seven of his last nine and is ready for another push at the division’s belt. Hailing from Amazonas, Brazil, the illusive “Loro” has only been finished once in the past seven years, while conversely finishing his opponent in five of his 11 wins over that same period. Now Galvao returns to WinStar World Casino & Resort, the same venue where he fought and defeated Joe Warren for bantamweight gold at “Bellator 135.” Subsequently, Warren will also prepare to compete at "Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren 2,” as he and Eduardo Dantas will face off in the main event. Needless to say, the 34-year-old Galvao will have tremendous motivation to win, as the division he once championed dominates a stacked main card in Thackerville.

Davis enters the contest for the fifth time under the Bellator MMA banner, earning victories in three of his first four bouts with the promotion. The 35-year-old bantamweight has finished his opponent in 15 ntawm nws 23 career wins, kuj muaj 11 nyob rau hauv lub qhib puag ncig. A winner in seven of his last nine contests, the Kansas City, Missouri native consistently finds himself amid conversation with the division’s top contenders. Davis hopes to replicate the same success that he had in his most recent victory over Hideo Tokoro at "Bellator 135," where his split decision win was labeled Yahoo! Sports’ “Best Fight of the Half-Year.” The former Pratt Community College wrestling coach now faces an opportunity to climb the ranks in a tasty matchup against one of the game’s best.

A six-fight veteran of Bellator MMA, Honeycutt made a lasting impression in his first two appearances under the promotion, recording back-to-back knockouts. Fighting out of Fresno, California., the 28-year-old knockout artist began his professional career with an impressive streak of six consecutive victories, including five finishes and four knockouts. “The Cutt” made a successful transition to the welterweight division in his Bellator MMA debut in 2014, before returning to the middleweight class in his most recent win over Mikkel Parlo ntawm “Bellator 156.”

After making his professional debut in 2011, Reiter collected sixteen wins before surrendering his first career loss. The 29-year-old New Yorker competed mainly in Peru early in his career, fighting under the direction of Inka Fighting Championship, before joining the Bellator MMA fray in 2014. Since making his promotional debut for the Scott Coker-led organization, “The Hunter” has added three more victories to his already impressive résumé, as he quickly finds himself among the division’s elite. With nine of his 17 hauj lwm yeej los ntawm txoj kev ntawm knockout los yog kev mloog lus, Reiter hopes to add to that total with another finish in the first of a two-night special doubleheader in Thackerville, OK. Standing at six feet three inches, Reiter will look to expose his opponent Honeycutt with a significant advantage in both height and reach.

 

Sau kom tiav "Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren 2” Main Card:

Bantamweight World Title Main Event: Eduardo Dantas (18-4) vs. Joe Warren (14-5)

Featherweight Co-Main Event: A.J. McKee (5-0) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (13-3)

Bantamweight Feature Bout: Marcos Galvao (17-7-1) vs. C.R.. Davis (23-7)

Middleweight Feature Bout: Chris Honeycutt (8-1, 1 NC) vs. Ben Reiter (17-1-1)

 

Updated Preliminary Card:

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Treston Thomison (9-4) vs. Ray Ntoo (7-2)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Chris Jones (10-4) vs. Derrick Adkins (7-2)

Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Kennedy Nzechukwu (Debut) vs. Jon Lair (2-0)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Chance Rencountre (8-2) Levi poj huab tais (8-3)

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Gregory Babene (17-11) vs. Emiliano Sordi (14-5)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Ntsia hlau loj TV

SECOND NIGHT OF BELLATOR DOUBLEHEADER FEATURES FLYWEIGHT BOUT PITTING UNDEFEATED ILIMA MACFARLANE AGAINST EMILY DUCOTE AT WINSTAR WORLD CASINO & RESORT

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CHIDI NJOKUANI-ANDRE FIALHO ALSO ADDED TO MAIN CARD OF ‘BELLATOR 167’ ON KAUM-OB HLI 3

Raug Monica, California. (Lub kaum hli ntuj 21, 2016) – A flyweight clash pitting Ilima-Lei MacFarlane (4-0) tiv thaiv Emily Ducote (4-1) and a welterweight bout pitting Chidi Njokuani (15-4, 1 NC) tiv thaiv Andre Fialho (7-0) tau ntxiv rau lub ntsiab card ntawm "Bellator 167: Curran vs. Teixeira," which will take place inside WinStar World Casino & Resort nyob rau hauv Thackerville, OK., nyob rau hnub Saturday, Kaum Ob Hlis Ntuj 3.

The second night of entertainment – “Bellator 167” — will feature a featherweight main event between Pat Curran (22-7) thiab John Teixeira (19-1-2), thaum lub sij hawm “Bellator 166” is headlined by a bantamweight world title rematch pitting current champion Eduardo Dantas (18-4) tiv thaiv Joe Warren (14-5) and a featherweight bout pitting undefeated prospect A.J. McKee (5-0) tiv thaiv Emmanuel Sanchez (13-3).

Tickets for the unique doubleheader event start at just $45 and can be purchased at the WinStar World Casino & Resort Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster and Bellator.com.

"Bellator 167: Curran vs. Teixeira” airs live and free nyob rau hnub Saturday on SPIKE at 9 p.m. THIAB/8 p.m. CT., thaum lub sij hawm "Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren 2” also airs live and free on Friday on SPIKE at 9 p.m. THIAB/8 p.m. I. Preliminary bouts for both events will stream live on Bellator.com thiab Lub Bellator Mobile App. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

Possibly no name is growing faster in the MMA community than Ilima-Lei MacFarlane’s, as the 26-year-old flyweight has rapidly climbed the ranks with four consecutive victories and three finishes. The undefeated submission specialist has emerged victorious in her first three bouts under the Scott Coker-led promotion, and finishing both Amber Tackett and Rebecca Ruth ntawm cuav. Hailing from Honolulu, Hawaii, “The Ilimanator” has secured one career knockout victory, which came just 10 seconds into her first professional bout and spread virally around the internet. MacFarlane will now direct her attention to another one of Bellator MMA’s top young female competitors, Emily Ducote.

The 23-year-old Ducote will look to add to an already impressive 2016 phiaj los nqis tes, having earned victories in each of her four fights this year. Ducote’s most recent pair of wins have come under the Bellator MMA umbrella, recording back-to-back second round submission finishes over Brazilian flyweights Bruna Vargas thiab Kenya Miranda. Ducote will now look to add to her current four-fight winning streak, as she prepares for what is undoubtedly the toughest opponent of her young career. A native of Oklahoma City, “Gordinha” returns home to fight in her back yard, where she anticipates a sold out WinStar World Casino & Resort chock full of close friends and family.

Njokuani made his presence felt early in his career, recording finishes in each of his first seven career victories, including six knockouts and six first round finishes. “Chidi Bang Bang” continued to see success with his knockout power, raws li 10 ntawm nws 15 career wins came by way of knockout or submission. You’d be hard pressed to find a more consistent fighter than Njokuani right now, the 27-year-old Las Vegas native enters the cage in search of his seventh consecutive victory and 11 ntawm nws lub xeem 12, dating back to 2012. Njokuani has won both of his first two bouts under the direction of Bellator MMA since joining the promotion in 2015, with key victories over the likes of Ricky Rainey and Thiago Jambo Goncalves. He hopes to add to that list when he joins his opponent Andre Fialho on Kaum Ob Hlis Ntuj 3.

With an unblemished mark of 7-0, Fialho joins his opponent Njokuani as one of the most feared knockout artists in the game. The 22-year-old welterweight has finished each of his seven opponents and tacked on six knockouts. Possibly even more impressive is the manner in which the young Portuguese prospect has defeated his opponents, with six of the seven victories coming in the first round and three in the first minute of action. Since joining the Bellator MMA fray earlier this year, Fialho has recorded first round knockout wins over Manuel Meraz and Rick Reger, proving early in his career that he belongs with the top dogs. We can be sure to see some fireworks fly when Fialho enters the cage inside WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville this December.

 

Tshiab "Bellator 167: Curran vs. Teixeira” Main Card:

Featherweight Main Event: Pat Curran (22-7) vs. John Teixeira (19-1-2)

Flyweight Feature Bout: Ilima MacFarlane (4-0) vs. Emily Ducote (4-1)

Welterweight Feature Bout: Chidi Njokuani (15-4, 1 NC) vs. Andre Fialho (7-0)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Ntsia hlau loj TV

BELLATOR MMA PRESENTS A SPECIAL DOUBLEHEADER ON DECEMBER 2 & 3 FROM THE WINSTAR WORLD CASINO & RESORT IN OK.

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NIGHT ONE WILL SEE A BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE REMATCH PITTING CHAMPION EDUARDO DANTAS AGAINST JOE WARREN

NIGHT TWO HEADLINED BY FEATHERWEIGHT MAIN EVENT BETWEEN FORMER CHAMPION PAT CURRAN AND JOHN TEIXEIRA

Raug Monica, California. (Lub kaum hli ntuj 10, 2016) – Bellator MMA is thrilled to announce the promotion’s first ever Friday/Saturday doubleheader event. The first night of entertainment will feature a bantamweight world title rematch pitting current division champion Eduardo Dantas (18-4) against a dangerous former two-division champion Joe Warren (14-5), which joins a previously announced featherweight showdown between A.J. McKee (5-0) thiab Emmanuel Sanchez (13-3).

 

Meanwhile, the second night of action will be headlined by a featherweight fight pitting former champion Pat Curran (22-7) tiv thaiv John Teixeira (19-1-2).

 

The unique doubleheader event will take place on Friday, Kaum Ob Hlis Ntuj 2 and Saturday, Kaum Ob Hlis Ntuj 3 inside WinStar World Casino & Resort nyob rau hauv Thackerville, OK. Daim pib pib ntawm cia li $45 and can be purchased at the WinStar World Casino & Resort Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster and Bellator.com.

 

"Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren 2” airs live and free on Friday on SPIKE at 9 p.m. THIAB/8 p.m. I, thaum ua ntej bouts yuav kwj nyob rau Bellator.com thiab Lub Bellator Mobile App.

 

"Bellator 167: Curran vs. Teixeira” airs live and free nyob rau hnub Saturday on SPIKE at 9 p.m. THIAB/8 p.m. I, thaum ua ntej bouts yuav kwj nyob rau Bellator.com thiab Lub Bellator Mobile App. Additional bouts will be announced in the coming weeks.

 

Fresh off a win over Marcos Galvao that crowned him bantamweight champion, the 27-year-old Dantas will look to defend his belt for the first time this year. The elusive Brazilian enters the contest having won 11 of his past 13 xaus, including seven finishes, giving him a total of 10 stoppages over his 18 hauj lwm victories. Since making his promotional debut in 2011, “Dudu” has cemented himself among the Bellator MMA elite, collecting wins in eight of his nine appearances, with the lone loss coming at the hands of his upcoming opponent, Joe Warren. After successfully defending his title twice, Dantas lost the belt to Warren via unanimous decision at “Bellator 128.” Now that he has the gold around his waist again, Dantas will need to put forth his best effort to ensure history does not repeat itself against “The Baddest Man on the Planet.”

 

Warren will be looking to duplicate his success against the feisty Dantas, after defeating him in a five round, 25-minute bloodbath that took place in the same venue nearly two years ago. The win capped off a five-fight winning streak and allowed Warren to unify the 135-pound title. A native of Denver, Colorado, “The Baddest Man on the Planet” has now emerged victorious in seven of his last nine bouts, including his most recent finish over former UFC competitor Sirwan Kakai ntawm "Bellator 161: Kongo vs. Johnson.” Ntawm 39 xyoo, the former two-division Bellator MMA champion will now attempt to become the oldest fighter to win a championship in Bellator history.

 

Bellator MMA veteran Pat Curran will enter the cage for the 17th time under the direction of the Scott Coker-led promotion, which will tie him with David Rickels for the most in the promotion’s history. On to top ntawm hais tias, “Paddy Mike” will have the opportunity to join Patricio “Pitbull” for the most wins in Bellator MMA history, nrog 13, if he can emerge victorious. Since joining the promotion in 2010, Curran has accrued 12 yeej, including notable victories over current featherweight champion Daniel Straus, former featherweight titleholder Patricio “Pitbull,” and former bantamweight/featherweight king Joe Warren. The 29-year-old Crystal Lake, Illinois native comes in on a hot streak, having won two consecutive bouts and nine of his last 12. With two World Title victories and a pair of successful title defenses under his belt, Curran has proven time and time again that his name belongs atop Bellator MMA’s always-competitive featherweight division.

 

The 29-year-old Teixeira continues to make a name for himself in Bellator MMA’s featherweight division, as he makes his fourth appearance under the promotion’s direction. Similar to his opponent, Teixeira also steps into the cage on a recent string of success, having won three straight and seven of his last eight bouts, including a trio of first-round knockouts. Prior to his days with Bellator MMA, Teixeira began his professional career fighting exclusively in Brazil, posting an undefeated record of 12-0 with one draw. The upcoming bout marks only the fourth time in Teixeira’s nine year career that he will fight outside of his native Brazil. Nrog 14 ntawm nws 19 hauj lwm yeej los ntawm txoj kev ntawm knockout los yog kev mloog lus, you can be sure to see “Macapa” go for the finishing blow early and often in this mouthwatering matchup.

 

Tshiab "Bellator 166: Dantas vs. Warren 2” Main Card:

Bantamweight World Title Main Event: Eduardo Dantas (18-4) vs. Joe Warren (14-5)

Featherweight Feature Bout: A.J. McKee (5-0) vs. Emmanuel Sanchez (13-3)

Tshiab "Bellator 167: Curran vs. Teixeira”Main Card:

Featherweight Main Event: Pat Curran (22-7) vs. John Teixeira (19-1-2)

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Ntsia hlau loj TV

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

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COMPLETE EVENT PHOTOS HERE — VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS HERE

FRESNO, California. (Lub rau hli ntuj 17, 2016) — It was a rematch over three years in the making, it was a fight that was scheduled, cancelled and re-scheduled, thiabon Friday ntawm “Bellator 156” inside Save Mart Center, Marcos Galvao (17-7-1) tiv tiag Eduardo Dantas (18-4) was also a barnburner of a main event with the Bellator MMA Bantamweight Championship on the line.

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

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

Chidi Njokuani ‘Bang Bangs’ His Way to Knockout Victory

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

John Salter Taps Brandon Halsey via Triangle Choke

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

Honeycutt Impresses Hometown Crowd in Middleweight Debut

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

Preliminary Card tau:

Jermaine McDermott (3-0) yeej Blake Watkins (5-1) via TKO at :20 ntawm puag ncig ib

Paul Ruiz (7-3) yeej Chris Buron (5-1) ntawm cais kev txiav txim siab (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)

Javy Ayala (9-5) yeej Roy Boughton (14-8) via TKO at 3:02 ntawm puag ncig ib

Nick Bustamante (4-1) yeej Antoine Smith (2-6-1) ntawm feem ntau txiav txim (28-28, 29-27, 29-27)

Jose Cabezas (6-8) yeej John Paul Elias (3-1) via knockout at :25 ntawm puag ncig ib

Chris Lewis (1-0) yeej Myron Smith (2-3) via TKO at 4:48 ntawm puag ncig ib

Luis Jauregui (4-2) yeej Ryan Tobar (3-3) ntawm unanimous kev txiav txim siab (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Ben Reiter (17-1-1) yeej A.J. Matthews (8-5) ntawm unanimous kev txiav txim siab (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)

Carrington Banks (5-0) yeej C.J. Keith (8-4) ntawm unanimous kev txiav txim siab (30-25, 30-26, 30-26)

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

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FRESNO, California. (Lub rau hli ntuj 16, 2016) – Only one day separates us from the ultra-compelling "Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2 " event at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. and Bellator’s digital team has yet again whipped up a fresh batch of exclusive new content in preparation of Friday tuscompetition. For an inside look and more behind-the-scenes footage, tune in to Bellator’s YouTube page tam sim no.

 

Foundations with Marcos Galvao

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

 Foundations with Eduardo Dantas

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

What To Watch: Galvao vs Dantas

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

 Slow Motion Kneebar

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

Foundations with Brandon Halsey

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

 Foundations with John Salter

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

Foundations with Chidi Njokuani

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

The Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title will be on the line in a rematch pitting Marcos "Loro" Galvao (17-6-1) tiv thaiv yav tas los yeej Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas (17-4) nyob rau hauv lub ntsiab kev tshwm sim ntawm"Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2 " rau Lub rau hli ntuj 17 hauv Txuag Mart Center nyob rau hauv Fresno, California.

 

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

 

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

 

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

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Ntsia hlau loj TV

THIAGO JAMBO CLIMBS INTO CO-MAIN BATTLE WITH CHIDI NJOKUANI AT ‘BELLATOR 156: GALVAO vs. DANTAS 2’

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LIVE AND FREE ON SPIKE – RAU HLI 17

 

Raug Monica, California. (Lub rau hli ntuj 10, 2016) – An undisclosed injury to “Bellator 158” competitor Josh Koscheck has paved the way for a new co-main feature bout at "Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2 " Pitting Chidi “Chidi Bang Bang” Njokuani (14-4) tiv thaiv Thiago Jambo (18-4) Lub rau hli ntuj 17 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, XWS LI. Jambo will be making his promotional debut in place of Douglas Lima.

 

The fight completes a card that features a Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title rematch pitting Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) tiv thaiv Eduardo Dantas (17-4), while Fresno native, Chris Honeycutt (7-1) returns home to take on Mikkel Parlo (13-2) in a middleweight slugfest. Pub muab kwv yees tawm lub ntsiab card, John Salter (11-3) thiab Brandon Halsey (9-1) duke it out in a 185-pound feature bout.

 

 

"Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2 " airs LIVE and FREE on SPIKE at 9 p.m. THIAB/8 p.m. I, thaum ua ntej bouts yuav kwj nyob rau Bellator.com thiabLub Bellator Mobile App. Daim pib rau cov kev tshwm sim pib tom xwb $25 and are currently on sale at the Save Mart Center Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.

 

 

Having not lost a fight in his last six appearances dating back to 2013, “Chidi Bang Bang” will try to keep the train rolling as he prepares for Jambo. The 27-year-old Las Vegas native finished his 2015 campaign on a high note, recording a unanimous decision victory over Ricky “The Sniper” Rainey in his promotional debut at "Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef. " Njokuani will face one of the stiffest tests of his career when he meets Jambo in the co-headliner of "Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2.”

 

The 35-year-old Goncalves has landed himself a golden opportunity when he steps into the cage with Njokuani in the co-feature on Lub rau hli ntuj 17. The 12-year professional most recently earned his 18th career win by defeating Matt Baker via technical knockout in the second round of their contest and now the Brazilian welterweight will be making his Bellator MMA debut after impressively recording six wins over his last seven fights dating back to 2010.

 

Sau kom tiav "Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2 "Card:

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title Bout: Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) vs. Eduardo Dantas (17-4)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Co-Main Event: Chidi Njokuani (14-4) vs. Thiago Jambo Goncalves (18-4)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Feature Bout: Brandon Halsey (9-1) vs. John Salter (11-3)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Feature Bout: Chris Honeycutt (7-1) vs. Mikkel Parlo (13-2)

 

Preliminary Card:

Bellator MMA Middleweight Yam ua ntej Bout: A.J. Matthews (8-4) vs. Ben Reiter (16-1)

Bellator MMA teeb Heavyweight Yam ua ntej Bout: Jermaine McDermott (2-0) vs. Blake Watkins (5-0)

Bellator MMA 140lb. Preliminary Bout: Paul Ruiz (6-4) vs. Christian Navarro (5-0)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Javy Ayala (8-5) vs. Roy Boughton (14-7)

Bellator MMA Hnav Yam ua ntej Bout: Nick Bustamante (5-1) vs. Antoine Smith (3-5)

Bellator MMA Hnav Yam ua ntej Bout: C.J. Keith (8-3) vs. Carrington Banks (4-0)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Yam ua ntej Bout: Justin Smitley (10-7) vs. TBD

Bellator MMA teeb Heavyweight Yam ua ntej Bout: John Paul Elias (3-0) vs. Jose Cabesas (5-8)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Chris Lewis (0-0) vs. Gil Medina (1-0)

Bellator MMA Hnav Yam ua ntej Bout: Luis Jauregui (3-2) vs. Ryan Tobar (3-2)

 

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BRANDON HALSEY & JOHN SALTER JOIN MAIN CARD OF ‘BELLATOR 156’ IN MIDDLEWEIGHT SHOWDOWN

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Raug Monica, California. (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 19, 2016) – A middleweight matchup between Brandon "Phaw" Halsey (9-1) thiab John Salter (11-3) has been added to the main card of "Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2 " Lub rau hli ntuj 17 hauv Txuag Mart Center nyob rau hauv Fresno, California.

The fight joins a main card that features two of Bellator MMA’s top welterweights, nyob rau hauv Chidi “Chidi Bang Bang” Njokuani (14-4) thiab Douglas “The Phenom” Lima (26-6), and a rematch between Marcos "Loro" Galvao (17-6-1) thiab Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas (17-4), where the Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title will be on the line. Nyob rau hauv tas li ntawd, eight preliminary contests have been added to the event.

"Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2 " airs nyob rau ntsia hlau loj ntawm 9 p.m. THIAB/8 p.m. I, thaum ua ntej bouts yuav kwj nyob rau Bellator.com thiab Lub Bellator Mobile App. Ntxiv fights yuav muab tshaj tawm sai.

Daim pib rau cov kev tshwm sim pib tom xwb $25 and are currently on sale at the Save Mart Center Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.

Halsey will be making his ninth appearance under the Bellator MMA banner, and be looking to add to his impressive promotional mark of 7-1. The former Fresno State Bulldog began his professional career 9-0 before recently surrendering his first loss against the present Bellator MMA Middleweight titlistRafael Carvalho ntawm "Bellator 144: Halsey vs. Carvalho. " The 29-year-old will look to start another long streak of victories when he challenges John Salter in main card action at "Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2 " Lub rau hli ntuj 17.

Salter comes into his bout with a professional record of 11-3 and is currently in the midst of a three-fight winning streak. In his Bellator MMA debut, Salter put an end to Dustin Jacoby’s night with a second-round, rear-liab qab caj pas cuav ntawm “Bellator 132.” A native of Tennessee, Salter has stopped his opponent in all 11 of his victories and has only lost once in his last seven fights as a professional. With five knockout victories coming in the opening frame, look for the 31-year-old to come out swinging inside Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.

Tshiab “Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas” Fight Card:

Bellator MMA Bantamweight Title Bout: Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) vs. Eduardo Dantas (17-4)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Co-Main Event: Chidi Njokuani (14-4) vs. Douglas Lima (26-6)

Bellator MMA Middleweight Feature Bout: Brandon Halsey (9-1) vs. John Salter (11-3)

Preliminary Card:

Bellator MMA teeb Heavyweight Yam ua ntej Bout: Jermaine McDermott (2-0) vs. Blake Watkins (5-0)

Bellator MMA 140lb. Preliminary Bout: Paul Ruiz (6-4) vs. Chris Buron (5-0)

Bellator MMA Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Javy Ayala (8-5) vs. Josue “J.R.” Lugo (7-3)

Bellator MMA Hnav Yam ua ntej Bout: Nick Bustamante (5-1) vs. Antoine Smith (3-5)

Bellator MMA Hnav Yam ua ntej Bout: C.J. Keith (8-3) vs. Carrington Banks (4-0)

Bellator MMA Featherweight Yam ua ntej Bout: Justin Smitley (10-7) vs Chris Avila (4-2)

Bellator MMA teeb Heavyweight Yam ua ntej Bout: John Paul Elias (3-0) vs. TBA

Bellator MMA teeb Heavyweight Yam ua ntej Bout: Chris Lewis (0-0) vs. Ernest James (0-0)

 

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CHIDI NJOKUANI SET TO CHALLENGE DOUGLAS LIMA IN CO-MAIN EVENT OF ‘BELLATOR 156’

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Raug Monica, California. (Plaub Hlis Ntuj 5, 2016) – A duo of Bellator MMA’s top welterweights, Chidi “Chidi Bang Bang” Njokuani (14-4) thiab Douglas “The Phenom” Lima (26-6), will square off in the co-main event of "Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2 " rau Lub rau hli ntuj 17 hauv Txuag Mart Center nyob rau hauv Fresno, California.

 

The fight joins a main card that features a rematch pitting Marcos "Loro" Galvao (17-6-1) tiv thaiv Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas (17-4), with Galvao’s Bellator MMA bantamweight title on the line.

 

"Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2 " airs nyob rau ntsia hlau loj ntawm 9 p.m. THIAB/8 p.m. I, thaum ua ntej bouts yuav kwj nyob rau Bellator.com thiab Lub Bellator Mobile App. Ntxiv fights yuav muab tshaj tawm sai.

 

Daim pib rau cov kev tshwm sim pib tom xwb $25 and are on sale at the Save Mart Center Box Office, as well as Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.

 

“Chidi Bang Bang” has not lost in his past six fights dating back to March of 2013 and finished last year strong, recording a unanimous decision victory overRicky “The Sniper” Rainey in his Bellator MMA debut at "Bellator 146: Kato vs. Manhoef.” The 27-year-old Las Vegas native is now looking to solidify himself atop Bellator’s always-competitive welterweight division when he takes on “The Phenom” in the co-main event of "Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2.”

Douglas Lima will be entering the cage for the 11th lub sij hawm nyob rau hauv lub Bellator MMA banner, having already won eight of his 10 bouts with the Viacom-owned organization. The former Bellator MMA welterweight titlist saw his impressive five-fight winning streak come to an end in July of 2015, when current champion Andrey Koreshkov edged out a unanimous decision victory over Lima to win the title. Ua ntej mus rau lub yeej, “The Phenom’s” hot streak consisted of five consecutive knockouts, four of which came in the first two rounds. Lima will now begin the climb back up the ladder, with the ultimate goal being to regain the strap by year’s end.

 

Tshiab "Bellator 156: Galvao vs.. Dantas 2 "Card:

Bellator MMA Bantamweight World Title Main Event: Marcos Galvao (17-6-1) vs. Eduardo Dantas (17-4)

Bellator MMA Welterweight Co-Main Event: Chidi Njokuani (14-4) vs. Douglas Lima (26-6)