All photos by: Bellator MMA/Eric Coleman

TEMECULA, Calif. (Mulole 15, 2015) – While Brandon “Ng'ombe” Halsey (9-0) can no longer say he’s Bellator MMA’s Middleweight World Champion, he’s still managed to show his talent with a one-sided destruction of proven veteran Kendall “The Spyder” Grove (21-15).

 

The contest served as the feature main event of Lachisanu “Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove” card at Pechanga Resort & Casino mu Temecula, Calif.

 

Halsey nearly finished the fight in the early going, moving to an arm-triangle choke that would have finished a lesser opponent, but Grove somehow battled through the effort. Komabe, it was a one-sided round for the former champ.

 

Grove was able to avoid such a precarious position in the second, but he was still forced to be on the defensive throughout most of the frame. With a high-paced wrestling attack, Halsey simply pushed his way to the floor and enjoyed top position for almost the entirety of the round.

 

The pattern continued as the fight wore on, with Halsey simply overpowering his opponent and constantly earning himself the dominant position. Grove briefly threatened with an armbar in the fourth frame, but Halsey simply yanked his limb free and pounded away with punches shortly after until he earned the TKO win at the 2:25 mark of the frame.

 

The undefeated Halsey, who was stripped of the Bellator MMA Middleweight World Title for failing to make weight, will look to again earn the belt in his next appearance.

 

“I was my own worst enemy. It was how I performed. He didn’t throw anything at me that I wasn’t ready for. I was just trying to tough through the injury. I had to tough it out and come out with the victory,” Halsey said.

 

“Obviously, you want to be as dominant as possible. I just felt like I couldn’t explode through my combinations or explode through the fight and finish how I wanted to. But like I said, you’ve got to deal with adversity, and I did it the best I could,” Halsey continued.

 

“I learned my lesson. I thank Bellator. I apologize to the commission. It’s unprofessional not to make weight. Palibe zifukwa, but anybody knows that it’s hard to cut weight with an injury. The belt’s just a decoration, so I’m still the champ in my eyes. No one has taken the belt from me.”

 

In the night’s co-main event, former Bellator MMA Bantamweight World Champion Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas (17-4), of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, took a step toward another shot at the title with a hard-fought decision victory over the hard-hitting Mike “Sitima” Richman, of Rose Mount, Kuchokera.

 

While Richman showed excellent takedown defense throughout the 15-minute affair, Dantas’ work rate helped him earn the favor of the judges. Constantly pressing and looking to bring the fight to the floor, Dantas was able to just edge out Richman on the cards, 29-28 according to all three officials.

 

“I went out there and fought the way I trained to fight,” Dantas said after the win. “I knew Mike Richman was going to come with everything, but I wanted to win this fight and get back to the title. The only fight that makes sense next is for the title.

 

In a welterweight contest, Fernando “The Menifee wamisala” Gonzalez (24-13), of Menifee, Calif., scored a thrilling, come-from-behind victory over “Curtious” Curtis Millender (7-2), wa San Bernardino, Calif.

 

With Millender enjoying a six-inch height advantage, the smaller Gonzalez struggled to score points in the first two rounds. But when the fight hit the floor in the third, Gonzalez latched onto a guillotine choke and earned a tap from his opponent at the 1:14 komaliza kuzungulira.

 

“Ine ndiri 4-0 pompano,” Gonzalez said after the win. “That’s one step closer to the title, and I’m excited to get in there and mix it up with whoever is next.”

 

With the result, Gonzalez now boasts four-straight Bellator MMA victories and put himself in line for a potential shot at the promotion’s Welterweight Title.

 

In the night’s first main-card matchup, undefeated chiyembekezo Darrion “The Wolf” Caldwell (7-0), of Rahway, N.J., used a superior wrestling game to outwork more experienced opponent Rafael “Morcego” Silva (22-5), of Lajes, Brazil, en route a unanimous-decision victory.

 

With Caldwell scoring takedowns throughout the matchup, Silva looked for submissions when available, but he simply couldn’t find the necessary hold to work past his opponent’s defense. M'malo, Caldwell kept his pressure high, and judges awarded him the fight, 29-28 onse atatu makadi.

 

After the victory, Caldwell made it clear he’s clearing his way to a shot at the Bellator MMA World Title.

 

“I don’t think there are any fighters out there as explosive as me at 135 mapaundi, or as fast,” Caldwell said. “Patapita, I’ll be able to prove that.”

 

In the night’s final preliminary bout, Guam’s Joe Taimanglo (21-6-1) scored a third-round knockout of Mexico’s Antonio Duarte (18-6).

 

Kuwonjezera, featherweight chiyembekezo Jordan Parsons (11-1), wa San Diego, Calif., earned a third-round decision win over the previously undefeated Brazilian Julio Cesar Neves Jr. (30-1).

 

Mu kuwala heavyweight mpikisano, Virgil Zwicker (14-4-1), of Temecula, Calif., earned a first-round knockout win over Razak Al-Hassan (12-5), wa Milwaukee, Wisc.

 

And in the night’s first fight, Ricky “The Sniper” Rainey (11-3), of Gastonia, N.C., earned a second-round knockout win over Jessie Juarez (22-10), wa Torrance, Calif.

Brandon Halsey (9-0) def. Kendall Grove (21-15)

Eduardo Dantas (17-4) def. Mike Richman (18-6 )

Fernando Gonzalez (24-14) def. Curtis Millender (7-2)

Darrion Caldwell (7-0) def. Rafael Silva (22-5)

About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA ndi kutsogolera obwerawa masewera a karati gulu zinapanga ambiri yabwino omenyana m'dzikoli. Motsogoleredwa ndi msirikali wakale nkhondo kulimbikitsa Scott Coker, Bellator alipo pafupifupi 400 miliyoni nyumba padziko lonse zoposa 120 m'mayiko. Mu United States, Bellator Tingaone pa kukwera, ndi MMA TV mtsogoleri. Bellator MMA tiri ndi munthu wamkulu timu monga pamwamba makampani akatswiri pa TV yopanga, moyo chochitika orchestration, womenya chitukuko / anagona, bwaloli zogula, zothandizira chilengedwe / chitukuko, mayiko kupereka malayisensi, malonda, otsatsa, zafalitsidwa ndi ntchito anagona. Bellator maziko ku Santa Monica, California ndipo anali ndi zosangalatsa chimphona Viacom, kunyumba kwa dziko la Premier zosangalatsa zopangidwa kuti kugwirizana ndi omvera mwa kuyenera okhutira kudutsa TV, filimu, Intaneti ndi mafoni nsanja.

 

About kukwera:

Kukwera ndi likupezeka 98.7 miliyoni nyumba ndi kugawikana kwa Viacom Media Intaneti. A gulu la Viacom (NASDAQ: Via, VIAB), Viacom Media Intaneti ndi imodzi mwa dziko kutsogolera ndiAmene wa mapulogalamu ndi wokhutira kudutsa onse atolankhani nsanja. Kukwera a Internet adiresi ndi www.spike.com ndi mmwamba-ndi-ndi mphindi ndi archival osindikizira zambiri ndi zithunzi, kukaona kukwera wa atolankhani malo pa HTTP://www.spike.com/press. Tsatirani ife pa Twitter spiketvpr chifukwa atsopano kusiya wabwino zosintha, kumbuyo-ndi-zithunzi zambiri komanso zithunzi.

TEMECULA, Calif. (Mulole 14, 2015) – All twenty-six athletes competing at mawa "Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove” event were happy to rehydrate after stepping on the scales at today’s official weigh-in, which took place at the Cabaret Theatre inside the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif.

"Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove,"Amene akudzitukumula moyo ndi ufulu pa kukwera pa 9 p.m. AND / 8 p.m. CT, features a main event between Brandon "ng'ombe" Halsey (8-0) and well-respected veteran Kendall “Da Spyda” Grove (21-14). The incumbent champion failed to hit the required mark of 185-pounds. Zotsatira zake, Grove is the only fighter who can leave the event as the champion, if Halsey does manage to win, he will be forced to vacate the belt.

Mu Co-waukulu chochitika, a bantamweight battle will go on as planned between former 135-pound champion Eduardo "Dudu" Dantas(16-4) and a streaking Mike “The Marine” Richman (18-5), despite Richman missing weight.

In a critical welterweight battle between two hometown fighters, Cinderella Man Fernando "The Menifee wamisala" Gonzalez (23-13) looks to continue his hot streak against a young Curtis “Curtious” Millender (7-1).

Oyambirira televised podwala wa madzulo, one of MMA’s most promising prospects Darrion "The Wolf" Caldwell (6-0), looks to keep his record unblemished against a tough Rafael “Morcego” Silva (22-4), who has only suffered one defeat in his last 15 kumalekezero

Dinani apa ONSE kulemera KU Photos

Main Khadi (9 p.m. AND)

 

Bellator Middleweight Title Nkhondo: Champ Brandon Halsey (188.1 lbs.) vs. Kendall Grove (184.9 lbs.)

 

Bellator Bantamweight Nkhondo: Eduardo Dantas (135.2 lbs.) vs. Mike Richman (139.8 lbs.)

 

Bellator Welterweight Nkhondo: Fernando Gonzalez (170.9 lbs.) vs. Curtis Millender (170.8 lbs.)

 

Bellator Bantamweight Nkhondo: Darrion Caldwell (135.7 lbs.) vs. Rafael Silva (135.7 lbs.)

Kuyambirira Khadi (7:45 p.m. AND)

Bellator Middleweight Nkhondo: Benji Radach (186 lbs.) vs. Ben Reiter (186 lbs.)

 

Bellator Bantamweight Nkhondo: Joe Taimanglo (136.2 lbs.) vs. Antonio Duarte (135.1 lbs.)

 

Bellator Featherweight Nkhondo: Jordan Parsons (145.5 lbs.) vs. Julio Cesar Neves Jr. (146 lbs.)

 

Bellator Light Heavyweight Fight: Virgil Zwicker (206.7 lbs.) vs. Razak Al-Hassan (205.6 lbs.)

 

Bellator Welterweight Nkhondo: Jesse Juarez (171 lbs.) vs. Ricky Rainey (170.7 lbs.)

 

Bellator Featherweight Nkhondo: A.J. Jenkins (146 lbs.) vs. Arlene Blencowe (145.8 lbs.)

 

Bellator opepuka Nkhondo: Steve Kozola (155.8 lbs.) vs. Ian Butler (155.2 lbs.)

 

Bellator Bantamweight Nkhondo: Shawn Gulu (135.4 lbs.) vs. Rolando Perez (135.3 lbs.)

 

Bellator Bantamweight Nkhondo: John Yoo (135.4 lbs.) vs. Albert Morales (134.4 lbs.)

 

About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA ndi kutsogolera obwerawa masewera a karati gulu zinapanga ambiri yabwino omenyana m'dzikoli. Motsogoleredwa ndi msirikali wakale nkhondo kulimbikitsa Scott Coker, Bellator alipo pafupifupi 400 miliyoni nyumba padziko lonse zoposa 120 m'mayiko. Mu United States, Bellator Tingaone pa kukwera, ndi MMA TV mtsogoleri. Bellator MMA tiri ndi munthu wamkulu timu monga pamwamba makampani akatswiri pa TV yopanga, moyo chochitika orchestration, womenya chitukuko / anagona, bwaloli zogula, zothandizira chilengedwe / chitukuko, mayiko kupereka malayisensi, malonda, otsatsa, zafalitsidwa ndi ntchito anagona. Bellator maziko ku Santa Monica, California ndipo anali ndi zosangalatsa chimphona Viacom, kunyumba kwa dziko la Premier zosangalatsa zopangidwa kuti kugwirizana ndi omvera mwa kuyenera okhutira kudutsa TV, filimu, Intaneti ndi mafoni nsanja.

 

EASY TWEET: Hard-hitting MMA vet @benjyradach returns to face undefeated former @PennWrestling star @BenReiterMMA Mulole 15 #Bellator

 

Santa Monica, Calif. (Mulole 7, 2015) – One of MMA’s hardest-hitting pioneers will return to action for the first time since 2010, monga Benji “The Lumo” Radach(21-6) has agreed to replace an injured A.J. Matthews (7-3) in a middleweight preliminary fight against Ben “The Hunter” Reiter (15-0-1).

 

The new addition again finalizes a full nine-bout preliminary card scheduled in support of four main-card contests at “Bellator MMA: Halsey vs. Grove.”

 

The night’s featured matchups include undefeated Bellator MMA World Middleweight Champion Brandon “Ng'ombe” Halsey (8-0) motsutsa ataliatali Hawaii scrapper Kendall “The Spyder” Grove (21-14), former Bellator MMA World Champion Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas (16-4) vs. Mike “Sitima” Richman (18-5), welterweights Fernando “The Menifee wamisala” Gonzalez (23-13) vs. “Curtious” Curtis Millander (7-1) ndipo bantamweights Darrion “The Wolf” Caldwell (6-0) vs. Rafael “Morcego” Silva (22-4).

 

“Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove” chichitika padziko Friday, Mulole 15, pa Pechanga Amachita & Casino mu Temecula, Calif. The night’s main card airs live on Spike TV at 9 p.m. AND (6 p.m. PT m'deralo nthawi), pamene kuyambirira mwauchidakwa akukhamukira pa Spike.com.

 

Matikiti “Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove,” amene kuyamba pa $50, Pakalipano pa malonda pa Pechanga.com ndi Pechanga Amachita & Casino bokosi ofesi.

 

Zitseko kwa “Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove” lotsegula nthawi 4 p.m. PT m'deralo nthawi, ndipo woyamba mpikisano chikuchitika 45 patapita mphindi.

 

Fighting professionally since 2001, Radach fought for many of MMA’s biggest promotions, including Strikeforce, EliteXC, the International Fight League and the UFC. Seventeen of Radach’s 21 career wins have come by knockout, and he makes no secret of his intentions when he enters the cage. Boasting past clashed with MMA notables such as Brian Foster, Gerald Harris, Matt Horwich, Chris Leben, Gustavo Machado, Murilo “Ninja” Rua and Scott Smith, pakati ena, Radach put his fighting career on hold in 2010, as he addressed a variety of nagging injuries. Tsopano mokwanira anachira, Radach looks to make a successful return to action.

 

Radach now meets a top undefeated prospect and former UPenn wrestling star Reiter, who fights for the second time under the Bellator MMA banner after spending much of his early career in Peru.

 

“Bellator: Halsey vs. Grove” - Friday, Mulole 15, Pechanga Amachita & Casino, Temecula, Calif.

Main Khadi (9 p.m. AND)

 

Bellator Middleweight Title Nkhondo: Champ Brandon Halsey (8-0) vs. Kendall Grove (21-14)

Bellator Zopezedwa Bantamweight Nkhondo: Eduardo Dantas (16-4) vs. Mike Richman (18-5)

Bellator Zopezedwa Welterweight Nkhondo: Fernando Gonzalez (23-13) vs. Curtis Millender (7-1)

Bellator Zopezedwa Bantamweight Nkhondo: Darrion Caldwell (6-0) vs. Rafael Silva (22-4)

Kuyambirira Khadi (7:45 p.m. AND)

 

Bellator Middleweight Prelim Nkhondo: Benji Radach (21-6) vs. Ben Reiter (14-0)

Bellator Kuwala Heavyweight Prelim Nkhondo: Virgil Zwicker (13-4-1) vs. Razak Al-Hassan (12-4)

Bellator Bantamweight Prelim Nkhondo: Joe Taimanglo (20-6-1) vs. Antonio Duarte (18-5)

Bellator Featherweight Prelim Nkhondo: Jordan Parsons (10-1) vs. Julio Cesar Neves Jr. (30-0)

Bellator Welterweight Prelim Nkhondo: Jesse Juarez (22-9) vs. Ricky Rainey (10-3)

 

Mdima mwauchidakwa (pafupifupi. 11 p.m. AND)

 

Bellator opepuka Mdima Prelim: John Yoo (0-0) vs. Albert Morales (1-0)

Bellator opepuka Mdima Prelim: Shawn Gulu (3-1) vs. Rolando Perez (7-4)

Bellator opepuka Mdima Prelim: Steve Kozola (5-0) vs. Ian Butler (1-1)

Bellator opepuka Mdima Prelim: A.J. Jenkins (17-5) vs. Arlene Blencowe (5-4)