Santa Monica, Calif. (April 9, 2015) – A talent-laden preliminary card for May’s “Bellator MMA: Halsey vs. Grove” event is starting to take shape with the addition of welterweights Jesse Juarez (22-9) vs. Ricky “The Sniper” Rainey (10-3), bantamweights Joe “The Juggernaut” Taimanglo (20-6-1) vs. Anthony “Tigre” Duarte (18-5) ndipo featherweight Jordan “Wokongola Boy” Parsons (10-1) vs. Julio Cesar “Morceguinho” Neves Jr. (30-0).
The new additions complement the four-bout main card for “Bellator MMA: Halsey vs. Grove,” which includes 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), kuwala heavyweights Virgil “Rezdog” Zwicker (13-4-1) vs. “Lumo” Razak Al-Hassan (12-4) ndipo welterweights Fernando “The Menifee wamisala” Gonzalez (23-13) vs. “Curtious” Curtis Millander (7-1).
“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 3:30 p.m. PT m'deralo nthawi, ndipo woyamba mpikisano chikuchitika 30 patapita mphindi. Zoonjezerapo mwauchidakwa adzakhala analengeza posachedwapa.
Juarez, wa Torrance, Calif., is a seven-time Bellator MMA veteran whose days with the company date back to the promotion’s second show. The 33-year-old has been fighting professionally since 2006 but is currently enjoying one of the best runs of his career at 5-1 in his past six appearances, a run that includes Bellator MMA wins over Ron Keslar, Joe Williams and Jordan Smith.
Rainey, of Gastonia, N.C., fights for the fourth time under the Bellator MMA banner. All three of Rainey’s Bellator MMA fights have ended in the first round, as he’s bracketed TKO wins over Johnny Cisneros and Andy Murad around a loss to top contender Michael “Venom” Page. Seven of Rainey’s 10 career wins have come by finish, including six by knockout.
A five-time Bellator MMA veteran, Taimanglo has quickly established himself as one of Guam’s top fighting exports. A scrappy 30-year-old, Taimanglo never fails to entertain. He fought most recently in September, scoring a decision win over Michael Parker.
Fighting professionally since 2006, Duarte hails from Tijuana, Mexico. He makes his Bellator MMA debut on the strength of back-to-back submission wins over Marco Beristain and Ed West. Fifteen of Duarte’s 18 career wins come by way of stoppage, kuphatikizapo 11 by tapout.
The 24-year-old Parsons, of Fargo, N.D., is a member of California’s famed Alliance MMA. Fighting professionally, Parsons has established himself as one of the top prospects in the world after winning 10 wake woyamba 11 akatswiri ndewu, including three by knockout and two by submission. Parsons made his Bellator MMA debut in April 2014, scoring a knockout win over Tim Bazer just four seconds into the second round.
Brazil’s Neves Jr. has compiled an incredible career mark of 30-0 despite being just 20 zaka. Kupikisana mwaukadaulo popeza 2011, pamene iye anali chabe 17 zaka, Neves Jr. already owns a pair of Bellator MMA victories by TKO, as he downed Poppies Martinez in the first round of a September 2014 matchup and finished Josh Arocho in the second round of an April 2014 mpikisanowo.
“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 Kuwala Heavyweight Nkhondo: Virgil Zwicker (13-4-1) vs. Razak Al-Hassan (12-4)
Bellator Zopezedwa Welterweight Nkhondo: Fernando Gonzalez (23-13) vs. Curtis Millender (7-1)
Kuyambirira Khadi (7 p.m. AND)
Bellator Welterweight Prelim Nkhondo: Jesse Juarez (22-9) vs. Ricky Rainey (10-3)
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)