Tag Archives: Michael Pagina

This Week’s FNU Combat Sports Show: UFC and Bellator UK Show Recaps, Bisping Retires, Cop Boxing Teen Goes Viral

This week on the FNU Combat Sports show, Tom, Tony and Rich discuss a slow week for boxing and recap two huge MMA cards in the United Kingdom last weekend. We also talk about Michael Bisping deciding to retire, weight cutting issues in the UFC, and a cop nicknamedBladegetting his 15 seconds of fame in a viral video where he boxes a teen in full uniform and comes out on top. Listen to the whole show below:

 

MIRKO CRO COP OUT OF BELLATOR 200 DUE TO INJRY

 

RAFAEL CARVALHO DEFENDS MIDDLEWIGHT TITLE AGAINST GEGARD MOUSASI IN NEW HEADLINER, WHILE ‘MVP’ TAKES ON DAVID RICKELS IN CO-MAIN

LOS ANGELES – Due to injury, Mirko Cro Cop can no longer compete in his highly anticipated Bellator debut atBellator 200 contro Roy Nelson. Di conseguenza, il Bellator 200 main event now sees reigning middleweight champRafael Carvalho (15-1) defend his title against top contender Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2) in a five-round affair, while the co-main event features undefeated British striker Michael "Venom" Pagina (12-0), better known as “MVP,” againstDavid Rickels (19-4, 2 NC) a welter. Bellator 200 si svolge Venerdì, Maggio 25 alla SSE Arena, Wembley in London and will air on Paramount Network at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT.

 

 

 

The main card also includes former titleholder Phil Davis (18-4) assumendo Linton Vassell (18-6) in a light heavyweight matchup and reality star turned MMA fighter Aaron Chalmers (3-0) making his promotional debut against fellow BritAsh Griffiths (4-5). The remainder of the main card will be announced later this week.

 

 

 

Prior to the main card on Paramount Network, Bellator 200 will also feature plenty of exciting preliminary matchups showcasing many of the U.K.’s top young talent. L'imbattuto anastasia Yankova (5-0) returns against the always-tough Kate Jackson (9-3-1), while a trio of former BAMMA champions are in action when former middleweight champion Mike Shipman (11-1) combattimenti Carl Noon (7-2), former BAMMA featherweight kingpin Daniel Crawford (10-1) sfide Pedro Carvalho (6-3) and former BAMMA lightweight titlist Ryan Scope (11-1) facce Martyn Harris(4-4). Fans will see Bellator veteran Anatoly Tokov (25-3) clash with Vladimir Filipovic (10-2), SBG Ireland-productCharlie Ward (4-3) in azione contro Louis King (1-1) and Mousasi-trained prospect Costello Steenis (9-1) incontro Kevin Fryer (6-2).

 

 

 

I biglietti per l'evento sono ora in vendita presso The SSE Arena, Wembley box office (0844 815 0815), Ticketmaster.com,ssearena.co.uk e axs.com. Bellator 200 sarà trasmesso su Paramount Network a 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT.

 

 

*Carta soggetta a cambiamento.

AARON CHALMERS, STAR OF MTV’S ‘GEORDIE SHORE,’ SET TO MAKE PROMOTIONAL DEBUT AT BELLATOR 200 IN LONDON

WILL TAKE ON ASH GRIFFITHS IN MAIN CARD BOUT ON MAGGIO 25 AT THE SSE ARENA, WEMBLEY

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LOS ANGELES – Bellator is proud to announce that reality star turned MMA fighter Aaron Chalmers (3-0) will make his promotional debut on the main card of historic Bellator 200 contro Ash Griffiths (4-5) alla SSE Arena, Wembley a Londra in poi Venerdì, Maggio 25.

Fighting out of Newcastle, Inghilterra, Chalmers steps inside the Bellator cage following three first-round stoppage victories under the direction of BAMMA. Chalmers is a well-known cast member of MTV’s British reality television series “Geordie Shore,” having appeared for 10 seasons beginning in 2014, as well as MTV’s “Ex on the Beach.” He would go on to make his MMA debut in 2017, winning his first bout via submission in the first round. “The Joker” has since defeated two other opponents in under a minute and now looks to take the next step in his professional career.

Griffiths turned pro in 2013, fighting regionally in England, prior to making his debut with Bellator last year during the main card of Bellator 191 in Newcastle. Hailing from Willington, Inghilterra, the nine-fight veteran provides a tough test for the newcomer. Fans can expect fireworks, when these two compete for bragging rights in front of their U.K. crowd.

The catchweight contest joins a stacked card that already includes a Bellator middleweight title matchup pitting current champ Rafael Carvalho (15-1) contro Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2), a rematch betweenheavyweight fan-favorites Mirko Cro Cop (36-11-2, 1 NC) e Roy Nelson (23-15), mentre l'ex titolare Phil Davis (18-4) assume Linton Vassell (18-6) in un matchup dei pesi massimi leggeri e attaccante britannico imbattuto Michael "Venom" Pagina (12-0) incontra David "The Caveman" Rickels (19-4, 2 NC) a welter.

I biglietti per l'evento sono ora in vendita presso The SSE Arena, Botteghino di Wembley (0844 815 0815), Ticketmaster.com, ssearena.co.uk e axs.com. Bellator 200 sarà trasmesso su Paramount Network a 9 p.m. E/8 p.m. CT, mentre l'azione preliminare streaming su Bellator.com e globalmente sul Bellator Mobile App. The main card is now complete, additional preliminary contests will be announced in coming weeks.

Completare Bellator 200 Scheda principale:

Incontro per il titolo mondiale dei pesi medi: Rafael Carvalho (15-1) vs. Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2)

Heavyweight principale Scheda Bout: Mirko Cro Cop (36-11-2, 1 NC) vs. Roy Nelson (23-15)

Incontro della scheda principale dei pesi massimi leggeri: Phil Davis (18-4) vs. Linton Vassell (18-6)

Welter principale Scheda Bout: Michael Pagina (12-0) vs. David Rickels (19-4, 2 NC)

163-Pound catchweight principale Scheda Bout: Aaron Chalmers (3-0) vs. Ash Griffiths (4-5)

*Carta soggetta a cambiamento

Visitare Bellator.com per ulteriori informazioni.

HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH CON MIRKO CRO COP E ROY NELSON A SCOMPARSA PER BELLATOR 200 A LONDRA IN MAGGIO 25

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Biglietti in vendita

LOS ANGELES - Un'entusiasmante battaglia tra i fan dei pesi massimi preferiti Mirko Cro Cop (36-11-2, 1 NC) e Roy Nelson (23-15) è stato aggiunto allo storico Bellator 200 alla SSE Arena, Wembley a Londra in poi Venerdì, Maggio 25.

 

I due famosi combattenti si uniscono a una carta impilata che include già un matchup per il titolo dei pesi medi Bellator che contrappone l'attuale campione Rafael Carvalho (15-1) contro Gegard Mousasi(43-6-2), mentre l'ex titolare Phil Davis (18-4) assume Linton Vassell (18-6) in un matchup dei pesi massimi leggeri e attaccante britannico imbattuto Michael "Venom" Pagina (12-0) incontra David "The Caveman" Rickels (19-4, 2 NC) a welter.

 

I biglietti per l'evento sono ora in vendita presso The SSE Arena, Botteghino di Wembley (0844 815 0815), Ticketmaster.com, ssearena.co.uk e axs.com. Bellator 200 sarà trasmesso su Paramount Network a 9 p.m. E/8 p.m. CT, mentre l'azione preliminare streaming su Bellator.com e globalmente sul Bellator Mobile App. Ulteriori concorsi saranno annunciati nelle prossime settimane.

 

L'uomo sinonimo di colpi alla testa, Mirko Cro Cop si fa strada verso Bellator nel bel mezzo di una serie di otto vittorie consecutive che include vittorie TKO "King Mo" Lawal, Gabriel Gonzaga e Satoshi Ishii. L'orgoglioso croato ha vinto notoriamente il PRIDE 2006 Campionato Openweight Grand Prix, così come il RIZIN World Grand Prix 2016 titolo e K-1 World Grand Prix 2012 Finale in kickboxing. Uno degli attaccanti più temuti nella storia delle MMA, Cro Cop possiede ulteriori vittorie di carriera Wanderlei Silva, Josh Barnett (x3), Pat Barry, Mark Coleman e Kevin Randleman.

 

Combattimento da Las Vegas, Roy Nelson ha fatto il suo debutto a Bellator Bellator 183 a settembre con una vittoria combattuta Javy Ayala dopo otto anni, 19-lotta corsa con UFC che lo ha visto guadagnare vittorie su Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, “Bigfoot” Silva, Cheick Kongo e Mirko Cro Cop. Anche "Big Country" ha sconfitto in modo memorabile il defunto Kimbo Slicee in seguito ha vinto la stagione 10 di The Ultimate Fighter. Avendo combattuto di recente Matt Mitrione nel Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix, Nelson sta cercando una grande vittoria su una delle vere leggende di questo sport.

 

Aggiornato Bellator 200 carta di lotta:

Incontro per il titolo mondiale dei pesi medi: Rafael Carvalho (15-1) vs. Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2)

Heavyweight principale Scheda Bout: Mirko Cro Cop (36-11-2, 1 NC) vs. Roy Nelson (23-15)

Incontro della scheda principale dei pesi massimi leggeri: Phil Davis (18-4) vs. Linton Vassell (18-6)

Welter principale Scheda Bout: Michael Pagina (12-0) vs. David Rickels (19-4, 2 NC)

 

*Carta soggetta a cambiamento

 

Visitare Bellator.com per ulteriori informazioni.

 

Bellator 200: GEGARD MOUSASI CHALLENGES RAFAEL CARVALHO FOR MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE AND BRITAIN’S MICHAEL ‘VENOM’ PAGE RETURNS AGAINST DAVID ‘CAVEMAN’ RICKELS

LONDON TO HOST HISTORIC Bellator 200 ON MAGGIO 25

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BIGLIETTI IN VENDITA QUESTO VENERDI

LOS ANGELES – Bellator is pleased to announce its anticipated return to London for Bellator 200 su Venerdì, Maggio 25. The landmark event will emanate from The SSE Arena, Wembley and will air on Paramount Network.

 

The first two fights, of what promises to be one of the most exciting event in company history, features middleweight champion Rafael Carvalho (15-1) defending his crown against Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2) and the return of London’s own Michael "Venom" Pagina (12-0), che assume David "The Caveman" Rickels (19-4, 2 NC). Additional main card bouts will be announced shortly.

 

Tickets for the event will be available to the general public on Venerdì, Marzo 2 alla SSE Arena, Botteghino di Wembley (0844 815 0815), Ticketmaster.com, ssearena.co.uk e axs.com. A special SSE pre-sale will take place Mercoledì, Febbraio 28, while all other pre-sales, including Bellator Nation, will begin Giovedi, Marzo 1.

 

“Bellator continues to place a huge emphasis on its expansion into markets around the globe and creating a strong presence in the U.K. is a very important part of that,"Ha detto il presidente Bellator Scott Coker. “Our fans are going to be excited about the card we put together for this monumental event, as Bellator 200 will be one of our greatest to date.”

 

Quietly flying under the radar as Bellator’s current longest-reigning champion, Rafael Carvalho receives his toughest challenge to date when he meets Mousasi in London. A product of Rio de Janeiro, Brasile, Carvalho joined the Bellator roster in 2014, garnering the attention of fans who tuned into Bellator 125 by emphatically finishing Brian Rogers in the first round. The run hasn’t stopped there, as the 31-year-old has gone onto defeat Joe Schilling, Alessio Sakara, Melvin Manhoef (2x) and Brandon Halsey, tying the record for most title defenses in the division’s history in the process.

 

Gegard Mousasi impressed in his promotional debut over former Bellator middleweight champion Aleksandr Šlemenko, a win that pushed his current unbeaten streak to six fights. “The Dreamcatcher,” who currently trains out of The Netherlands, holds one of the most impressive resumes in all of the sport, at one time winning the STRIKEFORCE light heavyweight title, as well as the DREAM light heavyweight and middleweight titles. With victories against some of the sport’s best, including Chris Weidman, Vitor Belfort, Uriah Sala, Dan Henderson, “Jacare” Souza, Mark Hunt and Ovince Saint-Preux, the Judo black belt will now set his sights on Bellator gold when he enters the cage on May 25.

 

There are few fighters who in such a short span of time have provided the type of highlight-reel entertainment that Michael Page has. Ora, “MVP” returns to the Bellator cage for the first time since 2016, a year that saw Page go viral for his perfectly-timed flying knee finish against 40-fight-veteran “Cyborg” Santos and the well-orchestrated celebration that included the toss of a Pokéball. 2017 saw Page successfully enter the realm of boxing, where he won his debut via TKO. A Bellator 200, the London native will make his ninth appearance for Bellator, going unbeaten and finishing his opponent in the opening frame on five occasions.

 

David Rickels has competed under the Bellator banner more times than anyone in promotional history with 19 and will extend the record when he returns to 170-pounds for the first time since the Bellator Season Six Welterweight Tournament in 2012. The fighting pride of Derby, Kansas is coming off a unanimous decision victory against Adam Piccolot lo scorso dicembre, improving his current winning streak to two. Never one to shy away from a scrap, this matchup should produce fireworks when “The Caveman’s” style clashes with the unorthodox swagger of “MVP.”

 

Aggiornato Bellator 200 carta di lotta:

Incontro per il titolo mondiale dei pesi medi: Rafael Carvalho (15-1) vs. Gegard Mousasi (43-6-2)

Welter principale Scheda Bout: Michael Pagina (12-0) vs. David Rickels (19-4, 2 NC)

 

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Bellator UFFICIALE 179: DALEY VS. MACDONALD WEIGH-IN RESULTS & FOTO

 

EVENT TAKES PLACE DOMANI AT THE SSE ARENA, WEMBLEY IN LONDON — AIRS AT 9 PM ET/8 PM CT ON SPIKE

COMPLETE Pesare-in QUI

Ufficiale Bellator 179: Daley vs. MacDonaldMain Card Weights:

Welter Main Event: Rory MacDonald (170.1) vs. Paul Daley (170.8)

Light Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Linton Vassell (205) vs. Liam McGeary (205.5)

Heavyweight Feature Bout: Augusto Sakai (263.75) vs. Cheick Kongo (244)

Incontro con funzione Catchweight: D.J. Griffin (164) vs. Kevin “Baby Slice” Ferguson Jr. (165)

Pesi Welter Feature Bout: Dan Vinni (169.4) vs. Alex Lohore (170)

 

Bellator.com-Streamed Carta preliminare:

Leggero incontro preliminare: Jay Dods (154.75) vs. Alfie Davis (155)

Heavyweight preliminare Bout: Dan Konecke (227.5) vs. Stav Economou (260.75)

Pesi Mosca preliminare Bout: Jamie Powell (125.2) vs. Amir Albazi (125.5)

Welter preliminare Bout: Umer Kayani (168.75) vs. Nathan Jones (169)

Medi preliminare Bout: Fabian Edwards (184.5) vs. Rafal Cejrowski (185)

Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Jeremy Petley (148.75) vs. Chase Morton (149.75)

Medi preliminare Bout: Marcin Prostko (185.25) vs. Mike Shipman (185.75)

Pesi Gallo preliminare Bout:Salih Kulucan (135.5) vs. Diego Barbosa (136)

HEAVYWEIGHT FEATURE FIGHT PITTING CHEICK KONGO AGAINST AUGUSTO SAKAI ADDED TO BELLATOR 179: DALEY VS. MACDONALD AT THE SSE ARENA, WEMBLEY ON MAY 19

Bellator 179 PRELIMINARY MATCHUPS SET

LOS ANGELES — A newly announced heavyweight bout featuring Cheick Kongo (26-10-2) contro Augusto Sakai (9-0-1) has been added to the already-electric Bellator 179: Daley vs. MacDonald evento, which emanates from The SSE Arena, Wembley on May 19.

Kongo, the French-born heavyweight, is currently riding a four-fight win streak that includes wins over Oli Thompson and Alexander Volkov, while the 25-year-old Sakai looks to stay unbeaten and make a name for himself in the division.

Inoltre, preliminary matchups featuring some of the U.K.’s best up-and-coming talent have been finalized for the event.

Bellator 179: Daley vs. MacDonald will be broadcast on SPIKE at 9 p.m. E/8 p.m. CT. I biglietti per l'evento sono ora in vendita presso The SSE Arena, Botteghino di Wembley (0844 815 0815), ssearena.co.uk e axs.com.

Aggiornato Bellator 179: Daley vs. MacDonald Scheda principale:

Welter Main Event: Paul Daley (39-14-2) vs. Rory MacDonald (18-4)

Pesi Welter Feature Bout: Michael Pagina (12-0) vs. Derek Anderson (14-3)

Caratteristica dei pesi massimi leggeri: Liam McGeary (12-1) vs. Linton Vassell (17-5)

Heavyweight Feature Bout: Cheick Kongo (26-10-2) vs. Augusto Sakai (9-0-1)

Carta preliminare:

Leggero incontro preliminare: Jay Dods (6-0) vs. Alfie Davis (6-1)

Heavyweight preliminare Bout: Rob Beech (4-1) vs. Stav Economou (17-5)

Pesi Mosca preliminare Bout: Jamie Powell (6-1) vs. Amir Albazi (8-0)

Welter preliminare Bout: Umer Kayani (4-3) vs. Nathan Jones (10-5)

Welter preliminare Bout: Dan Vinni (14-14) vs. Alex Lohore (10-1)

Medi preliminare Bout: Liam Etebar (6-1) vs. Rafal Cejra Cejrowski (2-0)

Catchweight Preliminary Bout (150 lbs.): Jeremy Petley (10-8) vs. Chase Morton (6-3)

Medi preliminare Bout: Marcin Prostko (4-5) vs. Mike Shipman (9-1)

Pesi Gallo preliminare Bout: Salih Kulucan (4-5) vs. Diego Barbosa (3-0)

‘THE RED KING’ RORY MacDONALD RETURNS, MAKES BELLATOR DEBUT AGAINST BRITISH SLUGGER PAUL ‘SEMTEX’ DALEY

 

Bellator 179: DALEY VS. MacDONALD EMANATES FROM THE SSE ARENA, WEMBLEY ON MAGGIO 19 – TICKETS ON SALE MARZO 3

LONDRA — (Febbraio. 9, 2017) - Paul Daley "Semtex" (39-14-2) is getting what he asked for. Il Maggio 19, the explosive fighter from Nottingham, England will meet Rory MacDonald(18-4) in caso principale Bellator 179: Daley vs. MacDonald alla SSE Arena, Wembley.

Rising undefeated British sensation, Michael “Venom” Page (12-0), better known to Bellator fans as “MVP,” is also expected to make his in-cage return in front of a hometown crowd.

Bellator 179: Daley vs. MacDonald will be broadcast on SPIKE at 9 p.m. E/8 p.m. CT. Tickets for the event will be available Venerdì, Marzo 3 alla SSE Arena, Botteghino di Wembley (0844 815 0815), ssearena.co.uk e axs.com. A special SSE pre-sale will take place Mercoledì, Marzo 1 fino a giovedì, Marzo 2. A pre-sale for The SSE Arena, Wembley will be available Giovedi, Marzo 2.

 

Immediately following his flying-knee knockout of Brennan Ward a Bellator 170: Ortiz vs. Sonnen, Daley took the microphone during his post-fight interview and made the most of his time, emphatically calling for his Maggio 19 opponent by name. Ora, a little more than 100 miles from his home, “Semtex” will attempt to spoil the Bellator MMA debut of MacDonald. A 55-fight veteran of the sport, with six appearances under the direction of the Scott Coker-led promotion, the British heavy hitter has recorded victories in 10 del suo ultimo 12 bouts with 31 della sua 39 victories coming via finish.

 

After signing MacDonald to an exclusive, multi-year, multi-fight contract in 2016, the must-see talent returned to the gym where he carefully honed his craft and readied himself for an eagerly-anticipated return to MMA. The former No. 1 contender to the UFC welterweight crown now sets his sights on the always-exciting Daley, looking to add to a list of strong career wins, which includes current UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, B.J. Penn, Demian Maia and Nate Diaz. “The Red King” is clearly the most popular active Canadian mixed martial artist since Georges St-Pierre, whom MacDonald has trained under for years at the world-renowned TriStar Gym in Montreal. At only 27-years-old, MacDonald joins Bellator’s welterweight fray poised to immediately make an impact in the division, as he looks to defeat Daley and shock the London crowd.

 

Aggiornato Bellator 179: Daley vs. MacDonald Scheda principale:

Welter Main Event: Paul Daley (39-14-2) vs. Rory MacDonald (18-4)

 

'Bellator 165: CHANDLER VS. HENDERSON’ OFFICIAL CONFERENCE CALL STREAM AND TRANSCRIBED QUOTES FROM MICHAEL CHANDLER, BENSON HENDERSON, MICHAEL ‘VENOM’ PAGE AND FERNANDO GONZALEZ

CLICK HERE FOR CONFERENCE CALL AUDIO

SANTA MONICA, CALIF (Novembre 15, 2016) – Before the cage door closes questo Sabato presso il Centro di SAP a San Jose, the main and co-main event fighters from "Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson "participated in a media conference call. If you weren’t on the line, you can listen to it di qua, or read a couple of the quotes below.

 

"Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson " features current champion Michael Chandler (15-3) contro Benson Henderson (24-6) nel ruolo headliner, while co-main event action will have undefeated British phenom Michael "Venom" Pagina (11-0) and California’s own Fernando Gonzalez (25-13) duke it out in a welterweight thriller. Bay Area’s own Keri Melendez makes her professional MMA debut, as does Kevin Ferguson Jr. better known as Kimbo Slice Jr.

 

The event airs LIVE and FREE at 9 p.m. E/8 p.m. CT on Spike and completes three consecutive weeks of championship fights on the Viacom-owned network. Tickets for the event remain on sale and can be purchased at Bellator.com, as well as SAP Center Box Office and Ticketmaster.

 

Q: For Benson…Is there any extra motivation to prove yourself in this fight after the way the last fight ended?

Benson Henderson: I would say that there’s not a whole lot of extra motivation this fight. I’m a pretty highly self-motivated individual. I want to win all of my fights. I don’t need any extra incentives. I want to have my hand raised in every single fight.

Q: This is your second title fight in Bellator. Is there anything you learned from the first go-around that you’re bringing into this fight?

Benson Henderson: I don’t know if there’s anything that I learned from the last title fight, just being more comfortable inside the Bellator cage and getting used to the walkout and finding my rhythm.

Q: You’re fighting for the title now. Do you think of yourself as a lightweight? Is this where you intend to stay or is another trip to welterweight a possibility in the future?

Benson Henderson: I wouldn’t say that I think of myself as a lightweight necessarily. Per me, è 155 lbs. o 170 lbs., just wherever the more interesting and fun matchups are. Ma, first things first, I have to take care of business il Sabato notte.

Q: You mentioned fun and interesting fights. Is the title something you think about as well? The story line of the week is a two-division champion in the other promotion. Is that a dream that you have for yourself in your career or do you just want to stay and be the most dominate lightweight champion that you can be?

Benson Henderson: I’m going to go get this belt at 155 lbs., but after that I wouldn’t say that belts offer a whole lot of extra incentive. Obviously belts are great and the meaning behind the belt is that you are the best in the planet and that means a lot to say that you are the best at that weight class, but I don’t fight necessarily just for the belt. You do want the belt, but right now all I’m concentrating on is four days from now and a man named Michael Chandler.

Q: For Michael…Have you ever thought about trying for another belt? I know it’s early in your title reign, but has that ever crossed your mind? E, if you did go for another belt, would it be for welterweight or featherweight?

Michael Chandler: I haven’t put a lot of thought into it. Per me, I’m just looking for the biggest fight I can get. I know there’s no way I could make 145 lbs., since I walk around at about 190 lbs., between fights. Così, I’m not interested in losing the muscle mass that I’ve worked so hard to build. Se qualcosa, I would jump up to 170 lbs., but right now I’m focused on my fight questo Sabato night and I’m excited to get out there and perform.

Q: Why is Henderson an important opponent for your career?

Michael Chandler: Every opponent is important. Every single time we fight, we’re putting ourselves, our livelihood, our records, and our reputation on the line. It just so happens for me, I get an opportunity to fight a guy who’s been a champion and has done some great things in the sport. But luckily, it’s the right time for me and the wrong time for him. I’m extremely excited to go out there and make a statement with this fight il Sabato notte. He’s definitely a great, willing opponent, but I’m excited to go out there and get the finish.

Q: For MVP…Obviously, it’s been a fantastic year for you in Bellator, especially your performance in London. Have you got your finger on the pulse of pop culture right now and is there something out there that you’re drawing inspiration from that you’re looking to utilize in some entertainment factor on fight night?

MVP: Sì, I’m always socially aware, but I have to get the job done first and that’s the most important thing.

Q: At the moment, fighting at multiple weight classes and fighting in multiple divisions seems to be the rage right now and I know in the past you’ve mentioned the possibility of dropping down to 155 lbs., is that something that you’re still interested in?

MVP: At the moment, non. Ora, I’m just focused on fighting in the welterweight division.

Q: If you can record a win over Fernando Gonzalez, how many more fights and how many more wins do you think before you are in that title picture and fighting for a title shot?

MVP: That’s not really my main concern. I just go out there and entertain and I’ll keep doing that until I end up in the position I’m supposed to be in.

Q: For Michael Chandler…With you watching Benson from a far for a long time, what did you think of him as his career progressed?

Michael Chandler: Benson’s had a phenomenal career. Back in the day, he was the UFC champion and I was the Bellator champion. He was ranked number one and I was ranked number three in the world and it was always that “what if” matchup. What if these two guys could fight…and now we finally get to see. He’s continued to impress. He’s continued to win. Great careers and great legacies can’t be had without great opponents. I look at Benson Henderson as exactly that, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to step into that cage il Sabato night and lose this belt. I’ve trained my tail off, I’ve gone through some of the toughest hardships that anyone can go through in this sport…losing three fights in a row, coming back, and believing that no matter what, my next big breakthrough is right around the corner. I never once thought about quitting, where I think a lot of people in that situation would. Where I’ve been and where I am now, I’m confident and I’m excited to just go out there and put it all on the line against one of the best in the world and one of the biggest names in the sport. This is a great opportunity on Spike TV, dal vivo e gratis.

Q: For Fernando…question regarding the video packages that Michael Page has produced and released this year, most recently during Halloween. Did you watch them and what was your reaction to the video packages?

Fernando Gonzalez: I watched both of the videos and thought it was kind of funny, especially the last one. Bad choice of food products I guess. He’s basically eating balls and drinking milk, while cupping and savoring the taste. Così, I don’t know if I should take that as a call out, but I think the victory alone will be enough for me.

Q: With Michael (Pagina) on the line right now, does Fernando have any sort of message for him leading up to the fight?

Fernando Gonzalez: It’s the same message that I gave before. Just show up. I respect the fighter, but after this he’ll congratulate me and thank me for making him a better fighter. E 'difficile, but he hasn’t been tested and I’m going to give him his first loss.

Q: Michael do you have a response to that?

MVP: I’m allergic to bullshit, so there’s no point in responding.

Q: For Benson Henderson…In the title eliminator fight in Anaheim, you had a calm and deliberate demeanor throughout that fight and before we could really see you explode, Pitbull was taken away with an injury. Are you going to look to set a faster pace with Chandler, or are we going to see a more measured response?

Benson Henderson: We’ll see how it plays out. It’s hard to dictate and say exactly what I’m going to do. If I was an NFL coach, I would not be one of those coaches that has the first 15 plays of the game scripted out and no matter what happens, we’re sticking to these 15 plays. Per me, I have to feel it out and go with the flow. Ma, for me I don’t think this is going to be a slow pace fight. I’m expecting this to be one of the most high paced, action-packed fights you’ve seen in the Bellator cage.

 

Completa "Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson” Main Card:

Evento principale titolo mondiale leggero: Michael Chandler (15-3) vs. Benson Henderson (24-6)

Welter Co-Main Event: Michael Pagina (11-0) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (25-13)

Caratteristica dei pesi massimi leggeri: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (25-11)

Attacco a caratteristiche leggere: Adam Piccolot (8-0) vs. Brandon Girtz (14-4)

Funzione Flyweight Bout: Keri-Anne Taylor-Melendez (Debutto) vs. Sheila Padilla (2-0)

 

Complete Preliminary Card:

Welter preliminare Bout: Kevin Ferguson Jr. (Debutto) vs. Aaron Hamilton (0-2)

Leggero incontro preliminare: Banche Carrington (5-0) vs. Jake Roberts (7-0)

Medi preliminare Bout: Diego Herzog (3-2) vs. Nick Pica (5-0)

Pesi Gallo preliminare Bout: Geremia Monaghan (9-5) vs. Vince Murdock (8-2)

Welter preliminare Bout: James Terry (17-9) vs. justin baesman (19-10-1)

Pesi Gallo preliminare Bout: Alvin Cacdac (16-12) vs. Steve Ramirez (5-1)

Leggero incontro preliminare: J.J. Okanovich (2-1) vs. Luis Vargas (Debutto)

Piuma preliminare Bout: Victor Jones (0-2) vs. Beau Hamilton (1-7)

Leggero incontro preliminare: Hugo Lujan (0-1) vs. Cesar Gonzalez (Debutto)

Welterweight “VOW” Preliminary Bout: Dominic Sumner (Debutto) vs. Justin Roswell (1-0)

Welter preliminare Bout: Danasabe Mohammed (5-0) vs. Dwight Grant (6-1)

Pesi Mosca preliminare Bout: Sarah D’Alelio (10-6) vs. Jaimelene Nievera (4-1)

PROFESSIONAL DEBUT OF KEVIN ‘BABY SLICE’ FERGUSON JR. ADDED TO PRELIMINARY CARD OF “BELLATOR 165: CHANDLER VS. HENDERSON” AT SAP CENTER IN SAN JOSE

 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Novembre. 7, 2016) – One week ahead of "Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson " a SAP Center di San Jose, Calif., Bellator MMA is pleased to announce the highly anticipated professional mixed martial arts debut of Kevin “Baby Slice” Ferguson Jr. will come against Aaron Hamilton in a welterweight bout during the preliminary portion of the card on Nov. 19.

The contest anchors an electric preliminary card and joins a Spike-televised main card that features a lightweight world title main event pitting current champion Michael Chandler (15-3) contro Benson Henderson (24-6). In co-main event della serata, undefeated British phenom Michael "Venom" Pagina (11-0) and California’s own Fernando Gonzalez (25-13) duke it out in a welterweight thriller and Adam Piccolot (8-0) assume Brandon Girtz(14-4) in a lightweight clash. da ultimo, a light heavyweight showdown pitting Linton “The Swarm” Vassell (16-5) contro Francis Carmont (14-4) and female flyweight action pitting Keri Melendez (Debutto) contro Sheila Padilla (2-0) are also set for the main card.

"Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson " airs LIVE and FREE at 9 p.m. E/8 p.m. CT on Spike and completes three consecutive weeks of championship fights on the Viacom-owned network. Tickets for the event remain on sale and can be purchased at Bellator.com, as well as SAP Center Box Office and Ticketmaster.

After originally being slated to make his professional debut at both “Bellator 160” e "Bellator 162,“ “Baby Slice” will now look to showcase his fine-tuned mixed martial arts repertoire on Novembre. 19. The son of the late, great “Kimbo Slice,” made a splash in the world of MMA during an amateur contest in Chicopee, Massachusetts, where he delivered a brutal knockout punch just 1:23 nel primo turno. In what is unquestionably one of the most talked-about debuts in promotion history, Slice hopes to parlay his amateur success with a memorable performance on the professional circuit and carry on the legacy that his father let behind. Hailing from Miami, Florida, the Team Body Shop product now has his eyes set on joining teammate A.J. McKee as one of Bellator MMA’s top young prospects.

Hamilton will once again compete in his home state of California, after previous bouts against the likes of Max Griffin. “The Snake” will be making both his Bellator MMA debut and welterweight debut, as the 185-pound slugger attempts to trim down for what is surely the biggest fight of his career. Hamilton last competed in March and hopes to spoil the long-awaited debut of Slice.

 

Completa "Bellator 165: Chandler vs. Henderson” Main Card:

Evento principale titolo mondiale leggero: Michael Chandler (15-3) vs. Benson Henderson (24-6)

Welter Co-Main Event: Michael Pagina (11-0) vs. Fernando Gonzalez (25-13)

Caratteristica dei pesi massimi leggeri: Linton Vassell (16-5) vs. Francis Carmont (25-11)

Attacco a caratteristiche leggere: Adam Piccolot (8-0) vs. Brandon Girtz (14-4)

Funzione Flyweight Bout: Keri-Anne Taylor-Melendez (Debutto) vs. Sheila Padilla (2-0)

 

Complete Preliminary Card:

Welter preliminare Bout: Kevin Ferguson Jr. (Debutto) vs. Aaron Hamilton (0-2)

Leggero incontro preliminare: Banche Carrington (5-0) vs. Jake Roberts (7-0)

Medi preliminare Bout: Diego Herzog (3-2) vs. Nick Pica (5-0)

Pesi Gallo preliminare Bout: Geremia Monaghan (9-5) vs. Vince Murdock (8-2)

Welter preliminare Bout: James Terry (17-9) vs. justin baesman (19-10-1)

Pesi Gallo preliminare Bout: Alvin Cacdac (16-12) vs. Steve Ramirez (5-1)

Leggero incontro preliminare: J.J. Okanovich (2-1) vs. Luis Vargas (Debutto)

Piuma preliminare Bout: Victor Jones (0-2) vs. Beau Hamilton (1-7)

Leggero incontro preliminare: Hugo Lujan (0-1) vs. Cesar Gonzalez (Debutto)

Welterweight “VOW” Preliminary Bout: Dominic Sumer (Debutto) vs. Justin Roswell (1-0)

Welter preliminare Bout: Danasabe Mohammed (5-0) vs. Dwight Grant (6-1)

Pesi Mosca preliminare Bout: Sarah D’Alelio (10-6) vs. Jaimelene Nievera (4-1)