Tag Archives: mma

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

WILL ATHLETE’S RETURN BE A BAD OMEN FOR SHOREY AT NEF XX?

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Lewiston, Maine (September 30, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE” on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The event will feature a first for Maine – mixed-martial-arts (MMA) bouts and professional boxing bouts on the same event with an MMA cage and a boxing ring set up side-by-side.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of a professional featherweight bout to the MMA portion of the fight card.  “Shatterproof 2.0” Derek Shorey (3-2) has signed to face the returning Damon “The Omen” Owens (2-0) at a fight weight of 145-pounds.

 

The founder and head coach of the Shatterproof Combat Club in Dexter, Maine, Derek Shorey has been impressive in his professional career thus far.  All three of his wins have come by first-round stoppage, including Shorey’s defeat of Tollison Lewis (0-5) earlier this month at “NEF XIX.”  Win or lose, Shorey does not believe in letting fights go to the judges’ scorecards.  All fifteen of his combined amateur and pro fights have ended by either knockout, technical knockout (TKO) or submission.

 

“I’m grateful to be part of this historical event that is NEF XX,” said Shorey.  “Thank you Matt Peterson and Nick DiSalvo for providing a platform for me to chase this ridiculous dream.  Damon is an interesting matchup for me because, stylistically, we are very similar.  I’m excited to get in there and mix it up with him and I think the fans will be the biggest winners on this night because they’re in for a hell of a show. I’ve only just begun to tap my full potential and to pull a ‘W’ over a fighter from the best camp in Maine, would be a very proud moment for me.”

 

Prior to moving to Colorado from Maine in 2013, Damon Owens was on the verge of becoming a breakout star on the regional MMA scene.  Owens put together a pair of solid, back-to-back wins against John Raio (2-8) and Josh Parker (4-8).  Like Shorey, Owens came into his own after leaving the amateur ranks.  Also like Shorey, Owens does not believe in letting the judges decide the outcome of his fights.  Only one of his bouts out of seven has gone the distance.  Owens is a member of Young’s MMA in Bangor, Maine.  Returning home, he has been welcomed back with open arms to his team.  Owens has been inactive from competition since moving to Colorado two years ago.

 

“Adding this fight to such a monumental event like ‘NEF XX’ was a no-brainer,” said NEF co-owner and promoter Nick DiSalvo.  “Derek and Damon have both proven themselves to be big finishers.  They match up very well and they’re both incredibly exciting fighters.  This fight has a very good shot at stealing the show!”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE,” takes place on November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The event will mark the first time in Maine history a mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event and a professional boxing event have taken place together on the same show.  Tickets for “NEF XX” start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com.  In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Amateur MMA, boxing, mixed martial arts

THE FLYWEIGHT TITLE IS ON THE LINE AT NEF XX

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Lewiston, Maine (September 28, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE” on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The event will feature a first for Maine – mixed-martial-arts (MMA) bouts and professional boxing bouts on the same event with an MMA cage and a boxing ring set up side-by-side.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of an amateur flyweight bout to the MMA portion of the fight card.  Dustin Veinott (4-3) will defend the NEF MMA Amateur Flyweight Championship against Ryan Burgess(1-0).

 

Dustin Veinott has been the feel-good story of 2015 in NEF.  After going 0-3 to begin his amateur career, Veinott went on a four-fight win streak culminating in a split decision victory over Norman Fox (4-2) this past June to claim the inaugural flyweight title.  Veinott is a member of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) in Lewiston, Maine.  He predicts a finish over Burgess on November 21.

 

“It’s an honor to fight a young up and comer like Burgess,” said the reigning champion.  “He looked like he had solid wrestling in his last fight with Witham.  However, I am disappointed in my last fight. Fight fans will want to see this one.  I will get the finish.”

 

Ryan Burgess is, indeed, an accomplished wrestler.  A veteran of the Mountain Valley High School (MVHS) wrestling program of Rumford, Maine, Burgess chalked up an amazing 150 wins and captured three state titles.  Later, he continued his wrestling career at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire.  Burgess joined Berserkers MMA along with other MVHS wrestling alumni and won his amateur MMA debut this past June.

 

“Dustin has a lot of experience in the cage and had to earn his spot at the top, but he has yet to fight someone at flyweight with the same skill set and intensity that I bring to the cage,” said Burgess.  “I’m very excited for this opportunity and it will be a great chance to show how much I have improved over the last six months.”

 

“It’s not very often that you witness a fighter with a 1-0 record fighting for a title, but Burgess brings with him a lifetime of competitive wrestling and training,” said NEF co-owner and matchmaker Matt Peterson.  “He was so good at Mountain Valley High School that they retired his singlet when he graduated.  Veinott has found his groove and really come into his own as a champion fighter.  This is a bout between two guys with a ton of drive and determination, and I can’t wait to watch to see who strikes first in this fight.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE,” takes place on November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The event will mark the first time in Maine history a mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event and a professional boxing event have taken place together on the same show.  Tickets for “NEF XX” start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com.  In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

HEAVYWEIGHTS BOBBY LASHLEY AND JAMES THOMPSON TO SETTLE THEIR SCORE AT ‘BELLATOR 145: VENGEANCE’ NOVEMBER 6 ON SPIKE

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SANTA MONICA, Calif. (September 25, 2015) – This past June, fans in St. Louis were deprived of a highly anticipated heavyweight rematch between Bobby “The Dominator” Lashley (13-2) and James “The Colossus” Thompson (20-14, 1 NC), when Thompson was forced to withdraw from the bout due to injury.  On Friday, November 6, the two heavyweights will finally square off at “Bellator 145: Vengeance,” at the Scottrade Center in the Gateway City.

 

The contest completes the main card of “Bellator 145: ‘Vengeance,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while preliminary bouts will stream on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET.

 

Top billing at the November 6 event features two world title bouts when Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (24-2) defends his strap againstDaniel Straus (23-6) and Will “Ill Will” Brooks (16-1) meets submission specialist Marcin Held (21-3) with the 155-pound belt on the line. “Bellator 145: Vengeance” on Spike will also feature a rematch pitting “Iron” Michael Chandler (13-3) against David “The Caveman” Rickels (16-3, 1 NC).

 

Tickets for “Bellator 145: ‘Vengeance,” which start at just $30, are on sale now on Ticketmaster.com and at the Ford Box Office at Scottrade Center. Doors for the event open at 5:00 p.m. CT local time, and the first contest takes place shortly after.

 

Lashley looks to avenge a 2012 split decision loss to Thompson.  The unfinished business between the two giant heavyweights was originally scheduled to be settled at “Bellator 134: The British Invasion” and again at “Bellator 138: Unfinished Business,” but an injuries sustained by both men caused the fights to be rescheduled.

 

Thompson, a 6-foot-5 striking specialist, hails from England and has been fighting professionally since 2003. A former rugby player and bodybuilder, “The Colossus” found his true calling in MMA and has been competing around the globe ever since. Fighting some of the best heavyweights in the sport, including Kimbo Slice, Alexander Emelianenko, Don Frye, Alistair Overeem, Mariusz Pudzianowki, Bob Sapp, Dan Severn and Hidehiko Yoshida, among others, Thompson has racked up 11 wins by knockout and another seven by submission.

 

A 6-foot-3, former WWE superstar, Lashley started training in the grappling arts at age 12 and would go on to win several titles, including: three National Championships at Missouri Valley College, an NAIA National Championship, a CISM World Championship Silver Medal and two Armed Forces Wrestling Championships during his tenure in the U.S. Army. In addition to a professional wrestling career with stints in WWE, ECW and TNA, Lashley began his MMA career in 2008, and has built an impressive resume that includes Bellator MMA submission wins over Karl Etherington, Josh Burns and most recently, a technical knockout of Dan Charles.

 

“Bellator 145: Vengeance” Updated Fight Card

 

Bellator Featherweight World Title Bout: Patricio Freire (24-2) vs. Daniel Straus (23-6)

Bellator Lightweight World Title Bout: Will Brooks (16-1) vs. Marcin Held (21-3)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Bout: Pat Curran (21-7) vs. Justin Lawrence (7-2)

Bellator Lightweight Feature Bout: Michael Chandler (13-3) vs. David Rickels (16-3, 1 NC)

Bellator Heavyweight Feature Bout: Bobby Lashley (13-2) vs. James Thompson (20-14, 1 NC)

 

Preliminary Card:

Bellator Lightweight Feature Bout: Vince Eazelle (9-2) vs. Chris Heatherly (9-3, 1 NC)

Bellator Bantamweight Feature Bout: Scott Ettling (2-0) vs. Garrett Mueller (2-0)

Bellator Lightweight Feature Bout: Garrett Gross (6-4) vs. Luke Nelson (2-1)

 

amateur boxing, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

LEWISTON AND BANGOR COLLIDE IN THE MMA CAGE AT NEF XX

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Lewiston, Maine (September 25, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE” on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The event will feature a first for Maine – mixed-martial-arts (MMA) bouts and professional boxing bouts on the same event with an MMA cage and a boxing ring set up side-by-side.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of a professional catchweight bout to the MMA portion of the fight card.  Lewiston’s own Matt “Ken Doll” Denning (2-0) is scheduled to meet Bangor, Maine’s Jon Lemke(4-3) at a fight weight of 150-pounds.

 

Matt Denning has been nothing short of impressive in the first two fights of his professional career.  After putting together an amateur record of 4-3, Denning has since finished both Zenon Herrera (0-2) and Derek Shorey (3-2) via first-round submission in the pro ranks.  He is a member of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) in Lewiston.  Denning’s upcoming fight will present an opportunity to gain a measure of revenge, of sorts, on Lemke who defeated Denning’s coach Jesse Erickson (6-4) at Bellator 93 in March 2013.

 

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be on the ‘NEF XX’ card,” said Denning.  Boxing and cage fighting under the same roof – it’s going to be a crazy night.  I’m looking to go 3-0 as a pro against a very high level opponent in Lemke.  It’s a heavier fight, against a guy who beat my coach in Bellator.  I’m excited to showcase my skills and put on a show for the NEF fans.  I’m Lewiston’s own Ken Doll and I plan on bringing everything I have into this fight. Fighting a friend is hard, but it’s all a part of this wide-growing sport.  My career is on the rise while Lemke’s is going down.”

 

Jon Lemke is a member of Team Irish in Brewer, Maine where he trains under the legendary Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis (22-11).  Like Denning, Lemke went on a tear at the start of his professional career, winning his first three bouts in a row.  He last appeared in the NEF cage at “NEF XIV” last fall, defeating Amos Collins (4-5) via first-round technical knockout (TKO).  After some time off from competition, Lemke is ready and eager to return to NEF in November.

 

“I am excited and grateful for another opportunity to do what I love and continue my career with NEF,” said Lemke.  “I am grateful to fight Mr. Denning, who has started his pro career off on the fast track.  I realize that I have been very inconsistent in my last couple of fights, however, I have taken steps to remedy that and am happy, healthy and looking to get back on track.  Mr. Denning brings a good skill set and a big fan base to the cage, and I look forward to the challenge and rising up to that challenge.  It’s going to be a great night of fights and people are not going to want to miss this fight in particular.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE,” takes place on November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The event will mark the first time in Maine history a mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event and a professional boxing event have taken place together on the same show.  Tickets for “NEF XX” start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com.  In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

Bellator, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

JOE WARREN-L.C. DAVIS PREPARED FOR MAIN EVENT CLASH AT ‘BELLATOR 143’ LIVE & FREE ON SPIKE

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CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE WEIGH-IN PHOTOS

HIDALGO, Texas (September 24, 2015) – Less than 24 hours separates Joe Warren (12-4) and L.C. Davis (23-6) from competing in the main event of “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis” at State Farm Arena, in what amounts to a crucial pairing in the bantamweight division.

 

“Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis” airs live and free on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT, while the stacked preliminary portion of the event will stream live on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT.

 

Both men hit their required marks of 135-pounds, as did the remainder of the four-fight main card on Spike, which features a middleweight pairing between Kendall Grove (21-15, 1 NC) and Joey Beltran (16-11, 1 NC), a featherweight contest pitting Henry Corrales (12-1) against Emmanuel Sanchez (10-2), and a heavyweight tilt that with Vinicius Queiroz(7-3) welcoming promotional newcomer Ewerton Teixeira (3-0).

 

The Spike.com-streamed preliminary card also features several must-see fights, including the promotional debuts of Chase Gormley and Gleristone Santos and what promises to be a barnburner, when Darrion Caldwell and Shawn Bunch meet at 135-pounds. Ryan Couture was supposed to make his return to the Bellator MMA cage, but the fight was scrapped when his opponent Nick Gonzalez missed weight.

 

Below are the official weights and weigh-in photos for “Bellator 143: Warren vs. Davis.”

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, New England Fights

LIGHTWEIGHTS LOOK TO GET BACK TO THEIR WINNING WAYS AT NEF XX

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Lewiston, Maine (September 23, 2015) – New England Fights (NEF), America’s number-one regional fight promotion, will hold its next event, “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE” on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The event will feature a first for Maine – mixed-martial-arts (MMA) bouts and professional boxing bouts on the same event with an MMA cage and a boxing ring set up side-by-side.  Earlier today, the promotion announced the addition of an amateur lightweight bout to the MMA portion of the fight card.  Ricky Dexter (3-2) is scheduled to meet Steven Bang (3-3) at a fight weight of 155-pounds.

 

Dexter is a veteran of the United States Navy, and he currently represents Marcus Davis’s Team Irish gym of Brewer, Maine where Dexter runs the fitness program known as “207 Athletes.”  He has been a constant of the NEF cage this year, appearing in all four of the promotion’s events in 2015.  After winning his first three NEF bouts, Dexter is looking to rebound from two consecutive losses.

 

“I am pumped to be able to compete and fight in my sixth consecutive show with NEF,” said Dexter.  “Let’s end this year with a Bang!”

 

Bang is a member of Central Maine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (CMBJJ) in Lewiston, Maine.  He has been a standout of the popular Bang wrestling and MMA clan along with brothers Sheldon Bang (2-2), Shawn Bang (1-1), Skylar Bang and their father Dr. Steve Bang (1-1).  Like Dexter, Bang is looking to get back on the winning track after dropping his last two in a row.

 

“I’m looking forward to this fight,” said Bang.  “I was bummed out that I had to pull out last time.  Since then, Ricky has fought some tough guys making him a better fighter.  I’m excited to be able to fight him next and excited to be able to get back in the cage again.”

 

New England Fights’ next event, “NEF XX: A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE,” takes place on November 21, 2015 at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston, Maine.  The event will mark the first time in Maine history a mixed-martial-arts (MMA) event and a professional boxing event have taken place together on the same show.  Tickets for “NEF XX” start at just $25 and are on sale now atwww.TheColisee.com or by calling the Colisée box office at 207.783.2009 x 525.  For more information on the event and fight card updates, please visit the promotion’s website at www.NewEnglandFights.com.  In addition, you can watch NEF videos at www.youtube.com/NEFMMA, follow them on Twitter @nefights and join the official Facebook group “New England Fights.”

 

About New England Fights

 

New England Fights (“NEF”) is a fight events promotions company. NEF’s mission is to create the highest quality events for Maine’s fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

mixed martial arts, RFA

RFA RETURNS TO LAS VEGAS WITH SMITH vs MARUNDE

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 MAIN EVENT:
GILBERT SMITH vs. BRISTOL MARUNDE
WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
CO-MAIN EVENT:
ZOILA FRAUSTO vs. JOCELYN JONES-LYBARGER
WOMEN’S STRAW WEIGHT WORLD TITLE
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9TH LIVE ON AXS TV
LIVE at the Downtown Las Vegas Event Center, Las Vegas, NV
 
Tickets on Sale Now at Ticketmaster.com 

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) has announced that the promotion will return to the “Fight Capital of the World” with RFA 31 – Smith vs. Marunde in October. This will be the RFA’s first trip to Las Vegas since RFA 4, which was the promotion’s first nationally televised event. The main event of RFA 31 will see RFA welterweight champion Gilbert Smith defend his title for the first time against fellow UFC vet Bristol Marunde. The co-main event of RFA 31 will feature Zoila Frausto and Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger competing for the inaugural RFA women’s strawweight title. RFA 31 – Smith vs. Marunde will take place Friday, October 9th at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center (DLVEC) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The entire main card will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

Tickets for RFA 31 – Smith vs. Marunde are available for purchase through Ticketmaster.com. You can also support your favorite fighter buy purchasing your tickets through CageTix.com.
A very limited number of 8 seat VIP table  can be reserved by calling 303-521-0966
Smith (11-4) is excited about headlining a third RFA event in a third RFA title fight this year. In January, Smith’s first title shot was hindered after his opponent egregiously missed weight by 5-pounds. Smith then received an immediate title shot in his next bout due to his original opponent’s brazen weight advantage. He capitalized on this opportunity, when he faced the newly crowned RFA welterweight champion Benjamin Smith in June. Smith captured the title with third round armbar victory in Broomfield, Colorado. Smith is now looking to gain holding status with a successful first title defense in Las Vegas.
“First and foremost, it’s a great honor to defend my RFA title in Las Vegas,” stated Smith. “I look forward to putting on a great fight for the fans in Las Vegas, but like I said after my last fight, this belt is staying around my waist. I have nothing but respect for Bristol Marunde, but I will let him know he’s not on my level. Come October 9th, this belt is coming back to Colorado.”

Marunde (16-9) enters the title fight riding the momentum of a four-fight win streak. The Las Vegas based Xtreme Couture representative is a veteran of the UFC and The Ultimate Fighter, just like Smith, and was quick to call-out Smith via social media earlier this summer, when Smith extended an open invitation to take on all-challengers after winning the title. Marunde is a Las Vegas resident that is excited about showcasing his new and improved skill set at RFA 31.

“It’s nice to be fighting in Las Vegas, but I will be the next RFA welterweight champion regardless of where it’s held,” Marunde explained. “I’m ready for this challenge in Gilbert Smith. I want everyone to see this fight. It will be my best performance to date.”
The co-main event of RFA 31 will feature the return of Zoila Frausto (12-4), who was the first-and-only Bellator women’s champion. Frausto won the Bellator women’s strawweight title by winning MMA’s most significant women’s tournament to date. In the eight-woman tournament, Frausto defeated Jessica Penne, Jessica Aguilar, and Megumi Fujii. Penne has gone on to fight for the UFC women’s strawweight title, Aguilar was widely considered the #1 women’s strawweight in the world for years, and Fujii is a legend in women’s MMA who was 22-0 when she fought Frausto for the title in the tournament finale. Frausto, who has never lost at 115-pounds, is now eager to reclaim her throne atop the women’s strawweight division.
“More than anything, I’m happy to be back,” stated Frausto. “I’m a completely different fighter now. I’m not just athletic, but I’ve added world-class striking and won a Muay Thai world title. I now have size, strength, speed, and skill that the girls at 115-pounds aren’t ready for. It’s exciting to fight for the first RFA women’s title in Las Vegas. The first fight I ever saw was in Las Vegas and I remember seeing it and thinking, this is what I want to do and this where I want to fight.”

Jones-Lybarger (5-1) enters the title fight as the most successful woman in RFA history. The MMA LAB product has won three consecutive fights since signing with the RFA last year. In those three bouts, she has showcased a wide variety of skills. In her debut, she won a Unanimous Decision over the scrappy Rosa Acevedo at RFA 14. Jones-Lybarger then out-grappled the heavy-handed striking stalwart Rebecca Ruth at RFA 19. In her most recent outing, she used her formidable boxing skills to defeat talented jiu-jitsu based fighter Maria Rios at RFA 23. Jones-Lybarger was set to return to action this month at RFA 29 as part of Team USA, but her opponent was forced off the card and Jones-Lybarger quickly shifted her attention towards her biggest challenge to date.

“I honestly feel that my time is now,” Jones-Lybarger explained. “When the fight with Kinberly (Novaes) was called off, I knew my time for an RFA title fight with Zoila was now. This is the win I need to get me to the next chapter in my career and I’m excited about becoming the first RFA women’s champion.”
The entire RFA 31 – Smith vs. Marunde main card, preliminary card, and further information regarding this event will be announced soon. RFA 31 will be the promotion’s second event to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada since its inception in 2011. The entire main card of RFA 31 will be televised live and nationwide on AXS TV at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Friday, October 9th.
Please visit RFAfighting.com for bout updates and information. RFA is also on Facebook at Facebook.com/RFAfighting, Instagram at @RFAfighting, and Twitter at @RFAfighting.

About RFA: RFA is a professional mixed martial arts promotion that gives rising stars and top contenders the opportunity to prove their talent to fans and leaders in the industry. The RFA presents live events on a monthly basis around the United States including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Denver and Milwaukee. RFA can be seen live in over 43 million homes nationally through its television deal with AXS TV. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, RFA is one of the most active and respected MMA organizations in the fastest growing sport in the world. (The Octagon, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, UFC®, and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC. All rights reserved).

About AXS TV Fights: AXS TV Fights is renowned for its universally recognized Friday Night Mixed Martial Arts and Kickboxing events. As Your Home For MMA, AXS TV utilizes an expansive network of promotions from the United States, Canada, and Europe. And Asia to broadcast more LIVE fights than any other television network. “The Voice” Michael Schiavello and five-time MMA world-champion Pat Miletich provide viewers expert play-by-play, in-depth fighter coverage, and extensive analysis to each fight card. AXS TV broadcasts world-class LIVE fight events from RFA, Lion Fight, Legacy FC, and MFC every Friday night at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET.
Bellator, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

LIGHTWEIGHT REMATCH PITTING ‘IRON’ MICHAEL CHANDLER AGAINST DAVID ‘THE CAVEMAN’ RICKELS ADDED TO ‘BELLATOR 145: VENGEANCE’

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SANTA MONICA, Calif. (September 22, 2015) – Bellator MMA continues to stack the deck for its return to Scottrade Center in Saint Louis on November 6, when former lightweight champion “Iron” Michael Chandler (13-3) meets David “The Caveman” Rickels (16-3, 1 NC) in a rematch that takes place during the main card of “Bellator 145: Vengeance,” which airs live on Spike at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

 

In addition, three preliminary contests have also been added to the event, when Vince Eazelle (9-2) faces Chris Heatherly (9-3, 1 NC), Scott Ettling (2-0) meets Garrett Mueller(2-0) and Garrett Gross (6-4) takes on Luke Nelson (2-1). The aforementioned preliminary bouts will stream exclusively on Spike.com at 7 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. CT.

 

Top billing at the Nov. 6 event features two world title bouts – Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (24-2) defends his featherweight strap against Daniel Straus (23-6) and Will “Ill Will” Brooks (16-1) meets submission specialist Marcin Held (21-3) with the 155-pound belt on the line. “Bellator 145: Vengeance” on Spike will also feature heavyweight contender Bobby “The Dominator” Lashley (13-2) in action.

 

Tickets for “Bellator 145: Vengeance,” which start at just $30, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com and the Ford Box Office at Scottrade Center. Doors for the event open at 5:00 p.m. CT local time and the first contest takes place shortly after.

 

After dropping fights to the current divisional kingpin, Chandler bounced back with a highlight-reel worthy finish of Derek Campos at the record setting “Bellator 138: Unfinished Business” event in July. “Iron” Mike recently left his longtime home of Alliance MMA in San Diego, Calif., to link up with Power MMA in Arizona. A favorite of Saint Louis, Chandler will have his home state of Missouri strongly in his corner on November 6.

 

Coming off a controversial, yet dominant performance against John Alessio in the main event of “Bellator 139: Kongo vs. Volkov,” Rickels looks to wipe the bad taste of a no-contest out of his mouth in a rematch against Chandler. Having already faced his Nov. 6 opponent at “Bellator 97: Chandler vs. Rickels” in 2013, “The Caveman” will have more than just title hopes on his mind. It’s also worth mentioning that this will be the first time Rickels will compete on a “tent-pole” event under Scott Coker, which means there could be a can’t miss walkout at “Bellator 145: Vengeance.”

“Bellator 145: Vengeance” Updated Fight Card

Main Card:

Bellator Featherweight World Title Bout: Patricio Freire (24-2) vs. Daniel Straus (23-6)

Bellator Lightweight World Title Bout: Will Brooks (16-1) vs. Marcin Held (21-3)

Bellator Featherweight Feature Bout: Pat Curran (21-7) vs. Justin Lawrence (7-2)

Bellator Lightweight Feature Bout: Michael Chandler (13-3) vs. David Rickels (16-3, 1 NC)

Bellator Heavyweight Feature Bout: Bobby Lashley (13-2) vs. TBD

 

Preliminary Card:

Bellator Lightweight Feature Bout: Vince Eazelle (9-2) vs. Chris Heatherly (9-3, 1 NC)

Bellator Bantamweight Feature Bout: Scott Ettling (2-0) vs. Garrett Mueller (2-0)

Bellator Lightweight Feature Bout: Garrett Gross (6-4) vs. Luke Nelson (2-1)

 

Judo, kickboxing, martial arts, mixed martial arts

FIGHT NETWORK MMA, KICKBOXING & JUDO PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE (Sept. 21-27, 2015)

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For Immediate Release
(U.S. only schedules unless otherwise indicated in blue. For full Canadian schedule, please visit tv.fightnetwork.com from your region.)
 
Fight Network is a 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports. It airs programs focused on the entire scope of the combat sports genre, including live fights and up-to-the-minute news and analysis for mixed martial arts, kickboxing, professional wrestling, traditional martial arts, boxing, fight news, as well as fight-themed drama series, documentaries and feature films.
Below find highlights of this week’s programming:
Monday, Sept. 21
6:30 p.m. ET – Judo World Championships 2004 Highlights – Highlights from the 2014 Judo World Championships on Aug.14 Judo World Championships on Aug.5-31, in Chelyabinsk, Russia.
7:00 p.m. ET – 5 Rounds – Fight Network’s John Ramdeen and Robin Black invite special guests to breakdown the weekend of MMA action.
7:30 p.m. ET & 11:30 p.m. ET– Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
 
Tuesday, Sept. 22
1:30 a.m. ET – XPTV – Coverage of regional U.S. professional and amateur MMA events.
6:30 a.m. ET – Hip Show: Arena Combat – Tag-team MMA inside a 12m by 12m arena with three-level obstacle structures.
5:00 & 5:30 ET – Xtreme Fighting Championship – Florida-based pro MMA featuring top American prospects, international stars and UFC veterans.
6:00 p.m. & 10 p.m. ET — – 5 Rounds Today – Video podcast with John Ramdeen and Robin Black breaking down a wide variety of topics in the MMA world, including previews of upcoming events and all the latest rumors and headlines.
8:00 p.m. ET – 5 Rounds – Fight Network’s John Ramadeen and Robin Black invite special guests to breakdown the weekend of MMA action.
8:30 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
9:00 p.m. ET — Fighting Spirit MMA Season 4 – Compilation of international fights from SFL, Legend, FFC, M-1 and others.
11:00 p.m. ET – Enfusion Live #31: Malaga, Spain – Featuring Fran Palenzuela vs. Tayfun Ozcan in kickboxing action from the Enfusion -72.5 kg world title from, Sept. 19, 2015 in Malaga, Spain.
 
Wednesday, Sept. 23
2:00 a.m. ET & 2 p.m. ET – Global Fighting Championship 4 – Featuring Badr Hari vs. Arnond Oborotov on a stacked MMA/kickboxing card from Oct. 16, 2014 in Dubai.
5:00 p.m. ET – Texas Fight Night – MMA action from Texas featuring the Lone Star State’s top prospects in the cage.
6:00 p.m. ET – Best of Cage Rage – Featuring classic fights from the UK-based Cage Rage organization with Anderson Silva, Antonio Silva, Victor Belfort, Paul Daley and others.
7:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and feature.
7:30 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
8:00 p.m. ET – Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 54 – Featuring Jesse Taylor vs. John Phillips for the Cage Warriors middleweight title fromMay 4,m 2013 in Cardiff, Wales.
11:00 p.m. ET – MMA Meltdown with Gabriel Morency – Gabriel Morency breaks down all the happenings in MMA, discussing odds, predictions, plus special weekly guests and exclusive interviews.
11:30 p.m. ET – TakeDown Wrestling – Extensive coverage of amateur wrestling events, including the latest news, behind-the-scenes coverage from events and exclusive interviews.
 
Thursday, Sept. 24
1:30 a.m. ET & 1:00 p.m. ET – Ultimate Challenge MMA 26: The Real Deal – Featuring Linton VBssell vs. Aurelijus Kerpe and Stav Economou vs. Tomasz Czerwinski from Feb. 4, 2012 in London.
3:30 a.m. ET – Hard Knocks Fighting: Out of the Cage: Lindsay Garbatt– Mini-documentary on Toronto native Lindsay Garbatt’s MMA journey ahead of her clash with Valeria Mejia at Hard Knocks Fighting 45 LIVE on Fight Network.
6:00 p.m. ET – Championship Fighting Alliance – Pro MMA from Florida featuring the likes of Josh Sampo, Mike Kyle, John Howard, Sean McCorkie, Luis Palomino and others.
8:00 p.m. ET – UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Barnett Pre-Show – Pre-show coverage and analysis of UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Barnett in Saltama, Japan.
8:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and feature.
8:30 p.m. ET – Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
9:00 p.m. ET – M-1 Challenge 61: Battle of Narts 2 – Featuring heavyweight champion Marcin Tybura vs. Ante Delija from Igushetia, Russia.
 
Friday, Sept. 25
12:00 a.m. ET & 11 a.m. ET– It’s Showtime Special – The world’s premier kickboxing organization featuring Badr Hari, Melvin Manhoef and Giorgio Petrosyan.
4:00 a.m. ET & 5:00 p.m. ET – UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Barnett Pre-Show – Pre-show coverage and analysis of UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Barnett in Saltama, Japan.
12:00 p.m. ET – Bookie Beatdown – Preview of the betting lines and top picks for major UFC events.
6:00 p.m. ET – M-1 Challenge – Pro MMA from Europe featuring top rising prospects and international stars.
7:00 p.m. ET – Fight News Now: MMA Edition – Covering all the happenings in the MMA world with exclusive analysis and features.
7:30 p.m. ET — Fight News Now Extra – The latest news, recaps, features and inside analysis of the fight game.
8:00 p.m. ET – KSW 18: Overeem vs. Rozalski  – Featuring Valentijn Overeem vs. Mar4cin Rozalski, Jan Blachowicz vs. Mario Miranda and Curt Warburton vs. Artur Sowinski from Feb. 25, 2012 in Lodz, Poland.
11:00 p.m. ET – Hard Knocks Fighting 45 – LIVE MMA from Calgary, Alberta, Canada featuring Jordan McKay vs. Joel Powell and Wolfgang Janssen vs. Craig Shintani.
 
Saturday, Sept. 26
6:00 a.m. ET – Best of TKO – Featuring Georges St, Pierre vs. Thomas Denny from UCC 12.
7:00 a.m. ET & 12:00 p.m. ET – UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Barnett Pre-Show – Pre-show coverage and analysis of UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Barnett in Saltama, Japan.
5:00 p.m. ET – DEEP: Cage Impact 2013 – Featuring Doo Ho Choi vs, Shoji Maruyama and Ryuta Sakurai vs. Yuji Sakuragi from June 15, 2013 in Tokyo.
8 p.m. ET –CANADA ONLY – UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson Prelims – Live preliminary bouts from Saitama, Japan, including Katsunori Kikuno vs. Diego Brandao and Naoyuki Kotani vs. Kajan Johnson.
9:00 p.m. ET – Hard Knocks Fighting 45 – Featuring Jordan Mackay vs. Joel Powell and Wolfgang Janssen vs. Craig Shintani from Sept. 25, 2015 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
 
 
Sunday, Sept. 27
6:00 a.m. ET – Pancrase Classics – Classic pioneering MMA battles featuring Ken Shamrock, Frank Shamrock, Bas Rutten, Name Marquardt, Chael Sonnen and others.
8:30 a.m. ET – CANADA ONLY – ONE Championship: Odyssey of Champions LIVE – Live MMA from Jakarta, Indonesia, featuring Jadamba Narantungalag vs. Marat Gafurov for the ONE featherweight title, plus Herbert Burns vs. Timofey Nastyukhin, Roger Huerta vs. Koji Ando and Leandro Ataides vs. Alexey Butorin.
11:00 a.m. ET – Best of ADCC– Features compilations of the greatest grappling matches ever held, featuring Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes, Eddie Bravo, Fabricio Werdum, Marcelo Garcia, Ronaldo Souza and Royler Gracie.
12:00 p.m. ETB – Elite Muay Thai: Thailand vs. Challenger – The biggest Muay Thai series in the world featuring premium international stand-up fighters taking on the renowned Thailand National Team.
4:00 p.m. ET – Fighting Spirit MMA Season 4– Compilation of international fights from SFLO, Legend, FFC, M-1 and others.
5:00 p.m. – USA Wrestling Weekly – Host Scott Casber gives weekly news and analysis centering around USA Wrestling, the sport’s national governing body, including interviews, features, and a look back at the past.
5:30 p.m. ET – Judo Baku Grand Slam 2014 Highlights – Highlights from the Judo Baku Grand Slam from May 9-11 in Azerbaijan.
11:00 p.m. ET – Enfusion Live: Groningen – Professional kickboxing featuring Rachida Bouhout vs. Laetitia Bakissy for thew Enfusion women’s -64kg Title from Nov. 16, 2013 in Groningen, Netherlands.
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Information:
Twitter & Instagram @fightnet
Bellator, GLORY, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, Spike TV

COMPLETE ‘BELLATOR MMA: DYNAMITE 1’ RESULTS & PHOTOS

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SAN JOSE, Calif. (September 19, 2015) – Liam McGeary retained his Bellator MMA Light Heavyweight title in front of a sellout crowd at The SAP Center in San Jose at “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1.”

 

Tito Ortiz was taking the fight to the Englishman, utilizing his world-renowned ground game to nullify the reach of McGeary, but in the end, it was the slick jiu-jitsu of the 32-year-old that signaled the end of the night for “The People’s Champion.”

 

After the fight, McGeary had plenty to say about submitting Ortiz for the first time in his career.

 

“The victory was amazing,” said McGeary. “Tito has never been submitted before, so that was definitely an achievement for me. This is my house. You can’t come into my house and try to take things away from me. I got this belt with hard work and anyone that comes in here will have a fight on their hands. That goes for anyone who steps in to fight me.”

 

 

Phil Davis had a night to remember, earning his second finish of the evening to officially become the No. 1 contender at 205-pounds.

 

“Mr. Wonderful” caught Francis Carmont with a perfectly placed hook to the chin that sent the French Canadian to the canvas, which saw Davis promptly follow up and throw unanswered punches that forced the referee’s hand and resulted in the stoppage.

 

“I don’t know what just happened,” said Davis. “I just want to thank God. I had the best training camp. I have the best coaches, teammates and people around me. You know what, I’d want to fight Liam McGeary. He’s young, fresh and he’s long.”

The victory for Davis also meant that the Alliance MMA product received a brand-new belt to commemorate his tournament victory.

 

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In the main event on the Glory kickboxing portion of the card, Saulo Cavalaribested Zack Mwekassa via majority decision on Saturday night at “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1.”

 

Cavalari managed to bounce back from a point deduction to get the judges’ nod, and now owns two victories over Mwekassa in two meetings. The Brazilian now returns home with a fancy piece of hardware, the Glory light heavyweight championship of the world in tow.

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Not only was “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1” a homecoming for Scott Coker, but it also was a successful one for Josh Thomson, (21-8, 1 NC) who finished Mike Bronzoulis (18-9-1) in the second round with an arm-triangle choke.

 

“It feels amazing, thank you Scott Coker for making this happen,” Thomson said. “Tonight was different for me, I had the jitters like I don’t normally have. I wanted to perform for you guys. This may be the last time you see me in this arena.”

 

With the win, Thomson will take a perfect Bellator MMA record into his next bout and further solidifies his roll as one of the top lightweights on the planet.

 

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Two of Bellator MMA’s top welterweights traded in the eight-ounce gloves and put on Glory kickboxing gloves and went to war inside the ring instead of the cage. In the end though, Paul Daley took home the unanimous decision victory over Fernando Gonzalez, receiving the nod from all three judges at ringside.

 

With the win, Daley continues to add wins to his resume, improving his kickboxing record to 21-3, while his mixed martial arts is 37-13-2. “The Menifee Maniac” doesn’t lose much in defeat and will likely request a rematch inside the ring at a later date.

 

If you ask “Semtex” though, everything went as planned and he would not be against taking a kickboxing bout again, “This was the exact fight I expected. I knew he was tough and I knew he was a good boxer,” Daley said. “I am just happy that I was able to go out there and throw shots. I wanted to throw some punches, combinations and not get too wild. I think I did just that. I’m open to kickboxing again as often as Bellator gives me the opportunity to.”

 

In the first Glory kickboxing fight on the main card of “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1,” Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez defeated Hadley Griffith via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26).

 

The wife of former Strikeforce Champion Gilbert Melendez, Keri didn’t allow Griffith to get off much in the way of offense, keeping the pressure on the debuting kickboxer and giving the large contingent of Melendez fans a great deal to cheer about.

 

After the fight Keri made it clear that while she hopes to eventually transition to mixed martial arts, another kickboxing bout is not out of the question, “I’m happy I got the victory. I felt a little ring rust, but I’m happy,” Melendez said. “I’m not against kickboxing, it’s my first love and I’m down to do it again.”

 

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On the opposite side of the one-night, four-man tournament, Phil Davis (14-3, 1 NC) utilized a kimura to force the tap out from his opponent and former Bellator MMA 205-pound champion Emanuel Newton (25-9-1).

 

Davis, who was making his Bellator debut, immediately took Newton to the ground, using his superior wrestling ability to his advantage. The former NCAA D1 National Champion wrestler out of Penn State moves on to the co-main event of the evening against Carmont who beat Anthony Ruiz earlier on in the evening.

 

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The inaugural Dynamite lived up its name with an explosive start. In the opening bout of “Bellator MMA: Dynamite 1’s” four-night light heavyweight tournament, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (16-4, 1 NC) advanced past Linton Vassell (15-5) in a tightly contested bout that featured exciting punching exchanges and two huge slams that brought the sellout crowd inside The SAP Center to their feet. With the win, the American Top Team-product was supposed to move on to the second round of the tournament bracket, but a rib injury derailed those plans.

 

About Bellator MMA

Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike TV, the MMA television leader.  Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.  Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.