Tag Archives: mma

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Showtime

Official Fight Night Results, Quotes & Photos for BELLATOR MMA 264: Mousasi vs. Salte

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COMPLETE FIGHT NIGHT PHOTOS HERE – (PLEASE CREDIT: BELLATOR MMA / LUCAS NOONAN)
 
POST-FIGHT VIDEO INTERVIEWS HERE  
 
c-Gegard Mousasi (48-7-2) defeated #1-John Salter (18-5) via TKO (punches) at 2:07 of round three
 
Gegard Mousasi following retaining his middleweight title:
 
“He’s a southpaw so everything is more difficult. It was a little bit more difficult to get my punches in, but other than that I felt good. I’m way stronger than people think. Maybe I look skinny but I’m a lot stronger and physically I was the stronger guy in there. On top, I felt like I could just pressure him, put my weight on him and hurt him with my punches. Make him feel the pressure. It was a five-rounder so in my mind, I’m saying ‘Okay, don’t do everything now because we can go five.’”
  
Andrey Koreshkov (24-4) defeated #10-Sabah Homasi (15-10) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)
 
Andrey Koreshkov following his return to the BELLATOR MMA Cage:
 
“I try to show everybody that I’m here, I can compete, and I can beat anyone. I think I’m one of the top fighters in this division. In my opinion, I must fight with somebody for the third, second or first place. I’m open to anybody. It doesn’t matter. Neiman Gracie, Jason Jackson, Paul Daley, Michael “Venom” Page – anybody!”
  
#4-Raufeon Stots (17-1) defeated #3-Magomed Magomedov (18-2) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
 
Raufeon Stots following his impressive victory:
 
“I’ve never claimed to be the best wrestler in MMA, but y’all better stop sleeping on my wrestling. I’m a two-time national champion for a reason. Ain’t nobody stopping me in the wrestling division. I’m the best wrestler in the division.”
 
#7-Davion Franklin (4-0) defeated Everett Cummings (15-1) via KO (punches) at :21 of round one
 
Davion Franklin has his sights set on fellow BELLATOR heavyweight Cheick Kongo:
 
“I was just thinking about putting him out. Getting him out in the first round. That was my goal this whole time. I learned just to keep going. By the way, I heard Cheick Kongo commented under Everett Cummings’ Instagram post saying that Everett’s gonna’ tap me out. Hey Cheick Kongo, step up, you’ll get done the same way, if not worse.”
 
Khadzhi Bestaev (11-4) defeated Ty Gwerder (5-3) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
 
Khadzhi Bestaev had this to say following a successful BELLATOR debut:

“He was bigger than me and very tough, but I knew he was going to gas out. He started gassing out in the second or third round, but I’m still surprised by the decision. I thought it was a draw or maybe a split-decision. But I have to see the fight. In my head, he kicked and punched me so many times so hats off to him. He didn’t give up. I just dropped him a couple of times and that was the difference.”
 
Preliminary Card: 
Pam Sorenson (9-3) defeated Roberta Samad (5-1) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Jeffrey Glossner (3-2) defeated Sebastian Ruiz (2-4) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28-29-28)
Jon McNeil (1-0) defeated Orlando Mendoza (0-1) via TKO (punches) at 3:57 of round three
 
Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.
 
About BELLATOR
BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR 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 Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Showtime

Phil Davis vs. Yoel Romero set to headline BELLATOR 266 on Sat., Sept. 18

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FORMER BELLATOR LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION PHIL DAVIS CHALLENGES OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST YOEL ROMERO IN MAIN EVENT OF BELLATOR MMA 266 INSIDE THE SAP CENTER AT SAN JOSE ON SATURDAY, SEPT. 18
 
Special Night of Combat Sports on SHOWTIME begins with World Title Unification Boxing Event Live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT Immediately Followed by BELLATOR 266

LOS ANGELES – A pair of elite mixed martial artists will meet in the main event of BELLATOR MMA 266 on Saturday, Sept. 18 inside the SAP Center at San Jose when former 205-pound champion and No. 3 ranked Phil Davis (22-6) welcomes MMA superstar Yoel Romero (13-5) to the promotion.

In addition, a women’s flyweight contest between former title challenger #5-Alejandra Lara (9-4) and DeAnna Bennett (10-7-1) that was originally slated for next week’s BELLATOR MMA 265: Kongo vs. Kharitonov event in South Dakota has been re-booked for Sept. 18.

A pair of preliminary bouts have also been announced for BELLATOR’s return to San Jose, highlighted by the Bay Area’s own No. 10 ranked lightweight Adam Piccolotti (12-4) welcoming the hard-hitting Englishman Saul Rogers (14-4) back to the division after competing at featherweight his past four outings. Also, undefeated light heavyweight Grant Neal (6-0) returns to action against former LFA light heavyweight champion Alex Polizzi (7-1).

BELLATOR 266 will be the second half of a special combat sports doubleheader on SHOWTIME. The night will begin with SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT featuring a super bantamweight world championship unification bout between Brandon Figueroa and Stephen Fulton Jr. The two unbeaten 122-pound titlists will meet in Las Vegas immediately before the live BELLATOR 266 telecast begins in San Jose.

The preliminary portion of the docket will stream live on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV. Additional bouts will be announced at a later date.

An exclusive online presale for this event takes place starting Wednesday, August 18 with tickets going on sale to the general public Thursday, August 19 at Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.

Hailing from Harrisburg, Penn., “Mr. Wonderful” will step into the BELLATOR cage for the 14th time in his career, searching for his 10th promotional victory. The former BELLATOR Light Heavyweight World Champion is looking to make another run at the 205-pound strap, following victories in three of his past four bouts, including a pair of knockouts over Liam McGeary and Karl Albrektsson. A four-time NCAA Division-I All-American wrestler at Penn State University, Davis has proven time and time again that there are few fighters that can hold their own once he gets them to the ground.

Fighting out of Miami, Romero will be making his highly anticipated BELLATOR debut on Sept. 18. Following a seven-year stint under the direction of the UFC, the American Top Team-product became one of the most sought-after free agents prior to signing with the Scott Coker-led promotion in December 2020. With 11 of his 13 career victories coming by way of knockout, including four of the first-round variety, “Soldier of God” possesses the type of knockout power that can force any opponent into early retirement. A three-time World Cup Freestyle Wrestling Champion, five-time Pan-American Freestyle Wrestling Champion, and 2000 Olympics Freestyle Wrestling Silver Medalist, the Cuban-born Romero has continuously showcased his elite talents at the highest level of competition. The only missing trophy to a near-flawless legacy is a BELLATOR world title.

Updated schedule of BELLATOR events

Fri. Aug. 13 // BELLATOR 264: Mousasi vs. Salter // Mohegan Sun Arena // Uncasville, CT

Fri. Aug. 20 // BELLATOR 265: Kongo vs. Kharitonov //Sanford Pentagon // Sioux Falls, SD

Sat. Sept. 18 // BELLATOR 266: Davis vs. Romero //SAP Center // San Jose, CA

Fri. Oct. 1 // BELLATOR 267: Lima vs. MVP 2 //The SSE Arena, Wembley // London, England

Sat. Oct. 16 // BELLATOR 268: Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Semifinals // Footprint Center // Phoenix, AZ

Sat. Oct. 23 // BELLATOR 269: Fedor vs. Johnson // VTB Arena // Moscow, Russia

****

BELLATOR MMA 266: Davis vs. Romero Main Card:

SHOWTIME

Light Heavyweight Main Event: #3-Phil Davis (22-6) vs. Yoel Romero (13-5)

Flyweight Bout: #5-Alejandra Lara (9-4) and DeAnna Bennett (10-7-1)

Preliminary Card: 

BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TV

Lightweight Bout: #10–Adam Piccolotti (12-4) vs. Saul Rogers (14-4)

Light Heavyweight Bout: #7-Grant Neal (6-0) vs. Alex Polizzi (7-1)

*Card subject to change.

Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.

****

About BELLATOR

BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR 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 Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About SHOWTIME

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc., owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS, and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Amazon, Apple®, Google, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Roku®, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox One and PlayStation®4. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, Apple TV Channels, AT&T TV Now, FuboTV, Hulu, The Roku Channel, Sling TV and YouTube TV. Viewers can also watch on computers at Showtime.com. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com. 

Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

NEF ANNOUNCES FIGHT CARD FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE DEBUT, FIRST PAY-PER-VIEW EVENT

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Milford, New Hampshire (August 13, 2021) – New England Fights (NEF) returns with its next event, “NEF 44: Back in Black,” on August 21, 2021, at the Hampshire Dome in Milford, New Hampshire.  The show will feature both mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and kickboxing fights.  Earlier today, NEF announced the full fight card for the event which will be the promotion’s first since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and its first foray into the Granite State.

On the professional portion of the card, Glory Watson (0-1) and Rebecca Bryggman (0-1) will both seek their respective first pro victories in a women’s strawweight contest.  Watson, a former NEF amateur flyweight champion, lost her pro debut earlier this year in Florida.  Likewise, Bryggman came up short in her professional debut at Bellator 231 in the fall of 2019.

Caleb Hall (3-0) and Shaun Ray (2-0) will put their respective unblemished pro records on the line in a lightweight bout, as will Jacob Deppmeyer (1-0) and Aaron Hughes (1-0) who are scheduled to meet in the 145-pound featherweight division.

Also in action on the professional portion of the card will be NEF fan-favorite Josh Harvey (7-1-1).  Harvey will look to bounce back after suffering the first loss of his pro career to veteran Jesse Erickson (10-8) last year.

Two title fights top the amateur portion of the card as Mike Bezanson (5-0) challenges longtime NEF Amateur Welterweight Champion Duncan Smith (6-3) for his strap and Nathaniel Grimard (3-0) and Brandon Maillet-Fevens (3-1) contest for the vacant NEF Amateur Featherweight Title.

Also featured on the amateur card will be a long-awaited rematch between Caleb Austin (4-0) and James Ploss (1-2) in the 125-pound flyweight division.  Their first bout, won by Austin in April 2017 at “NEF 28,” was mired in controversy and received national attention on social media.

Additionally, NEF announced today that it had partnered with Combat Sports Now to provide a pay-per-view stream of “NEF 44: Back in Black.”  The event will stream live in its entirety at https://combatsportsnow.com/event/new-england-fights-44 for $29.99.

The full “NEF 44” fight card:

PROFESSIONAL

155 Caleb Hall (Syndicate) vs Shaun Ray (Independent)

145 Josh Harvey (Vision Quest) vs Ian Beatease (KOV Gym)

145 Jacob Deppmeyer (First Class MMA) vs Aaron Hughes (Regiment)

115 Rebecca Bryggman (Kai MMA) vs Glory Watson (Young’s MMA)

AMATEUR

205 Henry Jeffs (Independent) vs Brandon Oldenburg (Vision Quest)

170*TITLE Duncan Smith (Evolution Athletix) vs Mike Bezanson (Kaze)

170 Curtis Ouellette (CMBJJ) vs Zach Faulkner (Recon)

170 Austin Hamilton (Independent) vs Jon Assam (CMBJJ)

155 Ryan Savage (First Class MMA) vs Kyle Pufahl (Nostos)

155 Lucas Donald (Independent) vs Evan Piette (Kaze)

155 Kaleb Kenney (Team Nitemare) vs Isaac Piette (Kaze)

145*TITLE Nathaniel Grimard (Nostos) vs Branon Maillet-Fevens (CMBJJ)

145 Cody Kilton (First Class MMA) vs Cam Hoyt (Kaze)

140 Mike Caron (SSSF) vs Key Baltazar (Nostos)

135 Teddy Politis (Evolution Athletix) vs Tyler Parent (CMBJJ)

130 Hannon Sanford (CMBJJ) vs Richard Martell (Young’s MMA)

125 Caleb Austin (CMBJJ) vs James Ploss (Kaze)

125 Tim Murray (Vision Quest) vs Guiliano Rossi(Kaze)

115 Matt Miles (Independent) vs Juan Quinom (UFC Gym)

130 KICKBOXING Dustin Veinott (CMBJJ) vs Geraldo Reyes (Team Link)

Tickets for “NEF 44: Back in Black” are on sale now at www.NewEnglandFights.com/Tickets/.  The MMA and kickboxing event will take place at the Hampshire Dome in Milford, New Hampshire on Saturday, August 21, 2021, with a bell-time of 7 pm. 

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 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, MMA, Showtime

FULL FIGHT CARD CONFIRMED FOR BELLATOR 264: MOUSASI VS. SALTER THIS FRIDAY

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LOS ANGELES – BELLATOR MMA has confirmed the full fight card for BELLATOR MMA 264: Mousasi vs Salter card at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The event contributes to an action-packed month of fights on SHOWTIME and is set to begin live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

In the main event of the evening, BELLATOR middleweight king Gegard Mousasi (47-7-2) puts his world title on the line against jiu-jitsu ace No. 1 ranked middleweight John Salter (18-4). Complimenting this amazing main event is a clash between two of the hardest hitting welterweights on the planet, as former champion Andrey Koreshkov (23-4) takes on the No. 10 ranked welterweight Sabah Homasi (15-9) in the co-main event and No. 3 ranked bantamweight Magomed Magomedov (18-1) squares off with No. 4 ranked Raufeon Stots (16-1) in a bout holding major title implications.

Rounding out the main card is a battle between undefeated heavyweights No. 7 ranked Davion Franklin (3-0) and Everett Cummings (16-0), along with a middleweight bout between KO-machine Ty Gwerder (5-2) and the BELLATOR-debuting AKA-product Khadzhi Bestaev (10-4).

The preliminary card consists of seven fights and is stacked throughout, featuring the highly anticipated debut of former Invicta Featherweight Champion Pam Sorenson (8-3) taking on Roberta Samad (5-1) and a bantamweight battle between the brash American Top Team-fighter Danny Sabatello (11-1) taking on the Boston-born veteran Johnny Campbell (21-13, 1 NC).

All BELLATOR MMA 264: Mousasi vs. Salter prelims will stream live at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV.

As part of the launch of BELLATOR MMA on SHOWTIME, the network is offering viewers who are new to the SHOWTIME streaming service a 30-day free trial, followed by a discounted monthly subscription fee of $4.99/month for the next six months. Viewers can sign up at SHO.com/BellatorMMA. Subscribers will be delivered two premier BELLATOR MMA events per month throughout 2021 and beyond, with all events scheduled to air live at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT anywhere the SHOWTIME service is available.  

Full bout listings are below:

BELLATOR MMA 264: Mousasi vs. Salter Main Card:

Friday, August 13 – live on SHOWTIME

9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT 

Middleweight Title Bout: c-Gegard Mousasi (47-7-2) vs. #1-John Salter (18-4)

Welterweight Bout: Andrey Koreshkov (23-4) vs. #10-Sabah Homasi (15-9)

Bantamweight Bout: #3-Magomed Magomedov (18-1) vs. #4-Raufeon Stots (16-1)

Heavyweight Bout: #7-Davion Franklin (3-0) vs. Everett Cummings (16-0, 1 NC)

 Middleweight Bout: Ty Gwerder (5-2) vs. Khadzhi Bestaev (10-4)

Preliminary Card: 

BELLATOR MMA YouTube Channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube Channel | Pluto TV

6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT

Women’s Featherweight Bout: Pam Sorenson (8-3) vs. Roberta Samad (5-1)

Bantamweight Bout: Danny Sabatello (11-1) vs. Johnny Campbell (21-13, 1 NC)

Lightweight Bout: Justin Montalvo (2-0) vs. Kendly St Louis (3-4)

Featherweight Bout: Nekruz Mirkhojaev (5-3) vs. James Adcock (7-4)

142-Pound Contract Weight Bout: Jeffrey Glossner (2-2) vs. Sebastian Ruiz (2-3)

195-Pound Contract Weight Bout: Orlando Mendoza (pro debut) vs. Jon McNeil (pro debut)

*Card subject to change.

Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.

****

 About BELLATOR

BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR 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 Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.

About SHOWTIME

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly owned subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc., owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS, and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Amazon, Apple®, Google, LG Smart TVs, Oculus Go, Roku®, Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox One and PlayStation®4. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels, Apple TV Channels, AT&T TV Now, FuboTV, Hulu, The Roku Channel, Sling TV and YouTube TV. Viewers can also watch on computers at Showtime.com. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV®. For more information, go to www.SHO.com. 

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Russia, Showtime

FEDOR EMELIANENKO SET TO MEET TIM JOHNSON AT MOSCOW’S VTB ARENA ON OCT. 23 IN MAIN EVENT OF BELLATOR MOSCOW: FEDOR VS. JOHNSON

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LOS ANGELES – BELLATOR MMA announced this morning that the greatest heavyweight mixed martial artist of all-time, Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko (39-6, 1 NC) will take on number two ranked heavyweight Tim Johnson (15-7) in the main event of BELLATOR Moscow: Fedor vs. Johnson on Saturday, Oct. 23 at the VTB Arena.
 
Tickets for the highly anticipated event are on sale now and can be purchased at Kassir.ru. Additional matchups and SHOWTIME telecast details will be revealed soon.
 
Widely regarded as the greatest heavyweight in mixed martial arts history, Fedor Emelianenko returns to the BELLATOR cage for the first time since his dominant first-round TKO victory over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in 2019. With an illustrious career that has seen him earn 30 stoppages in his 39 victories over legendary opposition, the former PRIDE FC Heavyweight World Champion will be fighting in his home country of Russia for the first time in five years. A four-time combat sambo world champion, “The Last Emperor” put together an insane eight-year unbeaten streak on his way to becoming an international MMA icon. Emelianenko has established Team Fedor, which features several top Russian fighters including BELLATOR’s Light Heavyweight World Champion Vadim Nemkov and BELLATOR’s Interim Heavyweight Champion Valentin Moldavsky. With his last three victories coming by way of first-round finish, Fedor is looking to add another exciting chapter to his storied fighting career on October 23.
 
2020 was a huge year for Johnson, as the UFC vet notched three wins in as many fights with impressive first-round finishes over Matt Mitrione and Tyrell Fortune and a decision victory over Cheick Kongo during the historic, first-ever major MMA event in France.  The Xtreme Couture-product showed that he’s got the skill and stamina for championship rounds as he went the full five with Team Fedor’s Valentin Modlavsky (11-1) this past June. Proudly hailing from North Dakota, Johnson is a current member of the United States National Guard who won two national championships while wrestling at Minnesota State University.
 
Updated BELLATOR Moscow: Fedor vs. Johnson Card:
 
Heavyweight Main Event: Fedor Emelianenko (39-6, 1 NC) vs. #2-Tim Johnson (15-7)
 
****
 
*Card subject to change.
 
Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.
Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Showtime

BELLATOR ANNOUNCES BLOCKBUSTER EVENT FOR THEIR RETURN TO LONDON FRIDAY, OCT. 1

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THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED REMATCH BETWEEN DOUGLAS ‘THE PHENOM’ LIMA AND MICHAEL “VENOM” PAGE TO HEADLINE BELLATOR LONDON: LIMA VS. MVP 2

TICKETS ON SALE THIS FRIDAY

LONDON, UK – Today, BELLATOR MMA announced it will be returning to The SSE Arena, Wembley in London on Friday, October 1, with BELLATOR London, a card headlined by a must-see rematch between No. 1 ranked Douglas “The Phenom” Lima (32-9) and No. 2 ranked Michael “Venom” Page (19-1).

Fans in attendance at The SSE Arena, Wembley and those tuning in from around the world can expect an explosive night of elite MMA action in the capital, with two of the world’s best welterweights going toe-to-toe in a high-stakes match-up. Lima and Page will be putting everything on the line in pursuit of a win, with the fighter who emerges victorious booking themselves a fast-track ticket to a title shot against newly crowned welterweight champion, Yaroslav Amosov.

For the first time since February 2020, BELLATOR MMA fans in Europe will be able to fill the arena for the event that features a showcase of top international and homegrown athletes.

Tickets for BELLATOR London: Lima vs. MVP 2 go on sale on Friday, July 30, with a special pre-sale Thursday, July 29 and can be purchased online from axs.com/uk and BELLATOR.com.

The BELLATOR London main card action will kick off at 9 p.m. BST/4 p.m. ET, while the preliminary card begins at 5:30 p.m. BST/12:30 p.m. ET. BELLATOR fans can watch the event live on SHOWTIME (US), BBC iPlayer (UK), as well as both Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Sport (Ireland).

Lima and Page first met inside the BELLATOR Cage in May 2019 at BELLATOR 221 in the semifinals of BELLATOR’s Welterweight World Grand Prix. After an even first round, Lima sent Page to the canvas with a sweeping leg kick, which he then followed up with a spectacular punch and ground and pound strikes to finish the fight.

Lima will be looking to cause an upset for the hometown faithful and stop Page for a second time, denying the Londoner his chance for gold, and earning himself an immediate shot at recapturing the welterweight title which he lost to Yaroslav Amosov via unanimous decision in June of this year.

“MVP has put together an impressive string of wins together, but when he gets back in the cage with me, the end result is going to be the same as the first time,” said Lima. “Right now, I’m on a mission to put the BELLATOR belt back around my waist.  Anyone standing in my way will be dismantled.”

Widely regarded as the poster boy of MMA in the UK, Londoner Michael “Venom” Page, or ‘MVP’ as he is known to his fans, will step into the BELLATOR cage fresh off the back of his spectacular first round TKO victory over Derek “The Barbaric” Anderson this past May. Currently riding a five-fight win streak full of highlight real knockouts, the only defeat on Page’s MMA record to date came at the hands of Lima, a loss that he is hungry to avenge.

“The comeback is always bigger than the setback. It was always gonna happen, it’s written in the stars,” said Page. “The one and only MVP is back, and I will have my redemption in front of my hometown the only way I know how – in venomous style.”

The current fight card is available below with additional bouts to be announced in the coming weeks.

BELLATOR London: Lima vs. MVP 2 MainCard:

SHOWTIME (US) / BBC iPlayer (UK) / Virgin Media Two & Virgin Media Sport (IRELAND)

Friday, October 1 – 9 p.m. BST/4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT

Welterweight Main Event: #1-Douglas Lima (32-9) vs. #2-Michael Page (19-1)

Featherweight Bout: Robert Whiteford (16-4))vs. Andrew Fisher (18-8-1

Lightweight Bout: Yves Landu (16-8) vs. Tim Wilde (13-4)

Light Heavyweight Bout: Luke Trainer (4-0) vs. Yannick Bahati (9-5)

Preliminary Card: 

BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TV (US)

BBC iPlayer (UK) | Virgin Media Two & Virgin Media Sport (IRELAND)

5:30 p.m. BST/12:30 p.m. ET/9:30 a.m. PT

Welterweight Bout: Lewis Long (18-6) vs. Uros Jurisic (11-1)

Lightweight Bout: Kane Mousah (13-3) vs. Davy Gallon (18-7-2)

Flyweight Bout: Lucie Bertaud (3-2) vs. Elina Kallionidou (7-4)

Lightweight Bout: Charlie Leary (17-11-1) vs. Gavin Hughes (10-2)

Featherweight Bout: Fabacary Diatta (7-0)vs. Nathan Rose (7-3)

Bantamweight Bout: Khurshed Kakhorov (7-0) vs. Mike Ekundayo (8-1)

*Card subject to change

Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.

****

Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Showtime

Cheick Kongo Set to Rumble With Sergei Kharitonov in Heavyweight Main Event of BELLATOR MMA 265 on Aug. 20 at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, SD

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LOS ANGELES – Today, BELLATOR officials confirmed a must-see main event pitting hard-hitting heavyweights Cheick Kongo (30-11-2) and Sergei Kharitonov (32-8) against one another tops BELLATOR MMA 265 on Friday, August 20 from the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. and airs live on SHOWTIME at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
 
The card has also confirmed top featherweights No. 3 Adam Borics (17-1) and No. 4 Jay-Jay Wilson (8-0) will meet for the right to face the winner of the BELLATOR Featherweight World Grand Prix Final between Patricio “Pitbull” (32-4) and AJ McKee (17-0), which takes place on Saturday, July 31.
 
Tickets for the event go on sale this Thursday at 10 a.m. CT and are available at Sanford Pentagon Box Office & Ticketmaster.
 
The preliminary portion of BELLATOR MMA 265: Kongo vs. Kharitonov currentlyfeatures a flyweight bout pitting No.5-ranked Alejandra Lara (9-4) against DeAnna Bennett (10-7-1) and willbegin at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT and stream live on the BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel, SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel and Pluto TV. Additional preliminary bouts will be announced in the near future.
 
Holding an impressive MMA record of 30-11-2, 1 NC, No. 3-ranked Cheick Kongo returns to action for the first time since headlining the first-ever major MMA event in his native France last October. The former kickboxer remains a force to be reckoned with and holds records for the most fights (16) and wins (12) in BELLATOR heavyweight history. With high-profile victories over Vitaly Minakov, Mirko Cro Cop, Antoni Hardonk, and Matt Mitrione, the Parisian is keen to pad his current promotional records, set new ones, and earn his shot at BELLATOR gold.
 
The man nicknamed “The Paratrooper,” Kharitonov is the owner of an equally notable MMA resume, with the Russian scoring vicious wins against some of the sport’s marquee names, such as Fabricio Werdum, Andrei Arlovski, Pedro Rizzo, Murilo “Ninja” Rua, Matt Mitrione, and Alistair Overeem. Now, fresh off two championship victories on the regional circuit, Kharitonov returns to the BELLATOR cage with the intention of climbing the heavyweight rankings and asserting himself as a BELLATOR title contender.
 
28-year-old Hungarian Adam “The Kid” Borics has won 17 of 18 fights to begin his professional career, bouncing back from his only loss with three straight victories. Training out of South Florida’s Sanford MMA gym, Borics has firmly established himself as a true threat to anyone in the 145-pound division, where he is currently ranked third.
 
Undefeated in his first eight fights as a professional, New Zealand’s Wilson has won in style, accumulating six finishes in those eight wins. Following a split decision win against Tywan Claxton, Wilson scored a violent knockout of Sergio DeBari, then followed that victory up with an equally vicious spinning backfist stoppage over SBG’s Pedro Carvalho in April. The Kiwi fighter will be looking to secure a high-stakes victory over Borics with a world title shot awaiting the winner.
 
# # #
 
BELLATOR MMA 265: Kongo vs. Kharitonov Main Card:
SHOWTIME
Friday, August 20 – 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT 
 
Heavyweight Main Event: #3-Cheick Kongo (30-11-2) vs. Sergei Kharitonov (32-8)
Featherweight No. 1 Contender’s Bout: #3-Adam Borics (17-1) vs. #4-Jay-Jay Wilson (8-0)
 
Preliminary Card: 
BELLATOR MMA YouTube channel | SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel | Pluto TV
6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT
 
Flyweight Bout: #5-Alejandra Lara (9-4) vs. DeAnna Bennett (10-7-1)
 
For more information on upcoming BELLATOR MMA events, visit BELLATOR.com.
Bellator, mixed martial arts, MMA, Showtime

Official Fight Night Results, Quotes & Photos for BELLATOR MMA 262: Velasquez vs. Kielholtz

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COMPLETE FIGHT NIGHT PHOTOS HERE – (PLEASE CREDIT: BELLATOR MMA / LUCAS NOONAN)
 
POST-FIGHT VIDEO INTERVIEWS HERE  
 
C-Juliana Velasquez (12-0) defeated #3-Denise Kielholtz (6-3) via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
 
Juliana Velasquez: 
“I think I would be clinching a bit more, her striking didn’t surprise me, but I felt that I did enough to retain the title.”
 
“I beat her with my jab, if you look at her face, it’s messed up, if you look at mine, my face is fine. I think people in the audience favor her because she has a kickboxing style and I counter, but I think it was my boxing that was the difference tonight.”
 
“When I come in here, I don’t think of myself as a champion, I think of myself as someone who needs to earn the belt and tonight I felt that I did that.”
 
#5–Tyrell Fortune (11-1, 1 NC) defeated #7-Matt Mitrione (13-9, 1 NC) via submission (strikes) at 1:45 of round one
 
Tyrell Fortune:
“I feel great coming out of the fight. He stepped forward so I went for the shot instead of throwing the punch and I guess I made contact with my head. Besides that I was running through him for the takedown. As you saw, I finished on top, and the fight went from there.
 
“I didn’t feel it (the clash of heads), I can only go off of what he was saying at the time. Like I said, I was just looking to get on top and continue to fight so I didn’t really know what else to do. I thought if there was a contact that the ref would have saw and we would have stopped that’s why I paused for a second on top of him. I didn’t go right to punching. Once the ref said to continue, I was continuing to fight.
 
“I want Tim Johnson. I don’t want a title shot. I’d rather have Tim Johnson first. That’s really the only fight I’ve been training for since that loss. To me, with him taking that loss (against Valentin Moldavsky) and me getting this win, it should line us right up… I’m gonna’ try to knock his a– out just like he did me.”
 
Matheus Mattos (13-2-1) defeated Cee Jay Hamilton (15-9) via TKO (strikes) at 1:33 of round two
 
Matheus Mattos:
“He’s a wrestler. So, he could have done the boring game and taken me down. But he chose to go for the striking. Fortunately, he did it because it was a beautiful knockout. If Bellator could send more strikers to me, then they would be welcomed.”
 
“I feel great, perfectly strong. But I felt my knee go ‘thwack.’ And I stopped moving a lot. I didn’t do much footwork. I knew this was going to be on my hands, because my leg was painful. Hopefully, everything went well. 
 
“My two losses were to two of the best in the world. So, I’ve been fighting at a high level a long time and I’m prepared for everyone. They can see that this fight welcomed me to Bellator, and now they know me. They know Matheus Mattos is a striker and he’s coming for us.
 
“I’m in my prime now so I’m prepared for everyone.”
  
 #2–Arlene Blencowe (14-8) defeated Dayana Silva (9-6) via TKO (punches) at 1:00 of round three
 
Arlene Blencowe:
“I feel great. I want to give a shout out to my kids at home. I’ve been away from home for nine weeks and it’s the longest I’ve ever been without my kids. So, this win is for you.”
 
“I was just trying to gauge my distance. It was starting to be a little bit of a slow fight, so sorry about that fans. I could hear you yelling. But I was determined to keep my pace and not rush into anything. We knew that she swung with power and that the overhand right and the left hook came pretty quick. We’ve been working a lot on kicks, and I’m going to have a lot of bruises tomorrow. And hopefully her calves will be sore too.”
 
#5-Johnny Eblen (9-0) defeated Travis Davis (10-5) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-26)

Johnny Eblen:
“My coaches when I came back to the corner told me not to brawl. So, I took their advice and I thought I wrestled smart.”
 
“He was talking s— saying, ‘Hey, let’s brawl in the corner.’ I’m like, ‘Bro, that’s stupid.’ That’s why you’re not where I’m at. Because you don’t fight smart. You’re trying to come out here and brawl. You can do that all you want, but you’re not going to be a world champion like me.”
 
Preliminary Card: 
Said Sowma (7-2) defeated Ronny Markes (19-9) via KO (punches) at 1:09 of round one
Cody Law (4-0) defeated Theodore Macuka (1-1) via TKO (punches) at 1:54 of round one
Diana Avsaragova (4-0) defeated Gabriella Gulfin (2-3) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Adil Benjilany (6-3, 1 NC) defeated Johnny Soto (4-2) via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Charlie Campbell (4-1) defeated Nicholas Giulietti (2-2) via TKO (punches) at 1:30 of round two
 
Please visit Bellator.com for additional information.
 
About BELLATOR
BELLATOR MMA is a leading global mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, BELLATOR events take place in major cities worldwide and can be seen on television in over 160 countries to an available audience of over one billion people. In the United States, BELLATOR can be seen on SHOWTIME. BELLATOR 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 Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant ViacomCBS, home to the world’s premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
Amateur MMA, mixed martial arts, MMA, New England Fights

WOMEN’S FIGHT WILL MARK THE RETURN OF GLORY WATSON TO THE NEF CAGE

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Milford, New Hampshire (July 16, 2021) – New England Fights (NEF) returns with its next event, “NEF 44: Back in Black,” on August 21, 2021, at the Hampshire Dome in Milford, New Hampshire.  The show will feature both mixed-martial-arts (MMA) and kickboxing fights.  Earlier today, NEF announced the addition of a professional women’s strawweight bout to the fight card.  Glory Watson (0-1) is scheduled to meet Rebecca Brygmann (0-1) at a fight weight of 115 pounds.

Glory Watson last appeared in the NEF cage in November 2019, suffering her first and only amateur loss in a strawweight title fight to a very tough Cara Greenwell (10-5).  Prior to that time, Watson had rattled off six wins in a row to start her amateur career, capturing the NEF Women’s Amateur Bantamweight Championship in the process.  She made her professional debut during the pandemic on a fight card in Florida, losing via first round submission to Ariana Melendez (1-1).  Watson looks to get her first win as a professional on August 21.  She currently represents Young’s MMA in Bangor, Maine.

“I am looking forward to returning to the cage for an amazing promotion and to do so against an experienced opponent,” said Watson. “This will be my second professional fight, and I am beyond excited for the cage doors to lock behind me! Wishing my opponent a healthy fight camp and best of skill on August 21st!”

Like her opponent, Rebecca Bryggman will also be looking for the first win of her professional career at NEF 44.  Bryggman made her pro debut for national promotion Bellator in a losing effort to Elise Reed (4-0) in October 2019.  She was 2-1 as an amateur, undefeated in MMA with her sole loss coming in a kickboxing bout.  Bryggman fights out of New York.

“It’s all about divine timing and I’ve been hungry, patiently waiting to get back in the cage,” noted Bryggman.  “Now is the time.  A starved animal is a dangerous animal, and I’m that animal.”

Tickets for “NEF 44: Back in Black” are on sale now at www.NewEnglandFights.com/Tickets/.  The MMA and kickboxing event will take place at the Hampshire Dome in Milford, New Hampshire on Saturday, August 21, 2021, with a bell-time of 7 pm. 

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 fighters and fans alike. NEF’s executive team has extensive experience in combat sports management, events production, media relations, marketing, legal and advertising.

FITETV, mixed martial arts, MMA

SFT 27 this Thursday screening on FITE from Brazil

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The wait is over! 

Two title fights featured on SF7 27 

This Thursday on FITE from Brazil 

SAO PAULO, Brazil (July 12, 2021) – The first SFT event of 2021, SFT 27, will be held this Thursday night (July 15) in Sao Paulo, Brazil, featuring a pair of SFT title fights, in SFT’s first show since last December. 

SFT 27 will be streamed exclusively on FITE in the United States and worldwide on pay per view via the FITE app and website (www.FITE.tv), starting at 6:00 p.m. ET / 3:00 p.m. PT, for only $14.99.   

“The wait is over,” SFT president David Hudson proclaimed.  “Our main event between rising star ‘Maumito’ and always dangerous Bispo will determine who the King of Brazilian lightweights is today.  We also have another SFT title fight as Cantuaria and Borges battle for the vacant SFT female flyweight crown.  The rest of this card is loaded as well with some of Brazil’s up-and-coming fighters 

The main event pits SFT’s 2020 Fighter of the Year, Manuel “Maumito” Sousa (6-0-0, SFT: 6-0-0), against veteran Brendo “The Monster” Bispo (17-4-0, SFT: 1-0-0) for the vacant SFT Lightweight Championship.   

The 23-year-old Sousa is a tremendous striker whose overall combat sports record includes 23 straight victories in kickboxing, 18 by knockout, and all six of his pro MMA fights have been victories in SFT competition, none going into the third round. 

“I’m training well, a lot on the ground, because I know he has a Jiu-Jitsu black belt,” Sousa reported. “But since I’m training hard, I’m not worried about that. MMA brings together all areas, so you need to be ready. In training, we put ourselves in danger, as if we were in the fight, and that increases my confidence, and it keeps the gas in check. At 27 years old, Brendo Bispo has more experience in professional MMA than me with 17 wins and four losses. ‘Maranhão’ sees the point as positive, however, he knows that it is not a guarantee of victory. Therefore, he benefits from his work carried out at Chute Boxe Diego Lima, one of the main teams in the country.” 

Currently on a 6-fight win streak, Bispo accepted the challenge of fighting hot prospect Sousa after a few other fighters passed on the opportunity.  Acclaimed as one of the top lightweights in Brazil, Bispo now has the chance to prove he’s No. 1 versus Sousa.  Bispo trains at the famed Chute Boxeo, under the direction of the famed Charles Oliveira.  A solid all-around fighter, the more experienced Bispo has seven victories by knockout, along with five more by submission. 

“As often as I’ve fought,” Bispo said, “I always think like it’s the first time. So, I don’t generate as many expectations and my mind goes blank, something that helps me a lot in my daily life and in the fight. On the other hand, I’ve learned a lot by climbing in the cage to fight 22 times, so that helps. The main one, however, is the training at Chute Boxe Diego Lima. Now, in the final stretch of the fight, we are going more slowly, working on our strategy, rest, and weight loss. Diego Lima is my teacher, friend, and manager (laughs), so he’s been with me. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to be in my corner, but he spent the necessary time.You can expect a renewed Brendo; more technical, faster, and stronger. 

In the co-featured event, Mayra Cantuaria (8-3-1, SFT: 2-0-0) faces Paty Borges (4-4-0, SFT: 2-2-0) for the vacant SFT Female Flyweight Championship.  Cantuaria, who has fought the in the traditional Japanese event, Pacrase, while Borges has won her last two fights heading into her showdown with Cantuaria. 

Another sensational match-up is Bruno “Beirutel” Tavares (13-5-1, SFT: 1-0-0) against featherweight Thiago “Manchinha” Silva (19-9-0 (SFT: 0-1-0). Other exciting MMA fights include welterweight Luis “Hulk” Fernando (18-6-0) vs. Alex “Canguru” Sandro (10-3-0), featherweight Marcos “Maraja” Rodriguez (16-5-0, SFT: 1-0-0) vs. Estabill Amato (10-4-0, SFT: 1-2-0), bantamweight Deja Moura (5-2-0, SFT: 1-0-0) vs. Manoel Lima “Aranja” Silva (5-4-0, SFT: 1-1-0), flyweight Marciano Ferreira (5-1-0, SFT: 1-0-0) vs. Antonio “Piaui” Rodrigues (9-2-0, SFT: 0-1-0), undefeated bantamweight Fernando “Fernandinho” Henrique (3-0-0, SFT: 1-0-0) vs. Apollo “Deus Da Guerra” Gomes (5-0-0) and pro debuting Luana Santos vs. bantamweight Majorie “Brutal” Barragan (1-0-0). 

Two SFT Xtreme and two Jiu-Jitsu fights are also on tap. 

The two SFT Xtreme fights will be held as welterweight Cicero Evangelista (SFT Xtreme: 1-0-0) meets Kavem “Mexicano” Felipe, and bantamweight Nicholas Pestilli takes on Ramon “Sayajin” Costa. The wildly popular, uniquely entertaining SFT Xtreme competition allows striking, kicking and knees, fighters wear 4-ounce gloves, and clinching and fighting on the mat is prohibited. 

A pair of Jiu-Jitsu matches will showcase William Cilli vs. Elaias “Xuxu” Silverio, and Henrique “Rasputin” Gomes vs. Felipe “Felipinho” Cusciana. 

All fights are subject to change. 

INFORMATION: 

Website: www.sftcombat.com 

Facebook: /SFT.combat, davidhudson.SFT 

Twitter: @SFTCombat, @SFTUSA 

Instagram: @SFTCombat, @DavidHudson.SFT 

You Tube: /SFTCombat, /SFTUSA, /SFTBrasil 

UPCOMING SFT EVENTS: 

July 15 – SFT 27: Bispo vs. Sousa in São Paulo, Brazil 

August 5 –SFT 28: Mexicano vs. Matsumoto 

September 2 – SFT 29: Noguriera vs. Santos